26 Apr 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Murdoch denies playing puppet master to British elite

150 FILS

Slow pace of housing reform frustrates Saudis

Bohra female circumcision anger aired in India

10

www.kuwaittimes.net

JAMADI ALTHANI 5, 1433 AH

Bayern beat Madrid on penalties to reach final

15

12

20

40 PAGES

NO: 15430

National Assembly rejects annual development plan MPs demand fundamental democratic reforms

Max 35º Min 18º High Tide 02:11 & 12:56 Low Tide 07:01 & 19:51

By B Izzak

Israeli general tones down Iran rhetoric JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief toned down the rhetoric over Iran’s nuclear program yesterday, describing the Iranian leadership as “very rational” and unlikely to take the decision to build a bomb.

Speaking to Haaretz newspaper, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said Iran was approaching the point at which it would be able to decide on whether to build a bomb, but that Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not yet decided “whether to go the extra mile”. So far, Israel and Washington do not believe that Tehran has actually taken the decision to develop a nuclear bomb, a decision which would require the ability to quickly produce weapons-grade uranium.

“In my opinion, he would be making a huge mistake if he does so, and I don’t think he will want to go the extra mile,” he said of Khamenei. “I think the Iranian leadership is composed of very rational people,” he said, indicating that the international regime of hard-hitting sanctions was “starting to bear fruit”.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak also took a somewhat softer line on Iran, saying it had “not yet decided to manufacture atomic weapons” and suggesting the sanctions could work. “If the Americans, and the Europeans and we ourselves are determined, there is a change of stopping the Iranians before they acquire the atomic bomb,” he told Israeli public radio.

Israel and much of the West suspect Iran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover for a weapons drive - a charge which Tehran vehemently denies, and Continued on Page 15

JERUSALEM: Israeli soldiers check their weapons on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City yesterday. — AP

‘Terror’ blast wounds 4 Bahraini policemen Khawaja in good health: Govt DUBAI: A bomb attack carried out by “terrorists” wounded four Bahraini policemen in a Shiite -populated village overnight, the official BNA news agency said yesterday. “A terrorist explosion targeted security forces that were escorting firefighters... on their way to the scene” of a blaze in the village of Diraz, BNA reported, citing a senior police official. The official said “four policemen were wounded” in the explosion, adding that “two of the officers suffered serious injuries”.

Witnesses at the scene said security forces imposed a total lockdown on Diraz following the explosion, shutting off all routes out of the village. Police also raided 11 homes and arrested six people, the witnesses added. The exact cause of Tuesday night’s blast was unknown, but “an act of sabotage” sparked the fire at a shop, the official said, adding an investigation was launched into the “terrorist act”.

Tensions and violence have been escalating in the Sunni-ruled kingdom as Shiite-led protests calling for the release of prominent activist and hunger striker Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja intensify amid fears he may die in prison. Khawaja’s health has drastically deteriorated since he started refusing food on Feb 8, relatives and rights groups say. A Shiite, he is one of several democracy activists sen-

tenced to life in prison after being convicted of conspiring to overthrow the monarchy. But an Interior Ministry statement yesterday described Khawaja as “is in good health, despite rumors” and added that “he is in hospital, receiving full medical care”.

The Gulf state’s Shiite majority claim marginalisation and disenfranchisement by the Sunni regime, and for months have been calling for political and social reforms. The explosion came a day after riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters as they approached Pearl Square, the epicentre of last year’s Shiite-led uprising against the regime. The small group of protesters had broken off from a larger rally in the Shiite village of Jidhafs, where hundreds marched in support of Khawaja, demanding his release.

Tuesday’s protests followed clashes a day earlier between police and protesters during the funeral procession of 36-yearold Salah Abbas Habib, who was found dead in a Shiite village over the weekend.

Habib’s death coincided with the controversial staging of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix a year after the event was cancelled following the March 2011 crackdown on the month-long uprising, which according to an independent probe, left more than 35 people dead, most of them Shiites. — Agencies

KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday rejected the annual development plan for the current fiscal year amid strong criticism of the government’s policies and calls for fundamental reforms to turn Kuwait into a constitutional monarchy and have a prime minister from outside the ruling family. Twenty-eight MPs voted against the government-sponsored plan which stipulates the spending of several billion dinars on a number of development projects. Sixteen MPs approved it while seven abstained.

The government is required to submit the draft law to the Assembly to list the number and type of projects it plans to carry out in the current 2012/2013 fiscal year along with spending figures. About two years ago, the Assembly passed the four-year development plan which envisages the spending of about KD 31 billion until the end of the 2013/2014 fiscal year. MPs strongly criticized the slow implementation of projects by the government in the first two years of the plan and charged that most of the bill it submitted for the third year is a repetition of the previous two annual plans.

MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji described the plan as a “ploy to steal Kuwait money” saying that most of the ministers were eating “biscuits” and drinking tea outside the chamber after they followed the prime minister who left the floor when the debate over the plan began. If they were really interested in the development of the country, they would have stayed, he said. Turaiji claimed that an Iranian businessman who was awarded two contracts

by Kuwait Municipality invited some ministers to his son’s wedding at Dubai’s Burj Al-Arab luxurious hotel.

Public Works and Development Minister Fadhel Safar said the man who won the two contracts is an American businessman of Iranian origin.

Continued on Page 15

Mad cow disease found in US WASHINGTON: The United States scrambled yesterday to contain the fallout from the discovery of mad cow disease in California as the top beef exporter insisted the outbreak posed no threat to consumers. The US Department of Agriculture on Tuesday reported the country’s fourth-ever case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), but stressed the outbreak was contained and no contaminated meat had entered the food chain. The infected dair y cow from central California, uncovered on Monday, “at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health”, officials insisted. BSE cannot be transmitted through milk.

“USDA remains confident in the health of the national herd and the safety of beef and dairy products. As the epidemiological investigation progresses, USDA will continue to communicate findings in a timely and transparent manner.” Samples from the infected animal were sent to a laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where they proved positive for a rare form of the disease. The results are now being shared with labs in Britain and Canada.

The admission of even a limited outbreak is highly sensitive. Previous cases of mad cow in the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe and Japan have caused Continued on Page 15

SEOUL: South Korean shoppers buy domestic and Australian beef on the shelves at a Lotte Mart store yesterday. The letters on the card read“ Starting from the 25th, we will temporarily stop the sales of the US beef. Thank you for your understanding”. — AP

Islamist UAE sheikh held without charge DUBAI: A member of the ruling family of Ras al-Khaimah, one of seven states that make up the United Arab Emirates, has been held “without charge” for days, his son said yesterday. Sheikh Sultan Al-Qassimi, a first cousin of the emir who heads the local branch of the Islamist group Al-Islah, was arrested on Friday by “armed men in civilian clothing”, his son Sheikh Abdullah told AFP by telephone.

Sheikh Sultan “is being held in a room secured

by guards at the governor’s palace”, the son said, condemning the absence of “any formal charges against him”.

“He refuses to sign anything or give any statements to the authorities as long he is being detained in this manner,” Sheikh Abdullah said, a day after visiting his father in custody. He said a family member had warned his father two weeks ago that he could be detained, adding: “We demand his immediate

release.” A well-informed tribal source said Sheikh Sultan had been placed under “house arrest” following a “family” dispute within the Al-Qassimi clan. He insisted there was no involvement by the UAE security services.

“The issue is being resolved within the AlQassimi clan,” he added.

In a statement posted on its website, the Al-Islah group condemned Sheikh Sultan’s Continued on Page 15

in the

news

State current account surplus jumps 78%

Lebanese forces free Saudis held in Beirut

4 Iran Guards killed in clashes with Kurds

Saudi girls school defies clerics with basketball

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s current account surplus surged 78 percent in 2011 mainly thanks to a jump in exports, the Gulf Arab country’s Central Bank said yesterday.

The current account of one of the world’s top oil exporters booked a surplus of KD 19.53 billion ($70.3 billion) in 2011, or 54.8 percent of 2010 gross domestic product, compared to KD 10.98 billion in 2010, or 30.8 percent of GDP. “That increase...was mainly an outcome of the rise in the surplus of the balance of goods,” the central bank said, adding that it soared by 66.7 percent on an annual basis. Growth in the net value of Kuwaiti residents’ assets abroad also accelerated during 2011, the Central Bank said. Taking into account the net value of external assets of some government institutions and the central bank’s own reserves, the account showed an overall surplus of KD 13.46 billion compared to a KD 10.48 billion surplus in 2010.

RIYADH: Lebanese security forces have freed two Saudi nationals kidnapped and tortured for eight days in an apartment on the outskirts of Beirut. Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali bin Saeed Al-Asiri said Tawfiq and Abdullah Al-Shaqaqeen, were “lured and tricked by a gang loyal to an Arab state”, which “held and tortured them for eight days”, adding that the kidnappers demanded a “large ransom” in exchange for their release. Asiri confirmed that at least two kidnappers were arrested while the search for the remaining “members of the gang continues”. In Beirut, security services said the “search is on to find the other two”, and that the kidnappers were from Iraq. The ambassador urged all Saudis in Lebanon to stay “only in well-known hotels and stay away from private apartments”, and called on visitors to register with the embassy upon arrival in Beirut. He also warned Saudis to stay away from Lebanon’s border areas.

TEHRAN: Kurdish rebels have killed four members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards in the country’s west, a provincial official told the Mehr news agency yesterday. The attack was carried out by members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) near the town of Paveh in Iran’s Kermanshah province on Tuesday evening, Mehr reported. “Four members of the Guards were martyred and four others wounded in the cowardly act,” Shahryar Heydari, the province’s ranking security official, told Mehr. Heydari said PJAK rebels also suffered casualties, but did not provide any details. The report yesterday was the first such account of a deadly conflict between Iranian forces and the Kurdish rebels since summer last year. PJAK is an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which took up arms in 1984 to fight for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey. Both Iran and its major adversary the US have called PJAK a terrorist organisation.

JEDDAH: A girls’ school in Saudi Arabia has defied a religious ban on female sports by erecting basketball hoops and letting pupils play at break-time, the daily Al-Watan reported yesterday. Powerful clerics in the conservative Islamic kingdom have long spoken against allowing girls to play sports, with one senior figure saying in 2009 it might lead them to lose their virginity by tearing their hymens. The school in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has now become the first state-run girls school openly to encourage sports, Watan reported, quoting a supervisor as saying it would expend pupils’ energy “in a positive way”. Private girls schools already offer sports classes. “The school administration is hoping to instill the importance of sports among the students and introduce them to its benefits, as well as allowing them to spend their spare time doing something beneficial,” Amina Bu Bsheit, a school supervisor, was quoted as saying by Watan.

2

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

LOCAL

Canada fully supports UN chief’s efforts to end violence in Syria Calls for Bashar to step down

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday Head of the Azmi family in Saudi Arabia Sheikh Habib bin Eid bin Jamaa’ at Bayan Palace. His Highness received his guest, who was also accompanied by Khalid bin Eid bin Jamaa’, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah.

Litter fines increased to KD1,000

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Captain Ammar Al-Hubail, Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) awareness officer, recently delivered an awareness lecture in the College of Education at Kuwait University, which focused on prevention from mishaps, and how to use fire extinguishers and their importance during fires. Hezam Al-Enizi, Ishbilia health supervisor in Farwaniya Municipality cleaning department, delivered a lecture on cleaning in various areas around Kuwait. He focused on addressing youths through various awareness campaigns. His lecture was on littering and destroying plants and greenery in public facilities. Al-Enizi said special places will be allocated for barbequing in 144 parks run by the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) in a bid to protect greenery. Finally, Al-Enezi warned that the fine imposed on violators of cleaning rules has recently been raised from KD 100 to KD1,000.

Survey reveals alarming traffic violations KUWAIT: At least 72 percent of drivers who took part in a recent survey admitted to having jumped a red traffic light at least once in their lives, while seven percent stated that they nearly committed this serious traffic offense.

The survey was carried out by Al-Qabas daily recently as part of a series of investigative reports highlighting traffic problems in Kuwait, and attempts to find solutions to the country’s high road fatality rates.

News

in brief

Stateless residents’ driving licenses KUWAIT: Sources say the Traffic Department keeps changing the period of driving licenses for stateless residents without any justifications. They started to issue licenses for five years, then reduced the period to three years and finally cut it to just one year. Sources expressed astonishment at such decisions, which depend on the mood of the official without thinking of the needs of those who apply for a license. Sources called for a law for stateless residents to renew their license every five years, to reduce the pressure on the traffic department and make things easier for the stateless residents as one year is not enough.

MOH- McGill agreement KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) legal affairs and investigations department is studying the negative effects if it terminates an agreement with the Canadian McGill University. Meanwhile, the MoH will celebrate the laying of the first corner stone in the Al-Mojel Kidney Dialysis Center next Monday. Faisal Al-Dousari, Public Relations and Information Director, said the project is being built with a donation from the Al-Mojel family and is expected to cost KD 1.5 million. The project is due for completion in 2014.

MoI employees to receive allowances KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior has finalized drafting a bill proposing that some employees be paid a ‘nature of work’ allowance amounting to KD100. Only those engaged in hazardous tasks across various sectors, will be eligible to benefit from the allowance. Sources said that Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah, Interior Ministry will refer the bill to First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior for approval and pass a ministerial decree.

Dr. Salah Al-Nejm

Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa

Ambassador Douglas George

By Ben Garcia

UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan, and support for prodemocracy action.

“We continue to call on the Syrian authorities to provide full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian action to meet the urgent needs of those affected by the violence,” he said. “We strongly support the call for a daily cessation of fighting in order to allow the prompt delivery of aid.

Canada also urges the opposition to show restraint and respect the ceasefire,” he said. “Incomplete implementation of the ceasefire demonstrates the urgent need for the full deployment of the UN mission as rapidly as possible in order to observe the ceasefire and help stabilize the situation on the ground.” The Canadian envoy was the key speaker during the humanitarian aid, economy and public diplomacy seminar, also attended by Dr. Nada AlMutawa, Professor at the Center for Gulf Arabian Peninsula Studies-Kuwait University and Dr Salah Al-Nejm, Consultant at the Central Agency for Information Technology.

Ambassador George spoke on how Canada addresses issues on humanitarian aid as part of its public diplomacy. “Each day around the world, millions of people depend on international assistance to help them survive.

This support can take the form of food, shelter, water and sanitation, health and other essential services. It can include the protection of civilians and the promotion of their human rights. This humanitarian action aims

to save lives, reduce suffering and facilitate the return of people to normal life and livelihoods as soon as possible,” he said.

The envoy said Canada and Kuwait are two countries blessed with abundant natural resources, and both have a history of helping mostly third world countries in need.

“Both of our countries are noted for our generosity in times of need.

Barjas Al-Barjas, Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), recently stressed the importance of the humanitarian and development role of KRCS, noting that Kuwait inherited its support of humanitarian work from its ancestors,” he said.

Canada is committed to providing appropriate, timely and effective humanitarian assistance. “Based on an assessment of needs, we work with established organizations to ensure that disaster-affected and conflictaffected people are physically safe, receive health care, and have food, water and shelter,” Ambassador George said.

Dr. Nada explained that the lecture was part of a series of seminars by which the public are informed of the importance of diplomacy. She said public diplomacy is well-associated with the strategy of the proper utilization of media tools.

“Public diplomacy is not simply a public relations campaign but establishing long-term solutions and creating a suitable environment to spread the vision of the state,” she added.

KUWAIT: Douglas George, Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait, said Canada remains steadfast in its view that President Bashar Al-Assad must step down. He also said Canada fully supports the efforts by Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, to end the violence in Syria. Ambassador George was speaking at a seminar on humanitarian aid, economic and public diplomacy held on Tuesday night at Kuwait Journalists Association. Ahmed Behbehani, Chairman of Kuwait Journalists Association, and Faisal Al Qinai, Secretary General, both attended the seminar.

“We welcome the decline in overall violence, and continue to be deeply concerned by continued incidents of violence and their impact on Syria’s civilian population,” he said. He said the support by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) of up to $7.5 million will help meet the most pressing needs arising from the crisis.

“Access to medical services, safe water and food are critical for communities caught in the crossfire of the conflict. Support to the thousands of internally displaced people and refugees who have fled the fighting also remain a priority,” he added.

On April 1, Ambassador George said, the Canadian government announced an additional $1 million in programming for Syria, including a $250,000 contribution to the work of

Censor board plays major role in determining objectionable content

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Kuwait’s democratic set-up respects personal freedoms, but is not without limits. The freedom enjoyed by the press, television, radio are regulated by law number 3/2006 (Press and Publications) and law number 61/2007(Audio-Visual), and related bylaws.

These laws form the basic framework according to which correct and inappropriate actions of the media are governed. This is also applicable to books, electronic publications and games. There are certain ‘thresholds’ that should not be crossed by publishers, writers and authors. Inspectors from the Ministry of Information’s censor board regularly filter out objectionable content.

Different departments at the Ministry of Information are responsible for different forms of censorship.

“There is a department in charge of audio-visual media that is responsible for issuing licenses to televisions, satellite channels, radio. This will make sure that no violations take place. The department in charge of the press and publications monitor newspapers, magazines, foreign and local publications like books. The Art Classification Department is responsible for censoring movies, music, songs, computer programs and games,” explained Lafe Al-Dafiri, Manager of Publishing Department at Press and Publication Sector of the Ministry of Information to the Kuwait Times.

In each department, a committee issues a final decision, “There is a committee that approves movies, for instance. The members of this committee watch movies every week to decide on which parts should be cut. Only then the movie is approved and can be shown at the Cinema.

Scenes considered to be immoral, depicting graphic sex, foul language, blasphemous cannot be approved.

The committee strictly follows regulations in this matter,” added Al-Dafiri.

Different criteria are applied on what kind of photographs local newspapers or magazines can carry. “ We may see pictures of women dressed in short skirts in some dailies while other papers digitally alter the images to cover the

legs. This form of self-censorship is practiced by the organization itself.

This employee is not a Ministry staff,” he said.

The censor board staff pass some courses in order to be eligible to take up the job. “After graduating and being appointed, the new employee receives practical training at the Ministry of Information. For instance, he or she is given a guideline that lists out violations to be censored. We evaluate their performance. Within a year or so they will be completely trained. Also, he takes up a course on laws related to censorship. Usually, the employees are graduates in political sciences, history, and related fields,” he said.

When asked if some singers are banned from performing at concerts in Kuwait, Al-Dafiri noted that no such restriction is placed. “The Ministry has not banned any singer from coming to Kuwait. We are not concerned with individuals, only the content presented. So some songs may be banned from being broadcast if it contains abusive words or if the videos are lewd. No one is blacklisted,” he pointed out. The Censorship Department at the Ministry is an executive body that monitors the work performed by censor board workers. “We have a list of banned books in Kuwait. If no objectionable content is detected, the books are allowed to be printed or sold. The author of distributor of this censored publication can appeal the decision

Lafe Al-Dafiri issued by the censorship department at the Ministry. The executive committee can review the publication. Usually we are not very strict with foreign books,” stressed Al-Dafiri. The Virgin Megastore was shut down owing to some misunderstanding, “There was a conflict regarding the store’s licensing.

According to the law, all partners should be Kuwaiti. Virgin Megastore had some foreign partners and this caused problems,” he noted. The Press and Publication Department undertakes one of the most arduous tasks, according to Al-Dafiri. ”It may take anywhere between two hours to a week to check a book. An employee’s experience in performing the job plays a role.

We have about 250 to 300 staff members in the Ministry. So this is not an easy job,” he concluded.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

LOCAL

Proposal to change Kuwait premier selection criteria Opposition plans constitutional amendments

US Embassy sponsors disability workshops KUWAIT: On Tuesday, representatives from several disabilities organizations in Kuwait concluded a three-day series of workshops led

by Dr. Richard Welch, an American lecturer at Georgia State University. The workshop was held at the Center for Child Development and was co-sponsored by the United States Embassy and the Ministry of Information’s Office of Foreign Media; representatives of both participated in the workshop.

Participating disabilities organizations included: Al Nibras School for Special Needs, the Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching, the Kuwait Association for Learning Differences, Kuwait Association for Down’s Syndrome, Kuwait Society for the Guardians of the Disabled, the Public Authority for the Disabled, Training Gate International, Kuwait

Society for the Handicapped, and Abeer2.

During the workshop, the participants studied a step-by-step process to develop public relations campaigns for their individual organizations.

More broadly, the workshop focused on helping the disabilities community develop effective strategies to communicate with the broader Kuwaiti society about the important work being done by these NGOs. One participant commented that the workshop was invaluable as it taught her “how to be precise and targeted” with her outreach. A Ministry of Information official remarked that it was “a great pleasure to participate in this workshop with such outstanding representatives of Kuwaiti civil society, who are truly dedicated to helping Kuwaitis with disabilities.”

No invoices issued for 200,000 electricity meters KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water(MEW) has failed to collect readings from at least 200,000 electricity meters in Kuwait during the past couple of years, revealed an insider who approached a local daily to discuss flaws present in the ministry’s bill collection mechanism.

Speaking to Al-Qabas, the source said that no invoices were issued for any of the 200,000 electricity meters installed in all six governorates, in almost two years. “The Minister of Electricity and Water(MEW ) Abdul-Aziz Al-Ibrahim should make an effort to resolve this problem which contributes to the ministry’s credit accumulation issue,” he added.

The lack of periodic readings leads to consumers having to pay cumulative fees.

The source said that this problem drives

consumers away from paying bills.

In other news, the same source revealed that the ministry plans to proceed with executing three projects at a total cost of KD 58 million. “This includes improving and conducting maintenance work to boost the capacity of the state’s electricity and water distribution networks.” Meanwhile, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR) has signed a contract on Tuesday with an international consultancy agency to help prepare specifications for a future project to build the country’s first complex for renewable energy technology. Dr Naji Al-Mutairi, KISR’s Director General said during a press conference that the planned projects aim to supply 20 percent of Kuwait’s electricity supply through renewable energy sources within two decades.

KUWAIT: An Opposition bloc in Parliament plans to submit constitutional amendments this summer that include changing the mechanism by which the Prime Minister is selected, a leading member said. “The next Prime Minister will be semi-public, as he will still be selected from the AlSabah ruling family, but not necessarily from Mubarak AlKabeer’s descendents”, MP Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said while explaining his Development and Reform Bloc’s proposals. Kuwait’s Amir, Crown Prince and Prime Minister are selected from the Al-Sabah family branch descending directly from Mubarak Al-Kabeer, the seventh ruler of Kuwait who is considered the original true founder of the modern state.

Al-Tabtabaei elaborated on Tuesday that the proposed amendments aim to expand the selection base so that the Premier’s post is not seen as a channel to reach higher leadership posts.

As per the proposed amendments, the new Prime Minister that the Amir selects must be voted into office by a Parliament majority before he assumes his duties. AlTabtabaei explained that this criteria is already applied to the Crown Prince post, and that the amendment basically seeks to apply the same criteria to the Premier’s post.

Al-Tabtabaei said the amendments include a proposal to disable ministers’ voting abilities in Parliament, in addition to removing Parliament member status from ministers. Meanwhile, MP Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem reportedly testified on Tuesday to a Court of Ministers investigation committee into the case in which former Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, is charged with transferring public funds to private bank accounts overseas during his term. According to sources with knowledge of the investigations, the committee is expected to summon MP Musallam Al-Barrak based on his personal request, as he plans to provide documents he says convict the former Premier.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Mustafa Al-Shamali, confirmed that pay increases the Government approved to state employees will not be affected by repercussions of his expected grilling and potential vote out of office. The 25 percent general raises were approved last February. Unconfirmed reports last week indicated that they are likely to be put into effect sometime next June. Al-Shamali explained that the decision pertaining to the increases is “final”, given the fact that it was made by the Civil Service Council and not the Cabinet. It cannot be overridden by a future decision from the Ministry of Finance ministry or the Cabinet. AlShamali made these statements following Tuesday’s Parliament session, answering reporters’ enquiries about the delayed increases. “The Cabinet is waiting for the date when the (Parliament) budget committee will discuss the general budget, which includes a request to add KD650 million for the pay increases”, the Minister explained.

Although a specific date is yet to be made, the Parliament majority has reportedly agreed to support a grilling motion that MP Musallam Al-Barrak plans to file against Al-Shamali.

It is expected that the grilling debate will end with a no con-

fidence vote. The Opposition, which controls as much as 30 seats in Parliament, can force

the minister out of office since the request needs only 25 votes to pass.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

LOCAL

Letters to Badrya

kuwait digest

Irresponsible behavior

Hello Badrya,

M

y name is Adel and I am a regular reader of the Kuwait Times. No matter what, I always read your column every day. I read this article by you about the pension system which the United Arab Emirates government is discussing, and I am thankful to you for raising your concerns for the expatriates in this country as well.

Regards, Adel Khan

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

D

eputy Speaker of Parliament, Khalid AlSultan, claims that the Minister of Housing and State Minister of Parliament Affairs, Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri, made a “personal” decision to attend a recent meeting for the Parliament majority. Al-Sultan insists that Al-Muwaizri was not sent by the Cabinet to attend the meeting, which was due to discuss a planned grilling of the Finance Minister in the same Cabinet Al-Muwaizri is part of.

If Al-Sultan is trying to find an excuse for AlMuwaizri with these statements, I think he has failed miserably because a minister isn’t supposed to take part in a meeting for Parliament behind the Cabinet’s back - as his statements imply.

I honestly am surprised that a statement is yet to come from the Cabinet, whether through the Prime Minister or any minister, commenting on the fact that one of their colleagues took a presumably personal decision to attend a meeting for the Opposition, held to discuss the grilling of a fellow minister.

Incoherence in the Cabinet isn’t new, as it was featured on multiple occasions before when ministers either failed to attend or vote in Parliament sessions, in a show of disagreement with the Cabinet’s unanimous vote.

Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri, an elected Parliament member before he was handpicked to join the Cabinet, went further than that by attending a meeting for the Opposition to discuss the grilling and potential vote of confidence - against his colleague.

In perhaps another ‘desperate’ attempt to justify Al-Muwaizri’s actions, Al-Sultan said the minister went to inform the Opposition of “serious security” information. The question here is: was it supposed to be classified information that Al-Muwiazri chose to leak out of the Cabinet to the Parliament Opposition? Or has the minister somehow received it and chosen to inform the Parliament majority instead of sharing it with his fellow Cabinet members?

Whatever the case might be, a minister isn’t supposed to share Government information and decisions with lawmakers, even if he used to share Parliament seats with them - much less if the information is classified or, as Al-Sultan claims, are “a matter of national security”.

If the information is really that serious, then as per article 123 of the Constitution which gives the Cabinet control over the departments of the state, Al-Muwaizri was ought to share it with the Prime Minister instead of Opposition lawmakers.

The Opposition are adopting policies and behavior that are often in contradiction with political customs, and threaten the ruling system through irrational breaches of legal and constitutional principles. Minister Al-Muwaizri’s attendance at the meeting of the Parliament ’s Opposition is a prime example for this irresponsible demeanor. —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

It’s strange politics here

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

Letters to Muna Al-Fuzai

Parking problems in Abraq Khaitan Hello,

I kuwait digest

Can lipless people blow?

By Hassan Al-Essa

R

epresented by Acting Finance Minister and Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, the government addressed the Parliament by commenting on salary increment demands, exactly a month ago. The government’s speech was touching, as it went on complaining about the lack of resources. They begged lawmakers to understand how the state has been suffering from a shortage in funds. It kept parroting the words we have become familiar with since the 1990s, such as ‘potential future dangers’ and ‘studies that show that the economy has been deteriorating drastically, posing dangerous challenges.’

The government also went on screaming and shedding tears to move the ‘stony’ hearts of the majority of MPs who learnt their lessons from successive governments. Governments urged MPs to cut down expenses while it generously squandered billions by passing salary increments that were being demanded. I believe that these were nothing but bribes that rhyme with the demands and requirements of the Arab Spring. It resulted in the undeserving and deprived, gaining over those who are genuine. A government that had squandered billions on friends and VIPs in the form of tenders, believes that once justice is achieved in sharing revenues between tycoons, it should be just in distributing whatever remains.

However, if we take it for granted that corruption is our destiny that later infected and caused the creation of ‘popular corruption,’ I surely tell you that the government’s touching speech did affect a single MP, regardless of political affiliations. It is also ridiculous to believe that an MP pretends to be an economic planning expert, and consequently, convince voters to stop wasting, and save some for the future at the expense of today. It’s hard to expect such behavior after long decades of economic wastage and dependence on revenue policies. With all the above, in addition to the government’s indecisiveness, it’s useless to speak about wasting funds. The current

Parliament is following in its predecessor’s steps by focusing on ‘indecency and harams’ without prioritizing national economy and rationalization. MPs, including those specialized in economy like Khaled Al-Sultan are mainly concerned with ‘suffocating’ social life, personal freedoms and using semi-liberal or Shiite minorities.

How on earth can we solve our economic problems with such a crisis in freedom, inept governments and parliaments? The answer will surely be so pessimistic as this Kuwaiti state, shared by some other revenue-dependent GCC states.

It will not be solved unless we learn from history and others experiences. I’m so afraid that we will learn only when it’s too late. We will not find anybody to tell us that it’s no use to ‘cry over spilt milk’ as those who have no lips can never blow! — Al-Jarida

If we take it for granted that corruption is our destiny that later infected and caused the creation of ‘popular corruption,’ I surely tell you that the government’s touching speech did affect a single MP, regardless of political affiliations. It is also ridiculous to believe that an MP pretends to be an economic planning expert, and consequently, convince voters to stop wasting, and save some for the future at the expense of today.

W

hen is the horse faster than the plane?

Only in Indian films. When is the rickshaw faster than the Porsche? Also only in Indian films. When can one hundred bullets penetrate the body of a man and he does not die? Also this can only happen in Indian films.

But when does the Opposition oppose a grilling of the Government? This can only happen in Kuwait.

Kuwait, politically, has now surpassed Bollywood exaggerations and imaginations.

Everything is strange in Kuwaiti politics. The Opposition opposes grillings and loyal MPs are grilling the Government.

If this contradiction was viewed by an Indian film director, he will tell us; “Believe me, I can have the film hero die five times and return alive every time and my film will still be acceptable and believable. But your Opposition is defending the Government, and your loyalists are attacking the ministers, and even grilling them.

Sorry. Even Bollywood will not accept such silly drama, which is not logical. Find yourself another director”.

Personally, I know the reason why the former Opposition became an ally of the new Government. It is not for the love of Al-Mubarak, but it is due to the differences with AlMohammad. The matter has the mark of personal matters. So does the Minority who changed from loyalists to Opposition. The issue is not that they hate Al-Mubarak, but that they love AlMohammad.

I do not know whether this is politics or not and I do not think that a political principle I have read or studied or seen is similar to the principles of either of the groups, either the majority and the minority in the current national Assembly. Both groups have jumped over the logic.

I challenge any sensible person to have them together in the right way.

Politics in Kuwait, in spite of looking like a complicated net, is in reality easier than a game of Snakes and Ladders between two elementary school children. The only thing you have to know is that fighting is limited to among four sheikhs and then you will know the details of the whole story. It looks stranger than the imagination of an Indian film director.

Note: The political game is a game for sheikhs only. If you understand it, fair enough and welcome to Kuwait. If you don’t, this is your problem. Ask who is defending whom, and who is attacking for the sake of whom. — Al-Anbaa

read your article with pleasure and let me tell you my part of the story. I am Belgian by birth. My husband is a Belgian-born Lebanese. He has taken up a new job in Kuwait. Although I could not quit my job in Europe right now, I came to help him find a flat.

Unfortunately, we received so many answers from real estate agents saying, ‘You are Belgian, but you speak Arabic.’ The owners wanted to rent out only to people with blue eyes and blond hair. Finally, we found one and let me tell you, I am a Belgian with brown eyes and dark hair! I will go back to Belgium with a lot of things to talk about, especially concerning ‘racism’ here. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my stay in Kuwait.

Regards, A reader.

Hi, I live in Abraq Khaitan, an area where mostly expatriates reside. I want to raise one issue. It is really difficult to find a parking place in this area. I am more concerned about company employees living in Khaitan, Jleeb and others who park their company vehicles in this residential area. It is illegal to park huge vehicles like trucks, half lorries, pick-up truck vans in this area, posing an inconvenience to families who own a small car. I hope the concerned department will be able to take this matter up. This will also solve the parking issue in expatriate residential areas.

Thanks Imran Hi Muna, I am just recovering from a bout of flu. It has taken nearly three weeks for me to recover. I would have loved the luxury of lying in bed for a week. But, the maximum number of sick days a government clinic issues is three. Of course, the first day was spent going to the workplace to get a sick leave paper, and then heading back to the clinic. From there, I was referred to the hospital, just in case. I eventually managed to get back home after 1 pm, feeling much worse, but only had two days left from the three (days) to recover. Even with the strongest antibiotics available, I was still too unwell to work properly two days later, but had to go back to work. And it took much longer to clear up because I was working!

Please tell me who in Kuwait has the luxury of being able to lie in bed for a week? Since no one can, we need antibiotics. They work!

Regards, I Wheeler

kuwait digest

No bachelors in residential areas

kuwait digest

Post oil Kuwaitis

By Omar Al-Tabtabaei Case 1: Name: Moudhi Khaled.

Nationality: Kuwaiti.

Date of birth: Years after the end of the oil era.

Qualifications: High school graduate with 2 years experience working as a domestic worker in Dubai.

Case 2: Name: Ziad Tareq.

Nationality: Kuwaiti.

Date of birth: Years after the end of the oil era.

Qualifications: Primary school degree with experience working as a janitor in a university in Qatar.

Many might condemn what is mentioned above the moment they read it. I don’t blame them for thinking that way when we are still reaping the benefits of the oil wealth. But let us try for a second to think about Kuwait after the full depletion of oil. Let us try to imagine what Kuwait will be like in the future, given the current methods by which the state is run. Of course, there will be Kuwaitis born in the post oil era. The question, today, is what have we prepared for them?

It would be disastrous to leave the post oil generations to face their future without paving the way for them, given the capabilities we currently have to do so. It would be a crime if we fail to provide the necessary requirements by which the future generations can tackle their grand challenges. If we can’t build a society that is economically, socially and politically strong today, how can we expect for our children to do so when they don’t have oil resources?

Despite the state’s massive oil

resources, Kuwait faces a serious unemployment problem that we currently do not see true efforts to resolve from either Parliament or the Cabinet. Therefore, how can we ensure a decent life to Kuwaitis

It would be disastrous to leave the post oil generations to face their future without paving the way for them, given the capabilities we currently have to do so. It would be a crime if we fail to provide the necessary requirements by which the future generations can tackle their grand challenges. If we can’t build a society that is economically, socially and politically strong today, how can we expect for our children to do so when they don’t have oil resources?

born in the post-oil era?

We have been blessed with immense oil revenues, which are not utilized to provide a better future for the children of this country. This makes me wonder what the real reasons are that lead decision makers to ignore the future for the next generation and even the current young generation, among whom are many who are currently thinking of opportunities abroad to secure their future.

The Government can carry out investments in Kuwait, such as factories which can provide job opportunities in addition to diversifying the national source of income. For example, can you imagine how profitable a paper factory can be if it is built and becomes the sole supplier of paper to all state departments?

Post oil Kuwaitis need more than just a fund, where part of the current surplus is saved. They need a change in the current social culture in order to build the foundations of a society that can achieve a decent life through productivity.

But if current state management policies remain, then God help Kuwaitis born after the end of the oil era.

P.S. I agree with the demands to establish a state-owned company for domestic workers’ recruitment to replace current recruitment agencies. It can be very profitable, because it assures that all members of Kuwaiti society will be their customers. Meanwhile, it can help Kuwaitis find job opportunities abroad during the post-oil era.. if necessary.

P.S.S. The names mentioned in this article are fake. —Al-Rai

By Khalid Al-Arafa

W

ho is responsible for renting out flats to bachelors in private residential areas? This question comes to every citizen’s mind and they find no solution for it. Under prevailing laws, they are not allowed to take up residence in ‘family-oriented’ areas. However, we find them clustered together at the heart of such areas. This only shows that laws are not enforced in this country.

An additional legislation need not be passed to remedy this situation. A tripartite committee comprising Housing, Municipality and Electricity has already been entrusted with this matter.

An additional legislation need not be passed to remedy this situation. A tripartite committee comprising Housing, Municipality and Electricity has already been entrusted with this matter.

Unfortunately, nothing has been implemented and the phenomenon is spiraling out of control in the absence of supervision and lack of law enforcement. In some residential areas, bachelors outnumber citizens. Only swift intervention can solve this problem before another Khaitan area is created.

Previously, the fact that they were living there was kept a secret, but now it is out in the open, indicating a lack of respect for the law.

The right remedy to be taken is to enforce the law on citizens who lease their homes to bachelors.

This can be followed by disconnecting power supplies. If the violation is repeated, then the homes occupied by bachelors should be re-possessed, and bachelors should be evicted. If a citizen has an extra house, it can be sold to compatriots who are on the waiting list to receive government housing.

We hope that all concerned parties will hold officials responsible for the problem of failure to enforce the law . Residential areas should be purged of bachelors, as their presence has led to increasing crime rates. Officials must speed up the construction of specially designated areas where bachelors can live. This was approved by the Municipal Council. This is so that our areas do not become dominated by bachelors and lose privacy. — Al-Anbaa

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

local

South Africa Freedom Day (Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Delarey Van Tonder on Freedom Day Reception 23 April 2012, Marina Hotel - Kuwait City) Your Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour of the State of Kuwait, Ambassadors and Head of Diplomatic Missions, Distinguished Guests, Fellow South Africans: Allow me to warmly welcome you on the occasion of the 18th celebration of South Africa’s Freedom day.

A special word of welcome to our Guest of Honor, General Ahmad Al Rujeib.

In celebrating our freedom and democracy, I wish to pay a solemn tribute to those South Africans who sacrificed their lives in the liberation struggle. Their legacy will remain with us forever.

As South Africans we are immensely proud about achieving a free and democratic society. This was based on three fundamental principles, sometimes referred to as the South Africa miracle by cynical commentators. These principles remain valid today and they are: • A democracy which was determined by the will of the majority of the people of South Africa.

• A democracy which was home grown and peacefully negotiated.

• A democratic process which did not necessitate outside intervention.

However, South Africa will always remain indebted to the international community and African brothers and sisters and the multilateral system in providing the necessary support for those seeking freedom and justice and an in isolating the Apartheid regime.

Your Excellency, in the continued transformation, reconstruction and development of our country, we face many daunting challenges especially in addressing existing inequalities in our society.

We are therefore grateful for the continued Kuwaiti investment in our countries tourism infrastructure and human development projects.

Distinguished guests, please allow me some words of recognition for tonight’s celebratory events: • GM of Marina, KES school orchestra, South African drummers, Meat Company and Butcher’s Grill.

Thank you Delarey Van Tonder Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa State of Kuwait

Developing psychiatric care in Kuwait ‘vital’ KUWAIT: Developing psychiatric care is within the Health Ministry’s priorities, thus, the ministry is holding the 4th Kuwait Psychiatric Conference aimed at further enhancing treatment within such field, said an official here yesterday. In the opening speech of the event delivered by Health Ministry Undersecretary Omar Al-Sayed Omar, on part of Health Minister Dr Ali AlObeidi, the official said that the three-day event would focus on educating and spreading awareness on the psychiatric health of children.

He noted that the psychological wellbeing of the parents would reflect positive-

ly on their children, adding that psychiatry was an ever developing field of medicine that required practitioners to further expand their skills.

On her part, head of the conference Dr Haya Al-Mutairi said in her speech that psychiatric facilities in the Arab world were in need for development and integration to provide the best medical care available. The conference is witnessing the participation of medical officials from Saudi Arabia and the UK, Al-Mutairi indicated, adding that workshops would be held on the sideline of the conference to provide latest treatment within the psychiatric field. —KUNA

A group photo

New partnership extends VIVA distributor network in Kuwait KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with X7 Group Telecom, one of Kuwait’s leading mobile distributors, to become an authorized VIVA distributor across Kuwait.

Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran, VIVA’s chief executive officer said: “We are pleased to partner with X7 Group Telecom as our latest VIVA distributor in Kuwait. X7 has a great reputation as being one of the fastest growing mobile retailers, and a superb track record in terms of sales and customer service, so I am sure they will help us to grow our business successfully. Our partnership with X7 adds a further 12 branches to our distribution network across Kuwait. This will make it more convenient than ever before for our customers to get advice as well as being able to directly access our wide range of sector leading services and products.

“We are keen to ensure that our customers get the very latest and best services possible and we are sure that X7 will provide the level of service which we know our customers want and expect,” added Al-Badran.

Michal Al-Ghabishan, CEO of X7 said: “We are extremely proud of our agreement with VIVA, and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership. We aim to offer customers the latest products and services presented by VIVA along with the latest mobile and smartphone devices and accessories. We have been in the market since 2009 and have a strong

customer base which will benefit from our new partnership with VIVA.” With this latest partnership, VIVA has reiterated its commitment to continuously provide unique services designed to exceed the customers’ expectations, as the main objective of the company is to satisfy the customers in every possible way by adding real value to the customers experience while enjoying unrivalled communication.

For more information about VIVA’s latest promotions customers can visit any of VIVA’s 14 branches or authorized dealers, or simply visit the website www.viva.com.kw VIVA is the newest, most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider in Kuwait. Launched in December 2008, VIVA makes things Possible for our customers by transforming communication, information and entertainment experiences. The company has rapidly established an unrivalled position in the market through our customer and employee centric approach. VIVA’s quest is to be the mobile brand of choice for Kuwait by being transparent, engaging, energetic and fulfilling. VIVA continues to take a considerable share of the market by offering an innovative range of best value products, services and content propositions; a state of the art, nationwide network and world-class service.

VIVA offers Internet speed up to 42.2Mbps due to the implementation of the most advanced third generation (3G and HSDPA) network in Kuwait resulting in superior coverage, performance and reliability.

Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran and Michal Al-Ghabishan signing the partnership agreement

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Delarey Van Tonder, hosted a reception at Salwa Sabah Al-Ahmad Hall on the occasion of ‘Freedom Day’ on Tuesday evening. High-ranking officials, diplomats and media figures attended the event.— Photos by Joseph Shagra

Domestic worker held for child molestation Lover flees ‘naked’ in Mishref KUWAIT: A domestic worker was arrested for molesting her sponsor’s seven-year-old daughter. A case was filed at Sabah Al-Salem police station recently by the child’s mother after learning of the crime accidentally. According to a security source, the 34-year-old Kuwaiti woman was alarmed to notice blood stains on the victim’s underwear, before learning from the girl that she was molested by the family’s housemaid. The woman rushed her daughter to the police station, where the victim reportedly told investigators that she was repeatedly assaulted, and did not inform her mother earlier in fear of the assaulter. The 39-year-old Indian woman was arrested, pending a forensic examination report.

House collapse Two people were injured when a house collapsed recently in Al-Doha. The two men, a citizen and a bedoon (stateless) resident, were reportedly alone in the house when the mishap took place. The citizen’s wife and children were at office and school respectively. They suffered multiple bruises and fractures and were admitted at Al-Sabah Hospital. Preliminary investigations indicate that the building’s weak foundation combined with the pressure brought on by the construction of an extra floor contributed to the collapse. Three cars were destroyed completely in the mishap.

Bootleggers in custody Some construction workers were arrested in Saad Al-Abdullah after allegedly storing alcohol in their company’s headquarters for trading purposes. The arrest took place after investigation began. Jahra Police were tipped off about construction workers’ activities that targeted teenagers in Saad Al-Abdullah. Police obtained a warrant to raid the company in question. A number of Chinese workers were arrested with possession of liquor. The suspects remain in custody pending further action.

Drunk man held A drunk man was arrested in Al-Firdous after his family restrained him and called the police.

Officers reached a location in the area after a citizen reported that he beat up his brother in a drunken stupor. Before police arrived, the suspect was overpowered and tied up by his brothers and father. The man faces alcohol use and physical abuse charges.

Egyptian caught A man took to his heels naked, from a Mishref home after being caught in a compromising position with a housemaid, and ending up in police custody. While patrolling late at night, officers were alerted by the sight of a young man running along the street wearing

Three NBK customers enjoy UEFA Champions League semi-final live KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) offered three NBK MasterCard credit cardholders the opportunity to attend UEFA Champions League semi -final matches that took place in Barcelona.

Another three NBK MasterCard Credit Cardholders will have the chance to attend the final match in Munich. The second and final draw will be held next week.

The UEFA Champions League is one of the world’s most popular sporting events, and NBK is the only bank in Kuwait offering its MasterCard credit cardholders a chance to win one of six fully paid packages to watch the UEFA Champions League 2011/2012 semifinals and finals .

Each travel pack age includes two round trip airline tickets, hotel accommodation, transfer service and match tickets for both winner and a guest.

This exclusive campaign offers one chance to enter the draws for every KD 10 spent using NBK MasterCard for all purchases. Cardholders can also double their chances to win while spending overseas during traveling or through purchases made online at overseas merchants.

NBK Credit Cards are accepted worldwide and are the safest, most convenient and rewarding ways to pay. Benefits include free travel insurance, complimentary airport lounge access, concierge service, purchase protection, extended warranty and more. The award winning NBK Rewards loyalty program rewards NBK Credit Cardholders with a range of valuable discounts and a point redemption schemes redeemable at numerous shops and restaurants throughout Kuwait.

For more information log onto nbk.com or contact Hala Watani on 1801801.

Insufficient urban areas, prime cause of traffic congestion KUWAIT: The main cause of traffic congestion is the tiny and insufficient urban areas in Kuwait, Director of Traffic Engineering Department at the Ministry of Interior Col Saadoun Al-Khalidi said yesterday.

Addressing a workshop on government efforts to reduce traffic accidents, hosted

by Al-Omari High School, Al-Khalidi pointed out that urban areas make up only eight percent of Kuwait.

Al-Khalidi also listed several other reasons for the traffic congestion including the failure to implement road expansions since 1980s, presence of highways in crowded areas and retreat of public transport.

He underlined the importance of planning of roads as technical errors may be the cause of the several accidents.

“The number of traffic accident deaths in Kuwait rose in 2011 to 493 deaths, vis-avis 374 cases in 2010. The mortality rate of accidents in Kuwait is 15 cases per 100

thousand people per year while the global average is five cases per 100 thousand people,” Al-Khalidi said.

The Colonel added that the number of vehicles in Kuwait until the end of 2011 amounted to 2.64 million vehicles, almost a vehicle for every person, while the number of driving licenses issued hit 2.26 million until the end of last year.

He unveiled that the Ministry of the Interior has plans to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents over the period 2010-2014.

The workshop, organized in cooperation with the ministries of public works and education as well as Kuwait Science Club, was also attended by several MoI officials including Head of the MoI Department of Operations Lieutenant Col Ibrahim Al-Jalal, Traffic Verdicts Enforcement at Jahra Traffic Directorate Major Nasser Al-Enzi and Head of the Traffic Awareness Section Maj Abdullah Abdul-Salam. —- KUNA

nothing but a plastic bag used to desperately cover himself. The man, an Egyptian citizen, said nothing when police stopped him. After inquiring with the operations room, officers learnt that a citizen had just registered a complaint with police about the man. He was referred to concerned authorities so that further action can be taken.

Principal attacked A search is currently ongoing for three men who stormed a school in Al-Fahaheel and attacked its principal. The suspects are citizens who entered the school to deliberately attack the principal. The victim was administered treatment at Al-Adan Hospital.

Kidnap attempt Crime scene investigators’ presence helped a boy escape kidnap in Al-Waha recently. The officers were reportedly examining a crime scene when children from a nearby school approached them and sought help. They said that a boy was being bundled into a car by two school mates. Thanks to their timely intervention, the attempt was thwarted. Investigators took the child to the area’s police station to record his testimony after a case filed in the incident. A search for the suspect is underway.

—Al-Rai, Al-Anbaa, Al-Watan

Mexico hosting Asian culture fest MEXICO CITY: Head of Government of the Federal District and Mayor of Mexico City Marcelo Luis Ebrard held a joint press conference, Tuesday night, with Kuwaiti Ambassador Samih Jowhar Hayatt to shed light on the first Asian culture festival to be held here April 26 to 29.

Hayatt is head of the accredited Asian ambassadors in Mexico and would be supervising the organization of the event which is sponsored by Mayor Ebrard.

The ambassador expressed gratitude for the great cooperation and facilities extended by the authorities to help organize the festival, and stressed such gatherings boost mutual understanding and appreciation among Asian peoples.

For her part, General Coordinator for International Relations of the Government of Mexico City Francesca Ramos Morgan said this Asian group gesture is of great value and praised the Kuwaiti initiative behind it, also expressing appreciation for group chairman Hayatt’s efforts in this regard.—- KUNA

Sheikh Ali meets Chinese officials GUANGZHOU, China: Kuwait Capital Governor Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held yesterday an extended meeting with the Chinese Guangdong Vice Governor Zhao Yufang.

During the meeting, Yufang thanked Sheikh Ali for his welcomed visit to Guangdong, hoping it would give impetus to bilateral ties.

She added that the exchanging visits between senior officials of both countries help achieve the desired development in economic, commercial and industrial cooperation. Yufang said work in the Kuwait-Chinese joint petrochemical complex in Guangzhou is in full swing, hoping it would be a real translation of the strong Kuwaiti-Chinese relations.

She underlined that Guangdong has made great stride in the economic sector in the past years, noting that the province contributes 13 percent of the total Chinese income.

Yufang pointed out that Guangdong economy is ranked third on the list of the most strong economies among Chinese cities.

For his part, Governor of the Capital Sheikh Ali said talks with the senior officials of Chinese government revealed deep desire to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation, especially in the fields of energy, trade and industry.

Sheikh Ali praised the level of Kuwaiti-Chinese relations in the past few years. — KUNA

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

LOCAL

ROPME holds key role in environment protection Exhibition to mark anniversary

DOHA: Ahmad Barrak Al-Haifi pictured with Ambassador Ali Sulaiman Al-Haifi.

Kuwaiti delegation satisfied with Qatar visit DOHA: A Kuwaiti delegation ended its official visit to Qatar yesterday after open discussion on many issues of mutual interest and having strengthened the bonds between the two nations and peoples.

Ahmad Barrak Al-Haifi, head of the delegation, said the activities and field visits by delegation members were satisfactory. All meetings tackled important issues and yielded positive outcomes, he said.

Al-Haifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Parliament Activities, recalled the meetings with Qatari Consultative Council

Speaker, Mohammad Al-Khulaifi, with Deputy Premier and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Ahmad Al Mahmoud, and Kuwaiti Ambassador, Ali Sulaiman AlHaifi.

Such official visits, he noted, boost joint action within the GCC region.

The efforts to guarantee this particular visit’s success on the part of the Qatari authorities and Kuwaiti Embassy are praiseworthy, he said.

The Kuwaiti delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) has held an environmental paintings exhibition for school students of ROPME member states in coordination with the Environment Public Authority and the Ministry of Education. Dr. Salah Al-Mudhi, ROPME’s Board Chairman and Director General, read a statement during the inaugural ceremony late on Tuesday on behalf of the sponsor of the event, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.

The exhibition was held on the occasion of celebrating Regional Environmental Day by

regional states that signed the 1978 Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment.

The Kuwaiti accord stipulates combating pollution, and protecting the environment from the degradation of living means, he said, noting that oil contamination is the numberone hazard in waters of the Gulf.

Such pollution is caused by mushrooming oil facilities, recurring ship accidents, fires, accidental blasts at oil installations and armed struggles.

Al-Mudhi noted that the event is held under the theme, protecting mangrove trees.

Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Awadhi, ROPME

Executive Secretary of ROPME, affirmed the necessity of protecting marine mangrove trees, namely Qurum trees, because they are part of the biological diversity and a habitat for diverse species of birds and micro sea creatures. These trees can grow in temperatures ranging between 19 and 42 degrees.

Students of the Omar Bint Masoud elementary school depicted the life of a Qurum tree. The audience was shown a film about this unique species of tree that lives on beaches with high and lows tides. Symbolic awards were distributed to winners of a contest. —KUNA

$146 million for 24 km road in Lebanon BEIRUT: Nawaf Al-Dabbous, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) representative inspected yesterday the construction site of a main road linking the district of AlHazmiah, just east of Beirut, to the resort town of Sofar, located in approximately the middle of the Beirut-Damascus highway.

The project is aimed at facilitating the flow of traffic between the capital and several

regions, namely Mount Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and neighboring countries, said Al-Dabbous.

KFAED is funding basic sections of the venture, such as AlSayyad Roundabout, located at the eastern entrance of Beirut where tunnels and causeways were being built, as well as Camille Chamoun Boulevard, also a key road intersection on the outskirts of the capital.

Large parts of the project

will be finished by the end of the summer and the whole venture will be executed by the end of the year, he added.

The venture also includes renovation of a five kilometer long section between AlSayyad roundabout and the town of Al-Hazmiyeh, located on hills overlooking the capital.

Three bridges and relays will be built in Al-Fayadiah district, where the Ministry of Defense is located.

It also aims to build other tunnels and causeways farther eastward, in addition to beautifying the market of the resort town of Bhamdoun, a favorite recreational destination for many Kuwaiti tourists. In total, the project aims at rebuilding a road stretching for 24 kilometers at a projected cost of USD 146 million.

KFAED has offered 17 loans to Lebanon since 1966 — valued at $550 million.—KUNA

Minister lauds Bohaimed achievement ABU DHABI: The accomplishment of Kuwait University’s (KU) Dr Manal Bohaimed at the fifth Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed educational awards is a source of pride to Kuwaiti educators, said Kuwait’s Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Nayef Al-Hajraf here yesterday.

Al-Hajraf said on the sideline of the event that the achievement of Bohaimed was a sign that Kuwait University (KU) is still one of the prestigious educational institutions in the GCC region. The Minister also

Buoy maintenance operations KUWAIT: Kuwaiti divers have begun conducting complete maintenance operations on buoys by marking coral reefs around southern shores and islands, the Environmental Voluntar y Foundation(EVF) announced yesterday.

“Work groups are fully prepared to conduct operations as part of the annual maintenance work held for the 18th consecutive year,” said Waleed Al-Shatti, Marine Operations Super visor in the Kuwait Diving Team. The operations take place at coral reef offshore the

Qarouh, Um Al-Maradem and Kubbar islands, as well as Ras AlZoor, Bnaider, Arifjan and Khairan beaches.

The campaign will be carried out in cooperation with the Coastguard General Department, supported by the General Secretariat of Awqaf.

SCPD, civil society representatives mull development priorities KUWAIT: The General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (SCPD) started a series of meetings with representatives of 112 civil society organizations and private sector firms to consider the priorities of the second medium-term development plan. In a press statement, the joint media committee of the state development program said the

meetings are being held under the patronage of Minister of Public Works, Minister of State for Planning and Development, Fadhel Safar.

The SCPD is seeking the proposals and recommendations of the organizations to help achieve His Highness the Amir’s vision to turn Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub in the region. The

statement revealed that the SCPD held its meeting with civil society and private sector firms on Tuesday.

The conferees underlined the importance of unifying statistical reports of all government and nongovernment entities, overcoming all obstacles and encouraging scientific research as well as increasing licenses for high-quality private educational institutions. —KUNA

lauded the UAE’s leadership for holding an event that encourages Gulf educators to excel in their profession. Meanwhile, the Minister touched on the ministry’s future plans, noting that second deliberations on the Jaber Al-Ahmad University would begin at the Kuwaiti parliament tomorrow, hoping that the bill for the project would pass to develop education in Kuwait. He also noted that the ministry would be increasing the numbers of local and international schol-

arships for Kuwaiti students.

On her part, Dr. Bohaimed dedicated her win to the Kuwaiti people and leadership, affirming that she would continue her path to raise new generations of Kuwaiti students for the purpose of the development and prosperity of Kuwait.

The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed awards announced the winners of the event’s 31 prizes in various educational fields yesterday with six participants from four Arab countries, including Kuwait, winning. — KUNA

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Global famine if Pakistan, India unleash their nukes

Indian child marriage annulled in landmark case

Page 12

Page 12

DUMA: Photo shows vehicles destroyed during a Syrian government offensive in the Syrian city of Duma. (Inset) Image shows the bodies of two victims killed during the Syrian government offensive in Qusayr. — AFP

17 killed across Syria; UN lampooned Security forces attack bus; Heavy fighting in Deraa BEIRUT: At least fourteen civilians and three soldiers were killed yesterday in violence across Syria, a rights watchdog said, 13 days after a tenuous truce came into effect. Syrian security forces shot dead four civilians on a bus in the northern province of Idlib yesterday, dissidents said, as international pressure built on Damascus to honor UN-backed ceasefire pledges to order soldiers and tanks back to barracks.

In the latest violence to undermine the flaky 13-day-old truce, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the four were killed at a checkpoint on the main road from Aleppo to the capital. It said an elderly man was killed in heavy fighting in the southern city of Deraa, crucible of the revolt against President Bashar Al-Assad that flared after Arab uprisings elsewhere. A woman who visited Douma on Tuesday night said the largely antiAssad town east of the capital had been under constant shelling and was without water, power or mobile phone signal.

“There was bombardment all night. Artillery and tanks. We didn’t sleep at all. Not for a moment,” the woman told Reuters in neighboring Lebanon. “Most residents have gone down to live on the ground floor because most of the second and third floors have been hit.” There was no mention of the bus shooting or bombardment in Syria’s rigidly controlled media or comment from the authorities in Damascus, which has barred most foreign journalists since

the revolt started more than 13 months ago.

Former UN Secretary-General and ceasefire broker Kofi Annan told the Security Council on Tuesday that Syria had failed to withdraw weapons from population centres in violation of the terms of the April 12 truce.

UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION The latest violence, occurring two days after 31 people were killed in Hama city immediately after UN ceasefire monitors left the area, may prompt more diplomatic pressure on Damascus.

“The situation in Syria continues to be unacceptable,” Annan said, according to a transcript. “The Syria authorities must implement their commitments in full and a cessation of violation in all its forms must be respected by all parties.”

He also noted reports that security forces were targeting people who had met members of the fledgling UN monitoring mission, which is meant to end a conflict in which the United Nations says at least 9,000 people have been killed. Damascus says 2,600 of its security personnel have been killed by the anti-Assad armed groups that operate in parts of the country of 23 million. Speaking to the 15-nation Security Council, Annan stressed the need to get “eyes and ears on the ground”, although so far there are only 15 unarmed monitors in Syria out of a planned final team of 300 to be deployed under the acronym UNSMIS. Reasons for the slow deployment are not clear.

Activists say even the minimal UNSMIS pres-

ence has led to a drop in the daily death toll, but UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said it would take a month to deploy the first 100 monitors - a timeline that drew derision from many Syrians. “It takes them a month to arrive? Are they coming on horses?” asked a resident of Homs, a city which has endured sustained army shelling. He declined to give his real name.

Amateur videographers have filmed the small teams of monitors travelling in their distinctive blue UN helmets and bullet-proof vests meeting rebels and residents of shelled neighborhoods in towns and cities across the country.

In a display of Syrian black humor, some have also mocked the monitors, appearing on video in spoof blue uniforms and with blacked-out glasses and tissue paper stuffed into their ears pretending neither to see nor hear anything untoward. “After one month we will have maybe 1,000 or 2,000 people killed - it’s ridiculous. How can the international community watch without moving quickly?” asked Mousab Al-Hamadi, an opposition resident in Hama province, a hotbed of the revolt.

RUSSIAN DOUBTS Annan said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid AlMoualem had written to him saying that “the withdrawal of massed troops and heavy weapons from in and around population centers is now complete and military operations have ceased”. However, Annan’s team also cited satellite imagery as evidence that tanks are lurking

out of sight on the outskirts of cities, and even Syria’s ally Russia voiced concern. Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said it would be worrying if Damascus had failed to withdraw troops and weapons. “If this is the case, if the promise in the letter has not really been carried out, that would mean it is a breach of the promise they made on Saturday,” Churkin said. “I’m certainly going to bring it to the attention of Moscow.”

Throughout the conflict, Russia has been one of Syria’s few friends, providing protection at the United Nations from any Security Council measures against Assad’s government. France said it still supported Annan’s peace plan but could not do so forever unless Syria implemented it fully.

“The regime must not get it wrong this time,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.

“It cannot continue to mislead the international community for much longer. When the time comes, we will have to take the necessary measures required if the situation on the ground continues.”

For all the rhetoric, France and other Western powers have few tools to dislodge Assad, who succeeded his long-ruling father Hafez al-Assad in 2000 and who has brushed aside all calls to hand over power. They are particularly wary of military intervention similar to NATO’s Libya air campaign that helped topple Muammar Gaddafi for fear it could draw in powerful Assad allies such as Iran and Hezbollah militants and further destabilize the Middle East. — Agencies

Pakistan tests nuke-capable missile ISLAMABAD: Pakistan successfully test fired a nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile yesterday, the military said, less than a week after India test launched a long range missile. The exact range of the missile was not revealed, but retired General Talat Masood, a defense analyst, told AFP intermediate range ballistic missiles could reach targets up to 2,500 to 3,000 kilometers away-which would put almost all of arch-rival India within reach. Today India test fired its long range Agni V missile, which can deliver a one-ton nuclear warhead anywhere in China.

“Pakistan today successfully conducted the launch of the intermediate range ballistic missile Hatf IV Shaheen-1A weapon system,” Pakistan’s military said in a statement. India and Pakistan-which have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 - have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998. Pakistan’s most recent missile test came last month with the launch of the short-range nuclear-capable Abdali, while in April 2008 it

tested the Shaheen II, or Hatf VI, missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers.

Yesterday’s missile, which landed in the sea, was a version of the Shaheen-1 with improvements in range and technical parameters, the military said, and can carry nuclear and conventional warheads. “This is part of Pakistan’s program to develop nuclear and missile deterrence. It has a series of missiles in its inventory.

This is perhaps the longest range missile in its program,” retired general Masood told said.

“The whole object is essentially India-centric while India’s own program is directed towards China. Pakistan is engaged in improving its missile system as India continues to increase its capability.”

Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai congratulated scientists and engineers on the successful launch, and the accuracy of the missile in reaching the target. He said the improved version of Shaheen 1A would further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan’s deterrence abilities. Pakistan’s arsenal includes short, medium

and long range missiles named after Muslim conquerors. India’s missile test last week brought a muted international response, with China downplaying its significance, insisting the countries were partners not rivals, and Washington calling for “restraint” among nuclear powers.

This was in sharp contrast to the widespread fury and condemnation that greeted North Korea’s unsuccessful test launch of a long-range rocket on April 13. India and Pakistan were on the brink of war in 2002 over the disputed territory of Kashmir, but a slow-moving peace dialogue resumed last March after a three-year suspension following the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. India and the United States blamed the attacks on Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Islamabad later admitted that the assault was at least partly planned in Pakistan. A study published on Tuesday claimed that more than a billion people worldwide could starve if India and Pakistan unleash nuclear weapons as even a limited nuclear war would cause major climate disruptions. — AFP

News

in brief

‘Muslim garb crimes’ PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia-area Muslims are offering a cash reward in a series of crimes committed by men using women’s Islamic garb to conceal their identities. Islamic leaders say they’re concerned the crimes could make Muslim women the targets of mistrust or even violence. An organization representing dozens of Muslim congregations is offering $20,000 following a string of bank holdups and a homicide. Perpetrators wore Muslim garb in five bank robberies since December. A man charged with an April 18 killing in a barber shop allegedly wore a woman’s robe as part of a robbery ruse. District Attorney Seth Williams appealed for the public’s help, calling the criminals “cowards.”

Madeleine McCann ‘could still be alive’ LONDON: British police reviewing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished in 2007 in Portugal at the age of four, said yesterday they genuinely believed she could still be alive. The Scotland Yard team sifting through a wealth of material in the case said they had so far identified 195 “investigative opportunities” that could be followed up.

Madeleine disappeared from the family’s holiday flat in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal on May 3, 2007. Scotland Yard urged the Portuguese authorities to reopen the search as they released a computer-aged image of how Madeleine might look as she approaches what would be her ninth birthday on May 12. “We genuinely believe there is a possibility that she is alive,” Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood from Scotland Yard’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command told reporters. “And we are currently developing material which we believe represents genuinely new information. “From the outset we have approached this review with a completely open mind, placing Madeleine McCann at the heart of everything we do.

Swazi king gets birthday jet amid financial crisis

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION: A Hatf IV Shaheen-1A nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile blasted off from an undisclosed location in Pakistan.— AFP

MBABANE: Swazi King Mswati III has received a jet for his 44th birthday, despite the tiny country’s crippling financial crisis, the prime minister said on state radio yesterday. Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini said the king now owns a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 twin-engine jet, but insisted the plane was a gift to be used by Mswati and his 13 wives. “His majesty’s government has the honor to announce to the nation that the king has received a gift of a DC-9 aircraft from development partners and friends of the king, to be used by their majesties for travels abroad,” Dlamini said. Mswati celebrated his birthday on April 19 with a three million rand ($386,000, 293,000 euros), partly paid by the state. He is rated

by Forbes magazine as the world’s 15th richest monarch with a personal fortune of $100 million, but he reins over one of the world’s poorest nations. The Swaziland Diaspora Platform, a human rights group based in South Africa, has rejected the government’s explanation for the jet.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

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

Libya bans religious, tribal, ethnic parties Ex-rebels in Jordan for training

HEGLIG: Sudanese state Minister of Information Sana Hamad (center) poses for a photo with Sudanese armed forces at the oil-rich border town of Heglig, Sudan. — AP

AU urges Khartoum to stop bombing S Sudan South Sudan frees prisoners of war ADDIS ABABA: The African Union called on Sudan to stop its aerial bombardment of South Sudan and for both countries to cease hostilities as an uneasy calm settled over the south yesterday with a lull in violence. Sudan and South Sudan must withdraw their forces from the disputed border region and keep their troops within their borders, the AU Peace and Security Council said in a statement released after a council meeting late Tuesday.

The AU also said the two neighboring countries should stop issuing inflammatory statements and propaganda that could escalate the conflict. South Sudan President Salva Kiir had said Tuesday that Sudan had “declared war” on his country following the north’s repeated bombing of the south. Kiir’s comments, made during a trip to China, signal a rise in rhetoric between the rival nations who spent decades at war with each other. Neither side has officially declared war.

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir gave a fiery speech last week in which he said there will be no negotiations with the “poisonous insects” who are challenging Sudan’s claim to a disputed territory near the border. South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed 2 million people. Sudan and South Sudan have been drawing closer to a full-scale war in recent weeks over the unresolved issues of oil revenues and their disputed border. The violence has drawn alarm and condemnation from the international community.

The AU said Sudan and South Sudan must resume negotiations over their disputes, which collapsed earlier this month in Ethiopia when two the countries started attacking each other. In January, the landlocked South Sudan shut down oil production and accused Sudan of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of oil it shipped through its northern

neighbor. Sudan responded by bombing the South’s oil fields.

Meanwhile, South Sudan yesterday freed 14 Sudanese prisoners of war as a “goodwill gesture” despite weeks of fierce fighting along their contested border. “It is a goodwill gesture... on a humanitarian basis,” said ministry of defense official General Kuol Deng Abot, as the soldiers were handed over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Earlier this month, South Sudan invaded the oil-rich town of Helgig, which was in the control of Sudan but which both countries claim. South Sudan’s government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that troops from the south had withdrawn from the Heglig on Monday, but that Sudan continued with aerial bombardment of the south. The UN Mission in South Sudan confirmed that at least 16 civilians in South Sudan were killed and 34 injured in bombings by Sudanese aircraft in Unity State, Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations told reporters in New York Tuesday. She said the mission reported that the bombings also caused significant damage to infrastructure.

In the South Sudan region of Panakuac, which has seen days of air and ground attacks, violence subsided yesterday and people were out in the streets.

South Sudan government spokesman Benjamin also said there was no reported incidents of violence by yesterday afternoon in much of the south, though he cautioned he was still receiving reports from various regions. A Chinese official said yesterday Kiir had to cut short a fiveday visit to China because of the rising threat of war at home. Kiir originally planned to spend five days in China, a key economic and strategic partner for the newly independent country. It remained unclear exactly when he would return to South Sudan. — Agencies

Hopes for a new Egypt marred by corruption Business climate tainted by bribery CAIRO: At a Cairo vehicle license bureau, despondency finally gave way to despair.

In the heaving crowd, which had been waiting with little to do but watch the insects creep across the walls, scuffles broke out. The clerk behind the glass sat sipping tea, apparently unperturbed by the tumult. With no waiting list, he smiled across the crowd at the bestdressed man in the room and a woman wearing pricey sunglasses, who acknowledged his glance and pressed forward to be served first.

It is a scene that is sadly familiar to many Egyptians, who dread applying for official documents knowing they may have to spend hours, days or even weeks waiting in grubby offices to complete the paperwork that consumes their lives.

In spite of the seeming chaos, a finelytuned system is at work, one that lines the pockets of state employees, deprives poorer citizens of the right to basic services and stifles the economy. Pervasive corruption - petty and on a grand scale was one of the main grievances that brought Egyptians onto the streets to topple President Hosni Mubarak in February last year. Mubarak, his sons and several members of the political-business elite they nurtured are now on trial, charged with creaming off national wealth while millions suffered in poverty.

Some Mubarak associates have already been jailed, stirring hopes for a new era of accountability, especially once an elected government is in place following the country’s first free presidential election in May and June. But that spirit is still in short supply at state offices across the capital. Some people waiting for paperwork complain that low-level graft has become even worse since the uprising because of lax law enforcement. Weary citizens list an entire vocabulary of gestures, glances and phrases to show a palm must be greased.

“I wish you a trouble-free day,” “Offer me a cup of tea,” and “Help me buy something nice for the kids,” are often

accompanied by a knowing smile. Many Egyptians refer to bribes with the euphemism “Al-halawah” - “the reward”. “It turned out that ousting Mubarak was easy but removing his corruption is mission impossible,” said Tarek Mahmoud, a tall, thin 35-year-old with a slim black beard and dark eyes.

Mahmoud said he had been waiting months for a licence to set up a snack stall after an accident ended his work as a taxi driver and left him unable to walk without sticks. “I have no connections and no money to pay bribes, so not a single official will even listen to me,” he said.

“I don’t want to go home. I would rather stay on the streets than face my wife and six children who are waiting for me to bring them food.” Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index put Egypt at 112th out of a total of 182 countries in 2011, with 1 representing the country with the least corrupt public sector.

A policeman in his thirties, one of three state employees who told Reuters they take bribes, boasted of his technique. He waits outside state buildings where car licences and other documents are disbursed and offers to speed up routine paperwork in exchange for 50 Egyptian pounds ($8.27) per client. “I find someone who looks like they’re in a hurry to get the job done and are willing to pay for it. I have a talent for spotting such people,” he said with obvious pride. Government officers go along with his scam and in return he gives them easy access to police services, or just a cup of tea. The kickbacks, he said, often total more than his entire salary of 650 Egyptian pounds ($110) per month. “That is why jobs like mine are in demand,” said the policeman. “I would not call what I get from people for doing them services bribes. I would rather call it financial support.” A 50-year-old court secretary said he can make up to 1,000 pounds in a day from bribes he takes in exchange for providing access to court documents. — Reuters

TRIPOLI: Libya, preparing for elections in June, has banned parties based on religion, tribe or ethnicity, the government said yesterday, and a new Islamist party viewed as a leading contender signaled it would challenge the decision. National Transitional Council spokesman Mohammed Al-Harizy said the council passed the law governing the formation of political parties on Tuesday evening. “Parties are not allowed to be based on religion or ethnicity or tribe,” he said. He did not make clear how this would affect a political party formed in March by Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists.

The new party was expected to make a strong showing in the election, the first since last year’s overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed popular uprising. The head of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Development Party said the NTC needed to make it clearer what it meant by banning religious parties. He

said this would cause controversy in conservative Libya, whose population of six million is made up almost entirely of Sunni Muslims.

“This kind of clause is only useful in countries where there exists many religions, not in Libya where most people are religious Muslims,” Sawan said. “This law needs to be reviewed by the NTC and if it’s not changed, we would have to protest it.” Libya’s NTC has already indicated that the country will be run in accordance with sharia, though the exact place of Islamic law in the legal system will be settled only once a new constitution is written after elections.

EX-REBELS IN JORDAN Meanwhile, the first batch of 10,000 former Libyan rebels arrived yesterday in Jordan for training in order integrate into their country’s interior ministry, the kingdom’s security department said.

Under a deal signed between Amman and Tripoli in December, the former rebels who helped topple Muammar Gaddafi’s regime last year will receive training at an international police centre east of Amman, deputy police chief Major-General Mohammad Raqqad said in a statement.

“They will receive training in all fields related to police work to help them carry out their security duties in Libya,” he said. According to the agreement, an initial batch of 1,000 former rebels were scheduled to start their training from March 1, with the following batches comprising 2,000 former fighters each. Jordan has trained tens of thousands of Iraqi, Palestinian and Afghani police officers. Since the fall of Gaddafi, concerns over the proliferation of weapons coupled with periodic deadly clashes between militias have put pressure on the government to re-integrate more than 200,000 former rebels into society. — Agencies

Algeria oppn party returns from wilderness TIZI-OUZOU: It was a homecoming. After boycotting all national elections for more than a decade, Algeria’s oldest opposition party was back on the campaign trail in its heartland. But the rally at a soccer stadium in this Berber town was a muted affair. About 1,500 people showed up, assembling around the half-way line.

When a party leader led chants of “the authorities are assassins”, the sound echoed off empty seats.

Algeria’s authorities say they have heeded calls for change after last year’s Arab uprisings in nearby countries and will ensure a May 10 parliamentary election is truly democratic.

To back their argument that

the vote will be different, they cite the decision of the opposition Front des Forces Socialistes (FFS) to end its boycott of polls it said were rigged.

The party is headed by Hocine Ait Ahmed, 85, who helped lead the fight half a century ago for Algeria’s independence from colonial ruler France. He once organized a post office robbery to fund the insurrection. Soon after independence, he turned against Algeria’s new rulers, saying they were not democratic. He paid for his dissent with years of jail and exile, becoming a symbol of uncompromising, principled opposition.

Ait Ahmed and his lieutenants

see the Arab revolts elsewhere as creating an opportunity for genuine change in Algeria, which shares the problems of youth unemployment and unaccountable rule that sparked revolutions in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. “We believe the internal, regional and international situation is very favourable for a peaceful change,” Mustafa Bouchachi, an FFS leader said as he arrived for the party rally at Tizi-Ouzou’s soccer stadium on Saturday. “ We are not taking part in these elections to support the authorities but to move towards a peaceful change in Algeria, for a real democracy, not just a facade of democracy,” he said. “It (the

election) is the first step.” Yet even some FFS loyalists seem unconvinced that Algeria’s militarybacked ruling elite will loosen its grip on power.

Tizi-Ouzou, about 100 km east of the capital Algiers, is the bedrock of FFS support and the unofficial capital of Algeria’s significant Berber ethnic minority.

Ait Ahmed was born near here, and after Algeria won independence in 1962 he briefly led an armed revolt against the new rulers from this region.

Road signs in Tizi-Ouzou are written in the Berber, or Amazigh, alphabet, and the FFS uses the language to address its supporters. — Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

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

Breivik accuses experts of lies, pleads ‘sanity’ OSLO: Anders Behring Breivik, who wants to be found accountable for his massacre of 77 people in Norway last July, yesterday accused a team of psychiatric experts of making things up to prove him insane. Breivik is seeking to convince an Oslo court that he is sane so that his anti-Islam ideology will be taken seriously and not considered the ravings of a lunatic, even though it would mean a prison sentence rather than psychiatric care. The 33-year-old right-wing extremist has already said that being sentenced to closed psychiatric care would be “worse than death”.

A first psychiatric evaluation last year concluded that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, but a second opinion found him of sound mind.

Yesterday, he challenged the first examination, which he claims contains “more than 200 lies” in a diagnosis he has called “the ultimate humiliation.” “These are ill-willed fabrications,” Breivik told the court yesterday, referring to passages from the report. He later added: “They may not be ill-willed, but they are in any case wrong.” Psychiatrists Synne Soerheim and Torgeir Husby were appointed by the Oslo district court to

carry out the first evaluation.

Their conclusion in November that Breiviok was psychotic cleared the way for him to be sent to a closed psychiatric ward for treatment instead of prison. But the diagnosis caused an uproar in Norway, where many were astounded that the man who methodically planned his attacks for years and then executed them with precision could be found not responsible for his actions. The court therefore ordered a second opinion by two other experts, who concluded earlier this month that Breivik was sane. A third panel of experts charged with verifying the validity of the reports has found weaknesses in the second evaluation and asked the authors to provide additional information.

It will ultimately be up to the judges to determine whether he is sane when they hand down their verdict in July.

Breivik told the court yesterday that “80 percent of the content from the interviews (on which the first two psychiatrists based their conclusions) is invented.” The two experts drew their conclusion “very early” and aimed the rest of their work at proving their diagnosis

S Africa’s party rebel Malema loses appeal JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) rejected an appeal from political rebel Julius Malema on Tuesday, cementing his expulsion from the party and President Jacob Zuma’s re-election prospects for 2014. Malema, a vocal Zuma opponent and leader of the party’s powerful youth wing, appears to have exhausted all his options after months of appeals since a disciplinary charge last year. The ANC’s disciplinary appeals committee said in a statement it had dismissed Malema’s latest petition, confirming an earlier decision to expel him from the party.

Two of Malema’s allies in the ANC Youth League also lost similar appeals, but were suspended from the party, not expelled.

The ANC said in a separate statement it had been a “difficult and painful decision” to subject Malema to discipline. Despite the seemingly harsh punishment, the party appeared to leave the open the possibility of his eventual return. “Many of those who

have been subjected to the same process and sanction have in turn learnt from their mistakes and have become better members,” the ANC said. “We believe the same is possible for... Julius Malema.”

Malema, one of the best orators in the ANC, has won wide popularity among poor South African youth with his calls for nationalization of mines and seizure of white-owned land. He was suspended from the ANC last year for sowing division in the party, but was allowed to stay in his post pending the outcome of his appeals. Following the charges, Malema ratcheted up his criticism of Zuma and even mocked him at public rallies.

The ANC retaliated by turning its original sentence of a five-year suspension into expulsion. Although not an elected official, Malema was seen as something of a king-maker within the party given his large support base among young people, as well as the youth league’s reputation as a training ground for future leaders. — Reuters

Turkish police detain top retired general ISTANBUL: Turkish police detained a top retired general yesterday in a third wave of arrests under an investigation of military intervention which drove the country’s first Islamist-led government from power in 1997. The police sweep across Turkey was set to bring to around 50 the number of those detained in the latest of a series of judicial probes bringing top generals to account for a history of military takeovers as well as alleged coup attempts.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, which itself has Islamist roots, has severely curbed the political influence of NATO’s second biggest army since it first came to power a decade ago.

State and private media said police raided addresses in the cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as Kars on the eastern border, targeting serving and retired officers. A police spokesman said he did not have information on the raids.

Prosecutors told broadcasters that they had issued arrest warrants for seven serving officers and six retired officers.

Among the first to be detained was retired general Fevzi Turkeri, former head of the gendarmerie paramilitary force, broadcaster NTV said. Police searched his home before detaining him. The military overthrew governments in 1960, 1971 and 1980. The latest probe is focused on a military-orchestrated campaign forcing Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan from office in 1997 over perceived threats to Turkey’s secular order, in an episode often referred to as Turkey’s “post-mod-

ern coup”. Erbakan, who died of heart failure aged 85 in March last year, pioneered Islamist politics in Muslim but strictly secular Turkey and paved the way for the later success of Erdogan’s AKP. In the first wave of detentions on April 12, police hauled in 31 people including top retired General Cevik Bir, who was one of 18 people subsequently sent to jail pending trial to prevent the risk of them fleeing. At the weekend, eight more people, including a retired major general, were remanded in custody.

There is no provision for bail in Turkey and pre-trial detention can drag on for months. Hundreds of military officers, including top serving and retired commanders, are now facing trials, accused of involvement in the alleged “Ergenekon” and “Sledgehammer” coup conspiracies against Erdogan and his AK Party government.

Erdogan said at the weekend the latest investigation should not turn into a “witch hunt” but said support for the military intervention that came from business leaders, the media and academics should be revealed. After years of investigating alleged coup plots, prosecutors have now turned their attention to the 1980 coup. Earlier this month an Ankara court began hearing the case against former president and coup leader Kenan Evren, now 94.

That coup led to the execution of 50 people, the torture of thousands, and disappearance of hundreds more in three years of military rule. — Reuters

Hitler’s Mein Kampf may return to Bavaria schools BERLIN: The German state of Bavaria is considering publishing a book with excerpts from Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” for use in schools after its legal power to ban the book expires in 2016. The Bavarian state finance ministry in southern Germany owns the copyright to the book, which sets out the Nazi vision of Aryan racial supremacy, and has long threatened legal action against anybody who tries to publish it. But the copyright expires on December 31, 2015, forcing Bavaria, where Hitler first shot to national prominence with a failed coup attempt in 1923, to wrestle with how to handle the publication of a book that remains highly sensitive in Germany.

“We discussed a copy for schools. It wouldn’t be a whole book but excerpts

that were presented in a particularly didactic way so they were suited for use in schools - that is conceivable,” Thomas Neumann, a spokesman for the Bavarian state finance ministry said.

He said the ministry was also considering a separate edition with an academic commentary provided by the Munichbased Institute for Contemporary History (IfZ). “We have a responsibility, a collective responsibility, (for the book) even after the copyright runs out. With an academic commentary we want to demystify the book and we are facing up to this responsibility,” Neumann said. The finance ministry would provide 200,000 euros ($264,100) and the state’s economy ministry a further 300,000 euros for the projects, he said. — Reuters

was correct, he said. “They were emotionally affected (by the attacks) and they were not competent to evaluate a person responsible for political violence,” he said.

“If I had read a description of the person they describe, I would have agreed: this person needs psychiatric care,” he said, adding: “But the person described in this report is not me.”

Breivik reiterated yesterday that he does not want to “end up in an asylum” and said he had exchanged letters with a Swedish militant nationalist who described his own treatment in a psychiatric ward as “a chemical lobotomy.”

“He says it’s awful. He sits at a table drooling,” he said. Breivik has been charged with “acts of terror” and faces either 21 years in prison-a sentence that could be extended indefinitely if he is still considered a threat to societyor closed psychiatric care, possibly for life. Earlier this week, he lamented in court that his sanity was being questioned. He claimed to be the victim of “clear racism” and accused the prosecution of trying to “delegitimize” his Islamophobic ideology. “If I had been a bearded Jihadi there would be no

OSLO: Anders Behring Breivik gesturing as he arrives at the courtroom in Oslo, Norway. — AP report at all... There would not be a people, mostly teens, attending a Labor need for a psychiatric evaluation,” he Party youth camp. He has said his said. Breivik set off a bomb near the attacks were “cruel but necessary” to government offices on July 22 that stop the ruling Labor Party’s “multiculkilled eight people, then went to near- tural experiment” and the “Muslim invaby Utoeya island where he killed 69 sion” of Norway and Europe. — AFP

France’s Sarkozy rules out deal with far-right Rivals seek right way to woo far-right voters PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy ruled out any deal with the far-right National Front of Marine Le Pen, backed by nearly a fifth of voters in a presidential election first round, to give them cabinet jobs or help them win seats in parliament. An opinion poll showed twothirds of Sarkozy supporters want him to break with past policy and strike an alliance with the Front after Le Pen’s 17.9 percent score on Sunday made her 6.4 million backers key to a May 6 presidential runoff.

Both Sarkozy and Socialist Francois Hollande, who beat the conservative by 28.6 percent to 27.2 percent on the first round and leads opinion polls for the runoff, are striving to respond to the protest vote without angering traditional supporters.

Sarkozy said yesterday that listening to Le Pen’s backers did not mean he could envisage far-right ministers in a conservative-led government. “There will be no pact with the National Front,” he told France Info radio, saying there were too many issues on which the parties disagreed to imagine giving the party cabinet posts.

“There will be no National Front ministers, but I refuse to demonize men and women who in voting for Marine Le Pen cast a crisis vote, a vote of anger, a vote of suffering and a vote of despair. I have to listen to their message and take them into account, and not think it’s time to hold my nose.”

France holds a parliamentary election in June and Le Pen, whose party has no seats in the outgoing legislature, hopes to capitalise on the surge in her vote in the presidential contest. Hollande told France 2 television he would not make concessions to the far right but he did want to show he had understood voters’ fear and anger about factory closures.

The Socialist, who has a 10-point lead over Sarkozy in voting intentions for the runoff, said that if elected, he would try to prevent a series of industrial layoffs which he said were being deliberately held back until after the

election. “I hear the anger. I see the workers who are wondering about the future of their jobs, who are fighting against outsourcing, who do not accept the redundancy plans, who express their anger by voting for Marine Le Pen,” Hollande said. “Regarding redundancy plans, I want us to have measures that can protect and reinforce our industry,” he said, without going into detail. “I will not allow this string of closures, that has been put off until after the election, to take place.”

STEMMING DECLINE Sarkozy, the first sitting president to lose the first round of a re-election vote, is being punished for economic malaise, rampant unemployment and his brash presidential style, which many voters dislike. Making his own gesture to disgruntled factory workers yesterday, Sarkozy said it was important to realize that the impact of financial crisis was much harsher for people working in industry than those in secure civil servant positions.

Sarkozy and Hollande battled for the blue-col-

lar worker vote in their election campaign, but opinion polls show many in that group flocked instead to either the far right or hard left. Hollande is citing Le Pen’s vote to fuel his push to add pro-growth clauses to Europe’s budget discipline pact. He said he would at once start talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the need for a greater growth focus.

“I will renegotiate the treaty, Mrs Merkel knows that,” he told TF1 television late on Tuesday. “And if the French give me their backing, my first trip will be to confirm to her that the French have voted for a different kind of Europe.” The risk of a revolt against Berlin’s emphasis on deficit-cutting over promoting economic growth was highlighted by the collapse of the Dutch government in a row over budget cuts.

“There is a cry of distress against a Europe that is not going in the right direction. It needs to be able to drive us towards the future rather than being all about austerity,” Hollande said yesterday. — Reuters

PARIS: A combo picture shows French socialist party (PS) candidate Francois Hollande and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. — AFP

Murdoch denies seeking favors from UK leaders LONDON: Media baron Rupert Murdoch tried yesterday to downplay his influence on British politics, saying in his first appearance at a press ethics inquiry he had never asked a prime minister for anything. His testimony on oath at the Leveson inquiry in London came a day after claims emerged during evidence from his son James that a minister leaked details to Murdoch’s News Corp about a bid for control of pay-TV giant BSkyB. The 81-year-old told British lawmakers last year that he had meetings with a string of British leaders including current premier David Cameron, but yesterday Murdoch said he wanted to “put some myths to bed.” “I’ve never asked a prime minister for anything,” Murdoch told the judgeled inquiry sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, as he discussed ties going back as far as premier Margaret Thatcher in the 1970s.

Murdoch also rejected “untrue” rumors that he was unhappy with Cameron for ordering the inquiry following the phone -hacking scandal that closed down his News of the World newspaper in July last year.

But the fallout continued from the documents that News Corp released to the inquir y on Tuesday, with culture minister

Jeremy Hunt saying he would make a statement to parliament to rebuff calls for his resignation.

Emails and texts apparently showed that Hunt’s office leaked information to US-based News Corp about its bid for full control of the highly profitable BSkyB. The bid collapsed in July last year due to the hacking row. Hunt, who is lead minister for the Olympic Games which open in London on July 27, was charged with the decision on whether the takeover should be allowed to go

ahead. “I am going to be making a very, very determined effort to show that I behaved with total integrity,” the minister told reporters as he left his home early yesterday. Cameron’s spokesman insisted the premier had full confidence in Hunt but the premier was expected to face a grilling at yesterday ’s Prime Minister ’s Questions session in parliament.

Murdoch’s testimony at the inquiry is his highest profile appearance in Britain since he told a parliamentary committee

LONDON: A campaigner wearing a giant head mask of Rupert Murdoch holds up string puppets depicting British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt in a demonstration calling for Jeremy Hunt to resign, outside the High Court in London. — AP

last year that he had meetings with Cameron and former premiers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Murdoch was also attacked with a foam pie at that hearing.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, James Murdoch, the deputy chief operating officer of News Corp, said he had discussed the proposed takeover with Cameron at a 2010 Christmas party. Cameron has previously denied having had any “inappropriate conversations” with James Murdoch at the party.

Transcripts of emails and text messages between Frederic Michel, News Corp’s public affairs executive, and Adam Smith, special advisor to Hunt, appeared to reveal close collaboration over how to counter the deal’s opponents. In one text published on the inquiry ’s website, Michel wrote: “Think we are in a good place, no?”, to which Smith replied: “Very yes. Jeremy (Hunt) happy.” Britain’s newspapers suggested the Murdoch family were exacting revenge after the government distanced itself from News Corp. in the wake of the hacking scandal. “Murdochs turn tables on Cameron and Hunt,” said the Financial Times on its front page, while the Daily Mail carried the headline: “Revenge of the Murdochs”. — AFP

11

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

international

Senate Democrats prepare immigration backup plan Schumer to introduce bill blocking state enforcement WASHINGTON: Democrats in the US Senate are preparing a backup plan to thwart sweeping immigration laws in Arizona and other states if the nation’s top court supports the hotly debated measures. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case questioning an Arizona law that allows local police to check individuals’ immigration status. The law, which was enacted in 2010 and is being copied in other states, has been criticized as promoting discrimination against minorities.

The Supreme Court’s decision has important legal and political implications in an election year, when the reach of federal government, states rights and illegal immigration will be debated. In a separate development late on Tuesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had identified some

16,500 deportation cases that could be suspended for now so that authorities can focus more closely on suspected illegal immigrants with criminal records or other pressing cases.

President Barack Obama’s administration is about two thirds of the way through a review of some 300,000 cases pending before immigration courts nationwide. The effort is aimed at identifying the best use of government resources and sorting out those cases that have the greatest impact on public safety, said Gillian Christensen, an immigration and customs spokeswoman. “The effective use of prosecutorial discretion allows ICE to alleviate the burden posed on already overwhelmed immigration courts by administratively closing cases that do not meet the agency’s priorities,” Christensen said.

LEGISLATION POSSIBLE Democratic Senator Charles Schumer said if the high court upholds Arizona’s law, he will introduce legislation that prevents state and local authorities from enforcing their own immigration rules. “States like Arizona and Alabama will no longer be able to get away with saying they are simply ‘helping the federal government’ to enforce the law when they are really writing their own laws,” Schumer said at a congressional hearing held to highlight the issue one day before the court arguments begin. Republicans were expected to counter with their own immigration reform legislation.

While neither measure is expected to advance very far in Congress this year, they are likely to get a lot of attention in the runup to the Nov 6 presidential and congression-

Hurt by US immigration law, Hispanics organize Democrats reach out to Hispanics PHOENIX: Arizona landscaper Jose Acosta says he has been pulled over by police in the Mexico border state three or four times for tailgating or driving with a chipped windshield. But really, he believes, it is because of the color of his skin. “They see me brown. They’ll pull me over and ask me for documents.

They’ll make up a lie about why,” said Acosta, 40, a naturalized US citizen of Mexican origin. He is now among a classroom full of Hispanic US citizens, legal residents and illegal immigrants taking part in a six-week “defense” workshop in central Phoenix to study up on his legal rights.

As the US Supreme Court prepares to hear Arizona defend its crackdown on illegal immigrants, Hispanics in the state are responding to the 2-year-old measure with a surge of activism ranging

Brewer and a setback for Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney, who supports it. It will also be closely watched by Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah, which followed Arizona in passing “omnibus” immigration crackdowns. A ruling is not expected until June or July.

The law sought to drive illegal immigrants from the state, and the US Department of Homeland Security said the number of undocumented migrants in Arizona dropped dramatically to 360,000 in January 2011 from 470,000 a year earlier, before the law was signed. A similar number left the state after passage of a 2007 law targeting employers who hire illegal immigrants, the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center said last year.

A Fox News poll this month showed

PHOENIX: Children pick up their hats during a vigil for those opposed to Arizona’s Immigration Law SB 1070 at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix. —AFP from civil rights classes to a revved up effort to get out the vote this election year. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jan Brewer in 2010, requires police to check the immigration status of people they stop and suspect of being in the country illegally. The measure is among several blocked by a federal judge.

Brewer and backers of the law, known as SB 1070, said it was needed as Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration had failed to secure the porous Mexico border. But Obama and other critics filed suit, arguing it preempted Washington’s authority on immigration and made Hispanics the target of racial profiling. “People started waking up, mobilizing and organizing their own community and fighting against SB 1070,” community organizer Jovana Renteria said of the jolt the law sent through Latino neighborhoods in Phoenix. “It’s been great because we’ve seen what we haven’t seen in a long time, which is unity in the community.”

POPULATION DROPPED A Supreme Court decision upholding Arizona’s law would be a legal and political setback for Obama as he seeks reelection this November. A decision striking down the law would be a defeat for

65 percent of Americans surveyed favored the Arizona law, and Brewer said this week that “the people of America” stood with her state as it prepared to defend it in court. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percent. “I have a duty and obligation to defend the people of Arizona - especially when the federal government has fallen down on the job,” said Brewer, who was due in Washington for the Supreme Court hearing. For Arizona Hispanics, the law is just one of many slights in recent years they feel have been piled on their community, which is also on the defensive by sweeps for illegal immigrants by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is currently under federal investigation for improperly targeting Latinos.

They were further riled by a state ban on teaching Mexican-American studies in high school, and a February row over whether a city council candidate could be struck from the ballot over what detractors called an inadequate grasp of English. “I want to learn stuff so that I can ... explain to a whole bunch of people what to do in certain situations,” said Leticia Ramirez, 27, a cake decorator from Mexico who declined to comment on her immigration status, after attending a lesson outlining the rights of immigration detainees. “People are scared out

driving their kids to school ... I want them to know that they have rights,” she said of the session, organized by the grassroots Puente community group.

‘OVERREACH BY REPUBLICANS’ Acosta, meanwhile, is among participants eager to go further and register Hispanic citizens to vote, so they can have a voice in the November elections as immigration simmers as a second-tier issue behind concern for the shaky economic recovery. “I’m working out there, getting people out to vote and saying ‘Hey, every vote counts!’” he said. “You can’t stand back and do nothing.”

Obama’s re-election campaign opened a fourth Arizona office in recent days in the heavily Hispanic west Phoenix suburb of Glendale. Whether the immigration row puts Arizona into play for Obama, it is clearly hoping to capitalize on Latino discontent. “This is the type of hot button issue that provides the perfect vehicle for the Democratic Party to register and mobilize Hispanic voters,” said Mark Jones, a Rice University political scientist.

“With respect to immigration, it allows them to point to a credible threat.

That is, ‘If Republicans win, this is the type of policy you are likely to see,’” he added. The desert state last voted for a Democratic president in 1996, when it returned Bill Clinton to office, although winning the state’s 11 electoral votes for Obama is clearly a long shot. Vice President Joe Biden said in Phoenix last week he thought Democrats had a “real shot” in the state in November.

Democrats say the key to winning is boosting support from Arizona’s Hispanic citizens, of whom 51.5 percent were registered to vote in 2008, compared with 69 percent of whites.

Democrats believe more Latino registration could help boost Democratic turnout in a state where Republicans make up 36 percent of registered voters, compared with 30 percent for Democrats. Independents comprise nearly 33 percent. “I think we have in Arizona an overreach where the Republicans have really overplayed their hand,” said Luis Heredia, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party, citing the immigration bill and Arpaio’s antics.

‘DON’T COMPLAIN IF YOU DON’T VOTE’ To build support among Hispanics, who make up almost a third of the state’s 6.5 million population, Democrats are also highlighting Romney’s hardline statements on immigration during the primaries. The former Massachusetts governor has said the federal government should drop its legal case against the Arizona law and stop giving illegal immigrants services that attract them. In a sign Romney may be softening his tone as he emerges from the hardball primary process, he dropped the tough words on immigration during a visit to the Phoenix Valley last week and sought input from members of a Hispanic roundtable on topics ranging from the economy to immigration. —Reuters

al elections. Republicans boycotted the hearing, dismissing it as political theater. Arizona’s measure allows police to check immigration status when a person is arrested or legally stopped, and some other states have gone far ther. Proponents argue such effor ts enforce federal immigration laws and help catch criminals.

But critics of the crackdown in the western state, which borders Mexico, say the law unfairly targets Latinos and encourages racial profiling based on the color of one’s skin. “If you have brown skin in my state, you’re going to be asked to prove your citizenship,” said Dennis DeConcini, a former Democratic US senator from Arizona. The Republican state senator who wrote the Arizona law, Russell Pearce, defended it as an effective tool to

fight illegal immigration when federal agents do not. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows most Americans generally support such laws. “ The invasion of illegal aliens we face today - convicted felons, drug cartels, gang members, human traffickers and even terrorists - pose one of the greatest threats to our nation,” said Pearce, adding that his own son works as a sheriff and was shot by an illegal immigrant. Others, including Arizona state legislator Steve Gallardo, a Democrat, pointed to law-abiding immigrants who now feel compelled to carry around their birth certificate or other documents in case they get pulled over. “Its primary objective was to make second-class citizens of US Latinos,” said Gallardo, a fourth generation MexicanAmerican.—Reuters

Two more SS agents resign amid scandal WASHINGTON: Two more US Secret Service agents are resigning over a Colombia prostitution scandal, the a g e n c y s a i d o n Tu e s d ay, a s i t sought to close a chapter in its worst case of alleged misconduct in decades. Even as the Secret Service announced the fates of all of the remaining employees under investigation, President Barack Obama

defended those tasked with protec ting him, saying a “couple of knuckleheads” should not discredit the entire agency.

“What these guys were thinking, I don’t know. That’s why they’re not there anymore,” Obama said nearly t wo weeks af ter the incident in Colombia that embarrassed the US government and raised questions

about the agency’s insular culture.

US security men assigned to guard O b a m a a re a l l e g e d to h ave engaged in a night of partying and carousing that ended up with them bringing prostitutes to their hotels just before the president’s arrival fo r a s u m m i t i n t h e Co l o m b i a n co a s t a l c i t y o f Ca r t a g e n a t h i s month. —Reuters

12

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

international

Pakistan army uses bullets, classrooms to fight militancy What can troubled Pakistan offer graduates?

GULIBAGH: Hazrat Gul spent two years in detention for allegedly aiding the Pakistani Taleban when they publicly flogged and beheaded people during a reign of terror in the scenic Swat Valley. Now he wiles away his time in pristine classrooms, a Pakistani flag pin on his crisp uniform, learning about word processing, carpentry and car repairs at the Mashal de-radicalization centre run by the army. Part of a carrot and stick approach to battling militancy in the strategic US ally, the aim is to cleanse minds of extremist thoughts through vocational training, and turn men like Gul into productive citizens who support the state.

The success of the program will ultimately hinge, however, on the ability of the government, widely seen as incompetent and corrupt, to help the de-radicalization graduates find jobs. “If a sincere leadership comes to this country, that will solve the problems,” said Gul, 42, one of the Mashal students.

“Today the leadership is not sincere. The same problems will be there.” Pakistan’s military drove militants out of Swat in 2009.

Mashal is in the building which used to be the headquarters of the militants from where they imposed there austere version of Islam.

Eventually, the army realized it couldn’t secure long-term peace with bullets alone.

So military officers, trainers, moderate clerics and psychologists were chosen to run three-month courses designed to erase “radical thoughts” of those accused of aiding the Taleban. Students like Mohammad Inam, 28, a former assistant engineer, give the school a good report card. “The environment is very good. Our teachers work very hard with us. They talk to us about peace, about terrorism and how that is not right,” said Inam, in the presence of a military officer. “God willing, we will go out and serve our country and our nation.”

School officials say about 1,000 people have graduated since the initiative began two years ago, and that only 10 percent were not cleared for release. Officials con-

cede that their “students” are not hardened militants who killed. Mostly, they provided the Taleban with water, food or shelter, or beat people. That was enough for a twoyear detention, and some say abuse, in a country where the Taleban stage suicide bombings at will and have launched brazen attacks, including one on the army headquarters near the capital. Even if the Mashal institute instills a new mindset and discipline in the students, graduates face an uncertain future.

The South Asian nation always seems to be on the verge of collapse and is often described as a failed state unable to cope with power cuts, widespread poverty and violence. “The problem is the deprivation being faced by these individuals. There is no electricity. There are price hikes. There is no law and order or justice which prevails in the country,” said Major Khurram Bajwa, one of Mashal’s directors. He pointed out how easy it is for the Taleban to recruit people. “It takes about two years to train an army officer, and one month to train a suicide bomber.”

ISLAMIST LEADER HELPING Pakistan joined the US global war on militancy after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, but critics accuse Islamabad of actually fostering the security nightmare in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region by supporting militant groups it values as strategic assets. Pakistan denies the allegations. The confusion was highlighted this month, when the United States put a $10 million bounty on an Islamist leader who Pakistani officials say has in fact been helping them turn militants away from a life as radicals. Hafiz Saeed, suspected of masterminding an attack by Pakistanbased gunmen on India’s financial capital, Mumbai, in 2008 that killed 166 people, met government officials and pledged his support for the de-radicalization drive, the officials said. Saeed’s organization denied this.

PUBLIC BEHEADINGS Pakistan’s military presents the Swat offensive and the campaign to root out extremism as a showcase of its success against militancy. On the surface, the valley looks far more stable than it did in the Taleban days when Fazlullah, known as FM Mullah for his fiery radio sermons, was ordering his men to take to the streets and

es. Human Rights Watch says it has received credible reports of extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by soldiers or police in Swat. The army counters that it takes human rights seriously and has launched an investigation into the matter. Sitting beside an officer in a classroom at the Mashal school, Gul said he was subjected to torture at prisons run by the military or its intelligence

LAHORE: A man injured in a bomb blast talks on his mobile phone after receiving initial treatment at a local hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. —AP punish the “immoral”, or anyone who disagreed with his violent philosophy.

Residents of Swat, 160 km from Islamabad, crowd street markets. Girls schools that were blown up by the Taleban have reopened. A ski resort burned down by the Taleban has re-opened. That is due in large part to a sense of security created by the thousands of Pakistani soldiers still stationed there.

But the army’s successes have been tarnished by allegations of human rights abus-

agency merely because, out of fear, he had chanted pro-Taleban slogans. “Every time they were talking to us, (they were) beating us,” said Gul, who has a masters in political science. Asked to elaborate, he said: “From A to Z, all kinds of problems.”

Minutes later, the officer, who sleeps in a room with a commanding view he said was once occupied by Fazlullah, leaned over to this reporter and said: “What do you expect in prison, massage girls?”. The accounts of ill treatment were echoed by others. Rehman

Shah, a former school teacher, says he was only detained because his son was accused of joining the Taleban.

Nine weeks into the course, he praises the de-radicalization concept but says the army made a big mistake by detaining innocent people. “When Pashtuns are treated unfairly, it never leaves their hearts and they take revenge,” Shah said of the dominant ethnic group in Swat and other parts of northwest Pakistan, where most of the military offensives against militants are mounted. “I urge the government and security not to do this and not increase resentment and anger in the people.” A senior Pakistani intelligence official denied abuses take place. “That’s not our strategy at all. They are our own people and we do not believe in these things,” he said.

LIFE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL Outside Mashal’s classroom, there are signs that not everyone is embracing the new approach. Soldiers led a hooded man into a truck while three others looked on through the barred windows of what appeared to be a cell at the compound.

Conditions still seem ripe for Fazlulah and his lieutenants, who have vowed to make a comeback, to recruit people. Pakistani officials estimated after the army operation expelled the Taleban that over $1 billion would be needed to revive the local economy and rebuild infrastructure.

Residents like Ajab Noor, 61, who sent two of his sons abroad to work, doubt the population of about 1.3 million will ever benefit from those funds. “People have no options. They either go outside the country to work, or they join militants who promise them many things,” he said at a street market in Swat’s capital, Mingora. A member of a state-backed anti-Taleban militia believes two boys in his village had graduated from a de-radicalization centre and ran away to rejoin the Taleban. “I told the military, ‘you are nurturing the offspring of snakes’. But they did not listen,” he said. —Reuters

Global famine if Pakistan, India unleash their nukes ‘Limited’ nuclear war would cause climate disruptions CHICAGO: More than a billion people worldwide could starve if India and Pakistan unleash nuclear weapons because even a ‘limited’ nuclear war would cause major climate disruptions, a study published Tuesday warned. In addition to clouds of radiation which could contaminate farmland far from the center of the blasts, the study found soot released into the atmosphere would devastate crop yields by cooling global temperatures and reducing rainfall worldwide. The study provides hard data to back up dire warnings of the globaland unintended-consequences of nuclear weapons, said author Dr Ira Helfand of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. “It is not just the arsenals of the US and Russia that pose a threat to the whole world,” Helfand said. “Even these smaller arsenal pose an existential threat to our civilization, if not to our species. It would certainly end modern society as we know it.”

The study, set to be published in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Change, was released at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago. It found that corn production in the United States would decline by an average of 10 percent for an entire decade and soybean production would drop by about 10 percent with the most severe decline occurring five years after the nuclear war.

It also determined that rice production in China would drop by an average of 21 percent of the first four years and 10 percent next six years. Significant losses would also likely occur with other crops and in other countries, Helfand said in an interview on

found,” Helfand said.

The resulting increase in food prices and agricultural shortfalls would almost certainly lead to panic and hoarding on an international scale, further reducing access to food. Given that some 925 million people worldwide

ATTARI: A Pakistani truck driver gestures while waiting for custom clearance at the recently inaugurated Integrated Check Post, a customs depot, at Attari near Amritsar, India. Decades of conflict have decimated trade between the two nuclear armed South Asian neighbors. —AP the sidelines of the summit. And the actual crop losses could be much worse than predicted since the conservative model did not account for increases in UV light and the likelihood that global cooling would also result in sudden, crop-killing frosts. “Even with what we are able to show, the consequences for human nutrition and human life are really pro-

already suffer from malnutrition according to the latest UN study, the study found that mass famine deaths would likely be unavoidable. That would further deepen social unrest and could lead to armed conflicts both within and between nations. Mass famine is also often by major epidemics of infectious diseases like cholera and dysentery, which could fur-

ther raise the death toll.

Those consequences would pale in comparison to the Nuclear Winter which would devastate the globe should the United States or Russia unleash even a small portion of their arsenal, Helfand said. “The US and Russia are not likely to start a war with each other, but we know of at least five times when the US or Russia prepared to launch a nuclear attack because it believed it was under attack,” Helfand said.

Until the bulk of the arsenal is disarmed and hair-triggers are removed, Helfand said only “luck” will prevent the next computer glitch or communication failure to result in total nuclear war.

Mikhail Gorbachev, who as president of the Soviet Union helped end the Cold War and open Russia’s communist regime to democracy, said the study offers further proof of the need to abolish nuclear weapons. “Over twenty-five years ago, (US) President Ronald Reagan and I ended our summit meeting in Geneva with a joint statement that ‘nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,’” Gorbachev, who founded the summit of peace laureates, said in a statement. “ This new study underscores in stunning and disturbing detail why this is the case and why we must discard Cold War-style plans for the possible use of these weapons and move rapidly to eliminating them from the world’s arsenals.” —AFP

Female circumcision anger aired in India NEW DELHI: Eleven years ago, Farida Bano was circumcised by an aunt on a bunk bed in her family home at the end of her 10th birthday party. The mutilation occurred not in Africa, where the practice is most prevalent, but in India where a small Muslim sub-sect known as the Dawoodi Bohra continues to believe that the removal of the clitoris is the will of God. “We claim to be modern and different from other Muslim sects.

We are different but not modern,” Bano, a 21-year-old law graduate who is angry about what was done to her said in New Delhi.

She vividly remembers the moment in the party when the aunt pounced with a razor blade and a pack of cotton wool. The Bohra brand of Islam is followed by 1.2 million people worldwide and is a sect of Shia Islam that originated in Yemen. While the sect bars other Muslims from its mosques, it sees itself as more liberal, treating men and women equally in matters of education and marriage. The community’s insistence on “Khatna” (the excision of the clitoris) also sets it apart from others on the subcontinent. “If other Muslims are not doing it then why are we following it?” Bano says.

For generations, few women in the tightly-knit community have spoken out in opposition, fearing that to air their grievances would be seen as an act of revolt frowned upon by their elders. But an online campaign is now encouraging them to join hands to bury the custom. The anti-Khatna movement gained momentum

after Tasneem, a Bohra woman who goes by one name, posted an online petition at the social action platform Change.org in November last year.

She requested their religious leader, the 101-yearold Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, ban female genital mutilation, the consequences of which afflict 140 million women worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is the 52nd Dai-al Mutalaq (absolute missionary) of the community and has sole authority to decide on all spiritual and temporal matters. Every member of the sect takes an oath of allegiance to the leader, who lives in western city of Mumbai. A gathering protest-When contacted by AFP, Burhanuddin’s spokesman, Qureshi Raghib, ruled out any change and said he had no interest in talking about the issue. “I have heard about the online campaign but Bohra women should understand that our religion advocates the procedure and they should follow it without any argument,” he said.

But over 1,600 Bohra Muslim women have since signed the online petition. Many describe the pain they experienced after the procedure and urge their leader to impose a ban. “The main motive behind Khatna is that women should never enjoy sexual intercourse. We are supposed to be like dolls for men,” 34-year-old Tabassum Murtaza, who lives in the western city of Surat said by telephone. The World Health Organization has campaigned against the practice, say-

ing it exposes millions of girls to dangers ranging from infections, hemorrhaging, complicated child-birth, or hepatitis from unsterilized tools. In the Middle East, it is still practised in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Syria. “It is an atrocity committed under the cloak of religion,” says Murtaza, who along with her husband was asked to leave their family home when they refused to get their daughter circumcised. “My mother-in-law said there was no room for religious disobedience and we should move out if we cannot respect the custom,” she explained. “It is better to live on the street than humiliate your daughter’s body.” Speaking out-Asghar Ali Engineer, a Bohra Muslim and expert on Islamic jurisprudence, has known the dangers of fighting for reform. He has authored over 40 books proposing changes, particularly around the status of women, and has been attacked by hardliners inside a mosque in Egypt and had his house trashed by opponents.

While both France and the United States have laws enabling the prosecution of immigrants who perform female circumcisions, the practice remains legal in India and Engineer expects this to remain the case. “Female circumcision is clearly a violation of human rights, the Indian government refuses to recognize it as a crime because the practice has full-fledged religious backing,” he said. “No government has the courage to touch a religious issue in India even if the practice is a crime against humanity.” —AFP

SRINAGAR: Military vehicles ply the Srinagar-Leh highway in Zojila, about 108 km east of Srinagar yesterday. The 443 km long highway was opened for the season by Indian Army authorities after remaining snow at Zojila Pass had been cleared. —AFP

Child marriage annulled in ground-breaking case JAIPUR: An Indian couple who “married” when aged just one and three have had their wedding annulled in a ground-breaking case that activists hope will challenge the culture of child marriages. Laxmi Sargara, 18, unknowingly wed her husband Rakesh, 20, in the desert state of Rajasthan 17 years ago after their families decided that when they grew up they would live together and have children.

In the first procedure of its type, the pair had their union legally revoked in the city of Jodhpur on Tuesday as part of a campaign against enforced child marriages. “I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help,” Sargara said. “Now I am mentally relaxed and my family members are also with me.” Child marriage is illegal in India but remains common in poor, rural communities in which it is seen as improving the financial security of both families. The girl often remains in her parents’ home until she reaches puberty and is then taken amid great celebrations to her husband’s family.

But when she discovered that she was married, Sargara went for advice to social worker Kriti Bharti, who runs the Sarathi Trust in Jodhpur, a welfare organization that lobbies for children’s rights. Bharti negotiated with Rakesh, the groom, who only uses one name, and both families to persuade them that the marriage was unfair. “Laxmi was married to Rakesh when she was as young as

one year old. Now she is 18 and a few days back she was informed by her parents that she was married and she would have to go to her husband’s house,” Bharti said yesterday.

“Hearing this, she got depressed. She did not like the boy and was not ready to go ahead with her parents’ decision so she decided to refuse this marriage. “It is the first example we know of a couple wed in childhood wanting the marriage to be annulled, and we hope that others take inspiration from it,” Bharti added. Rakesh, who works driving an earth-mover, at first wanted to press ahead with the relationship but was convinced by his wife’s fierce opposition to agree that the marriage should be revoked.

The marriage was annulled through a joint legal document signed by the two parties and validated by a public official in Jodhpur. “To ensure that the girl does not face any problem in future, we decided to go for a legal agreement,” said Indu Chaupra, local director of the ministry of women and child development. “The entire process was done in my supervision and my office has copies of the agreement.” The annulment took place on the same day as the Akshaya Tritiya festival, a traditional date for mass child weddings. On Sunday, villagers in Rajasthan attacked and injured at least 12 government officials who tried to stop a wedding of about 40 child couples.—AFP

‘Deep Throat’ in Indian arms scandal opens up NEW DELHI: The whistleblower in one of India’s biggest corruption scandals in the 1980s which tarnished then-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi broke cover yesterday to explain why he leaked crucial documents to the media. Sten Lindstrom, head of the Swedish police when the Bofors scandal broke in 1987, handed evidence seized during his investigation to Indian newspapers, including to journalist Chitra Subramaniam-Duella. The case revolved around the sale of 410 artillery guns to India by Swedish arms group AB Bofors, which was subsequently accused of paying bribes of up to $1.3 billion, notably to a businessman with links to Gandhi.

“I could not count on my government or Bofors or the government of India to get to the bottom this,” Lindstrom said in an interview

with Subramaniam-Duella on The Hoot media website. “My only option was to leak the documents to someone we could trust,” said the “Swedish Deep Throat” as he was branded in India, a reference to the whistleblower who brought down US president Richard Nixon in 1970s. Lindstrom said that there was no evidence that Gandhi had received a bribe, but the leader “watched the massive cover up in India and Sweden and did nothing” which meant “innocent people were punished while the guilty got away”.

In comments that raise more questions about the investigation into the scandal, Lindstrom added that there was “conclusive evidence” against Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian middleman linked to Gandhi. —AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Korean DMZ - War zone or tourist trap?

PANMUNJOM: Soldiers from rival North and South Korea eye one another across a thin strip of no man’s land that - just barely - keeps their armies apart. The tension, they insist on both sides, is palpable. So what’s with the North Korean gift shop selling “See you in Pyongyang” T-shirts for 12 euros apiece? Or the South Korean border towns complete with amusement parks, souvenir blueberry flavored North Korean liquor and a Popeyes chicken outlet?

Is the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas the world’s most dangerous place, or a tourist trap? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. “There is always a threat to safety here,” North Korean Lt. Col Nam Dong Ho warned a handful of foreign visitors who came to his side of the frontier early this week. The usual tensions were augmented by this week’s unusually specific vow by the North to turn the South’s government into ashes “in three to four minutes,” along with speculation Pyongyang might hold its third nuclear test.

Nam reassured his guests that two North Korean soldiers would accompany them during the tour of the tense front line. But the often-smiling pair of soldiers didn’t

appear the slightest bit worried.

Nam began his tour pointing out highlights on a hand-painted map of the DMZ, the four-kilometer wide space that divides the two armies, and Panmunjom, the onceobscure farming village that now hosts the “Joint Security Area” overseen by both sides. It was in Panmunjom where US and North Korean forces negotiated and eventually signed the 1953 truce that ended fighting in the Korean War. The two sides technically remain at war, and their frontier is a deeply dangerous place with hundreds of thousands of soldiers stationed nearby, backed by artillery batteries and vast fields of land mines. US war planners worry that incidents along the frontier could spark a major conflict. But Panmunjom is where the two sides come into contact, and few soldiers are seen during the tours here. There are buildings on both the North and South Korean sides of the front line, with a handful of simple structures straddling the concrete strip that marks the exact cease-fire line. Today, the buildings are used infrequently, said Nam, such as when North Korea hands over remains of Westerners killed during the Korean war.

SO WHO DOES COME HERE? Tellingly, Nam’s initial briefing was right next to the gift shop, where visitors can pick up North Korea T-shirts or small flags for 2 euros apiece. Don’t even think of spending North Korean won - foreigners can only use hard currencies here. The charge to visit the DMZ on the North Korean side is $20 for foreigners, a serious amount in a country where per

capita income is less than $2,000 per year. Ordinary North Koreans don’t often visit.

In South Korea, a nation which once lagged badly behind the North economically, but which has since become Asia’s fourth largest economy, the charge is $75.

Fittingly, the more expensive tour on the South Korean side starts at the Lotte Hotel, one of Seoul’s fanciest. Tourists face some scary

PAJU: A tourist looks at the North Korea at Dora observation post near the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea yesterday. — AP

paperwork: They must sign a document acknowledging they’re visiting “a hostile area (with the) possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action.” The bus heads northward from congested, modern Seoul to sparser areas on a highway that later meets up with the wide Han River.

Soon, the highway is separated from the water by a high fence topped with rolled razor wire. The armed sentries are on the lookout for North Korean infiltrators, says the tour guide, a middle-aged South Korean woman who calls herself Laura. Throughout the day, Laura uses her microphone to remind her tourists about the dangers they’ll soon encounter. She need not bother. The menace is hard to miss. The tour takes visitors by a small monument at the site of the 1976 “Ax Murder Incident,” where two American officers were hacked to death by North Koreans during a fight that began as a dispute over US efforts to trim a tree.

Occasional exchanges of gunfire also occur along the border, as recently as October 2010.

“It makes me uncomfortable, but not uncomfortable enough not to come up here and check things out for myself,” said Robert Winn, 34, a tourist from Anchorage,

Alaska, who was visiting a town near the border. At the dividing line, few tourists speak as they look at the South Korean soldiers facing North Korea - tall uniformed men in fierce, rigid poses, hands formed into fists, shoulders thrown back, mirrored sunglasses covering their eyes. The only visible North Korean soldier stands with binoculars on steps outside a building on the other side. Laura assures the group that inside the building “there are many eyes, and they’re taking pictures of everything we do.”

It feels tense, certainly, but the Western tourists grumble about what they describe as a strong element of theater. “When the South Korean and North Korean soldiers are standing next to each other, I wonder how much they want to just start talking to each other and find out what they did the night before,” said Tami Richter, 34, an American who lives part-time in South Korea. After visiting the dividing line, it’s time to shop and eat. Tour operators take their guests to a gift shop filled with garments and goodies, many stamped with DMZ logos. North Korean blueberry liquor is the top seller.

Eventually, the tourists file back onto the bus with plastic bags filled with T-shirts and booze.— AP

Philippine communist rebels kill 11 soldiers MANILA: Philippine communist guerrillas killed 11 soldiers and a civilian yesterday in one of their most audacious attacks in recent years, the military said. A three-vehicle Philippine army convoy was ambushed by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels near the mountain town of Tinoc on the main island of Luzon, said Major-General Rommel Gomez, army commander of the northern Philippines.

“These people are terrorists,” Gomez said of the attackers. “We are still on pursuit operations.” An army captain was among 11 soldiers killed in the early morning attack, army spokesman Colonel Loreto Maguddayao said, and a civilian who played in a military brass band also died.

Two other soldiers and another civilian were wounded. “This is considered one of the most daring attacks by the NPA in this area in recent years,” Maguddayao said. The apparent target was the local battalion commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Eugenio Batara, who was also in the convoy as it drove back to camp after visiting a remote mountain outpost but escaped unhurt, Maguddayao added. About 100 soldiers, policemen and police aides were killed in NPA attacks across the country last year, down from 184 in the previous year, the military has said.

The NPA is the armed unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and has

been waging one of Asia’s longest running communist insurgencies since 1969. The government last year boasted it had decimated the NPA ranks in the northern mountain regions due to successes on the battlefield and effective community work that turned villagers against the rebels. Across the Philippines, the military said the NPA’s strength had fallen to a around 4,000 fighters as of 2011, from more than 26,000 at its peak in the 1980s. The government re-opened peace talks with the communists in February last year, with both sides agreeing to work towards a June 2012 deadline to sign a peace deal.

But the negotiations hit an impasse in November when Manila rejected rebel demands to free 18 jailed guerrillas the NPA said were consultants to its talks team. The rebels have since vowed to step up attacks against the military and vital government installations. The impasse also came a month after a major rebel action involving about 200 guerrillas attacked three mining sites in the mineral-rich but poverty-stricken southern island of Mindanao. The NPA claimed the attacks were payback for years of alleged environmental damage and abuse by the miners, but the military said they were carried out to force companies to pay illegal “revolutionary taxes”.— AFP

Bo’s son breaks silence BEIJING: The son of Chinese politician Bo Xilai has spoken out for the first time since his father’s ouster and mother’s arrest for murder, expressing deep concern for his parents and responding to reports about his lavish lifestyle and questions over who funded his overseas schooling. His mother, Gu Kailai, has been detained on suspicion of murdering a British businessman, while his father Bo Xilai has been stripped of his Communist Party Politburo seat and placed under investigation for disciplinary violations in the biggest crisis to shake China’s leadership in two decades.

In an statement published on Tuesday by

Chinese politician Bo Xilai the student newspaper at Harvard University, where he was studying, Bo Guagua said he felt compelled to provide “an account of the facts” to refute speculation about his private and family life. “I am deeply concerned about the events surrounding my family, but I have no comments to make regarding the ongoing investigation,” Bo said in an emailed statement issued through The Harvard Crimson.

Bo Guagua could not be reached by Reuters for comment and his whereabouts are unclear following reports he left his Harvard apartment within days of his father’s ouster. The scandal unfolded in early February after Wang Lijun, the police chief of Chongqing in south west China, entered the US Consulate in nearby Chengdu.

According to British officials, he made allegations while in the consulate about the suspicious death of Briton Neil Heywood, a close associate of Gu who is now in custody for his murder. Bo Xilai was the party boss of Chongqing at the time with ambitions to ascend to China’s top leadership later this year.

Even before his parents’ troubles, Bo

Guagua, 24, had become the subject of gossip in China for his elite schooling and perceived extravagance. Media reported a fondness for luxury cars and raised questions about how the family could afford to send him to some of the world’s top schools and universities, including Harrow, Oxford and Harvard, on his father’s limited state salary. The children of China’s leaders are the closely watched by many Chinese. Bo Guagua became the focus of online gossip when photos appeared of him bare chested and smeared with lipstick at a college party and participating in campus pranks in Britain.

Bo said it was impossible to address all the rumors and allegations made about him but he would zero in on the “most pertinent”, including a report that he had driven a Ferrari to pick up the daughter of the US ambassador at his residence. “I have never driven a Ferrari,” he wrote in the emails. “I have also not been to the US Embassy in Beijing since 1998 (when I obtained a previous US Visa), nor have I ever been to the US Ambassador’s Residence in China.” He said his student visas were issued by the US Consulate in Chengdu “which is closer to my home of five years.” He also sought to dampen speculation over financial improprieties involving his tuition fees.

“My tuition and living expenses at Harrow School, University of Oxford and Harvard University were funded exclusively by two sources - scholarships earned independently, and my mother’s generosity from the savings she earned from her years as a successful lawyer and writer,” he said. Bo also provided details on his academic record, saying his examination records were solid throughout his schooling years and that he had graduated from Oxford with good, but not outstanding, marks. He sought to explain the wilder image of himself seen in the widely circulated photos, saying they were college-organized parties commonly attended by students at Oxford. “These events are a regular feature of social life at Oxford and most students take part in these college-wide activities.” He stressed that he had never worked for a for-profit business, but that he was involved in developing a non-profit social networking website for NGOs in China in a project tied to the Harvard Innovation Lab. The project is still in development, he said. Benjamin Samuels, president of The Harvard Crimson, said he is “very confident” Bo Guagua’s statement is legitimate. The paper said it had received Bo Guagua’s comments from his university and personal email accounts. Neither parent could be reached for comment. Bo Xilai, in his last public appearance, decried critics for vilifying his policies and family. — Reuters

ULUGAN BAY: US and Filipino soldiers are seen on a boat during a joint mock beachfront assault on the shore of Ulugan Bay on Palawan island yesterday. — AFP

Philippines, US stage war games as Beijing fumes Vietnam, Taiwan re-stake their claims ULUGAN BAY: US and Philippine commandos waded ashore yesterday in a mock assault to retake a small island in energy-rich waters disputed with China, part of a drill involving thousands of troops Beijing had said would raise the risk of armed conflict. The exercises, part of annual US-Philippine war games on the southwestern island of Palawan, coincide with another standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal in a different part of the South China Sea. China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, each searching for gas and oil while building up their navies and military alliances.

China said last week the drill would raise the risk of confrontation. Yesterday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said China was committed to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the dispute.

“We are certainly worried about the South China Sea issue,” Cui told a news briefing in Beijing, saying “some people tried to mix two unrelated things, territorial sovereignty and freedom of navigation”.

The comments come before high-level talks with the Obama administration.

China, which claims the South China Sea based on historical records, has sought to resolve disputes bilaterally but its neighbors worry over what some see as growing Chinese assertiveness in its claims in the region.

“Location (of the drill) is irrelevant,” Ensign Bryan Mitchell, spokesman for the US Marines, told reporters. “These exercises take place on a regular basis. This year it happens to be in Palawan. The planning for this took place months ago prior to any events that are currently in the headlines.” US President Barack Obama has sought to reassure

regional allies that Washington would serve as a counterbalance to China in the South China Sea, part of his campaign to “pivot” US foreign policy towards Asia after wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Philippine military officials sought to play down the exercise. Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban, military commander for the western Philippines, said the drill “simply means we want to work together, improve our skills”. Sabban’s area of command includes Reed Bank and the Spratlys, a group of 250 mostly uninhabitable islets spread over 427,350 sq km west of Palawan. The Spratlys are claimed entirely by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and in part by Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

HUGE OIL, GAS RESERVES Proven and undiscovered oil reserve estimates in the South China Sea range as high as 213 billion barrels of oil, the US Energy Information Administration said in a 2008 report. That would surpass every country’s proven oil reserves except Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, according to the BP Statistical Review. A Philippine exploration firm, Philex Petroleum Corp, said on Tuesday its unit, Forum Energy Plc, had found more natural gas than expected around Reed Bank, where Chinese navy vessels tried to ram one of Forum Energy’s survey ships last year.

The Philippines is due to open oil-and-gas exploration bids in Reed Bank tomorrow. Vietnam reasserted its claim to the Spratlys and the Paracel islands, known in Chinese as the Xisha islands, further west of Scarborough Shoal in what it calls the East Sea. Self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province, reiterated its claims over territories in the South China Sea and urged “coun-

tries concerned to exercise self-restraint so that peaceful resolutions can be reached through consultation”. Nearly 7,000 American and Philippine troops are taking part in the two-week drills that are taking place at sea and in different parts of the main Luzon Island.

Yesterday, about 100 commandos came ashore from US and Philippine ships in a simulated amphibious assault at Palawan province to recapture an island supposedly taken by militants, officials said. Earlier estimates had put their number in the hundreds. Jumping from rubber boats as they hit the shore, the commandos engaged in a mock firefight, making their way inch by inch from the beach to a navy facility to rescue “hostages” and recapture the base. Four days ago, commando teams rappelled from US helicopters and landed from rubber boats in a mock assault to retake an oil rig in the northern part of Palawan, 18 km off the town of El Nido on the South China Sea. The annual war games come under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, part of a web of security alliances the United States built in the Asia-Pacific region during the Cold War. The drills are a rehearsal of a mutual defense plan by the two allies to repel any aggression in the Philippines.

Hundreds of kilometers to the north, a Philippine coast guard ship patrols near Scarborough Shoal, a group of half-submerged rock formations 124 nautical miles west of the main Luzon island, where Chinese fishermen were accosted by Philippine officials three weeks ago, sparking the latest conflict between the two countries. Manila officials say Chinese response on the Scarborough shoal issue was “based on inaccurate appreciation of the fact and dynamics of the negotiations.”—Reuters

With Saleh gone, attention turns to the problem of qat Mild stimulant blamed for many of country’s ills SANAA: With bloodshot eyes and brown-stained teeth, the suit-clad civil servant gazes at the floor, his right cheek bulging with a tennis ball-sized wad of bright green leaves. Every day after lunch, 38-year-old Ali returns to his office at the Passport and Immigration Authority in Sanaa to spend the rest of the day with colleagues chewing qat. “It is the flower of paradise,” he says, one of four lounging on cushions on the office floor amidst a clutter of laptops, soft drinks, ashtrays and water-pipes. “As Yemenis, it runs in our blood, it’s what makes us tick.”

Like others plastered on the walls of libraries, mosques, coffee shops and cafeterias across Yemen’s capital, a poster on the wall reads “Lead by Example”. “No more chewing in the

office.” Chewing on qat, or ‘takhzeen’ in Arabic, has been a national pastime in Yemen for centuries. But a few activists are determined to stamp out the practice, convinced that the chewing and production of qat, which is dominated by the country’s tribal leaders, military officers and politicians, is stifling Yemen’s potential while depleting the country of its few remaining natural resources.

One in every seven working Yemeni is employed in producing and distributing qat, making it the largest single source of rural income and the second largest source of employment in the country after the agriculture and herding sector, exceeding even the public sector, according to the World Bank. Many of Yemen’s poorest families admit to spending over half

their earnings on the leaf. “Qat is the biggest market in Yemen, bigger than oil, bigger than anything,” said Abdulrahman Al-Iryani, Yemen’s former water minister and founder of ‘qat uprooting’, a charity which supports farmers in replacing qat shrubs with coffee plants.

“There are rich and powerful people in the government and behind the government, who control it, who benefit from it. “From the parents who buy qat instead of paying for their kids’ education, to the men in hospital with throat and mouth infections draining the health service, to the unemployed who spend eight hours chewing every day instead of searching for work - qat is entwined in all of Yemen’s problems.” Yemen’s ruler for three decades, Ali Abdullah Saleh, stepped down ear-

lier this year after months of protests, part of the Arab Spring that ousted leaders in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

Although some stability has returned, the state is near collapse, its economy is stagnant, al Qaeda militants are expanding their foothold in the south and Houthi rebels have taken over a chunk of the country’s north.

The country’s most immediate crisis is its dwindling water supply. The capital city Sanaa is predicted to become the first in the world to run out of water, but the cultivation of qat - the least taxed, most subsidized and fastestgrowing cash crop in Yemen - consumes 40 percent of irrigated farming land. One “daily bag” that can be consumed by one person in one day requires hundreds of liters of waters to produce.— Reuters

14

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

opinion

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

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

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

Issues

Myanmar military moves amid Suu Kyi no-show

By Andrew R C Marshall

A

political stalemate preventing the long-awaited parliamentary debut of Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi coincides with an apparent attempt by the powerful military to bolster its influence in the legislature. Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) colleagues swept 43 of 45 seats contested in April 1 by-elections but now she and other NLD MPs elect are refusing to swear a parliamentary oath to “safeguard” a 2008 constitution, which they say is undemocratic. They want the word in the oath changed to “respect.”

The stalemate has unsettled party faithful who are eager for the NLD to help tackle their country’s myriad problems, while perplexing analysts who say the NLD’s gambit risks being seen as pedantic, ill-timed, and needlessly confrontational. “It’s a very high-risk strategy for political gains that are not quite clear,” says Richard Horsey, a former United Nations official in Myanmar. “It’s wasting precious time that could be spent on actual policymaking.”

The NLD is holding its ground in the evident hope that a deal can be brokered with the help of reformist President Thein Sein and the speakers of the upper and lower houses. “Different views are the essence of democracy,” says Myat Nyana Soe, a member of parliament who recently switched parties to join the NLD. “We hope the majority will respect the view of the minority.” The NLD’s no-show coincides with an effort by the military to strengthen its position in parliament, where its officers are guaranteed a quarter of seats under the constitution.

Fifty-nine majors were replaced with senior officers ranked from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general, Myanmar’s election commission announced on April 22.

The move anticipates the eventual arrival of the NLD’s small but vocal contingent. “It’s quite clear that the replacement of these young majors with higher ranking officials is to make military representation stronger and make their voice heard louder inside the parliament,” said a lower house member, who declined to be identified.

The oath stalemate will mystify many in Myanmar, an impoverished country of 60 million people where fretting about constitutional semantics comes a very distant second to daily concerns about lack of jobs, healthcare and educational opportunities. But Suu Kyi’s passion for changing the constitution, which also allows the president to hand power to the armed forces chief in an ill-defined emergency, should come as no surprise. The drafting of the constitution was tightly controlled by the military, which ruled harshly for nearly 50 years following a 1962 coup, and guarantees it a leading role in politics.

Now, after the military officially stepped back in favour of a reformist, quasi-civilian government, a new confrontation could be looming. While Suu Kyi has recently hinted at the need for the military to get out of politics, the armed forces commander has spoken of the need for the military to protect the constitution that gives it a “leadership role”.

One of Suu Kyi’s main promises during her election campaign was to amend the constitution, while NLD campaign manager Nyan Win told Reuters in March that charter change would be Suu Kyi’s “very first priority” upon entering parliament.

The NLD convincingly won an election in 1990, but the military junta annulled the result and mercilessly persecuted Suu Kyi and her supporters. Since then, Suu Kyi’s party has consistently refused to participate in junta-backed initiatives. In 1995, NLD members walked out of a constitution-drafting assembly convened by the junta. They also boycotted 2010 elections that were widely criticised as rigged in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which now dominates parliament.

In 1998, between spells under house arrest, she sat in a car for six days on a country road after police stopped her visiting party members. Diplomats said she used that stand-off to undermine the ruling junta’s claim that she was free to move about the country. What she hopes to prove from the standoff over the oath eludes even potential allies. “The oath is nothing,” says Zung Hlei Thang, an MP with the ethnic Chin Progressive Party. “It doesn’t create any hindrance for amending the constitution.” “The NLD should be in parliament, where they can raise any issue - corruption, rule of law and, of course, amending the constitution,” said Kyaw Zwa Moe, managing editor of Irrawaddy Publishing Group, a news organisation founded

by Myanmar exiles in Thailand. He suspected the decision was a last-minute one taken in the euphoric wake of the by-elections, in which the NLD trounced its arch-rival, the USDP. MP Myat Nyana Soe said the decision was made by the party’s Central Executive Committee. Four of its seven members are MPs elect, including Suu Kyi.— Reuters

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

Egypt’s new politics target Israel ties

By Edmund Blair and Tom Perry

T

o mark the day Egypt regained control of the Sinai peninsula from Israel, a group of protesters pledged they would this week cover a memorial to Israelis killed in the war with an Egyptian flag bearing the words: “Sinai - the invaders’ graveyard.” The gesture will be one of the most public expressions of anger against Israel since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, marking the emergence of a long-repressed hostility among many ordinary Egyptians. But while some of the new breed of politicians who emerged after the revolution are only too happy to exploit such defiance, there are still powerful reasons why mainstream leaders are not ready to burn their boats with Israel.

Calls for such a public act of protest would have been unthinkable under Mubarak, for whom the 1979 peace treaty with Israel was a cornerstone of regional policy. Under him, public antipathy towards Israel - a nation with which Egypt has fought four wars - was kept in check, often brutally. It changed when the anti-Mubarak uprising erupted on Jan 25 last year. Egyptians now openly voice frustrations and are demanding Egypt’s new political class listen. “After the Jan 25 revolution, the regime fell and with it everything linked to treaties and protocols,” said Saeed Al-Qasas, head of the Revolutionaries of Sinai, which vowed to cover yesterday the Dayan Rock memorial, a large stone erected in the desert with names of fallen air force personnel.

Egypt’s transition to democracy from autocratic rule is transforming the political landscape at home but also promises to shift foreign policy of the Arab world’s most populous nation which was the first Arab state to sign a peace deal with Israel. None of the mainstream politicians emerging in Egypt have said they would abandon the treaty, but the new order promises to make what was often described as a “cold peace” colder still, raising tensions on a sensitive border if mis-

handled. Yet, even after handing over power to a new president by July 1, the generals who have ruled since Mubarak’s fall are likely to act as guardians of a deal that brings them $1.3 billion US military aid a year.

Egypt, its economy in tatters, also can’t afford to alienate the United States or other Western states whose governments and investors are likely to be vital in reviving growth and creating jobs, crucial points to any Egyptian political career. But Israeli politicians are already fretting over the political changes in Egypt and worry about the rise of Islamists, who swept the parliamentary election and are strong contenders in the presidential vote that starts on May 23-24. One senior Western diplomat said the army, mainstream Islamists and other leading politicians recognised the benefits of maintaining a deal that kept the border peaceful for three decades. “But there is zero traction in broader society,” the diplomat said, adding that this could encourage Islamists to test how far the boundaries of ties could be pushed.

Islamists and their rivals in Egypt’s presidential race, the final stage of a turbulent political transition, are already using Israel as a political punch bag to chase votes. They are vowing no repeat of Mubarak’s cosy ties with Israel. “Democracy is about responding to public sentiment and public sentiment has little interest in maintaining a real relationship with Israel,” said Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Doha Center. He suggested Egypt could follow Turkey’s example where onceclose ties with Israel had worsened sharply after Israeli naval commandos killed nine Turks in May 2010 in a raid on a ship carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.

“What people should be focusing on is how domestic developments in Egypt will alter its foreign policy. I think the model here is probably something resembling Turkey’s approach to Israel, that you maintain diplomatic cooperation but there is a lot of antiIsrael bluster and symbolic gestures,” he said.

One such gesture may have been a decision this week to scrap a 20-year deal reached in 2005 to export Egyptian gas to Israel. It drew applause among the Egypt public, although both sides said commercial differences not politics were behind the move.

Professor Uzi Rabi at Tel Aviv University said that gas deal decision pointed to a region more “attuned to the street”. “We are in (the midst of ) a continuing deterioration in Israel-Egypt relations. One must hope that the interests will overcome the inflammatory direction,” he added. The gas deal had long been criticised in Egypt’s opposition media and by the public even when Mubarak was in office. They said the gas was sold too cheaply and benefits were pocketed by Mubarak’s associates. The pipeline was sporadically attacked. But the number of attacks has soared since the anti-Mubarak uprising. The line has been blown up 14 times in that period, halting the flow for much of the time.

Officials and former Mubarak associates behind the deal have also been put on trial for corruption.

Islamists were swift to laud the gas deal’s cancellation and have been among the most critical of Israel, although such criticism crosses the broad spectrum of Egypt’s politicians.

“There is no doubt the peace treaty is unfair to the Egyptian side,” Mahmoud Ghozlan, spokesman and a senior figure in Egypt’s biggest Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood, told Reuters, although he said all treaties would be “respected”. He pointed to limitations on troop numbers allowed in Sinai since Israeli completed the pull back in the 1980s from the peninsula it occupied in the 1967 war. He also complained that Israelis were allowed into that area of Egypt with no visa. The outspokenness of politicians taps a deep vein of anger against Israel but also reflects a desire since Mubarak was ousted to be more assertive and end what many saw as Mubarak’s subservience to policies of the United States and the West. Restoring Egypt’s

“dignity” is a common refrain in speeches.

“Egypt’s next president can’t be like his predecessor, he can’t be a follower who executes policies put to him from outside,” Mohamed Mursi told his first news conference as the Brotherhood’s presidential candidate.

The challenge for Egypt’s new politicians, keen to win over the public, will be putting the genie back in the bottle as they respond to the popular mood and test the boundaries of how far they challenge ties with Israel. A miscalculation risks riling US politicians, quick to rally to Israel’s defence, and alienating a major donor with the might to sway international investment and support. “It is not about explicit policies or some kind of master plan the Brotherhood has, but how misperception breeds misperception,” said Brookings’ Hamid, adding there was a chance that Egypt, Israel or the United States could misjudge events.

Some Israeli officials have shown increasing signs of worry as they have watched Egypt’s political drama unfold. Amos Gilad, a top aide to Defence Minister Ehud Barak, said this month he was “concerned” about future relations with Egypt and said he was “not so sure” the Brotherhood was committed to peace, a break with the usually cautiously optimistic line. An Israeli newspaper cited Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman saying Egypt was more dangerous to Israel than Iran, a country Israelis accuse of building nuclear weapons. Lieberman would not confirm those comments when asked later.

One of Israel’s biggest worries is the security vacuum in Sinai where Islamic radicals, some blamed for blowing up the gas pipeline, have gained a foothold as policing of the area collapsed after Mubarak’s fall.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “kind of Wild West”. Yet, the Brotherhood, the dominant group in Egypt’s emerging democracy for now, may share Israel’s concern for the rise of extremism on its border. — Reuters

US firms may miss out on Saudi nuke deals

By Amena Bakr

T

op oil exporter Saudi Arabia expects to finalize its atomic energy plans this year but the US nuclear industry may miss out on multi-billion dollar contracts to turn it into a reality unless Washington and Riyadh sign a non-proliferation deal soon. Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s largest oil and gas fields but rapidly rising power demand in the kingdom threatens to absorb much of those reserves unless it can find alternative fuels for its long-term economic growth.

Riyadh, which says electricity demand could soar from around 45 gigawatts (GW) to 120 GW by 2035, commissioned the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) in 2010 to draw up a plan for reducing reliance on oil and gas.

It has signed nuclear cooperation deals with countries able to build reactors, including the United States, France, Russia, South Korea, China and Argentina. And Riyadh needs to move relatively quickly if it is to achieve its goal of opening its first nuclear plant by 2020. “We expect the current consultation phase with the Council to last for a few more months before we can announce the Kingdom’s energy sources, capacity targets, and milestone regulations,” a KA-CARE spokesman said. “Soon we will be announcing what the energy mix for the reactors will be.” US companies lost out to a lower-bidding Korean consortium in the first Gulf region nuclear plant tender in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009. They could be sidelined again until Washington and Riyadh sign a “123 agreement” under the US Atomic Energy Act - opening the door for US nuclear exports. Nuclear projects tend to progress slowly - thanks to their size, complexity and

many safety issues. A US embassy cable released by Wikileaks warned in 2009 that Saudi Arabia pressing ahead with one of the world’s largest atomic energy programs without US involvement was a “near-term risk to US interests.”

But with congress preoccupied with US presidential elections and stopping Iran’s nuclear program, which it suspects includes weapons development, it is unlikely any deal will be concluded this year. “There’s high doubt that President Obama or the US congress, which needs to ratify the 123 agreement, will move on this in 2012,” said a source in Washington familiar with US energy policy.

“I think the Saudis will have to wait and see who wins the elections first before they proceed ... this may not be until 2014 before the United States considers it.”

Riyadh, may not wait until 2014 for a US non-proliferation deal and has several other options if the door to US companies remains shut. “It would constrain American suppliers of reactors or of services, like conversion or enrichment, but as far as anybody else is concerned, no,” Ian Hore-Lacy, spokesman for the World Nuclear Association (WNA), a group representing nuclear power companies around the world, said. “But there would be plenty of options. Even in a worst case scenario, there are still other avenues of buying equipment and services ... It certainly wouldn’t be a show stopper,” he said.

It is unclear how the use of some USpatented technologies by other nuclear plant builders would be affected if the United States and the kingdom do not strike a 123 deal. The UAE signed the 123 agreement with the United States in early 2009, forfeiting its right to enrich uranium domestically, before awarding a $40 billion contract to a Korean-

led consortium later that year. Prince Turki AlFaisal, a key Saudi royal, has said the kingdom would not surrender its right to enrich its own uranium for energy use in the long term, although it expects to have to import fuel in the medium term.

“Early economic studies have indicated that although Saudi Arabia is naturally rich with uranium, using that uranium in Saudi Arabian facilities to produce fuel for electrical generation will not be economically feasible in the foreseeable future,” the KA-CARE spokesman said. “Importing fuel is preferable at this time.” While concrete construction plans remain far off, Saudi Arabia has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with several countries with experience in building nuclear plants - including the United States, France, Russia, South Korea, China and Argentina - over the last few years. “Each provides us access to valuable technologies and suppliers options,” the spokesman said.

Last year, a KA-CARE official said the country could build up to 16 nuclear power reactors by 2030, but KA-CARE has created many potential energy supply and demand scenarios and the actual number of nuclear reactors will depend entirely on what share of the overall mix the government finally targets.

Nevertheless, under most of the scenarios modelled by KA-CARE, nuclear energy emerged as one of the best ways for generating “baseload” electricity, or the lowest demand seen around the clock, so it seems a significant role in the kingdom’s future power supply is likely.

The Middle Eastern oil giant currently relies on oil and gas-fired power plants to keep a growing population cool in summer, while running energy-hungry desalination plants year round to turn millions of litres a

day of seawater into something they can drink. Khalid Al-Falih, the chief executive of state-owned Saudi Aramco, has warned that if left unchecked Saudi energy consumption could sap three million barrels a day from crude available for export by 2028.

Because nuclear power plants are not quickly started or shut down and are generally run at near-full production whenever possible, they are not suited to meeting power demand surges on hot summer afternoons, but they could be well suited to the more stable year round demand from water desalination plants and other heavy industry. A source familiar with the KA-CARE study said that Saudi Arabia is likely to opt for a mix of large reactors near the coast because water is needed for cooling, while employing smaller portable reactors, such as those offered by Argentina.

Saudi Arabia signed a cooperation deal last year with Argentina’s Atomic Energy Commission and technology firm INVAP, which develops smaller reactors designed for water desalination plants - an option that would likely remain open regardless of any 123 deal with Washington. Some analysts say Saudi Arabia is likely to pick the foreign partners for its nuclear program based on how economically attractive the bids are, rather than to cement political alliances. But builders may seek oil supply assurances from the world’s largest crude exporter, given that their reactors could save millions of barrels of crude a month from Saudi power plant furnaces in decades to come. “Given Saudi Arabia’s role as an exporter, vendor nations will likely be willing to make financial or other concessions in exchange for some type of supply guarantees,” said Will Pearson, energy analyst at the Eurasia Group. — Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

NEWS

Kashmiri porters on horseback travel past walls of snow along the newly-reopened Srinagar-Leh highway in Zojila, about 108 km east of Srinagar yesterday. The 443 km long highway was opened for the season by Indian Army authorities after remaining snow at Zojila Pass, some 3,530 m above sea level, had been cleared. The pass connects Muslim-dominated Kashmir with the Buddhist-dominated Ladakh region, a famous tourist destination among foreign tourists for its monasteries, landscapes and mountains. — AFP

Slow pace of housing reform frustrates Saudis RIYADH: For 20 years Mohammed AlShahery has dreamed of leaving his small rented house in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh and buying a home of his own. But a huge housing shortage in the country has led the 46-year-old father of five to accept that he will be unable to afford a home for his family until he retires from the medical firm where he works and moves to a remote village. “To buy land in an average area in Riyadh would cost at least 750,000 riyals ($200,000), and to build and furnish the house would cost at least another 1 million (riyals),” he said.

Shahery’s difficulties are shared by many citizens of the world’s biggest oil exportingcountry, where a doubling of the population in the past 20 years and the arrival of property speculators have sent house prices surging by an average 10 percent annually in recent years. Analysts say the kingdom needs to build up to 275,000 new homes a year for the next five years to satisfy demand for about 1.65 million new homes.

Property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) forecasts land prices will rise by at least 10 percent this year while house prices will increase by another 7-10 percent.

Keenly aware that the housing shortage is a major social problem in a nation that avoided uprisings elsewhere in the region last year, the government has set up a new housing ministry and pledged to construct half a million new homes at a cost of 250 billion riyals ($67 billion). However, that plan is likely to take years to realise and economists say more far-reaching reforms are needed to encourage home building, including passing a long-awaited mortgage law and taxing undeveloped land.

A shor t drive along the congested streets of Riyadh reveals an anomaly: large stretches of undeveloped land in attractive residential areas, belonging to wealthy landowners who are in no rush to build on it or to speculative investors who aim to sell the land undeveloped for a quick profit.

Property developers for their part are being deterred by the high costs of development and lengthy bureaucratic procedures. In recent years they have preferred to focus on more profitable, higher-end housing projects instead of addressing demand for cheaper properties, although analysts say that trend may be starting to change.

“The Saudi government is doing the

right thing by focusing on supply, rather than increasing demand through providing funding (from banks) .. . th ings are starting to happen and Saudis will see more solutions in the next five years,” said John Harris, director of JLL’s Saudi arm. Demand for housing is most acute, he says, among middle income families earning around 8,000 a month who are looking for a more spacious family home that will cost them 700,000800,000 riyals in Riyadh and other major cities.

A proper mor tgage law would help make property more affordable to a wider section of the population but t hat has been promised for almost a decade and there is no indication on when it will be introduced. Without it the kingdom has no proper framework to govern property ownership. Implementation of the law has been complicated by the political difficulty of allowing houses to be repossessed and families evicted for non-payment in a country where citizens have no vote but receive generous financial protection from the government.

Some banks already offer housing loans, but in the absence of legislation allowing

Israeli general tones down Iran rhetoric Continued from Page 1 Israeli officials have refused to rule out a pre-emptive strike to prevent it from happening. But there was no sign of any change in the hardline approach of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Tehran should remain under biting sanctions until it halts all uranium enrichment. “They have to stop all enrichment,” he told CNN, saying he would not accept Iran enriching uranium to even three percent, which is near the level required for peaceful atomic energy. Iran has already developed the capacity to enrich uranium to 3.5 percent, and to 20 percent, which is used to create medical isotopes, but it would have to enrich to 90 percent in order to make nuclear weapons. A “militant Islamic regime”, he said, “can put their ideology before their survival”.

The language used by Gantz in yesterday’s interview was far from the fiery rhetoric of Netanyahu, who last week said anyone who refused to acknowledge the Iranian threat had learned nothing from the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. “They are afraid to speak the truth, which is today, as it was then, that there are people who want to annihilate millions of Jews,” he said.

The attempt by both Gantz and Barak to tone down the rhetoric on Iran comes after a spate of media reports suggesting a division within the Israeli leadership over how to handle the Iranian issue.

Two months ago, Netanyahu and Barak appeared to agree that the sanctions imposed on Iran would not work, Haaretz reported, describing the political leadership as “divided” between the premier and the defence minister, and other top ministers who wanted to give the sanctions time to work. But last week, the paper said there was a growing rift between the two after Netanyahu criticised the nuclear talks between world powers and Iran.

“Netanyahu’s tough statement also appears to underline the growing rift between him and Defence Minister Ehud Barak on the Iran issue,” the paper said, indicating that Barak “has said he believes the negotiations should be given a chance to succeed”. Barak, it said, does not categorically oppose 20 percent enrichment under complete supervision and is willing to accept 3.5 percent enrichment, while Netanyahu “opposes any enrichment of uranium by Iran”.

Reports of an apparent rift were confirmed by a senior Israeli official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. “Gantz is only repeating publicly what military leaders, including his predecessor General Gabi Ashkenazi, have continuously told the politicians in the last few years,” he said. “Ehud Barak has evolved and seems more moderate. And (Foreign Minister) Avigdor Lieberman recently told Israeli reporters it was necessary to give a chance to the economic sanctions and

diplomatic pressure, that we must give it time and not hurry,” he said. “In fact, the prime minister is somewhat isolated on Iran,” he said.

Analysts believe that a decision to attack Iran could not be taken without the full support of the defence minister and most of the security cabinet, as well as the backing of the Israeli military and the Mossad spy service. Netanyahu had already been stung at home by his former spymaster, Meir Dagan, who said that such an Israeli strike on Iran would be a “ridiculous” idea.

Shannon Kile, a nuclear proliferation expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Gantz’s description of Iranian leaders as rational was “quite an interesting turnabout”. “Hopefully, it is going to reduce the incentives for any sort of pre-emptive or preventive military action, at least for the time being,” Kile said.

Gantz’s assessment appeared to be in step with the view of the top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey. He said in a CNN interview in February he believed Iran was a “rational actor” and it would be premature to take military action against it. Israeli political sources said at the time that the remarks by Dempsey who also suggested Israel’s armed forces could not deliver lasting damage to Iranian nuclear sites - had angered Netanyahu.

Gantz, a lanky former paratrooper who has served as Israel’s military attache in Washington, was asked in the Haaretz interview what impact his view would have on government decision-making on Iran. “Whatever weight the government decides to ascribe it,” he said. “I say my opinion according to my own professional truth and my strategic analysis. I will say it sharply: I do not forget my professional ethics. The government will decide after it hears the professional echelon and the army will carry out, in a faithful and determined manner, any decision that is made.”

Kile said he was surprised Gantz had spoken out, “because normally the Israeli military leadership on the nuclear issue has been quite subdued”, with former intelligence officials “coming out and trying to cool ... the possible Israeli impetus towards military action”.

Gantz took over as chief of staff a year ago but has been less outspoken on strategic issues than his predecessor, Gabi Ashkenazi. He was not the first choice for the job; the preferred candidate, Yoav Gallant, had to bow out because of a property scandal.

In at least one turning point in Israeli history, the government chose to ignore a strong warning from the military’s top general about the intentions of a longtime adversary. In 1977, then-chief of staff Mordechai Gur famously cautioned the cabinet that Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s offer to visit Jerusalem could be a smokescreen for war preparations. Sadat’s trip led to a peace treaty in 1979. — Agencies

repossessions, these must be secured against salaries, making them available only to Saudis employed by leading companies. As a result, only about 2 percent of homeowners have a mortgage, industry experts say, and foreign banks and private developers have shied away from the market. Less than half of Saudi households own their home and that figure drops to around 30 percent in younger households where the occupiers are below 30 years of age, a trend that is prompting young Saudis to put off getting married because they cannot afford their own home. “My monthly salary is 8,500 riyals and I pay (1,500 a month in) installments on a car loan. The high rent plus the car loan did not allow me to get a suitable loan to own a house,” said Abdulrahman al-Anzi, a 27-year-old English teacher.

In February, the Shoura Council, a body that advises the government on new laws, proposed an annual tax on undeveloped land to encourage landowners to release sites for homebuilding. “There have been signs of a speculative bubble (in the market).

Taxes on undeveloped land or higher fees on land transactions should reduce the amount

of speculative land transactions,” said Paul Gamble, chief economist and head of research at Jadwa Investment in Riyadh.

However, there has been no government decision on a tax and the issue is sensitive because a lot of land is owned by princes and leading businessmen. An official of Eastern Province was quoted by Al-Hayat daily this month as saying real estate businessmen own a fifth of undeveloped land and do not want to sell. A Nov 2006 US Embassy cable released by WikiLeaks charged that some of the country’s several thousand princes had confiscated plots for their own gain.

Abdulwahab Abu-Dahesh, vice chairman of the real estate committee at the Saudi Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh, said taxing undeveloped land may not be enough to spur property development.

“I do not think that imposing tax on undeveloped lands would solve any problem or would decrease prices, especially given that the market is not well regulated,” he said. “Most of the undeveloped sites do not have services like water, electricity and sewage and the developer incurs their cost without any aid from the government,” he added. — Reuters

Islamist UAE sheikh held without charge Continued from Page 1 detention as an “unprecedented provocation”. Earlier this month, UAE authorities detained six members of AlIslah for alleged links to terrorism funding. Sheikh Sultan posted an opinion piece online in April criticizing the federal government crackdown on the Islamist activists who were stripped of their citizenship late last year. The government cited national security concerns in moving

against the men, but the activists say they were targeted for calling for political reform. In the opinion piece, Sheikh Sultan linked online activism among Emirati youth to the mass protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which led to the resignation of Egypt’s longtime ruler, Hosni Mubarak. It suggested, at least indirectly, that ripples from the Arab Spring were spreading the Gulf federation, whose leaders have been spared the street protests seen elsewhere in the region. — Agencies

Mad cow disease found in US Continued from Page 1 disruptions to the global food trade worth billions of dollars. A stream of sanctions and restrictions were introduced and in some cases entire herds of cattle had to be slaughtered, destroying farmers’ livelihoods. Wary US beef producers were keen to prevent a panic. “The most important message is that US beef is safe,” said Philip Seng, of the US Meat Export Federation. According to the organization, beef exports are worth more than $353 million to the United States each month, with Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Japan among the main export markets.

Yesterday, two major South Korean retailers suspended sales of US beef, saying they would wait to see what action the government takes, as did Home Plus, a unit of Britain’s Tesco PLC. South Korea will take “appropriate” steps after checking details, the agriculture ministry said, adding that the latest case was not directly connected to beef that can be imported by South Korea. “If necessary we can strengthen quarantine and inspections or ban imports,” a ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity. South Korea barred US beef in late 2003 following an earlier case of mad cow disease, only agreeing to resume most beef imports in 2008.

Japan said there had been no policy change, and Taiwan authorities said they were monitoring the situation but had

not yet decided whether to take action. A spokesperson for Singapore’s food regulator said its import requirements were “sufficiently robust” to protect against contamination and that it would not be taking any further action. Russia’s health watchdog said it could consider restrictions on US imports but that it was waiting for more information on the outbreak and the planned US response before taking a decision. Experts said the case was “atypical”, meaning it was a rare occurrence in which a cow contracts the disease spontaneously, rather than through the feed supply. The United States has an estimated 90.8 million head of cattle, forming a large chunk of the economy in states like Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and California. Around 40,000 US cattle are tested by the Department of Agriculture each year.

On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange the price of cattle futures fell on rumors of the news. More than 190,000 cases of mad cow disease have been detected in the European Union since it was first diagnosed in Britain in 1986, forcing the destruction of millions of cows. More than 200 people around the world are believed to have died, most of them in Britain, from the human variant of the disease, which was first described in 1996. Scientists believe the disease was caused by using infected parts of cattle to make feed for other cattle. Authorities believe eating meat from infected animals can trigger the human variant of the fatal brainwasting disease. — Agencies

National Assembly rejects annual...

Continued from Page 1 MP Riyadh Al-Adasani said the development plan is valued at KD 30 billion but there is no timeframe for implementation and there is no strict monitoring of its implementation. MP Mohammad Al-Kandari said the government has acknowledged that most of the causes for not implementing the plan are from the government and only five percent relates to legislative issues. MP Marzouk Al-Ghanem said the plan does not have detailed information and includes a number of disorders, particularly the heavy dependence on oil revenues. “We have become a state that sells oil to pay

wages of its employees,” he said.

Secretary General of the Higher Planning Council Adel Al-Wagayan said the plan stipulates the spending of KD 3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, MP Adel Al-Damkhi said the mechanism for selecting the prime minister should be changed and should become like selecting the crown prince under which three names should be offered to the Assembly which will elect one. MP Jamaan Al-Harbash called for applying the full parliamentary system in which the government, including the premier, shoud be appointed by the party that wins parliamentary election. “We need fundamental changes to the

Kuwaiti democracy,” he demanded.

Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah reminded MPs that according to the constitution, the selection of the prime minister is the exclusive right of HH the Amir. MP Faisal Al-Mislem said they will submit proposals for key constitutional amendments stipulating that the prime minister is appointed from the common people and that ministers do not become members of the Assembly. MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari called for a constitutional monarchy where the prime minister comes from the people. He also strongly lashed out at Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

sp orts Kenya omit record holder Makau from London team NAIROBI: World marathon record holder Patrick Makau was left out of the Kenyan men’s team named yesterday for the London Olympics after he failed to finish last Sunday’s London marathon.

Wilson Kiplagat, who won Sunday’s race, and twice world champion Abel Kirui, who finished sixth, will represent Kenya in London along with Moses Mosop who finished third in the Rotterdam marathon this month.

Kipsang set the second fastest time ever when he clocked two hours three minutes 42 seconds in Frankfurt last October. Makau set his world record of 2:03:38 in Berlin in the previous month.

The first three woman home in Sunday’s race; defending champion Mary Keitany, world champion Edna Kiplagat and world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo were each selected for the Games.

Geoffrey Mutai, winner of the New York and Boston marathons last year and Emmamuel Mutai, who won London last year but finished seventh on Sunday, were excluded from the men’s team although they had been included on a provisional list released this year. —Reuters

HRT to miss F1 test

Barca’s Pique leaves hospital

ITALY: Formula One stragglers HRT will miss next week’s early-season test at the Mugello circuit in Italy because they say they want to focus instead on settling into their new Spanish headquarters.

The team, yet to score a point in Formula One and last in the standings after four races, also missed pre-season testing with their 2012 car and failed to qualify for the opening grand prix in Australia.

“The start to the season was a little bit rushed for us and, since the cars were set up for the first time, we have been working on them at the grands prix,” said team principal Luis Perez-Sala in a statement yesterday.

“This move (to new headquarters near Madrid) is very important for us and by not going to Mugello we can work thoroughly on the car to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix.

“We won’t have the new upgrade package until then so we’ve preferred to focus on what can contribute more to us, which is teamwork at the headquarters. And there is a lot to do,” added the Spaniard. HRT’s drivers are Spanish veteran Pedro De la Rosa and Indian Narain Karthikeyan.

The May 1-3 test at Ferrari-owned Mugello is the only one scheduled during the season that all drivers are allowed to take part in. —Reuters

MADRID: Barcelona defender Gerard Pique left hospital yesterday after being kept in overnight for an accidental bash to the head during the Champions League defeat to Chelsea, the club said.

“The player’s progress in the past few hours has been satisfactory and this morning he was discharged,” the club said in an online statement. “He will rest for a week and then will return for a check-up.”

Pique lay dazed on the grass on Tuesday night after a three -way pile -up with Barca’s goalkeeper Victor Valdes and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, in which the keeper’s side bashed into Pique’s head.

The defender left the pitch shortly afterwards, 26 minutes into the Champions League semi-final in Barcelona, and was taken to hospital, replaced in defence by Dani Alves. The English club went through to the final in dramatic style, playing most of the match with 10 men to clinch a 2-2 draw to win 32 on aggregate. —AFP

Rangers get past Yankees ARLINGTON: Texas pitcher Yu Darvish had a season-high 10 strikeouts and worked out of a couple of jams for the Rangers, delivering a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday and getting the better of Japanese compatriot Hiroki Kuroda.

In only the seventh MLB matchup ever of Japanese starters, Darvish (3-0) walked a season-low two in 8 1-3 innings. The 10 strikeouts were the most by a Texas pitcher this season.

Ian Kinsler put Texas ahead to stay when he led off the first with a deep homer off Kuroda (1-3), who limited Texas to two runs over 6 2-3 innings.

The Rays homered four times off Angels starter Ervin Santana (0-4), who has given up at least two home runs in each of his first four starts this season.

Don Sutton, in 1986, is the only other Angels pitcher to allow multiple homers in his first four starts, according to Stats LLC. Indians 4, Royals 3 In Cleveland, Derek Lowe allowed one

Mariners 7, Tigers 4 In Detroit, Alex Liddi had a career-high three hits, including a solo homer, to power Seattle past Detroit. The Mariners went up 4-0 early and held on for their first win in five games.

Jason Vargas (3-1) pitched six innings for the Mariners, allowing six hits. He struck out four and walked one. Tigers starter Max Scherzer (1-2) allowed five runs in five innings.

Rays 5, Angels 0 In St. Petersburg, Florida, David Price pitched his second career shutout to give Tampa Bay victory over Los Angeles.

Price (3-1) gave up all singles in his first shutout since 2010 and only his third career complete game.

ARLINGTON: Texas Rangers’ Yu Darvish raises his fist acknowledging cheers from fans as he and the team leave the field following their baseball game against the New York Yankees. —AP run over six innings to pitch Cleveland to a win that inflcted a 12th straight loss on Kansas City.

The Royals losing skid is tied for the third-longest in team history. They also lost 12 in a row in 1997 and 2008. Kansas City lost 13 straight in 2006 and had a team-record 19 consecutive losses in 2005. Lowe (3-1) struck out five. Chris Perez allowed a ninth-inning run but held on for the save.

Red Sox 11, Twins 2 In Minneapolis, Josh Beckett had five strikeouts and one confrontation with an umpire in six sharp innings, leading Boston to a win over Minnesota.

Beckett (2-2) allowed two runs, while David Ortiz homered with three RBIs for the Red Sox, who had no trouble with this big lead after squandering a ninerun advantage to the New York Yankees on Saturday. Beckett argued with the home plate umpire after a rough first inning, but the fiery Texan finished his evening by striking out the side in the sixth. Nick Blackburn (0-2) gave up five runs and eight hits in just three innings for the Twins. —AP

Ding slams fans at worlds SHEFFIELD: Ding Junhui criticised fans for shouting during his first round loss to Ryan Day in the World Championships here Wednesday in the latest British-Chinese controversy to hit the tournament.

At 9-6 up, China star Ding was just one frame away from going through to the last 16. But his Welsh opponent reeled off four straight frames for a 109 win. Even in the deciding frame Ding, twice a winner of the UK Championship (snooker’s second most important tournament) had the first chance. But the 25-year-old, who’d earlier won five frames in a row to go 9-6 in front, missed a red with a rest after making 48. That error let in Day and he responded with a match-winning break of 64 as Ding, a semi-finalist last year and tipped as a future world champion by current title holder John Higgins, became the seventh seed to exit the tournament in 12 completed matches.

After wards Ding, who lives in Sheffield, criticised both the table and the Crucible Theatre crowd: “It was all rubbish. “I don’t think I played well. I don’t think the table’s right. I don’t think the fans are right. All rubbish.

Rubbish fans. “I was concentrating on the game and they kept shouting out.

How can they do that?

“People say that Chinese fans are no good. Okay but then I come here and what do they do?” As in golf, it is

SAN DIEGO: Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez ran his scoreless innings streak to 20, setting up the National League East-leading Nationals for a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

Gonzalez (2-0) allowed two singles in six innings, and struck out six. Chad Tracy hit a two-run single in the seventh to end the night for Padres starter Clayton Richard (1-2).

Richard allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings and walked five.

Reds 9, Giants 2 In Cincinnati, Mat Latos finally got his first win for his new team, pitching seven shutout innings to lead Cincinnati over San Francisco.

Latos (1-2) came to the Reds in a trade from San Diego and acknowledged trying too hard to impress his new team. He was back on his game against the Giants, allowing only four singles.

Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Giants starter Matt Cain (1-1) after initially being called out on a foul tip. The umpires changed the call and gave him another swing. The Giants have lost six straight at Cincinnati.

Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1 In Baltimore, pitcher Tommy Hunter only allowed one runner past first base in six innings, steering Baltimore over Toronto. Hunter (2-1) gave up a long homer to Eric Thames in the third but was otherwise in command. Baltimore’s Matt Wieters homered off the glove of Thames.

Pedro Strop pitched the ninth for his first career save. Baltimore’s usual closer, Jim Johnson, skipped the game with illness. Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez (0-2) took the loss despite allowing only two runs over seven innings.

Athletics 2, White Sox 0 In Oakland, Tommy Milone outdueled Gavin Floyd, leading Oakland past Chicago. Daric Barton drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and after a strikeout, Matt Thornton relieved Floyd (1-3). Kurt Suzuki doubled to left and Barton scored easily, then Eric Sogard added an RBI single as the A’s ended a 16-inning scoreless stretch.

The White Sox had their four-game winning streak snapped along with a sixgame road winning streak. Milone (3-1) matched Floyd all night until Oakland’s offense finally capitalized.

Gonzalez, Nationals stop Padres

expected spectators will remain silent while a player is taking a shot, although crowds in both sports have become rowdier over time.

Day, for his part, insisted nothing untoward had happened. “I didn’t think there was any calling out at the wrong time,” he said.”Obviously with a match like that everyone who is watching gets right behind the person they want to win, and I didn’t notice there was any calling out at the wrong time.”

Meanwhile former champion Mark Williams was booed-something all but unheard of at a snooker tournamentwhen walking out for his first round match against China’s Liu Chuang.

Before the tournament Welsh potter Williams, world champion in 2000 and 2003, had condemned the Crucible as a “shxt hole” in a Twitter tirade and said he hoped the tournament would move to China. All this came after Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen had ensured a controversial start to the tournament after suggesting Cao Yupeng and his fellow Chinese players were more likely to cheat than their fellow professionals. Allen, 26, was furious that Cao didn’t call a foul against himself during their first round match on Sunday when, claiming his opponent had struck the cue ball twice while taking a shot, which is against the rules, although replays were inconclusive. —AFP

Cubs 3, Cardinals 2 In Chicago, Alfonso Soriano hit a gameending RBI single in the 10th inning as Chicago edged St. Louis, ending the Cardinals’ run of 13 consecutive winning series.

Tony Campana sparked the winning rally with a one-out single off Fernando Salas (0-1).

Campana then stole second in a close call that led to the ejection for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

After a strike out and intentional walk, Soriano hit a full-count pitch off the second baseman and into the outfield, allowing Campana to score easily. Chicago’s James Russell (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning to get the win.

Mets 2, Marlins 1 In New York, Lucas Duda lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning that rebounded off the pitcher, lifting New York to a tight win over Miami.

Mets starter Johan Santana and Marlins’ Josh Johnson zipped through the first six innings in a crisp pitchers’ duel. Santana, coming off the shortest start of his career, struck out 11 for the Mets while Johnson whiffed nine.

Both working on six days’ rest, each pitcher was charged with one run in 6 2-3 innings.

Between them, they threw 67 strikes. Former Met Jose Reyes went hitless for Miami in his return to Citi Field.

Braves 4, Dodgers 3 In Los Angeles, Chipper Jones homered on his 40th birthday as Atlanta edged Los Angeles. Atlanta’s Tyler Pastornicky greeted Dodgers closer Javy Guerra (1-2) with a leadoff single in the ninth and advanced to second base on a sacrifice fly by Jack Wilson.

After a strikeout, Martin Prado drove a pitch over the head of the center fielder, who caught up with the ball but couldn’t hold onto it, giving Prado an RBI triple.

Eric O’Flaherty (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings for the victory and Craig Kimbrel

worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save in as many attempts.

Pirates 5, Rockies 4 In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen had three RBIs to help Pittsburgh edge Colorado.

Casey McGehee drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single off Matt Belisle (1-1) which scored pinch-runner Nate McLouth.

Clint Barmes had led off the eighth with his second home run to tie the game 4-4. Pirates reliever Tony Watson (1-0) earned the victory getting one out.

Brewers 9, Astros 6 In Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks capped a fiverun sixth inning with a three-run homer - one of four Brewers’ homers in the game - as Milwaukee powered past Houston.

The Brewers moved back to .500 (9-9) and beat Houston for the 11th straight time.

Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf (1-2) struggled over six innings, giving up four hits and four walks but still notched his first win of the season. Astros starter Bud Norris (1-1) surrendered seven runs in 5 2-3 innings - with Weeks sending his 102nd and last pitch deep. —AP

SAN DIEGO: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez works against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game. —AP

MLB results/standings Baltimore 2, Toronto 1; Cleveland 4, Kansas City 3; Seattle 7, Detroit 4; Pittsburgh 5, Colorado 4; NY Mets 2, Miami 1; Cincinnati 9, San Francisco 2; Tampa Bay 5, LA Angels 0; Texas 2, NY Yankees 0; Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 2 (10 innings); Boston 11, Minnesota 2; Milwaukee 9, Houston 6; Philadelphia 8, Arizona 5; Washington 3, San Diego 1; Oakland 2, Chicago White Sox 0; Atlanta 4, LA Dodgers 3.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT NY Yankees 10 7 .588 Tampa Bay 10 7 .588 Toronto 10 7 .588 Baltimore 10 7 .588 Boston 6 10 .375 Central Division Cleveland 9 6 .600 Detroit 10 7 .588 C White Sox 10 7 .588 Minnesota 5 13 .278 Kansas City 3 14 .176 Western Division Texas 14 4 .778 Oakland 9 10 .474 Seattle 8 10 .444 LA Angels 6 11 .353

GB 3.5 5.5 7 5.5 6 7.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 13 4 .765 Atlanta 11 7 .611 NY Mets 9 8 .529 Philadelphia 8 10 .444 Miami 7 9 .438 Central Division St Louis 11 7 .611 Milwaukee 9 9 .500 Cincinnati 8 9 .471 Pittsburgh 7 9 .438 Chicago Cubs 6 12 .333 Houston 6 12 .333 Western Division LA Dodgers 13 5 .722 San Francisco 9 8 .529 Arizona 9 9 .500 Colorado 8 8 .500 San Diego 5 13 .278

2.5 4 5.5 5.5 2 2.5 3 5 5 3.5 4 4 8

Devils beat Panthers in OT NEWARK: New Jersey ’s Travis Zajac scored the overtime winner as the Devils beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 last Friday, sending their NHL Eastern Conference first-round playoff series to a deciding seventh game.

Steve Bernier and Ilya Kovalchuk also scored and Martin Brodeur made 14 saves for New Jersey, which squandered a twogoal lead and had fans dreading another first-round playoff exit until Zajac scored from the right hand circle. The shot beat Scott Clemmensen to the lower corner and set off delirium on the ice.

Clemmensen was otherwise outstanding, stopping 39 shots in an emergency start for the injured Jose Theodore.

Kris Versteeg and Sean Bergenheim tallied for Florida, which is looking for its first series win since 1996. Game 7 will be played at Florida today.

Two other series in the conference are also headed to Game 7s.

Washington will be at second-

seeded Boston late yesterday and Ottawa will be at the top-seeded Rangers today.

The Devils had a big territorial advantage in the final 10 minutes of the first period and it finally paid off when Bernier beat Clemmensen with a bad-angle shot at 16:37 of the period.

Kovalchuk gave New Jersey a 2-0 lead, slam-dunking a pass from Zajac into the net with four seconds left on a power play. It was his third goal of the series.

Versteeg cut the deficit to 2-1.

Stephen Weiss centered the puck from along the left sideboards and Versteeg’s shot hit off the

NEWARK: New Jersey Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk of Russia celebrates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series. —AP

skate of Devils forward Alexei Ponikarovsky and into the open side of the net. Brodeur never had a chance.

The tying goal came at 12:49 after the referees ignored a slash

by Bergenheim that knocked Kovalchuk to the ice. It led to a 4on-2 rush. Brodeur made the initial stop on a shot from the between the circles by Tyson Strachan, but Bergenheim came late and tucked the rebound into an open net with teammate Marcel Goc hanging on the crossbar.

The Panthers had a chance to score the overtime winner just before Zajac’s goal. However, Zajac pulled the puck away from the crease and led a rush up ice.

Zach Parise took his cross-ice pass and gave the puck to Kovalchuk, who found Zajac skating down the right wing for a shot along the ice into the net. The Devils deserved the win, outshooting Florida 42-16 in a game played before a sellout crowd. —AP

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

S P ORT S

Celtics cool Heat as big names rest BOSTON: Boston’s Sasha Pavlovic scored 12 of his of his season-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, leading a group of Celtics reserves to a 78-66 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday as both teams rested their top players with NBA playoffs looming.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were out for the Heat. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo didn’t play for the Celtics, with each team unable to improve their playoff seeding.

Dexter Pittman had 12 points for the Heat, whose 25 turnovers were a season high. Boston’s Paul Pierce started the game, but sat out the fourth quarter.

Hawks 109, Clippers 102 In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 28 points, including a wild 3-pointer in the final minute, as Atlanta held on for a victory over Los Angeles, moving a step closer to wrapping up home-court in the first round of the playoffs.

Blake Griffin scored a season-high 36 points for the Clippers in a back-and-forth game whose margin was never in double figures until the Hawks went on a 15-2 run at the end of the third quarter.

Johnson clinched it with a pair of 3s, knocking down a desperation shot with 38 seconds remaining and the shot clock running down. He threw up a two-handed heave that somehow banked in, giving the Hawks a 103-96 lead.

Thunder 118, Kings 110 In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 32 points to lead Oklahoma City past Sacramento. Durant extended his lead in a tight NBA scoring race with the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter in a close game. Durant is averaging 27.97

points per game to Bryant’s 27.86 with each having one game left. Reserve Daequan Cook had all 19 of his points in the fourth quarter. He scored all of the Thunder’s first 14 points of the final period to put the hosts ahead for the first time since the first quarter.

DeMarcus Cousins, who was allowed to play only after his 13th technical foul was rescinded earlier in the day, led Sacramento with 32 points.

Jazz 100, Suns 88 In Salt Lake City, Utah clinched a Western Conference playoff spot by beating Phoenix. Paul Millsap scored 26 points and Al Jefferson went on a personal 8-0 fourth-quarter run for the Jazz, who had not beaten the Suns since 2010.

Jared Dudley and Michael Redd scored 15 apiece for the Suns, who were without forward Channing Frye because of a shoulder injury. Utah can still claim the No. 7 seed if Denver loses its final two games.

Hornets 83, Warriors 81 In Oakland, Golden State’s Chris Wright was called for goaltending on Marco Belinelli’s layup with 1.5 seconds remaining, giving New Orleans the win.

In the final seconds, Greivis Vazquez blocked Charles Jenkins’ layup to start a fast break. He pushed the ball ahead to a wide-open Belinelli, whose layup touched the backboard and was on its way down before Wright hustled over for the illegal swat.

Many Warriors fans were actually happy about the defeat. Golden State has to finish in the bottom seven of the league after the draft lottery to keep its protected firstround pick. The Warriors are eighth worst in the league entering today’s season finale at home against San Antonio. — AP

SALT LAKE CITY: Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris (left) battles for a ball with Phoenix Suns guard Sebastian Telfair during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP

Nadal starts Barcelona title defence with win BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal began his title defence at the Barcelona Open yesterday with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of compatriot Guillermo GarciaLopez, who had defeated the king of clay two years ago in Thailand. Top seed Nadal, champion at the Real Club de Tenis in six of the last seven editions - he missed 2010 with knee trouble claimed his 30th match victory in a row at his home event.

Nadal didn’t have it all his own way, with his 78th-ranked opponent winning only his second game of the match as he managed a break with Nadal leading a set and 4-0.

The top seed eventually finished the job with some slight difficulty after Garcia-Lopez saved a match point with a forehand in the final game before the end came after 81 minutes.

Garcia-Lopez beat Nadal in Bangkok two years ago indoors and also put out tournament second seed Andy Murray in Indian Wells in March.

Nadal, the world number two, picked up where he had left off on his favourite surface last weekend when he won an historic eighth consecutive trophy in Monte Carlo, ending a sevenmatch loss streak to world number one Novak Djokovic.

Nadal was joined in the third round by friend and compatriot David Ferrer as the third seed he has lost three Barcelona finals to Nadal crushed Serbian wild card Filip Krajinovic 6-0, 63. Ferrer said he is working through the physical problems which bothered him last week. “I played pretty well, it was a relatively comfortable start,” said the 30-year-old. “The second set was not as good as the first, but I kept my energy and speed.

“I had shoulder problems but I had treatment here on Friday. But I still didn’t know last Sunday if I could play. “I did recover but I still need to rest

to avoid problems,” said the steady player who has been to the semi-finals or better for the past five years here.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori demonstrated his growing confidence on the clay with a battling 6-3, 46, 6-0 defeat of Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin

Benoit Paire. “It was an awful match,” said Nishikori. “It was very windy and we both made so many errors. After three or four balls, someone would make a mistake.

“It was my first match and I was a bit tight, he had already played a match. I really had to conBARCELONA: Rafael Nadal serves to Guillermo Garcia Lopez during the Barcelona Open. Nadal won 6-1, 6-2. — AP

which took just under two hours.

The eighth seed from Tokyo has been playing his fourth clay event this season after competing in South America in February highlighted by a quarter-final in Argentina.

Nishikori has duplicated his third-round Barcelona showing from a year ago and next faces either Spain’s Albert Ramos or Frenchman

centrate a lot but I have to handle the conditions better. “It was OK to win but it was a tough day for me.”

Canadian Milos Raonic, the number 11, raced through the second set to beat Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-1 while South African 13th seed Kevin Anderson advanced over Federico Delbonis of Argentina 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5). — AFP

Ivanovic makes shock exit

STUTTGART: Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic serves the ball to Germany’s Mona Barthel during their match at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. — AFP

STUTTGART: Wild-card Mona Barthel was delighted by her shock first-round win over former idol and ex-world number one Ana Ivanovic at Stuttgart’s clay-court WTA tournament yesterday.

The 21-year-old German blasted down 11 aces to out-muscle Serbia’s Ivanovic, ranked 15th in the world, in straight sets for a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory and will now face seventh-seed Marion Bartoli of France in the second round.

“There was something special, because Ana used to be a bit of a role model for me,” said Barthel, ranked 35th in the world.

“I was still at school when she won the (2008) French Open and I watched it on television.

“At that time all this was a long, long way off for me.” Ivanovic has struggled for form since she rose to world number one nearly four years ago following victory at Roland Garros.

Her best recent form has been at the US Open when she reached the fourth round in both 2010 and 2011. She started her semi-final against Maria Sharapova at

Indian Wells at the start of March, but was forced to retire with a hip injury.

In contrast, Barthel is part of a batch of promising female tennis players emerging from Germany having won the Hobart WTA tournament in January.

She went on to reach the third round at the Australian Open where she lost to eventual winnner Victoria Azarenka, the current world number one.

Meanwhile, fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland booked her place in the quarter-finals when she beat qualifier Greta Arn of Hungary 6-3, 6-4 in their second round match.

In the day’s other ties here, Russian tennis diva and world number two Maria Sharapova makes her debut against French qualifier Alize Cornet on Wednesday evening in the second round.

There will be a battle of the former world number ones later when Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the sixth-seed here, takes on Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic with the winner to face Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the second round.— AFP

NBA results/standings Atlanta 109, LA Clippers 102; Oklahoma City 118, Sacramento 110; Boston 78, Miami 66; Utah 100, Phoenix 88; New Orleans 83, Golden State 81.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Y-Boston 38 27 X-New York 34 30 X-Philadelphia 34 30 New Jersey 22 43 Toronto 22 43 Central Division Z-Chicago 48 16 X-Indiana 42 23 Milwaukee 31 33 Detroit 24 41 Cleveland 21 43 Southeast Division Y-Miami 46 19 X-Atlanta 39 26 X-Orlando 36 28 Washington 18 46 Charlotte 7 57 Western Conference Northwest Division Y-Oklahoma City 47 18 X-Denver 36 28 X-Utah 35 30 Portland 28 37 Minnesota 26 39 Pacific Division Y-La Lakers 41 24 X-La Clippers 40 25 Phoenix 33 32 Golden State 23 42 Sacramento 21 44 Southwest Division Z-San Antonio 48 16 X-Memphis 40 25 X-Dallas 36 29 Houston 33 32 New Orleans 21 44 X—Clinched playoff berth Y—Won division title Z—Best record in conference

PCT .585 .531 .531 .338 .338

GB 3.5 3.5 16 16

.750 .646 .484 .369 .328

6.5 17 24.5 27

.708 .600 .563 .281 .109

7 9.5 27.5 38.5

.723 .563 .538 .431 .400

10.5 12 19 21

.631 .615 .508 .354 .323

1 8 18 20

.750 .615 .554 .508 .323

8.5 12.5 15.5 27.5

Afghan rugby pioneers look for glory in Dubai DUBAI: Afghanistan’s rugby players will hope their maiden ‘international’ sevens match here tomorrow against UAE Shaheen will launch them on a similarly successful trajectory as their cricketing counterparts have enjoyed.

Even to be making the trip is an achievement-they only had three players less than a year ago-but, as their 25year-old scrum-half Aziz Ahmad pointed out, it is not winning that is the most important element.

“For us it is all about enjoyment. We play for each other and we love to play rugby,” said Ahmad on the IRB website. “ We are honored to play for Afghanistan and, inshallah, we will win and make our country proud.

“We have improved a lot in recent months but we know we still have much to learn about this game. But we will play our best, work hard and see what happens,” added Ahmad, who first started playing rugby in Pakistan in 2005.

The team are now preparing for a three -match series against UAE Shaheen, and a lot of their rapid development is down to Steve Brooking, an Afghan-based United Nations worker who is also the Afghanistan Rugby Federation’s (ARF) technical advisor.

“On day one we had three players, on day two we had seven and then on the third day 15 players showed up. It really grew as it went on and the Game is now developing a life of its own, especially in Kabul,” said Brooking, who undertook a similar role in China in 1990 before enjoying a 20-year career in the British Foreign Office. “By the end of 2011, we were in the position to stage a national Sevens tournament.

“Eight teams and 120 players were there and now we have a national squad. Up until now, we’ve been playing at the NATO base in Kabul against military teams. That’s why this tour to Dubai is so big for us - we will get to play against another country’s team.”

The origin of the Afghan sevens team dates back to March 2010 when the fledgling Afghanistan Rugby

Federation (ARF) contacted the IRB’s staff in Asia.

The game’s governing body assisted the ARF in beginning its membership pathway to join the Asian Rugby Football Union in November 2011, and it has grown into a sports federation that is now recognised by Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee.

However, Brooking, 48, explained that the seeds of introducing rugby to the country had stemmed from several Afghans who had lived in England, where rugby was invented by William Webb Ellis.

“The idea of Rugby was started by a group of Afghans, who had seen it in the UK and they thought it would be popular at home,” said Brooking. “ They pushed it when they got home to Kabul. They thought it would suit the Afghan people because it is a tough, physical and athletic sport which depends on good teamwork, strength and passion.

“It means a lot to the players to be travelling to Dubai and playing against UAE Shaheen.” Brooking believes that, aside from the playing experience they will gain, the trip will also widen their understanding of the game.

“This week in Dubai is important for their development,” said Brooking.

“They will see Fifteens Rugby for the first time, they will mix with players from other countries who have more knowledge of the Game and I expect them to pick up so much that way. It is great for them as players.”

This is just the first of two trips as the squad are due to travel to England in June to compete in the Bourenmouth Sevens among other competitive engagements.

Ahmad believes that the sport has the potential to become huge back in Afghanistan. “The future of rugby in Afghanistan is very bright. I would like to see the sport grow there,” he said.

“I think if the people are shown this Game, they will love it. It could become very popular in Kabul and all over the country.” — AFP

Afghan rugby player Aziz Ahmad (right) with teammates and staff seen in this file photo

18

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

S P ORT S

Sharma helps Mumbai to last-over win over Punjab MOHALI: Rohit Sharma hit an attractive 50 off 30 balls as Mumbai Indians scored a last-over win against Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

Sharma led the chase but it took unbeaten cameos from Ambati Rayudu (30) and Robin

losses, while Punjab has six points with three wins and five losses.

The second game of the day, between twotime defending champion Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, was abandoned without a delivery being bowled because

MOHALI: Mumbai Indians Batsman Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians at PCA Stadium. —AFP Peterson (16) to guide Mumbai to 171-6 in 19.5 overs after the home team was restricted to 1683 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Mumbai now has eight points, with four wins and three

of rain at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Chennai and Bangalore shared two points and are now both on nine points with four wins and three losses from nine games each.

At Mohali, Rayudu and Peterson took 27 runs off the 19th over bowled by legspinner Piyush Chawla to tilt the scales and help Mumbai avenge its six-wicket loss to Punjab in their previous game at Mumbai three days ago.

Mumbai needed a challenging 32 off the last two overs until left-hander Peterson produced two switch-hits for boundaries and then a six over the mid-wicket fence to turn the tide back in its favor.

Rayudu also produced two sixes in the over to leave just six runs to get off the last over bowled

by Azhar Mahmood. For Punjab, stand-in captain David Hussey top-scored with an unbeaten 68.

Hussey, leading the side in the absence of Australian compatriot Adam Gilchrist who was nursing a hamstring injury, boosted the total with some lusty shots that included four sixes and four fours.

Hussey added 89 for the unbroken fourth wicket with South African David Miller, who made a quick 17-ball 34 with three sixes and one four, ending the innings with two consecutive sixes off pace bowler Munaf Patel.

“The penultimate over really turned the tide,” Hussey said. “You try and bowl your best bowler in the penultimate over, Chawla bowled well earlier but they got stuck in.”

Scores: Mumbai Indians 171-6 in 19.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 50, Sachin Tendulkar 34, Ambati Rayudu 34 not out; Parvinder Awana 3-39, Azhar Mahmood 2-23) def. Kings XI Punjab 168-3 (David Hussey 68 not out, David Miller 34 not out). —AP

Finalists with guests

EQUATE Champs clinch KNPC Cricket Cup KUWAIT: EQUATE Champs Cricket team clinched the “KNPC Cricket Cup 2012” in the Oil sector cricket tournament final played against Fluor Cricket Team in a tense final at KOC Hubara Cricket Ground in Ahmadi last Saturday.

EQUATE Champs won the toss and elected to field first. EQUATE Champs Bowlers attacked Fluor batting line-up right from the start of the game. Aditya, Mansoor, Mridul, Ravi and Raja bowled absolutely good line to restrict the opponents to 113 runs all out in 19.3 overs. Mridul and Raja took 2 and 3 wickets each while Ravi, Aditya and Mansoor picked 1wicket each.

Chasing the target of 114 to win, EQUATE Champs lost wickets regularly due to good attacking bowling and fielding display by Fluor Cricket Team. Mridul with 26 runs and Raja with 28 runs

were the main contributors before Jatin with 18 runs took Equate Champs home with one wicket and one ball to spare in what a tense last over for both the teams.

Quadri with 3 wickets and Nihal with 4 wickets were the pick of the bowlers ably supported by Melwyn and Kanak who picked one wicket each. Raja Mahmoud was adjudged Man of the Match

Kamal receives the KNPC Cricket Cup

for his outstanding all round performance with both bat and ball.

The Winners and Runners Trophies were presented by Jasim Mohd. Sadeq, Controller, CCD KNPC, the sponsors of the tournament. The individual prizes for the winners were presented by Jasim and Babuji George, KOC CC Member.

The individual prizes for the runners-up were presented by Tareq of KNPC and Narendra Babu KOC CC member. Manfred, Projects Manager, Fluor Kuwait and Arshad Mahmoud gave away the Man of the Match Prize.

Mementoes were presented by Sarwar, GS KOC CC to Jassem and Tareq as a token of appreciation for the continued support of KNPC in sponsoring the Oil Sector Tournaments organized by KOCCC. Iqbal Vanoo, OST Coordinator closed the presentation ceremony with Vote of Thanks.

ROSEAU: West Indies’ captain Darren Sammy (foreground) takes the catch to dismiss Australia’s batsman Shane Watson (left) for five runs as wicket keeper Carlton Baugh (second from right) and Kraigg Brathwaite look on during the second innings on the third day of their third and final cricket Test match. —AP

Windies crumble after Wade’s ton ROSEAU: Spinner Nathan Lyon bagged three wickets as West Indies slumped to 165 for eight to leave Australia with a lead of 163 at the close of the second day of the third test on Tuesday.

Matthew Wade’s maiden test century had fired Australia, who lead the series 1-0, to a first-innings total of 328 after they had been 169 for seven at one stage during the first day.

After West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford had done the damage with a six-wicket haul, his best ever test performance, it was the turn of Australia’s main spinner Lyon to shine as a fragile West Indies top order was exposed.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring, edging Ben Hilfenhaus to first slip Ryan Harris who gobbled up the ball at the second attempt.

Kieran Powell and Adrian Barath made some solid progress, putting on 61 before the latter, on 29, lobbed up a batpad catch to Ed Cowan at short-leg off Lyon. Shortly before tea, part-time spinner Dave Warner removed Darren Bravo in similar fashion, the left-hander ’s inside edge coming off his pads and looping up to Cowan. That was a blow that West Indies failed to recover from in a poor final session for the hosts.

Kieran Powell, who had looked well settled on his way to 40, got a thick inside edge to play on from Lyon and then Harris trapped Narsingh Deonarine leg before for just seven.

Carlton Baugh once again never looked comfortable, the bounce from Lyon doing him as he pushed forward and fed up a simple bat-pad catch to Cowan at short leg. The home side’s problem were not limited to playing

spin though. Skipper Darren Sammy added to his team’s troubles when he was run out for 10 and then Shillingford went first ball as he was beaten by a fine inswinger from Mitchell Starc as West Indies looked in danger of following on.

As so of ten, it was Shivnarine Chanderpaul who provided the resistance. He reached 34 not out by the close, supported well by Ravi Rampaul (24 not out) as a much-needed 45 run partnership gave the hosts some hope.

It was an impressive bowling display

by Lyon, well supported by the seamers, but the tone of the day had been set by his side’s aggressive batting in the morning session.

Wade made 106 from 146 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, his positive approach paying off in a 102run partnership with Hilfenhaus which transformed Australia’s first innings.

The early run out of Mitchell Starc (35) offered the possibility of a swift elimination of the tail but, not for the first time, the Australian lower order showed their quality. Eschewing the cautious approach taken by the top order batsmen on Monday, Wade went on the attack and his partnership with Hilfenhaus came at twice Monday ’s run-rate with the 102 runs coming from 20.1 overs. “As has been proven throughout the series, the Australians bat very deep and you are never actually through them,” said West Indies assistant coach Toby Radford. “ You think that you are through them we’ve got through the top order many times but it has been difficult actually finishing them off.” —Reuters

Scoreboard ROSEAU: Scoreboard at the close of the second day of the third test between West Indies and Australia at Windsor Park: Australia Innings E.Cowan lbw Rampaul 1 D.Warner c Powell b Shillingford 50 S.Watson c Deonarine b Watson 41 R.Ponting c Sammy b Shillingford 23 M.Clarke c Barath b Shillingford 24 M.Hussey c Sammy b Shillingford 10 M.Wade c Bravo b Shillingford 106 R.Harris c Baugh b Roach 4 M.Starc run out 35 B.Hilfenhaus b Shillingford 19 N.Lyon not out 0 Extras (b-4, lb-6, w-3, nb-2) 15 Total (all out; 114.5 overs) 328 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-84, 3-105, 4-142, 5-157, 6164, 7-169, 8-226, 9-328, 10-328.

Bowling: Roach 23-5-72-1 (nb-2), Rampaul 246-65-1 (w-2), Sammy 21-7-48-1 (w-1), Shillingford 42.5-9-119-6, Deonarine 4-0-14-0.

West Indies innings A.Barath c Cowan b Lyon 29 K.Brathwaite c Harris b Hilfenhaus 0 K.Powell b Lyon 40 D.M.Bravo c Cowan b Warner 10 S.Chanderpaul not out 34 N.Deonarine lbw b Harris 7 C.Baugh c Cowan b Lyon 5 D.Sammy run out 10 S.Shillingford b Starc 0 R.Rampaul not out 24 Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-1, nb-3) 6 Total (8 wickets, 65 overs) 165 To bat: K.Roach Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-62, 3-73, 4-85, 5-96, 6-103, 7-120, 8-120.

Bowling: Hilfenhaus 11-4-15-1, Starc 10-4-21-1 (nb-2), Harris 9-0-27-1, Watson 4-0-12-0, Lyon 24-5-49-3, Warner 5-0-21-1, Clarke 2-0-18-0.

Preview

Yang leads Korean charge at home championship SEOUL: Asia’s first Major winner, YE Yang, wants to notch up another golfing milestone this week by becoming the first home player to win the Ballantine’s Championship, which tees off today.

The 40-year-old Korean, who famously went head-to-head with Tiger Woods and came out on top in the 2009 US PGA Championship at Hazeltine, would love to win the fifth edition of the tournament at Blackstone Golf Club, just outside his home city of Seoul, and pick up the first prize of $467,000.

“I desperately want to win this tournament,” he said. “I believe that if a Korean player wins or gets good results at this Ballantine’s Championship, it will be a great start to the season, and I know that all the Korean players here this week will give it our best to win.”

Last year’s tournament was won by Lee Westwood on 12-under par, one shot ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, however the Englishman has decided not to return to defend his title.

But a quality international contingent, headed by world number 12 Adam Scott of Australia, British Open champion Darren Clarke, fellow Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Jimenez, and 2009 winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, will provide the young Korean players with valuable experience against some of the world’s best, Yang said.

“I have always believed that players need to have a lot of experience, and I believe that the Ballantine’s Championship will be the tournament that provides a lot of help to the Korean players,” Yang, the world number 59, said.

YE Yang “They will have a chance to play in this very large tournament, and also play with some of the finest golf players out there. “So I’m sure that this will help in building the foundation to move their careers forward.”

A young Korean player hoping to perform well in front of his home crowd this week is Kyung-tae Kim, currently ranked 48 in the world.

Last year, while Yang was missing the cut, Kim led the home challenge and finished joint 10th. He

is hoping to go even better in 2012.

“We have not had a Korean winner since Ballantine’s has hosted the Championship,” he said.

“But I believe we have the confidence to win. Of course there is Bae Sang-moon but there are also very talented young players out there.

“This week I think we can look forward to a very talented Korean player winning the tournament.”

Flamboyant Englishman Poulter is known as much for his dress sense as his golf but he comes into the tournament on the back the US Masters where he placed seventh, one shot ahead of Scott, and a closing round of 66 on Sunday in the China Open.

“On Sunday I made nine birdies, which was nice, and hopefully I can carry that form and that putting into this week, which will make it a great week,” said Poulter.

This is Blackstone’s second staging of the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, and there have been some changes to the course from 2011.

There are new tees on the par-four 17th-making the hole 40 yards longer at 420 yards-and the fourth, which is spectacular with its panoramic views and dramatic drop from the tee to fairway.

Tournament Director David Williams said: “On the fourth hole we now have the option of moving the tee forward and making it driveable. It’s a stunning hole and makes for very exciting golf. —AFP

D-Day for Volvo fleet in race for better breeze BRAZIL: American team Puma snatched the lead in Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday as the fleet prepared for 24 hours that could prove crucial in the race to the Miami finish line.

The five crews were facing an area of changeable breeze that was blocking their path to the stronger, more consistent South Atlantic trade winds that once into will catapult them north at top speed.

Puma overhauled leaders Camper, a Kiwi/Spanish syndicate, and second-placed Emirati entry Abu Dhabi after the front pair faltered in light winds closer to the coast of Brazil.

“Today’s the big day,” said Puma navigator Tom Addis. “The first boat into the trades has a pretty major advantage -you can extend for

quite a long time and be quite hard to catch. “ This is the critical moment.

Some points on some race tracks aren’t critical but this one is critical.”

Despite their positions in fourth and fifth respectively, overall race leaders Telefonica of Spain and French team Groupama were poised to pounce on their rivals if they find more wind off shore.

“It’s a bit like the Doldrums,” Groupama navigator Jean-Luc Nelias said of the tricky weather system lying ahead. “It’s so hazardous and complicated that it’s not always the first to enter who leaves first.” The teams should arrive in Miami at the end of Leg 6 around May 7, with the 39,000-mile round the world race finishing in Galway in July.—AFP

19

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

SPORTS

Excitement builds up for derby clash MANCHESTER: Football fans in Manchester - from both the red and blue sides of the city - are already feeling the nerves as the excitement builds. It’s derby time up north, and the Premier League title is the target.

Manchester United holds a threepoint lead going into Monday’s match at Manchester City, though City’s superior goal difference means it can move back into first place with a win at Etihad Stadium.

United manager Alex Ferguson has called the latest installment of the Manchester derby the most important of his 25-year reign, while City manager Roberto Mancini has tried to ease the pressure on his team by insisting United is favorite to win the league.

With only a few more days to go, United and City fans can agree on at least one thing - this is no ordinary derby.

“There’s something a bit extra-special about this one,” said 37-year-old City fan Andrew Hutton, who grew up around the club’s former Maine Road Stadium. “It’s always huge for everyone in the city, but this time it could be the turning point when the power shifts from United to City. I’ve already got that buzzing feeling and there are butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.”

Patrick Keyes, a cook at “The Theatre of Food” fish and chip shop around the corner from United’s Old Trafford, said he would be watching the game in the pub with friends that support both teams.

“It’s going to be a big game. Maybe the biggest ever,” Keyes said. “It could be a title decider and it’s going to be a tough match considering the team City have got. It’s gutting to lose the derby and sometimes the fans can go over the top, but it’s a chance to have a bit of healthy rivalry.”

John Cox, a United fan and tour guide at Old Trafford, said City’s recent rise to become genuine title con-

Mahdi Hussain, a Kuwaiti student living in Manchester, was taking a look around the 76,000-capacity stadium with his cousin Omran. Both are United fans and have tickets for the derby - though they will have to sit among the City supporters.

“I’ve told him not to make any noise if United score because they will kick us out,” Mahdi said. “In Kuwait, the big teams are United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but City is becoming more popular, not because of the owner Sheikh Mansour, but because they are signing great players and that makes headlines.”

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (left) celebrates with teammate Carlos Tevez in this file photo tenders means the derby has never been so important.

“Everybody knows someone or has a family member who supports the other lot and you always ask yourself why, because we have always upstaged them,” Cox said. “It’s a fraternal thing. It will sting a lot more if we lose because of things like the (Carlos)

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney reacts after scoring in this file photo

Tevez affair and the fact they’ve got more money than we have now.

“It’s the game that’s on everybody’s lips, everybody’s talking about it in the pub and when you get the newspaper or turn on the television it’s all over the place.”

The global reach of Premier League football was exemplified by the party

taking a tour of Old Trafford, a 20strong group which included visitors from China, Brazil, Kuwait, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.

Mahdi Hussain, a Kuwaiti student living in Manchester, was taking a look around the 76,000-capacity stadium with his cousin Omran. Both are United fans and have tickets for the

derby - though they will have to sit among the City supporters.

“I’ve told him not to make any noise if United score because they will kick us out,” Mahdi said. “In Kuwait, the big teams are United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but City is becoming more popular, not because of the owner Sheikh Mansour, but because they are signing great players and that makes headlines.”

While United has a three-floor museum and boasts a record 19 league titles and 11 FA Cup wins, plus three European Cup titles, City is hoping to start closing the gap in silverware after embarking on a $1 billion spending spree under the new owners from Dubai.

South Korean fan Pong Kyul, a 30year-old computer engineer from Seoul, said he wanted to see where City plays because of their exciting strikers - but admitted he’d visited Old Trafford the day before as part of a 10day trip to England.

“If Ji-sung Park plays for Manchester United then I like them,” he said. “But I also like Carlos Tevez because he was Park’s best friend.

“The derby is a very important game, even in South Korea. I think if Manchester City win it is very good because then the Premier League will have a new champion and it won’t get boring.”

Interest in the match has intensified so much that an extra television studio is being built in a corner of City’s stadium. With so much at stake, however, fans from both sides of the divide said it was sometimes difficult to just enjoy the game.

“I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to watch - it’s too nail-biting and the blood pressure does go up a bit,” said United fan Chris Gregory, who is from Wrexham, Wales. “We need a win to win the league. It would be a good game anyway because it’s a derby, but this has got a bit of extra spice.”—AP

Messi makes a mess of things for Barcelona

SPAIN: Chelsea’s John Terry (third left) gets a red card from referee during a Champions League second leg semifinal soccer match against Barcelona.—AP

UEFA panel to decide length of Terry’s ban NYON: UEFA’s disciplinary panel will decide Chelsea captain John Terry’s punishment after his red card for violent conduct against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. Terry gets a mandatory one-match ban and will miss the final on May 19 in Munich.

Chelsea scored twice without Terry to draw 22 at Camp Nou on Tuesday, and advanced 3-2 on aggregate.

UEFA rules allow its disciplinary body to extend the sanction, which will apply next season in Super Cup, Champions League or Europa League matches. The panel is scheduled to meet on May 31 to discuss Terry’s case, UEFA said.

Champions League regulations allow the 10-member panel to extend a player’s sanction across all UEFA competitions, including the European Championship, for “serious offenses.”

However, UEFA has applied the rule rarely, such as when Valencia and Inter Milan players fought following a Champions League match

in March 2007.

Terry’s knee into the back of Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez is unlikely to affect his chances of playing for England when Euro 2012 kicks off on June 8 in Poland and Ukraine.

Four Chelsea players are suspended for the Champions League final. Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires each received one-match bans for their third bookings in the competition.

The Champions League does not have a yellow-card amnesty after the quarterfinal stage, which UEFA applies in the European Championship.

FIFA introduced an amnesty rule two years ago to ensure that players shown a yellow card in the World Cup semifinals do not miss the final. UEFA said yesterday that a similar rule could be proposed by its Club Competitions Committee, and later approved by the executive committee chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini. —AP

BARCELONA: Most of the soccer-loving world will agree this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to Barcelona, one of the best teams of all time. Not to Lionel Messi, one of the best soccer players of all time.

The celebrated Spanish club and its Argentine star - already mentioned in the same breath as Pele and Diego Maradona couldn’t work their magic against Chelsea, spawning waves of revelry among fans of the English club and questions about whether the demise of Barcelona had begun.

“Funeral at the Camp Nou,” blared the headline in the Barcelona daily, La Vanguardia, describing the atmosphere at the team’s home field, Europe’s largest stadium with 99,000 seats.

Instead of playing for a third Champions League title in four years, Barcelona is finished while Chelsea lives on, trying to win its first.

Its elimination not only shocked Europe, but deprives soccer fans all over the world of watching a team that comes about as close to perfection as the NBA’s Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. And Messi, of course, had been leading the way.

He won FIFA’s player of the year award the last three years, and scored 63 goals this season Europe’s highest total in 39 years.

But when he stood at the penalty spot with a chance to put Barcelona ahead in the second half of Tuesday’s match against Chelsea, he missed.

His shot - usually so precise, so deft - smacked off the crossbar.

Not long afterward, the world’s most popular player walked off the field with tears streaming down his face.

“We’re here because of this

kid,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said, referring to Messi and the five goals he scored last month in the Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen. “I have no doubt he’s going through a bad moment. That’s the sad thing about this sport is

that has been struggling in the English Premier League.

But the hosts played a defensive game and, in some cases, got lucky enough to keep the Barcelona attack from scoring. At the same time, a quick counterattack after Frank Lampard stripped

Lionel Messi

that these things exist.”

While Barcelona’s best attributes of possession, quick-touch passing and overall shots were on show, the club failed to score enough goals in Tuesday’s 2-2 tie.

At this stage of the tournament, goals in both matches are added together, giving Chelsea a 3-2 overall win after last week’s 1-0 victory in London.

“We needed the perfect game but we weren’t perfect because we lacked goals,” Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas said.

The problems started last week. Heading into the first match, Barcelona was heavily favored against a Chelsea team

Messi of the ball led to a 1-0 victory. On Saturday, Barcelona’s season got even worse. Playing archrival Real Madrid at home in the Spanish league, Barcelona needed a victory to keep the title race tight. It lost 2-1 and trailed Madrid by seven points with four games to go. The final humiliation came Tuesday.

After taking a 2-0 lead against a Chelsea team playing with 10 men following a red card to captain John Terry, everything looked to be back to normal.

Barcelona was playing its usual slick passing game, making runs toward goal and putting the Chelsea defense under nearly

constant pressure. It was all working. And then, suddenly, it wasn’t.

“I don’t even know what I feel right now. I try to figure out what to say when looking at the team, about what we did wrong to not reach the final and I can’t think of anything,” Guardiola said.

“From opening day I’ve transmitted this crazy theme of ‘You have to go out and attack, attack, attack,’ and there are moments when we don’t know when to pause. Maybe it’s a lesson to learn for the future. We have to find the way to attack better.”

From the Chelsea side, the overall victory had little to do with Barcelona’s lack of scoring.

For the Blues, it was all about what they did to win.

“We came here and we scored goals, and in the first leg we scored as well,” said Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast star, who scored the lone goal in the first match. “Without being arrogant, we deserved to win.”

It would be hard to argue otherwise. Throughout the second half, which included Messi’s third missed penalty this season in the 49th minute, Barcelona controlled the ball and waited for the breakthrough moment. Because of Chelsea’s defense, it never came.

Instead of defense-splitting passes, the Barcelona players kicked the ball from side to side.

When they did get close to goal, several men in white shirts were there to stop the challenge.

And on and on it went until Fernando Torres - heavily criticized all season for his lack of goals - scored in the final seconds. A goal that meant Barcelona needed to score two to advance. Two goals in a matter of seconds. Not a chance, not even for Barcelona.—AP

Argentina’s Sabella looking for right company for Messi BUENOS AIRES: Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella says he must resolve problems in midfield and defence, their Achilles heel in last year’s Copa America, if Lionel Messi is to lead his team to victory in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The midfield needs addressing given Sabella cannot count on Juan Sebastian Veron, captain of the Estudiantes side that won the Libertadores Cup in 2009, because the 37-year-old is set to retire in June. There is a also question mark over Boca Juniors’ ageing playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, not discarded but who last played for Argentina in

October 2008 and was overlooked by Sabella’s predecessors Diego Maradona and Sergio Batista.

“Argentina are in the midst of a generation change, which happens to all national teams when there are a lot of young players coming through and we have to strengthen from the middle to the back, that’s our search,” Sabella told Reuters in an interview.

“Everyone is aware of the great potential we have in the last 30 metres of the pitch,” he added, knowing he has plenty of skill up front with the likes of Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain

and Carlos Tevez. Argentina’s last major trophy was the Copa America in 1993. If they are to win their third World Cup in the land of their greatest rivals, Messi will have to be at his peak at 26 and be surrounded by a good team.

“Of course, our dream is to do a good job, play the qualifiers, qualify for the World Cup and get there at the right moment because it’s very important if you’re at a World Cup to be in your best form,” Sabella said.

“But there’s a long way to go and I don’t like skipping stages or times,” the 57-year-old added at the Argentine

Football Association’s training complex on the outskirts of the capital.

Argentina must get through a gruelling qualifying campaign spread over three years with Ecuador their next opponents on June 2 in Buenos Aires, where they will be defending first place in the nine-team group which they hold jointly with Uruguay and Venezuela.

A week later they have a bye which they will spend playing Brazil in a friendly in New York. There are no worries about world player of the year Messi, who has not always shone on the international stage unlike club football.

Sabella named him captain on taking charge last August and has praised Messi for the qualities the player shows almost on a daily basis with Barcelona.

“He has that great virtue that, over and above his great ability, he has that goalscoring instinct which means he can beat players so often with the ball at his feet and also has the desire to put it in the net which makes him an extraordinary player,” Sabella said.

Preparing a team around Messi, as Carlos Bilardo did with Diego Maradona to win the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, is the hard part having inherited a

squad low on confidence after a disappointing Copa America on home soil last July. Like his predecessors in the last decade, Sabella picks his squads largely from the elite of Argentine players based at European clubs.

“In recent Argentine teams the majority of the players played abroad in domestic competitions of a slightly higher standard than in Argentine football, a bit more competitive, more demanding, that’s the reality, those players are there (in Europe) and so they’re the ones in the national team,” he said. —Reuters

Messi makes a mess of things for Barcelona

Celtics cool Heat as big names rest

19

17

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Excitement builds up for Manchester derby clash

Page 19

Cristiano Ronaldo

SPAIN: Bayern Munich’s Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben (top) vies for the ball with Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Marcelo (down) during the UEFA Champions League second leg semi-final football match. — AFP

Bayern shoot(out) Real from CL MADRID: Manuel Neuer was the hero for Bayern Munich yesterday as his side went through to the Champions League final after beating Real Madrid 3-1 on penalties in the Santiago Bernabeu.

They will face Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena in Munich on May 19th after losing their return leg 2-1 after extra-time, to send the tie into penalties with the Germans having won by the same score in the first game.

The keeper stopped Madrid’s two initial spotkicks from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, and Sergio Ramos blazed one over the bar before Bastian Schweinsteiger held his nerve to put the four-times European Champions through to the final. They last appeared in a final two years ago losing 2-0 on this same stage to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

Earlier Ronaldo had scored twice for Real before Arjen Robben grabbed one back in a frantic first half-hour to level the tie. As the players gradually

Set up Chelsea final on May 19 in Munich tired it became clearer that we would be seeing penalties becoming decisive in a semi-final for only the third time in the Champions League era.

The game started at a furious pace and German international Sami Khedira had the first chance of the game on three minutes for Real forcing a save from Neuer in the Bayern goal.

Two minutes later and Madrid were ahead thanks to Ronaldo from the penalty spot after Angel Di Maria’s shot had fortuitously hit the outstretched arm of David Alaba.

Alaba was booked for that and will miss the final, later bookings for Luiz Gustavo and Holger Badstuber means they will also miss the big game.

Bayern’s response was immediate and Robben

should have levelled the game when he met Alaba’s cross in the six-yard box.

Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal did enough to hurry the Dutchman whose shot spun over the bar when it seemed certain he would score.

On 12 minutes Casillas blocked a shot from Toni Kroos and just when it seemed Bayern would quickly get back into the game Ronaldo struck again.

Khedira was quick in the tackle deep in Bayern’s half to allow Mesut Ozil time to supply the Portuguese with a perfect pass that he converted with a well placed left footed shot.

At the other end the Bavarians searched for a breakthrough and Mario Gomez and Luiz Gustavo

both came close with long shots as the match constantly switched from end to end.

Their reward came from the penalty spot after Pepe pushed Gomez, and although Casillas got a touch, it was Robben who levelled the tie at 3-3 on aggregate with the two sides having replicated the first-leg score within 27 breathless minutes.

Ronaldo had a shot that fizzed past the post and then Karim Benzema curled a right footed shot wide for Madrid.

Then Gomez should have done better for Bayern when put clear by Kroos, his shot easily blocked by Casillas with the goal at his mercy.

Pepe had to be quick to intervene when Gomez was found in front of goal from a throw-in and

Juve and Milan scrape wins ROME: Juventus and AC Milan’s thrilling tussle for the Serie A title continued yesterday as they both scraped 10 wins against struggling sides.

Juventus maintained their three points lead over Milan as a late goal by Marco Borriello — his first in 17 games for the club — was enough to defeat Cesena and consign the losers to Serie B for next season.

It was just as well Borriello popped up to score as Juve were off colour with Andrea Pirlo missing a ninth minute penalty. “It’s a goal that brings us three points,” said Borriello.

“But there are still four games remaining and it won’t be easy, as we saw today against Cesena, who were all but relegated. We don’t have time to celebrate this win as we have Novara this weekend.”

Milan too made heavy weather against relegationthreatened Genoa before Ghanaian star Kevin-Prince Boateng pounced to score the winner four minutes from time to ease the nerves of the San Siro home crowd.

Defeat leaves Genoa just one place above the drop.

“Thats okay because we won,” sighed a relieved Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.

“The end of season matches are always difficult because often you play against sides that have to win to save themselves. “Today we were obliged to win, but in the first-half, we were not very good.

“We’re not as good as we were last month. At the moment playing well for us is difficult, but the title race is still open.” The title contenders continue their battle on Sunday when Juventus are away to second from bottom Novara while Milan have the tougher task away to midtable Siena.

A rejuvenated Inter Milan are right back in the running for a place in next season’s Champions League after winning 3-1 at Udinese earlier yesterday thanks to an inspired performance by Wesley Sneijder.

The Dutchman scored twice as the nerazzurri came from behind at the Stadio Friuli to make it three wins and two draws in five games since former youth coach Andrea Stramaccioni replaced Claudio Ranieri in the dugout.

Inter capitalised fully on a slip-up by Lazio, whose grip on third place-the final Champions League qualifying position-was weakened by a 2-1 defeat at struggling

Casillas parried away a Robben free-kick as the Germans finished an action packed half the stronger. Gomez glanced a header wide for Bayern on the re-start as the Germans seemed to have halted the home team’s early dominance.

The second-period then settled down as both teams took a more thoughtful approach to attack and a number of niggling fouls from both defences made chances scarce.

Mourinho was the first to shuffle his pack, replacing Di Maria with Kaka, but as full-time approached players began to tire and passes went astray. Bayern enjoyed more possession and Gomez could have sealed it with four minutes of normal time remaining if he’d reacted quicker to Robben’s pass. Bayern continued to look the fresher side in extra-time but the game had slowed to a walking pace and arrived at the decisive penalty stage without any further clear cut chances. — AFP

Serie A results/standings AC Milan 1 (Boateng 86) Genoa 0; Cesena 0 Juventus 1 (Borriello 79);Novara 2 (Diakite og 35, Mascara 79) Lazio 1 (Candreva 37); Lecce 0 Napoli 2 (Hamsik 5, Cavani 51); Palermo 1 (Hernandez 6) Parma 2 (Okaka 54, Biabany 70); Roma 1 (Totti 71) Fiorentina 2 (Jovetic 2, Lazzari 90+2); Siena 1 (Destro 52) Bologna 1 (Diamanti 69); Udinese 1 (Danilo 6) Inter Milan 3 (Sneijder 10, 28, Alvarez 37).

34 11 10 13 42 36 43 Italian league table after yesterday’s matches Siena 34 12 13 9 38 36 43 (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals Atalanta Chievo 34 11 10 13 30 41 43 against, points): Bologna 34 10 12 12 35 40 42 Juventus 34 20 14 0 58 18 74 Fiorentina 34 10 11 13 34 39 41 AC Milan 34 21 8 5 64 27 71 Palermo 34 11 8 15 47 53 41 Lazio 34 16 7 11 50 43 55 Cagliari 34 10 11 13 36 42 41 Napoli 34 14 12 8 60 41 54 Genoa 34 9 9 16 44 63 36 Udinese 34 14 10 10 45 35 52 Lecce 34 8 11 15 38 51 35 Inter Milan 34 15 7 12 50 46 52 Novara 34 6 10 18 29 57 28 Roma 34 15 5 14 53 48 50 Cesena 34 4 10 20 21 51 22 Catania 34 11 13 10 44 46 46 — relegated Parma 34 11 11 12 46 51 44

English second tier act to keep clubs alive ITALY: Cesena’s Vangelis Moras of Greece (right) vies for the ball with Juventus’ Alessandro Matri during their Serie A soccer match. — AP Novara earlier in the day.

Lazio are a point clear of Napoli, who won 2-0 at Lecce, while Inter and Udinese are a further two points behind in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Meanwhile, Roma lost 2-1 at home to Fiorentina and slip to seventh. With the sides around them all dropping points, Inter are suddenly looking well-placed to salvage a top-three finish from a season overshadowed by coaching changes and a failure to impress in Europe.

They went behind after just six minutes in Udine when Danilo netted for the home side, but Samir Handanovic allowed a weak Sneijder shot through his grasp for the equaliser in the tenth minute.

Sneijder then put Inter in front after excellent buildup play from Diego Milito and the 3-1 victory was complete before half time as Argentine midfielder Ricardo Alvarez turned the home defence inside out before slotting home.

Lazio are now three games without a win after substi-

tute Giuseppe Mascara scored a delightful free-kick 11 minutes from time to give Novara a win that is likely to only delay their return to the second tier.

Lazio now face a crunch clash with Udinese on Sunday. Marek Hamsik and the prolific Edinson Cavaniwith his 100th goal in Italian football-netted for Napoli at Lecce, and Walter Mazzarri’s side will now face Roma this weekend in a strong position.

Having lost 4-0 to Juventus on Sunday, Luis Enrique’s Roma looked set for a draw against Fiorentina when Francesco Totti cancelled out Stevan Jovetic’s opener.

However, Andrea Lazzari struck two minutes into injury time to inflict another damaging defeat on the giallorossi.

Yesterday’s matches are those rescheduled from April 14, when the entire Italian football league programme was cancelled after Livorno’s Piermario Morosini collapsed and died during a second division game at Pescara. — AFP

LONDON: Clubs in the second tier of English soccer have adopted rules designed to curb spiralling losses that threaten the survival of many teams outside the elite Premier League.

The rules, announced on Tuesday, will apply in the 24-team Championship (second division) and have been modelled on the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations introduced by European soccer’s ruling body UEFA to clean up finances for top clubs. Clubs that run up big losses to help win promotion to the Premier League will be fined in the most eye-catching measure. “The issue we are addressing is how to keep our football clubs alive,” said Greg Clarke, chairman of the Football League.

The 72 clubs below the Premier League had debts of nearly one billion pounds ($1.6 billion) and three or four faced extinction in coming seasons if nothing was done, Clarke said.

Portsmouth, relegated last week to the third tier of English soccer, have an uncertain future after going into administration two months ago.

Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008 and were in

the Premier League until 2010.

Clarke refused to comment on the Portsmouth situation but said that few people wanted to buy clubs when debts were so high and revenues squeezed by an economic recession in Britain.

“The biggest problem at the moment is digging up people who want to own football clubs,” he said. Under the plans, Championship clubs will have to cut their losses to a maximum of 2 million pounds by 2015-16, with additional shareholder investment capped at 3 million pounds.

A Championship club that breaks the rules and wins promotion faces a financial penalty on the excess loss. This “Fair Play Tax” will be applied on a sliding scale, rising to 100 percent on anything over 10 million pounds.

Clarke said he was in talks with the Premier League to ensure the sanctions were applied from the 2014/15 season.

The success of the Premier League over the last two decades has created a gulf between the richest clubs and the rest of English soccer. — Reuters

Grim durables orders cast shadow on US recovery Page 23

S&P downgrades India outlook to negative Page 25

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Kuwait equities mixed Page 24

Burgan Bank Group reports KD17.5m net profit for Q1 Page 22

LONDON: A woman walks past Harvey Nichols department store in London. Britain’s economy sank back into recession in the first quarter, when it contracted by 0.2 percent, official data showed yesterday.—AFP

Britain slides back into recession Economy contracts amid austerity, EU crisis LONDON: Britain’s economy sank back into recession in the first quarter, when it contracted by 0.2 percent amid ongoing state austerity and the euro-zone debt crisis, official data showed yesterday.

The British economy has now returned to a technical recession, defined as two successive quarters of contraction, after shrinking by 0.3 percent in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed.

The data confounded most analysts’ expectations that gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 0.1 percent in the quarter from January to March, compared with the final quarter of last year.

The ONS added in a statement that the decline in first-quarter GDP-the value of all goods and services produced by the economywas driven by a poor performance by the construction and manufacturing sectors. Britain’s economy had clawed its way out of a recordlength recession in the third quarter of 2009 following a downturn sparked by the global financial crisis.

But it has now returned to recession amid painful government spending cutbacks and fallout from the debt crisis in the neighboring euro-zone, which is a key trading partner.

Britain joins a number of euro-zone countries in recession, including Spain, and bailedout nations Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Overall, the 17-nation euro-zone’s output shrank by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, while recent weak data has sparked deep worries that the region is also back in recession. Highlighting the extent of Britain’s debt strains, official data on Tuesday showed

public sector net debt as a percentage of GDPexcluding the cost of bank bailouts-hit a record high 66 percent in March.

Britain’s total debt stands at £1.022 trillion (1.25 trillion euros, $1.65 trillion), the ONS had revealed. “It’s a very tough economic situation,” British finance minister George Osborne said yesterday news that Britain was back in recession. “It’s taking longer than anyone hoped to recover from the biggest debt crisis of our lifetime-even after the recent fall in unemployment. “But over many years this country built up massive debts, which we are having to pay off. It’s made much harder when so much of the rest of Europe is in recession or heading into it. “The one thing that would make the situation even worse would be to abandon our credible plan and deliberately add more borrowing and even more debt,” added Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne.

The British pound fell against the euro and the dollar yesterday, but London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares held firm in positive territory. The FTSE was 0.49 percent higher at 5,737.31 points in late morning deals. “The double dip in recession comes as no surprise to us. We have been forecasting another recession since last November when the euro-zone crisis intensified,” said Schroders economist Azad Zangana. The recession news dashed market hopes for modest first-quarter growth after retail sales rebounded by a strong 1.8 percent in March from the previous month.

Recent figures also showed that the number of jobless Britons fell by 35,000 in the three months to February, marking the first quarterly decline in almost a year. — AFP

Buyers of US beef keep importing Korean retailers halt US imports BRUSSELS/CHICAGO: Major markets for US beef from Canada to Japan stayed open to imports yesterday after the first US discovery of mad cow disease in six years on assurances that rigorous surveillance had safeguarded the food system.

US live cattle futures rode back into the black after posting their biggest drop in seven months the previous day. On reporting the discovery of a California dairy cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on Tuesday, US authorities quickly told consumers and importers around the world there was no danger the meat would enter the food chain.

Mexico, Korea, Japan, Canada and the European Union said they would continue to import US beef, although two major South Korean retailers halted sales.

Benchmark June live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were up 0.9

SEOUL: A South Korean employee displays Australian beef at a Lotte Mart as the store suspended sales of all US beef in Seoul yesterday.—AFP

cent at 112.45 cents per lb at 1424 GMT, still near their lowest in nine months after tumbling by the daily 3-cent trading limit on Tuesday. Samples from the infected cow have been sent to laboratories in Canada and Britain for final confirmation, Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said in a statement, adding that the case was unlikely to affect the current USDA “controlled risk” categorisation for mad cow disease.

“According to USDA statements, the steps taken so far are consistent with OIE standards,” it added. Russia’s health watchdog said it could consider restrictions on US imports but that it was waiting for more information on the outbreak and the planned US response before taking a decision.

Korean retailer Lotte Mart, a unit of Lotte Shopping Co, said it had suspended sales due to what it said was “customer concerns”, as did Home Plus, a unit of Britain’s Tesco PLC. Three previous cases of mad cow disease were confirmed in the Unites States between 2003 and 2006. Memories were still sharp of the first case in 2003, which caused a $3 billion drop in US exports. It took until 2011 before those exports fully recovered. Experts said the latest case was “atypical”, meaning it was a rare occurrence in which a cow contracts the disease spontaneously, rather than through the feed supply. They said the dairy cow had not been eaten by other animals and there was no risk of the disease being spread and estimated the chance of an animal spontaneously contracting the disease at about one in a million.— Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

BUSINESS

Bahrain eyes sovereign bond, not imminent DUBAI/LONDON: Bahrain, troubled by ongoing social unrest, is testing whether it could draw investors into a potential sovereign bond sale, although the issuance is unlikely to be imminent, government and banking sources said yesterday.

A year of clashes between mostly protesters and government security forces has been weighing on the small nonOPEC oil exporter, eroding capital parked in its mutual funds, while fiscal handouts have raised the country’s vulnerability to a potential oil price drop.

“Bahrain sent out RFPs (requests for proposals) earlier this week. There are no mandates yet but they seem to be very serious about tapping the market,” said a banker, who did not want to be identified. A senior government source told

Reuters that the issuance was not imminent despite the requests to banks, adding that the country was a regular issuer and the political situation in the kingdom would not negatively influence investor appetite. “They tend to give out mandates and wait. There’s no requirement to issue immediately,” another banker said. Last November, the island kingdom, drew $1.8 billion in demand for its $750 million, seven-year Islamic bond, or sukuk, its first sovereign issue since March 2010, pricing it at a yield of 6.273 percent. The order book mainly went to Middle East investors.

Bahrain had initially looked to sell a $1-billion conventional bond at the beginning of 2011 but was forced to postpone plans due to its worst turmoil since the 1990s, which it eventually sup-

pressed with the help of martial law and Saudi troops.

But clashes between pro-democracy protesters and security forces has been going on a daily basis for the past months. Four policemen were wounded by an explosion in a village in western Bahrain on Tuesday that the government said was a “terrorist” act after weeks of protests against a Formula One Grand Prix held in the Gulf Arab state.

Another banking source said he believed Bahrain, a US ally and home of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, wanted to issue a bond “as a PR stunt to show all is well.”

Five-year Bahrain credit default swaps, which reflect how investors assess the risk that a country will not be able to pay back its obligations, have been easing gradually this year to around 372 basis

points yesterday from a peak of 408 points at the end of January, according to Markit data. “I think perhaps this is a question of getting money in the bank while markets are reasonably decent,” said a London-based analyst, who declined to be named.

Yield on Bahrain’s sukuk maturing in 2018 stood just below 5.0 percent bid yesterday, up from a low of 4.8 percent at the beginning of the month but well below this year’s high of 5.7 percent in mid-January. The turmoil prompted Bahrain, whose credit rating has been downgraded by up to three notches last year, to boost government spending by 22 percent from its original 2011 target to 3.1 billion dinars ($8.2 billion), though robust oil prices have been helping to ease budget strains. For 2012, the gov-

ernment had forecast a deficit of 8.8 percent of GDP due to slightly lower spending, which at 3.1 billion dinars was still 14 percent higher than the original 2012 plan. Bahrain, the regional financial centre, is rated ‘Baa1’ by Moody’s and ‘BBB’

by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. Bahrain needed an average oil price of $114 per barrel in 2011 to balance its budget, the highest in the Gulf, up from just $80 in 2008, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. The Fund forecasts that the country’s gross government debt will fall to 31.6 percent of GDP this year from an estimated eight-year peak of 36.4 percent in 2011.

Analysts polled by Reuters in March expected the kingdom to post a budget deficit of 3.7 percent of gross domestic product in 2012. — Reuters

Burgan Bank Group reports KD17.5m net profit for Q1 Majed Essa Al-Ajeel: Our performance continues to be solid KUWAIT: Burgan Bank Group reported yesterday KD 17.5 million net profits for the first quarter of 2012 (growth of 48%), compared to KD 11.8 million for the same period in 2011. Earnings per share increased to 11.9 fils compared to 7.8 fils for the same period in 2011.

Revenues has reached to KD 42.6 million reflecting a growth of 10% from KD38.8 million reported in the first quarter of 2011.

Operating profit grew by 15 % to reach KD 26.6 million compared to KD23 million for the same period in 2011. Customers’ deposits grew to KD 3,040 million, a 9% increase from year ended on 31st December 2011, while loans grew by 7% reaching KD2,406 million.

The consolidated financials include the results of the group’s operations in Kuwait as well as its subsidiaries, namely Jordan Kuwait Bank, Gulf Bank Algeria, Bank of Baghdad, Tunis International Bank, in which Burgan Bank has a majority stake. During the first quar ter of 2012, the subsidiaries have demonstrated a steady growth path and maintained profitability.

Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, Chairman of Burgan Bank Group said: “We are pleased with our results during the first quarter of the year.

Our financial performance continues to be solid, and the Group demonstrates a consistent growth trend across its operations despite the slow economic growth in the region”.

“Burgan Bank Group’s conservative strate-

gy, prudent risk approach, and sustainable financial performance helped maintain the group’s overall position locally as well as regionally. The group announced earlier that it has entered into an agreement with Eurobank EFG to acquire a 99.26% stake in

Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, Chairman of Burgan Bank

Eurobank Tekfen, Turkey. The final execution of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from Central Bank of Kuwait (“CBK”) and Turkey’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (“BRSA”). The value of this transaction reflects a clear strategic approach, where Burgan Bank Group acquired an existing and leading banking platform that enjoys an extensive network of 60 branches across vibrant areas in Turkey, with a total price that equates to the cost of obtaining a license for an initial operational start-up,” added Al-Ajeel.

During the first quarter of 2012, Global Bank ing & Finance Review recognized Burgan Bank on two levels, the “Best Banking Group in MENA”, where its turnaround performance and deliver y of sound results across its operations were acknowledged, and the “Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait”, in which the Kuwait operations Corporate Banking Group’s superior performance and commitment of maintaining exceptional growth levels by financing a range of projects in diversified industry sectors were realized.

“On behalf of the board, I take this opportunity to thank our customers and shareholders for their confidence in our capabilities. I also thank our executive management team for their leadership and the excellent execution of the corporate strategy, and to our staff for their continued support and commitment,” concluded Al-Ajeel.

Arabtec-TAV group nears $3bn Abu Dhabi airport contract

Dubai Holding unit 2011 profit up on lower charges

DUBAI: An Arabtec Holding consortium that includes Greek and Turkish firms is on the cusp of securing an estimated $3 billion contract for the expansion of Abu Dhabi’s international airport, four industry sources told Reuters. The group, which includes Turkey’s TAV Insaat and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), have pipped three rival consortia for the lucrative contract to build a midfield terminal building.

An Abu Dhabi-based source aware of the deal said the TAV-Arabtec group had been chosen but that final details still needed to be hammered out. Meanwhile, a source in the consortium said the group “had gotten positive signals but no official information had been sent.”

“They have the lowest bid ... it’s likely they will win it,” said a third source, who was involved in the bidding process, speaking on condition of anonymity. TAV declined to comment. Arabtec and CCC officials in the United Arab Emirates were not immediately available for comment.

An ADAC spokesman said an announcement would be made only once the tender is finalized.

Shares of Arabtec, in which Abu Dhabi-owned investment fund Aabar owns a 10.45 percent stake, reversed earlier losses and jumped 2.2 percent at 0858 GMT. The stock has risen 114 percent this year, driven by the fund’s interest in the UAE’s biggest builder by market value.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) had short-listed four groups in February for the general construction contract. —Reuters

DUBAI: Dubai Holding’s main unit reported a 61-percent rise in yearly profits yesterday thanks to lower impairment charges and the disposal of non-core assets which helped offset a decline in revenues. Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group, part of the Dubai ruler’s personal business empire, said it had 2011 net profit of 204 million dirhams ($55.54 million), up from 127 million dirhams in 2010. Total revenues in 2011 fell to 8.8 billion dirhams from 13.5 billion dirhams a year earlier while net cash from operations rose 7.3 percent to 3.5 billion dirhams.

The business and its parent are part of a matrix of firms known informally as Dubai Inc., which includes conglomerate Dubai World, and which were badly battered by the financial crisis, plunging Dubai into a debt crisis in 2009. “The deleveraging of our debt commitments has been one of the highlights of 2011 and will continue to be our priority in the years to come,” Ahmad bin Byat, DHCOG’s chief executive, said in Nasdaq Dubai bourse filing.

Total debt stood at 12.8 billion dirhams. In February, it repaid a $500 million bond as scheduled. “Strong cash flow, coupled with the proceeds of the monetization of non-core assets, resulted in a significant reduction of total debt,” Byat added, without giving further details on the assets.

Sources told Reuters last month that Dubai Holding is considering a sale of its remaining 26-percent stake in local mobile phone retailer Axiom Telecom. The stake could fetch a price of $300 million. — Reuters

ALLAHABAD: Farmers carry baskets of cucumbers for sale at the market at Phaphamau in the northern city of Allahabad yesterday. Standard and Poor’s downgraded India’s credit outlook to negative as a weakening economy and gaping fiscal deficit put the country’s prized investment-grade rating at risk. — AFP

Top Dubai lender ENBD’s Q1 profit beats forecasts DUBAI: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank by market value, reported a forecast-beating first-quarter net profit as a near 50-percent rise in non-interest income and lower impairments boosted profitability. The lender, 55.6-percent owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, has seen profits hit in recent quarters in the wake of continuing debt workouts by state-linked entities in the emirate.

On Wednesday, it posted a first-quarter net profit of 641 million dirhams ($174.51 million), down from 1.4 billion dirhams in the prior-year period, which was due to a one-off gain on the stake sale of payment solutions provider Network International.

Two analysts polled by Reuters had expected the Dubai lender to make a net profit of 565 million dirhams and 570 million dirhams for the first three months of 2012.

Net profit more than tripled compared with the fourth quarter of 2011.

Non-interest income jumped nearly 50 percent year-on-year to 909 million dirhams in the first quarter, a company statement said, helped by a 17 percent increase in core fee income from the first quarter of 2011.

Impairments fell to 1.1 billion dirhams in the quarter, from 1.4 billion in the prior-year period, but rose slightly from end-December due to specific provisions

in the bank’s corporate portfolio, as well as an increase in provision allowances, the statement said. At the government’s behest, the bank was asked to absorb Dubai Bank in October after the debtladen Islamic bank had to be rescued by the authorities. ENBD was given cash by the United Arab Emirates’ federal government and guarantees by Dubai to help it integrate the business.

Aiming to cut costs, ENBD also planned to lay off 15 percent of its 8,000strong workforce, sources told Reuters last month. Lending growth during the quarter remained flat, while deposits grew 8 percent from the end of December.

The bank said it remained “cautious” in its outlook and the external environment remained challenging. ENBD became the first Gulf Arab borrower to tap the offshore renminbi market when it priced a 750 million yuan ($118.8 million) threeyear bond in March.

It also printed two dollar-denominated offerings during the quarter - a $500 million sukuk, or Islamic bond, in January and a $1 billion conventional bond in March.

Shares in Emirates NBD dropped 0.4 percent in early Dubai trade yesterday.

They have fallen 2 percent year-to-date.

The bank is scheduled to hold a conference call later yesterday to discuss the earnings. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4450000 .3640000 .3020000 .2780000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0752680 .7333180 .3830000 .0710000 .7188860 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2772500 GB Pound/KD .4475510 Euro .3658870 Swiss francs .3044190 Canadian dollars .2806880 Danish Kroner .0491750 Swedish Kroner .0411690 Australian dlr .2859280 Hong Kong dlr .0357300 Singapore dlr .2224580 Japanese yen .0034060 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0755140 Bahraini dinars .7357040 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0739530 Omani riyals .7204110 Philippine Peso .0000000

.2805000 .4540000 .3700000 .3120000 .2860000 .2930000 .0070000 .0035000 .0760280 .7406880 .4000000 .0760000 .7261110 .0072000 .0500000 .2793500 .4509410 .3686580 .3067250 .2828140 .0495480 .0414800 .2880940 .0360010 .2241430 .0034320 .0053470 .0021130 .0030840 .0034270 .0760860 .7412760 .3951200 .0745130 .7258670 .0065930

US Dollar Pak Rupees

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

278.400 3.063

Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

5.310 2.100 3.405 6.560 75.895 74.395 740.100 45.010 454.800 3.090 1.550 373.100 287.700 3.350

Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

278.050 369.000 450.250 282.000 3.470 5.315 46.000 2.133 3.400 6.522 3.063 740.400 75.750 74.250

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka

5.276 2.123 3.308 3.068 75.79 740.93 46.02 396.29 723.93 76.81 74.38

5.700 2.550 4.000 3.250 76.50 741.00 47.25 394.50 726.00 77.75 74.25

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Selling Rate

278.950 281.210 444.240 365.770 303.830 738.695 75.925 76.570 74.345 392.660 46.178 2.189 5.426 3.082 3.411 6.549 684.255 4.440 9.120 5.875 3.480 92.305

SELL DRAFT SELL CASH

291.07 285.83 309.80 369.80 452.72 3.50 3.401

292.00 284.50 307.50 369.00 447.00 3.65 3.550

Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Bahrain Exchange Company 10 Tola COUNTRY

SELL CASH

SELL DRAFT

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka

291.400 740.540 3.670

289.900 740.540 3.400

Sterling Pound US Dollar

283.600 546.900 45.400 50.400 167.800 47.720 371.600 36.560 5.640 0.032 0.159 0.236 3.520 394.620 0.188 92.970 45.500 4.280 230.800 1.804 49.800 723.280 3.160 6.830 77.030 74.350 224.350 38.170 2.653 453.500 42.500 309.400 4.200 9.400 198.263 75.920 278.800 1.340 GOLD 1,717.070

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 450.500 278.400

282.100

224.400 46.068 370.100 36.410 5.345 0.031

394.570 0.187 92.970 3.370 229.300 723.100 3.075 6.540 76.600 74.350 224.350 38.170 2.134 450.500 307.900 4.200 9.220 75.820 278.400

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

BUSINESS Corporate earnings GlaxoSmithKline

LONDON: GlaxoSmithKline PLC reported yesterday a 13 percent drop in first-quarter net profit compared with a year earlier, when earnings were heavily boosted by the sale of a unit. Glaxo SmithKline shares were down 2.4 percent at 1,422 pence as its results were weaker than anticipated. The pharmaceutical company said profit after tax was 1.325 billion pounds ($2.1 billion), down from 1.525 billion pounds a year earlier. Profit in the first quarter of 2011 was boosted by the 1.2 billion-pound sale of the company’s stake in Quest, a US medical lab operator, and its North American interests in Zovirax cold sore cream.

Caterpillar

NEW YORK: Caterpillar’s first-quarter profit jumped 29 percent and it boosted its outlook for the year as US builders replaced old gear and global demand for mining equipment boomed. The company generated $1.59 billion net income, or $2.37 per share, during the quarter. That’s up from last year’s $1.23 billion net income, or $1.84 per share. The Peoria, Illinois, firm said Wednesday its revenue grew 23 percent to $15.98 billion from last year’s $12.95 billion.

Delta Air Lines

MINNEAPOLIS: Delta Air Lines reported a first-quarter profit yesterday as gains from hedging its fuel costs made up for losses in its day-to-day operations.

The first three months of the year are usually the weakest for airlines because fewer people fly. Delta would have lost money, but its financial bets on fuel were showing a gain of $151 million when the quarter ended. Delta’s net income was $124 million, or 15 cents per share. Revenue rose 9 percent to $8.41 billion.

Harley-Davidson

NEW YORK: Harley-Davidson Inc said yesterday that its first-quarter profit jumped 44 percent, as improving economic conditions boosted US sales of its wellknown motorcycles. The results beat Wall Street expectations and the company boosted its shipment guidance for the year. Harley shares climbed $1.94, or 3.9 percent, to $52.30 in premarket trading. That would top its 52-week high of $52.03 if the premarket price carries over into regular trading once the market opens.

Motorola Solutions

SCHAUMBURG, Illinois: Motorola Solutions Inc, which sells communications equipment to government and corporate customers, said yesterday that its first-quarter net income declined from a year ago, when the company recorded a large tax-related gain.

Revenue grew thanks to strong demand from the company ’s government customers. Motorola Solutions Inc. earned $157 million, or 49 cents per share, in the January-March period. That’s down from earnings of $497 million, or $1.44 per share, a year earlier. Last year’s quarter included a tax benefit of $189 million.

Wataniya Telecom posts KD 28.3m net profit for first quarter 2012 Continued growth in customers, revenue and EBITDA KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom (National Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC - Ticker: NMTC) yesterday announced its financial results for the first quarter 2012.

Total customer base increased to 18.1 million at the close of Q1 2012, versus 16.6 million at the same period in 2011,amounting to growth of 8.7%. Revenues for Q1 2012 amounted to KD 180.3 million ($651.5 million), compared with KD 169.8million ($613.4 million) for the same period in 2011, amounting to growth of 6.2%.

EBITDA for the first quarter was KD 77.6 million ($280.4 million), compared to EBITDA of KD 73.4 million ($265.3 million) for the same period in 2011, an improvement of5.7%.

The consolidated net profit stood at KD 28.3 million ($102.3 million), compared to net profit for the same period in 2011 of KD 285.1 million ($ 1.0 billion). Net profit for Q1 2011 includes a fair value gain of KD 265.5 million ($959.3 million) recorded due to revaluation of existing held interest in Tunisiana following the increase in the shareholding from 50% to 75%. The net profit in Q1 2011 without the fair value gain was KD 19.6 million ($ 70.8 million), an increase of 44.2% over Q1 2011.

The consolidated earnings per share was 56 fils (20 cents), compared to569 fils ($2.1) per share earned for the same period last year. Excluding revaluation gain the earnings per share in Q1 2011 was to39 fils (14cents) an increase in Q1 2012 by 44.2% compared with Q1 2011.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, Chairman of Wataniya Telecom commented: “We have started the year 2012 with a solid performance, further improvements of our international markets and maintaining our domestic business in times of a competitive environment. Despite intense competition, increased regulatory fees and challenging economic settings, Wataniya Telecom has seen revenue grow 6.2% and EBITDA by 5.7% compared with the same period in 2011.” He added: “Algeria is heading in the right direction in terms of main growth areas. Tunisiana once again demonstrated that even in a difficult economic environment it can holdits ground against the competition. Furthermore I congratulate Wataniya Mobile Palestine on achieving another key milestone, having now more than half a million customers.”

Wataniya - Kuwait Wataniya Kuwait’s customer base increased to 1.93 million customers at the

end of Q1 2012, an increase of 3.1% on Q1 2011. Revenues for the first quarter 2012were KD 57.9million ($ 209.0 million) compared to revenues for the same period in 2011of KD 62.6 million ($ 226.0 million), decrease of 7.6%. Business in Q1 2011 benefitted from the independence anniversary and government bonus payments, which had a positive impact on revenues. EBITDA for Q1 2012was KD 24.5 million ($88.5million) compared to EBITDA for the same period in 2011ofKD 29.9 million ($107.9 million), decrease of 18.0%.

Net profit was at KD 15.5 million ($ 56.1million), compared to net profit for the same period in 2011of KD 285.2 million ($1.03billion).

Net Profit for Q1 2011 includes a fair value gain of KD 265.5 million ($959.3 million) recorded due to revaluation of existing 50% held interest in Tunisiana following the increase in the shareholding from 50% to 75%. The Net Profit in Q1 2011 without the fair value gain was KD 19.7 million ($71.1 million).

Tunisiana The Tunisiana customer base at the end of Q1 2012stood at6.82 million customers: an increase of 14.0%onthe same period 2011.

Revenues for the first quarter 2012were KD 49.1 million ($177.6 million), compared to revenues for the same period in 2011 of KD 44.7 million ($161.4million) an increase of 10.0%.

EBITDA for Q1 2012was KD 28.9 million ($104.4million) from KD 24.1 million ($87.0 million) for the same period last year representing an increase of 19.9%.

The total net profit stood at KD 14.0 million ($50.7 million) an increase of 55.8% when compared with KD 9.0 million ($32.5) for the same period in 2011. The net attributable Profit to Wataniya Telecom for thefirst quarter 2012was KD 10.5 million ($38.0 million), compared to KD 6.8million ($24.4 million) for the same period in 2011.

Nedjma - Algeria The Nedjma customer base at the end of Q1 2012was8.52 million customers, an increase of 5.4%.Revenues for Q1 2012were KD60.8 million ($219.8 million), an increase of 20.5% compared with revenues of KD 50.5 million ($182.5 million) for the same period in 2011. EBITDA for Q1 2012was KD 24.2 million ($ 87.5 million), an increase of 26.8% on KD 19.1 million ($69.0million) for the same period in 2011.The total net profit for the first quarter of 2012 was KD 9.2 million ($33.2 mil-

lion) compared to a total net profit of KD 5.2million ($18.9 million) for the same period in 2011. The Net Attributable Profit to Wataniya Telecom for Q1 2012was KD 6.5 million ($23.6 million) compared to a net attributable profit of KD 3.7 million ($13.4 million) for the same period in 2011.

Wataniya - Palestine Total customers at end of Q1 2012 were 0.51 million, an increase of 32.0% from Q1 2011. Revenues were KD 5.5 million ($19.9 million) for Q1 2012 compared to KD 4.3 million ($15.5 million) for the same period 2011.

EBITDA for Q1 2012 was KD 0.2 million ($0.8 million) compared to the EBITDA of KD -0.2 million ($-0.8 million) same period in 2011.

The Net Attributable Loss for the first quarter 2012 was KD 0.8 million ($3.1 million) compared to the loss of KD 1.2 million ($4.4 million) for the same period in 2011.

Bravo - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bravo’s customer base stood at 0.17 million at the end of Q1 2012. Revenues for Q12012 were KD 4.3million ($15.6 million) compared to KD 5.0 million ($18.1 million)

for the same period in 2011.The total net profit for Q12012 was KD 1.4 million ($4.9 million), which included a one-off interest reversal of KD 3.8 million ($13.9 million) compared to a total net loss of KD 2.1 million ($7.7 million) for the same period in 2011.The net attributable profit to Wataniya Telecom for the first quarter 2012 was KD 2.1 million ($7.5 million), compared to the loss of KD 1.2 million (USD 4.3 million) for the same period in 2011.

Wataniya - Maldives Total customers at end of Q1 2012were 0.15 million, an increase of 24.0% from the same period 2011. Revenues were KD2.6million ($9.6 million) for Q12012compared to KD 2.8million ($10.0 million) for the same period 2011. EBITDA for Q1 2012 was KD 0.5 million ($1.9 million) compared to an EBITDA of 0.8 million ($ 2.7 million) for the same period in 2011. The net attributable loss for the first quarter 2011was KD 0.8million ($2.8 million) compared to the loss of KD 0.2 million ($ 0.7 million) for the same period in 2011. The KD to USD conversion rate used is 0.27678 as of 31 March 2012.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

BUSINESS

Kuwait equities mixed GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait’s equities ended yesterday’s session on a mixed note with focus remaining on first-quarter company earnings. Investors engaging in a selective buying and selling process, with the month coming to an end.

The market benchmark KSE Price Index was up by a slim 8.9points (or 0.14%), and closed at 6,336.5. The lift came on the back of a smart rally staged by select stocks in late trading hours. The market’s heavyweights succumbed to the selling pressure, as highlighted by a 0.63 percent recoil in the market’s blue-chips’ barometer Global Large Cap Index. The Global General Index was down by 0.42 percent, to close at 180.46. However, as measured by this index, the market has grown by 0.64 during this year. KSE Weighted Index too was down yesterday. The index closed at 419.53, down by 1.75 of a point (or 0.42%).

Volume and value of shares traded on the exchange soared as investors exchanged 550.86mn shares (+42.63 percent) at a total value of KD38.60mn (+5.15 percent). Also, transactions increased by 14.16 percent to reach 5,505. Real estate sector accounted for 37.67 percent of total volume traded during today’s session, as Abyaar Real Estate Development Company was the volume leader for the day.

Investors exchanged 65.88mn shares of the company. The scrip ended the day at KD0.051, up 6.25 percent.

Manazel Holding Company was the prominent gainer. The scrip added 11.36 percent to close at KD0.0245. On the other hand, Gulf Franchising Company was the biggest loser yesterday as it plunged by 7.41 percent to close at KD0.025.

Sector-wise During yesterday’s session, five out of eight indices plunged today led by Global Services Index declined by 0.71 percent. Sultan Center Food Products and Zain went down by 3.57 and 1.33 percent respectively.

Global Banking index dipped by 0.55 percent. 4 out of 9 companies among the sector witnessed decline. Ahli United Bank and Kuwait International Bank shed by 2.22 and 1.82 percent respectively. Global Investment Index followed, down by 0.50 percent. National International Company (Holding) was the biggest loser among the sector down by 7.27 percent closing at 51fils. Global Real Estate Index was the prominent gainer among the sectors up by 0.32 percent driven by AlMassaleh Real Estate Company which surged

by 6.25 percent to close at KD0102.

Corporate News Jazeera Airways Company said its shareholders have approved a bonus-share distribution for 2011 at the rate of 10 bonus shares for every 100 existing shares held. Shareholders registered at the date of the general meeting which was held yesterday will be eligible for the bonus share distribution, the carrier said in a statement posted on the Kuwait bourse website.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $115.80pb on Tuesday, compared with $115.50pb the previous day, according to OPEC secretariat calculations.

Oil firmer on Fed QE speculation LONDON: Brent crude oil gained yesterday, with investors expecting that the US Federal Reserve may give hints of more monetary easing, supporting demand sensitive assets. “The big focus remains on the US Federal bank meeting today,” says Oliver Jakob of consultancy Petromatrix.

Brent crude rose 71 cents to $118.87 a barrel by 1100 GMT, while US crude was up 56 cents at $104.11. A third round of monetary stimulus or quantitative easing, also called QE3, should boost liquidity in markets and lift appetite for riskier assets such as oil. “If there are hints at more quantitative easing, oil prices will shoot up again, as they are well off their highs,” Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.

However, he said investors may be disappointed as he thought quantitative easing was unlikely to happen before the US presidential election.

The latest US data was mixed, showing February home prices rising for the first time in 10 months while a measure of consumer confidence last month fell more than expected. An uncertain picture over the health of the global economy continued to weigh on prices. China’s slower growth rate, its weakest first quarter in three years, has raised concern among investors, especially at a time when the debt-ridden euro-zone’s economic slump is deepening and the US economic recovery remains fragile.

There were more signs of strain in Britain too, which has entered a second recession since the financial crisis, data showed yesterday.

Also supporting US crude, oil inventories in the world’s top consumer fell last week for the first time in five weeks, data from the American Petroleum Institute

(API) showed on Tuesday, against expectations for a build.

US crude stockpiles fell by 985,000 barrels in the week to April 20, compared with analyst expectations of a 2.7-million-barrel increase. Gasoline stocks fell 3.6 million barrels, dropping more sharply than an expected 900,000 barrels, and distillate inventories fell by 3.56 million barrels, the API said. The US Energy Information Administration’s own stockpiles report is due later yesterday.

US crude oil stockpiles were expected to have increased for a fifth straight week last week due to another increase in imports, an expanded Reuters poll of analysts showed on Tuesday.

Recent gains in US oil prices have narrowed Brent’s premium over WTI crude.

The premium fell as low as $12.99 last week, the smallest since February. Supply disruption concerns linked to producer Iran continue to be in focus although tensions between Tehran and the West seemed to have cooled momentarily.

Israel’s rhetoric on Iran was more conciliatory than it has been recently. Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to produce an atomic bomb.

“It is quite a strong statement but we will have to wait for the May 23 meeting in Baghdad,” says Jakob, “But with the rhetoric of Israel and Iran changing, maybe to prepare public opinion for negotiation, the Iran premium could start coming off.”

Iran will meet with the six world powers - the United States, Russia, China, German, France and Britain - in Baghdad on May 23 for nuclear talks. The West alleges that Iran is developing atomic weapons, but Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian use. — Reuters

25

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

BUSINESS

Germany to skip recession, double growth next year BERLIN: Germany will dodge recession in this year despite the eurozone debt crisis and should double its growth rate next year, the government said yesterday, unveiling new forecasts for Europe’s top economy.

Europe’s powerhouse will grow by 0.7 percent in 2012 and by 1.6 percent next year, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler told reporters, sticking to Berlin’s previous forecast made in January.

“Growth of 0.7 percent, higher income and more people in employment show that Germany is doing well ... Germany is and remains the growth motor in Europe,” Roesler said. Unemployment is expected to drop to 6.7 percent this year and to a

new record low of 6.5 percent in 2013, the government said.

Germany has defied the eurozone debt crisis and generally performed better than its trading partners in Europe. Data published earlier yesterday showed that Britain’s economy unexpectedly sank back into recession in the first quarter of the year, contracting by 0.2 percent.

However, Roesler warned that the German forecasts were “on the cautious side.” “The risks from the international environment remain high.

The European sovereign debt crisis has not been solved,” he said.

Another risk was that higher oil prices could erode purchasing power, Roesler said.

However, while Germany remains the world’s second top exporter after China, Roesler said that the recovery was being driven primarily by domestic demand. And he stressed Germany’s line that austerity measures were the best way to secure a solid economy, as a debate rages in Europe about shifting the crisis-fighting strategy to fostering growth rather than tightening belts.

“The positive trend in Germany shows that (budgetary) consolidation and courageous structural reforms pay off on the labor market.

That is an important message to our partners in Europe,” said Roesler.

After suffering more than most in the economic crisis following the

2008 collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, Germany has proved resilient to the debt turmoil that has crippled many euro-zone partners. The most closely watched indicator of Germany’s health, the business confidence survey conducted by the Ifo institute, has risen for the past six months in a row, confounding analysts who keep expecting a softening. And amid turbulence in the debt markets, investors have flocked to lend money to Germany, seen as a safe haven during the storm. The German government auctioned a 30-year bond earlier yesterday at a record low yield but with investors bidding for less than the total amount on offer. —AFP

BERLIN: German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler gestures as he gives a press conference yesterday in Berlin. Germany will dodge recession this year despite the euro-zone debt crisis and should double its growth rate next year, Roesler said, unveiling new forecasts for Europe’s top economy. —AFP

S&P downgrades India outlook to negative Weakening economy, fiscal deficit put rating at risk

FRANKFURT: Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank (ECB) addressing the media in Frankfurt Main, western Germany. Draghi called yesterday for a euro-zone-wide initiative to boost growth in the single currency region to complement a recently agreed “fiscal compact”. —AFP

ECB says demand for loans remains weak FRANKFURT: European banks, flush with cheap credit from the European Central Bank, are making it easier for consumers and companies to get loans - but demand for credit remains very low due to worries over the region’s economic prospects. The ECB’s closely watched survey of lending practices released yesterday indicated a substantial thawing of credit conditions among banks since it gave them 1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) in cheap loans.

On paper, that is a hopeful sign for the European economy as it struggles with a crisis over too much government debt.

However, the survey also indicates businesses and households are not applying for that credit because they are concerned about the outlook for the eurozone economy, which is expected to shrink 0.3 percent this year according to EU forecasts. In particular, banks said they saw less demand from consumers for mortgage loans and from businesses for credit to expand their plants and equipment.

The survey showed that far fewer banks had tightened their loan standards in the first three months of the year compared with last year. Of 131 surveyed banks, only a net 9 percent said they had made their lending practices tougher.

That’s a significant improvement from a net 35 percent that tightened credit in the fourth quarter of last year, when markets were seized with fear that a large euro-zone country such as Spain or Italy might default on its debts. That feared financial collapse didn’t happen, and market conditions improved after the ECB made huge amounts of cheap credit available to banks on Dec. 21 and Feb. 29.

ECB head Mario Draghi said the survey indicated that restraints on the supply of loans “have decreased considerably.” However, “we see demand still very, very weak for credit,” Draghi said, adding that lending was likely to remain sub-

dued “for some time” because of a slow euro-zone economy.

The ECB’s massive loans supplied banks with plentiful cash, many of them small banks that loan to the small and midsize companies that provide most euro-zone jobs. That means “central bank lending has come very close to the real economy,” Draghi said.

But the money won’t reach businesses and consumers until they see a reason to ask for it. Demand for loans from both businesses and households remains low, a fact the ECB cannot directly affect through its monetary policies. “We cannot replace the lack of demand,” Draghi said before the European Parliament’s committee on economic and monetary affairs.

He declined to say if the bank would make more cheap long-term loans to banks. “We never precommit,” he said.

The ECB’s loans, handed out in two batches to banks on Dec. 21 and Feb. 29, are credited with ensuring banks had enough funds to operate and removed fears of a bank collapse that could have further shaken the euro-zone. However, the calming effect on markets has evaporated in recent days, with investors demanding higher interest rates to loan money to Spain and Italy.

The increasing market tensions have led to calls for the ECB to do another series of loans, dubbed longer-term refinancing operations, or LTROs. Draghi and other ECB officials however have stressed that it’s up to governments to reduce their deficits and improve prospects for growth by cutting excess regulation that discourages hiring and starting businesses. They say the LTROs only gained governments time to do that.

Commerzbank economist Michael Schubert said the easier credit conditions “probably confirm the ECB council members’ view that for the time being there is no need for a further long-term tender operation.” —AP

BOSTON: Baggage is unloaded from a US Airways jet at Logan International Airport in Boston. —AP

US Airways books Q1 profit; revenue up 10% BONSTON: US Airways has reported a first-quarter profit of $48 million because of one-time items, although it lost money on flying. The profit worked out to 28 cents per share. A year ago, the airline lost $114 million, or 71 cents per share. US Airways booked a $73 million gain after it traded landing rights in Washington and New York with Delta Air Lines. Without

that, US Airways Group Inc. would have lost $22 million, or 13 cents per share.

That’s a smaller loss than the 25 cents per share expected by analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue rose 10 percent to $3.27 billion, topping analysts’ estimate. Perseat passenger revenue rose 8.2 percent.

US Airways, like other airlines, has raised fares to offset high fuel costs. —AP

NEW DELHI: Standard & Poor’s yesterday downgraded India’s credit outlook to negative as a weakening economy and gaping fiscal deficit put the country’s prized investment-grade rating at risk. The agency maintained India’s rating at BBB-, but warned it faces at least a one-in-three chance of losing its status if its financial situation worsens. The “BBB-” is one notch above “junk,” which carries an increased risk of default and would see India having to pay higher interest rates on its public borrowing. “India’s investment and economic growth have slowed and its currentaccount deficit has widened, resulting in a weaker mediumterm credit outlook,” S&P credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said in a media conference call.

“We are revising the outlook on the long-term ratings on India to negative.”

Asia’s third-largest economy is battling stubborn inflation, the widest budget deficit of all major emerging economies, a weak fiscal position and slower growth on the domestic front.

Uncertainty in global markets and Europe’s long-running sovereign debt crisis have added to the pressures. India’s benchmark Sensex share index fell 150 points after the S&P announcement before retracing some of its losses to trade down nearly a percentage point, or 133.21 points, at 17,090.98.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, seeking to reassure investors, said the government was “confident of overcoming difficulties”, telling reporters “there is

no need for panic”.

India’s economic reform process has been paralyzed by a string of political scandals that has beset Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress-led government.

borrowing plans. India’s economy is forecast to expand around 7.6 percent this fiscal year, from the 6.9 percent estimated for last year, the second slowest pace in a decade. S&P’s negative outlook came as Moody’s Analytics, part

MUMBAI: A building under-construction is pictured in a business district of Mumbai yesterday.

Standard and Poor downgraded India’s credit outlook to negative as a weakening economy and gaping fiscal deficit put the country’s prized investment-grade rating at risk. —AFP S&P in 2007 hiked India’s credit rating to investment-grade, a move that paved the way for global funds to invest in government bonds and other debt in the country. But now, Ogawa said, “there’s at least a one-in-three chance we may move the rating

Japan needs bigger ‘sense of crisis’: OECD chief TOKYO: The head of the club of the world’s richest countries said yesterday Japan needed to have a bigger “sense of crisis” about its financial predicament. Angel Gurria, the secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Japan’s stratifying society and widening income inequalities need to be addressed.

Gurria said the country’s woeful record on female employment was compounding the problems of a society that was getting old fast. “ The top 10 percent of Japanese earn 10 times more than the bottom 10 percent,” worse than the average of the 34 OECD member states, he told a forum of journalists, diplomats and academics in Tokyo.

The income gap between men and women-the second largest in the OECD behind South Koreawas a glaring example, he said.

“Women are under represented in Japan’s labour market. When they do participate, they are over-represented among non-regular workers. This widens the gender gap in Japan,” he said.

Gurria said Japan needs to address this inequality to help mitigate the problems associated with its rapidly ageing population. “Already you are the oldest workforce in the OECD. Without incorporating women, you are going to have a very fast decline and of course the only way which you can compensate for that is active immigration policies.

“We have to make it attractive for women to get back in to jobs.

This is a priority for Japan.”

Japanese companies, which once provided generous benefits and life-time employment for workers, have increasingly shifted to more part-time or contract workers to

down in the next 24 months if the external position deteriorates, growth prospects diminish or progress on fiscal reforms remains slow.”

India’s fiscal deficit was 5.9 percent of gross domestic product in

cut hiring costs. Gurria, who arrived in Tokyo bearing a book entitled “Policies for a Revitalization of Japan” was speaking just days after a think tank warned Japan could fall out of the league of developed nations by 2050 as its shrinking and greying population and slowing productivity make its economy contract.

The 21st Century Public Policy Institute, linked to Japan’s powerful Keidanren business federation, said last week in the most pessimistic scenario, GDP will shrink to the point where it is no longer among the world’s top economies.

But the think tank also said if policymakers could boost workforce participation by women to the same level as that of Sweden by 2040, Japan could still be the world’s fourth largest economy by mid-century.

Years of anemic growth and unsuccessful pump priming by successive governments have burdened Japan with public debt equivalent to twice GDP, with analysts warning only higher tax revenues or spending cuts can bridge the gap.

Gurria said it was vital that Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s unpopular plan to double the current five percent sales tax by 2015 was allowed to succeed. “In Japan, perhaps the sense of crisis is not strong enough to provide a better environment for change,” Gurria said. “Perhaps the combination of the accumulated wealth, the financial system, the labor and social traditions, the sense of solidarity... makes Japan a country where you are somewhat isolated from this feeling of anxiety and chaos that there is in Europe or even in the United States.” —AFP

the fiscal year ended on March 31, swelled by social spending programs targeting the country’s hundreds of millions of poor.

The government hopes to trim the deficit to 5.1 percent of GDP this year, but analysts are skeptical given the government’s record

of credit analysis giant Moody’s Corp said India’s economy was growing well below potential. “ The government has lost all momentum” on economic reforms, Glenn Levine, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics, said in an investor note. —AFP

India’s Wipro Q4 profit up 7.7%, but forecast muted MUMBAI: India’s third-largest software company Wipro yesterday posted a 7.7 percent yearon-year rise in net profit for the January-March period, but gave a muted forecast that sent its shares tumbling.

Consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter was 14.81 billion rupees ($284 million) compared with 13.75 billion rupees in the same period last year, the company said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Total revenue in the quarter increased 19 percent year-on-year to 98.69 billion rupees, it added, based on international accounting norms.

Wipro’s earnings just beat analysts’ estimates of a net profit of 14.76 billion rupees, according to an average earnings forecast polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

But the company forecast little growth for its revenues from IT services in the next quar ter ending June, at between $1.52 billion and $1.55 billion, due to an uncertain global business environment.

The revenue outlook hit Wipro shares, which slid as much as 8.22 percent to a day’s low of 406 rupees after the earnings. Shares closed at 410.15 rupees, down 7.29 percent. “The overall macro-economic environment is volatile and customers continue to be

cautious,” Wipro chairman Azim Premji told reporters at the company’s Bangalore headquarters. The company’s results come after Infosys, India’s second-biggest outsourcer, disappointed investors by warning of a tough year ahead due to the global financial climate and growing anti-outsourcing sentiment in the United States.

However sector leader TCS, part of the Tata conglomerate, this week posted a 23 percent rise in quarterly profit and was upbeat on its outlook. India’s flagship outsourcing sector derives half of its revenues from the United States and is engaged in an increasingly fierce struggle for business with global rivals such as IBM and Accenture.

Wipro is a pioneer in India’s software and outsourcing industry, which has benefited from work farmed out by global companies seeking to cut costs by taking advantage of India’s lower wages and engineering talent. Wipro added 41 new clients in the quarter, and on Wednesday the firm announced a partnership with the National University of Singapore for a multi-million-dollar IT infrastructure services deal. The outsourcer also won a multi-year contract with a leading communication service provider in North America for technical support services, it said, without giving details. —AFP

26

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

business

Air Arabia to host Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2012 Second edition will bring together world class industry experts KUWAIT: The second edition of The Arab Aviation and Media Summit, an annual event that provides insightful discussions around the challenges and opportunities faced by the aviation sector in the Arab World, will be held at the American University of Sharjah, UAE on April 30, 2012.

Organized by Air Arabia in association with CNBC Arabia and the American University of Sharjah, The Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2012 is themed “Mobility in the Middle East,” and will bring together industry experts and regional media to discuss the growth of the Arab aviation sector and how it led to increased mobility in the wider MENA region. The experts will discuss the challenges faced by the aviation sec-

tor and exchange ideas and strategies to address them.

Speakers at the Summit include Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General, Department of Civil Aviation Authority, UAE; Dr Peter Heath, Chancellor, American University of Sharjah; Abdul Wahab Tefaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO); Fouad Attar, President, Airbus Middle East; Dr Majdi Sabri, Regional VP, IATA and Chris Taylor, VP at Spectrum Capital UK and Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia.

“Following the success of inaugural event in 2011, we are proud to announce the return of Arab Aviation and Media Summit. At a time of ongoing change in the aviation industry,

the summit will serve as a timely platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas between two key stakeholders - industry participants and media,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia.

“The growth of the region’s aviation sector has greatly increased mobility in the Arab world by making air travel within the reach of most people. The summit will look at what more needs to be done to further positively influence trend of mobility and increased intra-Arab connectivity,” said Ali. The one day summit will see insightful panel discussions about the Arab Aviation in Global emerging economies, and measuring the impact of Arab spring on regional aviation - which will be followed by mas-

ter classes designed for media and students. A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be presented at the conclusion of the summit.

In 2011, Air Arabia and in association with CNBC Arabia, launched the first ‘Arab Aviation and Media Summit’, an industry event aimed at providing insightful discussions around the challenges and opportunities faced by the aviation sector in the Arab World. This initiative is aimed at stimulating constructive dialogue between business leaders and the media fraternity as well as put spotlight on key challenges currently faced by the aviation sector. The outcome of the Summit is publicly presented in the form of a white paper.

Jazeera Airways Group holds AGM, shareholders okay 10% bonus shares Airline posts record net profit of KD10.6m in 2011 KUWAIT: Award winning Jazeera Airways Group yesterday held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the company’s headquarters in Freedom Town, Kuwait where shareholders approved the Board’s recommendation to issue a 10% bonus shares to shareholders following a record-breaking year.

For the year 2011, the company earned record KD10.6 million in net profit with an earnings per share of 48 fils, a record KD57.8 million in revenue, up 36% from 2010, and a record KD14.9 million in operating profit.

of the political unrest on the business. And third, capturing a strong market share on the Cairo-Kuwait route that was launched in May 2011.” To secure the momentum, the company concentrated on optimizing its flight schedules to the benefit of passengers while maintaining high aircraft utilization. The company also supported its operation with continued investment in marketing,

market share in the first four weeks, and maintained an 18% market share during the slow post-summer travel season.

Boodai said, “2011 was a challenging year but a recordbreaking year as well for Jazeera Airways. Our priorities for 2012 are to grow load factor while maintaining high yields and we believe we will be able to achieve this goal

FY2011 Financial Highlights: l FY2011 revenue of KD57.8 million, up 36% from FY2010’s KD42.6 million l FY2011 operating profit of KD14.9 million, vs. KD1.0 million in 2010 l FY2011 net profit of KD10.6 million, vs. FY2010’s net loss of KD2.8 million l FY2011 average yield: 46% FY2011 Operational Highlights: Flown passengers: 1.2 million l #1 in on-time performance in the Middle East in 2011 as per flightstats.com l #1 airline between Kuwait and Alexandria, Luxor, Aleppo, Assiut, Sharm El Sheikh, Sohag, DeirEzzor and Damascus l #1 Kuwaiti airline between Kuwait and Beirut, Amman, Mashhad, Bahrain and Dubai The results reflect the success of the company’s turnaround plan that was implemented in second quarter 2010 and had steered the company into continued profitability for the last six quarters. Established in 2005, Jazeera Airways Group is a Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed company with over 12,000 shareholders. The company has a fleet of 12 fully-owned Airbus A320s, evenly distributed between its airline business, Jazeera Airways, and its leasing-arm Sahaab Aircraft Leasing.

Sahaab has assets placed with Virgin America, SriLankan Airlines, and Jazeera Airways. Jazeera Airways Group Chairman Marwan Boodai said, “The year 2011 was a record-breaking year despite the continued over capacity, the impact of political unrest on travel within our network, and an increasing fuel cost. Jazeera Airways today has a solid network, increasing load factors, reduced cost, high aircraft utilization, in addition to an aircraft leasing arm with assets deployed across the globe, from the US to the Middle East to Asia. Jazeera Airways Group today has a sustainable business model that has generated sustainable profitability quarter-onquarter for six quarters in-a-row.” l

2011 in review Speaking to shareholders, Boodai gave an overview of the company’s focus areas and milestones in 2011. He said, “We had three priorities in 2011. First, building on the momentum of record-breaking returns seen in Q3 and Q4 2010.Second, successfully mitigating the impact

KUWAIT: Chairman Marwan Boodai, auditors’ representative, and CEO Stefan Pichler during the AGM. advertising, and experience-enhancing initiatives, such as increased baggage allowance for business class and changing in-flight meals on a monthly basis. While at the same time, boosting yields without cannibalizing load factor.

The second priority was to reduce the impact of the political unrest on the business, first in Egypt then Bahrain and later in Syria. The company activated the Jazeera Airways Emergency Response Team (ERT) with round-the-clock monitoring of each situation keeping a close eye on the developments that might impact safety of the airline’s crew, passengers, and assets at all times.

To reduce the commercial impact on the business and compensate for the temporary drop in demand, capacity was redeployed by increasing flights to other cities that witnessed a surge in demand as alternative destinations.

Specifically Dubai, Jeddah and Cairo .

The company’s third priority for the year was to make sure that the newly launched and long-awaited KuwaitCairo route was kicked off to a great start by focusing marketing activities on re-building demand in a postrevolution market.

The results were very positive. Jazeera Airways secured an 11% market share in the first two weeks, 23%

because we have the right network with the right capacity, the right product for our market, and a tried and tested team that has successfully navigated the company through the last two years with flying colors.”

2012 Outlook The company’s outlook for 2012 continues to be positive in-line with a growing Kuwaiti economy, which continues to witness higher incomes despite international and regional economic pressures. Boodai said, “The year 2011 witnessed varying external challenges, from multiple revolutions taking place in our network to fuel price hikes at both ends of the year, despite that 2011 was a record-breaking year for us. As the region returns to calm we look forward to the continuation of our strong performance.”

Following the AGM, the Board held an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders to gain approval for amending the articles of association to take into account the change in capital resulting from the bonus share issuance. Shareholders approved the change of the company’s capital from KD22 million to KD24.2 million by issuing 22 million ordinary shares (the bonus shares) at a nominal value of 100 fils to the share.

ABK launches ‘Win a Million Miles with ABK’ KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait announced this summer’s travel promotion “Win a Million Miles with ABK”.

In cooperation with Emirates Airline, ABK is planning on giving out an amazing one million Skywards Miles this summer. All cardholders have to do is use their ABK Emirates credit card for all their cash or purchases transactions both locally and abroad.

The promotion starts on May 1 and

runs until August 31, 2012. Draws for up to 125,000 Skywards Miles will be held each month, with a Grand Prize draw of 500,000 Skywards Miles which will be held at the end of the promotion.

The lucky winners can use their Miles to travel to more than 120 Emirates destinations across six continents, or redeem them for products or ser vices at

Warba Bank holds its annual general assembly KUWAIT: Warba Bank has held its Annual General Assembly on April 24, 2012 to discuss its financial statements for the year ending 31 December, 2011, in addition to other items on the agenda. However, the General Assembly has been postponed due to lack of legal quorum required.

Warba Bank, an Islamic bank established by virtue of Amiri Decree, was officially registered in the Central Bank of Kuwait’s list of Islamic banks on the 5th of April, 2010. The state of Kuwait, represented by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), owns 24% shares of the bank while the remaining 76% of shares, fully subscribed by the government, have been equally allocated among all Kuwaiti nationals. Warba Bank offers a range of customized Sharia-compliant services and solutions which are available through the banks three divisions of Retail, Investment and Corporate Banking.

Branching out in four strategic locations, Warba Bank has over 150 employees.

www.emirateshighstreet.com.

Stewart Lockie, General Manager of the Retail Division has called this campaign “ABK’s most rewarding summer campaign ever and we are thrilled to give our ABK customers this opportunity to win a million Miles, which they can use to literally travel the world”.

Lockie added, “this is in addition to the Skywards Miles that each ABK Emirates Credit Cardholder will already

receive when they use their card locally or abroad”. So go ahead and shop with your ABK Emirates Card this summer and you could be a Miles Millionaire.

For more details, and to apply for ABK Emirates Credit Cards, please visit any ABK branch or call Ahlan Ahli 1899 899, alternatively you could also chat live with ABK’s customer service representative on Ahli Chat at www.eahli.com.

Mada services now available on Souq.com KUWAIT: After its successful presence in most shopping malls in Kuwait which gave mada the ability of being closer to its customer base, and due to the booming of their Facebook and twitter pages mada now launches its services on Souq.com Commenting on this special move says Shahad Ibrahim, marketing director at mada, “after the launch of this service our customers now have complete flexibility to subscribe for any of our services without considering the working hours at the point of sales or even thinking about visiting the closest branch in order to renew their subscription” she adds “Souq.com is

considered one of the most visited online shopping sites in Kuwait, thus we found it essential being there so we are close to our customers even when they are shopping online”. We also need to mention that mada has recently introduced the option of subscribing to its services through calling their call center where they deliver the product within a short period.

Mada communications is one of the distinct telecommunication companies in Kuwait and the region specialized in providing wireless internet connectivity, and the only one to offer wireless internet with unlimited download to its customers.

Shahad Ibrahim, marketing director, Mada

Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia

Corporate profit vs environment

By Anurag Agrawal KUWAIT: Companies around the world understandably make every effort to secure sizableprofits, but this should not be at the expense of the environment. Approximately half of the planet’s forests are gone. To avoid a “major planetary catastrophe” it is estimated that up to $1.9 trillion needs to be invested in green technology each year for the next 40 years.

Green or environmentally friendly technology has become the new tool for human development and economic progress, as people and companies worldwide are increasingly recognizing the harmful effects of unsustainable technologies and practices that adversely impact the environment and the overall quality of life. At the core of green technology is the concept of sustainable development, or the act of adequately providing for the needs of the society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

According to a United Nations (UN) report titled “The World Economic and Social Survey 2011: The Great Green Technological Transformation”, the earth may be on course for a “major planetary catastrophe” as a result of unsustainable technologies and practices. The report states that approximately half of the planet’s forests are gone, while groundwater resources are increasingly being depleted and contaminated. The report also suggests that up to $1.9 trillion needs to be invested each year into green technology for the next 40 years to avoid extreme repercussions for the planet’s survival.

Here, in the Middle East, the environmental movement has been gaining momentum over the past years with a growing number of public and private sector institutions coming together to try and address this issue. In addition, strategic socio-economic growth plans being introduced by governments in the region such as the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 and the Qatar National Vision 2030, have further accelerated the adoption of sustainable development concepts.

Nonetheless, there is scope for the private sector to take a more active role in developing greener technologies, and encourage all stakeholders to support the green cause in their own capacities.

Embracing ‘kyosei’ At Canon, our commitment towards sustainable development is referred to as ‘kyosei,’ a Japanese word that means living and working together for the common good.

‘Kyosei’ is not just a slogan for us - it infuses everything that we do, from product to process development. Nearly 100 per cent of Canon’s products in Europe, Middle East and Africa qualify for the EU ENERGY STAR Program. The company has also been constantly enhancing its environmental management systems (EMS) and has achieved global certification to ISO14001, the international standard for environment management systems.

Canon uses bio-based plastics -an environmentally conscious material that incorporates plantbased and organic components - in the several toner recycling and collection programs it adopts.

Interestingly, up to 30 per cent of the company’s printer housings are made from recycled plastic as part of a comprehensive Produce-Use-Recycle product lifecycle approach. Plastics recovered from returned Canon machines or from waste generated during manufacturing are re-used in new products such as the X MARK 1 mouse-calculator-keypad and the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5000 series.

In 2010, Canon also initiated programs to reduce fixed CO2 emissions and those associated with industrial production by improving the efficiency of facilities at its operational sites in various countries, including the Middle East region.

For instance, in line with its “closer to customers” strategy, Canon has established a dedicated consultancy team that helps enterprises in Qatar and other countries to achieve substantial energy savings and environmental benefits. By switching to duplex printing, for example, an organization could save an amount of energy equivalent to powering 19 homes for a whole year.

Canon Middle East has launched a series of environmentally-focused activities under the theme “Power of Environment” to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the region. In March 2012, Canon participated in “Earth Hour”, shut down all nonessential lights at its offices located in Dubai Internet City for an hour. Moreover, in collaboration with Dubai Internet City, Canon’s employees and their families gathered outside the office building with lamps as a sign of solidarity for Earth Hour and made a pledge that they will take long term actions towards environmental conservation. In addition, Canon has announced a public photo competition entitled “My Earth, My Lens”. Accordingly, people will be required to take a photograph that best symbolizes what the environment means to them.

—Anurag Agrawal is MD, Canon Middle East.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

HP enables telecoms to deploy and manage mobile app KUWAIT: HP yesterday announced a mobility platform for communications service providers (CSPs) that enables them to help enterprise customers increase productivity by supporting employee use of smar tphones and tablets.

The HP Enterprise Mobility platform enables enterprises to provide internal mobile applications (apps) to employees so they can access company data quickly, easily and securely on their personal mobile devices.

The core components of the HP Enterprise Mobility platform are: • HP Enterprise Mobile App Store enables CSPs to help enterprises create, certify, distribute and manage “mobilized” versions of company apps for employees. Hosted at the CSP site and managed for the enterprise, the HP Enterprise Mobile App Store provides employees an easy-to-use portal for downloading apps.

• Multichannel capability supports personalized employee access, regardless of device. Employees can easily

browse for apps. Multiple languages are suppor ted to enable regional app stores.

• Multicatalog management enables enterprises to offer apps to different kinds of users by structuring access based on employee location, job type or other criteria.

• Application life cycle management enables enterprises to refresh apps for all device types, track usage, and decommission apps at end of life.

• Integrated mobile device testing ensures that apps perform properly across device types and in varied usage scenarios.

• HP Enterprise Mobility Gateway enables CSPs to help enterprise employees access the right enterprise data at the right time by connecting mobile applications with an enterprise’s backend systems. Available on the customer premises and as a service from the CSP, the gateway enables developers to create data-rich apps that run effectively even when bandwidth is limited.

- High-performance access is enabled

with server- and client-side caching, smart browsing, and offline viewing of large data sets.

• Secure exposure of back-end systems and data to mobile applications is enabled by user authentication and authorization.

• Lifecycle management of programming interfaces of back-end systems is facilitated with usage and reporting tools.

• Composite service development enables mobile apps to access and combine data from multiple back-end systems to create aggregated, high-value information for mobile users.

“Service providers are at a point where they need an enterprise service delivery platform, not just a telco service deliver y platform,” said Glen Ragoonanan, lead analyst, Infrastructure Solutions and SDP Strategies, Analysys Mason. “It makes sense to work with a partner like HP that has both telco and IT heritage and can bring the two worlds together.”

Based on the widely deployed HP

Service Delivery Platform (SDP), the HP Enterprise Mobility platform features a flexible service-oriented architecture.

CSPs can adapt the core HP components to suit specific, complex needs, and they can integrate other HP and third-party solutions to further enhance functionality. “CSPs must invent new business models to win in a 4G world,” said Bassem Bouzid, Regional Vice President & General Manager - Enterprise Services HP Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa (MEMA). “HP’s offering enables CSPs to generate new revenue by helping enterprises tap the productivity potential of smartphones and tablets used by employees.”

In addition to offering mobility services to enterprises, CSPs can use the HP platform to manage mobility services for their own employees, including the development and distribution of new apps.

Designed for CSPs to offer to their enterprise clients, the HP Enterprise Mobility platform also will be sold directly to enterprises by HP, as an on-

Bassem Bouzid premises solution.

The HP Enterprise Mobility platform complements previously announced offerings in the HP Mobile Application Services portfolio.

China iPhone sales surge Can Apple protect its apps?

BEST Electronics announces grand winner of 3D gaming competition KUWAIT: BEST United Electronics concluded recently Kuwait’s first ever 3D Gaming Competition. The competition was organized in collaboration with LG Electronics and was conducted at Kuwait’s biggest Electronics store, BEST Electronics’ in Al Rai, over a period of five weeks.

The competition witnessed over 250 participants battling out against each other at the (Call of Duty 3 Modern Warfare) game on LG’s newly launched CINEMA 3D SMART TV. Weekly competitions were conducted between 16 teams and the Grand Finale concluded with the winners of the first four weeks meeting in the fifth and final week for the championship. Although all the competitions were amazing, the toughest and most thrilling of all was the battle of the champions in the finals which had the best competing against the best. Each participant of the winning team from the final week took home the new 47 inch LG CINEMA 3D SMART TV. The competition was covered on various

social networking sites, blogs and was followed by several gaming enthusiasts all over Kuwait. “The response to this competition has exceeded our expectations and we have had as much fun hosting it as the participants have had competing. It was one hectic but exciting event” stated Mr. Abdulaziz Adel Al Yousifi, President - BEST Electronics.

The event was attended by several gaming enthusiasts, prominent personalities, media representatives and customers who cheered the participants during the competition and also participated in competitions conducted for them and took home some valuable prizes.

“Following the success of this event, we would like to announce our next gaming competition which will be conducted shortly - The Best 3D Champion’s League”, added Al Yousifi Registrations will open soon on the BEST Electronics facebook page where by interested participants can enroll to participate in the next championship.

Oracle confronts Google’s Eric Schmidt about Java SAN FRANCISCO: Google’s former CEO told jurors that he was confident that the Android smartphone platform was developed legally, and that top executives at Sun Microsystems did not object to the project now at the center of a high-stakes court battle.

Eric Schmidt, now Google’s executive chairman, took the stand on Tuesday in the trial of Oracle against Google over smartphone technology. Oracle, which acquired Sun in 2010, sued Google in August 2010, saying Android infringed on its copyrights and patents for the Java programming language. Google countered that it does not violate Oracle’s patents and that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java, an open-source, or publicly available, software language.

In court on Tuesday, Oracle attorney David Boies showed Schmidt a 2005 presentation to Google’s top managers that said Google “must” take a license from Sun. Schmidt said he could not recall being told that was the case.

Schmidt said at one point that Google derived enough advertising revenue from Android to fund the operating system and a “whole bunch” more. “The goal was to get as many users as we could on a powerful new platform that could exploit the Web,” Schmidt said of Android.

Unlike current Google CEO Larry Page who testified last week, Schmidt appeared much more at ease while parrying questions from Boies about the development of

Android. At one point, Schmidt asked Boies to repeat a question, saying he wanted to be sure he answered it truthfully.

“I want you to answer truthfully,” Boies said, prompting Schmidt to laugh. Schmidt was Oracle’s final witness before Oracle rested its copyright case on Tuesday morning - and Google then called him as its first defense witness.

Under questioning from Google attorney Robert Van Nest, Schmidt said Sun wanted roughly $30 million to $50 million in 2006 to jointly develop a mobile platform with Google. Such a deal would have saved Google time in getting Android to market, Schmidt said.

“We would have paid that simply to resolve it,” Schmidt said. However, negotiations between the two companies faltered.

Android chief Andy Rubin later testified that while Google wanted to make the software platform open source, Sun wanted to impose restrictions to which Google was opposed. After Google developed Android on its own and announced it at the end of 2007, Schmidt said he had multiple meetings with Sun Chief Executive Jonathan Schwartz, who never expressed any disapproval about Android.

Google has argued that Oracle launched the lawsuit only after Oracle decided it would be unable to develop a smartphone on its own. The trial, expected to last at least eight weeks, has been divided into three phases: copyright liability, patent claims, and damages. — AP

SHANGHAI: Apple Inc’s blowout quarterly iPhone sales in China show that a barrage of bad publicity hasn’t dented demand. Now, it has to find a way to sell more smartphones in the world’s biggest mobile market, without its fans jumping the paywall. iPhone sales surged in China after Apple signed up China Telecom Corp to sell the device last month - the second of the country’s ‘big three’ carriers to get the iPhone. The biggest, China Mobile Ltd, which has over 600 million subscribers, doesn’t yet have compatible technology.

“Based on what we’ve observed so far, we’ve seen a tremendous uptick in CDMA iPhones,” said IDC analyst Wong Teck-Zhung. “The key factor is that they signed with China Telecom and expanded their carrier operations.”

Apple sells the international 3G standard iPhone through China Unicom and a CDMA version through China Telecom. China Mobile’s domestic 3G standard does not have a compatible iPhone version.

Cuper tino, California-based Apple has faced a raft of negative publicity in China in recent years, including worker suicides at its supplier Foxconn Technology and accusations from Chinese groups blaming the US firm for environmental pollution, and copyright and trademark infringement.

That page appears to be turning as Apple repor ted a five -fold increase in iPhone sales in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in JanuaryMarch, driving up its greater China revenue to $7.9 billion. Its publicity machine has also been helped by a deal with Foxconn to ensure proper working conditions at its factories. A next watershed would be a deal to sign up China Mobile to a carrier deal on the iPhone 5, expected to be released to the market in the third quarter. “The main challenge for Apple is to penetrate China Mobile’s 600 million

BOSTON: In this Oct. 14, 2011 file photo, Elliott Johns, of Boston, holds up an iPhone 4S in front of an Apple Store location in Boston. Apple Inc., the world’s most valuable company, yesterday trumped skeptics once again by reporting blow-out iPhone sales. Apple says it sold 35 million iPhones in the quarter, almost twice as many as it sold a year ago and above analyst expectations. — AP subscribers. The numbers look pretty good now, but would be much better with China Mobile,” said Nomura analyst Huang Leping. With so many iPhones sold, it’s natural that China is Apple’s second-largest mobile software market by download volumes, according to a report last June by Distimo, an application marketplace analysis firm. But Apple’s challenge is to find a way to stop users hacking into the iPhone’s software to download free apps or solicit services from e-commerce sites to download apps at a fraction of their App Store or iTunes Store price.

“Clearly Apple’s doing well in China, but could they do better by

trying to clamp down on this? Sure, but in the big scheme of things, that’s a ‘high quality’ problem for Apple to have,” said Michael Clendenin, managing director of RedTech Advisors.

For its second-quarter, Apple said its iTunes Store revenue increased by more than a third to almost $1.9 billion. Last month, it said its 25 billionth app was downloaded in China.

Apple declined to comment for this story. “Over the long term, they will figure out a way to handle it,” C lendenin said. Early last year, Global Times, an official Chinese newspaper, reported some 50,000 illegal iTunes accounts were being sold on Taobao, an online unit of

Alibaba Group. A spokesman for Alibaba Group said on Wednesday it shut down the accounts of those providing those services because of negative customer feedback and that the move had nothing to do with the legality of the services.

A search by Reuters on China’s largest consumer e -commerce platform Taobao Marketplace showed a large number of sellers offering iTunes or App Store giftcards at big discounts.

Asked about the legality of the service, one Taobao seller who was offering 16,000 iTunes songs for $30 said: “What’s illegal? If what I’m doing is illegal, all the books, music and enter tainment online (in China) are illegal. — Reuters

Google launches storage service for personal files SAN JOSE: Google is hoping to build the world’s largest digital filing cabinet in the latest attempt to deepen people’s dependence on its services.

The Internet search leader began its pursuit of the audacious goal with the much-anticipated debut of Google Drive, a product that stores personal documents, photos, videos and a wide range of other digital content on Google’s computers.

By keeping files in massive data centers, users will be able to call up the information on their smartphones, tablet computers, laptops and just about any other Internet-connected device.

Content can also be more easily shared among friends, family and co-workers by sending links to the information instead of emailing large attachments.

Google Drive is offering the first five gigabytes of storage for free. Monthly prices for additional storage will range from $2.49 for 25 gigabytes to $49.99 for one terabyte, equivalent to five laptops with 200-gigabyte drives.

The service is initially available through a Web-based interface or as a software installation on Windows-based computers, Mac computers, laptops running on Google’s Chrome operating system and smartphones powered by Google’s Android software. A version compatible with Apple Inc.’s hot-selling iPhone and iPad is due in the next few weeks.

It may be several weeks before Google Drive is available throughout the world. Many Google users were simply told Tuesday to check back and request to be notified. Offering online storage is part of a technological shift away from storing personal files on a single machine in a home or office. Users instead are entrusting data to computing hubs accessible just about any time at any place with Internet access. The concept has become popularly known as “cloud

computing.” For all its technological know-how, Google is a late arrival in what is shaping into the Internet’s version of storage wars. Other combatants with a head start include two other technology heavyweights, Apple and Microsoft Corp., and pioneering startups such as Dropbox Inc. and Box Inc. Google is hoping to differentiate its storage service by equipping it with more convenient and powerful tools. Google Drive will draw upon the company’s expertise in Internet technology for text and images to make it easier to find data quickly.

It can search within documents, for instance, while Dropbox looks for file names. It also includes optical character recognition that can search for specific words contained in scanned newspapers or other sources.

Google Drive is gearing up five years after word first leaked that Google was working on an online file storage service, then called Gdrive.

The lengthy delay made it seem as if it all might be an urban legend, until Tuesday. In a blog post, Google poked fun at itself for taking so long, likening Google Drive’s announcement to the sighting of the Loch Ness Monster.

But Google still has plenty of time and, more importantly, plenty of firepower to topple the competition, said Gartner Inc. analyst Michael Gartenberg. “We are entering this era where the personal cloud is going to be more important than the personal computer, so to remain relevant Google needed a service like this,” he said.

Even so, the new service threatens to amplify the privacy concerns that already have been swirling around Google as it gathers a trove of personal information through search requests, correspondence sent through Gmail, videos watched on YouTube and posts on the Google Plus social network.

IOWA: Iowa Governor Terry Branstad talks about the next phase of Googles Iowa operations at the Google Southlands Property in Council Bluffs, Iowa, yesterday. Google Inc. announced Tuesday it was investing $300 million to build another data center in Council Bluffs, bringing the Internet search company’s total investment in the western Iowa city to about $900 million. —AP “How Google addresses the 800-pound gorilla knocking on the door - privacy - will define how the company is widely perceived by the public. Google Drive will be a key part of this test,” said Ethan Oberman, chief executive of online storage service SpiderOak.— Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

SpaceX aims for May 7 launch to ISS WASHINGTON: SpaceX confirmed it plans to launch a rocket and capsule on May 7 in a historic first flight of a private spaceship to the International Space Station. The new launch date, coming a week later than an initially planned April 30 goal, comes af ter SpaceX said Monday it needed to complete more testing on its unmanned Dragon capsule. The capsule is due to ride on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

“NASA and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have approved SpaceX’s request to set May 7th as the target launch date for the upcoming COTS 2 mission,” SpaceX spokeswoman Kirstin

Brost Grantham told AFP. On its Facebook page, the company said the spaceship would launch at 9:38 am (1338 GMT). “We appreciate that SpaceX is taking the necessary time to help ensure the success of this historic flight,” NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations William Gerstenmaier said in a statement. “ We will continue to work with SpaceX in preparing for the May 7 launch to the International Space Station.”

SpaceX aims to carry out a fly-by of the ISS and a berthing operation in which the reusable spacecraft, the Dragon, will approach the ISS as the crew aboard the orbiting outpost uses a robotic arm to

dock it. The gumdrop-shaped Dragon capsule will carry 1,149 pounds (521 kilograms) of cargo for the space lab and will also aim to return a 1,455 pounds (660 kilograms) load to Earth, according to ISS program manager M ichael Suffredini.

Owned by Internet entrepreneur and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, SpaceX made history with its Dragon launch in December 2010, becoming the first commercial outfit to send a spacecraft into orbit and back.

SpaceX and several other companies are competing to be the first to operate a private capsule that could tote astronauts and cargo to the ISS, after NASA

retired its shuttle program last year.

Russia’s Soyuz capsule is currently the world’s sole means of transporting astronauts and cargo to the orbiting space station. Other companies in the private space race include aerospace giant Boeing, the Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corporation and Washington state-based BlueOrigin LLC. NASA has channeled $270 million to firms hoping to join the new commercial space race and hopes to foster a billiondollar industry over the next decade. In a draft budget submitted to Congress in Februar y, President Barack Obama requested $829 million to develop commercial flights to the ISS, partly to end

US reliance on Russian craft to deliver astronauts and re-supply the station.

The privatization of space transport is expected to pave the way for tourism, with British tycoon Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic offering $200,000 reservations for journeys into space.

The company has already taken in $60 million in sales and deposits, with more than 500 individuals-including Hollywood stars and other multimillionaires-adding their names to the list.

The prices of the only trips into space so far, which were sold to private individuals traveling on Russian spacecraft, have ranged from $45 million to as much as $150 million. — AFP

US prescription drug abuse abetted by family, friends Overdoses from medications higher than for street drugs

NAIROBI: HIV/AIDS activists, some of them living with the virus yell during a demonstration yesterday in Nairobi on the sidelines of a joint conference sponsored by the US embassy here and Kenya’s vision 2030 about health and reducing mortality in the East African nation. The activists demanded that the US’ - HIV program, PEPFAR and the Kenya government work together to utilise some 500 million of unspent PEPFAR funds to get desperately needed HIV treatment to more Kenyans.— AFP

Text messages prime parents to get kids flu shot: Study NEW YORK: Sending parents educational text messages about the flu vaccine and where to get it could increase the number of children and teens protected during flu season, according to a study in New York City.

Researchers, whose findings appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, followed more than 9,000 mostly low-income children and found that when parents got a series of text messages starting early in the flu season, their children were more likely to have received a flu shot by the end of the season than children whose parents didn’t receive the texts.

Text messages may be more effective than calling a household or sending a reminder letter because texts are sent to a specific person and stored in the phone, researchers said. “You can reach so many families and patients at one time in an automated, efficient fashion, and you tailor it to what the families need,” said Melissa Stockwell, an assistant professor of pediatrics and of population and family health at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

For the study, Sockwell’s team enrolled 9,213 children and teens between six months and 18-years-old at four community-based clinics in New York before the start of flu season in 2010. Typically, the season begins in October and extends through March, but peaks in January and February.

More than half came from Spanishspeaking families and almost 90 percent were publicly insured. Parents of about half the children and teens received weekly text messages, and all parents in the text group as well as a comparison group received a reminder phone call in November.

The researchers created a software program that combined information from the clinics’ electronic health records and New

York City’s immunization database to send parents five texts that were personalized based on information in the patients’ medical records.

The first three texts focused on educating the parent about vaccine safety, and emphasized the seriousness of flu in children. The messages were sent in either English or Spanish. The last two tests told parents about weekly Saturday vaccine clinics held in the fall. In January, if a child was still not vaccinated, another two text messages were sent.

At the end of the study in March 2011, about 44 percent of the children and teens in the texting group were vaccinated, compared to 40 percent of those whose parents did not receive the texts.

Stockwell’s team cautioned that their results may underestimate the potential effectiveness of the texts because not every family was told about all vaccine clinic dates to prevent overcrowding. Their results are also limited to a single medical system and might not be applicable to the general public.

“The potential is substantial, and in the right setting with automated, integrated information systems, text message reminders can target large numbers of patients at relatively low cost,” wrote Peter Szilagyi and William Adams from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the Boston University School of Medicine, respectively.

The two said that if the new study’s results were applied across the United States, an additional 2.5 million children and teens would be vaccinated. Adams said that text message reminders or similar electronic interactions were likely to become more common. “It’s pretty quickly not going to be research, it’s going to be everyday healthcare,” he said. — Reuters

CAPE TOWN: South African explorer Kingsley Holgate, left, talks with South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, right, and Sherwin Charles, a senior executive of a food company, during Malaria day celebration in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. The global campaign to fight malaria is appealing for $3.2 billion to try to reach the UN goal of “near-zero” deaths from the mosquito-borne disease by 2015. — AP

WASHINGTON: More than 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtain the drugs from friends or relatives, usually with permission and for free, according to a government study to be released on Wednesday. The study, based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, underscores the public education challenge that law enforcement officials face in persuading legitimate prescription drug users to dispose of their medications properly before they fall into the wrong hands.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has cracked down pharmaceutical abuse by targeting distributors and pharmacies. The agency is due to begin an administrative hearing on Wednesday in the case of two CVS Caremark Corp. stores suspected of selling the painkiller oxycodone outside legitimate channels in Florida, the center of the growing epidemic.

“At the end of the day, our strongest tool is vigilance among everyone with access to a medicine cabinet,” said Gil Kerlikowske, chief of the White House’s anti-drug campaign, in a statement accompanying the study’s results.

The administration is working on new regulations to make it easier for people and institutions to dispose of unused prescription drugs under legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama in October 2010.

The illicit use of legal medications poses a huge public health and safety problem in the United States, where overdose deaths from their use has surpassed older street narcotics such as heroine and cocaine. The DEA estimates that 7 million Americans abuse pharmaceuticals, leading to a 346 percent spike in overdose deaths from oxycodone alone from 2005 to 2010.

The trend is responsible for 11 deaths per day, on average, from oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, benzodiazepines and morphine, federal officials say.

Prescription drug abusers include an estimated one in seven teenagers.

The latest study shows that 55 percent of prescription pain killer abusers got the drugs from a family or friends for free, while 11 percent bought them from the same sources and 5 percent took them without asking. Reliance on friends and relatives is highest among new

and occasional abusers. About 25 percent of those who rank as chronic abusers of pain relievers get their drugs from doctors, while a slightly larger number buy them from dealers, over the Internet or from friends and relatives.

Among the chronic abusers, 41 percent obtain pills for free or without asking from friends and relatives. All told, the study showed that about 2 percent of the U.S. population aged 12 and older has abused a prescription pain killer within the past 30 days. The data, from 2009 and 2010, was released ahead of DEA-sponsored public education events scheduled for Saturday at more than 5,000 collection sites under the banner, “National Take Back Day.” The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, one of the federal government’s largest, is conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Ser vices Administration. It gathers information from about 67,000 randomly selected people aged 12 and above who are asked about their mental health and their use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. — Reuters

Diabetes to cost a sixth of UK budget

TOKYO: Dr Brian Druker, left, of Oregon Health & Science University talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito during an awarding ceremony of the 28th Japan Prize in Tokyo yesterday. Druker professor director of OHSU Knight Cancer Institute at the university, won the prize for the field of “Healthcare and Medical Technology” along with two other fellow Americans, Dr. Nicholas Lydon and Dr Janet Rowley, for their achievement in development of a new therapeutic drug targeting cancer-specific molecules, and shared a cash prize of 50 million yen ($650,000). — AP

‘Anti-alcoholism’ drug cleared for use in France PARIS: French health authorities have approved the use of a drug, originally designed to treat nervous spasms, for the treatment of alcoholism on a “case by case” basis. AFSSAPS, the regulator that authorises drugs, said that while the drug Baclofen had not been definitively shown to be efficient in the treatment of alcoholism, it had shown “clinical benefits in some patients”.

It recommended in a statement that Baclofen-the lab name for a medication branded as Kemstro, Lioresal and Gablofen-should be considered on a “case by case” basis.

The history of the drug goes back 50 years. It was originally designed for epilepsy before becoming licensed to treat spasticity, but researchers are now interested in using it to ease alcoholic craving.

Interest was sparked in 2008 by a book, “Le Dernier Verre” (The Last Drink), by cardiologist Olivier Ameisen, who selftreated his alcoholism with high doses of Baclofen. The AFSSAPS statement came after French doctors said last month that the drug had cleared an important early test. The trial entailed enrolling 132 heavy drinkers who were given Baclofen at high doses over a year. Eighty percent either became abstinent or turned into moderate drinkers. By comparison, two drugs that are commonly used to treat alcoholics, naltrexon and acamprosate, yield a success rate of 20-25 percent.

Side effects included fatigue, drowsiness, insomnia, dizziness and digestive troubles. Lead researcher Philippe Jaury of the University of Paris-Descartes said the outcome opened the door to one-year clinical trials, expected to start in May, in which 320 alcoholics would be divided into two groups. One batch will receive Baclofen, progressively building in dosage until the craving symptoms subside, while the others will receive an inactive look-a-like pill, or placebo.

France’s health system is paying 750,000 euros ($469,000) of the 1.2-million-euro ($1.45-million) cost of the trial, and an unidentified donor is paying the rest, Jaury told AFP. The pretrial study was published in a specialist journal, Alcohol and Alcoholism. — AFP

LONDON: Diabetes will cost the statefunded National Health Service (NHS) more than a sixth of its entire budget by 2035, a report has found. The disease and its complications account for 10 percent (9.8 billion pounds) of NHS spending, but this is projected to rise to 16.9 billion pounds over the next 25 years, or 17 percent of the health service’s funds.

Researchers at the York Health Economic Consortium, in partnership with charities Diabetes UK, the Juvenile Diabetes, Research Foundation Diabetes, also found yesterday that up to fourfifths of the cost of treating complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage, and amputation could be avoided by investing in better preventative measures and management of the condition once it is acquired.

The Impact Diabetes report, which appeared in the Diabetic Medicine journal, also considered the indirect costs to individuals living with the condition, including those related to increased death and illness, the loss of income from stopping work, and the need for informal care.

It found the total associated with these extra burdens in addition to direct patient care in the UK stands at 23.7 bil-

lion pounds and is predicted to rise to 39.8 billion pounds by 2035/36, emphasising the human and financial incentives to better manage the disease.

There are around 3.8 million people living with diabetes in the UK and this is expected to increase to 6.25 million in just over two decades. Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said “This report shows that without urgent action, the already huge sums of money being spent on treating diabetes will rise to unsustainable levels that threaten to bankrupt the NHS. “But the most shocking part of this report is the finding that almost fourfifths of NHS diabetes spending goes on treating complications that in many cases could have been prevented”.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said “We agree that diabetes is a very serious illness and one that has a big impact on the NHS. “That’s why we are tackling the disease on three fronts.

First, through prevention of Type 2 diabetes - encouraging people to eat well and be more active.

Second, by helping people to manage their diabetes through the nine annual health care checks performed in primary care.— KUNA

A woman doing her diabetes blood test.

H E A LT H

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Silicon Valley titans aim to strike it rich by mining asteroids

SEATTLE: Planetary Resources Inc co-founder and co-chairman Eric Anderson raises his arms as he describes a plan to mine nearby asteroids during a news conference yesterday, in Seattle. From left are Peter H. Diamandis, also a co-founder and co-chairman, Anderson, president and chief engineer Chris Lewicki and Tom Jones, an advisor. (Right) This computer-generated image provided by Planetary Resources, a group of high-tech tycoons that want to mine nearby asteroids, shows a conceptual rendering of satellites prospecting a water-rich, near-Earth asteroid. — AP SEATTLE: Space-faring robots could be extracting gold and platinum from asteroids within 10 years if a new venture backed by two Silicon Valley titans and filmmaker James Cameron goes as planned. Outside experts are skeptical about the project, announced at a news conference in Seattle Tuesday, which would likely require untold millions, or perhaps billions of dollars and huge advances in technology. But the same entrepreneurs pioneered the selling of space rides to tourists - a notion that seemed fanciful not long ago, too.

“Since my early teenage years, I’ve wanted to be an asteroid miner. I always viewed it as a glamorous vision of where we could go,” Peter Diamandis, one of the founders of Planetary Resources, said at a news conference at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. The company’s vision “is to make the resources of space available to humanity.”

The inaugural step, to be achieved in the next 18 to 24 months, would be launching the first in a series of private telescopes that would search for the right type of asteroids. The plan is to use commercially built robotic ships to squeeze rocket fuel and valuable minerals out of the rocks that routinely whiz by Earth. One of the company founders predicts they could have their version of a space-based gas station up and running by 2020.

Several scientists not involved in the project said they were simultaneously thrilled and wary, calling the plan daring, difficult - and very pricey. They don’t see how it could be cost-effective, even with platinum and gold worth nearly $1,600 an ounce. An upcoming NASA mission to return just 2 ounces (60 grams) of an asteroid to Earth will cost about $1 billion.

But the entrepreneurs behind Planetary Resources Inc. have a track record of profiting off space ventures.

Diamandis and co-founder Eric Anderson and pioneered the idea of selling rides into space to tourists, and Diamandis’ company offers “weightless” airplane flights. Investors and advisers to the new company include Google CEO Larry Page and Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and explorer and Cameron, the man behind the blockbusters “Titanic” and “Avatar.” Anderson says the group will prove naysayers wrong. “Before we started launching people into space as private citizens, people thought that was a pie-in-the-sky idea,” Anderson said. “We’re in this for decades. But it’s not a charity. And we’ll make money from the beginning.”

The mining, fuel processing and later refueling would all be done without humans, Anderson said.”It is the stuff of science fiction, but like in so many other areas of science fiction, it’s possible to begin the process of making them reality,” said former astronaut Thomas

Jones, an adviser to the company. The target-hunting telescopes would be tubes only a couple of feet (less than a meter) long, weighing only a few dozen pounds and small enough to be held in your hand. They should cost less than $10 million, company officials said. The idea that asteroids could be mined for resources has been around for years. Asteroids are the leftovers of a failed attempt to form a planet billions of years ago.

Most of the remnants became the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some pieces were pushed out to roam the solar system. Asteroids are made mostly of rock and metal and range from a couple of dozen feet (7 meters) wide to nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers) long. The new venture targets the free-flying asteroids, seeking to extract from them the rare Earth platinum metals that are used in batteries, electronics and medical devices, Diamandis said.

Water can be broken down in space to liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for rocket fuel. Water is very expensive to get off the ground so the plan is to take it from an asteroid to a spot in space where it can be converted into fuel. From there, it can easily and cheaply be shipped to Earth orbit for refueling commercial satellites or spaceships from NASA and other countries.

In the past couple of years, NASA and other space agencies have shifted their attention from the moon

and other planets toward asteroids. Because asteroids don’t have any substantial gravity, targeting them costs less fuel and money than going to the moon, Anderson said in a phone interview.

There are probably 1,500 asteroids that pass near Earth that would be good initial targets. They are at least 160 feet (50 meters) wide, and Anderson figures 10 percent of them have water and other valuable minerals. “A depot within a decade seems incredible. I hope there will be someone to use it,” said Andrew Cheng at John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab, who was the chief scientist for a NASA mission to an asteroid a decade ago. “And I have high hopes that commercial uses of space will become profitable beyond Earth orbit. Maybe the time has come.” Diamandis and Anderson would not disclose how much the project will cost overall. By building and launching quickly, the company hopes to operate much more cheaply than NASA. Harvard’s Tim Spahr, director of the Minor Planet Center, said getting drilling equipment into space and operating safely sounds “expensive and difficult.” “It would be awfully hard to make money on it,” Spahr said.

Richard Binzel, professor of planetary science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the effort “may be many decades ahead of its time. But you have to start somewhere.” —AP

e

e

30

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

Palestinian Cultural Exhibition

H

andicrafts reaffirm the Palestinian national identity and support needy children and families. The Palestinian Culture Center in collaboration with the Women’s Cultural Society invite you to its spring exhibition.

The exhibition aims to preserve Palestinian handicrafts in order to reaffirm the Palestinian national identify by adapting it harmoniously to the 21st century demands.

We display classic designs intertwined with modern uses, colors, and motifs, to showcase some of the creativity of the Palestinian women. Items on sale include: cushions, runners, scarves, shawls, long traditional dresses as well as smaller items. We also have handmade ceramics from Palestine, books, music, and movies.

Kuwaiti Women Cultural Soceity, Khaldiya, Block 2, Al Qurouba Street Date: Monday April 23 to today from 10 am to 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 8:30pm. Call 25755866, 25727388, 99376608.

Announcements ‘Arangetram 2012’ Nandhanam School of Dance, an institute to promote India’s rich culture and values in Kuwait, is conducting its first “Arangetram 2012”, a student’s debut on stage dance performance, at the American International School, Maidan Hawalli Kuwait on Friday, May 4, 2012.

The program will start by 05:45 pm and the guests are requested to be seated 15 minutes before the program. For information contact 97895754, 99129611, 67057758.

Walk for CRY 2012 Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) is introducing this new event for children of all ages, to be held tomorrow 27th April, 2012. The venue is the walking track in Jabriya in front of New English School. In this event, children are invited to walk from as little as a kilometer to as much as they can. The walk timing is between 0800 hrs to 1000 hrs.

PAWS Kuwait quiz night Paws Kuwait quiz night tomorrow 27th April at 7:30 pm till 12 am at Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant 12th floor Gulf Hotel Baghdad Street, Salmiya. Authentic Chinese cuisine will be served.

Dress: Smart/casual Oriental theme preferred. For more information Email events@paws-kuwait.org Sri Lanka festival Sri Lankan feastival will be held at Green Island, Gulf Road tomorrow April 27 from 0900 am to 10 pm. It is a cultural show, traditional items, sports meet etc.. etc., and it is held under the patronage of the Embassy of Sri Lanka. Wimal Weerawansa, Minister for Construction and Urban Development will be attending.

Intensive Free Arabic Course in IPC IPC is opening an intensive Basic Arabic Course for ladies commencing from June 3-July 8, 2012.

The class will be from 5 -7 pm and 3 days a week.

Registration is on! For information, call: 22512257.

Iranian Contemporary Art Date: 23rd April to 10th May, 2012 These are images of conflations and juxtapositions. Sabzi’s paintings signify the crossroad of cultures and evoke one of the most pertinent signs of the multiculturalism that has been the hallmark of the arts in late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. His art represents that humanized perspective where in memory persists across cultural zones, even when and where it has no relevance. So many of his works speak of conditions where values and perspectives seep through the chinks of any culture’s shield of protection. They are about the kind of interconnectedness that can no longer be undone; they are about the end of purity and the end of searching for origins and essence.

GUST students visit Korean Embassy

T

he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Archaeology class, taught by Elvisa Al-Duaij, were invited to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for the 3rd meeting of the Korean Culture Diwaniya where the main theme of the night was Korean Food.

The students were met by Eunjeong KIM, Counselor at the Embassy, where she introduced them to many people from the diwaniya as well as shared the exciting experience with many activities to learn about more about Korean cooking and cuisines. “I brought my students

P

ravasee Deseeya Cultural Congress begins its regional conferences in Kuwait with the slogan of “Congress (I) for Pravasee welfare”.

Salmiya regional conferences was held on 20th April at Apachia Institute. The program was presided over by Kalanjur Radhakrishnan.

The Central committee president Jacob Channapetta inaugurated the function.

Congress led UDF state government and UPA government in Central were introduced several welfare programs for NRI’s, which could not reached into the beneficiaries properly, therefore this conference will campaign for these welfare programs and make more awareness among NRI’S. Central committee treasurer Abdulla Thrikaripur, James Pooyapally, Joseph Kobara, George Thomas Joshy Kuriakose Sunny Mathew and E.D Jose spoke on the conference.

Other regional conferences on April 26 in Abbassiya and on 27th in Fahaheel. Elected following office bearers for Salmiya region are: George Thomas -Convener; Joshy Kuriakose- Joint Convener; Kalanjur Radha Krishnan - Regional Secretary.

community who teach participants how to make the tastiest Korean dishes. Some recipes they enjoyed making were Korean style pancakes (Buchimgae), beef barbeque(Bulgogi) and stir-fried rice cakes (Tokpokki). They also were introduced to “Kimchi” and how to make it which is eaten with almost every meal in Korea and is known for being healthy, tasty and nutritious.

Part of the event was allocated to the Kuwaiti food and a lot of Kuwaiti participants offered information about the Kuwaiti recipes. The students were excited to share what they knew about their

local sweets. Everybody enjoyed this unique evening dedicated to the sharing of information, culture and recipes!

GUST encourages their students to take part in a variety of activities and with different people, to learn and expand their horizons. The Embassy truly hopes that such events would contribute greatly to increasing the awareness of Kuwaiti people about the Korean culture and traditions and look forward to hold more useful and exciting meetings.

ICSK Amman branch celebrates Pre-Primary graduation day

‘T

he direction in which education starts a man will determine his future’ - Plato Pre-Primary Graduation is a time not only to think about what our children have done but also what they are going to do. Each child makes a promise that he or she will continue the journey towards great destination. This is a memorable day as the school has always provided a genial, tranquil and secure environment for the young ones to develop into sensitized, responsible, disciplined and balanced human beings.

On 12th April 2012, the ICSK Amman celebrated its pre-primary Graduation Day in the school Auditorium. It was a very special day for the excited tender minds. They were all geared up for the day. As they trotted around in colourful costumes, the little world wore a festive look.

The programme began with a welcome song, prayer, recital of verses from the Holy Quran followed by the lighting of the auspicious lamp of knowledge.

Our beloved Principal Mrs Sridevi Pradeep in her inimitable style welcomed the august gathering. The dignitaries of the occasion were A.V.Shamsuddin, PAC member, Ilango, Principal of ICSK Khaitan Branch, George Mathew, PAC member and all our proud parents. The principal with her kind and encouraging words made the day a very special one for the children as well as their parents.

The Event-Art & Fashion Date: April 28-May 1 The Event will be sponsored by Goji Boutique and Qumarl4 and will be filled with an eclectic mix of designers who compliment each other, providing the visitors with an inspiring and unique shopping experience. To add to excitement Join them and feast your eyes! Dar Al Funoon is located In Al-Watiah, Behbehani Compound, House No.28.

For more Information please call 22433738 or log onto www.daralfunoon-kw.com

PDCC regional conferences begin

to the event because Archaeology is a part of Anthropology and it teach us about different cultures, where the students were given the opportunity to compare Korean culture with Kuwaiti culture and see the differences and similarities between the two.

The activities included showing a video clip on Korean food and brief presentations by some participants on popular dishes of Korean food as well as Kuwaiti food. They also experienced a live cooking classes prepared by the “Envoys for the Korean Culture Promotion,” who are a talented Korean

Group song by the students ‘When the Sun Shines....’ was an added grace to the occasion as the tiny tots walked on the ramp adorned in traditional convocation gowns and caps. The parents

watched their little angels grow into butterflies to flit away into the sky yonder.

The Graduation day was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. The students thanked the class teachers for their

encouragement and support. It was indeed a pleasure to watch these budding talents’ on the podium with confidence and zeal expressing gratitude to their teachers.

ACICO honours employees

A

CICO Industries Company honored its employees in a ceremony held at The Palms Beach Hotel & Spa. The event was attended by all of ACICO employees including managers, chief executives and board members.

The ceremony commenced by a brief word from vice chairman and managing director, Ghassan Ahmad Al-Khaled, appreciating the efforts of all employees in five sectors, “You were always proud of ACICO and today ACICO is proud of you for your hard work and success in executing the strategies set forth which lead ACICO to become the organization it is today”/. Al-Khaled added that this ceremony reflects our appreciation and gratitude to qualified ACICO employees who were able to achieve during the toughest of times.

ACICO’s objective of this recognition and appreciation ceremony is to state that the employee is the true value of success at any organization regardless of size and activity.

KUDA bids farewell to Mathew

K

UDA (Kerala United Districts Association), the umbrella forum of the various districts associations of State of Kerala, conducted a farewell meeting for Thomas Mathews, founder Vice-President and the current central committee member who is leaving Kuwait after 17 years of his successful service in Kuwait. The various humanitarian projects and other activities taken up by KUDA were successfully implemented under the leadership of Thomas Mathew.

The meeting was presided by Joy Mundakad, the chairman of KUDA. Raju

Zacharias (Secretary General), Jacob Channapetta, Abdul Rehim, Joy John Thurithikara, Salim Raj, Thajudheen, Sajan. M.George, Ommen George, Sam.V. Thomas (Treasurer) and Sathar Kunnil facilitated the occasions.

Thomas Mathew in his speech suggested to continue the charity works and other activities of KUDA to the best interests of Indian nationals in Kuwait.

KUDA presented a memento to Thomas Mathew as a token of love & appreciation

31

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy.

The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency.

■■■■■■■

Fun day, charity and talent show at KNES

O

n Friday, 20th April Kuwait National English School hosted a Fun Day with the aim of raising money for charity. One of the highlights of the day was the Talent Show hosted by Secondary students of year 10 and 11. The event conceptualized, marketed and organized by the students turned out to be a grand success with participants from Kuwait National English School as well as other schools joining in and displaying various talents on stage in front of a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience.

The judges were lively and based their decisions of a variety of factors like stage presence, originality and the act itself in deciding the winners. We witnessed some great judging from Madame Chantal, Ms.Huma and Mr.Alan. It was a pleasure to have the school director Madame Chantal Al Gharabally as a member of the judging

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.uae.gc.ca.

■■■■■■■

panel. The participants were on time and seemed to have fun. They made new friends and mingled with staff and students, while also enjoying the show.

Special mention must be made at this point of the wonderful organiza-

tional skills of our students from Kuwait National English School and their hard work and effort in making sure the event went off smoothly. We can be proud of our students and their skills in event management.

Now looking forward to a bigger and better event next year at Kuwait National English School in Hawally.

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy has moved. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies.

Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine).

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on Sunday, May 6, 2012 on account of ‘Buddha Purnima’.

■■■■■■■

GUST’s Dr Ayman Bakr publishes Arabic literary

D

r Ayman Bakr, Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature and Criticism at GUST, recently published his study revolving around how traditionally, Arabic literary studies neglected the multiple readings in Arabic classical poetry.

Studying classical poetry tends to deal with these multiple renderings as unnecessary redundancy. Similarly, modern critical studies that deal with pre-Islamic classical

poetry study these texts from one literary view without considering the classical studies of classical poetry.

Dr Bakr’s study declares that we need reprint classical poetry in separate collections or as part of larger manuscripts in order to reconsider different renderings of the poems, and to change our own ideas and views regarding our pre-Islamic literary tradition.

Dr Bakr is an Egyptian literary critic, translator and an academic professor and has published a number of books and literary studies discussing Arabic literary themes, criticism, and genres.

■■■■■■■

ILOA students prove their mettle again

T

here is no doubt that this school with a difference will help its students to venture through the most stimulating labyrinth of self discovery.

Competition is the incentive to progress and hard work is the key to success. The great efforts of the principal, teachers and parents were rewarded by the outstanding performance of LOA students in international assessment tests.

The students who brought laurels to the school by scoring high distinctions are: Ishan: English, Science topper of International Assessment for schools.

Simra: Science topper of International Assessment for schools.

Muhammed Nawfal: English topper of International Assessment for schools.

Manu Hari- Gold medalist in

Assessment of scholastic skills through Educational testing.

Principal Mrs Sharma congratulated all the winners and other participants and pointed out that the spirit of participation is more important than winning or losing. Success begins with a fellow’s will. The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach one’s full potential are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that one can become. Victory belongs to the most persevering students and LOA students made the school proud with their hard work and perseverance.

With a passionate purpose of updating the budding generation on the ever growing developments in the realm of knowledge, the school staff always backs their students up and

I

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location.

Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com ■■■■■■■

Ishan

Simra

trains them to participate in all the international tests that come by. Knowledge quotients vibrated with activity oriented paradigm and student oriented pedagogy make the process of learning more interesting and lively.

Their well organized series of questions brushing disparate areas of the knowledge domain always help the students for

Muhammed Nawfal their overall growth. put in This is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to posses it The result reflects the academic enhancement of the school. The stupendous result is a testament to the dedication and commitment of all concerned.

Ambassadors of Comedy for a noble cause ndian Cultural Society & Saanjh in association with social worker Minhaj Shikari & Murtaza Pachorawala proudly presents “Ambassadors Of Comedy”. The Chief Guest for the event will be Ambassador of India, Kuwait & the guest of honor will be prominent personalities from Kuwait & respected embassies from different countries.

ICS is back with a show including international fame artist Aron Kader, Dean Obeidallah & Nitin Mirani in “Ambassadors of Comedy”. It will be a witness for noble cause & charity “laugh to wipe the tears of children”.

All the proceedings of the event will be donated to St John Ambulance Brigade and Fazlani Foundation India.

Dean Obeidallah: Born in the Great State of New Jersey, his comedy comes in large part from his unique background of being the only son of a Palestinian father and a Sicilian mother. Both have provided him with an enormous amount of material, usually unintentionally.

Aron (Kader): Likes to thank his Palestinian father and Mormon mother for giving him so many reasons to be a comedian. After growing up partly in Utah but mostly in the Washington DC area Aron moved to Hollywood at nineteen years old to pursue comedy and acting. Known for his ability to talk about sensitive political and social subjects in his humor, as well as his ability to do impressions made him a stand out everywhere. Kader spent years in the legendary

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref. New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturday to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

sketch theatre “The Groundlings” Sunday Company and is a founding member of” The Axis of Evil Comedy tour” which debuted on Comedy Central in 2007.

Nitin Mirani: Born in India, raised in Dubai and seen the world through a Gulf war, a global recession, 8 years of a Bush administra-

tion, and yes, even through the 1980’s disco dancer era. Yet he does manage to see the world in a comical light. Being one of the Pioneers of the comedy circuit in the Middle East for almost 5 years & The Founder of the brand “Komic Sutra”. He has also been voted as Ahlan Dubai’s Hot 100 people for 2010 and 2011. Refreshing, exuberant, completely unpredictable, un-clichÈd & therefore highly entertaining are just a few words to describe his act. Referred to as “The Global Comedian”

Nitin style of giving a local feel to global comedy has captivated crowds in the Middle east, India, Hong Kong Maldives, Canada and even New York & has become a regular favorite amongst corporate and groups all around the world including the US Army (USO). Young talents from Kuwait will be another attraction

of the evening. So join us for quality entertainment “Ambassadors Of Comedy” on Friday 27th April at 7.30 pm at Dr Kamil Al Rayes Auditorium, AIS opposite Police Station Maidan Hawally Kuwait. For more information log on www.ics-kuwait.com ics.kuwait@gmail.com murtaza@pachorawala.com

Manu Hari

ILOA has stamped its seal of authority in the firmament of Kuwait with academic excellence. The management and the staff of this academic institute of par excellence take immense pride in congratulating all the toppers. They have expressed profound happiness on the success of the young achievers and pledge to continue in their pursuit of academic excellence.

Frontliners function

F

rontliners Association, Kuwait is conducting a starstudded “National Integration and Grand Cultural Show’ on May 4, 2012 (Friday) at 6pm at Al-Jeel Jadeed, School, Hawally. The highlight of the function will be the release of “Frontliners Book - series 16” by writer N.C.Mohandoss.

Three eminent persons with illustrious career will grace the occasion of the Book release.

Gopalaswami, Former Chief Election Commissioner will be the Chief Guest. V. Ponraj, Scientist & Advisor to former President Dr Abdul Kalam, is a key public figure whose recent tasks included the preparataion of “Koodankulam Report” and conducting special training session for the MLAs after the Assembly election last year and Vivek, the special guest for the evening - is a ‘Padma Shri’ awardee and a popular Tamil film comedian known to south with a string of awards for his hilarious and stylish performances. For details contacy 99816937, 55483266.

EMBASSY OF NEPAL The Embassy of Nepal will be moving from its current location to a new place in Jabriya, Block 8, St. 13, House No. 514, effective from 15th April, 2012. Till the new telephone connections are installed, the Embassy may be contacted by email: info@nepembku.org ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF ROMANIA The Embassy of Romania to the State of Kuwait would like to inform that the Consular Section of the Embassy will be closed for construction works beginning with 18 April 2012, till 10 May 2012. During this period of time the Consular Section will not issue any type of visas for Romania and will not issue any Romanian passports or travel documents. The Consular Section will only be able to assist with notary deeds. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Classifieds THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR GFA UAE ETD DHX FDB MSR QTR JZR THY KAC DHX FAH KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY IRA QTR IRA FDB ETD BAB GFA MEA JZR MSR KNE MSC JZR KAC MSR GFA KAC FDB OMA KNE QTR SVA RJA KAC JZR KAC SYR QTR KAC JZR JZR ETD RKM UAE VTF GFA SVA UAL JZR TAR JZR KAC ABY KNE KAC ALK MPH KAC JZR KAC BAB KAC FDB MSR MSC KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC KAC AXB FDB RBG OMA MEA QTR GFA JZR UAE ETD BBC ABY QTR JZR DHX AIC GFA UAL JZR DLH KLM THY

Arrival Flights on Thursday 26/4/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 370 BAHRAIN 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 770 ISTANBUL 154 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 605 ISFAHAN 132 DOHA 617 AHWAZ 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 470 JEDDAH 9621 ASSIUT 201 DAMASCUS 616 DOHA 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 472 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 341 DAMASCUS 134 DOHA 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 857 DUBAI 302 AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 177 DUBAI 328 TUNIS 777 JEDDAH 176 GENEVA 127 SHARJAH 474 JEDDAH 502 BEIRUT 227 COLOMBO 78 SINGAPORE 542 CAIRO 125 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 438 BEIRUT 104 LONDON 63 DUBAI 624 SOHAG 6923 SOHAG 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 614 BAHRAIN 572 MUMBAI 774 RIYADH 562 AMMAN 389 KOZHIKODE 61 DUBAI 3553 ALEXANDRIA 647 MUSCAT 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 135 BAHRAIN 859 DUBAI 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 513 SHARM EL SHEIKH 372 BAHRAIN 981 CHENNAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 239 AMMAN 636 FRANKFURT 411 AMSTERDAM 772 ISTANBUL

Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:55 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:35 4:55 5:00 5:30 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:35 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:55 11:05 11:25 11:35 11:45 12:30 13:30 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:05 15:15 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:00 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:45 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:05 18:15 18:30 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:40 23:40

Airlines AIC UAL DLH THY UAE FDB DHX ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR JZR GFA THY KAC BAW FDB JZR ABY JZR KAC KAC IRA UAE QTR KAC KAC FDB ETD IRA BAB JZR GFA KAC KAC MEA KAC JZR MSR KNE MSC KAC JZR GFA FDB MSR KAC OMA KAC KNE JZR KAC RJA JZR SVA SYR QTR KAC KAC ETD JZR JZR QTR RKM UAE GFA JZR TAR ABY SVA UAL KNE JZR ALK FDB BAB MPH MSR MSC JZR KAC JAI FDB RBG KAC KAC VTF KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA DHX KAC ABY ETD UAE FAH QTR KAC KAC JZR DHX BBC QTR AXB GFA KAC JZR KAC

Departure Flights on Thursday 26/4/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 773 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 200 DAMASCUS 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 606 MASHHAD 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 615 DOHA 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 616 AHWAZ 437 BEIRUT 356 MASHHAD 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 623 SOHAG 471 JEDDAH 9622 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 646 MUSCAT 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 124 BAHRAIN 617 DOHA 641 AMMAN 512 SHARM EL SHEIKH 505 JEDDAH 342 DEIREZZOR 135 DOHA 773 RIYADH 613 BAHRAIN 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 538 CAIRO 141 DOHA 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 328 TUNIS 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 982 BAHRAIN 475 JEDDAH 266 BEIRUT 228 DUBAI 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 78 AMSTERDAM 607 LUXOR 9624 ASSIUT 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 3554 ALEXANDRIA 331 TRIVANDRUM 343 CHENNAI 303 KANDAHAR 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 171 BAHRAIN 675 DUBAI 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 860 DUBAI 102 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 554 ALEXANDRIA 373 BAHRAIN 44 DHAKA 147 DOHA 390 MANGALORE 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK 528 ASSIUT 415 KUALA LUMPUR

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 2:15 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:10 8:10 8:25 8:25 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:20 9:35 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:05 10:15 10:15 10:25 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:15 12:25 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:20 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:40 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:30 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:05 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:25 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:10 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:50 22:10 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:40 23:50 23:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) Prayer timings

112 Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:46 11:46 15:21 18:22 19:44

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available with Pakistani family in Kheitan, bachelor or couple. Please contact: 99868113. (C 3972) Sharing accommodation for decent bachelor (non smoking) or working ladies.

Location: Amman street, opposite to Al Rashid Hospital, Salmiya, building no: 44 2nd floor, room no: 10. Contact: 66232356, 50223132. (C 3976) 26-4-2012 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya, single bachelor accommodation, double bedroom flat, rent KD 40/-, from May 1st.

Contact: 99162583 (C 3968) 23-4-2012

FOR SALE PC Desktop Siemens, Core2 Duo, Ram 2GB, HD 160GB, DVD Writer, multi card reader, CPU in small shape, Windows-7 Ultimate, Multimedia, LCD Screen 17”, excellent condition.

Contact: 50505120.

(C 3973) Mitsubishi Colt model 1993, white color, engine & transmission (gear), exter-

nal (body) all in good condition, insurance till 25th Januar y 2013, price KD 220/-. Contact: 99337034.

(C 3974) 26-4-2012

found please contact: 22452208-9 Mirqab Kwt. (C 3975) 26-4-2012 CHANGE OF NAME

LOST Policy No: 633002951-7 Mohd Naeem policy no: 633003318-4 Manzar Ali Khan of State Life Insurance has been lost if anybody

I, Nazia Begum, D/o Syed Aziz, R/o 18-8-134, Dargah Barhaneh Shah, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, having passport No. E8384809, have changed my name, henceforth I shall be known and called as “Nazia Syed Aziz”. (C 3969)

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

Tourists return to Tunisia after year of turmoil

By Lin Noueihed and Tarek Amara

E

uropeans in white bath robes saunter across the marble lobby of a luxury hotel on the Tunisian island of Djerba, heading for a spot of relaxation at the spa or a few hours’ soaking up the sun on the resort’s pristine beaches. At breakfast, the waiters in the restaurant can barely keep up. All around French, German, English and Arabic spoken by Libyans escaping uncertainty in their own country, can be heard amid the chatter. After a year of revolutionary turmoil that saw tourists flee the Mediterranean hotspot in droves, Tunisia hopes 2012 will mark the start of the recovery in a sector that used to account for almost 7 percent of gross domestic product and employs 500,000 people, second only to the farming sector.

“I heard a lot about the turmoil in the security situation but the reality is completely different because it is safe. We stay out late every night and nothing scares us,” said Monica, a French tourist, who has visited Tunisia many times before. She did not wish to give her full name. “I’m here with my friend this time but in the summer I will come back with the family and I will tell everyone that Tunisia has not changed. It is even more charming than before.”

In 2011 fewer than 5 million people visited the country that witnessed the start of the Arab Spring, when a revolution ousted veteran dictator Zine alAbidine Ben Ali in Jan 2011, sparking a wave of uprisings across the region. Visitor numbers were down from 7 million in 2010 while tourism income, Tunisia’s top source of foreign currency, fell by a third in 2011, or

1 billion Tunisian dinars ($653 million). Twenty five hotels closed, costing 3,500 jobs. This year, the sector hopes to recover half its losses, attracting 6 million visitors and raking in 500 million dinars more than last year for its depleted coffers.

While the North African country has made a relatively smooth transition to democracy, last year’s war in neighbouring Libya pushed tens of thousands of refugees across the border, raising fears the conflict would spill over and delay economic recovery.

Occasional protests and lingering fears that Ennahda, the moderate Islamist party that won the first postuprising elections in October, would seek to Islamise society, have also held back tourists, as has the economic crisis in Europe.

The five-star Radisson Blu on Djerba, which attracted 1.2 million visitors before the uprising, boasted occupancy in excess of 75 percent in 2010, a record year. This year, Sami Ounalli, sales and marketing manager of Djerba’s Park Inn and Radisson Blu, hopes it can regain 90 percent of lost business. “We expected tourism to return in April/May 2011. It was possible but when tourists travel they think of security, and the Libyan revolution and the refugee camps slowed recovery,” he said. The new government, caught up in political wrangling over the role of Islam in the constitution, had also been slow to reassure visitors, he said.

“In the first four months of 2012, we see tourism in Djerba up 200 percent on 2011, but that was a low base. We are 20 percent from achieving 2010 levels ...

In 2013, we hope to equal or exceed 2010 levels, as Djerba has a lot to offer.”

Tunisia’s economy is relatively small - gross domestic product is about the same size as that of the Dominican Republic. But it could be a bellwether for how bigger non-oil-based economies will fare in recovering from the Arab Spring, particularly Egypt.

Tourism arrivals jumped 53 percent in the first quarter from the same period last year. That compares with a 28 percent decline in January arrivals to Egypt, where presidential elections will take place next month, more than a year after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

With Islamists winning more than two-thirds of seats in Egypt’s new parliament, and one conservative suggesting the pyramids be covered up, tour agents await calm and clarity. By contrast, Tunisia’s new Islamist-led government has been at pains to assure visitors the country is open for business after the turmoil saw the economy shrink 1.8 percent and unemployment soar from 13 to 18 percent last year. “We will respect the traditions of our visitors in their food and clothing and lifestyle,” Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali told reporters at a Mediterranean tourism conference this month, co-hosted by the United Nations tourism body.

The event, held in a casino and other locations overlooking bikini-clad tourists on the beach and with alcohol flowing freely, sent a clear message: the Islamist-led government would not ban alcohol or impose dress restrictions on visitors as many people, Tunisian and foreign, had initially feared. “Some want to paint Tunisia as a jungle and sow fear of the Ennahda government, but this does not reflect reality,” Jebali said.

Even for visitors from Libya, who made up a major chunk of tourists in Tunisia in the first quarter, their laid-back neighbour offers a respite not only from instability but from a country where alcohol is banned and leisure facilities scarce. “They say there are no tourists but the hotels are busy,” said one Tunisian woman on her way to a job interview at a Djerba spa.

“They are hiring for the season, even if you lack experience.”

But while the pick-up in tourism is an encouraging sign, the outlook is uncertain. Visitors from the euro zone, who before the revolution formed the bulk of tourists in Tunisia, have seen their spending power strained by the region’s debt crisis. A revival in tourism moreover will only help the coastal resorts, already the more prosperous areas of the country. It will do little for the central towns where there is little industry and unemployment is high and where riots still break out regularly.

The finance ministry forecasts Tunisia’s economy grew 2.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, a huge improvement on last year but below the 3.5 percent growth it is targeting for the year. To boost tourism’s economic role the government acknowledges it must diversify from beach tourism that draws the budgetconscious and attract long-haul visitors from Asia and America. It is also seeking to entice cultural tourists to its Roman amphitheatre at El Jem, to Tunis’ meandering old quarter and the mosaic museum at Bardo, and aims to develop tourism in its central desert, whose subterranean dwellings and bleak landscapes featured in the Star Wars films. — Reuters

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 05:45 06:10 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:10 09:35 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:50 13:45 14:10 14:40 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 18:45 19:15 19:40 20:10 20:35 21:05 22:00 22:25 22:55 23:20 23:50

Untamed & Uncut Buggin’ With Ruud Wildest Arctic Wildest Africa Astrochimp Going Ape Wildlife SOS Cell Dogs Orangutan Island Breed All About It Breed All About It The Really Wild Show Project Puppy Project Puppy Project Puppy Astrochimp Animal Precinct Animal Cops Phoenix Last Chance Highway RSPCA: On The Frontline Wildlife SOS Astrochimp Animal Battlegrounds The Really Wild Show Baby Planet Dogs 101 Cats Of Claw Hill Cats Of Claw Hill Wildlife SOS Going Ape Orangutan Island Animal Battlegrounds China’s Last Elephants Wild Britain With Ray Mears Wild Britain With Ray Mears The Snake Buster The Snake Buster K9 Cops

00:25 00:50 01:20 01:45 02:35 03:20 03:45 04:15 05:05 05:55 06:40 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:10 09:00 09:25 10:10 11:00 11:50 12:40 13:35 14:00 14:25 15:10 15:55 16:40 17:30 18:00 18:25 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:35 21:30 21:55 22:20 23:05 23:55

The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Indian Food Made Easy Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 Living In The Sun Bargain Hunt Delicious Iceland The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Antiques Roadshow Living In The Sun Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic USA Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Cash In The Attic USA MasterChef Australia MasterChef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger The Restaurant UK Dolce Vito: Dream Restaurant Dolce Vito: Dream Restaurant Fantasy Homes In The City House Swap Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA A Taste Of My Life The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Indian Food Made Easy James Martin’s Brittany 10 Years Younger The Restaurant UK Dolce Vito: Dream Restaurant Dolce Vito: Dream Restaurant Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow A Taste Of My Life

00:00 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45

BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News America Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today

04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 19:30 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

00:00 Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 02:00 World Report 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 Erin Burnett Outfront 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Talk Asia 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 The CNN Freedom Project 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 Amanpour 12:30 Open Court 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 18:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 19:00 World Sport 19:30 Open Court 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 21:45 CNN Marketplace Europe 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 News Special 23:00 Connect The World With Becky...

00:15 01:10 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05

Ultimate Cops Destroyed In Seconds Dirty Jobs Battle Machine Bros Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs

07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Gold Rush 08:45 Swamp Loggers 09:40 How Stuff’s Made 10:05 Cake Boss 10:30 Border Security 10:55 Auction Hunters 11:25 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 15:05 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 16:00 Battle Machine Bros 16:55 Wheeler Dealers 17:20 Ultimate Survival 18:15 Mythbusters 19:10 How It’s Made 19:40 How Stuff’s Made 20:05 Border Security 20:35 Auction Hunters 21:00 Cake Boss 21:30 Sons Of Guns 22:25 First Week In 23:20 Kidnap And Rescue

00:35 How The Universe Works 01:25 The Tech Show 01:50 Weird Or What?

02:40 Cool Stuff & How It Works 03:05 Cool Stuff & How It Works 03:35 How Does That Work?

04:00 How Does That Work?

04:25 Junkyard Mega-Wars 05:20 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 06:10 How The Universe Works 07:00 The Gadget Show 07:25 The Gadget Show 07:50 Kings Of Construction 08:40 Weird Or What?

09:35 Cool Stuff & How It Works 10:00 Cool Stuff & How It Works 10:25 How Does That Work?

10:50 How Does That Work?

11:20 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 12:15 Junkyard Mega-Wars 13:05 How The Universe Works 13:55 The Gadget Show 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:50 How Does That Work?

15:15 How Does That Work?

15:40 The Tech Show 16:05 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 17:00 Nyc: Inside Out 17:50 How The Universe Works 18:40 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 19:30 Sci-Trek 20:20 The Gadget Show 20:45 The Gadget Show 21:10 Powering The Future 22:00 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 22:50 Sci-Trek 23:40 Nyc: Inside Out

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 American Dragon 06:45 Rekkit Rabbit 07:10 Pair Of Kings 07:35 Pair Of Kings 08:00 Pair Of Kings 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Pair Of Kings 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Zeke & Luther 15:00 Rekkit Rabbit 15:25 Pokemon: Black And White 15:50 Timon And Pumbaa 16:15 Rated A For Awesome 16:40 Pair Of Kings 17:05 Zeke & Luther 17:30 Mr. Young 17:55 Phineas And Ferb

18:20 Phineas And Ferb 18:45 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 19:10 Kickin It 19:35 Pokemon: Black And White 20:00 Pair Of Kings 20:25 Zeke & Luther 20:50 Escape From Scorpion Island 21:20 Aaron Stone 21:45 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 American Dragon 06:45 Rekkit Rabbit 07:10 Pair Of Kings 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Pair Of Kings 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Zeke & Luther 15:00 Rekkit Rabbit 15:25 Pokemon: Black And White 15:50 Timon And Pumbaa 16:15 Rated A For Awesome 16:40 Pair Of Kings 17:05 Zeke & Luther 17:30 Mr. Young 17:55 Phineas And Ferb 18:20 Phineas And Ferb 18:45 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 19:10 Kickin It 19:35 Pokemon: Black And White 20:00 Pair Of Kings 20:25 Zeke & Luther 20:50 Escape From Scorpion Island 21:20 Aaron Stone 21:45 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 Too Young To Kill 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kendra 09:45 Kendra 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Khloe And Lamar 13:35 Khloe And Lamar 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Ice Loves Coco 17:25 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Scouted 20:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:25 Fashion Police 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:15 Ride Guide Snow 2010 00:40 Superstars USA 01:30 World Combat League 02:20 Ride Guide Snow 2010 02:45 Ride Guide Snow 2010 03:10 Enfusion 04:00 Man’s Work 04:25 Man’s Work 04:50 Superstars USA 05:40 World Combat League 06:30 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 07:00 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 07:30 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 08:00 Tread BMX 08:25 Core 09:15 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championships...

10:05 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championships...

10:55 I’ll Do Anything 11:45 Untracked 12:10 Dr Danger 12:35 Ride Guide Snow 2010 13:00 Ride Guide Snow 2010 13:25 Superstars USA 14:15 World Combat League 15:05 I’ll Do Anything 15:55 Untracked 16:20 Dr Danger 16:45 Tread BMX 17:10 Core 18:00 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championships...

18:50 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championships...

19:40 Superstars USA 20:30 Ride Guide Snow 2010 20:55 Ride Guide Snow 2010 21:20 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 21:45 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 22:10 World Combat League 23:00 Enfusion 23:50 Ride Guide Snow 2010

PREDATORS ON OSN ACTION HD

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Kid In A Candy Store Unwrapped Unwrapped Kid In A Candy Store

02:10 Kid In A Candy Store 02:35 Good Eats - Special 03:00 Good Eats 03:25 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 03:50 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 04:15 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 04:40 Good Eats 05:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 05:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:50 Staten Island Cakes 06:35 Barefoot Contessa 07:00 Staten Island Cakes 07:50 World Cafe Asia 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Good Eats 09:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 09:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:55 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 10:20 Lidia’s Italy 10:45 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 12:00 Staten Island Cakes 12:50 Aarti Party 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 14:30 Have Cake, Will Travel 14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:20 Meat & Potatoes 15:45 Iron Chef America 16:35 Cooking For Real 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Aarti Party 18:15 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 18:40 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 19:05 Have Cake, Will Travel 19:30 Staten Island Cakes 20:20 Iron Chef America 21:10 Cooking For Real 21:35 Cooking For Real 22:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 22:25 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 22:50 Aarti Party 23:15 Aarti Party 23:40 Meat & Potatoes

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

00:55 02:30 04:35 06:15 07:56 09:10 10:45 11:00 12:30 14:00 15:50 18:00 20:30 22:00 23:35

The Haunted A Haunting LA: City Of Demons Cops And Coyotes Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted A Haunting Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Street Patrol Street Patrol Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Nightmare Next Door Dr G: Medical Examiner

The Boost Coming Home-18 Jinxed!-18 Love Is All There Is-PG Just Another Story-PG The Secret Invasion Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM A Matter Of Justice Danielle Steel’s Heartbeat-PG Hickey And Boggs-PG The Battle Of Britain-PG It’s A Mad Mad World-FAM Safari 3000-PG Contamination .7 Who’ll Stop The Rain?

00:00 Meet The Amish 01:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 01:30 Young Global Hotshots 02:00 Miracle On Everest 03:00 Somewhere In China 04:00 Banged Up Abroad 05:00 A World Apart 06:00 Meet The Amish 07:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 07:30 Young Global Hotshots 08:00 Miracle On Everest 09:00 Somewhere In China 10:00 Banged Up Abroad 11:00 A World Apart 12:00 Meet The Amish 13:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 13:30 Bondi Rescue: Bali 14:00 The Green Way Up 14:30 The Green Way Up 15:00 Making Tracks 15:30 Making Tracks 16:00 On Surfari 16:30 On Surfari 17:00 Dive Detectives 18:00 Departures 19:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 19:30 Bondi Rescue: Bali 20:00 The Green Way Up 20:30 The Green Way Up 21:00 Making Tracks 21:30 Making Tracks 22:00 On Surfari 22:30 On Surfari 23:00 Dive Detectives

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00

Meet The Amish Weird & Wonderful Hotels Young Global Hotshots Miracle On Everest Somewhere In China Banged Up Abroad A World Apart

THE ROOMMATE ON OSN CINEMA 06:00 Meet The Amish 07:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 07:30 Young Global Hotshots 08:00 Miracle On Everest 09:00 Somewhere In China 10:00 Banged Up Abroad 11:00 A World Apart 12:00 Meet The Amish 13:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 13:30 Bondi Rescue: Bali 14:00 The Green Way Up 14:30 The Green Way Up 15:00 Making Tracks 15:30 Making Tracks 16:00 On Surfari 16:30 On Surfari 17:00 Dive Detectives 18:00 Departures 19:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 19:30 Bondi Rescue: Bali 20:00 The Green Way Up 20:30 The Green Way Up 21:00 Making Tracks 21:30 Making Tracks 22:00 On Surfari 22:30 On Surfari 23:00 Dive Detectives

00:00 District 9-PG15 02:00 League Of Extrordinary Gentlemen-PG15 04:00 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within-PG 06:00 S.W.A.T.: Firefight-PG15 08:00 Tracker-PG15 10:00 Ip Man-PG15 12:00 Friday Night Lights-PG15 14:00 Tracker-PG15 16:00 Star Trek: First Contact-PG 18:00 Friday Night Lights-PG15 20:00 Tron: Legacy-PG15 22:15 Predators-18

01:00 Pete Smalls Is Dead-18 03:00 Camp Hope-PG15 05:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 07:00 Bound By A Secret-PG15 09:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 11:00 Prom-PG15 13:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs.

Evil-PG 15:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 17:00 Prom-PG15 19:00 The Roommate-PG15 21:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15 23:00 Biutiful-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Angry Boys 03:30 10 Items Or Less 04:00 King Of The Hill 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Weird Science 08:00 King Of The Hill 09:30 Raising Hope 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Weird Science 12:30 King Of The Hill 14:00 10 Items Or Less 15:00 Raising Hope 16:30 Weird Science 18:30 10 Items Or Less 19:00 Cougar Town 19:30 How I Met Your Mother 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The Big C 23:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00

Grimm The Glades Law & Order: Criminal Intent Once Upon A Time Boardwalk Empire Live Good Morning America

07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 23:00

The Protector Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Once Upon A Time Live Good Morning America Switched At Birth The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Scandal American Idol Boardwalk Empire

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 23:00

Parenthood Law & Order: Criminal Intent Grimm The Glades Once Upon A Time Burn Notice Parenthood Emmerdale Coronation Street The Nine Lives Of Chloe King Law & Order: Criminal Intent The Glades Once Upon A Time Emmerdale The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Nine Lives Of Chloe King Parenthood Emmerdale The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Nine Lives Of Chloe King Scandal American Idol Combat Hospital

01:00 League Of Extrordinary Gentlemen-PG15 03:00 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within-PG 05:00 District 9-PG15 07:00 No Time To Fear-PG15 09:00 The Thirteenth Floor-18 11:00 Top Gun-PG15 13:00 Inside Out-PG 15:00 The Thirteenth Floor-18 17:00 The Devil’s Teardrop-PG15 19:00 Tron: Legacy-PG15 21:15 Predators-18 23:15 Resident Evil 4: Afterlife-18

00:00 12 Men Of Christmas-PG15 02:00 Jack Goes Boating-PG15 04:00 Roommates-PG15 06:00 Last Of The Living-PG15 08:00 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star-PG15 10:00 Josie And The Pussycats-PG15 12:00 The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle-FAM 14:00 Captain Ron-PG15 16:00 12 Men Of Christmas-PG15 18:00 Love Hurts-PG15 20:00 Rag Tale-18 22:00 Grown Ups-PG15

01:30 03:00 05:15 07:30 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:15

Double Cross-18 Thelma And Louise-18 Coach Carter-PG15 Not Since You-PG15 Blind Mountain-PG15 The Sting-PG On Broadway-PG15 Soapdish-PG Mr. Jones-PG15 Mona Lisa Smile-PG15 Jungle Fever-18 Arrivederci Amore, Ciao-18

00:45 The Way Back-PG15 03:00 Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang-PG 05:00 Like Mike-PG 07:00 16 To Life-PG15 09:00 Lord Of The Dance-PG15 11:00 Shrek Forever After-FAM 13:00 Mean Girls 2-PG15 15:00 The Open Road-PG15 17:00 Lord Of The Dance-PG15 19:00 Faster-PG15 21:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15 23:00 Green Zone-PG15

00:00 The Lucky Dragon-PG15 02:00 Ramses Of Egypt-PG 04:00 Hua Mulan-PG 06:00 Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang-PG 08:00 Ulysses-PG 10:00 Megamind-FAM 12:00 Emperor’s Secret-PG 14:00 Hua Mulan-PG 16:00 Shrek Forever After-FAM 18:00 Megamind-FAM 20:00 Rh+ The Vampire Of SevillePG 22:00 Emperor’s Secret-PG

00:00 Kick-Ass-18 02:00 The Switch-18 04:00 The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee-PG15 06:00 Slipstream-PG15 08:00 Fast Lane-PG15 09:45 Film Socialisme-PG15 11:45 Head Of State-PG15 13:45 Fast Lane-PG15 15:30 Film Socialisme-PG15 17:30 The Hole-PG15 19:30 Rango-FAM 21:45 Somewhere-18 23:45 Handsome Harry-18

01:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Trans World Sport Super Rugby WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line Futbol Mundial Live European PGA Tour Premier League Darts Live Snooker WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live Premier League Darts

00:30 01:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 10:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 14:30 16:30 17:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:30 21:00

European Tour Weekly Premier League Darts Futbol Mundial European Tour Weekly Top 14 Highlights Super Rugby Highlights Snooker Championship Triathlon Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Trans World Sports Asian Tour Golf Super League SPL Highlights Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Top 14 Highlights Trans World Sports Futbol Mundial Live Snooker

01:30 Adventure Sports 03:00 Snooker 06:00 Ping Pong World Championship 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 08:30 Total Rugby 09:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 09:30 Trans World Sport 10:30 Super Rugby 12:30 Total Rugby 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 Super Rugby Highlights 15:00 Futbol Mundial 15:30 European Tour Weekly 16:00 European PGA Tour 20:30 Golfing World 21:30 Futbol Mundial 22:00 Scottish Premier League

00:00 01:00 04:00 07:00 09:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00

V8 Supercars Championship Prizefighter UFC 145 WWE SmackDown Prizefighter WWE Experience WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line Mobil 1 The Grid V8 Supercars Highlights UAE National Race Day Series UAE National Race Day Series Mobil 1 The Grid WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 145

35

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 659

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19)

CALVIN & HOBBES

Full speed ahead is your motto today! Your humor and inventiveness pay off now as you express your ideas in a group setting!

Take plenty of breaks and try to concentrate on the task at hand. There are financial opportunities this afternoon and you may be checking out the risks with some of your professional friends. As the workday comes to an end you will find yourself on the phone setting up appointments with repair people or planning a trip to the hardware store. There are urges to make your home safe and you will look for ways in which to repair or secure items around the house. Laughter is the prescription for this evening.

Create a fun evening—perhaps everyone can take their turn to tell about a recently read book or subject.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is a good time, when your efforts really pay off and things seem to run smoothly. Now you have the ability for sustained work that allows you to organize like never before. You may be able to complete some difficult task that you have been putting off; you have no interruptions. Health and work goals take on a greater importance this afternoon. You are interested in increasing your stamina and may partake in an activity like indoor mountain climbing or longdistance swimming. This evening, you may be able to bring a group together with words or ideas that transport others—poetry and art is possible. Your whole world may seem trancelike or dreamy. Movies, books and all forms of escape could prove very enjoyable this evening.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Last or greatest in an indefinitely large series.

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

9. Round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games.

13. The compass point midway between east and southeast.

14. A popular island resort in the Netherlands Antilles.

15. American novelist (1909-1955).

16. The cry made by sheep.

17. A member of a nomadic people of the northern Ural mountains.

18. Evergreen trees and shrubs having oily one-seeded fruits.

19. A severe or trying experience.

21. Bark rich in tannin.

23. A state in midwestern United States.

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

26. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

29. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

31. A small cake leavened with yeast.

34. Used as a Hindi courtesy title.

36. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

38. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group.

39. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

40. A Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic.

41. Red pear-shaped tropical fruit with poisonous seeds.

46. Stem of the rattan palm used for making canes and umbrella handles.

50. The right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged.

51. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

52. A city of northern Poland near the mouth of the Vistula River on a gulf of the Baltic Sea. 55. A member of the Dravidian people living in southeastern India.

59. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

60. To make a mistake or be incorrect.

61. Relating to or characteristic of the Celts.

63. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or water or to keep out the sea.

64. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

65. A large fleet.

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

67. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent metallic element.

DOWN 1. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.

2. A male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917).

3. (of persons) Highest in rank or authority or office.

4. (Polynesian) An alcoholic drink made from the aromatic roots of the kava shrub.

5. A genus of Scolopacidae.

6. General term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate.

7. Lie adjacent to another.

8. When dried yields a hard substance used e.g. in golf balls.

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

10. (Greek mythology) One of the three Graces.

11. A facial expression of contempt or scorn.

12. An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape.

20. A Spanish river.

22. A state in New England.

24. A temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to.

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

28. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

30. A pilgrimage to Mecca.

32. A submachine gun operated by gas pressure.

33. Assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing.

35. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

37. Long-winged web-footed aquatic bird of the gull family.

42. Relatively low in price or charging low prices.

43. A Dravidian language spoken in southern India.

44. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

45. Of or resembling algae.

47. (Zoroastrianism) Title for benevolent deities.

48. (Scotland) A landowner.

49. A roll of tobacco for smoking.

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

54. God of love and erotic desire.

56. One of the most common of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.

57. A spacecraft that carries astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and back.

58. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

59. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

62. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You could find that you lack depth and feeling and the ability to move or communicate with others. Your ideas may not find the support you think you need. Don’t push your ideas; consider counting to ten when you are with a pushy person this morning. All things pass and this day dances along like the rest of your days. You will never repeat this day; make sure you leave positive footprints. There may be a delay in a money matter, but you will find other opportunities to add to your income soon—relax. This afternoon would be a good time to put a little spontaneity in your life. Visiting with friends and laughing over some joke shared at dinner with a family member(s) is a good thing. A feeling of being stable on the emotional level is present.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You could be most persuasive with others and eloquent in speech and communication. The situation is a natural for selfexpression and you are able to get your particular ideas across to others successfully—at home or in the workplace. You may find yourself in discussions surrounding technology or find yourself using your expertise to repair equipment. Financial matters may have your attention, but the news is all good and the prospects look good for gain. Obtain suggestions from two other reputable places regarding your finances and you will be pleased with the results. Take time to smell the roses today as there could be pressures in domestic, property or community matters. A dialogue with an older person is positive.

NON SEQUITUR

Leo (July 23-August 22) You attract warmhearted individuals and are likely to be visited by several of those people today. Big ideas and grand visions play a leading role in your life. Mysterious or mystical information fires your imagination.

There is a good chance that there is more heat than light with regard to some professional ideas. Keep an open mind and learn all you can, but do not take it for gospel. If you can turn off any electrical cooling or heating elements for a while and enjoy the fresh air today you will find your spirit lifted. Romance and other things that tug at the heartstrings come your way as a new cycle begins. A child or lover may come to mean everything. This is a creative period for you, a time to take a chance, a time to be appreciated and admired.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A lack of information could hold you back—educate yourself as to what is happening around you. You may find yourself feeling blocked and unable to express yourself, particularly in a group situation. Getting your point across to others—and understanding what others REALLY mean when they communicate with you—may be a weak link just now. Take a step back and view yourself as you would a movie—then you will know the steps you need to take to clear away communication problems. Fresh challenges and initiatives light your fire— away with the old and on to the new—let no one and nothing stand between you and your objective! You have lots of energy, a powerful urge to be first or come out on top. You cook the evening meal.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Think seriously about your work, and what you have learned.

Ask yourself how much further you might want to grow with the company for which you work. If you want to stay, do not hesitate to present your ideas to higher-ups. If you want to move forward in your profession, write down just where you want to go; begin to plan ahead, for your eyes only. You may decide it is time to further your education. Whatever you decide at this time is the time to get down to business with your plans. You have created a new recipe, a musical tune, a mathematical puzzle or any number of other, unique items. Get your work recorded on paper or sound recording. This may open up a new avenue of finance. Others give you lots of attention this evening.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Your financial situation is a bit better now—continue to find ways to invest or save for the future. Avoid high risk or frivolous spending. A willingness to cooperate with higher-ups will have its rewards. You may have been moved to the limelight, especially with superiors. You may find that you enjoy your job but there are more responsibilities than usual at this time. Because of your management techniques, you can transform these additional responsibilities before they multiply. Think on this matter today but do not act just yet. You have all the drive and energy you could want for whatever you need to accomplish. It should be easy to channel your energy—focus. You may enjoy a different routine tonight . . . perhaps a play or standup comic show.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may not appreciate tradition or someone older or in authority today. However, little will come of any complaints and you will eventually have an opportunity to express yourself in successful ways; patience.

Self-awareness can be a very positive attribute, but it can also be a danger. Today is a time to make sure you do not become too self-absorbed. Keep your eye on the goal, not whether or not it is achieved your way. Communicating with neighbors and other social connections this afternoon can be quite enjoyable. Good advice from a guide or older person will be beneficial and appreciated. If you are married, you may notice that you and your loved one have become close recently. Tonight would be a good time to chat about travel plans.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You may be especially assertive just now. You have a desire to get things done quickly; however, you should not be impulsive or too quick to act, since a project you are attempting today needs your full concentration. There is an opportunity for financial growth now that has not been available before. Look at the larger picture where your career efforts are concerned and make sure you are doing a job that you will enjoy long-term. Attempt to feel that sense of higher purpose in your career efforts. Be attentive to your responsibilities at this time—since they cannot be ignored just now. This is a most beneficial time to exchange ideas and seek out new projects or ventures. You will want to catch up on the bill paying this evening.

To

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Solid, secure and comfortable situations can be expected in most avenues of your life. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. Others may require your presence for a particular job—you are productive. There may be some serious decisions made about the future of a project, investment or term of employment with your business at this time. This change will work in your favor. Your management and directional abilities are at a high focus. A feeling of being at peace and stable on the emotional level comes into play this afternoon. You are most successful with your home life—whether you are single or have a family. You enjoy your friends and may need to plan a regular time when you can interact and visit with these friends.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You will prosper by pursuing your ideals and most deep-seated dreams of how life could be. Don’t be afraid to project a strong image. Ideas of group cooperation and communion could further your career. Being more practical and conscientious is of special importance now. Taking care of the necessary ingredients that make life comfortable and interesting—health, work, and such—becomes a greater preoccupation for you now. Stress can take a toll by quitting time so before starting home, take a moment to stretch and plan on just what it would take to help you unwind this evening. Share some time with someone you love—but keep your expectations low. Enjoy what happens when it happens—go with the flow of the evening.

36

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

lifest yle G o s s i p

P

eople magazine is naming Beyonce as the World’s Most Beautiful Woman for 2012. The 30-year-old singer tops the magazine’s annual list of the “World’s Most Beautiful” in a special double issue. The announcement was made yesterday. Beyonce tells the magazine: “I feel more

T

F

olk music legend Pete Seeger has won a prize and he might just sing a song to celebrate. The 92-yearold troubadour is receiving a “Distinguished Service” award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

According to academy executive director Virginia Dajani, Seeger might perform at the May 16 ceremony, where playwright Tony Kushner will present Seeger a certificate and a check for $1,000. In an acceptance letter sent to the academy, and shared with The Associated Press, Seeger wrote that his father, Charles Louis Seeger, Jr., would have been “especially pleased.” The elder Seeger was a composer, conductor and pioneer of “ethnomusicology.” “I am glad we are all realizing that the arts, in a broad sense, may save the world, save the human race,” Pete Seeger wrote to the academy. Also yesterday, the academy announced that a pair of Pulitzer Prize winners and academy members will receive gold medals for lifetime achievement: David McCullough for biography and Steven Reich for music. Because academy members are eligible for the medals, no cash prize is awarded. The arts academy is an honorary society founded in 1898. It has a core membership of 250 writers, artists and musicians, including McCullough, Reich, Toni Morrison, Jasper Johns and Ornette Coleman.

he 2012 Cannes Film Festival jury lineup is set in stone and will include French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, the festival director confirmed yesterday on French television. “We have a tradition of inviting people who we know are cinephiles but who are not necessarily in cinema,” Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux said on Canal+ about the 60-year-old designer.

He added that the film-buff designer-who has long expressed interest in being part of the nine-person jury-was a legitimate pick for his experience designing costumes on Pedro Almodovar films. Fremaux also confirmed the jury presence of Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, whom he initially referred to as a “Scotsman in a kilt” who had

beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth. I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this Earth.” Beyonce, who is married to rapper Jay-Z, gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January.

“made a strong impression at Cannes” before divulging his name. German actress Diane Kruger and French actress Emmanuelle Devos will likewise sit on the jury headed by Italian director Nanni Moretti, as well as Haitian director Raoul Peck and American director Alexander Payne. Fremaux said Payne reflected “a kind of revival of American cinema” that is equally present in the film line-up of the 65th annual festival. Despite the multiple confirmations, Fremaux stopped short of revealing when all jury names would officially be announced.

I

f Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are dating together for publicity - it’s working. The reality starlet and rapper have refused to confirm they’re a couple, but they arrived hand in-hand at Chanel’s seventh annual artists dinner at the Tribeca Film Festival Tuesday night. The two happily posed for the cameras, then sat among a galley of stars at the event. Other attendees included Robert De Niro, Liev Schreiber, Liv Tyler and Kellan Lutz. West and Kardashian - already tabloid magnets apart from each other - have garnered even more attention since they became a rumoured couple. West recently confessed his love for her in song, and they’ve been spotted out together in New York. Also Tuesday, E! announced it was extending Kardashian’s family reality show for three more years.

‘T

Filmmaker acquires rights to ‘Chinglish’

P

lans are in the works to bring David Henry Hwang’s “Chinglish” to a movie screen. The filmmaker Justin Lin, who has directed several of the “Fast and Furious” movies, announced Tuesday that he has acquired film rights to Hwang’s play about an East-meets-West collision. “Chinglish” tells the story of a businessman from Ohio who goes to China to expand his business but struggles to be understood and falls in love with a Chinese woman. Hwang, who won a Tony Award as writer of “M. Butterfly,” will write the “Chinglish” screenplay and is set to co-produce the film with Bobbi Thompson. Lin, who also has directed the film “Better Luck Tomorrow,” will direct and co-produce. The play opened in October and played 109 total performances.

W

alt Disney Pictures has wrangled Jack White to compose the score for “The Lone Ranger.” The studio announced Tuesday that the Grammy-winning rocker will write, produce and perform the score for director Gore Verbinski’s upcoming adaptation of “ The Lone Ranger.” “The Lone Ranger” will mark The White Stripes frontman’s first time scoring a feature film. The film stars Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as John Reid.

It is set to debut May 31, 2013. White’s first solo album, “Blunderbuss,” was released Tuesday. He previously wrote and performed the theme song to the 2008 James Bond film “Quantum of Solace” with Alicia Keys.

he Only Way Is Essex’ star Maria Fowler has split from her boyfriend. The reality TV star is heartbroken after Derby County football player Lee Croft called time on their relationship two weeks ago telling her he needed some “time to himself”.

Maria was madly in love with the 26-year-old sportsman - who is currently injured - and wanted to settle down with him and start a family.

She has been left so distraught by the break-up she has dropped a dress size from a 10 to an 8. The 25-year-old beauty said: “It’s been a really tough time for me. I changed my whole life to be with Lee and moved up to Scotland to be with him when he was signed by St John stone on loan. “I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together but Lee is not ready to settle down yet. “I am back in Essex planning the next stage of my career.” Maria is jetting off to Spain today for a girls’ holiday to get over the separation. She revealed: “I should look brilliant in a bikini because the weight has fallen off me since the split. “I have dropped a dress size and I am now a really small size eight.” Now her relationship to Lee is over, Maria is going to forget about love in the short-term and focus on her career, which is going from strength-to-strength since she made the decision to leave ‘TOWIE’. Maria is in talks to star in two TV shows and is working with Lovehoney.co.uk on the May 8 launch of the Happy Rabbit - which has been dubbed “the iPhone of sex toys”. Maria said: “Work is going brilliantly. I should have some exciting announcements to make about a fab new TV show and I am working with a number of big brands, too.

“Leaving ‘TOWIE’ was the best thing I ever did. It opened up a whole new world of opportunities.” — Agencies

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

lifestyle T R A V E L

San Juan’s walls are full of history A statue of Christopher Columbus stands on a plaza in Old San Juan.

By Bob Downing

T

he walls around Old San Juan are tall and very imposing. They are as tall as 42 feet and as thick as 45 feet at the base, 2 feet at the top. The muralla or city wall features two walls of sandstone blocks, filled with sand, mortar, limestone and water. The walls served San Juan well, thwarting pirates and foreign invaders for hundreds of years. That includes the English, the Dutch and the Americans.

Slaves began building them in 1630 and continued for 150 years. The walls feel military and medieval, and ooze history.

Today, San Juan is known as La Ciudad Amurallada (the walled city). It was, along with Havana, Cuba, and Cartagena, Colombia, among the Spanish colonial cities with the most formidable walls. One of the best ways to view the fortress-like walls of San Juan is to stroll El Paseo del Morro, a national recreational trail between Old San Juan and the harbor.

The 1.5-mile round-trip walkway runs outside the walls and next to San Juan Bay and the city’s harbor. It was built in 1999 on a dirt trail used to reach the walls for repairs. You won’t be alone on El Paseo del Morro. You will be sharing the trail with the city’s most famous occupants: Old San Juan’s feral cats. Hundreds of stray cats live in Old San Juan and roam the streets and the waterfront. The cats are typi-

six-level complex of weathered sandstone with ramparts, gun rooms, storerooms, barracks, ramps, vaulted rooms, a chapel and large interior courtroom. It was staffed by up to 250 Spanish troops. The fort is studded with small circular sentry posts called garitas, which have become a symbol of Puerto Rico.

Strangely, it is topped by a New England-style lighthouse that was built in 1908.

El Morro was attacked by England’s Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and was captured by the English in 1598. Admission to the fort is $3 per day. For National Park Service information, call 787-729-6777 or check out www.nps.gov/saju.

The fort and surrounding grounds cover 74 acres.

You can get to the trail south of El Morro at the red-painted San Juan Gate with its heavy wooden doors. It was built in 1520 and provided access to the city to Spanish dignitaries and well-to-do arrivals disembarking from ships.

Less prominent arrivals used one of the five other gates found in San Juan’s 3.4 miles of walls. The gates all closed at sundown. San

The distinctive sentry posts in San Juan are called garitas. The boxes have become a symbol of Puerto Rico.

cally found on the trail, in surrounding brush and along the rocks between the trail and the water. They’re everywhere. Some are said to have descended from Spanish cats.

A grass-roots group, Save a Gato (cat), manages the feral cats along the trail. That includes providing food and water, plus trapping, neutering, vaccinating and releasing them. The northern terminus of the trail is next to the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, the Castle of St. Philip of the Headland. It was one of two great forts built by the Spanish to protect San Juan. It is known locally as El Morro. There are plans to extend the trail to run along the northern side of El Morro, and to the east to the Puerto Rico territorial capital.

The walkway by the water takes you within the shadow of El Morro, a fort that towers 140 feet above the water and guards the San Juan harbor with 16-foot-thick walls. It is the biggest attraction in Old San Juan and is managed by the National Park Service.

Built from 1539 to 1786, it is a sprawling,

esplanade by the harbor.

Today San Juan-the oldest city under a United States flag-has about 400,000 residents. It is the most vibrant city in the Caribbean, drawing big crowds of tourists on cruises. Old San Juan is a compact, colorful neighborhood made for walking, in the heart of modern San Juan. Old San Juan is only three square miles, with narrow streets. It is dominated by 400 Spanish colonial-style buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries and the two forts: El Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal, less than a mile apart.

San Cristobal is the biggest fort built by Spain in the New World. It covers 27 acres and includes five bastions. Work on the fort began in 1634 and was completed in 1771. The two forts feature tunnels, plazas, dungeons, batteries and even accounts of ghosts. They offer great vistas of the city and the coastline. They are part of the San Juan National Historic Site that was established in 1949 and are U.N. World Heritage Sites. They get 2 million visitors a year.

In Old San Juan, visitors will find museums and impressive buildings like La Fortaleza, the governor’s home built in 1540. There is a museum to musician Pablo Casals, and the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is another attraction. The Convento Dominico was built in 1523 by Dominican friars; the white-domed building is now a museum. The Casa Blanca is the house built in the 1520s for de Leon, although he never lived there. It is now the Juan Ponce de Leon Museum.

Old San Juan is filled with plazas, parks, monuments and fountains. There are hotels, shops, casinos, restaurants, clubs and galleries.

It’s a happening place during the day and even more so after dark. Check out the restaurants and clubs in the SOFO (South of Fortaleza Street) district.

The narrow cobblestoned streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, are paved with ballast stones that crossed the Atlantic Ocean in Spanish ships. — MCT photos You can tour the Bacardi rum distillery in Catano, a San Juan suburb. Other attractions include the 28,000-acre El Yunque rain forest about 35 minutes east of San Juan. Officially called the Caribbean National Forest, it is the only rain forest in the U.S. forest system. Head for the El Portal Rain Forest Center. There are 13 trails that cover 17 miles. It’s really another world. It is home to the rare Puerto Rican parrot, plus 240 species of tropical trees, 50 ferns and 20 orchids.

Nearby are Culebra and Vieques, two small islands that are big tourist attractions. You can get to their sparkling beaches via ferries.

Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico on his second voyage in 1493. He called the island, known by locals as Borinquen or the Land of the Valiant Lord, San Juan Bautista after St. John the Baptist. The Puerto Rico name came later. For San Juan tourist information, call 787-721-2400 or 800-866-7827, or go to www.welcome.topuertorico.org or www.seepuertorico.com. —MCT

El Morro, a fort built from 1539 to 1786, is the biggest attraction in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The red-painted San Juan Gate is how visitors arriving from Spain once entered the city of San Juan. It was one of five city gates and the only surviving one. It was built in 1520.

N

Today the streets of Old San Juan are lined with deep-blue cobblestones that were used as ballast on Spanish ships. There are overhanging ironwork balconies, pastel facades and courtyards.

Puerto Rico is 110 miles long and 40 miles wide. It has nearly 4 million residents. It is a United States territory, so no passports are needed for Americans. It is known for its pricey resorts with beaches that line the island’s north coast. Condado and Ocean Park are beachfront areas known for hotels and restaurants.

Juan is the only surviving original town gate.

The new arrivals would climb up the hill to the Gothic-styled Cathedral de San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) to give thanks for a safe ocean crossing. The original church was destroyed by winds in 1540. Today’s cathedral was built in the 19th century.

The church is the home of the marble tomb of explorer Ponce de Leon, who played a big role in settling Puerto Rico. In 1508, he arrived on the island with a company of soldiers and a famously vicious dog named Becerillo. He founded Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viego, west of the current metropolitan area.

He vanquished the natives, the Tainos, and was the first governor of Puerto Rico. He scrapped his original colony and moved to the current site of Old San Juan, a windy, defensible headland. He later went to Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth. From the San Juan Gate, you can proceed south along the walkway but it is not part of the designated El Paseo del Morro. It will take you to the Raices Fountain and the wide boulevard of the Paseo de la Princesa. You will even find an alcove in the wall that is filled with giant artistic spikes that rise into the sky. The Paseo de la Princesa is a tree-lined, restored 19th-century

El Morro is strangely topped by a New England-style lighthouse that was built in 1908. The fort and surrounding grounds cover 74 wind-swept acres.

Nepal’s Super Sherpa crosses the Himalayas

epal’s “Super Sherpa” yesterday voiced amazement at the pace of change in the country’s remote Himalayan communities, as he celebrated his return from one of the world’s most difficult treks. Apa Sherpa, 52, arrived in Kathmandu earlier this week after leading the first expedition to complete the Great Himalayan Trail, a 1,700kilometre (1,050-mile) trek spanning the

entire length of the Nepalese Himalayas.

Sherpa, who earned his nickname for scaling Mount Everest a record 21 times, said the world’s highest mountain range had undergone a “transformation”, with improved transport links, communications and education.

“I was happy to see kids going to schools and people better connected through mobile phones,” Sherpa told

reporters. “But I was saddened to see children working as porters when they should have been going to school,” he said, adding that he found many schools shut so that pupils could work as labourers. Sherpa and three companions set off in January on the Climate Smart Celebrity Trek, an expedition promoting tourism and highlighting the effects of climate change. The adventurers set out

from the shadow of the world’s thirdhighest peak, Mount Kanchenjunga, in the east and finished at Nepal’s border with Tibet in the west, 20 days ahead of schedule. Along the way they traversed some of the world’s most rugged landscapes, ascending beyond 6,000 metres (19,600 feet). They said they received letters of support from former US vice-president Al Gore, British actress Joanna

Lumley and Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner. Dawa Steven Sherpa, a member of the expedition who has climbed Everest twice, said the group found mountain communities that rely on subsistence farming were suffering the effects of climate change. “The soil fertility has gone down, the rains arrive late and this is affecting the farmers,” he said. —AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

&

Legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, politician Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and film actress Madhuri Dixit Nene attend the ‘Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar Awards 2012’ ceremony in Mumbai on April 24, 2012. — AFP

P

eter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” is preparing to leave the shire. The director of the Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy previewed 10 minutes of assorted footage Tuesday from his upcoming prequel. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” was filmed in New Zealand using more frames per second than the Hollywood standard. Jackson said in a video introduction that using 48 frames per second produces a smoother image. The movie could usher in a new era of filmmaking and require film houses across the globe to embrace digital technology.

Jackson said the human eye no longer sees individual pictures under the faster speed, but a steady stream of clear images. “The movement feels more real,” Jackson said while introducing his film at the CinemaCon convention for theater owners on the Las Vegas Strip. “It’s much more gentle on the eyes.” Indeed, the footage was vivid, with grass blades, facial lines and soaring mountains appearing luminous and pronounced. The actors looked almost touchable, as if they were performing live on stage. It’s unclear what the final product will look like when it’s released in December. Jackson said he was still editing the movie and the shared footage included green screens that will eventually be used to add in scenery, action or special effects.

Other digital pioneers are making the same push for higher film speeds. “Avatar” creator James Cameron has promised to shoot the sequel to his science-fiction blockbuster at 48 or 60 frames a second. Jackson warned the new approach would take time to adjust to. Some bloggers agreed, quickly branding the footage released Tuesday as a failure in digital technology. The critics claimed the unfinished scenes looked like a low-budget TV show.

M o v i e s

Tucson, AZ Musicians Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Mike Love perform during the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Concert Tour at the Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater on April 24, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. —AFP

British actor Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who acquires the evil ring that sets the action of “The Lord of the Rings” in motion. The footage showed Baggins lost in Gollum’s cave. Andy Serkis’ portrayal of the strange creature known for his “precious” obsession and speaking in the third person is just as disturbing as it was in the trilogy, with Baggins forced to appeal to Gollum’s love of games to survive.

Ian McKellen, reprising the role of the wizard Gandalf, persuades Baggins to leave the shire and join him on his journey.

The footage of the hobbit’s hometown is stunning, with each color having almost a neon glow.

There were other brief snippets of story. Orlando Bloom, as the elf Legolas, was shown with his character’s flowing, blonde hair. McKellen toured an ancient tomb that he surmised once housed someone evil. Trolls engaged in battle.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first chapter in Jackson’s two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy classic.

The two films were shot simultaneously in 3-D, with the second one, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” due in theaters in December 2013. The final installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy swept the Academy Awards with 11 trophies, including best picture and director, in 2003. — AP

W

hen dark, gothic thriller “The Raven” debuts in US theatres tomorrow, it will mark the return of actor John Cusack to more serious roles from recent forays into comedy with “Hot Tub Time Machine” and the sci-fi adventure in “2012.”

Cusack portrays famed American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), who is known for macabre tales such as “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and poems like “The Raven.” The fictional film tells the story of a serial killer who commits grisly murders based on Poe’s stories and then kidnaps Poe’s love, Emily (Alice Eve). With the murders piling up, Poe teams with a detective (Luke Evans) to capture the killer and get

T

opher Grace enjoys the non-linear route his career has taken since making his acting debut as the gangly, witty teen Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom “That ‘70s Show.” “I love it all,” said Grace in a recent interview. “I love playing good guys. I love playing bad guys. I love theatre. I love film. I love watching TV. I want a passport to everywhere. I don’t want to be exclusive to one thing. That is a huge problem for my agents because I think I would make more money if I focused on one specific type of character or genre ... but especially while I’m young and single, I really want to explore everything.”

His latest ventures, the lead in the off-Broadway play “Lonely, I’m Not” and an independent film called “The Giant Mechanical Man,” are examples of his varied roles.

In “Lonely, I’m Not,” which is playing at Second Stage Theatre, Grace plays Porter, a guy who’s had a really bad few years. He got divorced, lost his corporate job and had a nervous breakdown. Things start to change when he falls in love with a blind businesswoman played by Olivia Thirlby. The play is written by Paul Weitz, who directed Grace in the 2004 film “In Good Company.” It’s the 33year-old’s professional theatre debut, although his performance in a boarding school production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is what got him discovered. The parents of a classmate happened to be Bonnie and Terry Turner, who ended up creating “That ‘70s Show.”

“I promise you, I was not that good in the musical,” Grace insisted. “I still don’t know what the producers saw in me.” He may be new to theatre, but Grace is used to performing for a live audience thanks to seven seasons on “That ‘70s Show.” “It’s great to get back in front of an audience and hear that reaction, or more importantly, what they don’t react to. There’s nothing louder than 300 people not laughing.” —AP

Q: The story takes place in Baltimore, where Poe lived for a time, but you shot in Belgrade and Budapest. Why those cities?

A: “It was perfect for Poe. It was winter. It was black. It was cold and intense. I didn’t sleep and felt like a vampire.”

Q: You must have wanted to move to something light and funny after wrapping ‘Raven.’

A: “Strangely, I stayed in the underworld all year. I shot ‘ The Paperboy’ with Nicole Kidman.

(Filmmaker) Lee Daniels made a sick movie (about the investigation of a death row inmate.) Then I shot ‘Frozen Ground’ about an Alaskan killer.”

Cast member John Cusack arrives at the premiere of ‘The Raven’ in Los Angeles, Monday. — AP Emily back before she becomes a victim, too. Cusack said the movie is just one of several he has coming up that show the dark side of humanity. He spoke to Reuters about playing Poe, living in the underworld and, among lighter subjects, his fondness for Twitter.

Q: How do you prepare for playing someone as mysterious as Poe? A: “Mentally it was immersing yourself into his stuff reading his poetry, his letters, biographies. I was reading his stories at night during the shoot so I had all that stuff working in my brain.”

A

File photo shows actor Topher Grace posing for a portrait in New York. Grace stars in the off Broadway play ‘Lonely, I’m Not’ and in an independent film called ‘The Giant Mechanical Man.’—AP

Q: What did you do to physically prepare for the role?

A: “Since he was destitute and an alcoholic, I tried to get as gaunt as I could. I got down to a weight I was before high school, which is real thin. I felt kind of skeletal. I tried to do it the smart way but it still was a little bit of a bender. I just fasted and drank coffee.”

Cuban director failed to show up at a press conference Tuesday after two of her actors mysteriously disappeared en route to a New York film festival. The two young actors were scheduled to attend a screening of the movie “Una Noche” at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday night, in an odd case of life imitates art. The movie is about three teenaged Cuban boat people who want to defect to the United States.

On the way to New York from Havana, actress Anailin de la Rua de la Torre and co-star Javier Nunez Florian disappeared during a stopover at Miami International Airport and have not been seen since. Director Lucy Mulloy and Dariel Arrechada, the only actor who made it to the film festival, were scheduled to appear Tuesday

Q: Are you trying to exorcise some personal demons here, or are you just a glutton for punishment?

A: “It’s weird, but I didn’t choose any of them. They chose me. I wasn’t going to turn down a chance to play Poe. Otherwise you should just retire as an actor because c’mon, that’s a great character. He’s so crazy and eccentric and out there. Usually roles like that go to the guy with the biggest box office.”

Q: You’re not exactly new to the movie business.

You don’t think you have box office clout?

A: “It’s all about who is writing the checks and putting the movies together. It’s a weird thing. If people like this movie, I’m going to become a good idea again. It’s literally that simple. You come in and out of vogue. If you stay around the game, sometimes it comes your way. I got a good one (with ‘The Raven’). You have to ride the business, have thick skin and be grateful that you’re still around.

The Irish, we’re pretty stubborn. We’re hard to kill.

a press conference on Latin American and Spanish films organized by the Cervantes Institute in New York. And after the no-show, neither they nor their publicist responded to telephone and e-mail inquiries. Tribeca Film Festival organizers told AFP they had no contact with the two missing actors. Officials from two Cuban exile organizations in Miami, Democracy Movement and the Cuban Democratic Directorate, said they did not know the whereabouts of the young actors.

Mulloy said Monday that she was surprised by the actors’ disappearance. “I really was thinking that they were going to come here and enjoy the festival, and I thought they would love to participate in it,” Mulloy told The Huffington Post. “Una Noche” is Mulloy’s first movie, focusing on the misadventures of the young people as

We don’t die easy. We keep going and we don’t quit.”

Q: Along those lines, you’ve worked with just about everyone in Hollywood. What have you yet to accomplish?

A: “Doing different kinds of art forms. I’m not a good painter, but I throw paint around. Maybe writing in different forms, but I’d have to be disciplined.

When you write films, you never have to stop because you get it good enough for the day of shooting but you can still tweak it. And you’re still tweaking when you’re editing. So I’m always getting it just pregnant enough to happen, but it would be good discipline to try and finish a book and say: ‘Okay, this is it.’ I’m not there yet.”

Q: You recently joined Twitter. Do you like social media?

A: “I like having direct access to people who are interested in what I’m interested in without having to go through the filters of all these other people. If you like what I say about art and culture and politics, then you can follow me and I can introduce you to writers that I’ve read throughout my life that have impacted me. People want to know what I like in music because I did ‘High Fidelity’ so I can turn people on to Bob Dylan’s ‘Theme Time Radio Hour,’ which a lot of people don’t know about. I like sharing with people.”

Q: You starred in the disaster flick “2012.” Now that we’re in the year 2012, should be preparing for the end of the world? Are we all going to die?

A: “No, I think we’re going to be stuck with each other a little while longer.”— Reuters

they plan to cross the 140 miles from Cuba to Florida. It features the lives of poor Cubans who see little future for themselves from the Western perspective of progress. The film, which was co-produced with American and British contributions, is competing at the Tribeca Film Festival.—AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

A

ccused of contaminating youngsters with “satanic” dance moves and “intolerable” outfits, the cult of Lady Gaga is on a collision course with Asia’s moral guardians ahead of her mammoth world tour. In other words, the performer-who goes by the name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta when not clad in outfits made of raw meat or tottering on vertigo-inducing footwear-is doing her job as a provocative pop star. The multi-million-selling artist arrived in South Korea last week ahead of the first date of her “Born This Way Ball” at Seoul’s 70,000 seat Olympic Stadium Friday, the start of a touring juggernaut encompassing 110 dates.

“I will perform the tour of your life,” the performer tweeted to her 23 million Twitter followers. The tour, featuring elaborate sets designed by in-house team Haus of Gaga, follows up on the success of her album “Born This Way”, which has sold nearly six million copies worldwide since it was released in May 2011.

But amid the hype and clamour for tickets is a drum beat of protest from those who do not take the gender-bending antics of the frequently scantily-clad US performer lightly. Gaga will in June head to Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim nation, where Islamic leaders have said her risque outfits will not be tolerated.

“I call on Lady Gaga to respect our cultural and traditional values. Most people here are Muslims and we cannot tolerate her revealing outfits and sexy performances,” the Indonesia Ulema Council leader Amidhan told AFP. He added, however, that the country’s highest Islamic body has no plan to issue a fatwa against her performing. “It’s better for Lady Gaga to cancel her show in this country if she has no willingness to respect our demand. Please do not destroy our nation’s morality and ruin our dignity,” said Amidhan, who goes by one name. Big Daddy, the promoters for the concert in Jakarta, said tickets

&

began selling in early March and were sold out within two weeks. “We have informed Lady Gaga’s management (about these concerns), and they said that they will respect the country where she will perform”, said Hanny Marpaung, corporate secretary for Big Daddy.

But he added “we still don’t have any clue” about what she will wear. Four of the Giorgio Armani outfits Lady Gaga will wear for her Seoul concert were unveiled Monday, including a leotard fashioned from guitars and black body suit made of hundreds of glittering vinyl tubes sewn together with metal studs. Conservative Christian groups in South Korea have rallied against the self-styled “Mother Monster”, accusing her of promoting pornography and homosexuality on malleable young minds. South Korea has East Asia’s largest Christian community after the Philippines, with about 8.6 million Protestants and 5.1 million Catholics. About 10 million South Koreans are Buddhists.

Scores of Protestant church members held a group prayer on Sunday against the concert, calling her dance moves “satanic” performances that “contaminate souls” of the country’s youth. South Koreans aged under 18 have been banned from the show, Lady Gaga’s second concert in the country, after the government rated it unsuitable for younger audiences.

Internet portals and social network sites have been abuzz with intense debates, with most commentators accusing the religious groups of bigotry.”What an international embarrassment they are! Do they really believe they can violate other people’s right to enjoy her show?” said one anonymous user. In the Philippines, a youth organisation urged people to stay away from Gaga’s May 21 concert, saying it poses a threat to moral values in Asia’s largest Catholic nation.

Organisers said fans have swiftly snapped up most tickets

M o v i e s

for the show, including the highest-priced 15,850-peso ($372) options. But Laurence Pintero, head of the Manila-based Youth for Christ, criticised the government for allowing the concert to take place. “If the government thinks she is a threat, first and foremost they should stop it,” he said. “I think we should be bold. We discourage (people from) attending her concert.”

Elsewhere in the region, Gaga has been embraced. In Japan, whose Manga art and cosplay-a phenomenon in which participants wear costumes representing a character or trend-are clearly some of her biggest influences, she is affectionately known as “Lady Gaga-san”.

Gaga won more friends after declaring “Japan is safe” when she visited three months after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that left 19,000 dead and sparked the Fukushima nuclear crisis that helped decimate tourism. And in Australia she was crowned “Honorary Citizen of Sydney” for using her star power against “prejudice directed at gay men and women”. Then there’s the tiny Pacific atoll of Niue, about 2,500 kilometres (1,500 miles) northeast of New Zealand, which pledged that all of its 1,600 inhabitants would attend a Lady Gaga concert in a bid to lure her to its shores. Tickets for Lady Gaga’s shows in Singapore and Hong Kong sold out within hours, with three extra dates shows added at the Chinese territory’s Asia World-Expo venue as buyers queued for days for tickets. — AFP

This picture taken on April 20, 2012 by The Ilgan Sports shows US pop diva LadyGaga wearing a floor-length low-cut white dress as she arrives at Seoul’s Gimpo airport. — AFP

S

File photo shows Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band performing during the CMA Fan Fest in Nashville, Tenn. The group’s latest album, ‘Uncaged,’ is scheduled for release on July 10. — AP

D

escribing the new Zac Brown Band album is anything but simple. “It’s your basic country-Southern rock-bluegrass reggae-jam record,” Brown joked.

“Uncaged” is out July 10 and Brown says its 11 tracks further push the boundaries of what fans can expect from the Atlanta-based band. Brown wanted to keep most of the surprises on the band’s follow-up to 2010’s “You Get What You Give” under wraps in a Tuesday afternoon phone interview. He said the group has added Daniel de los Reyes, a percussionist who’s worked with Earth, Wind & Fire, Sting and Jennifer Lopez among others. His addition to the already existing rhythm section of bassist John Driskell Hopkins and drummer Chris Fryar has allowed the band to expand its sound into new territory.

For instance, Trombone Shorty and the New Orleans star’s horn section will make a guest appearance on “Overnight,” ZBB’s first shot at straight-up R&B. “They’ve really got to be smart about how they play so it doesn’t get too busy,” Brown said of the band’s rhythm section, “but it really creates a new kind of pulse within the band.”

Finding that pulse was an important part of the new album. Brown said a tour through England with Kings of Leon got the band thinking about arrangements and finding the groove - then sticking with it. Band members also riffed on their mutual love of U2, looking for songs that resonates in arenas and stadiums. — AP

M

ore collaboration and more creative promotion for new artists are needed as the Latin music industry continues to grow and diversify, industry leaders said Tuesday at the opening of Billboard’s 23rd Latin Music Conference. The nearly weeklong annual event gathers artists and executives from across the industry, culminating in Thursday’s

Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-rapper Don Omar smiles as he talks to a reporter in Miami, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. — AP

ky News Arabia, the 24-hour Arabic language multi-platform breaking news service, will launch on 6th May, 2012 and broadcast to the region across multiple platforms. Nart Bouran, Head of Sky News Arabia discussed the launch at a press event in Kuwait at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel. The channel aims to provide a new horizon for news reporting with independent breaking news across the Arab world and will be available on Transponder 15 on Arabsat Badr 4, Transponder 14 on Nilesat 201, on du IPTV and eLife platforms plus in high definition on the OSN pay-TV platform.

Commenting on the launch of the channel, Bouran said: “Over the last two years we have seen Sky News Arabia move from being just an idea to a full-fledged multi-platform news channel. Our goal throughout has been to create an impartial and independent breaking news channel. For viewers in Kuwait and across the region Sky News Arabia will offer fast live, impartial news across multiple platforms. It has been a huge collaborative team effort resulting in the most technically advanced news operation in the region.

We have nearly 400 of the best journalists, reporters, presenters, producers and broadcast technicians working together to create an unpar-

A

n Indonesian martial arts film with fast fight sequences has smashed domestic box office records and become the first Indonesian flick to break into the US box office, also winning acclaim at international film festivals.

Now the movie’s director hopes the film’s success will breathe new life into Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art it showcases - and one whose followers are dwindling at home.“The Raid: Redemption” was released worldwide on March 28 and reached number 11 in the US box office at the start of April, drawing an audience of more than 2 million. At home, it has drawn an audience of more than 1 million, a spectacular amount for

awards show to be aired live from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. Tomas Cookman, who heads the nation’s biggest independent Latin label, said during a panel session that labels can no longer just produce and promote records by their artists. They must be virtually full-service entertainment companies to survive.

“It’s the new definition of what record labels are, and the quicker people realize what we are, the safer we will be,” said Cookman, head of Nacional Records.

Cookman said especially with artists outside the mainstream Latin genres, producers and labels have to be more creative with their promotions. Rebeca Leon called for more cross-pollination between Latin artists, similar to what’s being done in mainstream music. She cited Colombian pop star Juanes’ recent work with classic Spanish rocker Joaquin Sabina.

She later told The Associated Press she’d like to see more rock in Spanish played on the air, something she’s discussed with radio executives. She quipped, “I call it ‘Project Save the Guitar.’” “Look I love urban music. I promote it, but I think there has to be a balance,” she added. —AP

I

alleled news channel.’ The channel is supported by an Editorial Advisory Committee - a first for the region - to ensure Sky News Arabia delivers fair, accurate, consistent and independent news. In advance of the launch, the Sky News Arabia digital news platform has been active since the website, www.skynewsarabia.com, launched in Beta

the local movie industry.

“It’s a film that can help promote the idea of people knowing Silat all around the world,” said Gareth Evans, a filmmaker from Wales who wrote and directed the movie after falling in love with Pencak Silat several years ago. “So if through this film there are audience members in the U.S., UK or France, or anywhere else in the world, that suddenly start to learn more about Silat, or people that want to learn to actually be able to perform Silat, then we’ve done our job.”

Pencak Silat has more than 150 variations in style across Indonesia, utilizing hand and foot movements. Evans said he was impressed by the

n a move to inject new life into its kookiness, “30 Rock” is going live this week. It will be the second such outing for the NBC comedy, which is normally a polished, single- camera filmed affair. It went live for a night in October 2010 with an episode performed during the show’s normal time slot, then restaged for West Coast viewers. The same plan will be followed: Originating from NBC’s Studio 8H (fabled home of “Saturday Night Live”), “30 Rock” will air live for viewers in the Eastern and Central time zones at 8:30 pm EDT, then be reprised at 8:30 PDT for the rest of the country. The theme of the episode plays into the idea of Live vs. Filmed. The Kabletown corporate bosses announce they will no longer pay for live production of “TGS” (the fictitious show-within-a-show produced by Liz Lemon, played by “30 Rock” star Tina Fey). After first resisting, Liz and NBC exec Jack Donaghy (co-star Alec Baldwin) realize their lives would be simplified by shooting “TGS” episodes on film, fast and cheap. But Kenneth the Page (Jack McBrayer) objects, arguing that nothing can replace the excitement of live television. Time will tell.

“30 Rock” could use a little excitement. Although highly acclaimed and richly awarded during its six seasons, it has begun to lose the comic edge that set it apart. And, while never a ratings juggernaut, it has seen its audience further soften this season (just 3 million viewers tuned in last week). Clearly, “30 Rock” could use a jolt. A stunt like going live is one way to score renewed attention and, perhaps, a boost in viewership. In TV, live is a favorite way to shake

format in February, and social media channels have attracted more than 100,000 fans on Facebook and Twitter.

beauty of how Silat athletes move into an attack, as well as the brutality behind it, but its popularity has diminished among younger Indonesians. The movie, called simply “The Raid” in Indonesia, tells the story of an Indonesian SWAT team sent to capture a crime lord who lives and works in a multi-storey tower block.—Reuters

things up. “The Drew Carey Show” aired a live, improv-laced episode in 1999. Two years before that, “ER” staged an ambitious live hour of that medical drama. “Will & Grace” kicked off its season in September 2005 with a live episode whose guest star was none other than Alec Baldwin.—AP

In this 2011 image released by NBC, Alec Baldwin portrays Jack Donaghy, left, and Tina Fey portrays Liz Lemon in the NBC comedy series, ‘30 Rock.’ — AP

Not all in Asia are Gaga over the Lady

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

39

A man on a bicycle passes by life-size figures made of concrete by artist Cristel Lechner at the Maximilian park in Hamm, western Germany, yesterday. The German artist installed 80 figures open air all over the park for her exhibition “Ordinary People”. — AP

Major US exhibit opens for Chinese artist Wu

T

he first major US retrospective of Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong opened yesterday in New York, fulfilling the painter’s dying wish to be better known in the West-and signalling the continued rise of Chinese art on the international stage. Wu, whose 1919-2010 life spanned nearly all of China’s tumultuous 20th century and rise as

a world power in the 21st, had previously been shown in Europe but never in a serious way in the United States.

Officials from Shanghai, where the Shanghai Art Museum houses much of Wu’s work, on Tuesday also used a preview of the exhibition at the Asia Society in Manhattan to announce a

A woman views a painting titled ‘Chongqing of the Old Times’ by Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong at the Asia Society in New York. — AFP photos

A woman views a painting titled ‘Chongqing of the Old Times’ by Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong at the Asia Society in New York. — AFP photos

major expansion of museum space this October, underlining the energy being put into China’s art presence. In fact, Wu’s story mirrors much of China’s modern relationship with art and the outside world. Although he eventually became one of China’s most celebrated painters, breathing new life into traditional ink techniques, Wu long struggled to gain recognition in the West while

suffering persecution at home. “Most importantly, he wanted to be appreciated and recognized from the Western point of view and perspective,” said Wu’s son, Wu Keyu, his remarks translated into fluent English by Wu’s grandson. “This opportunity here, I think, is really the kind of platform that I think he himself wants to showcase his works.” Wu said at the preview that his father suffered banish-

ment and obscurity in the Cultural Revolution, but was also lucky to live “when China started to open its doors, especially to the Western world.”

Works of his went from being “worth nothing to something that’s worth millions of dollars today.” The exhibition, set to run through August 5, focuses on Wu’s ink works, which are unusually large and bright. “He ran counter to what all the other artists in China were interested in,” Melissa Chiu, the Asia Society museum director, said at the preview. “He really did reenergize this traditional medium.” Chiu indicated that the arrival of the Wu exhibit in New York reflected a new relationship between Western and Chinese curators.

“For a long time, American museums have worked in such a way where we borrow objects. We control the curatorial, really produce the exhibitions ourselves,” she said.

Now Chinese museums want to be equal partners, she said, and “this was truly a partnership.”

The Shanghai Art Museum is to open new premises on October 1 in the building previously used as the China Pavilion in the World Expo, Shanghai 2010, making it one of the largest such institutions in the country. An entirely new Shanghai Contemporary Art Center will be opened at the same time in a former electrical power plant. “I think more and more an internationalized metropolis must be living under continuous development of culture,” Teng Jungjie, artistic director of the Shanghai Municipal Culture Administration, said. — AFP

‘French Elvis’ Johnny Hallyday faces massive tax bill F

rench rocker Johnny Hallyday is facing a massive overdue tax bill, it emerged Wednesday, amid an election debate over how to handle the country’s many super-rich tax exiles. The 68-year-old “French Elvis” is a huge star in his homeland, but is resident in Switzerland for tax purposes and divides his time between Paris and Los Angeles, where he held a comeback concert on Tuesday night.

Some of the glitz was taken off the occasion, however, by a report in the weekly French investigative paper Le Canard Enchaine that he had been ordered to pay a nine-million-euro ($12-million) tax shortfall after a 2011 audit.

A source with knowledge of the case confirmed to AFP that money was owed, but would not confirm the total. For his part, Hallyday refused to comment, telling reporters: “I’m hearing about it from you.

“Me, I’m just coming off stage. I performed my music, that’s what’s important to me,” he said at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles after a successful first night of his 2012 tour. He performed in front of a crowd largely made up of French expatriate fans, delighted he was back on the road after two years of serious health problems.

Despite being a French national icon, Hallyday moved to Switzerland in 2007, becoming in turn a symbol of an exodus of high-earners fleeing France’s relatively high tax rates to neighbouring jurisdictions.

Fans of veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday await entry into the Orpheum Theatre for his first concert.

Fans of veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday display their attire while awaiting entry into the Orpheum Theatre.

His personal income tax is paid in tics”. Sarkozy formerly cited the tax exiles as an Switzerland, but most of his commercial and evidence that France’s taxes are too high and artistic earnings still come from the French mar- are driving away talented citizens. But, after his ket and are subject to various levies there. In five years in office were marred by an economic 2007, Hollyday was one of several rich celebri- crisis, he is campaigning for re-election with a ties who endorsed Nicolas Sarkozy’s presiden- promise to impose an exit tax on wealthy tial bid, but on Tuesday he declared that he French people moving abroad and to find ways would no longer “get mixed up publicly in poli- of clawing back revenue. —AFP

Ken Schlenker and Thierry Declermont display their tickets after travelling all the way from New York to see veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday in his first concert in two years. —AFP