26th May 2012

IPT IO N SC R SU B

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

4

7

150 Fils

Security forces arrest 526 residency violators

No: 15460

RAJAB 5, 1433 AH

Syria protesters defy bullets and bombs

48

Barca thrash Bilbao 3-0 grab King’s Cup

Brotherhood or ex-PM? Egypt heads for run-off Shafiq, Mursi face off in second round

Max 43º Min 29º

‘UAE Dress Code’ Emirati women battle against skimpy dress ABU DHABI: The UAE may be the Gulf’s most liberal Arab state but two local women have caused a stir with an online campaign against the “repulsive” habit of Western women to reveal too much flesh in public. Hanan Al-Rayyes and Asma Al-Muheiri say their “UAE Dress Code” campaign is designed to promote “respect for the country’s culture” among foreigners and raise awareness about what locals consider appropriate dress and behavior. They argue that the UAE’s Western residents and millions of tourists each year often dress in skimpy outfits, show too much flesh and kiss in public, all of which are unacceptable for its conservative and Islamic culture. “I saw a woman at the mall wearing very short shorts and she looked repulsive,” said Muheiri, who along with Rayyes launched the campaign on the online microblogging site Twitter this month.

Notices at entrances to malls in the United Arab Emirates warn shoppers to dress modestly, while signs depict how much skin visitors are allowed to reveal. But the guidelines are often ignored. Muheiri said she reported one woman to the mall management, only to be told there was nothing they could do.

Frustrated, she posted a tweet about the incident and triggered “a lot of responses supporting my position.” As far as Muheiri and her supporters are concerned, foreigners in the UAE should respect local customs. If not, they should be fined.

A Twitter search for #UAEdresscode reveals a barrage of comments, both for and against the campaign. “Every Expat in UAE must respect the country culture ... as we respect ur country rules & laws, u shud do the same in return,” reads one posting.

“Forbidding tank tops/skirts in the malls in UAE is as ridiculous as forbidding the Niqab in the streets in France,” said another posting, referring to French laws which ban Muslim women from covering their face.

Show some respect, or leave — one posting calls on those who do not respect the local dress code to go elsewhere.

“Expats/Tourists, Nobody’s pointing a gun at u & force u to live/visit here. If u can’t stand the LOCAL values & law, then LEAVE.” Rayyes said the actions of those who violate their view of “decent” dress were “uncivilised,” such as women at shopping centers dressed in “nothing more than a shirt” or “mini shorts that reveal their underwear.” “I don’t accept this and I won’t stay quiet about it,” she said. —AFP

DUBAI: An Emirati couple on a beach in Dubai. — AFP

CAIRO: Egyptian demonstrators gather to denounce the electoral success of Ahmed Shafiqin Tahrir Square in Cairo yesterday. (Inset) A combo picture shows Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate, Mohammed Mursi (left) and former prime minister and presidential candidate, Ahmed Shafiq in Cairo. — AFP CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood said yesterday its candidate in Egypt’s first free presidential vote would fight a run-off next month with exair force chief Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister of deposed leader Hosni Mubarak. This week’s first-round vote has polarized Egyptians between those determined to avoid handing the presidency back to a man from Mubarak’s era and those fearing an Islamist monopoly of ruling institutions. The run-off will be held on June 16 and 17.

The election marks a crucial step in a messy and often bloody transition to democracy, overseen by a military council that has pledged to hand power to a new president by July 1. The second round threatens further turbulence.

Opponents of Shafiq have vowed to take to the streets if he is elected. But to supporters, Shafiq’s military background offers reassurance that he can restore security, a major demand of the population 15 months after Mubarak’s ouster.

A victory for the Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi could worsen tensions between resurgent Islamists and the powerful army, which sees itself as the guardian of the state. Christians and secular liberals anxious about their own freedoms and the fate of Egypt’s vital tourist industry will fret about a promised Brotherhood push for Islamic law. “Now Egyptians will have to choose between the revolution and the count-

er-revolution. The next vote will be equivalent to holding a referendum on the revolution,” Mohamed Beltagy, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s party said.

If Mursi becomes president, Islamists will control most ruling institutions - but not the military - in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, consolidating electoral gains made by fellowIslamists in other Arab countries in the past year.

Israel has nervously watched the Islamist rise, especially in Egypt, its old enemy until a 1979 peace treaty. Mursi vaguely advocates a “review” of the pact, but the Brotherhood says it will not tear it up. Shafiq has vowed to uphold it.

The bluntly-spoken military man came from behind in a race in which former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and ex-Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh were early favorites.

His late surge reflected the anxiety of many Egyptians about a breakdown of law and order and the often violent political disputes that have punctuated an army-led transition since a popular revolt ousted Mubarak on Feb 11, 2011. The Brotherhood announced yesterday that the runoff would be between Shafiq and Mursi after almost all votes were counted. A member of Shafiq’s campaign also said Mursi and Shafiq were in the lead, but that counting was not complete. Official results are not expected until Tuesday. Aides to other candidates consistently

put Mursi ahead but gave shifting tallies for second place through the night.

Egypt will elect a president before rewriting a post-Mubarak constitution to define the powers of the head of state, parliament and other institutions. The army, bent on preserving its privileges and influence even after the promised handover, might want to curb the mandate of an Islamist president. The Brotherhood’s Guidance Office, its top body, was meeting to mull a campaign “to galvanize Islamists and Egyptian voters to face the bloc of the ‘feloul’,” a Brotherhood official said, using a scornful Arabic term for “remnants” of Mubarak’s order.

The Brotherhood, Egypt’s most organized political group, has already secured the biggest bloc for its party in parliament after an earlier vote. Long repressed and banned under Mubarak, the 84-year-old Islamist group has a broad grassroots base. Young Egyptian revolutionaries who helped topple Mubarak now face what they see as a dispiriting choice between a conservative Islamist and a hardline member of the old guard. “To choose between Shafiq or Mursi is like being asked do you want to commit suicide by being set on fire or jump in a shark tank,” Adel Abdel Ghafar wrote on Twitter, a networking tool used to devastating effect against Mubarak in the uprising. — Reuters

LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

in the

news

Election allowances complaints KUWAIT: Yaseen Al-Farsi, Chairman of the Ministry of Information Labor Union, said its Board of Directors met with the Ministry of Information Undersecretary, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud, and discussed with him a number of issues concerning ministry employees. AlFarsi said there are a number of complaints from employees concerning this year’s election allowances.

Observations on this subject were raised with the Undersecretary, who in turn said that he does not accept the oppression of any employee in the ministry. He said the Undersecretary gave the union authority to look at the election lists to ensure whether complaints were genuine or not.

Parliament storming trial KUWAIT: Public Prosecutor Dhirar Al-Asoussi said he took a decision to send those who stormed Parliament to court, and asked for a session for the accused to be trailed. He said the total number of the accused in this case are 68 persons, of whom three are MPs in the National Assembly. He said 11 cases were charged, but refused to give further information as he sent the whole case to court.

Al-Quds supporters festival KUWAIT: Under the auspices of Dr. Abdullah AlMaatouq, Chairman of the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), the Kuwaiti NGO Al-Quds Supporters Committee held its second ‘Return Festival’ yesterday on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine. Speaking at the festival, held at the Charity Organization stage in South Surra, IICO Secretary General Dr. Ghazi AlEnezi said the motto of the festival is ‘The Return Right......a True One’. It calls for supporting the Palestinian people to liberate their country.

Oil minister resignation report ‘groundless’ Constitutional reservations on grilling KUWAIT: Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled AlSabah, oil sector spokesman, refuted as groundless yesterday recent media reports that Minister of Oil Hani Hussein has resigned. “The reports, aired by some satellite channels, have no grain of truth,” said Sheikh Talal, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Managing Director for Information and Public Relations.

“The minister is discharging his duties normally as head of the ministry,” he affirmed in a statements.

Meanwhile, a number of MPs expressed different reactions to the ongoing interpellation of Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali. Speaking in the Parliament building after the grilling session on Thursday, MP Ali Al-Rashid said there are constitutional reservations on the grilling of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mustafa Al-Shamali.

Al-Rashid, who opposes the grilling, said the “grilling has many constitutional reservations however, regardless of whether it should be valid to request a transfer on the

issue to an internal affairs committee, the Majority has already made up their minds on the minister.”

MP Abdulhamid Dashti, also speaking against the grilling motion, said “the motion did not even resemble a grilling.” He said the “minister’s response and answers to the grilling were complete and were taken in a fully professional manner.”

MP Adnan Abdulsamad, another opposer, assured the legitimacy of the minister and his role in running the sensitive ministry. “Everyone knows his hands are clean, even the MP’s who grilled him,” he stressed.

“If the minister goes, would that make our city the ideal city?” he said, noting that MPs should have taken their concerns instead to the country’s public prosecution department.

MP Mohammad Al-Hatlani, speaking in favor of the grilling, said AlShamali has clearly violated his duties in not confronting all types of financial corruption, including the state’s capital and properties. AlHatlani described the grilling as “a political prosecution for the lack of

supervision (on the minister’s part) of his ministry, the Central Bank of Kuwait and local banks.”

MP Walid Al-Tabtabaie, also in favor of the grilling, suggested that despite the minister being clean, issues raised during the grilling “could topple an entire Government.”

He described the minister as “the gate keeper of corruption,” saying issues raised in the grilling “do not only accumulate to a vote of no confidence, but could topple an entire Government, especially when taking into consideration the huge losses of the Kuwait Investment Authority.”

MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said Al-Shamali did not carry out his duties comprehensively in solving many issues which ordinary citizens are affected by, including various administrative violations.

Al-Deqbasi said controversial social problems such as the lack of job opportunities, unemployment and contracts signed with foreign companies “are not the problems of the National Assembly but result from the Finance Ministry”. — KUNA

Railway Bridge in Kuwait KUWAIT: Ministry of Public Works Undersecretary, AbdulAziz Al-Kulaib, said the ministry will finalize the first bridge in the history of Kuwait especially built for trains. Another bridge, adjacent to it, will carry transport by road to Bubiyan Island. The bridge will be completed next March. Al-Kulaib said the ministry budget for projects varies between KD 550 million and KD 620 million. He said ministry projects on Boubiyan Island are according to the plan laid out for it. Al-Kulaib said Mubarak Port will be the largest in the area, will add political and economic dimensions to the project, and will create job opportunities during the operational period. He said the ministry has several ambitious projects.

Kuwait relief delegation visits Syrian refugee camps in Turkey ANKARA: A Kuwaiti charitable delegation visited Syrian refugee camps in the southern Turkey’s Hatay province yesterday to distribute aid and evaluate the needs of the desperate people.

Salah Ahmad Al-Jarallah, Chairman of the Kuwait relief programs team in Turkey, said on Thursday the delegation met with a number of Turkish and Syrian organizations to address means of providing aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Al-Jarallah said the delegation will tour several refugee camps to distribute urgent relief aid. The Kuwaiti relief programs include setting up schools for Syrian students, psychological treatment for Syrians suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and distributing food and medical aid.

Al-Jarallah said the visit shows the solidarity of Kuwaiti people with Syrian people in distress. —KUNA

GENEVA: Sudanese Researcher Dr Al-Taher Al-Shbali receiving the Kuwait’s award for health research.

Sudanese researcher wins Kuwait’s health award GENEVA: Kuwait’s award for health research was given here late on Thursday to Sudanese Researcher Dr. Al-Taher Al-Shbali for his paper on AIDs and natural breastfeeding.

Kuwait Health Minister, Dr. Ali Al-Obeidi, said the honor reflected his country’s keenness to develop medicine. He thanked the World Health Organization and the Kuwait award institute for supporting health research, noting that since its inception in 2004 the medical research field has witnessed several advancements globally.

More medical research is needed to combat illnesses and

diseases worldwide and such efforts will result from supporting medical studies, the Kuwaiti minister said during the ceremony. The honored Sudanese researcher thanked Kuwait for its solemn care and support towards health and scientific research, saying such steps will development medicine. Al-Shbali also lauded the high-standards in choosing the award winners, affirming that it reflects the efforts of Arab and Muslims nations within the medical field. The Kuwaiti Health Minister left Geneva for France for a two-day official visit to the European country. — KUNA

LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

GCC celebrates anniversary amid major achievements 31 years of relations ABU DHABI: The Gulf Cooperation Council celebrated its 31st anniversary yesterday continuing a successful unified path that started on the same day in 1981. Over 31 years of integrated efforts have resulted in major accomplishments across all domains and fields of life. They have also given Gulf states a major influence in the wider Middle East region as well as on the international stage, through their coordinated positions on foreign policy and economic relations with the global community — something which has helped achieve their domestic interests and aided the aspirations of their people for a stable and prosperous future.

In a speech to his people on the United Arab Emirates’ national day on Dec 2, President of the UAE and Abu Dhabi Ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country would continue, with its GCC partners, supporting the strides for political, economic and security integration.

The unified economic agreement between the Gulf states, forming the Gulf Cooperation Council, was signed in Abu Dhabi in 1981, and on the occasion, a report conducted by Emirates News Agency (WAM) illustrated the size of this integration in the UAE, particularly noting to the economic scale.

Over the last four years, GCC nationals have enjoyed a huge growth in economic endeavors in the UAE, particularly in shareholding companies, with over 212,000 of them investing 5.3 billion dirhams ($1.45 billion) up to the end of 2011.

The UAE continues to provide obstacle-free licenses to GCC nationals for economic practices across its markets, under the flagship of the Gulf Common Market, according to a UAE Finance Ministry survey, added in the report.

Shareholding companies open to GCC nationals rose dramatically in the

last few years, to 79 out of a total 106 registered under the Securities and Commodities Authority, the UAE’s chief body in charge of stock markets.

The total number of investors from the Gulf were 212,000 in 2011, up 1.9pct from a year earlier.

Real estate owners also present an astonishing rate of 32pct - with some 44, 900 people owning properties in their neighboring country.

Job opportunities for Gulf nationals also thrive in the Emirates, with over 790 employed in the government sector and 2,906, working in private businesses. Meanwhile, the 10th meeting of the Executive Committee for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) eGovernment met here on Thursday and discussed setting up strategic guidelines for the e-Government sector that would strengthen mutual work between GCC countries.

The one-day meeting witnessed participation by directors of e-Government programs and authorities in GCC coun-

tries. They reviewed a GCC eGovernment strategic draft, which was prepared by a work team via a two-day workshop in the Qatari capital.

In a press statement, Hassan Jassim Al-Sayed, ictQatar Assistant SecretaryGeneral of Information Technology Sector, said, following the meeting, that the guidelines were based on recommendations of the GCC E-Governments’ Ministerial Committee meeting last March.

Al-Sayed noted that the guidelines would support e-Government programs in GCC countries, enhance its efficiency to attain social and economic development in each country, and guarantee mutual projects and initiatives that would benefit GCC citizens.

Moreover, he pointed out that such a meeting, on setting strategic guidelines to improve e-Government programs in GCC countries, would be held every five years in order to cope with the latest and recent developments and practices of the e-Government field. — KUNA

Stock market registration system may be amended KUWAIT: Sources revealed that auditing offices received hints from the stock market authority about the possibility to amend their registration system in the authority’s special record soon.

The authority emphasized to the auditing offices that they have severe cases and priorities need quick action. These include organizing the work of the stock exchange market, especially after the release of and the start of work according to the Nasdac system. Additionally, organizing the work of investment companies and other important urgent economic

issues needs attention. Sources said the authority promised to look into the matter of the auditing offices very shortly.A committee headed by Rasheed Mohammad Al-Qanaie, Chairman of the Auditing Offices Society, communicated with the authority in respect of decision No. 8/2011 taken by the authority about registry auditing offices in their records and the society point of view. It states that it is almost impossible to implement that decision. Sources said there is hope to reach to an amicable solution that pleases all parties. — Al-Rai

News

in brief

Bid to curb traffic violations KUWAIT: The Traffic Department continued its sudden campaigns on main roads around the clock in all areas to limit to traffic violations and to implement the law upon road users. Hawally Traffic Department carried out a radar campaign on Abdul Kareem AlKhatabi Street which resulted in 110 speeding citations. The highest recorded speed was 210 km/hr, and 13 vehicles were seized. The Traffic Department urges citizens and expatriates to abide by traffic rules for their own safety.

Doctor penalty cancelled KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti female doctor took official permission from her direct supervisor to leave her duty for one day, but she was penalized by the capital health authority. The doctor complained to the ministry about the penalty she received. The ministry studied the complaint and cancelled the penalty, as there is no law in the ministry to penalize an employee who takes permission to leave his post for part of a day.

Airport radar maintenance KUWAIT: The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said air traffic will not be affected during the period of landing control towers with a backup radar, until maintenance of the main radar is completed. The source said the Airport has advanced radars, adding that the CAA signed contracts several months ago to purchase a new radar to be added to the main radar and the backup, and it will be completed next March. The source said the reason behind the suspension of the main radar is due to the installation of some systems by a company, in addition to normal maintenance at the same time, which will avoid more interruptions.

Poisonous gas leak KUWAIT: Poisonous gas is leaking from one of the sites at KOC, sources said. The concerned parties in the company were informed and barricaded the site to prevent anyone from getting closer. A report of the gas leakage went to the operations room from one of the employees at the site. A maintenance team was sent to the site, and the site engineer surprised everyone when he said that the gas was poisonous. An emergency was declared, and the Ministry of Interior closed off the site to prevent people from getting closer to it, while a maintenance team started dealing with the leak.

KUWAIT: A Ukrainian cultural festival was recently held in Kuwait. It was attended by diplomats, dignitaries and art lovers. The event was also attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Kuwait, Volodymyr Tolkach, and members of a Ukrainian business delegation currently visiting Kuwait. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

526 people arrested in massive security raid MOI campaign in scrap area

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) carried out a campaign in Abdullah Port scrap area and Fahaheel Industrial Area at dawn yesterday. The campaign resulted in the arrest of 526 persons who were in violation of the residency law and domestic laborers who are reported to be absconding. The campaign started at 4 am, and resulted in the arrest of a number of persons who are wanted in some cases, and other suspects who are in violation of the residency law.

The campaign was led by Gen Sulaiman Al-Fahad, MoI Acting Undersecretary, and Lt Gen Mahmoud Al-Dossari, MoI Assistant Undersecretary, with the participation of high ranking MoI officials.

Drug addict A father reported his son to the MoI for being addicted to drugs and disrupting the family by assaulting his brother in the family house near Al-Amayer area. Security men responded and arrested the youth. He was sent to the General Department for Drug Control.

Khaitan robbery An Arab expatriate reported to Khaitan police that unknown persons robbed him at dawn, as he returned home. One of the men took out a knife and asked him to hand over his wallet. Under the threat of being stabbed, he had to hand them the KD 180 which was in his wallet. A case was filed and detectives are following up the case.

Smuggling attempt

KUWAIT: The inspection campaign in progress in Abdullah Port scrap area and Fahaheel Industrial Area.

Kuwait Airport customs men foiled an attempt to smuggle about 5kgs of Marijuana into Kuwait, which arrived hidden in an airmail parcel containing tea bags and readymade clothes. Sulaiman AlFahad, Kuwait Airport supervisor, considered the smuggling method as the most modern method of smuggling. He said a warning will be circulated to the GCC states. Al-Fahad said the cargo arrived at

Drunk Kuwaiti in custody KUWAIT: A drunk Kuwaiti man and his two friends were arrested in Salmiya. The man resisted arrest telling police, “you don’t know who my uncle is and who my father is. My uncle is a Director at the Ministry of Interior and my father is a secretary of another Director at the Ministry. I am going to close down this police station and send you home.” Then he assaulted the policemen and started beating and abusing them. He tried to escape but failed, and was detained in the police station with his two friends. The three men were arrested drunk in Salmiya. A case was filed against them and the threats they made were recorded.

Sexual harassment A high ranking Ministry of Defense officer reported that his wife was subjected to sexual harassment by a number of teenagers. He said they were in a car driven by a teenager who stole the vehicle from his father and drove it without a license. The woman, who was on Arabian Gulf Street, was sexually harassed by the youths. She immediately called her husband, who complained to the Ministry of Interior. He provided details of the car the teenagers were in. Police rushed there and arrested the teenagers after checking their records. Police discovered that one of them stole his father’s car, and invited his friends to join him to cruise along Arabian Gulf Street. They were all taken for investigations.

customs from an Asian country and was thoroughly inspected. It was discovered that the smuggler had hidden the drugs inside teabags and packed them in an industrial manner. Some other drugs were hidden inside the readymade clothes in an innovative way. The drugs were sent to the General Department for Drug Control for further action.

Teenager arrested A university student reported to a police station in Jahra governorate that her teenaged neighbor climbed the wall of her house while she was taking a shower. She said he managed to take a photo of her on his mobile phone while she was in the shower.

The girl, who is a Kuwaiti citizen, said while she was taking a shower she was shocked to see her teenaged neighbor taking her picture on his phone through the transparent bathroom window. Police visited the house and were convinced that it was possible to reach the window by climbing the drainpipes. The detectives went to the neighbor’s house and arrested the teenager. During investigations, he denied the charges and claimed she imagined the incident.

Shopkeeper attacked Ahmadi police arrested four men for physically assaulting a shopkeeper in Fintas after a hot chase. The suspects were arrested on Khairan Road. A police source said that an Arab expatriate informed them about the incident where four suspects wearing dishdashas (national attires) beat him up after a dispute arose over the sale of a video player. The victim was admitted to the hospital after he described the culprits’ appearance and car’s license plate number. Police spotted the car along King Fahad Road and signaled it to pull over. A hot chase ensued and the arrests were made. The culprits are two citizens and two bedoons. They said they beat the man up because he refused to lower the price of the video player. The four were charged with assault and battery. The detectives are investigating the case further.

Car burglary Several citizens and expats filed a case with Sharq police stating that their cars were burgled while parked outside a garden in Sharq. Similar incidents are on the rise during holidays. He said that the team was formed to tackle this criminal act.

Three held for sex inside parked car

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two citizens and a female university student were recently arrested for fornicating in a vehicle parked in the Avenues Mall car park, said security sources. Case papers indicate that an elderly Kuwaiti couple reported a vehicle parked next to theirs that was shaking and bouncing strangely and some humming noise was coming from it. The couple called the police who, on arrival at the scene, found the three suspects totally naked inside the vehicle. They were asked to get dressed and were escorted to the relevant authorities.

Fights A 34-year-old Indian sustained a head injury during a fight with others in Sabah Al-Salem, said security sources. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A 30-year-old male Iranian sustained various injuries during a fight with others in Hawalli and was rushed to Mubarak Hospital for treatment.

Traffic incidents Hawalli traffic police filed 110 speed limit violation tickets along Abdul Karim AL-Khatabi street, where one

vehicle speeded at 210 kph. Also 13 vehicles were seized during one of a number of sudden raids conducted all over Kuwait by traffic police.

A 20-year-old non-Kuwaiti was instantly killed by a severe injury directly to his head, while an 18 year old Saudi was rushed to Jahra Hospital ICU with a serious head injury sustained when their vehicle turned over and rolled several times near Kabd area.

A 45-year-old citizen was instantly killed in a collision in the Salmi border area.

A 15-year-old citizen sustained a double fracture in his foot when he lost control over his bike in Salmiya, said security sources noting that the young man was rushed to Mubarak Hospital for treatment.

Two citizens aged 16 and 18 sustained serious head injuries and were rushed to Al-Sabah Hospital ICU, while a third 16-year-old broke his right arm in a collision along the Fifth Ring Road.

Three young citizens, aged from 16 to 19, sustained various mild injuries in a crash along Fahaheel Expressway.

A 30-year-old unidentified male sustained a serious head injury when he was run over by a speeding vehicle along Fahaheel Expressway.

LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Housing minister demands resignation of bank chief Call to follow legal procedures KUWAIT: State Minister for Housing Affairs, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, said the director of the Credit and Savings Bank should resign “so that we are not forced to apply the law on him.” He expressed astonishment that the director is still practicing his duties during the past three days, in spite of a ministerial decision to terminate his services. Al-Muwaizri was addressing a gathering of people who were protesting “waiting for a house”, which was organized by a number of youths and owners of housing applications.

He told the gathering that what is being done by Salah Al-Mudhaf, the credit and saving bank director, is not legal and if he has any objection he should resort to the administrative court, who will give him his rights if he has any.

“He should follow the legal procedures and we will apply them on him

if he does not leave his office in a peaceful legal way,” he said.

Al-Muwaizri told the gathering “you are here to tell the public that your pressure will solve the problem.

Here I tell you the problem and here I tell you frankly, that I don’t give up for threatening and I don’t accept any pressure.”

He said “every week, I receive more than 3,000 people and listen to their complaints and I try to solve them.

Did you come to see me or ask to see me and I refused? Further, why did you not protest during the time of previous ministers or your demands be addressed by other Government parties concerned with the housing problem? Yet, I accept your gathering because I fell with your problem.”

In another development, the Kuwait Medical Association (KMA) demands Health Minister, Dr. Ali AlObaidi, be relieved of his duties “after

forcing physicians to retire without a justifiable reason”, a statement from KMA reads.

The statement, released on Tuesday, commented on a ministerial decision to retire a number of Kuwaiti doctors who have served at least 30 years in the ministry. Although the Civil Service Commission instructed state departments to retire Kuwaiti staff, the Ministry of Health is excluded due to the significance of experienced medical staff in state public medical facilities.

KMA Vice President, Dr. Ahmad AlFadhli, argued that Al-Obaidi’s decision is “personal” as it is not based on regulations, or violations committed by the doctors, or due to a personal request by a doctor to retire. “The KMA plans to push efforts to increase the maximum age of service for Kuwaiti doctors to 70”, Dr. Al-Fadhli added.

Kuwaiti charities aid displaced Syrians in Turkish camps ISTANBUL: A delegation representing a number of Kuwaiti charitable organizations arrived here on Thursday to offer relief aid to displaced Syrians living in refugee camps in areas on the border between Syria and Turkey, a delegation spokesperson said.

Salah Al-Jarallah said the delegation, numbering about 30 businessmen and journalists, prepared for today’s arrival two weeks ago.

Relief aid packages are currently waiting to be distrib-

uted to an initial 1,500 Syrian refugee families living in camps, Al-Jarallah said. A similar number of packages will be distributed later on.

He said a Kuwaiti school opened for the children in the refugee camps. He said the purpose of the visit by the Kuwaiti charities was to send a clear message to the displaced people in the camps that the Kuwaiti people are more than willing to lend them a helping hand and support them in the camps. —KUNA

‘People vent via social media networks’ KUWAIT: Kuwaiti and French diplomats and intellectuals agreed that social media networks have become a source to express themselves for many people who lacked freedom of expression in the past.

French Ambassador to Kuwait Nada Yafi, speaking during a seminar about modern media tools, nationalism and political contributions, said the State of Kuwait enjoyed greater space for freedoms and actions by its influential civil society.

When France chaired the G8 group last week, she said, it invited Kuwait to co-chair the group in order to boost future cooperation.

Yafi said social communication tools have become important for societies because they allow a quick means for people to interact.

The seminar was co-organized by the French institute here, Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA), Kuwait lawyers Association and Kuwait Graduates Society. Chairman of Kuwait Graduates Society Saud AlEnezi said the seminar was a good opportunity for interaction between Kuwait and France. He added that his society organized many seminars about social media networks, whose

negative effects include inciting racism, sectarianism and tribalism.

However, social media networks boosted the meaning of democracy among people, so they moved a step forward from just casting a ballot to interacting with events.

Additionally, Kuwait University (KU) philosophy professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Wuhaib said an individual could not live alone, but needed groups and a social organization.

KU political science professor Dr Ghanem Al-Najjar compared social media networks to weapons of mass destruction, but without causing casualties or, though their impacts could be devastating, depending on how they were used. Also, Al-Najjar criticized government attempts to crack down on users of social media networks, saying the government’s actions had been fought through large scale attacks by anonymous users. Rakan Al-Nisf, a member of the executive office of the national alliance, said people were coping with technological developments.

He called on governments to also cope with these developments and not fight them, but benefit from them. — KUNA

Rania Al-Mulaifi

Kuwait urges India to double efforts against poverty GENEVA: Kuwait urged the Indian government yesterday to double efforts to limit poverty and create jobs to improve the living standards of the people of the Asian nation.

Rania Al-Mulaifi, diplomatic attache of the permanent Kuwaiti delegation at the UN in Geneva, called on New Delhi to grant women a greater role in society.

In a statement addressed to the UN Human Rights Council, she said a report presented to the council by the Indian government documented achievements in various sectors, namely human rights and development. The report shed light on progress and development in the sectors of food security, health, social security, housing, environment and water. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Fahad Al-Fahad with one of the winners.

More surprises from VIVA in ‘Win A Car Every Week’ campaign KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, announced the winner in its hugely successful “Win a Car Every Week” campaign. Reden Thamer Al- Mutairi and Meshari Khalaf Amer were each lucky winners of a new Chevrolet Camaro V6 2012 in the campaign.

The winners expressed their happiness for being the lucky winners of the new Chevrolet Camaro V6 car as it is a dream come true and it has been made possible by VIVA. VIVA congratulated the winners and invited customers to participate in the ongoing campaign in order to be one of the many winners in the upcoming weekly draws. VIVA also reiterated its commitment to continuously provide unique and tailor made offers designed to better serve and reward its customers.

The offer is only applicable to prepaid customers where they can enter the draw through two options. the first option is to subscribe with 500 fils per day which gives them infinite minutes and SMS within VIVA network. For every 500 fils spent, the customer is entitled 1 chance to enter the draw. The second option for prepaid customers includes subscribing to BlackBerry KD7 which gives them full and unlimited BlackBerry Services, where customers will gain 15 points automatically. For customers who purchase a new prepaid line will enter the draw automatically.

Customers are able to subscribe to both options in order to enter the draw to win a luxurious car, where their points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw if they did not win.

To increase their chances to win a new car every week, prepaid customers can subscribe to the ‘Flavor of the Week’ which will be a ‘special service’ for that week allowing more opportunities to win every week. This week’s ‘Flavor of the Week’, starts on 24 May and will last until 30 May, and will give prepaid customers 10 chances to win the Chevrolet Camaro V6 upon using Surf-On for KD5 by sending “3” to 535 or “On5” to 255 as well as earning 500MB data and KD 2.5 local credit.

Prepaid customers interested in the full, unlimited, local KD 7 BlackBerry offer, can send an SMS with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’. For the full menu of the prepaid offers, send an SMS with the word “GO”, to number ‘535’.

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.

LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

IOM chief visits Kuwait

Non-renewal of contracts affects cleaning works Minister urged to take quick actions KUWAIT: Awadh Shuqair, Chairman of the Demands Committee at the Ministry of Electricity and Water Ministry Workers Union, said the lack of renewal of contracts with cleaning companies hampers the work of many sectors.

He said this is not the only case.

The ministry delayed the renewal of cleaning contracts and the union asked officials to commit to renewing the contracts on time so as not to interrupt work, but the struggle of interests between influential persons and contractors prevented that.

He added that there are contracts that ended a year ago and were not renewed, which made some workers in several sectors to carry out cleaning chores in addi-

tion to their regular duties.

Shuqair asked MEW minister Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim to put an end to such struggles and find quick solutions to improve work conditions.

“Especially as all workers are having great hopes, as he is the “son” of the ministry and knows the nature of its activities, and knows what its workers need,” he said.

Shuqair said what made things worse with contracting companies is that contracts with air conditioning companies to maintain the power generating stations expired.

The systems there need a certain temperature to avoid damage.

“The repeated air-conditioning malfunctions at Zour power station may cause a tragedy if things are not taken care of’” he said. He said

the policy of relying on contracting companies in some important jobs, like maintenance, must stop due to its failure and the consequent dangers.

Official sources at the MEW said the maintenance program of power stations and water desalination is due by the end of this month. He said maintenance is periodical and important to support productivity and make sure the two services reach buildings and facilities without any obstacles.

He said the annual maintenance program starts in September and continues until the end of May, and the program is prepared in coordination and cooperation between station administrations and the engineering and environmental programs department. — Al-Qabas

Praise for cooperation between Kuwait, Portugal LISBON: Deputy Secretary General of the ArabPortuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aida Bou-Abdullah praised “distinctive cooperation” between Kuwait and Portugal in the economic and commercial sectors and called for enhancing further the coordination at these levels.

Bou-Abdullah said prime objective of setting up the non-profitable joint chamber, 35 years ago, was promoting the economic ties between Portugal and the Arab states on basis of interest exchange, asserting keenness on reaching phase of “industrial partnership and integration in economic and financial arenas” between the two sides.

She praised efforts of the Kuwaiti ambassador to Portugal Suliman Al-Merjan for facilitating mission of the Portuguese delegation of economic figures that visited Kuwait last month, particularly his detailed information about the Kuwaiti economy, given to the delegation that included leading business figures.

Bou-Abdullah expressed hope to work out trade cooperation accords between the two countries.

Paulo Peerloiro, in charge of international relations of the chamber, and head of the delegation that had come to Kuwait, praised result of the mission and expressed hope to increase volume of commercial exchanges between the two countries. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The international organization of migration IOM said yesterday that its Director General William Lacy Swing will begin today a three-day official visit to Kuwait — his first to the country. Swing will meet senior officials during the visit, said the IOM Spokesperson Jumbe Omari Jumbe.

Swing’s visit to Kuwait is to pay his respects to the Government of Kuwait and to express IOM’s sincere appreciation for their continuing support of our global humanitarian activities,” said Jumbe.

For the past nine years, Kuwait has been contributing $500,000 annually in support of IOM’s global humanitarian activities.

IOM also works with the Government of Kuwait to train police officers and law enforcement officials on human rights, contractual labour and prevention of human trafficking, as well as providing technical assistance to strengthen national migration management systems.

Last year, IOM, under the auspices of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, brought together government representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) to discuss alternatives to the current sponsorship system for migrant workers.

The workshop underlined the need for collaborative approaches between labor sending and receiving countries to manage temporary contractual labor. A follow up meeting, also attended by representatives of the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, was held in April 2012.

In February 2012 IOM Kuwait organized a 5-day workshop on combating transnational crime, under the auspices of Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior.

It was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Interior of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking. — KUNA

Deportation tribunal under discussion KUWAIT: Kuwait is studying a proposal to establish a special tribunal which looks into deportation decisions against expatriates and decide whether to approve them or not, a senior Ministry of Interior official said recently.

General Director of the General Department of Correctional Facilities, Maj Gen Khaled Al-Dayeen, explained that the decision to study establishing the court was in response to “criticisms from international human rights organizations over the process by which deportation procedures are carried out in Kuwait”.

The recommendation is currently being evaluated by senior security officials within the ministry after it was submitted by staff of the General Department of Correctional Facilities. Maj Gen Al-Dayeen spoke about a recent meeting of correctional facility officials in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, held earlier this month in Kuwait.

He said an agreement was reached by which the GCC countries approved Kuwait’s conditions to join an exchange of prisoners’ agreement.

“Kuwait is okay with this concept as long as prisoners exchanged are not charged in political cases, such as state security and terrorism charges, as well as other crimes such as murder”, Maj Gen Al-Dayeen explained.

He said Kuwait specifies that the exchange is only made following a prisoner’s approval to serve the remaining period in their jail term in his home country. — Al-Rai

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Brotherhood man promises Islamic law in Egypt

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French president: All combat troops out in 2012

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US Muslim soldier guilty in Fort Hood bomb plot

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HOMS: A handout image released by the Syrian opposition’s Shaam News Network shows anti-regime demonstrators in Hula in the region of central Homs province yesterday. — AFP

Syrian troops fire on protest in Aleppo Protesters chant ‘Down with Assad’ BEIRUT: Syrian forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse thousands of protesters calling for President Bashar Assad’s ouster yesterday, killing two people in the northern city of Aleppo as the regime struggles to vanquish the 15-month-old conflict, opposition groups said.

Crackdowns on protests, as well as other government and rebel attacks, are routine despite the deployment of more than 250 UN observers who have fanned out around Syria to monitor a ceasefire brokered by international envoy by Kofi Annan. Despite the daily violations, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that there was no “plan B” for the Annan initiative.

Yesterday’s violence during weekly anti-government protests was reported by the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists on the ground, and by the opposition Local Coordination Committees. The Observatory said one person was killed and another wounded in Aleppo, a

major economic hub which has remained largely supportive of Assad throughout the uprising but where anti-regime sentiment has been on the rise in recent weeks. Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said one of the protesters later died of his wounds, raising the number of those killed in the city’s Boustan al-Qasr district to two. He said more than 10,000 people were protesting in the city. “The regime is desperately trying to put down the protests in Aleppo but all this violence will backfire,” he said.

“Down, down, down. Down with Bashar Assad,” the protesters shouted as they marched in the Salaheddine district. Amateur videos posted online by activists showed several wounded people, including a teenage girl, being carried away by other protesters. The Observatory said a boy was also killed by snipers fire in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen ahead of a protest there. In the southern town of Inkhel, several people were wounded when troops opened fire at

protesters, while in the central Homs region, seven people were reported wounded as a result of security forces’ gunfire. In the capital Damascus, troops fired tear gas to disperse a large demonstration that started as protesters emerged from the Daqaq Mosque in the restive Midan district in Damascus.

Earlier, government forces shelled the Qusour and Jobar neighborhoods in the city of Homs, but there was no immediate word on casualties. The UN estimated in March that more than 9,000 people have been killed in the revolt against Assad, which began in March 2011 as a largely peaceful protest movement calling for reforms but has since morphed into an insurgency. The death toll rises every day. The violence in Syria has spilled over into Lebanon, where deadly clashes linked to the conflict next door have killed at least 10 people in the past two weeks. Lebanese and Syrian officials have said armed gunmen in Syria kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims on

Tuesday, setting off protests in Beirut’s Shiitedominated southern suburbs where residents burned tires and blocked roads.

Lebanese officials said the pilgrims have been located and are expected to be freed soon.

The UN’s Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that Annan’s peace plan is the only option right now for ending the violence in Syria. “At this time, we don’t have plan B,” Ban said in an interview Thursday with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. The former UN secretary-general’s plan calls for a complete cessation of violence but Ban said “unfortunately, this has not been implemented.”

He said the deployment of UN observers to Syria has had “some dampening effect” but the violence hasn’t stopped. Ban said this requires “strong political will” by Syrian President Bashar Assad and full cooperation by opposition forces.

Ban said he spoke Wednesday to Annan, who said he will be going to Syria soon but no date has been fixed. — AP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Iran, big powers agree to hold more nuclear talks in June BAGHDAD: Iran and world powers agreed to meet again next month to try to ease the long standoff over its nuclear work despite achieving scant progress at talks in Baghdad towards resolving the main sticking points of their dispute. At its heart is Iran’s insistence on right to enrich uranium and that economic sanctions should be lifted before it shelves activities that could lead to its achieving the capability to develop nuclear weapons.

Western powers insist Tehran must first shut down higher-grade enrichment before sanctions could be eased.

But both sides have powerful reasons not to abandon diplomacy. The powers want to avert the danger of a new Middle East war raised by Israeli threats to bomb

Iran, while Tehran also wants to avoid a looming Western ban on its oil exports.

After discussions in Baghdad extended late into an unscheduled second day on Thursday between envoys from Iran and the six powers, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was clear both sides wanted progress and had some common ground, but significant differences remained. “We will maintain intensive contacts with our Iranian counterparts to prepare a further meeting in Moscow,” she told a news conference in Baghdad. The next meeting, the third in the latest round of talks that began in Istanbul last month after a diplomatic vacuum of 15 months, will be held in

Moscow on June 18-19. Ashton leads the negotiations for the six-country group made up of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - which together with Germany is known as the P5+1.

“Talks were intensive and long,” Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief negotiator and direct representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said. “They were detailed, but left unfinished. “The atmosphere of these talks was positive for the two sides to talk about their issues in a clear way,” Jalili added. “We believe the result of these talks was that we were able to get to know each other’s views better and more.” —Reuters

Brotherhood man promises Islamic law in Egypt Mursi was Brotherhood’s back-up candidate for president

TUNIS: Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki greets Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane (left) yesterday at the Carthage palace in Tunis. Benkirane is on two day official visit to Tunisia. — AFP

MPs see conscription as possible cure to Iraq woes BAGHDAD: Iraqi MPs are toying with a Saddam-era policy they hope will combat both high unemployment and fears of sectarian divisions in a country that was on the brink of civil war a few years ago: conscription. The nascent proposal is a potentially divisive one, and may face opposition in the Kurdish north and mostly Shiite south-two areas that were victims of now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein’s conscript army. However, two members of the Iraqi parliament’s security and defence committee-one a Shiite from the southern province of Basra who belongs to an Islamist party, the other a Sunni from the western desert region of Anbar who is part of a secular bloc-back the proposal and want to see it through.

“The circumstances are good for applying a law like this one, and there are important reasons to do so,” said Ammar Tohma, a member of the Shiite Fadhila party. “The regime in Iraq these days is based on the will of the nation; we are no longer dealing with the foolishness and adventures of the dictator.” Tohma argued that compulsory military service for young men would reduce Iraq’s unemployment, officially reported at 12 percent but estimated to be much higher, and foster a national identity after years of communal violence that followed the 2003 US-led invasion. He said the proposal was still only being discussed within the committee, and admitted that “the idea of conscription, with the mistakes of the former regime and the pressure it put on individuals and families,” is still negatively perceived by many Iraqis.

Saddam’s armed forces once numbered as many as one million strong before the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted the dictator. The old Iraqi military had been formed of male conscripts, with those who did not complete secondary school, secondary school graduates and degree-holders required to complete three years, two years and 18 months in the armed forces, respectively.

In reality, many were forced to stay for much longer than those periods, and students would often purposely fail courses in order to postpone their military service. —AFP

CAIRO: When he joined the race for Egypt’s presidency just five weeks ago, Mohamed Mursi was mocked as the Muslim Brotherhood’s uncharismatic “spare tyre” after its first-choice candidate was disqualified. But the 60-year-old engineer came first in the opening round, according to a Brotherhood tally after most votes were counted, thanks to a campaign that showed off the unequalled political muscle of Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement. The run-off on June 16 and 17 with second-placed Ahmed Shafiq, who served as deposed leader Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, gives Egyptians a stark choice between a military man linked to the past and an Islamist whose conservative message appeals to some and alarms others in this nation of 82 million.

A Brotherhood official said that with votes counted from about 12,800 of the roughly 13,100 polling stations, Mursi had 25 percent, Shafiq 23 percent, a rival Islamist Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh 20 percent and leftist Hamdeen Sabahy 19 percent. Calling himself the only authentic Islamist in the race, Mursi has targeted devout voters whose support helped the Brotherhood and the ultra-orthodox Salafi Islamist movement to secure 70 percent of parliament seats earlier this year.

He has promised to implement Islamic sharia during rallies peppered with references to the Koran, God and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and occasionally interrupted by pauses for mass prayer. But he has seldom spelt out what that would mean for Egypt, where piety runs deep and the constitution already defines the principles of Islamic law as the main source of legislation. Mursi has called for a review of Cairo’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel, saying Egypt’s neighbour has not respected the agreement, a line mirroring that of most of the other candidates in the race. The group has said it will not tear up the deal. “We will take a serious step towards a better future, God willing,” Mursi said at his final campaign rally on Sunday, promising to combat any corrupt hangers-on from Mubarak’s era.

“If they take a step to take us backwards, to forge the will (of the people) and fiddle with security, we know who they are,” he said. “We will throw them in the rubbish bin of history.” Mursi has cast himself as a reluctant latecomer to the election who is running for the sake of the nation and God. EMPHASIS ON SHARIA A stocky, bespectacled man with a grey-white beard, Mursi has traveled across Egypt promoting the Brotherhood’s “renaissance project” an 80-page manifesto based on what it terms its “centrist understanding” of Islam. His success has dismayed non-Islamists, not least Christians who make up about a tenth of the population, unconvinced by promises that freedoms will be safe in a Brotherhood-led Egypt. “It was for the sake of the Islamic sharia that men were ... thrown into prison. Their blood and existence rests on our shoulders now,” Mursi said during one campaign rally. “We will work together to realise their dream of implementing sharia,” said the Brotherhood contender, who himself spent time in jail under Mubarak.

Mursi, who obtained his doctorate from the United States, is a longserving, influential figure in the Brotherhood, a movement outlawed under Mubarak but which won close to half of the seats in parliamentary elections held after his overthrow. Mursi ran only after the electoral commission barred Khairat al-Shater, the Brotherhood’s preferred candidate, in April. Like other Islamist contenders, Mursi has courted the ultra-orthodox Salafi Islamist movement, which has emerged in the past year to challenge the Brotherhood’s dominance. The Nour Party, a Salafi group that won more than a fifth of the seats in the parliamentary vote, endorsed Mursi’s main Islamist rival, Abol Fotouh, who parted ways with the Brotherhood last year and cast himself as a moderate.

In a gesture to Gama’a al-Islamiya, another Salafi group, Mursi has

pledged to work for the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, a militant preacher imprisoned in the United States in the 1990s for plotting attacks in New York. Abdel-Rahman is the spiritual leader of Gama’a alIslamiya, which was involved in the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat but renounced violence in 1997. The group has entered mainstream politics since Mubarak was toppled. Another cleric, the independent Safwat el-Hegazi, added a radical flavour to Mursi’s campaign, taking to the stage at his events to call for a Muslim super-state with Jerusalem as its capital and drawing enthusiastic chants from the crowds.

CAIRO: An Egyptian election official counts the ballots following the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, May 24, 2012. — AP RURAL CHILDHOOD Mursi’s own speech-making style is stiff and formal. Critics say he lacks the charisma of some of his rivals. Other Brotherhood leaders, Shater among them, have appeared alongside Mursi at campaign events, reinforcing the impression this is a presidential bid by a movement, not an individual. The son of a peasant, Mursi has spoken of a simple childhood in a village in the Nile Delta province of Sharqia, recalling how his mother taught him prayer and the Koran. He studied engineering at Cairo University and in 1978 went to California to complete his studies. He returned to Egypt in 1985. Two of his five children hold US citizenship. Helmi el-Gazzar, a Brotherhood MP who has known Mursi for years, describes him as a scientific character with an analytical mind. “He was an indefatigable man, tangibly eager to perform the tasks for which he was responsible,” Gazzar told Reuters, recalling his days working with Mursi in Cairo.

Mursi’s critics portray him as a Brotherhood apparatchik and part of a conservative clique within the group who has long been dismissive of other political forces in Egypt. “He feels they do not have roots in the Egyptian street,” said Mohamed Habib, a former deputy Brotherhood leader, who left the group last year in protest at its post-Mubarak policies. Head of the Freedom and Justice Party that the Brotherhood established last year, Mursi comes across as deeply committed to the 84-year-old movement. His daughter is married to the son of another Brotherhood leader and he has described his wife, who wears a long, cape-like headscarf, as a Brotherhood activist.—Reuters

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Armenia ‘hate attacks’ expose anti-gay hatred YEREVAN: The acrid stench of burnt plastic still hangs in the air at the devastated basement bar, its walls blackened and fixtures melted by intense heat after the fire-bombers staged their nocturnal raid. The alleged “hate crime” bombing this month of alternative music bar DIY-popular with Yerevan’s young liberals and gays-has sparked fear and anger in Armenia’s small gay community and highlighted deep-rooted homophobia in the conservative Christian ex-Soviet state. “By terrorizing me, they want to give a lesson to others too,” said owner Armine “Tsomak” Oganezova amid the ruin of the once-vibrant underground hotspot. She alleged that the attack was staged by “members of a fascist organization” who had repeatedly harassed the bar since it opened. “It seems that today the life of anyone that is different in our country is under threat,” she said.

After being caught on surveillance cameras, two

Iranian-Armenian brothers aged 19 and 20 were arrested for alleged arson, police said without specifying any political motives. But within days of the blaze, extremists attacked the bar again, this time spraying swastikas on the walls and burning “No to Fascism” posters put up by wellwishers. The scandal quickly turned political when local media reported that two lawmakers from the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun) party had paid the bomb suspects’ bail. One of them, Artsvik Minasian, was reported as saying that causing damage was wrong but the attackers “acted the right way, in the context of our societal and national ideals”.

Minasian later denied the lawmakers paid bail, but told AFP that he did petition the court on the attackers’ behalf and accused DIY’s owner of trying to “artificially aggravate the situation, to become famous”. The political row escalated when the deputy speaker of parliament, Eduard

Sharmazanov, gave an interview to local media that appeared to justify the violence.

Deep-rooted homophobia “As an Armenian citizen and member of (the ruling) national-conservative party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against the homosexuals... completely right and justified,” he was reported as saying, although he did not respond to AFP’s requests for clarification. Leading blogger Mika Artyan said on his Unzipped: Gay Armenia site that the statement “effectively encourages terrorism”. Rights group Amnesty International meanwhile lamented that “the official response to the firebombing in Yerevan is utterly shocking.” Worryingly for Yerevan’s lesbians and gays, extremists seemingly untroubled by the possibility of arrest have kept returning to the gutted bar to spit on the walls and throw cigarette butts.—AFP

Queen marks diamond jubilee, riding wave of popularity LONDON: Millions of people will celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee in Britain as the monarch marks 60 years on the throne in the knowledge that the royal family has never been more popular.

The celebrations reach a climax over four days from June 2 to June 5 with a 1,000-boat river pageant on the Thames, a concert featuring some of pop’s biggest names and the pomp and splendour of a ceremonial parade. Britons have been granted an unusual two-day public holiday after the weekend to mark a truly historic occasion-the queen is only the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, after queen Victoria.

One million people are expected to line the Thames to see the pageant on June 3, with the queen’s ceremonial barge at the centre of a water-borne extravaganza of steam boats and tugs, speed boats and historic vessels. A chain of beacons will be lit across the globe the following day, culminating with the queen lighting the national beacon on a stage in front of Buckingham Palace where Paul McCartney is among the stars performing in her honor. There will also be more informal celebrations up and down the country as people hold street parties in a bid to recreate the spirit of the silver jubilee in 1977.

Prince William and his wife Catherine will represent the new generation of royals when they join a carriage procession on June 5.

Coming hot on the heels of William’s wedding to the then Kate Middleton last year, the jubilee is likely to further boost the royals’ popularity, with a poll this month showing that 80 percent of Britons want the country to remain a monarchy. But amid the celebrations and the acclaim for the queen it is easy to forget that just a decade ago, the picture was very different.

Massive surge of affection for the queen There was palpable ill-will towards the queen following the death of Diana, princess of Wales in a Paris car crash in 1997, when the monarch was widely criticised for failing to join in the public outpouring of grief. She did eventually bow to Diana’s coffin as it passed, a moment that historian Kate Williams says was a turning point. Now there is a “massive surge” of affection for the queen both in Britain and across the Commonwealth, said Williams, the author of “Young Elizabeth: The Making of our Queen”. “At the moment the queen’s popularity is as high as it’s ever been since her coronation,” she told AFP. “This is really quite incredible when you think about how extraordinarily unpopular she was after the death of Diana.

“The amount of people in this country who were either indifferent or felt that the Windsors had got no point at all and should be abolished-that has all changed. “It looks like the entirety of Britain is going to turn out in the first weekend in June.” At the centre of it all is an 86-year-old great-grandmother, who was visiting Kenya in February 1952 when she was woken to be told by her husband Prince Philip that her father, king George VI, had died at the age of 56, thrusting her into the role of queen. The coronation took place more than a year later, on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. Six decades on, the packed programme of events to mark the jubilee will be in sharp contrast to the first diamond jubilee in 1897. Queen Victoria was too lame to manage the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral and so a short service of thanksgiving was held outside the building. The current queen is apparently in good health and has travelled widely in Britain this year to meet her subjects, although in a nod to her age she has left trips abroad to mark the jubilee to other members of the royal family. —AFP

LONDON: A giant picture of Britain’s Royal family is unveiled on a building beside the River Thames in London yesterday in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. — AFP

Car bomb in central Turkey wounds 10, kills militants Police followed car for some 100 km before blast ISTANBUL: Two militants set off a bomb inside their car by a police headquarters in the central Turkish province of Kayseri yesterday, killing themselves and wounding at least 10 others, Turkey’s interior minister said. Kurdish separatists, Islamist militants - including al Qaeda, as well as groups on the far left and right have all carried out bomb attacks in Turkey, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for yesterday’s blast. Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin said security forces had followed the car from Goksun district in Kahramanmaras province to Pinarbasi - about 100 km (60 miles) after it passed a checkpoint in the road without stopping. Police opened fire as it passed the police headquarters in the town of Pinarbasi and the bomb went off, Sahin said. Pinarbasi lies east of the city of Kayseri, which is about 325 km (200 miles) southeast of the capital Ankara.

It was not immediately clear why police did not stop the car sooner, and Sahin said investigators did not think, as yet, that the target was the police station. “From what can be seen inside the vehicle, there are two suicide bomber militants inside. They are of course in pieces and the car is destroyed. This is a sad event,” Sahin told reporters from the Aegean city of Izmir. “We were not expecting the terror organization to stop. We have seen how they continue to carry out crazy acts,” Sahin said, using a common term to describe the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), who are waging a war against the state. Sahin said that at least 10 people

had been wounded, including children.

Turkish media earlier reported that the car had tried to drive into the police station moments before the blast and that 19 people had been wounded in the attack, six of them seriously. Staterun TRT Haber broadcaster said security forces were hunting for a third militant who had managed to escape.

‘HUGE BLAST’ A civil servant at the Pinarbasi district governor’s office, said, “We heard a huge blast even though our office is 2 km away from the police station. We saw a big cloud of smoke rising but we don’t know about the number of dead or injured.” “We heard that it was a car which attempted to drive into the police station and then an explosion occurred,” Hasan Gumus told Reuters by telephone minutes after the explosion. Television footage showed frantic scenes around the police station with fire engines and ambulances rushing to the scene. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Bomb attacks in Kayseri are almost unheard of with most raids occurring further east in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeast. PKK guerillas vowed to step up their fight against the Turkish state last year and have launched a series of attacks against Turkish security forces, killing scores of people. Speaking hours after the blast, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan vowed to continue fighting the PKK. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Ukraine speaker urges new elections after brawl KIEV: The speaker of Ukraine’s parliament yesterday called for the chamber to be disbanded and early elections held after deputies got into an ugly brawl over a proposed new language law. Members of President Viktor Yanukovych’s party came to blows on Thursday with lawmakers who opposed legislation expanding the use of the Russian language in courts and hospitals in the country’s eastern regions that have close ties to Moscow. Yanukovych’s Regions Party relies on the industrial east for support and has promoted the law ahead of legislative elections scheduled for the end of October.

But Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn-a

moderate who on Thursday said he opposed the new bill-said the ugly fight between lawmakers showed they could no longer work together and proposed disbanding the chamber. “There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from yesterday’s events-the Verkhovna Rada and Ukrainian parliamentarism are completely ruined,” Lytvyn told reporters. Parliament remained deadlocked yesterday as lawmakers opposed to the law-many of them supporters of the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko-halted hearings by blocking access to the Rada rostrum.

Lytvyn said lawmakers refused to discuss his call for an early vote in preliminary hearings held before yes-

terday’s session officially opened. The language issue has divided Ukraine for much of its post-Soviet era.

The mostly Russian-speaking eastern half of the country represents the industrial base of Ukraine that has close cultural and political ties with its giant eastern neighbor. The Ukrainian-speaking west is traditionally more nationalist and served as the base of support for the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution leader Tymoshenko and her allies. Tensions in Ukraine have been high since the arrest and October jailing for seven years of Tymoshenko on controversial charges that EU leaders and her supporters view as politically motivated. — AFP

French president: All combat troops out in 2012 KABUL: All French combat forces will pull out of Afghanistan by the end of the year, France’s new president said in Kabul yesterday, but some trainers will remain to help Afghanistan’s nascent security forces. Francois Hollande said that France’s troops have carried out their mission in Afghanistan and it is time for them to leave, an early pullout that will be coordinated with the United States and other allies. “There will be no combat troops” after the end of the year, Hollande said during a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Hollande flew to Afghanistan to meet with troops and to discuss plans with Karzai to withdraw French combat troops more than a year earlier than scheduled. His visit was not announced ahead of time for security reasons, and he was expected to depart shortly after the news conference. Hollande said that France will pull its 2,000 combat troops, out of a total of 3,300, out by the end of the year.

Some would stay behind to help send military equipment back to France, and others would help train the Afghan army and police. He did not provide a breakdown for the roles of the 1,300 soldiers who will remain past 2012 or how long they would stay.

Hollande said that continued cooperation was discussed over lunch with Karzai “because there will continue to be trainers who will work with (Afghan) soldiers and police.” He said French equipment would be taken out by ground routes, but did not say which ones. Pakistan closed overland supply routes to Afghanistan for NATO after a US attack on the Pakistani side of the border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last November. The decision has forced NATO to use a far more costly route running through the north. Talks to reopen the routes have been stuck over fees - Pakistan is demanding $5,000 per truck.

The fee had been $250 a truck before the attack, and the United States, which is handling the talks, has countered with an offer of $500.

France has signed an agreement with Afghanistan that calls for cooperation after 2014. Other countries, including the United States, have signed similar accords. “We want France to have a presence in Afghanistan differently from

how it did in the past,” Hollande said. France wants to be “useful in a different way,” in economic and cultural matters, he said. During an earlier meeting with French troops at a base in the Nijrab district of the eastern Kapisa province, Hollande said “several reasons justify this decision to withdraw our combat troops from Afghanistan.”

“The time for Afghan sovereignty has come,” he said. “The terrorist threat that targeted our territory, while it hasn’t totally disappeared, is in part lessened.”

Another reason “is that, simply, you have carried out your mission.” “Thank you for what you have accomplished for France, what you are doing for Afghanistan,” Hollande told the troops before flying to Kabul to meet Karzai.

Hollande announced plans at a NATO summit this week to pull out French troops by the end of the year, well ahead of the alliance’s 2014 withdrawal date. Reflecting increasing French disillusionment with the war, Hollande’s conservative predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, had pledged to withdraw all troops by the end of 2013. Hollande, elected president this month, made a more immediate pullout a pillar of his campaign. Tension over Hollande’s pledge to end his country’s combat mission two years early dominated the NATO summit in Chicago, unleashing fears of a domino effect of other allies withdrawing early. France is the fourth largest troops contributor after the United States, Britain and Germany.

President Barack Obama last year decided to pull out 33,000 US combat troops by September. Gen. John Allen, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said this week that on Sept. 30 there will be 68,000 US and about 40,000 other coalition forces in Afghanistan - compared to more than 130,000 last year. The coalition has started handing over security control to Afghan army and police in areas home to 75 percent of the population, with a goal of putting them in the lead for all the country by mid- 2013. NATO and other foreign forces would then be in a support role for the 352,000-strong Afghan National Security Forces. Most foreign combat troops will have left Afghanistan by the end of 2014, when Afghanistan will take complete control for security around the country.—AP

NIJRAB: French President Francois Hollande prepares to deliver his speech after visiting troops at Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Nijrab, Kapisa region of Afghanistan yesterday where most of French troops are stationed in Afghanistan. — AP

VATICAN CITY: This file picture shows a Swiss guard (L) and a Vatican’s gendarme attending the mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI for the solemnity of the Epiphany at St Peter’s basilica. The Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi announced yesterday that Vatican arrested a man with secret documents in Vatileaks scandal. — AFP

Vatican detains person with documents in leaks scandal Scandal has come to be known as ‘Vatileaks’ VATICAN CITY: The Vatican, embroiled for months in the so-called “Vatileaks” scandal involving the leak of secret papers, said yesterday that its police had detained a person in possession of confidential documents. A Vatican statement said the person was being questioned by Vatican magistrates, but gave no details. A Vatican source said the person was not a priest. For much of this year, the Vatican has been at the centre of a scandal involving the leak to Italian media of documents, some of them personal letters to Pope Benedict. Some of the documents involved allegations of corruption, mismanagement and cronyism in the awarding of contracts for work in the Vatican and internal disagreement on the management of the Vatican bank.

The president of the Vatican bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, was ousted by its board on Thursday. The pope, who was said to be shocked and saddened by the leaks, ordered several investigations, including one headed

by Vatican police and another by a commission of cardinals. The scandal involves the leaking of a string of sensitive documents to Italian media since the start of the year. They included letters by an archbishop

who was transferred to Washington after he blew the whistle on what he saw as a web of corruption and cronyism, a memo which put a number of cardinals in a bad light and documents alleging internal conflicts about the Vatican Bank. In January, an Italian television investigation broadcast private letters to Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and the pope from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former deputy governor of the Vatican City and currently the Holy See’s ambassador in Washington.

The letters showed that Vigano was transferred after he exposed what he argued was a web of corruption, nepotism and cronyism linked to the awarding of contracts to Italian contractors at inflated prices. In one letter, Vigano wrote of a smear campaign against him by other Vatican officials who were upset that he had taken drastic steps to clean up the purchasing procedures. He begged to stay in the job to finish what he had started. Bertone responded by removing Vigano from his position three years before the end of his tenure and sending him to the United States, despite his strong resistance. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Venezuela strengthens security on Colombia border CARACAS: Venezuela has arrested a group of Colombians they say are linked to a leftist guerrilla border attack that killed 12 Colombian soldiers, Defense Minister Henry Rangel said Thursday. The Colombian military said it was “very likely” that rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) crossed from north-western Venezuela to stage the attack in a remote area on the Guajira Peninsula, then fled back across the border. “We are looking into their relationship (with the FARC) in order to act in accordance with the law,” Rangel told state-run AVN news. The 10 suspects will be handed over to Colombian officials,

Rangel told AVN. Two brigades from Venezuela’s National Armed Forces and troops from the regional Air Force Command, some 3,000 in all, have been dispatched to the border area since Monday, boosting a permanent army presence there, Rangel said earlier.

Venezuela also deployed four low-flying reconnaissance planes and three Russian-built MI-17 helicopters, government media said.

“We are conducting very specific tasks to search for and find possible elements of the armed groups that have penetrated the Venezuelan territory,” Rangel told Telesur television.

Bogota had called on Caracas to take

US Muslim soldier guilty in Fort Hood bomb plot WACO: Walking around a gun store one day last summer, the young man never took off his sunglasses as he asked questions about items he piled on the counter - behavior that struck the manager as odd. Pfc Naser Jason Abdo had already traveled hundreds of miles since going AWOL from Fort Campbell, Ky, three weeks earlier. He bought a gun from an online seller in Nashville and paid cash for thousands of dollars of bomb-making components at a major Dallas-area retail store. Trying to avoid being caught, he wore a baseball cap and sunglasses most of the time, never used credit cards while staying in motels and traveling by bus or cab, and he had his roommate’s driver’s license.

But his luck ran out in Killeen, a city about 150 miles southwest of Dallas and near one of the nation’s largest Army posts - Fort Hood.

Guns Galore manager Cathy Cheadle “just had this feeling” about him. She and an employee talked about it and then called police - who had Abdo in custody less than 24 hours later at a motel, where authorities say he had started to build a bomb. Police hadn’t even known his name or background until they detained him. A federal jury Thursday convicted Abdo, a Muslim soldier, on six charges in connection with his failed plot to blow up a Texas restaurant full of Fort Hood troops, his religious mission to get “justice” for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“A disaster was averted because somebody picked up the phone and made a call,” prosecutor Mark Frazier told The Associated Press after the trial. “The people who work in businesses like this are vigilant ... and risked being embarrassed if their suspicions turned out to be nothing, but that’s what we want people to do.” Abdo was convicted of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempted murder of US officers or employees, and four counts of possessing a weapon in furtherance of a federal crime of violence. He faces up to life in prison. US District Judge Walter Smith is set to sentence Abdo in July.

Abdo, 22, did not stand with his attorneys when jurors and the judge entered the room, and he showed no emotion when each of the six guilty verdicts was read by the court clerk. Abdo, who’s been accused of spitting blood on authorities escorting him and a jailer, wore a mask covering his nose and mouth throughout the trial. Abdo’s lead attorney, Zach Boyd, told jurors during closing arguments that he should be acquitted because his plan never progressed beyond preparation.

When authorities detained Abdo at a Killeen motel July 27, they found bomb-making components, a loaded gun, 143 rounds of ammunition, a stun gun and magazine article on how to make an explosive device. In a recorded police interview, Abdo said he was planning an attack in the Fort Hood area “because I don’t appreciate what my unit did in Afghanistan.” — AP

“effective” action against the rebels.

Rangel spoke ahead of a meeting of Venezuelan and Colombian foreign ministers to discuss border security cooperation. Any rebels found will face the “iron hand” of Venezuelan security forces, he said.

Acknowledging that the long border of over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) has historically been “very permeable,” Rangel said that security “has improved,” with the army consolidating its presence. Bogota in the past has accused the leftist government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of providing refuge to Colombian guerrillas, but tensions between the two governments have

eased under Santos, who has cultivated better relations with Caracas than his hard-line predecessor Alvaro Uribe. The FARC have stepped up attacks on Colombian security forces over the past year in remote parts of the country. In April, 15 soldiers were killed in fighting in the southern department of Caqueta, while on March 11 other soldiers were ambushed and killed in the eastern department of Arauca, which also borders Venezuela. The FARC is the country’s oldest and largest insurgent group with about 9,200 men under arms, according to Colombian defense ministry estimates. — AFP

Obama campaign targeting Romney’s record as governor President’s team broadens attacks beyond business record CHICAGO/DES MOINES: After weeks of painting Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney as a job-slashing corporate raider, President Barack Obama and his re-election campaign are broadening their attack to include Romney’s record as Massachusetts governor, arguing his policies hurt the state. Obama, in an impassioned campaign speech in the battleground state of Iowa on Thursday night, foreshadowed that shift in strategy when he said Romney had made his business experience the centerpiece of his candidacy but “doesn’t really talk about what he did in Massachusetts.”

The move, described by campaign officials, marks a change from the campaign’s recent main focus on Romney’s time as a private equity executive at Bain Capital aimed at casting him as more concerned with the wealthy than the middle class.

The Obama team’s approach on Romney’s work at Bain has faced some criticism. Some saw it as hypocritical at a time when the campaign was seeking donations from private equity executives. And while the attacks have been part of a strategy to define Romney as out of touch with most Americans, the presumptive Republican nominee has been rising in recent polls, most of which show the race in a dead heat. Despite that, Obama pressed his assault on Romney’s private equity background in his toughest terms so far and mocked him for saying “corporations are people,” a comment he made last August while campaigning in Iowa.

Obama also rebutted Romney’s recent claim that the Democratic president had created a “prairie fire of debt” since taking office, dismissing that as a “cow pie of distortion.”

“Governor Romney has made his experience as a financial CEO the entire rationale for his candidacy,” Obama told a boisterous rally of about 2,500 people inside a barn like building at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines. He suggested Romney did

not want to remind voters of his credentials outside the corporate world “but he does talk about being a business guy.” “He says this gives him a special understanding of what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy - even if he’s unable to offer a single new idea about how to do that,” Obama told the Iowa crowd, who booed loudly when Romney’s name was mentioned. “So I think it’s a good idea to look at the way he sees the economy,” the president continued.

“He sincerely believes that if CEOs and wealthy investors are getting rich, then the wealth is going to trickle down and the rest of us are going to do well, too. And he is wrong.”

Though Obama did not explicitly assail Romney’s record as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, campaign officials made clear this would be their new focus in the weeks ahead. By broadening its attack, the Obama re-election team will make the

case that Romney’s economic philosophies have pervaded his career and would damage the country. Romney’s campaign quickly pushed back. “By the end of this year, President Obama will have presided over a record-shattering four consecutive trillion-dollar deficits and added an historic amount to our national debt. Our children will be footing the bill for his failed policies years from now,” said Ryan Williams, a Romney spokesman. “It’s as if he’s forgotten that he’s been president for nearly four years and has a record to defend,” Williams said. An Obama campaign official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “You’ll see over the course of this campaign a really strong connection between (Romney’s) time at Bain and the values and lessons that he took from that.” “He used those values and lessons in Massachusetts, and we’ll take a look at those results,” the official said. — Reuters

DES MOINES: US President Barack Obam boards Air Force One at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 24, 2012 after attending a campaign event. Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney vowed to cut unemployment to six percent if elected, saying he has the right business acumen and policies and warned Obama not to ‘attack success.’ — AFP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Fire damage raises questions about sub’s future KITTERY: Even before the Navy completed its first damage assessment, the severity of a fire that swept through a nuclear-powered submarine in dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard triggered questions about whether the USS Miami can be salvaged. The USS Miami’s nuclear propulsion was spared from the intense blaze but some forward compartments including living quarters, command and control, and torpedo room suffered extensive damage, officials said Thursday.

The Navy was unable to complete a formal assessment Thursday but the damage was severe enough to raise questions about whether costly repairs would make sense for the 22year-old Los Angeles-class attack submarine. “The duration of the fire suggests extensive damage that could render the vessel useless.

These submarines were designed decades ago. So they’re no longer state of the art,” said Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Arlington, Va.-based Lexington Institute. “If this vessel returns to service, I will be amazed.”

Working in the submarine’s favor is the fact that workers had removed some equipment and gutted part of the vessel during the retrofit, said US Rep Chellie Pingree of Maine after meeting with the shipyard commander. Rear Adm Richard Breckenridge, commander of Submarine Group Two in Groton, Conn., where the USS Miami is based, told reporters on Thursday that it was premature to say whether the submarine could be salvaged. If it’s scrapped, it would mean the loss of a ship that cost about $900 million at the time to build. The US Navy’s newest attack submarines,

the Virginia-class, are even more expensive at about $2.6 billion apiece.

The fire broke out Wednesday evening while the Miami was on a 20-month stay at the shipyard for an overhaul, and it took firefighters from more than a dozen departments until Thursday morning to douse the fire, described as intense and smoky. Pingree described it as a “hot scary mess.” “It takes a lot of guts to into a burning building. But the idea of going into a submarine full of hot toxic smoke - that’s real courage,” she said. Two crew members, three shipyard firefighters and two civilian firefighters were hurt, but their injuries were minor, officials said. Officials were waiting Thursday to begin venting smoke and noxious fumes so workers go inside the submarine to assess damage. Workers had to let fire-dam-

aged compartments cool enough for fresh air to be safely introduced without risk of another fire. There were no details on the cause of the fire, but Breckenridge promised that there will be a thorough investigation.

Firefighters isolated the flames so they would not spread to nuclear propulsion spaces at the rear of the submarine. There was nuclear fuel on board the sub, but the reactor has been shut down for two months and was unaffected. The rear compartments including the nuclear propulsion unit remained habitable, and crew members never left that part of the sub during the fire, Breckenridge said. Nonetheless, the blaze was stubborn. “The fire spread to spaces within the submarine that were difficult to access, presenting a challenging situation for initial responders. — AP

US Muslims angry over surveillance findings US Muslims frown at surveillance based on religion TRENTON: Muslim leaders in New Jersey say they are angry but uncertain what their next step will be after the state’s attorney general found that New York City police did not violate any laws in its surveillance of Muslim businesses, mosques and student groups in New Jersey. Several mosque leaders who attended a meeting Thursday with Attorney General Jeffrey S Chiesa said they were shocked he found no violation of state criminal or civil laws by the NYPD in operations that many Muslims considered unjustified surveillance based solely on religion.

“This is a big violation of our civil rights, and we need to go to our communities and explain it?” Imam Mohammad Qatanani, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County said Thursday as he left the meeting. Qatanani said he would not tell his congregants to stop collaborating with law enforcement, but added, “We need from them to show us the same seriousness and honesty in building bridges with the Muslim community.”

Chiesa had been asked by Gov. Chris Christie, who appointed him, to look into operations in New Jersey that were part of a widespread NYPD program to collect intelligence on Muslim communities both inside New York and beyond. Undercover officers and informants eavesdropped in Muslim cafes and monitored sermons, even when there was no evidence of a crime.

They infiltrated Muslim student groups, videotaped mosque-goers or collected their license plate numbers as they prayed.

The result was that many innocent business owners, students and others were cataloged in police files. The inter-

state surveillance efforts, revealed by The Associated Press earlier this year, angered many Muslims and New Jersey officials. Some, like Newark Mayor Cory Booker and the state’s top FBI official, criticized the tactics. Others, like Christie, focused more on the fact that the NYPD didn’t tell New Jersey exactly what it was up to. In response, Chiesa launched what he described as a factfinding review. Further, authorities found that New Jersey has no laws barring outside law enforcement agencies from secretly conducting operations in the state, representatives of the attorney general’s office told the AP. However, New York police have agreed to meet with New Jersey law enforcement regularly to discuss counterterrorism intelligence and operations, the attorney general said. “We remain committed to striking the appropriate balance of ensuring the safety of our citizens through vigilance in fighting terrorism, while not undermining the public’s confidence in how we approach that mission,” Chiesa said in a written statement. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who had been out of the country earlier Thursday, said he hadn’t seen the report. But he said the NYPD had recently held a law enforcement conference at police headquarters and many New Jersey agencies attended it, a testament to the department’s overall commitment of working with agencies in other cities.

Muslim leaders said they were told that every instance of NYPD activity in New Jersey had been justified by a lead, but that the attorney general would not provide any details on the nature of any of those leads, saying the fact-finding was ongoing. Imam Mustafa El-Amin of the Newark-based Masjid Ibrahim said he was concerned

that Chiesa refused to explain what leads had been received. With the NYPD compiling a map of every mosque in Newark - including his - he said he wanted to know about any problems or potential dangers in his mosque he might be unaware of. “We understand the need for surveillance and security,” said El-Amin, “We just don’t appreciate how this was done.

We as Muslims feel we were violated, simply because we are Muslims.”

Several Muslim leaders at Thursday’s meeting said that they did not find the assertion that the NYPD had leads for all their operations in New Jersey credible, adding that efforts to maintain communication between the community and law enforcement would be hurt by the findings that the NYPD had done nothing wrong - and could keep doing what they have been doing. “It was basically an, ‘FYI, good Thursday afternoon, let it die in the media before the Memorial Day weekend,’” said Mohamed El-Filali, executive director of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, across the Hudson River from New York. If the surveillance of every mosque, burger joint and barbershop targeted was justified, he asked, why were no arrests made?

Aref Assaf of the American Arab Forum said the attorney general made them feel like second-class citizens. “I said to him it’s not only insulting, it’s offensive to our sense of justice, that you bring us to Trenton to tell us that you accept as legal and valid the actions of the NYPD, and I will not be surprised if you’re issuing an order informing your law enforcement officials that they too can spy on American Muslisms because if it’s legal for NYPD, than it must be legal for NJ to do the same.” — AP

MEXICO CITY: Red Cross emergency responders carry away an unidentified child on a stretcher after the helicopter carrying him landed at a medical facility in Mexico City, Thursday May 24, 2012. The 5 year-old boy allegedly had both his eyes gouged by his own mother in what authorities say appeared to have been a drug-fueled ritual. The mother and several other relatives were arrested. — AP

Churches raise money to fight gay marriage PORTLAND: Scores of Maine churches will pass the collection plate a second time at Sunday services on Father’s Day to kick off a fundraising campaign for the lead opposition group to November’s ballot question asking voters to legalize same-sex marriages. Between 150 and 200 churches are expected to raise money for the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee, said Carroll Conley Jr., executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine evangelical organization and a member of the PAC. Conley is also trying to drum up support for the Maine campaign from religious leaders from around the country.

It’s unusual, but not unheard of, for churches to take up collections for political causes. Maine’s Catholic diocese says it raised about $80,000 with a designated collection in 2009 in its effort to overturn Maine’s same-sex marriage law, which was passed by the Legislature that year and later rejected by voters. The Catholic church isn’t actively campaigning this time, instead focusing on teaching parishioners about the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman Father’s Day, June 17, seemed an appropriate time to kick off this year’s fundraising campaign because of the day’s focus on family, Conley said.

Additional collection-plate offerings at churches are expected in the months ahead. “The messaging we’re using is that those who are seeking to redefine marriage in Maine believe there’s no difference between moms and dads,” Conley told The Associated Press. — AP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

China’s nine-dashed line in S China Sea China uses records from 1,000 years ago to back claims HONG KONG: Alongside an armada of paramilitary patrol vessels and fishing boats, China has fired off a barrage of historical records to reinforce its claim over a disputed shoal near the Philippines in the South China Sea. While this propaganda broadside makes it clear Beijing will take a tough line with Manila as a standoff over Scarborough Shoal continues into a seventh week, the exact legal justification for China’s claim and the full extent of the territory affected remain uncertain, according to experts in maritime law. Like most of its claims to vast expanses of the resource-rich and strategically important South China Sea, Beijing prefers to remain ambiguous about the details, they say.

This allows the ruling Communist Party to demonstrate to an increasingly nationalistic domestic audience that it can defend China’s right to control a swathe of ocean territory. And, it avoids further inflaming tensions with neighbours who are already apprehensive about China’s growing military power and territorial ambition. “This ambiguity serves China’s domestic purpose which is to safeguard the government’s legitimacy and satisfy domestic public opinion,” said Sun Yun, a Washington D.C.-

based China foreign policy expert and a former analyst for the International Crisis Group in Beijing.

POTENTIAL FLASHPOINT Rival claims to territory in the South China Sea are one of the biggest potential flashpoints in the Asia-Pacific region.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have territorial claims across a waterway that provides 10 per cent of the global fisheries catch and carries $5 trillion in ship-borne trade.

Half the world’s shipping tonnage traverses its sea lanes. The United States, which claims national interests in the South China Sea, recently completed naval exercises with the Philippines near Scarborough Shoal. It is stepping up its military presence in the region as part of a strategic “pivot” towards Asia after more than a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The acrimonious confrontation over Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in Chinese, began last month when Beijing ordered its civilian patrol vessels to stop the Philippines arresting Chinese fisherman working in the disputed area. Beijing and Manila both claim sovereignty over the group of rocks,

reefs and small islands about 220 km (132 miles) from the Philippines. The Philippines says the shoal falls within its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ), giving it the right to exploit the natural resources in this area.

sels leave the area. China’s Foreign Ministry responded on Wednesday that only 20 Chinese fishing boats were in the area, a normal number for this time of the year, and they were operating in accordance with Chinese law.

SONG DYNASTY RECORDS In a concerted response from Beijing, official government spokesmen, senior diplomats and reports carried by influential state-controlled media outlets have drawn on the histories of earlier dynasties to rebut Manila’s claim. They say the records show China’s sailors discovered Huangyan Island 2,000 years ago and cite extensive records of visits, mapping expeditions and habitation of the shoal from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) right through to the modern period. To back up these arguments, China has also deployed some of its most advanced paramilitary patrol vessels to the shoal in a calibrated show of strength, for now keeping its increasingly powerful navy at a distance.

A Philippines government spokesman said on Wednesday China had almost 100 Chinese vessels at the shoal, including four government patrol ships. Earlier, Manila demanded that all Chinese ves-

NINE-DASH LINE Maritime lawyers note Beijing routinely outlines the scope of its claims with reference to the so-called ninedashed line that takes in about 90 percent of the 3.5 million square kilometre South China Sea on Chinese maps. This vague boundary was first officially published on a map by China’s Nationalist government in 1947 and has been included in subsequent maps issued under Communist rule. While Beijing has no difficulty in producing historical evidence to support its territorial links to many islands and reefs, less material is available to show how it arrived at the nine-dashed line. In a September, 2008 US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks, the US Embassy in Beijing reported that a senior Chinese government maritime law expert, Yin Wenqiang, had “admitted” he was unaware of the historical basis for the nine dashes. —Reuters

Japan eyes smaller nuclear role but no exit strategy

HONG KONG: A member of the US navy stands before a CH-53 heavy lift helicopter on the deck of the USS Makin Island, a large Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, in Hong Kong yesterday. The ship resembles a small aircraft carrier and boasts a complement of helicopters, vertical take-off and landing ìHarrier jump jets,’ trucks, humvees and more than 2,500 sailors and marines. — AFP

Australia to tackle ‘insidious’ waterfront crime SYDNEY: Australia announced a major crackdown yesterday on the “insidious presence” of organised crime on the waterfront as police warned that international syndicates were targeting the country. The move follows a report revealing rampant corruption by dock workers and other officials. Among the reforms announced by Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, police will have the power to revoke a person’s right to work at the waterfront if it is believed they are involved in criminal activity. “Organised crime is an insidious presence in Australia. It costs our economy over $15 billion a year,” said Clare. “Serious organized crime groups target law enforcement, the private cargo industry and the waterfront.

“This is a major crackdown on organized crime and a major overhaul of security of the waterfront and the entire supply chain.” The crackdown comes after a police taskforce focused on Sydney uncovered corruption which was allowing an epidemic of contraband, including drugs, tobacco and guns, to be smuggled through the city’s ports. Task Force Polaris, set up in July 2010, said crime groups had infiltrated key positions in the cargo industry from terminal dockworkers to freight forwarders and customs brokers. —AFP

TOKYO: Japan is leaning toward a policy of halving nuclear power’s share of electricity supply from pre-Fukushima levels to about 15 percent by 2030, but will likely stop short of pledging the long-term exit strategy that many voters favour, experts said. That would be a victory of sorts for a nuclear industry that has been under fire since a huge earthquake and tsunami devasted the Fukushima atomic plant in March 2011, triggering meltdowns in the world’s worst radiation accident in a quarter century. With discussions on shaping future energy policy extending over months, the government has already pledged to reduce the role of nuclear power and in principle to decommission reactors after they have been running for 40 years.

That formula would yield a share of around 15 percent by 2030 if strictly followed.

“It is government policy to set the limit on nuclear reactors’ operation at 40 years,” Goshi Hosono, the minister in charge of the nuclear crisis, told reporters yesterday. “Fifteen percent (by 2030) would be in line with that,” Kyodo news agency quoted him as saying after a meeting of expert advisers to the government the night before. Nuclear power provided about 30 percent of Japan’s electricity needs before the Fukushima disaster, while a 2010 energy policy, ditched after the crisis, had set a target of more than 50 percent for 2030. Some experts and lawmakers also want to set a target to exit nuclear power by 2050, if not earlier, but are meeting fierce resistance from those who want to throw the industry a lifeline.

“It is highly likely that the cabinet will make a final decision not to make it (a 2050 target) clear,” said Hiroshi Takahashi, a fellow at the Fujitsu Reseach Institute and a member of the expert panel advising on energy mix policy. “In my view, that is a mediocre option, but it may be good for both sides. Those in favour of a phase out will say ‘We’re trying’ and those in favour of nuclear power will say ‘Let’s see, there might be radical innovations in the next 20-30 years.’” A draft proposal of five energy mix options, with nuclear’s share ranging from zero to 35 percent, was presented at the panel’s meeting on Thursday. But the draft dropped a variation that would have set a 15 percent target for nuclear power by 2030 while having that share fall to zero two decades later. “They (the secretariat) did not want to make it clear that this is an option because they don’t want to phase out the nuclear industry,” Takahashi said.

and industry ministry-long a promoter of nuclear power. “If you look at major economies, their nuclear policies have changed drastically in the past 20 years and there are so many uncertain factors to look at by 2050,” said a former industry ministry official with deep knowledge of the debate. “I’m very cautious about that (setting a 2050 target).” Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, his ratings already below 30 percent as he battles a divided parliament and fractious ruling party, is being buffetted by conflicting pressures from voters worried about safety and business groups arguing higher power rates will increase pressure to move their production offshore. —Reuters

SUMMER SHOWDOWN The panel’s secretariat is run by the government’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, under the jurisdiction of the trade

CANBERRA: President Anibal Cavaco Silva of Portugal (left) tours the Australian War Memorial with Chairman Ken Doolan in Canberra yesterday. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

More than 50 climbers summit crowded Everest KATHMANDU: More than 50 climbers reached the top of Mount Everest yesterday at the start of a two-day window that has raised fears of perilous overcrowding on the world’s highest peak after four deaths last week. The 48-hour stretch of forecast good weather was expected to see more than 200 climbers try a final push to the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) summit, despite warnings of potentially deadly bottlenecks in the “death zone” above 8,000m. “So far 52 people have summited and there were a total of 150 ready to climb at camp four,” said tourism ministry official Tilak Pandey.

“Yesterday only half went up because they were fearing traffic jams and those remaining will start their ascent yesterday evening and will be back by tomorrow.” Mountaineers are taking advantage of the spring climbing season, when jet streams that rage over Everest for most of the year abate for a few weeks. Four climbers from Germany, South Korea, China and Canada died while descending from the crowded summit area last

weekend, which saw 150 people reach the top of the world before a severe windstorm set in. Experts say the sheer numbers of climbers exacerbates the already substantial dangers of tackling Everest, which has now claimed more than 220 lives-half of those in the past 20 years.

“Two hundred people climbing the mountain is too many for one weekend.

Twenty-five to thirty a day is okay but 200 is too many,” said Pemba Dorje Sherpa, who holds the eight-year-old record for the fastest ascent of Everest.

“You have many people waiting and waiting. They spend too long waiting at the top and they get frostbite. Waiting around on Everest is dangerous. Running out of oxygen can be a big problem.”

Blog posts and reports sent by satellite telephone from base camp spoke of queues at precarious ridges and jostling as people tried to pass each other. “The problem is not in fact that too many people might be on the mountain but rather too many people attempt to reach the

summit on the same day, leading to overcrowding in the highest parts,” Dawa Steven Sherpa told AFP by email from the base camp.

Some have pointed a finger at the increasing number of commercial expeditions shepherding paying climbers up the mountain. Clients fork out about $25,000 to expedition organisers plus between $10,000 and $25,000 for an Everest permit, and some have been accused of ignoring their guides when advised to turn back. Traditionalists also worry about the growing tendency of expeditions to set records and achieve “firsts”. This year’s crop of summiteers has included the oldest woman ever to achieve the feat, 73-year-old Japanese Tamae Watanabe, who beat her own record. Everest is a lucrative revenue earner for the Nepalese government and officials in Kathmandu have played down concerns about the numbers of climbers.

“I don’t think that the overcrowding has led to deaths. It depends on the weather and this season it has been

bad,” said tourism ministry spokesman Bal Krishna Ghimire. Among those reaching the top on yesterday was Briton Kenton Cool, who fulfilled an 88-year-old promise to carry an Olympic gold medal to the summit. The medal was one of 21 awarded to members of a British Everest expedition at the 1924 Winter Olympics, in an era when mountaineering was included as an Olympic sport. Their 1922 expedition had come within 500 metres of the summit, but failed in three attempts to reach the top.

Lt. Col Edward Strutt, a member of the team, had pledged that at the very next opportunity one of the gold medals would be taken to the top of the world — a promise that, until now, had remained unfulfilled. For Cool, 38, it was his 10th successful ascent of Everest, breaking his own British record. Since the first ascent on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, about 10,000 people have attempted to climb the ultimate peak, almost 4,000 successfully. —AFP

Pakistani interrogator says bin Laden wives gave little away Trio seemingly supportive of their spouse

KARACHI: An activist of Pakistani political and Islamic party Jammat-e-Islami (JI) carries a placard during a protest in Karachi yesterday against the Pakistani government’s plan to reopen NATO supplies route to Afghanistan.

Pakistan sealed its border with Afghanistan to NATO supply convoys after NATO air strikes in November 2011 killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the border, triggering outrage in Islamabad. — AFP

Indian PM to ‘meet Aung San Suu Kyi’ in Myanmar YANGON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi next week during the first visit by an Indian premier to Myanmar in a quarter of a century, her party said yesterday. India has faced international criticism in the past for its engagement with Myanmar’s former junta, and Singh’s meeting with the veteran activist is seen as a sign that Delhi wants to reaffirm ties with the democracy activist. Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), said the talks would take place on Tuesday, pushing back plans for the Nobel laureate to visit Bangkok in her first foreign trip in 24 years.

“She will fly to Thailand to attend the World Economic Forum (on East Asia) on Tuesday evening,” he told AFP without giving further details. Singh will also meet President Thein Sein, who is credited with instigating a series of political reforms in the country formerly known as Burma, on Monday in the capital Naypyidaw, according to Myanmar government officials. Once an outspoken supporter of Suu Kyi, India began engaging the Myanmar junta in the mid1990s on security and energy issues and as a counter to China’s growing strategic influence.

The country’s dealings with Myanmar’s previous military regime drew international concern, however, with US President Barack Obama chiding New Delhi during a visit to India in 2010 for not speaking out over human rights abuses in the country. —AFP

ISLAMABAD: Osama bin Laden’s three wives were fiercely loyal to him and gave little away when they were interrogated after the al Qaeda chief was killed in a US raid over a year ago, a Pakistani intelligence agent who questioned them said.

The three women were arrested by Pakistani security forces after the Navy SEAL raid on bin Laden’s safe house in the town of Abbottabad, about 35 km (60 miles) from the capital Islamabad. Slowly puffing on a cigarette in a rundown Islamabad villa as he described months of questioning the women, the agent said he struggled to glean any worthwhile information.

Yemeni-born Amal Al-Sadeh, the youngest of the three, was headstrong and showed fury when asked questions, while the others, Saudi citizens, expressed displeasure by mostly keeping silent behind their veils, the agent said. All appeared to strongly support bin Laden, despite the militant’s long and bloody record of orchestrating violence across the world. “They were all nostalgic whenever they talked about him,” said the intelligence agent, a slim man in a dark suit. “I could sense Amal was always angry whenever I spoke with her,” he added. “She objected to being questioned and rarely gave away anything.”

But at times Amal was somewhat flexible. “Amal once told me that she and bin Laden liked Che Guevara. She seemed like a rebel so I questioned her about Latin American leftists. I found her very interesting,” said the agent. It was not possible to independently confirm his account.

Ernesto “Che” Guevara was an Argentine Marxist who was a major figure in the Cuban revolution. He was executed in Bolivia in 1967. Amal, who was wounded in the raid that killed bin Laden, traveled to Afghanistan to marry bin Laden when she was 18 years old and he was in his early 40s, her father told Reuters in an interview in Yemen in 2011. “The other wives

didn’t say much. They were boring,” said the agent.

Pakistan deported bin Laden’s three widows and 11 children to Saudi Arabia last month. A Pakistani court had sentenced them to prison for entering Pakistan illegally and ordered their deportation after the end of their prison term.

The agent did not say whether other Pakistani or US officials questioned the women. He also did not give details on whether his questioning included anything about the night of the raid. Based on his conversations, the agent said he concluded the al Qaeda leader lived in the country for about six or seven years, in two towns. Pakistani officials describe bin Laden’s long presence in the garrison town of Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject suggestions that members of

the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him there.

EMPTY-HANDED Pakistan dismisses Western criticism of its performance against militancy, saying it has sacrificed more lives than any other country which joined the US war on militancy after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Pakistan also stresses that it captured several high-profile al Qaeda figures on its soil such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-confessed architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The intelligence agent, who said he questioned the widows once a week, sometimes twice, recalls seeking information on whereabouts of other senior Al-Qaeda leaders, and coming up empty handed. —Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Indian Home Secretary R. K. Singh, left, listens to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik during their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday. An Indian delegation led by Singh is in Islamabad to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss cooperation in counter terrorism efforts and the introduction of a new relaxed visa regime. — AP

HP’s missteps culminate in loss of 27,000 jobs

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US refrains from branding China ‘currency manipulator’

Business

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US economy trudges along as others fall

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Toyota set to roll out 8 new models

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SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

ATHENS: A woman walks past displays at the Stock Exchange yesterday. — AP

Bankia to ask for 15bn euros aid Spain, Greek warnings rattle euro-zone MADRID: Central banks and companies not bracing for a possible Greek euro exit would be making a grave error, Belgium’s foreign minister said yesterday, rattling markets already alarmed by Spain’s deteriorating finances. Greek elections are due on June 17 and could hasten the country’s departure from the currency club should a government intent on ripping up the country’s bailout programme result. Polls suggest the outcome is too tight to call. Greece accounts for little more than two percent of the euro zone economy but could pose a profound contagion threat if it quit the currency area, throwing the spotlight on Portugal, Spain and even Italy.

“There is no organised discussion at the European level along the lines of: what do we do (if Greece leaves),” Belgium’s Didier Reynders told the European American Press Club in Paris. “Now, if central banks and companies are not preparing for the scenario, that would be a grave professional error.” Spain is in plenty of trouble even disregarding any backwash from Greece. Its important autonomous region, Catalonia, said it needed help from the central government because it was running out of options for refinancing debt this year. “We don’t care how they do it, but we need to make payments at the end of (each) month.

Your economy can’t recover if you can’t pay your bills,” Catalan President Artur Mas told reporters.

Spain’s trump card was that it had successfully issued will over than half the sovereign debt it needs to in 2012.

But after revealing this week that its highly indebted regions faced 36 billion euros of debt refinancing bills this year, way above the previously stated 8 billion, that advantage may have been wiped out. On top of public debt, the country is hobbled by a banking sector overwhelmed by bad debts tied to a property market boom that bust and has some way further to fall. Troubled lender Bankia is set to ask the state for a more than 15 billion euros ($19 billion) bailout, well above the 9 billion euros the government had mentioned.

Spain is nationalising Bankia, which holds some 10 percent of the country’s bank deposits.

The government insists the bank is a one-off case but economists say a wider bailout of the sector, either by Madrid or the euro zone, may become necessary. Markets have been buffeted this way and that by the escalating euro zone crisis in recent weeks and face more uncertainty up to the Greek election date any maybe beyond. The euro plumbed a fresh 22-month low against the U.S.

dollar on the back of the Catalonian warning, stocks went into reverse and Italian and Spanish borrowing costs rose. Having risen 0.8 percent earlier in the session the FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares was down 0.2 percent by 1400 GMT. “The Catalonia news was a big deal because it implies that the Spanish government may have to take on more debt and it cannot afford to do so,” said Richard Franulovich, senior currency strategist at Westpac Securities in New York.

Contingency EU leaders insisted at a summit on Wednesday that they wanted to keep Greece in the euro zone and they have good reason to, given the losses that could be inflicted on them and the European Central Bank should the country default on its debt. But sources told Reuters the Eurogroup Working Group - experts who work for the bloc’s finance ministers - had told member states to begin making contingency plans for the opposite.

“Our first priority is to keep Greece in the euro zone whilst they are respecting the commitments,” European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told a news conference during a visit to Ljubljana, Slovenia yesterday. “Of course we are

reflecting on all different kind of scenarios but we never discussed them neither in technical nor in political form,” he said. “The contingency plan is not our priority.” French banks, which are among the lenders most exposed to Greece, have stepped up their plans for a euro zone exit, sources familiar with the situation said. They include Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale.

“Every bank has a task force right now looking at the potential consequences of a return to the drachma,” a Paris-based banker said. Most economists agree the austerity measures foisted on Greece as part of its 130 billion euros bailout will be impossible to deliver since they will drive the country deeper into recession and make debt even harder to cut. Peter Bofinger, one of the five “wise men” who formally advise the German government on the economy, said Europe should renegotiate the terms of Greece’s bailout as they were agreed on overly optimistic assumptions about growth. “The terms for Greece should be renegotiated,” Bofinger told Reuters in an interview. “That’s very important for both sides, because if you have an uncontrolled exit of Greece, it could lead to a ‘Lehman moment’ for Europe.” — Reuters

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

IWC Schaffhausen dedicates chronograph to humanist KUWAIT: Antoine de Saint-Exupery was already a legend in his own lifetime. People are fascinated as much by his books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages, as by his adventurous life as a pilot. In 2012, the year of the Pilot’s Watches, IWC Schaffhausen dedicates to this passionate humanist a chronograph that unites the aspirations of those pioneering days of aviation with modern watch technology.

A hundred years ago, a young boy stood on the airfield of Amberieu-enBugey in south-eastern France, looking on in wonder as the aircraft took off and landed. In those early days of modern aviation, the contraptions that took to the sky were as fascinating as the magnificent men who flew them. Eventually, the boy plucked up his courage and asked the pilot Gabriel Salvez to take him for a spin in the cockpit of a Berthaud-Wroblewski.

He spun the somewhat sceptical pilot a yarn, claiming that his mother would have no objections. Salvez took him at his word and so, one sunny day

in July 1912, 12-year-old Antoine de Saint-Exupery had his first taste of flying: an experience that was to leave its mark on the future worldrenowned poet and pilot for the rest of his life.

Famed for its 70-year tradition in the manufacture of Pilot’s Watches, IWC Schaffhausen is using the anniversary of Antoine de SaintExupery’s memorable first flight as an occasion to dedicate its sixth special edition to his memory: the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Antoine de Saint Exupery in 18-carat red gold (Ref. 387805) in a limited edition of 500 watches. For connoisseurs, the tobacco-coloured dial and calfskin strap with its cream-coloured quilted stitching immediately identify the chronograph as a typical ‘Saint Ex’.

The elaborate surface finish featuring polished, silky-matte and structured elements enhances the overall quality of the watch’s appearance. This impression is underscored by the sunpattern finish on the dial. The sapphire glass has antireflective coating

on both sides and is secured against drops in air pressure. Developed and manufactured exclusively by IWC, the 89361-calibre movement is a technical masterpiece. It displays long periods of times on a single subdial. A special engraving embellishes the back of the watch. It depicts the last aircraft Antoine de Saint-Exupery ever flew, a Lightning P-38. It was on 31 July 1944 that ‘Saint-Ex’ took off in a machine like this to carry out a reconnaissance mission over occupied France and never returned. In 2003, wreckage from his Lightning was salvaged from the Mediterranean Sea near Marseille.

Successful cooperation In 2006, fragments of the aircraft, together with other exhibits, were displayed for the first time as part of a project organized jointly by IWC Schaffhausen and the Succession Antoine de Saint-Exupery - d’Agay at the musee de l’Air et de l’Espace in Le Bourget, near Paris. The acclaimed exhibition marked the beginning of a

relationship, which was based on mutual trust, between Saint-Exupery’s heirs and the Swiss watch manufacturer that has lasted to this day. “With our long tradition of manufacturing Pilot’s Watches, we feel that there are strong bonds that bind us to Antoine de Saint-Exupery,” explains Georges Kern, CEO of IWC. “We were inspired by a man who was also a passionate designer and who obtained his first aeronautical patent in 1936, the very year that IWC, with the same obsession for engineering, built its first Special Pilot’s Watch and unveiled it to the public. We have enormous admiration for a pilot who was prepared to risk his life in the name of technological progress. And we are honouring Saint-Exupery, the great writer and humanist, with whose works many of us grew up.

Mankind and its pursuit of happiness are themes that are prevalent throughout his work.

IWC Schaffhausen is a partner of the Succession Antoine de Saint-Exupery d’Agay society.

HP’s missteps culminate in loss of 27,000 jobs HP aims to save $3.5bn annually

KUWAIT: Shuaib International Financial Brokerage held a seminar on human development and how to lift the economy. The key speaker is pictured with the audience.

Jordan protesters reject govt plans to hike prices AMMAN: Demonstrators marked Jordan’s 1949 independence from British rule yesterday by demanding reform and rejecting government plans to hike commodity prices and taxes to offset a $3 billion (2.4 billion euro) budget deficit. “No independence without reform. Do not set the country on fire by raising prices,” more than 1,000 people, including opposition Islamists, trade unionists and youth groups, chanted as they marched in central Amman.

“People’s pockets are red line. Who is responsible for corruption and high debts?” read a banner carried by some of the protesters, as others waved national flags. The demonstration came a day after MPs gave a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh’s government, which plans to increase commodity prices and taxes as part of an austerity package to

avoid the huge deficit in the 2012 $9.6 billion budget.

The government has warned that the deficit could exacerbate the overall debt, raising it to $24.6 billion by the end of this year, but economic analysts and the Islamists say the austerity package is “very dangerous” and likely to aggravate political instability. “We need a government that solves the country’s economic problems, but not at the expense of people’s pockets. Beware of increasing the prices. People are no longer capable of handling more burdens,” said Wael Saqqa, a prominent trade unionist. “The government should fight corruption instead of raising prices. Only reform will protect the nation.” Jordan has witnessed regular street protests since January 2011 demanding sweeping reforms and tough action against corruption. — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman has quantified the painful price that must be paid for the missteps of her predecessors as she tries to turn around the Silicon Valley pioneer. The bungling will wipe out 27,000 jobs so HP can save enough money to lift its earnings and invest in the development of more profitable products and service. The streamlining announced amounts to the largest payroll purge in HewlettPackard Co.’s 73-year history. About 8 percent of HP’s nearly 350,000 employees are to be gone by October 2014.

The announcement came eight months after HP hired Whitman to turn the company around. The company expects to save $3 billion to $3.5 billion annually from the job cuts and other austerity measures. HP will try to reduce the number of layoffs by offering early retirement packages. The somber news overshadowed the release of HP’s latest quarterly results. Although HP’s earnings and revenue declined from a year ago, the numbers were better than analysts had projected. HP delivered another pleasant surprise by offering a forecast that raised hopes that HP may be poised to bounce back.

“While I wouldn’t say we have turned the corner, we are making real progress,” Whitman told analysts during a conference call. Investors were pleased, although it wasn’t clear whether their glee had more to do with the cost-cutting or the company’s performance during its fiscal second quarter, which ended in April. HP shares surged $1.97, or more than 9 percent, to $23.05 in Wednesday’s extended trading following the announcements.

They’re still worth just half what they were before HP parted ways with Mark Hurd, a costcosting specialist who stepped down in 2010 amid a scandal revolving around the nature of his relationship with a former actress who worked as an HP contractor. An investigation uncovered inaccurate expense reports. The current troubles at HP have been traced both to Hurd and his successor, Leo Apotheker, who didn’t respond to the threat posed by a shift to computing on smartphones and tablets.

Whitman’s plan calls for less bureaucracy so the company can respond more quickly to customer needs. She also wants to boost research and development to spur innovation. HP, which is based in Palo Alto, Calif., has been struggling to sell more personal computers and printers; demand has softened as people spend more time surfing the Web on phones and tablets such as Apple Inc.’s iPad. And the company’s efforts to sell more business software and consulting services have been stymied by competition from the likes of IBM Corp. and Oracle Corp.

“Work force reductions are never easy,” Whitman said Wednesday. “They adversely impact people’s lives, but in this case, they are absolutely critical to the long-term health of the company.

Our goal is simple: a better outcome for the customers at reduced cost for HP.” Whitman plans to funnel most of the savings from the job cuts into product development, with an emphasis on three areas: software services delivered online, a concept known as “cloud computing”; data storage and analysis; and computer security. Some of the extra cash will go toward boosting HP’s earnings, too.

HP’s work force has undergone several reorganizations during the past decade. Two of the biggest occurred during Hurd’s regime. HP announced 14,500 job cuts in 2005 in one of his first big acts as CEO. A round of 24,600 cuts came in 2008 after HP bought technology consulting service EDS for $13.9 billion. HP did not say where it would make the latest cuts. It is combining its printer and PC divisions, which could reduce some overhead.

In related moves, Whitman is changing the leadership at HP’s recently acquired Autonomy division, which makes software that finds and analyzes data within companies and government agencies. Bill Veghte, HP’s chief strategy officer, is replacing Autonomy founder Mike Lynch in an effort to boost the division’s financial performance.

The shake-up is likely to amplify investor concern about whether HP blundered last year when it paid $11 billion for Autonomy. Apotheker announced the deal in August, just a month before he was fired. —AP

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

US refrains from branding China ‘currency manipulator’ China’s WTO suit hits back at US duties

TOKYO: Japan’s auto giant Toyota Motor Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo poses by the company’s global compact car “Etios” at Toyota’s Tokyo office yesterday. — AFP

Toyota set to roll out 8 new models TOKYO: Toyota said yesterday it will roll out a number of new compact cars priced around $12,500 in developing nations, targeting sales of more than one million of the models annually in emerging markets by 2015. Japan’s biggest automaker said it would make eight new cars at plants in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Brazil, priced at “about 1.0 million yen ($12,500) or more.”

“We don’t sell cars priced at 500,000 yen,” Toyota executive vicepresident Yukitoshi Funo told reporters at its Tokyo headquarters.

While the new models are squarely aimed at emerging nations, including China, Indonesia and Brazil, “If customers in the United States or Europe like them, I will flexibly think about (selling them there),” Funo added. In 2010, the firm launched its Etios compact to the Indian market with a base price of about $10,000, still far higher than domestic rivals such as Tata Motors, whose Nano sells for as little as $2,900.

Total sales of Etios have surpassed 100,000 vehicles in India since its debut, the company said yesterday. Etios is part of a broader plan to see half of Toyota’s worldwide vehicle sales come from emerging markets, up from 45 percent in 2011, as global automakers rush to emerging nations amid stuttering sales in their developed markets.

The automaker, which includes the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino sold 7.35 million vehicles globally in the year to March. Funo offered few details about the new Toyota models, but said they will have an “excitement” factor. “Cars need to have a factor of excitement-when a father buys a car, he must draw respect from his family who should say ‘Daddy, well done,’ and the family should enjoy going on a picnic on a weekend in that car,” he said. —AFP

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration yesterday rejected calls within Congress to brand China a currency manipulator, but said its “significantly undervalued” currency was a key brake on global growth. The US Treasury Department said China had not met the standards for manipulation of the yuan, also known as the renminbi, to gain an unfair competitive trade advantage.

Such a distinction could pave the way for retaliatory sanctions. “The available evidence suggest the RMB remains significantly undervalued, and we believe further appreciation of the RMB against the dollar and other major currencies is warranted,” the Treasury said in its semiannual report to Congress on exchangerate policies.

The Treasury said it would continue to “closely monitor” the pace of the yuan’s appreciation and “press for policy changes” to boost China’s exchangerate flexibility. Beijing’s tightly managed currency policy has triggered huge trade deficits in the United States, fuelling a long-running source of friction between the world’s two largest economies. Critics in Congress accuse China of keeping the yuan artificially weak to flood the US market with cheap Chinese imports that have wiped out US jobs. This year it is a hot-button campaign issue as Democratic President Barack Obama seeks reelection in November against the presumptive Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

With the fragile US economy at the top of voter concerns, Romney and some lawmakers have been calling for retaliatory sanctions against China, accusing Obama of failing to protect American jobs as the economy struggles to recover from the Great Recession. The Treasury explained it declined to brand China a currency manipulator in part because of the yuan’s appreciation against the dollar since June 2010 and a decline in its massive current account surplus, a broad measure of trade. It also cited “China’s

BEIJING: A shopper holds a Chinese Yuan bank note at a market in Beijing in this file photo. — AFP commitments in the G20 and the USChina Strategic & Economic Dialogue to move more rapidly to a more marketdetermined exchange rate system.”

The Treasury said the yuan had appreciated 8.0 percent against the dollar since June 2010, when China moved off its peg against the dollar, through May 15, and adjusted for rapid Chinese inflation was up 40 percent. But, it said, “in 2012, through May 15, the RMB has been virtually flat against the dollar.” The Treasury noted China’s move last month to widen the yuan’s trading brand and recent steps to open up access for foreign investments and other reforms.

But, “the underlying factors that distort China’s economy and constrain global demand growth remain.” “With the global economy continuing to face headwinds as it recovers from the financial crisis, it is important that China follow through on these commitments.” To

date, the US government has refrained from deeming China a currency manipulator. The Treasury currency report came as China made the latest move in a heated series of trade disputes between the two superpower rivals.

Yesterday China challenged US antisubsidy duties at the World Trade Organization, seeking dispute settlement consultations on US duties imposed on 22 Chinese products. China claimed the countervailing measures affect China’s export to the US at $7.3 billion. Beijing last week blasted a “protectionist” a US decision to slap hefty antidumping duties on Chinese solar cell makers. It followed a US Commerce Department move to impose levies of between 31 and 250 percent on Chinese producers and exporters after saying it had found they sold solar cells in the United States at artificially low prices, known as dumping. — AFP

Syria grain trade signals alarm for Assad LONDON/HAMBURG: Syria is struggling to meet its grain import needs because of sanctions, raising the risk of bread shortages that could sap public support for President Bashar Al-Assad as he tries to snuff out a 15-month-old uprising. Trade sources said a reluctance among foreign banks, shipowners and grain traders to sell to importdependent Syria - even though food is not itself subject to sanctions - has forced Damascus into an array of unusually small deals, many arranged by shadowy middlemen around the Middle East and Asia. Yesterday, in what might prove to be a turning point on a path toward a politically corrosive food crisis, government data showed the domestic grain harvest falling well short of target and the state grains agency failing to find a single acceptable offer to fulfil a major import tender it issued last month to buy animal feed for its livestock farmers.

“Syrian purchase interest has fallen off in the last 10 days or so,” one trade source familiar with exports to Syria of wheat and other grains for human consumption and animal feed told Reuters.

“Banks are becoming tougher in checking compliance with sanctions. It is becoming more difficult to get finance from any banks.” State currency reserves have been depleted and the Syrian pound has lost nearly half its value, adding to import problems.

Data for stocks in Syrian granaries is kept secret but there has so far been little widespread disruption evident in subsidised supplies of bread - a staple of a diet in which every Syrian consumes on average half a kilo (a pound) of wheat a day. But international aid agencies, which are already helping up to a million Syrians stave off hunger, report patchy but spreading food shortages and sharply rising prices. Grain traders cite anecdotal evidence that

stocks, concentrated in the restive countryside, are being run down or looted. That may mean the government needs to import more for the big cities it controls.

With international traders saying financial sanctions have bitten hard into purchases, violence hindering backdoor imports via Lebanon and the conflict hampering Syria’s domestic harvest in the coming months, analysts see mounting risks for Assad. “Despite the regime’s efforts to conceal the full extent of the deterioration, both from its own citizens and from the outside world, it is beyond a doubt that the Syrian economy is in a state of full collapse thanks to the cumulative effect of the various multilateral and bilateral sanctions,” said Peter Pham, a director at Washington think-tank the Atlantic Council. Syria relies on imports for about half of its annual needs of 7-8 million tonnes of grain, UN data shows. Water

shortages, blight and conflict hit last year’s harvest. Traditional secrecy - and the violence that has hit drought-stricken farming areas which were the flashpoint for revolt - makes it hard to calculate how quickly supplies might run short. Not only bakeries are dependent on cereals, but also farmers raising poultry, sheep and meat and dairy cattle.

“A humanitarian disaster would further erode Bashar’s claim that the current regime is legitimate,” said Anthony Skinner with risk analysts Maplecroft in London. “High inflation and shortages in food supplies will also likely place the families of underpaid rank-and-file soldiers under increasing duress and may provide them with yet another incentive to jump ship.” Dealers in the grain trade hubs of Hamburg and London said difficulties in finding finance and insurance for shipments to sanctions-hit Syria were stifling offers from major exporters. —Reuters

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Balmain charms watch lovers with The Classica Lady 25th Anniversary 2,012 timepieces to celebrate a quarter century KUWAIT: To mark its 25th anniversary, Balmain is offering a sumptuous gift to lovers of fine watches and design: the Classica Lady 25th Anniversary. A total of 2,012 watches have been made, with an automatic movement showcased beneath the dial, viewable through an aperture - in the form of an arabesque, of course. Many people think 2012 will be a difficult year for our planet. For Balmain, on the other hand, 2012 is a year to be celebrated with joy and optimism. The Saint-Imier watchmaker, established in 1987 in tribute to the genius of the fashion designer Pierre Balmain, is celebrating its 25th birthday. No need for prophesies to predict that it will continue to achieve success after success, with the same regularity of a Swiss-made calibre, in the years to come! To mark the event, Balmain has designed a truly exceptional timepiece, the Classica Lady 25th Anniversary. This is a limited edition of 2,012 watches; no more, no less. This gift comes with an automatic movement and is delivered in a particularly lavish package: a special case in which to keep timepieces and jewellery such as earrings, necklaces and rings. The movement - the ETA 2824-2 calibre, known for its robustness, reliability and precision - is partly revealed through an arabesque-shaped aperture in the dial. On the case-back, the movement can also be admired through the mineral glass, proudly showing off its balance wheel and oscillating weight. The arabesque engraved on the weight symbolises the perfect harmony between the movement parts and Balmain quality.

The Classica 25th Anniversary is an ideal timepiece for lovers of watch technology, for mechanics fans and purists.

But also, for aesthetes. Its beauty is on the inside and the outside: the case is studded with 12 clusters of 4 Wesselton diamonds (0.24 ct.) and the brushed silver sunburst dial is set with 10 pairs of diamonds (0.047 ct.) to mark the hours. The Classica 25th Anniversary is mounted on a steel bracelet. To further emphasise its exclusivity, it exists only in a single, unique version. Just one version, but many ways to celebrate beauty and elegance in style.

Dunhill unveils Spring Summer 2012 collection KUWAIT: For Spring Summer 2012 Alfred Dunhill presents an addition to the Chassis Superlight Leather collection - the Chassis Superlight Suit Carrier. Presented in jet black and finished with the iconic carbon fibre effect Chassis leather, the Suit Carrier is definition of masculine elegance.

The water and scratch resistant functionality of Chassis leather has been perfectly balanced with a simple design and robust, lightweight construction - making the Suit Carrier ideal for the modern travelling gentleman.

Practical design features include: a foldable metal garment hanger; separate zipped back pocket for shirts or accessories; full zip opening, for easy access; and brushed gun-metal hardware.

Samsung Windows based Slate PC Series 7 in Kuwait KUWAIT: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced the market availability of the Samsung Slate PC Series 7 in Kuwait. Designed for users in need of maximized productivity in a mobile working environment, the Slate PC Series 7 based on Windows 7 - delivers the desired performance and productivity of a desktop PC with the usability of a tablet, enabling users to multi-task effectively on a slate with a customized touch interface.

With full-PC power packed into an ultraportable device, the Slate PC Series 7 takes mobility to a new level with an innovative touchfocused design that transforms personal computing and enables richer experiences. The Slate PC Series 7 is just 12.9mm (0.5”) thin and weighs only 860g, ensuring it is truly portable. Powered by an Intel Core(tm) i5 processor and with an 11.6” screen, the device is powerful enough to serve any user at their desk or on the move. When connected to a docking station complete with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse - the slate operates as a desktop PC however, the device can also be removed and used as an ultra-portable device. Multiple input methods - from touch screen keyboard to digital pen - ensure that it is the perfect solution for

presenting, creating and capturing content on the go, without limitations.

“The Samsung Slate PC Series 7 takes the laptop a full step towards total mobility - a revolution in portable computing. By combining the power of a PC and the portability of a tablet, the device represents a new era of efficient and powerful mobile computing that will appeal to our Gulf consumers.” said Denzil D’Souza, Business Head of Notebooks at Samsung Gulf Electronics. The Samsung Slate PC Series 7 is now available across major outlets in the Kuwait and will retail at KD 359.

Customized Slate PC for every occasion The Samsung Slate PC Series 7 with Windows 7 operating system provides users with a greater range of options ensuring optimized performance, whatever the occasion.

When in need of increased mobility, the Slate PC Series 7 can be carried around just like a conventional tablet. If users are on the move, they can share documents with a customer or take notes in a meeting or lecture; desktop productivity is at their fingertips in an ultraportable, ultra-versatile form factor. A battery life of up to 7 hours on a single charge ensures that users can be confident they will

stay connected and productive wherever they are. When working in the office or at a desk, the docking station transforms the Slate PC Series 7 into a full desktop PC, with all the power and productivity that its Intel Core i5 Processor and genuine Windows 7 operating system provides. The docking station replaces the traditional desktop by providing the interface and computing power; it even gives users the flexibility to synch up to a larger monitor for even more efficient

multi-tasking.

Unlimited Productivity For maximum convenience and productivity, the Slate PC Series 7 offers an intuitive user-interface and a wide variety of input methods, including a digitizer pen, touch screen interface and optional Bluetooth wireless keyboard.

Users can simply touch, write, or type to take meeting notes, create documents and reports in Microsoft Office 2010 or browse

online. An integrated microphone and dual 2MP (front) / 3MP (rear) cameras can record audio/visual files, which can be stored and shared via the full-sized USB port or Wi-Fi, WiMAX and HSPA connection.

Full experience on the go Benefiting from Samsung’s superior LCD technology, presentations can be delivered with the SuperBright Plus 11.6” HD display, providing outstanding picture quality and text-readability with 400nit brightness, 100 percent brighter than normal laptop displays, enabling full visual experience even outdoors.

Samsung appreciates that many devices used for work are also used for personal entertainment. Once the day is finished, the Slate PC Series 7 provides ready-to-go entertainment at your fingertips due to its Samsung FastStart technology. It allows the Slate PC Series 7 to wake up in 2 seconds and boot from cold in 15 seconds. The touch-launcher allows easy selection of applications including Twitter, Facebook, movies, weather and maps, whilst unrivalled media and software compatibility comes as standard with support for all PCformat video and audio content and support for PC games for Windows.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Shell may join Shtokman gas team MOSCOW: Royal Dutch Shell may join a Gazprom-led initiative to extract gas from the Arctic seabed off Russia’s coast, several sources said, in an attempt to inject new impetus into the huge project delayed by years of talks over financing. Located in the freezing waters of the Barents Sea, the Shtokman gas field is one of the world’s largest with reserves of almost 4 trillion cubic metres - enough to meet global demand for about a year. However, the project to extract gas has been mired in prolonged and painstaking talks over billions of dollars of investment, timing and the make-up of the consortium.

Shell may take the place of Norway’s Statoil, which might leave the project, Russia’s Kommersant daily newspaper said on Friday. Statoil owns 24 percent of Shtokman, France’s Total owns 25 percent and Gazprom, the world’s largest gas producer, holds 51 percent.

“Talks regarding Shell’s participation in Shtokman are under way ... There are different project configurations under discussion now but Gazprom will keep a

51 percent stake,” a source close to the consortium told Reuters on Friday.

A Gazprom spokesman said the company was preparing a statement on the matter for issue. Spokespeople at Shell and Shtokman Development AG declined to comment. Shtokman, located 550 km (340 miles) off the shores of Russia, still aims to begin gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline in 2016 and start shipping gas which has been frozen to form a liquid (LNG) around the world from 2017. The first exploration well was drilled in 1988.

But the backers of the project, fraught with hardships and dangers such as high sea waves, bitterly cold weather and huge icebergs, have been unable to reach a final decision to make investments that at the initial stage could total $15 billion. Gas from Shtokman had previously been earmarked for the United States, but booming North American shale gas production forced the consortium to scrap its plans and look for other markets.

Sagging demand for gas in debt-

stricken Europe, Gazprom’s key source of revenue, also caused Shtokman to consider dropping plans for pipeline gas and instead focus solely on the production of LNG. According to media reports, the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to give a keynote speech, will be the venue for the consortium to announce a new approach to developing the project.

The consortium in its present form was established in 2008 with a view to producing 23.7 billion cubic metres of gas per year.

Bumpy relations Shell and Gazprom are already partners at Sakhalin-2, Russia’s sole LNG plant with annual capacity of 10 million tonnes. Gazprom clinched a $7.45 billion deal in 2006, following months of pressure from Russian officials, to buy half of Sakhalin-2 from Shell and its partners, as the Kremlin tightened its grip on Russia’s energy sector. Shell and Gazprom have also been in talks about

the Russian company joining the AngloDutch major’s foreign oil and gas projects, although no specific projects have yet been named. Gazprom sources said earlier this week that there could be a departure from Shtokman. According to Kommersant, a possible new structure for Shtokman will be discussed at a meeting, chaired by Putin later on Friday, with the chief executives of Gazprom and Statoil. A Statoil spokesman said that the consortium is “working toward a final investment decision and achieving a full LNG solution.”

Analysts have been divided over who may leave Shtokman. Some say that Statoil’s departure is in the cards as the company is focusing on projects with high returns, citing the Norwegian company’s departure from an Iraqi field to support their view. Industry sources say that Gazprom is increasingly dissatisfied with Total’s view over Shtokman’s future, while the French major is pushing another LNG project in Russia it is working on with Novatek in the Yamal peninsula.— Reuters

US economy trudges along as others fall Weekly jobless claims fall by 2,000 WASHINGTON: The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits dipped last week, indicating the economy is plodding along even though headwinds from Europe cut into US factory activity growth this month. The data on the US economy on Thursday was a bit lackluster, but it showed the recovery remained resilient even with growth in China slowing and the euro zone edging toward recession.

“We are growing at a moderate pace of 2 to 21/4 percent, but we have some headwinds that are starting to assert themselves, particularly coming from Europe,” said Paul Edelstein, an economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000, the Labour Department said. The four-week moving average, considered a better measure of labour market trends, also fell to 370,000, dropping by 5,500.

Although claims have been little changed in the past four weeks, they remain below levels hit in mid-April. That suggests some improvement in the pace of job creation this month after April’s disappointing 115,000 gain in nonfarm payrolls.

Europe’s festering debt problems and a cooler pace of activity in China have started to hurt American factories.

In a separate report, US manufacturing growth tapered off in May, according to financial information services firm Markit. Its US “flash” manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index fell to a reading of 53.9 this month, a three-month low, from 56.0 in April. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion; the data showed the factory sector has enjoyed a 32-month growth streak. Markit chief economist Chris Williamson attributed the moderation in activity to a softening in exports due to the deteriorating economic situation in Europe and the Chinese slowdown. Several European countries, including Britain and Spain, have already tumbled into recession, while recent economic indicators have shown that China’s days of consistent double-digit growth have come to an end.

A third report from the Commerce Department showed new orders for durable goods rose 0.2 percent in April after dropping 3.7 percent in March.

Orders for durable goods, which are designed to

last at least three years and range from toasters to aircraft, were lifted by demand for transportation equipment. But orders for non-defence capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, fell 1.9 percent in April after dropping 2.2 percent in March. The durable goods report, however, is notoriously volatile, and the non-defence capital goods category tends to fall in the first month of each quarter.

“The good news is that weaker global growth is not yet leading to a collapse in durable goods orders in the United States,” said Scott Anderson, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. “On a relative basis, US durable orders are holding up fairly well, considering the substantial headwinds.”

No deterioration Some retailers are feeling the pinch from slowing global demand. High-end jeweler Tiffany & Co on Thursday cut its forecast for both sales and profits for its current fiscal year ending in January 2013, blaming cooling growth in key markets like China. But retailers like warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale Corp, which reported an 8 percent rise in quarterly sales on Thursday, have notched gains as budget conscious Americans seek to save money on groceries. Most U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday, while government bond prices drifted lower. The dollar rose against a basket of currencies. Though jobless claims have barely budged over recent weeks, they have offered no signs that the labor market is worsening. The number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid fell by 29,000 to 3.26 million in the week ended May 12.

This so-called continuing claims data covered the week for the household survey from which the US unemployment rate is derived. The jobless rate dropped to 8.1 percent in April from 8.2 percent in March, mostly because more people gave up the hunt for work. “Labor market growth remains positive. We expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 8.1 percent,” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief US economist at Deutsche Bank in New York.

The government releases its May employment report on June 1. — Reuters

NEW YORK: Traders work in the oil options pit at the New York Mercantile Exchange. — AP

Goldman ready to plow $40bn into green energy NEW YORK: Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs plans to invest $40 billion into projects linked to renewable energy over the next decade, a company spokesman said Thursday.

“We are extending our long-standing commitment to support renewable energy by setting a target of $40 billion in financings and capital investments over the next decade to companies that promote clean technology alternatives,” spokesman Michael Duvally told AFP.”This target reaffirms our commitment to serving the needs

of our clients in this space and playing a catalytic role in this important market,” he said.

Goldman, which has a team dedicated to investment in clean technologies and renewable energy, financed $4.8 billion and co-invested more than $500 million in the sector last year. “The clean tech industry is expected to be a rapidly growing market and one that we believe is at a momentous point in terms of the expansion of technologies that will help diversify energy sources and improve the environment,” Duvally said. — AFP

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SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

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www.kuwaittimes.net

Indonesian police consider toned-down Gaga show PAGE 26

Using digital 3D mapping technology, images by the German design collective Urbanscreen are projected onto the walls of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) during the opening of the VIVID Sydney festival of light yesterday. — AFP

Azerbaijan hosts Eurovision final PAGE 26

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

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he ‘What To Expect When You’re Expecting’ actress says she was always keen to work with animals when she grew up as she found them so interesting. Speaking to wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough ‘The Graham Norton Show’, Cameron said: “I am so excited to meet you, because I wanted to be a zoologist. I thought I would be one for my entire life and I did end up studying animals, but human animals. “As an actor that’s what I do, but I find so many surprises when I watch your shows.” David, 86, said he would be more than happy to teach 39-year-old Cameron about wildlife, saying: “I could teach you all sorts of things. You should see the out takes.” The blonde beauty then replied: “Perhaps we could have a private viewing!” Cameron also spoke about how difficult it was to wear a prosthetic baby bump and enhanced cleavage in ‘What To Expect When You’re Expecting’.

Nicole Richie in love with Australia

T

he fashion designer has been in the country while her husband Joel Madden works on the Australian version of ‘The Voice’, and she admits she has become enchanted with Sydney and wants to find a way of spending more time in the sun-drenched city. She said: “We’re going to be out here for a while, both of us love it.

Sydney is my favorite city, we’re definitely going to be looking to spend more time here, what’s not to love!” Nicole - who has daughter Harlow, four, and two-year-old son Sparrow with Joel - loves the city because people are “very respectful” when she is enjoying time with her family. She said: “Part of the reason I love Sydney so much and why I love Australia as a whole, I find that people are very nice and very respectful, especially when I’m with my family, I really cannot complain about anything, we are so blessed to be here, I love Sydney so much, everyone is so nice and welcoming.” In addition to the welcoming

people, Nicole has also enjoyed watching rugby Down Under, and she especially likes the hunky men who play the sport. She told 2Day FM radio’s Kyle & Jackie O Show: “It was so fun, first of all I don’t even understand American football, we were sitting in a box, we had the best time, that’s the best view in Sydney of those guys running around in those outfits!”

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he ‘Angels’ singer is “very excited” about the impending arrival but admitted his spouse Ayda Field had asked him to keep quiet about the gender of their unborn baby. He said: “It’s a girl. I’m very, very excited about becoming a daddy. I can’t wait. The missus is, like, ‘Don’t go telling,’ and I said, ‘I won’t.’ “My life is amazing right now.

It’s fantastic, you know.” The 38year-old singer is already planning to teach his daughter self-defense in order to keep her safe when she is older. He said: “I’m going to teach her football and karate and boxing.

“That’s the first thing she’s going to learn to keep people like me and [best friend] Johnny [Wilkes] away.”

Tomorrow sees the return of Soccer Aid, a celebrity soccer match organized by the singer to raise money for Unicef, and Robbie admits he was surprised to discover prospective fatherhood has made him more pas-

sionate about the children’s charity.

He said: “Becoming a dad myself has changed my perception of Unicef. “I didn’t realize it would, but it did. I have found it quite over-whelming.

“We watched a video this morning about what Unicef does and I felt myself tearing up, in a way I maybe wouldn’t have done in the past. “It’s definitely pulling on the heartstrings even more now that I know I’ve got the responsibility of looking after a little life.”

Leona Lewis will be guest judge on ‘The X Factor’

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he ‘Bleeding Love’ singer - who won the series in 2006 - will return to the show that made her famous as a guest panelist for today’s London auditions at the O2 Arena. Leona joins other big names including Robbie Williams and Rita Ora who have been lined up for emporary stints on the programme. A source told The Sun: “Leona isn’t exactly the harshest critic in the world but she has experience of singing - and being on the ‘X Factor’.” She has sold ten million albums worldwide since winning the third series. Meanwhile

bosses have apparently recruited ex-Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger for the third London session after plans for Robbie to join the panel that day fell through. She had originally impressed Simon Cowell when she was a stand-in judge two years ago in the UK. However it was announced she would not be returning to the US series earlier this year after she replaces axed Cheryl Cole in the first American season. A source said: “Whatever happened in the US, Simon knows Nicole is a pro.”

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

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he ‘Stronger’ hitmaker premiered his film ‘Cruel Summer’ at the Cannes Film Festival, in the South of France and says the production - which has little dialogue, a musical score and seven screens depicting different images - was inspired by some of his teenage artwork. He said: “When I was 17 and at high school, I made a painting that had seven angles to it, to create a 360-degree picture and now I’m 34 I created something similar. “The way we work these days is like sensory overload. Normally when watching a movie we are on the phone or texting. “Normally we have so much going on at us, this film represents that, as there is so much going on all the time. “We constantly need more things to look at and the seven-screen experience represents the next generation. “I was very particular about having the screens separate, where your mind puts the screens back together, the way you put memories together. “I’m not the best director in the world, but I had an idea that I thought would be amazing to inspire people, like a dream of one day this being the way people watch movies.” Kanye - who is dating Kim Kardashian - hopes people will see his film multiple times and thinks it is an “experience of life”. In a talk to the assembled crowd - including his friend and music collaborator Jay-Z - after the screening, he added: “In this form where it surrounds you and people want to go back and see it more and more because they missed something else to the left and missed something else to the right, and it felt more like the experience of life.”

T

he supermodel and the New England Patriots quarterback already have a two-yearold son named Benjamin recently learned they’d be providing their child with a sibling, according to Brazilian website famosasartistas.com. Tom, 34, also has a fouryear-old son named Jack with actress Bridget Moynahan. Gisele, 31, married her sportsman partner in February of 2009 in Los Angeles, and had a second ceremony in Costa Rica at her mansion later that year. Apparently the fashion icon confided to Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci, who made her dress for the Met Costume Gala earlier this month that she is pregnant. The star is reportedly about two months into her pregnancy, and has revealed the news to several close friends. Gisele showed off her trim figure in a navy blue bikini top and lace shirt earlier this month at a store opening in Brazil. the model has said in the past that she hopes to have many more children. She told Harper’s Bazaar in 2009: “I want to have a big family. I love kids.”

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he actress’ family - husband Will, daughter Willow, 11, and son Jaden, 13 - spent four months in China and her youngest child started to pick up the local Mandarin language, and she wishes she had kept up lessons when they returned to their home in America. Speaking of China, she said: “It’s so raw. What you see is what you get. I love that.

And my daughter learned Mandarin and when we were at the Nobel peace prize we were on the stage, speaking Mandarin. So, y’know, yeah! Fantastic. “I wish she had kept it up. She has a brain. She’s very good with languages. She picks them up like this. Her next is Spanish. She’s like her father in that way. Jaden and I on the other hand - we’re the artists.” Despite their youth, both of the Smith children have embarked on showbiz careers, with Jaden starring in films such as ‘The Karate Kid’ and Willow scoring a worldwide hit with ‘Whip My Hair’ in 2010. Jada is keen to encourage her children to pursue the careers they want to and she doesn’t want to hold either of them back in anyway. In an interview with The Guardian

newspaper, she added: “I’m not one about trying to slow things down. What I try to do is create an atmosphere for my family where we can pretty much have whatever. “What I try to do is create an atmosphere where my children can have whatever comes.

Because that is what life is about. And I surely am not going to try to control the current. Lord knows I tried that in my own life. For me to think that I could ever do that for someone else. Boy! I’m not gonna set myself up in that way. I can barely control my own doggone current! So I’m there in great support and so that they can have whatever the higher power has to offer them.” Jada - who is also stepmother to Will’s son Trey from his marriage to Sheree Zampino - voices a character in animated movie ‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’ which is in cinemas this autumn.

—Bangshowbiz

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

The

Queen’s

elaborate costumes cast a spell

Charlize Theron as the Queen in the action-adventure “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

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oviegoers may be impressed by “Snow White and the Huntsman’s” computer-generated trolls, flying fairies and mythical beasts. But it could be Colleen Atwood’s complicated, handmade costumes that really steal the show. The film’s Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) may be losing her grip on the title of fairest of them all, but she nevertheless tops the cast’s bestdressed list. In some cases, some of Ravenna’s 20 outfits (counting several multiple versions of the same gowns) took weeks to construct, though they might appear on screen for only a few seconds. One cloak constructed from feathers cost more than $30,000 to make, while four designers spent three weeks making one wedding dress. While Atwood and her team made more than 2,000 medieval-era costumes for the production - in one scene, more than 400 extras had to be outfitted - it is

Ravenna’s wardrobe that directly echoes the themes director Rupert Sanders was trying to establish in his villain. “He wanted an element of skeletons and death surrounding the Queen, without it literally being bones,” Atwood said.

Early in the film, Ravenna becomes stepmother to Snow White when she tricks the princess’ widowed father, King Magnus, into marrying her. As Ravenna walks up the aisle in the wedding ceremony, her gown’s ivory satin and gold brocade suggests purity but her collar - which looks like the articulated ribs of a small mammal - sends a different message: I’m hungry, and you look like a meal.

Ravenna quickly murders the king and takes the throne. Her cruel reign brings hardship to her subjects and even vexes nature.

Many of Atwood’s designs have an eerie, ani-

Chris Hemsworth (left) as the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart as Snow White and director Rupert Sanders (right) on the set of the action-adventure “Snow White and the Huntsman.” — MCT photos

malistic feel, reflecting the primal gloom the evil Queen casts over her realm. As Ravenna ages and becomes increasingly desperate for eternal youth, she at one point transforms into a flock of birds. It took a milliner two weeks to sew hundreds of black cock feathers into Theron’s avian outfit for the scene. “Each feather is individually placed and manipulated,” Atwood said. “If you don’t do that, you end up with a messy, feather-duster-looking thing.”

The bodice of another dress is covered with hundreds of iridescent black beetle wings, the leftovers from Thai diners, who eat the insects. “They were very, very difficult to work with because they were really sharp,” said Atwood, adding that each wing had to be drilled through to be attached. In contrast, Snow White’s costumes aren’t nearly as elaborate. Imprisoned as a young girl by Ravenna, she doesn’t exactly have access to the latest fashions, so her plain outfit - which she wears essentially throughout the whole movie looks a bit like a hand-me-down. “They’d just throw her one of the lady’s dresses from the village,” Atwood explained.

The Huntsman, a drunken commoner dispatched by the Queen to track down the runaway princess, has similarly drab garb. His utilitarian shirt, jacket and pants are designed to feel like they were cobbled together from odd scraps of leather and fabric. “It’s his only clothing. It’s his second skin,” Atwood said.

There’s plenty of danger having the Huntsman and Snow White wear the same costumes for almost all of the movie. “You want something you don’t get tired of looking at,” said Atwood, the winner of three Oscars. But Ravenna’s costumes break any tedium spell. Theron said that some of her costumes were uncomfortable to wear, but that was kind of the point. “A lot of my corsets were built like torture devices,” she said. “And all of that discomfort was very helpful, because I don’t think this character really loves herself.” — MCT

Kristen Stewart as Snow White in the action-adventure “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

John Lydon boosts his Public Image with new album

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This file photo 2011 shows Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48 members performing at a charity concert of the Japanese Red Cross for the promotion of blood donation ‘Love in Action’ in Tokyo on the World Blood Donor Day. Japan’s cash-strapped government is turning to wildly popular music group AKB48 to help it sell government bonds, as interest in the low-yield paper wanes, reports said yesterday. — AFP

‘Winter’s Tale’

by Shakespeare gets African reboot

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he deep, croaking-frog rhythm of the talking drums sound out across the stage as canoeists in animal hide row a condemned servant and royal infant into the unknown. The unified voice of a choir rises above the beats, singing in the Yoruba language of Nigeria’s southwest at the start of a play that begins in its middle.

This isn’t the William Shakespeare you know. Instead, this is an African reboot of “The Winter’s Tale,” one of the lesser known tragicomedies written by the Bard

In this photo, actors Wale Adebayo (left) and Kehinde Bankole perform an interpretation of Shakespeare’s play “A Winter’s Tale” in Lagos, Nigeria.

Kehinde Bankole, (left) and Rotimi Fakunle of Shakespeare’s play “A Winter’s Tale” in Lagos, Nigeria. — AP photos

about a child princess cast away out of jealous rage and later reunited with her royal family. A theatre company in Nigeria is performing their version of the play, called “Itan Oginintin,” at Shakespeare’s Globe in London for a festival showing 38 Shakespeare plays in different world languages as part of the London Cultural Olympiad.

For the Lagos-based performers in the Renegade Theatre company, the chance to perform allows them to represent a country whose rich history in the arts has faded under corrupt governments. “Some time between the ‘80s and the ‘90s, I think a bridge collapsed,” said Wole Oguntokun, who leads Renegade Theatre. “And now we are all looking for a way across that

bridge.” Nigeria remains home to Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the aging playwright who Oguntokun used as a muse for a play he wrote about the essayist’s tangles with the military rulers who once governed Africa’s most populous nation. But while the military built the country’s National Theatre in Lagos, a massive building in the shape of an officer’s cap, it now sits largely unused and in poor condition.

Most Nigerians’ experience with acting are from over-the-top performances on television soap operas and Nollywood movies. Slowly, however, Oguntokun and others have staged performances. —AP

s bad boy lead singer of the anarchic, trail-blazing and short-lived 1970s punk band the Sex Pistols, John Lydon (then Johnny Rotten) snarled and spat his way across a shocked society and music scene still pleasantly half-high from the mellow 1960s. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, Lydon left the Pistols in 1978 to form the more experimental - if less commercially successful - Public Image Ltd., and for the next 15 years the band’s shifting lineup released a dozen albums and toured the world. PiL finally sputtered out in 1993, but now Lydon has revived the band, and he talked to Reuters about their new album, ‘This is PiL,’ their tour and how butter changed his life.

Q: It’s been 20 years since the last PiL album. Why did it take you so long?

A: “Not my choice. The record company and contract obligations kept me in a state of non-recoupment and I had to outwait them. It was a very difficult time for me, almost like a state of mental starvation. You’re gagging at the bit to work, and music’s my life. But I found that the law worked against me, all the corporations and accountants. So I had a very negative view of business-as-usual.”

Q: So what changed?

A: “Three years ago a British butter company approached me with the wonderfully loony idea of me promoting butter (laughs). How brilliant, I thought! Insane, right? Not bonkers money, but it got me working again. And I found everyone involved to be so honourable and decent that I was thrilled.

And with that money, I put the band back together.”

Q: Were you a bit rusty, despite all the butter?

A: (Laughs) “I was well-buttered, and firstly we wanted to tour.

That was important to get me chops and respect back. So we did two years touring, and gradually the idea of a new album came together, along with forming our own record label, PiL Official. And thanks to the tours, we were able to finance it all ourselves.”

Q: Is it true you recorded the album at Stevie Winwood’s studio?

A: “Yeah, it was the only place we could afford. It was his barn, in the middle of the Cotswolds, with nothing for inspiration but sheep - and I don’t like sheep particularly.”

Q: Did Stevie Winwood come to the sessions?

A: “He did, but only with one ear to the barn door, and then he pretended to be watering the daisies. So he never contributed, but it was great he rented us the studio.”

Q: How did the sessions go?

A: “Fantastic! The 30 years of heartbreak, arguments, problems, animosities and bad management have led to good management, good interaction between band members and a wonderful sense of freedom. It’s been worth the wait. So now I view myself as 50 years young. And the next 50 are going to be nothing but gems.”

Q: How’s the tour going?

A: “Great. We’ll start in America in September and I can’t wait.

Everyone gets on and it’s a healthy working relationship. I didn’t know there was any such thing! Look at my past. I started in a band that all hated each other apparently, and it’s taken me this long to learn what I’m doing and get it all in order.

But we’re working on hatred. We’ll get to that on the next record (laughs).”

Q: What’s your view of the music business today?

A: “There isn’t one. The record companies fell apart - quite deservedly. Their corrupting, all-binding contract nonsense had to stop. But this modernization of sampling and regurgitating of old ideas isn’t healthy either. Live music is healthy.” —Reuters

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Indonesian police consider toned-down Gaga show

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olice in Indonesia, after refusing a permit for Lady Gaga to perform in Jakarta, said yesterday they were considering an offer from her local promoters to tone down the pop superstar’s racy show. However, while the promoters indicated that a deal was being hammered out, Lady Gaga’s own management has vowed no compromise to appease religious conservatives or censors. Jakarta police said last week they would not give a green light to the June 3 show after Islamic hardliners threatened chaos if the singer entered Indonesia, meaning she has so far been unable to obtain a permit to perform.

“We have received a document outlining an agreement by the promoters Big Daddy, which says Lady Gaga’s concert will respect Indonesian culture,” Jakarta police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, told AFP. He said the police would evaluate the offer and if they agreed with all the terms, they hoped to sign it yesterday and forward it to the national police. “They said that Lady Gaga would wear more appropriate clothes and change some of her lyrics and dance moves in a way that will be acceptable in Indonesia,” he said.

The promoters of the US performer’s “The Born This Way Ball” show in Jakarta have sold more than 50,000 tickets, and Indonesian fans are outraged that the event might

Indonesian Islamic hardliners chanting “Go to hell Lady Gaga” stage a protest against US pop diva Lady Gaga’s upcoming Jakarta concert in front of the Security Ministry in Jakarta yesterday. — AFP not go ahead. While Big Daddy did not confirm an actual offer to the police, the promoters said they were working with “related parties” to come up with a solution. “If a permit for the concert in Jakarta is issued, Lady Gaga’s party is committed to respecting the local culture and values in Indonesia,” Big Daddy spokesman Arif Ramadhoni told reporters.

However, the star’s manager Troy Carter said in Singapore on Thursday that Lady Gaga would not tone down

any upcoming concerts, after protests from religious hardliners also in the Philippines and South Korea. He said the 26-year-old singer, whose global hits include “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”, would rather cancel shows than make enforced changes to her flamboyant act. Asked specifically whether she was prepared to compromise on issues like her wardrobe in Indonesia, Carter said: “That’s not actually true.

“I think that’s something that the promoters and the organisers that

they want to offer to the religious groups. But you know the religious groups, they basically don’t want her stepping foot on the soil,” he said.

“We play the show as it is. It’s a very specific show, it’s a very specific audience.” Lady Gaga was in Bangkok yesterday for her latest concert, and her management team could not immediately be reached for further comment.

Indonesia’s national police force, which has the authority to issue the permit, said last week it would not grant Lady Gaga permission to perform without the Jakarta police’s approval. Several religious organisations have opposed the concert. The hardline Islamic Defenders Front vowed to round up 30,000 protestors if the singer, a vocal advocate for gay rights, tries to enter the country.

But the police decision last week was met with a public backlash, with critics accusing authorities of buckling to bigotry and intolerance.It has also triggered debate among the country’s leaders on foreign influences on Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Ninety percent of its 240 million people identify themselves as Muslim.

After Bangkok yesterday, Lady Gaga will play three shows in Singapore next week. She was due to play in Jakarta after that, before flying south to New Zealand and Australia, and then to Europe. —` AFP

Azerbaijan

hosts glittering Eurovision final amid protests

A

zerbaijan hosts the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the glitzy Caspian city of Baku today with the spotlight as much on the country’s rights record as the notoriously cheesy performances. The easternmost country ever to host the event has pulled out all the stops for Eurovision, building a spectacular concert hall looking over the Caspian bay and displaying the contest’s logo everywhere from taxis to shrubs.

Today, 26 finalists will take the stage of the Crystal Hall, watched by some 100 million viewers across the world who are hooked on the contest’s heady blend of political grudges, kitsch songs and histrionic performances.

The favourites going into the final are Sweden’s Loreen, who performs an energetic dance number with kung-fu moves, and Russia’s Buranovskiye Babushki, who combine folksy lyrics in Udmurtian and English with a disco beat. Big guns making their first appearance in the final include Britain’s big-haired crooner Englebert Humperdinck, brought in to revive the country’s lacklustre scores in a contest that the British public loves to hate.

Also through are Irish twins Jedward with their vertical hairdos and Montenegro’s Rambo Amadeus with a quirky song about the European economic crisis pleading: “Give me chance to refi-

nance.” With tickets priced at 160 manat ($204) for the final, the event is way beyond the budget of ordinary Azeris. Still, there is a patent sense of pride in the city, where glass skyscrapers are climbing up amid grimy Soviet blocks. Strollers twirl Eurovision flags and pose next to a Eurovision logo shaped from bushes on a promenade beside the Caspian Sea. “It’s wonderful. We have guests coming to visit us and everyone sees what a city we have, what a country we have,” said Soyamaz, a middle-aged school teacher of Russian watching the scene on the embankment. The event is very much a showcase for President Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his late father Heidar Aliyev as the president of oil-rich ex-Soviet state. His wife Mehriban Aliyeva heads the organising committee and his son-in-law Emin Agalarov, who croons as a hobby, will perform in the interval of the final.

Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova of Radio Liberty uncovered links between the Aliyev family and a company involved in the construction of the contest venue on the city’s commission in an apparent conflict of interest. The country’s opposition have also seized upon the contest to draw attention to the country’s lacklustre record on human rights, with activists staging regular protests since the start of the contest. —AFP

Azerbaijan’s Eurovision singer Sabina Babayeva poses for photographers.

Models wear creations by R. Groove summer collection during Fashion Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. — AP photos

Eurovision 2012 contestants from Turkey celebrate after the Second Semi-Final.

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

(From left) Producer Paulo Branco, actors Sarah Gadon, Robert Pattinson, director David Cronenberg, actors Paul Giamatti, Emily Hampshire, writer Don Dellilo and Martin Katz pose during a photo call for Cosmopolis yesterday. — AP

Cronenberg brings capitalism’s final act to Cannes

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oney, sex, technology and stretch limos abound as David Cronenberg brought “Cosmopolis” to Cannes yesterday, with Robert Pattinson as a billionaire financier looking for a haircut as a killer stalks him. The Manhattan thriller, adapted from Don DeLillo’s 2003 novel, follows a day in the life of Eric Packer while he journeys in his elongated white car through a city in turmoil as the US president makes a visit. The age of capitalism is drawing to a close and chaos sets in as the day goes on and Packer watches his financial empire collapse due to frenetic fluctuations of the yuan on global currency markets.

Along the way, he has sex a couple of times in his car-once with French actress Juliette Binoche-undergoes a mobile medical check-up, meets business associates, and gets a cream pie in the face from an anti-capitalist performance artist. He leaves his vehicle to breakfast, lunch and dine with his blonde heiress wife before their relationship takes a

turn for the worse. “Cosmopolis”, which got a polite reception at a press screening, is one of 22 movies in the running for the Palme d’Or top prize at the Cannes Film Festival to be awarded tomorrow. The film’s red carpet gala premiere was due later in the day.

Cronenberg, known for such creepy delights as “The Fly” and “Dead Ringers” as well as brutal dramas like “A History of Violence” and “Eastern Promises”, said the decade-old book’s prescient look at a crisis of capitalism did not require much updating.

“You have to accept that you are creating a new thing that is a strange mutant hybrid of the book and cinema and so on,” he told reporters. “But having accepted that, it literally only took me six days to write the script-a new record for me-but it was because the book had such a beautiful structure and fantastic dialogue.” DeLillo said he had handed over the task of adapting his novel to Cronenberg because film and literature were “very different life forms”.

British actor Robert Pattinson arrives at the press conference of “Cosmopolis” presented in competition at the 65th Cannes film festival yesterday. — AFP

“I had nothing to do with the script and that’s why the film turned out so well,” he said. Cronenberg said he had picked Pattinson, the 26-year-old British heart-throb from the “Twilight” vampire movies, in part because he had a presence viewers would want to accompany through an entire day, even through bizarre and violent scenes.

“For me the essence of cinema is a person, a face speaking-not epic, not the Grand Canyon, but a human being speaking,” he said. “If it’s a fantastic face saying fantastic words you’ve got real movie-making.” Asked whether Pattinson’s vampire persona was appropriate for the role of a “blood-sucking capitalist”, Cronenberg said actors had to banish their previous image to be effective in new films.

“This is a real person with a history and a past and the history and the past is not ‘Twilight’-it is ‘Cosmopolis’,” he said of the Parker character. Pattinson said he had been intimidated by the size and scope of the part,

(From left) US actor Clive Owen, Australian actress Nicole Kidman and US director Philip Kaufman pose during the photocall of “Hemingway & Gellhorn”. — AFP

particularly as Cronenberg notoriously offers little advance direction or opportunity to rehearse on set.

“I kind of spent two weeks in my hotel room worrying and confusing myself” before asking the director for some guidance, he said. “The one thing I knew about it is that I didn’t want to change a single word and you were quite strict on that as well, even the punctuation,” he said to Cronenberg.

“And that made it easier, it’s like you’re doing a song instead of a movie.” Pattinson said he didn’t dare to improvise or experiment with the language on the page. “It becomes about ego and it’s silly. Actors aren’t supposed to be intelligent,” he quipped. The festival gave Cronenberg, 69, a lifetime achievement award in 2006 and his movie “Crash” won a Special Jury Prize at the 1996 festival. This year his 32-year-old son Brandon Cronenberg is also in Cannes with his first feature film, “Antiviral” in the new talent section. — AFP

(From left) Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Niharika Singh and Anil George pose during a photo call for Miss Lovely. — AP

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Janet Jackson at the auction for the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit during the 65th Cannes film festival, in Cap d’Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 24, 2012. — AP photos

S

Karolina Kurkova and Antonio Banderas are seen at the auction.

tars promised hugs, kisses, a massage - and a vampire bite - in a glamour-filled auction to raise money to fight AIDS. Hoping to encourage bidders to open their wallets for items at Thursday’s amfAR gala in the south of France, celebrity presenters offered some extra enticements. Heidi Klum offered a massage, Diane Kruger donated the services of her boyfriend Joshua Jackson, “Vampire Diaries” starlet Nina Dobrev said she’d willingly bite a bidder and Chris Tucker did a mini Michael Jackson dance routine. Janet Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kylie Minogue, Gerard Butler and Kim Kardashian also attended the black tie event at the exclusive Hotel Du Cap overlooking the sea. When the final hammer slammed down at the end of the night, the celebrity sales people had reached a total of nearly $11 million dollars, a record for the charity dedicated to HIV and AIDS research.

Though many references were made to the troubled European financial climate - Aloe Blacc took to the stage to sing “I Need a Dollar,” while Jessie J performed “Price Tag” - austerity measures were not encouraged. Diners were pressed to empty their bank accounts.

An Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe print sold for 600,000 ($753,000). A

private match with tennis ace Novak Djokovic went for $113,000.

And the chance to star in a short film by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, produced by Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein, was so popular it was offered twice over - adding another $1,000,000 to the total. Models, including Karolina Kurkova, strutted on a catwalk between dining tables to show off 24 outfits, in the first fashion show at the French amfAR auction. The designs, selected by former Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld to create the “Perfect Black Wardrobe,” included pieces by Chanel, Dior, Armani, Kenneth Cole, Lanvin, Valentino, Tom Ford and Louis Vuitton. The winning bidder paid $377,000 to have them re-made in any size, and in any color - as long as it’s black. Stars partied around the pool in their finery until the early hours. A Donna Summer tribute DJ set got everyone dancing. — AP

Diane Kruger, Harvey Weinstein and Karl Lagerfeld.

Kirsten Dunst

Karolina Kurkova models.

Paris Hilton

Michelle Rodriguez

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

J

ames Doohan, Scotty from “Star Trek,” spent his acting career whizzing through the cosmos. Gordon Cooper was one of America’s famous Mercury seven astronauts.

And Bob Shrake spent his work life anonymously helping send NASA’s high-tech spacecraft to other planets. Now the three men who made space their lives are also making space their final resting place. Their ashes - and those of about 300 others - were aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket that blasted into orbit Tuesday as part of an in-space for-profit burial business.

Shrake was an engineer who designed spaceship control instruments for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif. After he died in 2007, his family decided that space would be a nice place to send some of his ashes so they spent a few thousand dollars to launch them in space with the Texas-based firm Celestis Inc. His daughter, Robin Smith of Grapevine, Texas, got up very early Tuesday to watch the pre-dawn launch, and said it was fitting. “I thought wow, he was actually up in the sky, in the place where his work is being used,” Smith said by telephone.

The ashes were in a special container, which SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell confirmed Tuesday was in the second stage of the Falcon

T

rocket. That section of the rocket was jettisoned about 10 minutes after launching a capsule full of supplies for the International Space Station.

It will remain in orbit for about a year then burn up as it returns to Earth.

You don’t have to be in the space business to have your ashes deposited in orbit, but you do have to have nearly $3,000. Some of what Celestis calls “participants” in this flight, which the company called its “new frontier” mission, have no connection to space. Some people’s ashes that flew Tuesday, including those of Doohan and Cooper, were also on a botched 2008 SpaceX launch that didn’t get the remains into orbit and dropped into the Pacific Ocean.

This is a makeup flight for them. Others whose ashes have flown previously include “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and his actress-wife Majel Barrett, who was in the series. Smith said her father - ever the frugal engineer - might have thought this a waste of money, but his family is glad they did it: “Most of his career dealt with outer space and orbit and now he’s in it.” — AP

he US admiral who oversaw the operation to kill Osama bin Laden denied on Thursday that he or his staff helped advise Hollywood film makers shooting a movie about last year’s secret raid to kill the Al-Qaeda leader. A conservative legal group this week made public documents which it said showed how the Obama administration arranged special access to top officials for film makers Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, the director and screenwriter of “The Hurt Locker,” a 2008 film about the Iraq war that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Judicial Watch said the documents indicated that the Pentagon granted Bigelow and Boal access to a “planner, Operator and Commander of SEAL Team Six,” the Navy commando unit that carried out the raid during which bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where he apparently had lived for years.

But Admiral William McRaven, who commanded the mission and was later promoted to head the US military’s Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), denied anyone from USSO-

This combination of photos shows astronaut Gordon Cooper (top left) Bob Shrake, an engineer who designed spaceship control instruments for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (top right actor James Doohan (bottom left) and capsules from Space Services Inc. — AP

COM dealt with the filmmakers in any way. “I had no interaction, neither has anyone at USSOCOM had any interaction, with folks that are making this movie,” McRaven told reporters, speaking a press conference in Tampa, Florida. “We have not provided any planners.”

The most revealing document obtained by Judicial Watch is a 16-page transcript of a July 15, 2011 meeting between the two filmmakers and Michael Vickers, Undersecretary of Defence for Intelligence and one of the key administration officials involved in the bin Laden operation. In the transcript, Vickers says that the Pentagon was willing to “make a guy available” to them who “was involved from the beginning as a planner; a SEAL Team Six Operator and Commander.” Upon hearing this, screenwriter Mark Boal exclaimed: “That’s dynamite.” Director Kathryn Bigelow said: “That’s incredible,” according to the transcript. A Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged McRaven’s command offered to make available a “planner” who was not a current member of SEAL Team Six as a

Models wear creations by R. Groove summer collection during Fashion Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. — AP photos

possible point of contact for additional information, if instructed by the Pentagon to do so.

But the official said the Defence Department did not grant the filmmakers access to that individual “nor to our knowledge was it pursued by the filmmakers.” The film project, titled “Zero Dark Thirty” about the May 2011 raid on bin Laden’s compound, became a focus of controversy last year when New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd reported that its producers planned to release it weeks before the Nov. 6 election in which President Barack Obama is seeking a second term in office. —Reuters

technology SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Yahoo seeks to shake up search, Web browsing Internet search engine launches ‘Axis’ SAN FRANCISCO: Joining the battle to redefine Internet search, Yahoo is taking aim with a new browser enhancement it calls “Axis.” It alters browsers made by other companies to display search results in a more convenient and visual format. The troubled Internet company Yahoo Inc released Axis in Apple’s app store late Wednesday. That version will work only on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The software also can be installed as a plug-in on most major browsers used on desktop computers and laptops.

Apps for other mobile devices are in the works.

A device running Axis can display search results in a panorama of visual thumbnails that can be scrolled through above a Web page. It’s a departure from search engines’ traditional presentation of a list of staid Web links that require more navigation and guesswork. “Searching through links has outlived its utility,” said Shashi Seth, a Yahoo Inc senior vice president. “Users are demanding more now because we are all short on time.” All the major search engines are adopting new formats intended to make it easier for users to find information without clicking through to page after page.

Two weeks ago, Microsoft Corp previewed an upcoming change that will spread Bing’s search results in three columns, including one devoted to personalized recommendations pulled from Facebook, Twitter and other social networking services. Last week, Google unveiled a new search feature called a “Knowledge Graph”

that seeks to provide more immediate answers by highlighting information from a database containing more than 500 million entries about people, places and other commonly requested things.

The biggest challenge facing Axis may be overcoming the perception that Yahoo stopped innovating in search when it joined forces with Microsoft and started relying on Bing. “If it’s good enough and cool enough, people will go out of their way to get it,” predicted IDC analyst Karsten Weide. Yahoo is counting on Axis to reverse its steadily declining share of the Internet’s lucrative search market and bring it more traffic from among the growing number of smartphone and tablet users.

Its greatest appeal figures to be on mobile devices because users with the app installed can see their search results at the top of the screen just by flicking on whatever page is displayed. The relevant results appear in a ribbon of Web page snapshots, making it easier for users to find the right information.

Much like Google’s Knowledge Graph, Axis draws its results from a custom-built index. Most of the data in the Axis index resides on Yahoo’s own services. If Axis can’t find answers there, it presents links from Bing’s search index. Yahoo has relied on Bing’s technology since 2010 as part of a decadelong partnership formed to lure users away from Google. So far, most of Bing’s gains have come at Yahoo’s expense, but Yahoo was losing search traffic well before it began leaning on Bing.

Yahoo’s share of the US search market stood at 13.5 percent through April, down from nearly 25 percent five years ago, according to the research firm comScore Inc. Bing holds a 15.4 percent share, up from 9.4 percent five years ago when Microsoft operated a search engine under a different name and system. Google’s share has climbed from 56 percent five years ago to more than 66 percent now. Yahoo’s alliance with Microsoft gives it the flexibility to offer unique search features, such as Axis, that Bing doesn’t have.

Getting people to use its search engine more frequently is important to Yahoo because it keeps 88 percent of the revenue generated from requests made on its service, but none when a query is entered directly on Bing.

The erosion in Yahoo’s Internet market share has been a major factor in a financial malaise that has caused the company’s stock to slump for years and contributed to the management turmoil that has taken Yahoo through four CEOs including two interim leaders during just the past nine months, when it was working on Axis.

Yahoo won’t show ads next to Axis search results initially, but the company believes the visual format will be ideal for video commercials and graphical marketing.

In an effort to make Axis even more useful, Yahoo plans to store search activity on its servers so users can have access to their past activity on any computer or mobile device where they log in.

Axis will accept the logins that people use on Google and Facebook, as well as Yahoo. — AP

Singapore installing island-wide camera network BUENOS AIRES: Argentine experts have discovered the near-complete remains of a new species of Jurassic-era dinosaur that stood on its rear legs and had tiny arms, a leading paleontologist said Thursday. The find belongs to the Abelisaurus family, “the most common carnivorous species in the southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous Period,” some 70 to 100 million years ago, paleontologist Diego Pol said.

“However the fossils that we found are some 170 million years old,” from the earlier Jurassic Period, Pol said. The creature looks a bit like a scaled-down Tyrannosaurus rex, but with even smaller arms. The new species, baptized Eoabelisaurus mefi, predates the oldest known member of the Abelisauri lineage by more than 40 million years. Unlike its descendants, this six-meter long creature creature “has completely reduced arms and tiny claws, which implies that it used only its very sharp teeth to feed itself,” Pol said. Abelisauri remains have been found only in the southern hemisphere. Experts believe a great desert in the Earth’s single land mass at the

time, Pangea, could have acted as a geographic barrier, preventing the species from spreading north. The fossils were discovered on Condor Hill, in the southern Patagonian province of Chubut, some 1,800 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires. A 25member team from the Edigio Feruglio Museum of Paleontology in Chubut discovered the creature’s cranium and vertebrae during a dig in 2009.

The team was forced to abandon the expedition when winter approached, and returned the next year during the summer, when “we found the animal’s whole articulated skeleton,” Pol said. Details of the find appear in an article Wednesday in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London.

Argentina earned fame as a prime site for dinosaur fossil hunters with several discoveries in the 1980s, including the Argentinosaurus Huinculensis, a giant herbivore more than 40 meters long that lived 98 million years ago. In 1993, scientists in Argentina found the remains of the Giganotosaurus Carolinii, a T-Rex type creature that is the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever found. — AFP

THE KAROO: This picture shows the Karoo Array Telescope construction site, part of the MeerKAT Project, in the Northern Cape. —AFP

Decision time on the site for giant radio telescope LONDON: The location of a huge radio telescope strong enough to detect extraterrestrial life in the far reaches of the universe could be settled today as the group in charge of the project meets in the Netherlands. When completed in 2024 the “Square Kilometer Array” (SKA) will be made up of 3,000 dishes, each 15 meters wide, together with many more antennae, that will stretch over 3,000 km. Scanning the sky 10,000 times faster and with 50 times the sensitivity of any other telescope, it will be used to study the origins of the universe and will be able to detect weak signals that could indicate the presence of extraterrestrial life.

A joint bid between Australia and New Zealand to host the telescope is pitted against South Africa for a $2 billion project that will bestow an economic boost and major scientific prestige on the winner. The lobbying has been intense and at times acrimonious, with the Australians raising concerns about the security of such an expensive project in South Africa, which suffers from high rates of violent crime. South Africa has accused the other side of dirty tricks and selectively leaking data to boost its bid in what are supposed to be secret deliberations.

The project could now be split between the two bidders. In March, a science panel gave a marginal preference to South Africa but after intense lobbying from both bidders the decision was delayed and a group of experts was set up to examine the scientific and cost implications of a split location. That group will report back to the consortium yesterday but scientists say a split location would almost certainly add to the bill. Radio telescopes work best in remote locations away from interference from other radio signals, hence the decision to site this one in the more sparsely-populated southern hemisphere.

MORE THAN SCIENTIFIC EYE CANDY The SKA is more than just a scientific bauble for the winner.

Global tech companies are already earmarking development funds linked to the project, which will rely on computing technology that does not even exist yet to process the flood of data it will collect. Scientists estimate that the SKA will need processing power equivalent to several million of today’s fastest computers.

International Business Machines Corp and Astron, the Netherlands institute for radio astronomy, announced in April a 33 million euro ($42 million), five-year deal to develop extremely fast computer systems with low power requirements for the SKA project.

“If you take the current global daily Internet traffic and multiply it by two, you are in the range of the data set that the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope will be collecting every day,” said IBM Researcher Ton Engbersen at the announcement of the deal.

Other companies that have signed partnership agreements with the project include NokiaSiemens, BAE Systems PLC, Cisco Systems Inc and Selex Galileo, a UK unit of Italian group Finmeccanica SpA. The engineering and computing challenges are significant, not least the provision of power to run the array and the supercomputers in such a remote location. It is in overcoming those challenges that the leaders of the project argue could lead to untold spin-offs for industry. They point to Wi-Fi technology as one of the best known commercial applications to come from radio astronomy, for instance.

The first phase of construction is set to start in 2016, and by 2019 about 10 percent of the array should be built, extending some 100 km from the telescope’s core.

Expansion to 3,000 km should be complete by 2023 and the project will be fully up and running the following year. — Reuters

technology SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

SpaceX Dragon makes final approach to space station SpaceX to restore US access to space outpost WASHINGTON: SpaceX’s Dragon capsule yesterday made its final approach toward the International Space Station, edging closer to the climax of its landmark mission to latch on to the orbiting research lab. The first step of the two-phase berthing maneuver was expected at 10:40 am (1440 GMT), when the astronauts aboard the ISS would use the robotic arm to capture the unmanned capsule and shepherd it toward the $100 billion orbiting lab, NASA said.

The grapple time was delayed from 9:10 am after sensors aboard the Dragon capsule were found to be reacting to a glint of light off the Japanese Kibo lab on the space station, a situation which had to be fixed before the operation could proceed.

Soon after the robotic arm grab takes place, a formal berthing of the Dragon will bring the capsule closer to latch on at the station’s Harmony module so its cargo can be unloaded over the coming days.

“The desire is for a daylight pass for the crew so they obviously can see the Dragon a little bit better as they use the robotic arm to reach out and grab on to it,” said a NASA commentator on the space agency’s live broadcast of the event. In the meantime, Dragon is holding 30 meters (yards) from the space station, before moving in to a final distance of 10 meters. Both spacecraft are zooming around the Earth at a speed of 17,000 miles per hour (27,350 kilometers per hour).

SpaceX’s supply ship is on a mission to become the first privately owned craft to berth with the space station, restoring US access to the space outpost after the shuttle program’s end.

Only Russia, Japan and Europe currently have supply ships that can reach the ISS. The United States lost that capacity when it retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011. So far, the demonstration flight has been near flawless, according to progress reports from NASA and SpaceX since the capsule blasted off atop the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Tuesday. The launch marked the first time a commercial enterprise has sent its own craft to the orbiting lab and opened what NASA, the White House and SpaceX officials described as a “new era” in spaceflight.

California-based SpaceX hopes that

its gumdrop-shaped Dragon capsule will be able to carry astronauts to the ISS in about three years’ time. Russia is now the only nation capable of ferrying astronauts there aboard its Soyuz capsules. In addition, a successful berthing mission opens the way for SpaceX’s $1.6 billion contract with NASA to supply the space station and return cargo to Earth over the coming years. “After this mission we are on contract for at least 12 more missions to the International Space Station,”

said SpaceX flight director John Couluris, noting that while Japan and Europe can carry supplies to the ISS, only Russia can return cargo to Earth.

“So we are looking to provide regular services... at a faster rate than some of the other vehicles.”

On Thursday, the Dragon capsule successfully completed a fly-under of the ISS at a distance of 2.4 kilometers as well as several other maneuvers to lay the groundwork for the berthing attempt. — AFP

FLORIDA: The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from space launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla. — AP

This image provided by NASA-TV shows the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft (top) as Dragon approaches the International Space Station yesterday. Dragon is scheduled to spend about a week docked with the station before returning to Earth on May 31 for retrieval. — AP

Facebook launches iPhone camera app NEW YORK: Facebook’s rocky initial public offering hasn’t stopped life at the world’s biggest online social network.

On Thursday, the company unveiled a camera app for the iPhone. The app can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store and works like most other camera applications for smart phones. To take a photo, you tap a camera icon in the upper left corner of your screen, aim and shoot. You can then add filters, crop or tilt your photo, and share it on Facebook.

The new app is similar to Instagram, the photo-sharing

app Facebook is in the process of buying for $1 billion. The acquisition, however, has not yet been completed, and Instagram’s employees did not work on the photo app.

Facebook has said it expects the Instagram acquisition to close sometime this year. Facebook didn’t give details on when it might release a version of the app for phones that run on Google’s Android operating system. In a statement, Facebook said it is “carefully looking at what might make for a good Facebook photos experience across Android devices.” — AP

DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia’s Melungeons NASHVILLE: For years, varied and sometimes wild claims have been made about the origins of a group of dark-skinned residents of the southeastern Appalachia region, once known derisively as the Melungeons. Some speculated they were descended from Portuguese explorers, or perhaps from Turkish slaves or Gypsies. Now a new DNA study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy attempts to separate truth from oral tradition and wishful thinking. The study found the truth to be somewhat less exotic: Genetic evidence shows that the families historically called Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European origin.

And that report, which was published in April in the peer-reviewed journal, doesn’t sit comfortably with some people who claim Melungeon ancestry. “There were a whole lot of people upset by this study,” lead researcher Roberta Estes said. “They just knew they were Portuguese, or Native American.” Beginning in the early 1800s, or possibly before, the term Melungeon was applied as a slur to a group of about 40 families along the Tennessee-Virginia border. But it has since become a catch-all phrase for a number of groups of mysterious mixed-race ancestry.

In recent decades, interest in the origin of the Melungeons has risen dramatically with advances both in DNA research and in the advent of Internet resources that allow individuals to trace their ancestry without digging through dusty archives. G Reginald Daniel, a sociologist at the University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara who’s spent more than 30 years examining multiracial people in the US and wasn’t part of this research, said the study is more evidence that race-mixing in the US isn’t a new phenomenon. “All of us are multiracial,” he said. “It is recapturing a more authentic US history.”

Estes and her fellow researchers theorize that the various Melungeon lines may have sprung from the unions of black and white indentured servants living in Virginia in the mid-1600s, before slavery. They conclude that as laws were put in place to penalize the mixing of races, the various family groups could only intermarry with each other, even migrating together from Virginia through the Carolinas before settling primarily in the mountains of East Tennessee. Claims of Portuguese ancestry likely were a ruse they used in order to remain free and retain other privileges that came with being considered white, according to the study’s authors.

The study quotes from an 1874 court case in Tennessee in which a Melungeon woman’s inheritance was challenged. If Martha Simmerman were found to have African blood, she would lose the inheritance. Her attorney, Lewis Shepherd, argued successfully that the Simmerman’s family was descended from ancient Phoenicians who eventually migrated to Portugal and then to North America. Writing about his argument in a memoir published years later, Shepherd stated, “Our Southern high-bred people will never tolerate on equal terms any person who is even remotely tainted with negro blood, but they do not make the same objection to other brown or darkskinned people, like the Spanish, the Cubans, the Italians, etc.”

In another lawsuit in 1855, Jacob Perkins, who is described as “an East Tennessean of a Melungeon family,” sued a man who had accused him of having “negro blood.” In a note to his attorney, Perkins wrote why he felt the accusation was damaging. Writing in the era of slavery ahead of the Civil War, Perkins noted the racial discrimination of the age: “1st the words imply that we are liable to be indicted (equals) liable to be whipped (equals) liable to be fined ... “ Later generations came to believe some of the tales their ancestors wove out of necessity.

Jack Goins, who has researched Melungeon history for about 40 years and was the driving force behind the DNA study, said his distant relatives were listed as Portuguese on an 1880 census. — AP

TV listings SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 05:45 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 08:15 09:10 09:35 10:05 10:30 11:00 11:25 11:55 12:50 13:45 14:10 14:40 15:35 16:30 17:25 18:20 19:15 20:10 21:05 21:30 22:00 22:25 22:55 23:20 23:50

17:20 Wheeler Dealers 18:15 Wheeler Dealers 19:10 Desert Car Kings 20:05 Desert Car Kings 21:00 Desert Car Kings 21:55 Desert Car Kings 22:50 Desert Car Kings 23:45 How Do They Do It? Turbo Specials

Untamed & Uncut Human Prey Last Feast Of The Crocodiles I Was Bitten Wildest Africa Wildlife SOS International Escape To Chimp Eden Vet On The Loose Vet On The Loose Escape To Chimp Eden Crocodile Hunter The Planet’s Funniest Animals Jeff Corwin Unleashed Jeff Corwin Unleashed Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Wild Animal Orphans Project Puppy Dogs 101 Wildlife SOS Safari Vet School Safari Vet School Must Love Cats Great Savannah Race Wildest Africa Wildest Africa Wildest Africa Wildest Africa Great Ocean Adventures Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Great Animal Escapes Great Animal Escapes Animal Cops South Africa

00:00 00:10 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:10 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:10 07:30 08:00 08:10 08:30 09:00 09:10 10:00 10:10 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:15 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:10 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:15 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:10 20:30 21:00 21:10 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:10 23:30

BBC World News Weekend World Mishal Husain Meets BBC World News Horizons BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News Fast Track BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News The Record Europe BBC World News Click BBC World News Weekend World Mishal Husain Meets BBC World News World Football Focus Horizons BBC World News The Doha Debates BBC World News World Features Newsnight BBC World News Our World BBC World News Weekend World Talking Movies BBC World News Sport Today Fast Track BBC World News Dateline London BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News Click BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News Sport Today Fast Track BBC World News Click BBC World News World Features Dateline London BBC World News The Doha Debates BBC World News Middle East Business Report BBC World News World Features Our World

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15

Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket

THE KINGDOM ON OSN ACTION HD 02:40 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00 05:25 05:50 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:30 11:50 12:10 12:35 13:00 13:50 14:40 15:05 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:15 18:05 18:30 Chase 20:00 20:30 20:55 21:25 21:50

Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics Wacky Races Pink Panther And Pals Dexter’s Laboratory Bananas In Pyjamas Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Ha Ha Hairies The Garfield Show The Looney Tunes Show Tom & Jerry Tales Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Yogi’s Treasure Hunt Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Wacky Races The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Garfield Show The Flintstones Dastardly And Muttley Looney Tunes Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Tom & Jerry Top Cat Top Cat Pink Panther & Pals The Garfield Show The Looney Tunes Show Scooby Doo And The Cyber Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry Tales The Garfield Show The Flintstones Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch

22:15 22:35 23:00 23:20 23:45

Popeye Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show

00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 00:55 Bakugan: New Vestroia 01:20 Powerpuff Girls 02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:25 Eliot Kid 06:50 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:05 Adventure Time 08:30 Angelo Rules 08:55 Eliot Kid 09:20 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 09:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 10:05 Total Drama: Revenge Of The Island 10:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 11:00 Adventure Time 14:55 Adventure Time 15:10 Best Ed 16:00 Fantastic Four...

16:25 Ben 10 16:50 The Amazing World Of Gumball

17:15 17:40 18:05 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:35 21:00 21:25 21:50 22:00 22:50 23:15 23:40

Adventure Time Regular Show Powerpuff Girls Ben 10: Alien Force Ben 10: Alien Force Ed, Edd n Eddy Grim Adventures Of...

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Redakai: Conquer The Kairu Cow And Chicken Codename: Kids Next Door Ben 10 Ben 10 Chowder

00:15 One Man Army 01:10 Destroyed In Seconds 01:35 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 02:30 Desert Car Kings 03:25 X-Machines 04:20 One Man Army 05:15 How It’s Made 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Flying Wild Alaska 07:00 How It’s Made 07:25 Desert Car Kings 08:15 Desert Car Kings 09:10 Desert Car Kings 10:05 Desert Car Kings 10:55 Desert Car Kings 11:50 How Do They Do It? Turbo Specials 12:45 How Do They Do It? Turbo Specials 13:40 How Do They Do It? Turbo Specials 14:35 How Do They Do It? Turbo Specials 15:30 Wheeler Dealers 16:25 Wheeler Dealers

00:35 01:25 01:50 02:40 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:03 07:30 08:00 08:55 09:45 10:35 11:25 12:15 13:05 13:55 14:45 14:48 15:15 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Nasa’s Greatest Missions The Tech Show Nextworld The Future Of...

How Does That Work?

How Does That Work?

Stunt Junkies Stunt Junkies Mega Builders Smash Lab Head Rush Sci-Fi Science Weird Connections Future Weapons Nextworld The Future Of...

Catch It Keep It Catch It Keep It Catch It Keep It Catch It Keep It Catch It Keep It Head Rush Sci-Fi Science Weird Connections The Tech Show Future Weapons Space Pioneer The Future Of...

Scrapheap Challenge Scrapheap Challenge Invisible Worlds Bang Goes The Theory Scrapheap Challenge Scrapheap Challenge Punkin Chunkin 2011

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:40 Cody 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:35 10:00 10:25 12:10 12:30 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:00 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 22:05 22:30 22:41 22:55 Cody 23:20 Cody 23:45

Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Suite Life Of Zack And So Random Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Jessie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place A.N.T. Farm Austin & Ally Ratatouille Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie A.N.T. Farm Austin & Ally Jessie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Suite Life On Deck Aladdin & The King Of Thieves A.N.T. Farm Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Jessie My Babysitter’s A Vampire Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Fish Hooks The Suite Life Of Zack And The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 Cheating Death 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 Bridalplasty 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 11:10 Giuliana & Bill 12:05 E! News 13:05 Scouted 14:05 Khloe And Lamar 14:35 Khloe And Lamar 15:00 Khloe And Lamar 15:25 Khloe And Lamar 15:55 Khloe And Lamar 16:25 Khloe And Lamar 16:55 Khloe And Lamar 17:25 Khloe And Lamar 17:55 E! News 18:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 19:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 20:55 Style Star 21:25 Fashion Police 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:30 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 Jones 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 Jones 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 Jones 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Ghost Lab A Haunting I Was Murdered I Was Murdered On The Case With Paula Zahn Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab A Haunting Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Ghost Lab The Haunted A Haunting

00:00 Departures 01:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 02:00 Adventure Wanted 03:00 Meet The Amish 04:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 04:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 05:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 06:00 Adventure Wanted 07:00 Meet The Amish 08:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 09:00 Deadliest Journeys 09:30 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 10:00 Graham’s World 10:30 Graham’s World 11:00 Destination Extreme 11:30 Destination Extreme 12:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 12:30 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 13:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 14:00 Adventure Wanted 15:00 Meet The Amish 16:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 16:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 17:00 Treks In A Wild World 18:00 Departures 19:00 Pressure Cook 19:30 Pressure Cook 20:00 Which Way To 21:00 First Ascent

TV listings SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012 21:30 First Ascent 22:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 23:00 A World Apart

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 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 21:00 22:00 23:00

Aftermath Taboo Megastructures Caught In The Act Hunter Hunted Nat Geo Amazing!

Which Way To Somewhere In China Aftermath Taboo Megastructures Caught In The Act Hunter Hunted Nat Geo Amazing!

Which Way To Somewhere In China Aftermath Taboo Megastructures World’s Deadliest Animals Shark Men Locked Up Abroad Adventure Wanted Departures

00:00 Triumph of Life 01:00 Predator Battleground 01:55 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 02:50 Outback Wrangler 03:45 Fairy Penguins: The Secret of Sydney Harbour 04:40 Expedition Wild 05:35 Cameramen Who Dare 06:30 Hooked 07:25 Swamp Men 08:20 Dam Beavers 09:15 The Living Edens 10:10 Africa’s Deadliest 11:05 Built For The Kill 12:00 Wild Dog Diaries 13:00 Hidden Worlds 14:00 Kalahari Supercats 15:00 Built for the Kill 4 16:00 Wildlife Rescue Africa 17:00 Hunter Hunted 18:00 Mystery Of The Wolf 19:00 Built for the Kill 4 20:00 Wildlife Rescue Africa 21:00 Hunter Hunted 22:00 Mystery Of The Wolf 23:00 Wild Dog Diaries

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:30 13:15 15:15 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Mr. Nice-18 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG Red-PG15 Despicable Me-FAM True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG My Name Is Khan-PG15 Red-PG15 Freakonomics-PG15 Battle: Los Angeles-PG15 Dinner For Schmucks-PG15 Brothers-18 Priest-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 03:00 New Girl 03:30 Happy Endings 04:00 Weird Science 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:30 Melissa And Joey 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Weird Science 08:30 New Girl 09:00 Seinfeld 09:30 30 Rock 10:00 Modern Family 10:30 Melissa And Joey 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Weird Science 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Melissa And Joey 14:00 Happy Endings 14:30 Modern Family 15:00 30 Rock 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Parks And Recreation

18:30 Wilfred 19:00 The Office 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00

Jane By Design Smash Survivor: One World Glee Damages Good Morning America The Invisible Man Castle The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View American Idol Glee Castle Good Morning America The Invisible Man The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Warehouse 13 Criminal Minds Sons Of Anarchy Top Gear (UK) Pillars Of The Earth

Pan Am Survivor: One World Combat Hospital Jane By Design Smash Glee Pan Am Survivor: One World

Open Graves-PG15 Circle Of Eight-18 The Kingdom-18 The Reunion-PG15 S.W.A.T.: Firefight-PG15 True Justice: Street Wars-PG15 Returner-PG15 S.W.A.T.: Firefight-PG15 Alive-PG15 Returner-PG15 Bram Stoker’s Dracula-18 The Cry Of The Owl-PG15

01:00 03:00 07:00 09:15 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 23:00

Castle The Chicago Code Jane By Design Glee Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle Pan Am Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Practice Warehouse 13 Criminal Minds Sons Of Anarchy Top Gear (UK) True Blood

01:15 03:45 05:30 07:45 09:45 12:00 13:30 15:15 17:30 19:00 21:00 23:30

Walled In-PG15 The Godfather-18 The A-Team-PG15 Rocky IV-PG15 Taxi-PG15 Fighting-PG15 Rocky IV-PG15 Little Big Soldier-PG15 The Godfather II-18 The Collector-18

00:30 Blue Valentine-18 02:30 Megamind-FAM 04:30 The Karate Kid-PG 07:00 African Cats: Kingdom Of Courage-PG 09:00 Waiting For Superman-PG15 11:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 12:30 The Prince And Me 4: The Elephant Adventure-PG15 14:30 Winnie The Pooh-FAM 16:00 Waiting For Superman-PG15 18:00 Just Go With It-PG15 20:00 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules-PG15 22:00 Takers-PG15

00:00 Beavis And Butt-Head Do America-PG15 02:00 A Lot Like Love-PG15 04:00 Love Hurts-PG15 06:00 Last Of The Living-PG15 08:00 Bubble Boy-PG15 10:00 Mean Girls 2-PG15 12:00 One Hot Summer-PG15 14:00 Addams Family Values-PG 16:00 Mean Girls 2-PG15 18:00 Bad News Bears-PG 20:00 Grown Ups-PG15 22:00 Alfie-18

21:00 WWE SmackDown 23:00 WWE Bottom Line Kings And Queen-18 All Good Things-18 The River-PG15 Inside Job-PG15 Dead Poets Society-PG15 Greener Mountains-PG Don’t Fade Away-PG15 Dead Poets Society-PG15 Tresor-PG15 Guilty As Sin-PG15 Eat Pray Love-PG15 Fargo-18

00:00 Hua Mulan-PG 02:00 Rh+ The Vampire Of Seville-PG 04:00 Tangled-FAM 06:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 08:00 Zorro’s Secrets-PG 10:00 Ramona And Beezus-PG 12:15 Supertramps-FAM 14:00 Tangled-FAM 16:00 The Three Musketeers (2008)FAM 18:00 Ramona And Beezus-PG 20:00 Jetsons: The Movie-FAM 22:00 Supertramps-FAM

00:00 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews 01:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 02:00 Live NBC Nightly News 03:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 04:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 05:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 08:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 10:00 MSNBC Morning Joe 13:00 MSNBC Documystery 14:00 Live NBC Saturday Today Show 16:00 MSNBC Up With Chris Hayes Saturday 17:57 Live MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews 18:38 Live MSNBC The Ed Show 19:19 Live MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 20:00 Live ABC 20/20 21:00 MSNBC Documystery 22:00 MSNBC Melissa Harris-Perry

00:00 Triumph of Life 01:00 Predator Battleground 01:55 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 02:50 Outback Wrangler 03:45 Fairy Penguins: The Secret of Sydney Harbour 04:40 Expedition Wild 05:35 Cameramen Who Dare 06:30 Hooked 07:25 Swamp Men 08:20 Dam Beavers 09:15 The Living Edens 10:10 Africa’s Deadliest 11:05 Built For The Kill 12:00 Wild Dog Diaries 13:00 Hidden Worlds 14:00 Kalahari Supercats 15:00 Built for the Kill 4 16:00 Wildlife Rescue Africa 17:00 Hunter Hunted 18:00 Mystery Of The Wolf 19:00 Built for the Kill 4 20:00 Wildlife Rescue Africa 21:00 Hunter Hunted 22:00 Mystery Of The Wolf 23:00 Wild Dog Diaries

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 15:45 18:00 20:00 22:15

08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

RED ON OSN CINEMA

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 18

Howl-18 Just Go With It-PG15 Napoleon Dynamite-PG Zookeeper-PG15 The Chaperone-PG15 Ticking Clock-PG15 Just Go With It-PG15 Chasing 3000-PG15 The Chaperone-PG15 Morning Glory-PG15 Fright Night-PG15 The Men Who Stare At Goats-

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 10:30 12:30 13:00

UFC Countdown Super Rugby UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed Live UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE Bottom Line Trans World Sport Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Live Super Rugby Live Super Rugby Futbol Mundial Live Test Cricket

00:30 01:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 12:30 14:30 16:30 17:30 18:00 20:00 22:00

Total Rugby Top 14 NRL Premiership Trans World Sport World Cup of Pool Top 14 Trans World Sports NRL Full Time Live NRL Premiership Live Super Rugby Live Super Rugby Trans World Sports Total Rugby Live Super Rugby Live Super Rugby Live Senior PGA Championship

04:00 07:00 10:00 10:30 12:30 15:30 16:00 20:00 22:00

Senior PGA Championship Live AFL Premiership Total Rugby Top 14 Live AFL Premiership European Tour Weekly Live European PGA Tour Live Top 14 Super Rugby

00:00 WWE SmackDown 02:00 UFC 146 Countdown

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 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 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ax Men Planet Egypt Decoded Ancient Aliens Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Ax Men Secret Superpowered Aircraft Secret Superpowered Aircraft Secret Superpowered Aircraft Lock N’ Load Lock N’ Load Lock N’ Load Secret Superpowered Aircraft Secret Superpowered Aircraft Secret Superpowered Aircraft Planet Egypt Decoded Ancient Aliens Mud Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars American Restoration American Restoration Irt Deadliest Roads: The Andes Swamp People

00:00 Essential 00:30 Distant Shores 01:00 Intrepid Journeys 02:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 03:00 People Of The Sea 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 Flavours Of South Africa 06:30 Glutton For Punishment 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Floyd On Africa 08:30 Floyd Uncorked 09:00 Flavours Of Spain 09:30 Flavours Of Spain 10:00 The Ethical Hedonist 11:00 Cruise Today 11:30 The Skinny Dip 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 The Blue Continent 14:00 Planet Food 15:00 Planet Food 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Distant Shores 17:30 Distant Shores 18:00 Intrepid Journeys 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Floyd Uncorked 20:30 Floyd Uncorked 21:00 Planet Food 22:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 23:00 Globe Trekker

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

KALA holds Kala Sandhya

K

erala Arts lovers Association (Kala Kuwait) organized an event “Kala Sandhya” at ICSK Amman Branch, Salmiya. The event ‘Kala Sandhya’ was inaugurated by K. Vinod (Kala President) and the function was chaired by Dilip Naderi (Kala Vibhagam Secretary). Saji Thomas Mathew (Gen.Secretary, Kala), Salim Raj, (Literacy Secretary) J. Saji (Kala Central Committee Member) were given the felicitation speech. Anil Kumar V (Program convener) delivered the welcome address and Reji K. Jacob (Unit Convener) proposed a vote of thanks.

After the short inaugural meeting, various cultural programs were started. Films, songs, light music, different type of dances, mimics and a magic show were presented by Kala, Vanithavedi, Balavedi and Kala well-wishers.

Reshmi Suresh, Divya Kiran, Bindu Dileep, Vincy Shinoj Ancy Thomas, Manivarnnan, Sarath Chandra Babu, Philipose, Thomas, Jibin, Binu mon Adarsh, Ananthinka, Kirthana, Hiba, Samika, Malavika, Amalenthu were performed various programs in this event “Kala Sandhya”.

Suresh Babu, Kiran P.R and Roopesh M.C cocoordinated the programs.

IES win St Berchman’s Extempore Speech Competition

I

t was Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said that speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, and to compel. The budding orators of Indian Educational School (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan), Kuwait did prove their power of expression the best and unchallenged among their counterparts in other schools. They have been striving hard for that moment when they are declared the champions of the prestigious and most competitive St. Berchman’s Extempore Speech Competition.

16th St. Berchman’s Extempore Speech Competition held last Friday in the United Indian School was like all other previous issues of the contest, rich and unique in the way it was organized. Most of the Indian schools in Kuwait had their participation.

Hundreds of growing speakers from classes 7 to 12 could voice their opinions on the most relevant and near life topics given for their speeches. The organizers had taken all

care to see that no one member of the veteran panel of judges had any kind of acquaintance with the contestants. The neck and neck competition exemplified the power and persuasion of Bhavan philosophy of ensuring variegated exposure to their students. The proficiency of oration shown by the Bhavanites finally compelled

the judges to convert their views in favour of IES. In the event categorized into five pools like seniors (classes 11 and 12), Junior A (class 10) and B (class9) and sub junior A (class 8) and B (class7), Revanth of class 11 won the first in his group, Himag B Vaidya of Class 10 got the second position in Juniors A, and Ijaz Aflah bagged first among class 9

students whereas D R Pratyusha of class 9 and Joanna P Jonson of class 8 got the third places in their respective categories. And finally IES was declared the overall champions by a clear margin of 11 points. The Chairman and the Principal honoured all the proud Bhavanites who brought laurels to their alma mater in a special assembly.

ICSK RUNNERS-UP IN 14TH CLUSTER TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

I

CSK Girls were runner’s-up in the Under-19 & Under-16 in the 14th Kuwait Cluster Table Tennis Tournament for GIRLS.FAIPS won the overall championship of this event. The tournament was conducted at the Indian Public School on 29th & 30th April & 1st May 2012. ICSK girls team also participated in the Under-14 Category. In an exciting fight to claim the trophy, all the participants played their best game.

The participants in all the 3 categories(GIRLS) were: Under-19 Category: Kriti Girish Nair(Class XII), Khushboo Chandwani(Class XI), Asha Thomas(Class XI), Anahita Elena Shabu(Class IX) ICSK-Runner’s up, WinnersFAIPS. Under-16 Category: Saloni Gandhi(Class XI), Karen D’Souza(Class XI), Sadiya Gulam(Class XI), Andrea Pereira (Class IX) ICSK-Runner’s Up, Winners-FAIPS. Under-14 Category: Yusra Nadeem Dawnak( Class VII), P.K.Akila(Class VIII), Sarah Johnson(Class VII), Mariam Paul(Class VII).

In the 14th Kuwait Cluster Table Tennis Tournament 2012-2013 for BOYS, ICSK boys were runner’s-up in the Under-19 Category. The tournament which was spread over 3 days was conducted at ICSK, Khaitan Branch.

F.A.I.P.S were the winners of this category with a score of 3-1.

ICSK also participated in the Under-16, Under-14 categories. The participants in all the three categories(BOYS) were: Under-19 Category: Ritwick Sundar(Class XI), Mohammed Yasser Nadeem (Class XI), Bader Mukadam (Class XII), Aswin Karthik A. (Class XI) -ICSK Runner’s Up, Winners FAIPS. Under-16 Category: Amit Anooj(Class IX), Kushal Kriplani(Class X), Pranav Jogiani(Class IX), Irwin Vincent D’Silva(Class X).

Under-14 Category: Shuaib Bin Omer(Class VIII), Sarthak Jogiani (Class IV), Khalid Abdul Aziz( Class VIII), Joel Jacob Thomas( Class VIII).

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Faisal Al-Qenaie ( KJA) congratulating HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman.

Royal Wedding Indian dignitary meets ambassador

T

he visiting dignitary from Kerala, IUML leader Abdul Rahiman Randathani MLA met with Indian Ambassador Sathish C. Mehta and discussed matters related to Indian community. It was mentioned that everybody is highly committed to the progress and well-

being of the community. Kuwait KMCC chairman Naser Mashhoor Thangal, president Sharafuddeen Kanneth , General Secretary Basheer Batha, Malappuram KMCC president Musthafa Kari were present during the meeting.

O

n the sidelines of the third GCC Journalists Union Conference recently held in Bahrain, GCC journalists which included Kuwaitis were invited by Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman, to attend the wedding of his grandson, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Bin Khalifa. The wedding was also attended by King Hamad Bin Essa, his Crown Prince and members of the ruling family.

Announcements ‘Leniency of Islam’ An unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al Turkait. The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

Open House for Indian Citizens The Ambassador of India will be holding an Open House for Indian citizens to address their problems/grievances on Wednesdays of the second and the fourth week of every month between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs at the embassy. In case Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day. To ensure timely action/follow-up by the Embassy, it is requested that, wherever possible, Indian citizens should exhaust the existing channels of interaction/grievance redressal and bring their problems/issues in writing with supporting documents. It may be mentioned that Embassy of India’s Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizen on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the consular officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) could be contacted.

Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances. Similarly, a labor wing Help Desk functions from 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs in the Labor Hall to address the labor related issue. There is also a 24X7 Help Line (Tel No. 25674163) to assist labors in distress. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned Attaches in the labor section and the head of the labor wing could be contacted.

Legal seminar

KUWAIT: In the presence of a large number of Ministry of Health officials, Jahra Hospital inaugurated a one-day event to educate the public about smoking and its negative effects.

Palakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait, the association of Palakkad natives living in Kuwait and ‘Indian Lawyers’ Forum’, (ILF) the association of Indian Lawyers and Law graduates in Kuwait is conducting legal seminar, on June 1, at 11 am at Mangaf - Friends of Kannur (FOKE) auditorium. All Indian community members in Kuwait, especially Palpak members, families and friends are cordially invited to participate. Your legal doubts/questions can be send by email to: palpaklegal@gmail.com and it will be answered in the seminar.

For further information contact, P.N.Kumar, 99771830, Aravindhashan 68535989.

HEALTH SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

New therapy helps tinnitus sufferers PARIS: Tinnitus, an incurable ringing in the ears that can wreck the lives of those that suffer from it, can be significantly eased by a new combination of therapies, The Lancet reported yesterday.

The approach uses psychological training and audio therapy in small groups to reduce distress and refocus the mind so that it does not dwell on the sound.

Dutch researchers tested it on 245 adults with tinnitus while 247 others were given “usual care,” meaning they were referred for standard counseling at a hearing clinic. After 12 months, patients in the specialized care group had an average improvement of 33 percent in problems caused by severe tinnitus, compared to a gain of 13 percent in the “usual care” group.

The specialised care group also saw significant improvements in quality of life and distress, as measured by scientifically validated questionnaires.

The research was led by Rilana Cima and Johan Vlaeyen at Maastricht University.

“We do nothing about the sound per se,” Cima said. “Even though people still hear the sound after the intervention, they say they feel cured. I say to my patients, ‘tinnitus has to be like the shoe on your foot-it has to be something that you can continuously feel if you want to, but you don’t (feel it) if you make it neutral.” Up to a fifth of adults are affected by tinnitus at some point in their life, but treatments are costly and there is no benchmark of proof to show whether they are effective or not.

Cima acknowledged that the therapy seemed expensive, given that it required the help of several specialists working in small groups over a long time.

“It is costly, but we have done an extensive economic analysis and from a societal perspective, it is only slightly more costly than usual care,” she said. In a commentary, German tinnitus specialist Berthold Langguth of the University of Regensburg, said the individual techniques used in the Dutch research were not new in themselves.

What was novel, he said, was the way treatments were put together in a multidisciplinary team whose results were then scrutinized with rigor.

While not a cure, the experiment was greatly beneficial, marking “the end of therapeutic nihilism” towards tinnitus, he said. — AFP

Calcium pill, heart attack link unclear Findings of new German study LONDON: Calcium pills “do more harm than good’ the Daily Mail has reported. By contrast, the Telegraph tells us there is “no need to panic over new calcium heart attack research”. So, which to believe? These headlines are based on the findings of a large German study that looked at the association between calcium intake and incidents of heart attack, strokes and deaths from cardiovascular disease over a period of 11 years. Calcium supplements are often given to elderly people and women who have gone through the menopause, in an effort to keep their bones healthy.

Researchers found no link between the amount of calcium in people’s diet and their risk of stroke or cardiovascular deaths. However, people using calcium supplements as their only form of supplement had more than twice the risk of heart attack compared with people who didn’t take any vitamin supplements. This suggests that there may be an increased risk of heart attack due to calcium supplements, but on its own doesn’t mean that

these supplements cause heart attacks as other factors may be at play. The researchers believed that people who take supplements may be generally less healthy than those who don’t (assuming they take supplements for a health reason) so they tried to adjust for other risk factors such as smoking habits and exercise levels. However, it is unlikely they adjusted for all the influencing factors and so we still cannot be certain that calcium supplements increase heart attacks.

Previous research based on stronger study designs has also supported a link between calcium supplements and heart disease. If you are considering taking calcium supplements, you need to base your decision on your own circumstances, balancing the benefits with the potential risks.

Do not be alarmed by the media headlines. If you have been prescribed calcium supplements do not stop taking your medication. Speak to your doctor if you have particular concerns. The study was carried out by researchers from universities in

Germany and Switzerland and was funded by a grant from Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid). The study was published in the peerreviewed medical journal Heart. This study drew widespread coverage that focused on the risks reported for calcium supplementation. The Daily Mail took this too far, suggesting that “calcium pills taken by hundreds of thousands of women ‘could double risk of heart attack and do more harm than good’”, a claim not backed up by the study.

Encouragingly, the majority of the articles included a balanced view of the research and reassured readers neither to worry unduly nor to stop their medication without consulting their GP. The “no need to panic” headline from the Daily Telegraph’s website was refreshing as it contradicted sensationalist articles among other tabloids and was the most sensible message reported. Unfortunately, its printed edition’s front-page headline (“Calcium pills ‘can double the risk of heart attack’”) struck a much more alarmist tone.— Agencies

TOKYO: This handout picture taken and released by Tokyo Sea Life Park yesterday shows a veterinarian (r) checking the health of a penguin who was recaptured after escaping from the park on March 4 in Tokyo. The Humboldt penguin on the run from the Tokyo aquarium since early March-which even outwitted the coastguard in its determined bid for freedom-was recaptured alive and well. Two of the park’s keepers caught the penguin in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, about 8km from its home, under a bridge over the Edo river after a tip-off call. — AFP

Japan’s AWOL penguin back in captivity TOKYO: A penguin on the run from a Tokyo aquarium since early March was adjusting to life back on the inside yesterday after being recaptured on a riverbank. The Humboldt penguin, one of 135 kept at Tokyo Sea Life Park, was recaptured after 82 days of freedom that had even seen it outwit Japan’s well-resourced coastguard. The bird’s last moments of liberty were lived on a riverbank just eight kilometers from its home, said aquarium spokesman Takashi Sugino.

Prompted by a stream of sighting reports, staff rushed to the Edo-gawa River, where the young bird was idling away a balmy Thursday afternoon, seemingly unaware that its adventure was coming to an end. As its captors approached, the creature dived into the water and emerged onto

the opposite river bank about an hour later.

Undeterred, aquarium staff tried again, this time approaching the startled bird slowly-taking some 20 minutes to close in the final five meters before jumping on it.

The one-year-old bird, known only as Penguin No. 337 and not yet old enough to display physical sexual features, rushed into the water in surprise, but was subdued and taken back into custody. “It was captured safely,” the aquarium said in a statement. “It does not appear to have any injury and it seems to be in good health.” The penguin is now undergoing through medical checks and will be quarantined for possible infections before rejoining the rest of the flock, Sugino said. More than 30 sightings of the 60-centimetre

penguin had been reported to Tokyo Sea Life Park since it fled.

The bird had been spotted swimming in various locations around Tokyo Bay but was difficult to catch. Even Japan’s coastguard were caught flatfooted by the escapee. On May 7, two boats with 10 officers on board followed the bird for about an hour before it disappeared from view. The hunt for the bird, which the aquarium said did not have a name, began in early March after it was spotted bathing in a river that runs into Tokyo Bay. Keepers believe the creature made its break for freedom after being startled into climbing over a rock twice its size. In a bid to curtail any future breakouts, the facility has now put additional rocks and sandbags around the edges of the penguin enclosure. — AFP

HEALTH SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

CHANGE OF NAME

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for one person in Sharq, near Hamra Tower.

Contact: 97263809.

(C 4019) 21-5-2012 Sharing accommodation available in Mahbooula for non-smoking Keralites.

Contact: 66725394.

(C 4015) Sharing accommodation immediately available in single room with TFC for Filipino single/couple in Hawally.

Contact: 94948506.

(C 4016) Sharing accommodation (big room) available only for Indian working lady or couple in Salmiiya near Salmiya Garden. Contact: 99307471/ 99838117/ 25635450.

(C 4018) 20-5-2012

FOR SALE Households for sale cheap prices with or without, 2 BR C-A/C flat at Fahaheel, family leaving June. BR set, sofa, fridge, thread mill, electronics, medicated bed etc.

Contact: 99232986. (C 4021) Toyota Camry model 2010, white color, GL, CD, excellent original condition, cash price KD 4200/-, installation possible. Contact: 66396517.

(C 4025) 24-5-2012

Fully furnished C-A/C, big hall: 8x4m. 2 spacious bed rooms, two bath rooms, one maid’s room/store room, and balcony, plus reserved shaded car parking, with complete good quality furniture (mostly from IKEA & Denmark) and Elect.

Appliances for sale at Salmiya area 11 (Maidan Hawalli), behind petrol station.

Contact: 66654074, Email: nisar_shaikh@hotmail.com (C 4020) 21-5-2012

I, Vinoth Kannan Kesavan son of Kesavan bearing an Indian passport No. E3242791, born on 3, June 1984, residing at No.1/8 West Street, Keezhupadi, Sathaputhur post, Sankarapuram T.K, Villupuram - 606 205, has converted to Islam with the name of Abdul Rahman .K on 6th May 2009. (C 4026) 26-5-2012 Sivakumar Krishnamoorthy, son of Krishnamoorthy and Theivanayagi bearing Indian passport No. F9732440 and having address New No. 151, Achuthampettai, Thirukandeeswaram, Sannanallur (P.O), Nannilam TK, Thiruvarur DT, Tamil Nadu, India have embraced Islam and changed the name as ABDURRAHMAN. (C 4024) 24-5-2012 I, Syed Arhad Ahmed holder of Indian Passport No. J5395460 do hereby change my name to Syed Arshad Ahmed. (C 4022) 23-5-2012

Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:19 11:45 15:20 18:40 20:57

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

112

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Hospitals Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

MATRIMONIAL Christian Orthodox boy, 29/178cm working as IT Professional invites proposal from parents of well qualified girls.

Contact: lijoshere@gmail.com (C 4013)

Al-Madena

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

AIRLINES

Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Clinics

SITUATION VACANT Indian driver for Kuwaiti family. 1) Working as driver in Kuwait at least 5 years. 2) Knows to speak English. 3) Residence 20. Contact: 66343220.

(C 4017) 20-5-2012

SITUATION WANTED Accountant, MBA-Finance, B.com-Accounts & CA-Inter, having 5 years experience looking for part time job; can prepare your all business accounting reports and financial statements independently. Call Now: 55829223 or Email: acconline@ymail.com (C 4010) 26-5-2012 United States citizen 15 plus year experience working on U.S. Military 3 non military tire including MRAP looking for employment with US Army contract company in Middle East. Contact: 60461658.

(C 4023) 23-5-2012

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

Rabiya

24732263

Rawdha

22517733

Adailiya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Khaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Qadisiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

information SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines JZR QTR JZR SAI ETH PIA GFA UAE ETD OMA DHX FDB MSR QTR JZR THY DHX FCX JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD BAB GFA JZR MSR IRM JZR MSR KAC GFA FDB KNE KNE QTR KAC SVA RJA KAC JZR QTR KAC IZG IRC JZR KAC JZR ETD UAE SVA GFA UAL JZR JZR KAC ABY KAC KAC

Arrival Flights on Saturday 26/5/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 239 SIALKOT 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 370 BAHRAIN 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 157 LONDON 416 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 5066 MASHAD 201 DAMASCUS 610 CAIRO 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 57 DUBAI 460 MEDINAH 472 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 562 AMMAN 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 4161 MASHAD 6791 MASHAD 535 CAIRO 118 NEW YORK 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 510 RIYADH 215 BAHRAIN 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 176 GENEVA/FRANKFURT 127 SHARJAH 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO

Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 1:30 1:45 2:05 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 2:55 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:35 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:35 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:00 11:05 11:25 11:55 12:30 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:10 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 15:55 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:55 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:40 17:45 17:45 18:00 18:15

JZR KAC BAB KAC FDB MSR KAC KAC JAI KAC IRA AXB OMA MEA KAC QTR GFA KNE ALK SYR KLM JZR UAE BBC ABY QTR JZR KAC KNE DHX FDB AIC GFA UAL JZR DLH THY

125 786 438 104 63 620 618 674 572 774 607 393 647 402 790 146 221 474 229 341 415 135 859 43 129 136 513 614 476 372 61 975 217 981 239 636 772

BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN LONDON DUBAI ASSIUT DOHA DUBAI MUMBAI RIYADH MASHAD KOZHIKODE/COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT MEDINAH DOHA BAHRAIN JEDDAH COLOMBO DAMASCUS AMSTERDAM BAHRAIN DUBAI DHAKA SHARJAH DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI CHENNAI/GOA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN AMMAN FRANKFURT ISTANBUL

18:30 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:40

Airlines AIC UAL DLH KLM THY SAI ETH PIA UAE FDB OMA DHX ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR JZR GFA THY BAW FDB JZR ABY JZR KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR KAC KAC FDB ETD

Departure Flights on Saturday 26/5/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 413 AMSTERDAM 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 240 SIALKOT/ISLAMABAD 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 200 DAMASCUS 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:55 2:15 2:30 2:45 3:20 3:45 3:50 3:55 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:10 8:25 8:25 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:15

BAB JZR GFA KAC KAC KAC JZR MSR KAC JZR IRM GFA FDB MSR KNE KAC KNE JZR KAC RJA JZR KAC SVA QTR KAC IZG IRC ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE JZR GFA ABY SVA UAL JZR KAC FDB BAB KAC JZR MSR KAC JAI IRA KAC KAC OMA MEA GFA KNE DHX ALK SYR KLM ABY KAC UAE FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR KNE DHX FDB BBC QTR AXB GFA KAC

437 356 214 541 165 501 776 619 785 176 5065 220 58 611 461 673 473 124 617 641 512 789 505 135 773 4162 6792 304 238 538 141 858 134 216 128 511 982 266 613 64 439 283 184 621 153 571 604 331 351 648 403 222 475 171 230 342 415 120 381 860 102 137 301 205 554 477 373 62 44 147 394 218 411

BAHRAIN MASHAD BAHRAIN CAIRO ROME/PARIS BEIRUT JEDDAH ASSIUT JEDDAH DUBAI MASHAD BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO MEDINAH DUBAI JEDDAH BAHRAIN DOHA AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH MEDINAH JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH MASHAD MASHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN CAIRO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DHAKA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA ISTANBUL MUMBAI ISFAHAN TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN COLOMBO DAMASCUS DAMMAM/AMSTERDAM SHARJAH DELHI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI CHITTAGONG/DHAKA DOHA COCHIN/KOZHIKODE BAHRAIN BANGKOK/MANILA

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

10:25 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:25 13:10 13:20 13:25 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:30 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:45 16:55 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 18:50 19:00 19:25 19:30 19:30 20:05 20:10 20:30 20:35 20:50 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:35 21:35 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:40

C R O S S W O R D

6 8 6

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday始s Solution

ACROSS 1. Any of various units of capacity.

4. Ask for and get free.

9. God of love and erotic desire.

13. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

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

15. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

16. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

19. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

21. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

22. Consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree.

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

25. Sandwich filled with slices of bacon and tomato with lettuce.

26. 100 tambala equal 1 Kwacha.

31. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small straight horns.

32. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

34. New Zealand conifer.

36. A commercial center and river port in western Germany on the Rhine River.

37. A Dravidian language spoken in southern India.

39. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

41. The biblical name for ancient Syria.

43. System of measurement based on centimeters and grams and seconds.

45. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the fantastic adventures he had in his voyages.

48. Having a heading or course in a certain direction.

52. The eighth month of the civil year.

55. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

56. Acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly.

58. One of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.

59. A tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown.

60. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

61. The compass point midway between south and southeast.

DOWN 1. A small cake leavened with yeast.

2. (informal) Exceptionally good.

3. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

4. Melon having yellowish rind and whitish flesh.

5. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

6. A language of Australian aborigines.

7. Sustentacular tissue that surrounds and supports neurons in the central nervous system.

8. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

9. Deciduous South African tree having large odd-pinnate leaves and profuse fragrant orange-yellow flowers.

10. In a murderous frenzy as if possessed by a demon.

11. Long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck.

12. A primeval personification of air and breath.

17. Pertaining to or resembling amoebae.

18. Dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keep-

ing promises.

20. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the capital in 1998.

24. Experiencing a sudden sense of danger.

27. Sweet pulpy tropical fruit with thick scaly rind and shiny black seeds.

28. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

29. An informal term for a father.

30. The length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference.

33. A state in northwestern North America.

35. Squash bugs.

38. Any of various Old World herbs of the genus Anchusa having onesided clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers.

40. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

42. Make less active or intense.

43. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

44. Small genus of hairy herbs with yellow flowers.

46. The eighth month of the civil year.

47. A stock exchange in New York.

49. A platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it.

50. Oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food.

51. Informal terms for a (young) woman.

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

54. An adult male person (as opposed to a woman).

57. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

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

Yesterday始s Solution

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Indians complete sweep of Tigers CLEVELAND: Cleveland pitcher Justin Masterson notched his first career win over Detroit as first-placed Cleveland won 2-1 and completed a three-game sweep of the underperforming Tigers.

Masterson (2-3) entered 0-4 in seven starts against the Tigers.

He allowed one run in seven innings.

Shin-Soo Choo homered on the third pitch from Detroit starter Justin Verlander (5-2) as the Indians opened a six-game lead over third-place Detroit in the American League Central. Detroit manager Jim Leyland was ejected in the fifth inning.

ANGELS 3, MARINERS 0 In Seattle, Albert Pujols had three hits, including the 450th home run of his career, as Los Angeles downed Seattle and won its third straight. The Angels and Mariners met for the first of 19 games this season and Pujols, a newcomer to the AL West rivalry, made his presence known immediately. He lined a two-run shot off Seattle starter Jason Vargas (5-4) in the top of the first, and

added line-drive singles in the fourth and sixth innings. The three runs were enough support for Los Angeles starter Dan Haren (2-5), who pitched his sixth career complete-game shutout. He allowed only one Seattle baserunner to reach third.

WHITE SOX 11, TWINS 8 In Chicago, Paul Konerko and Alex Rios hit back-to-back homers and Alejandro De Aza added a grand slam to cap a six-run sixth inning which powered Chicago over Minnesota.

A J Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo also went deep as the White Sox won for the sixth time in seven games. Konerko had two hits and drove in two runs. Rios also had two hits and knocked in three in a topsy-turvy game. Chicago led early but gave up four runs in the fifth before hitting their way back to victory. Chicago reliever Nate Jones (2-0) came on in the fifth and immediately gave up a two-run single but still took the win. Twins debutant pitcher Cole De Vries (0-1) gave up six runs. — AP

MLB results/standings Cleveland 2, Detroit 1; San Francisco 14, Miami 7; San Diego 11, NY Mets 5; Cincinnati 6, Atlanta 3; Chicago White Sox 11, Minnesota 8; Philadelphia 10, St. Louis 9; LA Angels 3, Seattle 0.

American League National League Eastern Division Eastern Division Washington 26 18 .591 Baltimore 28 17 .622 Atlanta 26 20 .565 1 Tampa Bay 27 18 .600 1 NY Mets 24 21 .533 2.5 Toronto 24 21 .533 4 Miami 24 21 .533 2.5 NY Yankees 23 21 .523 4.5 Philadelphia 23 23 .500 4 Boston 22 22 .500 5.5 Central Division Central Division Cincinnati 25 19 .568 Cleveland 26 18 .591 St. Louis 25 20 .556 0.5 C’ White Sox 23 22 .511 3.5 Houston 21 23 .477 4 Detroit 20 24 .455 6 Pittsburgh 20 24 .455 5 Kansas City 17 26 .395 8.5 Milwaukee 18 26 .409 7 Chicago Cubs 15 29 .341 10 Minnesota 15 29 .341 11 Western Division Western Division LA Dodgers 30 14 .682 Texas 27 18 .600 San Francisco 24 21 .533 6.5 Oakland 22 23 .489 5 Arizona 20 25 .444 10.5 LA Angels 21 25 .457 6.5 Colorado 16 27 .372 13.5 Seattle 21 26 .447 7 San Diego 17 29 .370 14

Seattle go down without a fight SEATTLE: The broken record of flailing swings, empty at-bats and strikeouts piling up against Los Angeles starter Dan Haren irritated Seattle manager Eric Wedge to no end. And he wasn’t willing to accept the Mariners mostly youthful inexperience on this night as an excuse.

“Haren is a veteran pitcher and we didn’t make him make any adjustments. He just kept doing the same thing throughout the course of the game. That just can’t happen,” Wedge said. “We’ve got a lot of young ballplayers, but they are far enough along they’ve got to do better than that.”

Haren was brilliant tossing a four-hitter and striking out a career-high 14, and Alberto Pujols had three hits, including his 450th career homer, in the Angels 3-0 win over the Mariners on Thursday night. The Angels and Mariners met for the first of 19 games this season and Pujols, a newcomer to the AL West rivalry, made his presence known immediately. He lined a two-run shot off Seattle starter Jason Vargas (5-4) with one-out in the top of the first, and added line-drive singles in the fourth and sixth innings. It was just his third three-hit game this season.

“I faced him in the National League so maybe he felt comfortable seeing somebody familiar,” Vargas quipped. “But he hit some good pitches and he hit a bad pitch.

Everybody knows what he is capable of, no matter what his batting average is or what he’s doing.” And those three runs proved to be plenty for Haren (2-5), who tossed the sixth shutout and 16th complete game of his career. He allowed only one Seattle baserunner to reach third base. Haren matched his career-high of 12 strikeouts when he got Michael Saunders looking to end the eighth inning. He was given the chance at the complete-game despite starting the ninth at 110 pitches, but struck out Alex Liddi for the fourth

time, got Ichiro Suzuki swinging, and closed it out by getting Kyle Seager to groundout.

The Mariners efforts at the plate were feeble. Only five putouts were made by Angels outfielders, and Suzuki’s double leading off the seventh was the hardest hit ball. “Look at how he was getting us out, zooming through the game, it was all stuff

three games. Pujols also stole a base and made a heads up play in the fourth inning, when Suzuki lost track of the number of outs and Pujols advanced to third after Suzuki caught the second out of the inning. He was stranded there when Erick Aybar popped out to end the inning.

Pujols stole second and scored on Kendrys Morales’ RBI single to left field in the sixth.

up at second after a stolen base, but Haren got a pop up from Ackley and struck out Liddi to end Seattle’s first scoring threat.

Suzuki led off the seventh with a double and advanced to third on an infield groundout, but was stranded when Haren got Jesus Montero waving at a pitch off the plate and froze Mike Carp on a 3-2 pitch for his 11th strikeout. It was the 13th

SEATTLE: Seattle Mariners left fielder Alex Liddi falls well short as he dives for a foul fly ball from Los Angeles Angels’ Erick Aybar in the ninth inning in a baseball game in Seattle. The Angels won 3-0. — AP off the plate away, lunging, check-swing stuff,” Seattle shortstop Brendan Ryan said. The 32-year-old Pujols is the fourthyoungest player in baseball history to reach 450 homers, behind Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr, and Jimmie Foxx.

Lamented for his lack of power in his first two months with the Angels, Pujols displayed plenty of pop on the 3-1 pitch from Vargas, lining it off the facade of the second deck in left field with a thud for his fifth homer of the season and second in

“Today I swung the bat pretty well, but tomorrow is a new day, you have to try to be consistent,” Pujols said. Haren picked up his 11th career win against Seattle and made it look easy for most of the night as Seattle failed to get a base runner between the second and sixth innings.

Saunders led off the sixth with an infield single. That ended a streak of 15 in a row set down by Haren and was Seattle’s first hit since Dustin Ackley led off the bottom of the first with a single. Saunders ended

10-strikeout game of Haren’s career and topped his previous career high of 12 accomplished twice, the last time coming in 2008.

“I stayed with what was working and they were going to have to adjust to me,” Haren said. Vargas was nearly as good as Haren, sans giving up the homer to Pujols.

Vargas scattered seven hits and struck out six in seven innings. Vargas has pitched at least six innings in 10 of his 11 starts this season. — AP

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

RugbyU: Youngs ready for Care duel LONDON: Ben Youngs faces a massive personal duel with Harlequins and England rival Danny Care in the Premiership final today keen to prove himself the No 1 scrum-half in English rugby. The Leicester Tigers’ youngster realises just how much it means to come out on top in his battle at Twickenham against an opponent anxious for redemption and eager to get back into England coach Stuart Lancaster’s good books. Both Youngs, who was dropped from England’s starting line up for Lee Dickson during the Six Nations, and Care, who was dumped by his country for the tournament following a string of late night drinking bustups, were named in the squad for the tour to South Africa.

And both badly want to reclaim the No.9 jersey for the opening clash of their three-Test campaign with the Springboks in Durban on June 9. “This is a great opportunity in a big final to lay down a marker and say ‘pick me’,” Young said. “I definitely want to start the first Test. Stuart Lancaster will have to

decide who he is going with but I want to give him a selection headache and something to think about. “Losing the shirt during the Six Nations wasn’t nice. I want to play every game and it was a relief to come on against Ireland and change things and prove to myself I could do a lot better.

“Danny Care is a great player. He’s had a bit of a torrid time but everything Quins do well comes through Danny. “I have to do my best to nullify him and his game. Likewise he will be out to try and get on top of me. He will try and get hold of me at breakdowns and upset me but I don’t intend to let him.” Youngs endured a rough ride during the opening four or five months to the season. But, just like the rest of his team-mates, he is certainly finishing with a flourish. Tigers managed to overcome a nightmare opening couple of months without their international stars to set up a shoot-out with a Quins side which defied their critics to remain at the top of the table until the end.

It promises to be a contest mixed with attacking

rugby and raw power. Tigers - the most successful English club side since the League was introduced, reached an amazing eighth successive final shootout by beating Saracens in their play-off semi-final.

Quins, searching for their first title, overcame Northampton with a late Joe Marler try and it will be a unique experience to fight it out for the trophy over 80 minutes at the home of English rugby.

“After losing our first five games and being right near the bottom of the table winning this time would possibly our greatest achievement,” Youngs said. “People were rubbing their hands and happy to see us doing poorly. Even some other England lads were openly saying they were pleased we had lost again. “But once all the England guys came back from the World Cup we all had a meeting and decided to rebuild our season and start winning.

“Teams love to beat Leicester and were coming to Welford Road believing they were in with a shout.

So we had to stop that. We did and now we can lift the Premiership.”— AFP

Galea eager to experience derby ‘magic’ MANCHESTER: Former Wests Tigers second row Ben Galea insists it is occasions like the Hull derby during Super League’s ‘Magic Weekend’ that have convinced him to shelve his retirement plans. At the start of this season the Hull KR captain, a member of Wests’ 2005 NRL Grand Final-winning team, announced it would be the last of his playing career. But the 33year-old, who has missed three months of this season with a knee injury, officially put such plans on hold this week ahead of Hull KR’s clash with Hull today-one of seven fixtures being played over this weekend at the Eastlands home of English Premier League football champions Manchester City.

Hull KR have won three of their last four Super League outings, including a 70-12 thumping of Castleford last time out, and Galea is confident they can exact revenge on Hull. The Robins were on the wrong end of a 36-6 defeat by Hull at the start of April and Galea said: “I’m starting to feel like I want to play another year. “If I do play on it’ll only be for one more year and I’d really like it to be at Hull KR. I’ve been here long enough to know what games like this one mean to the city and to the fans.

“When we played them last month we played quite well in the first half but in the second they just blew us away. We let our fans down that day and we’ll be looking to make amends for that. “They’re playing really well at the moment and we know we have our work cut out,” he added. Meanwhile, Warrington head coach Tony Smith has warned against complacency when they take on Super League basement boys Widnes.

Smith has seen the Wolves return to within a point of the top after six wins on the bounce in all competitions. But Widnes ran the Catalan Dragons close last time out before falling 42-34 and Smith insists Warrington will not be taking them lightly today. “If you’re a little bit off, the underdogs can easily knock you off,” said Smith. “We’re pretty good at not falling into that sort of trap so I’d like to think my boys will be ready to go. “They’re in good form based on last weekend because they ran Catalan right to the wire. Last time we played them, they went 12-0 up on us so we want to start well, otherwise things can go awry for you.”

The big clash tomorrow sees Wigan play arch-rivals St Helens and Mark Flanagan, who spent two seasons at Wests, cannot wait to renew hostilities. Flanagan began his career with Wigan before heading to the NRL, returning for this season, and insists he will give his all to put one over his old club. “It’s a bit different playing against your old team-mates and I have some good friends at Wigan but as soon as I pull on the club shirt on I am fully focused on the upcoming 80 minutes,” said the Saints star.

“We have played against Wigan twice already this season and lost both times, so the ‘Magic Weekend’ will be our chance to get our own back.”— AFP

Meares, Bobridge spearhead Aussies

EINDHOVEN: Britain’s’ team compete in the synchronized teams technical routine event of the 31st LEN European Swimming Championships yesterday in Eindhoven. — AFP

SYDNEY: Triple Olympic medalist Anna Meares and team pursuit leader Jack Bobridge spearhead a 14-strong Australian track cycling team named yesterday for the London Olympics.

Twelve athletes will make their Olympics debut, with Meares and Bobridge the only cyclists remaining from the 2008 Beijing Games team. The Australian team medaled in eight of the 10 Olympic events at this year’s world championships, including golds for Matthew Glaetzer, Shane Perkins, and Scott Sunderland in the team sprint, Glenn O’Shea in the omnium, and Meares in the keirin.

“We’ve named a really exciting group who will be extremely competitive,” Cycling Australia National Performance Director Kevin Tabotta said in a statement. “They have done everything that was asked of them in the lead up to selection and, although relatively young, have demonstrated they have the talent and maturity to deal with the demands of major competition.”

For the first time Meares will compete in three events at London-the team sprint alongside triple world champion partner Kaarle McCulloch and the sprint and keirin. With one more medal in London Meares will become the first female cyclist from any country to win four Olympic track medals and the first to medal at three Games.

Bobridge and Alexander Edmondson, the youngest member of the team at 18, will join Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn and O’Shea in the squad for the team pursuit. The Australians won gold on the London track at the test event in February before the British team nabbed the world title in world record time in April this year. — AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Golf - Morrison on the march at Wentworth WENTWORTH: England’s James Morrison was the early mover in the second round of the PGA Championship at Wentworth yesterday as he surged to the top of the leaderboard. The 27-year old had his sixth birdie of the morning on the 13th to go to ten-under par for the tournament and leapfrog the overnight leaders David Drysdale from Scotland and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie. Spain’s Alvaro Quiros was in hot pursuit of the Englishman. He had two bogeys to finish his front nine but a four at the 12th and a birdie two at the 14th put him within two shots of Morrison.

Defending champion Luke Donald, round in 68 on Thursday, moved menacingly through the field and with five holes left he was seven-under having atoned for a dropped shot on 11th with an eagle three on the par-5 12th.

Drysdale and Lawrie were amongst the first starters and were steady rather than showing the spectacular form of the first day when they both shot 66s.

Drysdale was eight under the card after signing for a 70 whilst Lawrie was level par for the day with two left to play.

Justin Rose who opened with a 67 despite suffering from vertigo on

Thursday had moved to six-under, from five, level with Italy’s Francesco Molinari whose brother Edoardo was a shot further back 11 holes into his round. Morrison conceivably could have been playing Test cricket for England against the West Indies in Nottingham instead of leading the European Tour’s flagship event. The 2010 Madeira Islands Open winner was a promising cricketer as a youth and played in the same England age-group sides as current internationals Alastair Cook, Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara.

He switched to golf aged 16 and within a year he was a scratch player

before accepting a scholarship in the United States ahead of turning professional. Elsewhere former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie was amongst a group of players on four-under midway through his round along with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and the two Swedes Peter Hedblom and Niclas Fasth. World number one Rory McIlroy who is struggling to make the halfway cut after a first round 74, two-over par, was due out at 11:50 GMT whilst number three Lee Westwood, who carded an opening 70, was teeing off in the group after the Irishman. — AFP

Johnson sets Colonial pace

WUHAN: Shoji Sato (right) and Naoki Kawamae (left) of Japan compete against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China during the semifinal match at the Thomas Cup world badminton team championships in China’s central city of Wuhan yesterday. — AFP

Badminton: China’s coach lashes out over walkovers WUHAN: China’s influential head coach Li Yongbo took a swipe at Indonesia in the running controversy over walkovers plaguing badminton, complaining the criticism was exclusively aimed at his players. “Why, when both Indonesian women’s singles withdraw in one tie and also Lee (Chong Wei), there is no attention on that? Three in one day and nothing,” said Li after his women’s team qualified for the Uber Cup final in Wuhan this week. “The media only talk about it when it’s China’s players.”

On Tuesday three players retired from their matches in the group ties of the Thomas and Uber Cups. World number one Lee Chong Wei pulled out of his clash against Denmark’s Peter Gade after he fell awkwardly in what was later confirmed as a minor ligament tear in his ankle. Indonesia’s Maria Febe Kusumastuti and Lindaweni Fanetri also retired in their singles in the tie against China, which was the last group match and both teams had already qualified

to the knock-outs.

Li’s provocations touch on an issue revolving around Chinese players that has tarnished the image of the game: retirements or walkovers when players from the same nation come up against each other.

Critics say China has been doing this more than other teams to boost ranking points. In the run-up to the London Games, rankings have taken on critical importance. In current Olympic rules, a country can have three players in each singles event if they are ranked among the top four. China’s women occupy the top three spots in the world rankings, and the men are numbers two, three and four.

Looking at 2011, the online Badzine.net took the results of the main draws of all individual tournaments from the top three levels of competition, the World Championships and World Superseries Finals. The study found that just over 20 percent of matches between Chinese play-

ers were not completed. But when Chinese shuttlers met other nations, the number of retirements and walkovers plummeted to 0.74 percent. Although China, with the largest number of players on the circuit, are more likely than other nations to meet compatriots in matches, complaints have been filed with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

In response, the BWF promised to record all matches from the quarter-finals stage onwards to look into irregularities and suspect retirements. “If compelling evidence is found of any irregularities, the matter will be treated with the utmost gravity by the BWF and severe penalties will be imposed,” a statement last year said. So far no further action has been taken. The issue has raised the ire of fans, who even booed superstar Lin Dan when he pulled out of the men’s singles final in Singapore in 2011 against countryman Chen Jin, then languishing in the world number five spot. — AFP

TEXAS: While Jason Dufner maintained his redhot form on the PGA Tour, fellow American Zach Johnson charged into a one-shot lead in Thursday’s opening round of the Colonial Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. As temperatures topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit, former champion Johnson rattled up four consecutive birdies in blustery conditions en route to a flawless sixunder-par 64 at Colonial Country Club where he clinched the 2010 title.

“Today was great,” Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, told reporters. “I struck the golf ball really nice, real solid, and I gave myself a lot of opportunities. “I made some long putts but I missed some shorter ones. It probably evened out at the end. I just hit some quality shots. I’ve got zero complaints.” Dufner, winner of the Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday who is seeking a third PGA Tour victory in just four weeks, opened with a 65 to finish level with fellow Americans Tom Gillis, Kyle Reifers and rookie Harris English.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia saved par from greenside bunkers on his last two holes for a 66 to share sixth place with Americans Chris DiMarco and Tommy Gainey, and Argentina’s Andres Romero.

Johnson, who has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he landed his seventh career win at Colonial, set the tone for a memorable day with a 40-foot birdie putt on his opening hole, the par-four 10th.

He then sank putts from between 14 and 22 feet to birdie the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th before reaching the turn in five under. Johnson picked up one more shot, at the par-four third, as winds gusted up to 30 mph.

‘LITTLE TOUGHER’ Dufner, who was among the day’s late starters, launched his round with five birdies in his first eight holes before finishing just one stroke off Johnson’s sizzling pace. “It was a nice round,” the laid-back American said after mixing seven birdies with two bogeys. “The winds were up a little bit this afternoon and that made it a little tougher to gauge distances and pick the right clubs.

“Obviously a couple of wins here in the last couple of events have boosted my confidence a little bit but I’ve felt really good about my game since about March. “I’m on a good roll, playing a lot of good rounds, and I felt good coming into this week. I’m looking forward to the next three days here.” American world number six Hunter Mahan, a double winner on the 2012 PGA Tour, opened with a 69 while fifth-ranked compatriot Matt Kuchar, who clinched the prestigious Players Championship two weeks ago, carded a 72.

American veteran David Toms, who claimed last year’s Colonial Invitational by one shot over South Korean Charlie Wi, launched his title defense with a 74. — Reuters

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Tense atmosphere ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix MONTE CARLO: Controlled explosions by security forces, train strikes, overbearing officials and unpredictable tyres have created a tense atmosphere here ahead of tomorrow’s annual showpiece event, the Monaco Grand Prix. Following the exploding of a small white plastic box outside the paddock entrance late Thursday, when many paddock regulars and thousands of spectators were squashed underground waiting for a train to arrive, some Formula One fans could be excused if they chose to avoid the Mediterranean principality and watch proceedings on television.

But, inside the unreal bubble that is the F1 paddock, where the annual round of talks on contract renewals for sponsors and drivers traditionally begins in Monaco, the calm and the comfort signaled nothing less than business as usual. Two weeks on from the fire that engulfed the Williams garage in Spain, where Pastor Maldonado became the first Venezuelan to win a Grand Prix, and a month after the controversial fiasco that was the Bahrain Grand Prix, the biggest challenge facing the future of the sport remains - its future.

As the commercial ring-master Briton Bernie Ecclestone attempts to put together a deal that will see a reconstruction of the business, amid fears that Mercedes are poised to drive away into the sunset, few dare hazard any forecasts of what lies ahead.

Indeed, guessing at the immediate, short and longer-term future for F1 is no easier than predicting who could win tomorrow’s race - or more pertinently, who will claim pole position in qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

Given that the 78-laps contest is normally a procession of cars with varying degrees of performance and rising levels of frustration because of the challenge of trying to overtake on such a narrow barrier-lined track, the man who secures the prime starting position will be a very hot favorite to win.

Thursday’s opening free practice sessions, run in variable conditions, saw Briton Jenson Button end up fastest in his McLaren ahead of the Lotus of the French driver Romain Grosjean.

Yet, for many, it is their team-mates who are favored to triumph - Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen respectively. Hamilton, the 2008 cham-

pion, has yet to win this year but is the bookmakers choice to take the top step of the podium again for the first time this year - stretching the number of different winners if it happens to six in six races. If the 2007 champion, Finn Raikkonen, wins, it will create the same extraordinary scenario, and see a French-designed Renault engine triumphant.

“This is just such a fantastic race to win, as we have the last couple of years,” said Red Bull chief Christian Horner on Thursday evening. “But this time it is so difficult to predict. Nobody knows. Even the weather is so variable so anything can happen.”

The climate of the principality has this year been at its most capricious and that has left frowns on the faces of everyone in the pit lane. Already facing a worry about the performance of the ‘super-soft’ Pirelli tyres, they now have more to consider. “I am not going to think about it too much,” said Hamilton.

“I want to win. I need to be calm and consistent and do the job. It is down to the driver who makes the best of the conditions and nails a good lap when he can.” — AFP

French need another Noah to end drought

PARIS: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during a training session for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday. — AP

Djokovic finds Federer in the way of history PARIS: Novak Djokovic’s bid to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time hit its first hurdle when Roger Federer became a potential French Open semifinal opponent. In stark contrast, defending champion Rafael Nadal, bidding for an historic seventh title, was left with a more comfortable passage with third seed Andy Murray, who is struggling with a back injury, as a possible semi-final rival.

World number one Djokovic, three times a semi-finalist in Paris, is the top seed at Roland Garros with Federer, the 2009 champion, seeded three and yesterday’s draw pitted them in the same, imposing section. Djokovic starts against Italy’s Potito Starace and could face Australia’s former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, playing in Paris on a wildcard, in the second round. Adding spice to the top half of the draw is the presence of dangerous Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner, who could face Federer in the fourth round.

Ninth seed Del Potro is the only player outside of the big three to have won a Grand Slam title in the last seven years. Three years ago, the 23-year-old Del Potro took Federer to a five-set thriller in the semi-finals. Federer starts against Germany’s Tobias Kamke with big-hitting David Nalbandian a possible second round foe and Czech Tomas Berdych a potential quarter-final opponent.

Meanwhile, second seed Nadal had every reason to smile as the

draw shone kindly on him. Nadal, who equalled Bjorn Borg’s record of six wins here last year, starts against Italy’s Simone Bolelli and has claycourt grinders Nicolas Almagro and Juan Monaco also in his quarter of the draw.

The Spaniard could face Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic in the last eight. Murray is Nadal’s scheduled semi-final opponent, in what would be a repeat of the 2011 last four, and the Scot starts against Japan’s Tatsuma Ito. In the women’s draw, top seed Victoria Azarenka begins against Italian Alberta Brianti while world number two Maria Sharapova starts against Alexandra Cadantu of Romania. Azarenka, twice a quarter-finalist, has an injury concern having been forced to quit her fourth round match in Rome because of a shoulder problem.

Azarenka has US Open winner Samantha Stosur as a possible quarter-final match-up. Sharapova and 2002 champion Serena Williams could meet in a mouth-watering quarter-final.

Sharapova, a semi-finalist in 2007 and 2011, and Williams are the form players going into Roland Garros. The Russian won on clay in Stuttgart and Rome while Williams claimed the Charleston and Madrid titles before withdrawing from her Rome semi-final with back pain. Defending champion Li Na of China starts against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea while Williams begins against France’s Virginie Razzano. — AFP

PARIS: French hopes of finally celebrating another male champion at Roland Garros have taken another big hit with the news that Gael Monfils is out due to injury. Already optimism was not high on the home front that someone could step forward and play the tournament of his life, as Yannick Noah did 29 years ago, to win the tournament. Noah’s watershed win brought an end to 37 years without a Frenchman holding aloft the Coupe des Mousquetaires (Marcel Bernard won in 1946) and with Noah still in his prime, and the likes of Henri Leconte and Guy Forget coming through, the future looked bright.

But apart from Leconte’s run into the final in 1988, when he dismally lost in straight sets to Mats Wilander and was roundly jeered by the French fans, it has been a dismal picture. Still, with a new generation of talented French players emerging a few years back, hopes were revived that a home win would soon be achieved. That has turned out not to be the case. Firstly there was the emergence of Rafael Nadal, widely seen as the greatest claycourt player of all time. The Spaniard has won the French Open a record-equalling six times since 2005 and the one year he did not, in 2009, it was Roger Federer who stepped forward to take the title.

Now, with world number one Novak Djokovic also more than capable of winning the only Grand Slam event to be played on clay, the chances of others prevailing are slim.

Monfils did make it through to the semi-finals in 2008, when he gave Federer a good run for his money, but repeated injuries since then have limited his progress. Top French hope this year will be world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but clay has never been his favorite surface and his comments in Rome last week sounded defeatist. “To be able to win at Roland Garros, first of all you have to have won a Masters Series tournament on this surface,” he told the French press. “For the moment we (French players) are incapable of winning a Masters Series on any surface. “It’s no disgrace to admit that we are not on the same level as the top players. “There are also a lot of players below our level. It’s not an admission of inevitability, it’s just what I see as the truth.” Tsonga apart, French tennis fans will be hoping that either Gilles Simon or Richard Gasquet can go deep into the tournament. Simon has played a lot of claycourt tennis this year, winning a tournament in Bucharest and reaching the semi-finals in Monte Carlo.

But stacked against him is his lack of power and the fact that in six previous appearances at Roland Garros he has yet to get beyond the last 16. Gasquet, a prodigy in his early teens who has struggled to turn his obvious talents into big tournament wins, is coming off a straight sets win over Andy Murray in Rome. For the rest it will simply be a case of trying to survive the first week. Worryingly for French tennis, there does not appear to be a new wave of promising players coming through to eventually take over from Tsonga, Monfils and Simon who are all in their mid-20s. —AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Heat eliminate Pacers INDIANAPOLIS: Miami’s Big Two was more than enough to finish off the Indiana Pacers. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James turned around a season on the brink with perhaps the most remarkable week of their high-powered partnership, capped off by a 105-93 victory in Game 6 Thursday night that sent the Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals. Wade scored 41 points, James had 28 and Miami wrapped up the series 4-2, advancing to face either Boston or Philadelphia.

But this was about more than one game. This was a dazzling trilogy, Wade and James taking control when the Heat were down and looked like they might be out. “In the regular season, we’ve had some good games,” Wade said. “But I don’t know if we’ve ever had three in a row like that in the playoffs.” Seven days earlier, Miami trailed 2-1 in the series after getting routed 94-75 in Indianapolis. The fired-up Pacers had another game on their home court and a chance to build a commanding lead.

Instead, the Big Three-Turned-Two took over. With Chris Bosh sidelined by an abdominal injury, James and Wade soared to new heights in their two-man game. Over the course of three dazzling games, James scored 98 points, grabbed 34 rebounds and dished out 24 assists.

Wade had 99 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists. “Ever since Game 3, they’ve played at such a high level,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “I don’t know if anybody can beat them.” Next up, either the Celtics or 76ers in a series that starts Monday in Miami. Of course, nothing less than an NBA title will make for a satisfying summer in South Beach.

Two series down, two to go. The Heat rallied from an early 11-point deficit, riding the hot hand of Wade in the opening half. He scored 26 points by the break, tying Tim Hardaway’s 16-year-old franchise record for most playoff points in the first two quarters. James hit consecutive baskets with just over a minute remaining to close it out. “We understand that when Chris went out, we had to step up,” Wade said. “The team looked to us to lead.” The banged-up Heat will get a chance to relax a couple of days before worrying about the next opponent, which will be determined in Game 7 at Boston today.

Bosh hopes to return at some point, but it might not matter. Not the way Wade and James are playing. “Chris Bosh is an awesome basketball player, but when he goes down, that just means more touches for LeBron and Wade,” Vogel said. “That’s not exactly an advantage.” David West led Indiana with 24 points and all five starters were in double figures. But that balance was overwhelmed by Wade and James. In a game of spurts, the decisive one came in the closing minutes of the third quarter.

The Pacers tied it at 66 on Darren Collison’s 3-pointer, but it was all Heat the rest of the period. They closed on a 13-3 run, capped by Mario Chalmers’ buzzerbeating 3 from the corner. Wade, who was on the bench getting his customary breather at the end of the quarter, leaped from his seat as the ball left Chalmers’ hand at the far end, raced along the baseline and pumped his fist when it swished.

When Chalmers raced toward the Miami bench, Wade greeted him near the free throw line with a low-five.

“We just had a bad stretch,” West said.

“They got us in the third quarter.”

Cheerleading aside, D-Wade did his best work while in the game. He dropped 11of-16 shooting on the Pacers in the first half, but also made sure the MVP stayed involved, dishing off a behind-the-back pass to James for a thunderous jam.

“They’re too good. They capitalize on your mistakes,” West said. “We were too loose with the ball. They pressure you all over the place.”

Indiana clamped down a bit on Wade after halftime, but he still managed perhaps his most jaw-dropping basket.

Darting into the lane, he threw up a wildlooking, one-handed shot that looked like it might go over the backboard, only to catch the top of the glass and drop through, barely touching the twine.

There was none of the nastiness that marked Game 5, when a bunch of flagrant fouls resulted in suspensions for two Miami players, Co-captain Udonis Haslem and backup center Dexter Pittman. Pacers president Larry Bird was so disgusted with his team’s performance in a 115-83 loss that he accused them of going “soft.”

Toughness wasn’t the problem this time. This was merely a Miami team on a mission, a mission that began in the summer of 2010 when the Heat signed James and Bosh to join Wade in a seemingly unbeatable trio. There was a glitzy introduction and predictions of multiple championships, which left the rest of the league seething and plenty of people cheering when Miami was knocked off in the NBA finals by the Dallas Mavericks last season. Shaking off that disappointment, James had perhaps his greatest season yet. But it was Wade who took control in the decisive game against the Pacers, delivering one final blow when he split West and George Hill, banking in the shot despite taking a knee from Hill that sent the Heat guard tumbling to the court.

“We just didn’t have enough yet,” Vogel said, “but we’ll be back.” Chalmers finished with 15 points, while Mike Miller stepped up to provide some quality minutes, scoring 12 points on four 3-pointers to help fill the void without Haslem, Pittman and Bosh. When Miller wasn’t in the game, he stretched out along the baseline to cope with his various aches and pains, more comfortable that way than sitting in a chair. When Coach Erik Spoelstra called his number, Miller summoned several of his teammates to help lift him up.

“He might be the toughest guy on the team,” Wade said. The Pacers started out like they were intent on sending the series back to Miami for a decisive game that surely would have had all of South Florida on edge. West knocked down a short jumper right off the tip, Danny Granger stuffed one off a fast break, and the Pacers had their yellow-clad fans in a tizzy when Granger connected on a 3pointer to make it 13-3 before the game was 5 minutes old. Another basket by Granger, this one a turnaround jumper, gave the Pacers their biggest lead at 19-8.

But Miami wasn’t going to roll over that easy. Miller made the first of his 3s in the closing seconds of the first quarter, and Wade took over from there. He started the period by banking in a 12-footer, then made another short jumper to leave the crowd stirring uneasily. Miller followed with another 3 - and just like that, it was all tied up. —AP

IOC, Saudi discuss on women sports QUEBEC CITY: Describing talks with Saudi Arabia as “not an easy situation,” IOC President Jacques Rogge said the Olympic body is still working with the Gulf country on sending female athletes to the London Games. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei are the only countries that have never field women on their Olympic teams. While Qatar and Brunei have announced plans to take female athletes to London, the Saudis have not yet done so.

“We are continuing to discuss with them, and the athletes are trying (to qualify),” Rogge said at a news conference at the close of a two-day IOC executive board meeting in Quebec City. “We would hope they will qualify in due time for the games.” The ultra conservative Muslim country has given mixed signals on the issue, with national Olympic committee president Prince Nawaf quoted in a Saudi newspaper last month as saying he does “not approve” of sending female athletes.

“It’s not an easy situation,” Rogge said. “There is a commitment. We’re working steadily with them to find a good solution.” Rogge ruled out the prospect, floated in Saudi Arabia, that women could compete in London under the Olympic flag rather than as members of the Saudi team.

“There is absolutely no need to consider the possibility of the participation of Saudi women under the IOC flag,” Rogge said.

The IOC has come under pressure from human rights groups to impose sanctions against the Saudis if they don’t include women, but Rogge declined to talk about any penalties. “Wait and see,” Rogge said. “We do not want to enter into any hypothetical questions.” A recent report by Human Rights Watch accused Saudi Arabia of violating the IOC charter on gender equality. In March, Rogge said in an interview that he was “optimistic” that Saudi women would compete in London, but he was much more guarded on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia may not have women who meet Olympic qualifying standards, but the IOC is ready to grant them entry under special circumstances if needed. The number of potential Saudi female athletes for London is believed to be less than a handful. If the talks with Saudi Arabia prove successful, it will be the first time in Olympic history that all national Olympic committees include women athletes at the games. On a separate issue, the IOC ethics commission delayed a decision on the case of Hungarian member Pal Schmitt, who resigned as Hungarian president after being accused of plagiarizing his 1992 doctoral dissertation about the modern Olympics. Schmitt, a two-time fencing gold medalist who has been an IOC member since 1983, could face sanctions from the IOC - with penalties ranging from a warning to suspension to expulsion. Rogge said the IOC still needs more documents on the case. “We want a fair procedure,” he said. —AFP

Jet Ski Race kicks off KUWAIT: With the participation of 31 competitors and teams in all categories, the second round of the International Jet Ski Race organized by Kuwait Sea Sports Club’s (KSSC) Marine Sports Committee will kick off today by 3 pm along Salmiya sea front near the sea rescue department. A special ceremony will be held at KSSC headquarters by 5:30 pm to honor the winners. The first round of the race was held on may 12.

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

British star family snub Euros over racism fears LONDON: England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s family have become the latest to decide against supporting their son at Euro 2012, amid fears about racism in tournament co-hosts Ukraine. Family members were planning to support the 18-year-old Arsenal midfielder in his first call-up to the England squad but pulled out due to concerns that black players and their relatives will be targeted by a violent, racist minority. Last week, the family of OxladeChamberlain’s Arsenal and England team-mate, Theo Walcott, said they would not take the risk to travel after public warnings about safety from the British government.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s father Mark Chamberlain, a former England international in the early 1980s when black players were regularly subjected to racist taunts, confirmed his family had no plans to see their son at the Euros. But he conceded that he might be willing to change his mind should the teenager feature in Roy Hodgson’s team in the latter stages. “It’s just my per-

France, England renew rivalry in Group D at Euros LONDON: England and France will resume their long-standing football rivalry at next month’s European Championship, with no one knowing exactly what to expect from the traditional powers. England enters the tournament with a new coach and with striker Wayne Rooney suspended for the first two group games. France has been an enigma for years and is still trying to recover from two disastrous major tournaments, but is enjoying a recent resurgence under Coach Laurent Blanc.

Add two more unpredictable teams to the mix - Sweden and co-host Ukraine - and it’s hard to see any clear favorites in Group D. In fact, all four teams seem to be downplaying their chances of advancing. “We’re a young team lacking in experience, so we’re not favorite in the group,” France midfielder Samir Nasri said. “France hasn’t played well in an international competition since 2006.” Neither has England, which missed Euro 2008 and was eliminated in the second round by Germany at the 2010 World Cup. It impressed at times during qualifying for this year’s tournament, only to see coach Fabio Capello quit abruptly over a decision by his bosses at the Football Association to strip John Terry of the captaincy after he was accused of racially abusing an opponent.

His replacement, Roy Hodgson, only took over in May, and was also quick to try to lower expectations in a country that hasn’t won a title since 1966 but still always seems to demand one. “I’d like people to cut us a bit of slack in that respect,” Hodgson said. “The resignation of Fabio Capello has made the situation somewhat different.” Sweden and Ukraine, meanwhile, have shown in the past that they should not be underestimated. Sweden reached the second round of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as Euro 2004, while Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals in Germany in 2006.

Sweden also has Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, who can be a threat to any team. Ukraine may be the weakest team in the group on paper but will be boosted by the crowd support from playing at home. That’s something Sweden coach Erik Hamren is extra wary of as his team faces Ukraine in the first game, where both teams need a win to have a realistic chance of advancing. “By tradition, the team that’s the host nation is incredibly hard to beat in the first game,” Hamren said. “They’ll have enormous support. We have three tough opponents, not just England and France. We can play three great games and still not advance from the group.”

Ukraine will again be relying on veteran striker Andriy Shevchenko for leadership and goals, and assistant coach Andriy Bal said the team’s fate will not necessarily be decided in the first game. “There are lots of examples where a team lost the first game, but then performed well,” Bal said. “Look at the last World Cup. Switzerland won 1-0 against Spain, and Spain became world champion. Football is very unpredictable.”

Group D will be the last to start play on June 11, with France playing England in Donetsk before Ukraine hosts Sweden in Kiev. Outside the host nation, most of the focus will probably be on the first game. —AP

sonal choice really,” the former Port Vale, Stoke City and Portsmouth winger told Sky Sports News. “It’s nothing definitive but there have been reports over the last couple of weeks of racist taunts and threats, so it’s just prudent for myself to keep away from it. “It’s very disappointing but your safety’s more important than a game of football.

There’s been a concerted effort and a campaign to tackle racism. In this country it seems to have gone well but unfortunately in other parts of the world not so well. “At this moment in time there are concerns. If England do well and if Alex is involved more than I think he may be, then a decision will be made at that time.” Racism has been a recurring problem in Ukrainian football and, with England due to face France and Ukraine in Donetsk as well as playing Sweden in the capital Kiev, the Foreign Office have outlined the dangers to supporters.

“Although the vast majority of visitors experience no difficulties, foreign nationals have been the victims

of violent crime in Kiev and other major cities,” a Foreign office statement in a fans’ guide to the tournament read. “In some cases, attacks have been racially motivated. Travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent and individuals belonging to religious minorities should take extra care.”

England defender Joleon Lescott said his family had decided to stay at home before the warnings were issued, as travelling between the team’s match venues promises to be a lengthy and expensive experience. But the Manchester City player conceded it was worrying to read so many negative stories about the potential reception for black players and their families. “It was quite alarming to see the reports about the situation out there,” Lescott said. “But even before the reports, my family weren’t going anyway.

Maybe if I’m playing and we get to the final, my family will want to go. “But it’s a shame for some members of for some members of the squad that their families feel they can’t go.” — AFP

B stands for Best in the Euro 2012 group stage BRUSSELS: Quite simply, a tougher group has not been assembled in the opening round of a tournament since FIFA started its world rankings two decades ago. Not in Europe, and not around the world. With Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark, four of the world’s top 10 teams have been clustered together by the luck of the draw. And with the Germans, the Dutch and the Portuguese, it has three teams from the top five, making Denmark a rank outsider to advance despite its No. 10 ranking.

“We’re all aware how difficult our group is,” said Portugal coach Paul Bento, who will rely on Cristiano Ronaldo to guide the team through the opening round. “We’re aiming to reach the quarterfinals. That’s our first goal.” Once there, history might look kindly on the two qualifiers. Only once before were four top-10 teams in one group - even though only two made the top five - when Germany, Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic played each other in the first round of Euro 1996 in England.

Germany and the Czech Republic scraped through, and then thrived the rest of the way to meet again in the final, with Oliver Bierhoff giving the Germans their last major title with a golden goal in extra time. Germany has endured a major title drought since. And if the Germans don’t win the trophy in Kiev on July 1, the 16year streak will at least match the longest spell since won its first major title at the 1954 World Cup. All for a team ranked second in the world.

The Germans, however, have a team laden with Bayern Munich players and they will have to overcome some recent disappointments. Bayern finished second in the Bundesliga, lost in the German Cup final and, worst of all, lost to Chelsea in the Champions League final. Bastian Schweinsteiger should be in the prime of his career and on the cusp of becoming the defining player of Germany. But his defining moment heading into the championships came when he missed his penalty against Chelsea in the shootout. He said it left him “paralyzed.” And it leaves Bierhoff, now the national team’s director, with a tough job ahead. “Clearly, there is a huge void after such a game,” Bierhoff said.

“You can’t expect them to show up here,

RASTATT: Coach of German national soccer team Joachim Loew juggles with a ball after presenting his team for the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine during a press conference in Rastatt, Germany. — AP drink a cup of magic potion and then everything is good.”

The Dutch could even be worse affected by Bayern’s loss. Arjen Robben missed a penalty kick in extra time and saw many of his weaving runs go to waste. Matters didn’t get better when the left-footed winger was whistled by his own fans during the Dutch team’s preparation game against Bayern. “It’s a shame,” Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said after the 3-2 loss. “You don’t do that to your own player.” Van Marwijk should thrive on the creative skills of Robben and Robin van Persie, but his real worries lie in defense where the left back position is the problem without an internationally established star ready to take the spot left open by World Cup captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

One thing speaks in favor for the Dutch, if only for the opening round: The team knows how to survive a tough group. At Euro 2008, the Dutch beat Italy and France to advance before losing to Russia in the quarterfinals. For Portugal, Ronaldo has yet another chance to shed his image as football’s nearly-man. For all his swagger, skills

and finishing, he usually falls short at the highest stage. His penalty shootout miss against Bayern in the Champions League semifinals cost Real Madrid a shot at this year’s title. For his country, it has been no different, as his performances at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa highlighted. The problem for Bento is that Portugal too often looks like a one-trick pony. Take Ronaldo out of the game, and the team sinks. It is a problem Denmark coach Morten Olsen doesn’t have, since he has no major stars on his squad. But in 1992, the Danes entered the tournament as late replacement for war-torn Yugoslavia, and amazingly went to on to claim the title. Danish Dynamite beat the Dutch in the semifinals and the Germans in the final to cap its storybook run and one of the biggest upsets in world football.

Now Denmark faces the same two again in the opening round, and Olsen is counting on something which served them so well in 1992 - momentum. “You play three games in one week,” Olsen said. “And if you are in-form on the day, and you are lucky, then everything is possible.” — AP

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Batista lands in Shanghai to clinch deal SHANGHAI: Former Argentina national coach Sergio Batista landed at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport yesterday for talks with Chinese soccer club Shanghai Shenhua about becoming their new boss. When asked by Reuters whether he was in town to sign for the club as their manager, the 49-year-old simply nodded.

Club spokesperson Ma Yue was at the airport to greet him. “We are close to signing him as head coach, there are just a few details to sort out,” he said, adding that Batista would not be ready to take charge for this tomorrow’s Chinese Super League game at

home to Guizhou Renhe. One of Batista’s party, who did not give his name but identified himself as the Argentine’s manager, said Batista is set to sign a formal contract on Saturday.

With Chinese clubs enjoying a boom with heavy financial investment, instant results are expected.

League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande sacked Lee Jang-soo last week and replaced him with former World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi despite the South Korean winning the Chinese league title last year and getting them through to the last

16 of the Asian Champions League.

Shangai languish in 14th place of 16 teams in the CSL, with just 11 points from 11 matches - 14 points behind the leaders. The club signed French striker Nicolas Anelka from Chelsea in December on a two-year deal worth a reported $300,000 a week. Much was expected of the 33-year-old, but the much-travelled former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Fenerbahce striker has scored just two goals this season.

He took on coaching responsibilities last month when his compatriot, former France international Jean Tigana, was sacked after four months

at the helm. “I don’t know this coach,” Anelka said of Batista on Thursday. “I haven’t heard anything about this from the club. I have only learnt this from the media.

“If that is going to happen, there is a huge problem of communication between me and the club, because of the language barrier. I am not aware of anything that is happening.”

Shanghai continues to be linked with Anelka’s former team mate and Champions League final goalscorer and match-winner Didier Drogba, who announced earlier this week he was leaving Chelsea. — Reuters

FIFA seeks alternative to penalty shootouts BUDAPEST: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called on Germany’s World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer and his panel of soccer experts to try to come up with an alternative to penalty shootouts to settle drawn matches. Blatter was speaking to delegates at the FIFA Congress on Friday less than a week after Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties to win the Champions League final.

“Football can be a tragedy when you go to penalty kicks.

Football is a team game, when it goes to one against one football loses its essence,” Blatter said. “Perhaps Franz Beckenbauer, with his Football 2014 group, can show us a solution, perhaps not today but in the future.”

Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup with Germany as both a player and manager was among the delegates at the congress, was not immediately available for comment but his views are well known on the matter.

The German has said he would rather have penalties than either a golden or silver goal which were used briefly to determine matches. Blatter has been calling for reforms to the game for a while and this is not the first time he has said he wanted to see penalty shootouts replaced.

But the fact he made the comment in his speech to delegates underlines his desire for the Football Committee to take some action on the issue. Dozens of high profile finals, including the 1994 and 2006 World Cup finals, European Championships and Champions League finals have all been decided on penalties since they were introduced in their modern format in 1970. — Reuters

SANTOS: Brazil’s Santos’ goalkeeper Rafael stops a penalty kick taken by Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield’s Emiliano Papa in the penalty shootout of a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Santos. — AP

Santos scrape past Velez Universidad cruise through RIO DE JANEIRO: Title holders Santos scored a late goal to force a 1-1 aggregate draw before beating a defiant 10man Velez Sarsfield on penalties in Thursday’s Libertadores Cup quarterfinal. Universidad de Chile also needed penalties to go through against Paraguay’s Libertad following a 1-1 draw in the other tie. Santos, who won 4-2 on penalties, will face Corinthians in an all-Brazilian semi-final while Boca take on Universidad. Velez, beaten semifinalists last season, took a 1-0 first-leg lead to Santos and set out with the clear intention of frustrating the Brazilians with blanket defense.

As in the first leg, the Argentine side managed to keep Santos forward Neymar largely under wraps. However, Neymar’s first real contribution in the

39th minute left Velez with 10 men. The Mohican-haried 20-year-old burst through the Velez midfield and was denied a clear shot at an empty goal when was upended on the edge of the area by goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero, who was sent off.

Elano wasted the resulting free kick as he sent his effort over the bar. Santos continued to find it hard going after the break with Alan Kardec bursting through in the 74th minute, only to see his effort blocked by new goalkeeper German Montoya Santos finally broke through three minutes later, opening up the Velez defense with a quick combination between Paulo Henrique Ganso and Leo, before Kardec fired into the bottom corner. In Santiago, Universidad de Chile, who managed a 1-1 draw away in

the first leg, got off to a flying start when Marcelo Diaz scored with a free kick which went under the Libertad wall in the 17th minute.

But an own goal by Osvaldo Gonzalez, who inadvertently headed in a Libertad free kick in the 22nd minute, meant they had to start all over again.

Playing a dynamic passing game inspired by former Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa, the hosts dominated the second half but found Libertad goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz in outstanding form.

However, Munoz was powerless as the Universidad converted all five of their penalties in the shootout while his opposite number Johnny Herrera was the hero, stopping Victor Ayala’s effort as the Chilean champions won 5-3 in the shootout. — Reuters

BUDAPEST: FIFA President Joseph Blatter delivers his speech during the 62nd FIFA Congress meeting in Budapest yesterday. — AFP

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012

Sports

Blatter seeks end to penalty shootouts

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Madrid: Barcelona’s players celebrate after winning the Spanish King’s Cup final match between Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP

Barcelona grab King’s cup Barca give Guardiola a perfect send off MADRID: Barcelona gave coach Pep Guardiola the perfect send off, beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 yesterday to win the Spanish Cup on the coach’s last match in charge after a memorable four seasons in the Catalan hot seat. Lionel Messi, with his 73rd of the season, and a Pedro Rodriguez double got the goals inside the first half an hour to finish off the Basque side and deliver Guardiola his 14th and final trophy at the club.

Guardiola leaves the side he played for with three Spanish leagues, two Champions Leagues, two FIFA World Club Cups, two UEFA Supercups, three Spanish Supercups and two Spanish Cup victories as coach. The win was a repeat of Guardiola’s first title in the 2008-09 final when the Catalans ran out 4-1 victors over Bilbao. Guardiola has never lost to Athletic in his four seasons, winning ten out of 15 clashes between the two sides who boast the most Spanish Cup victories, Barca making it 26 with this win to Bilbao’s 23

titles.

Guardiola, with Dani Alves and Carles Puyol injured, decided to start with a four man defense including the youngster Martin Montoya at right-back. He also made the decision to give Pedro a final chance to play himself into the Spanish squad for Euro 2012 and the forward grabbed it with both feet.

Bilbao got an early warning of what to expect when Messi went straight into a mazy run from kick-off before shooting just wide.

Within three minutes of the start Barca were ahead. When a leg from centre-half Amorebieta diverted a goal bound Pedro shot wide, the same player latched onto a loose ball to fire home from the resulting corner. Athletic recovered from the shock and started to enjoy some possession but Barca continued to have their chances. On 15 minutes Messi had a left footed curling shot tipped over the bar from Bilbao stopper Gorka Iraizoz and three minutes later Xavi

Hernandez shot just high.

It was therefore no surprise when Messi doubled the lead on 21 minutes, the little Argentinian taking one touch to control a slide-rule pass from Andres Iniesta before slamming home from close range. Four minutes later and Pedro made it three to end all doubts of where the cup would be heading.

Gerard Pique played a long searching pass to Xavi on the edge of the area who cleverly laid it back for the Tenerife-born player to side foot home his second. Bilbao continued to battle and within a minute of conceding the third Markel Susaeta brought the first save at the other end from Jose Pinto, who has replaced Victor Valdes all season in goal for Barca in domestic cup games.

The Basques had further chances to reduce the margin. On 28 minutes, referee David Fernandez waved away what appeared to be a clear penalty after Pique had pulled down Fernando Llorente and Iker Muniain

had a wide shot blocked at the near-post on the stroke of half-time. Backed by their impressive fans who refused to be silenced by the scoreline, they continued to look for a way back in the second period. Ibai Gomez, Inigo Perez and Jon Aurtenetxe all had chances but they failed to score in a final for the second time this season following their 30 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League.

At the other end Gorka denied Messi another goal after another scintillating run as Barca were content to run down the clock and savior the occasion. Guardiola continued to wring every ounce of effort out of his side from the sideline in the last moments of his glittering reign. In contrast to Barca’s trophy laden recent history it is 28 years since Athletic Bilbao last won a title. After losing their second final by the same scoreline, their long suffering support left the stadium wondering when the next title will arrive. — AFP