30th Jul

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

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Professor on quest for India hidden inventors

Sharapova wins Olympic debut in straight sets

US to train pilots for hi-tech threats

Romney eyes foreign policy kudos

UAE widens crackdown; more Islamists arrested

40 PAGES

NO: 15524

150 FILS

Emsak: Fajer: Shoruk: Dohr: Asr: Maghreb: Eshaa:

www.kuwaittimes.net

RAMADAN 11, 1433 AH

Dubai warns of plot to overthrow GCC governments

Kuwaiti royal detained Sheikh Meshaal vows to expose corruption KUWAIT: A Gulf rights group and a Kuwaiti MP yesterday criticized the arrest of a member of the Kuwait ruling family for expressing “political views” deemed offensive. “Freedom for Sheikh Meshaal Al-Malek AlSabah who was arrested by the state security police,” the Gulf Forum for Civil Societies, an organization of liberal activists, said on its Twitter account. It said Sheikh Meshaal was arrested “because of his courageous views that opposed the policies of the Kuwaiti ruling family.”

Islamist opposition MP Sheikh Meshaal Waleed Al-Tabtabai deplored the arrest of Sheikh Meshaal “for his political views,” and criticized what he called the return of a government policy of harassing activists who use social media.

Tabtabai said Sheikh Meshaal has been detained by the secret service for the past three days. Activists said he was arrested on Thursday on his return from Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted an iftar banquet in honor of visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II and his entourage at Dasman Palace yesterday evening. — KUNA

Max 48º Min 33º High Tide 07:57 & 22:27 Low Tide 01:09 & 15:30

DUBAI: At least 10 local Islamists have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates over the past several days as part of a widening crackdown on dissidents, activists said yesterday, The arrests brought to at least 20 the number of dissidents, most of them Islamists, detained since July 15 when the Gulf Arab state said it was investigating a foreign-linked group planning “crimes against the security of the state”. Activists say around 40 have been arrested since March. Many of them are Emiratis but an Omani and stateless residents of the UAE were among those detained.

Interior Ministry officials were not available for comment. The UAE, a federation of seven emirates and a major oil exporter, allows no organized political opposition. It has avoided the political unrest that have swept the Arab region thanks in part to its cradle-to-grave welfare system. But it has also moved swiftly against dissidents, stripping citizenship from Islamists whom it deemed a security threat and issuing jail sentences to activists who called for more power for a semi-elected advisory council.

Relatives and activists said most of those arrested have links to the local Al-Islah (Reform) Islamist group, which has been the target of a crackdown in the UAE. Hamad Roqait, 61, one of the founders of Islah and a well-known figure in the emirate of Sharjah, was arrested by security officials on Tuesday, a relative said. “They came at night at the house and took him after searching the house and seizing his mobile phone,” the relative said. “We still don’t know his whereabouts.”

Continued on Page 13

Assad forces declare Israel denies Iran war plan report ‘victory’ in Damascus Saudi fumes as ALEPPO: The government of Bashar AlAssad declared victory yesterday in a hardfought battle for Syria’s capital Damascus, and pounded rebels who control parts of its largest city Aleppo. Assad’s forces have struggled as never before to maintain their grip on the country over the past two weeks after a major rebel advance into the two largest cities and an explosion that killed four top security officials.

Government forces have succeeded in re-imposing their grip on the capital after a punishing battle, but rebels are still in control of sections of Aleppo, clashing with reinforced army troops for several days.

“Today I tell you, Syria is stronger... In less than a week they were defeated (in Damascus) and the battle failed,” Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said on a visit to Iran, Assad’s main ally in a region where other neighbors have forsaken him. “So they moved on to Aleppo and I assure you, their plots will fail.”

Rebel fighters, patrolling opposition districts in flat-bed trucks flying greenwhite-and-black “independence” flags, said they were holding off Assad’s forces in the south-western Aleppo district of Salaheddine, where clashes have gone on for days. Opposition activists also reported fighting in other rebel-held districts of Aleppo, in what could herald the start of a decisive phase in the battle for Syria’s commercial hub, after the army sent tank columns and troop reinforcements last week.

Helicopter gunships hovered over the city shortly after dawn and the thud of

artillery boomed across neighborhoods.

Syrian state television said soldiers was repelling “terrorists” in Salaheddine and had captured several of their leaders.

Some rebel-held areas visited by Reuters were empty of residents. Fighters were basing themselves in houses - some clearly abandoned in a hurry, with food still in the fridges.

A burnt out tank lay in the street, while nearby another one had been captured intact, covered in tarpaulin and left in a car park, perhaps for the rebels themselves to use against any ground assault by Assad’s forces. In a largely empty street, flanked by closed shops and run-down buildings, women clad in long black abaya cloaks walked with children next to walls daubed with rebel graffiti - “Freedom”, “Free Syrian Army” and “Down with Bashar”. Rubbish lay uncollected and in one street families were packing vans full of mattresses in apparent preparation to flee.

The leader of Syria’s main political opposition group, the Syrian National Council, called for foreign allies to provide heavy weapons to fight Assad’s “killing machine”. “The rebels are fighting with primitive weapons...We want weapons that we can stop tanks and planes with.

This is what we want,” SNC chief Abdelbasset Seida said in Abu Dhabi. He also urged foreign allies to circumvent the divided UN Security Council and intervene to help topple Assad. “Our friends and allies will bear responsibility for what is happening in Aleppo if they Continued on Page 13

hijab row rages JEDDAH: A female Saudi Arabian judo competitor, one of the first two female athletes sent to the Olympics by the conservative kingdom, will withdraw if she is not allowed to wear her hijab or headscarf, during bouts, her father was quoted as saying. Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani is due to compete in the +78kg judo category on Friday. A Saudi official said earlier this month its female athletes would have to obey Islamic dress codes.

But last week, International Judo Federation (IJF) president Marius Vizer said Shaherkani would have to fight without a headscarf to comply with “the principle and spirit of judo”. Sunday’s edition of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Watan newspaper quoted the father, Ali Shaherkani, as saying over the telephone from Britain that his daughter “will not compete in the Judo Games on Aug 3 if the committee insists that she removes her hijab”. He was quoted as telling Al-Watan he had not heard back from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the matter.

The IJF, whose regulations for the Olympic Games state no headgear can be worn, was in regular discussions with Olympic and Saudi officials to find a solution, IJF spokesman Nicolas Messner said. He said the hijab was banned for safety reasons, as judo fighters can try to strangle each other using their judogi or kit. While using a hijab to do this would be illegal it could happen by mistake during a move. “It can be dangerous,” Messner said. “It could happen during a move, something wrong could happen.”

Female participation in sports has long been a controversial issue in Saudi Arabia, where conservative Muslim clerics have said it is immodest and goes against women’s nature. Until this year, Saudi Arabia was one of three countries, alongside Brunei and Qatar, never to have sent female athletes to the Olympics. Human rights groups urged the IOC to ban the countries from the Games unless they agreed to send women. Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on the participation of Shaherkhani and Sarah Attar, an 800 metre runner, just two weeks ago after talks with the IOC. — Reuters

JERUSALEM: A senior Israeli official denied yesterday a newspaper report that President Barack Obama’s national security adviser had briefed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a US contingency plan to attack Iran should diplomacy fail to curb its nuclear program. The Israeli liberal Haaretz daily yesterday quoted an unnamed US official as saying the adviser, Thomas Donilon, had described the plan over dinner with Netanyahu earlier this month.

“Nothing in the article is correct.

Donilon did not meet the prime minister for dinner, he did not meet him one-on-

one, nor did he present operational plans to attack Iran,” the senior official, who declined to be named given the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters.

Haaretz said the briefing was the most significant effort by high-level US officials who had visited Israel in the past month, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to try to dissuade Israel from launching its own military strike on Iran. The report coincided with a visit to Israel by Obama’s main rival in his reelection bid this November, Republican candidate Mitt Romney, who met the conservative Continued on Page 13

NABLUS: Palestinian girls pose for a photographer while attending Quran classes during the Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan in a mosque yesterday. —AP

in the

news

Parcel bomb kills tribal chief’s son

India protests over Olympic intruder

World poverty to be eliminated by 2030

SANAA: A booby-trapped parcel has killed the son of a Yemeni tribal chief in an attack suspected to be the work of Al-Qaeda, police said yesterday. Ali Dahab, 14, died instantly when the parcel exploded after it was given to him to pass to his father, Sheikh Majed, as a present, police said in a statement carried by the official Saba news agency. “Terrorists from Al-Qaeda could be behind this crime.” Sheikh Majed is a known opponent of AlQaeda, whose militants overran his native village of Radah, in the central province of Bayda, earlier this year, before being chased out by armed tribesmen. Also, armed men kidnapped an Italian diplomat from outside the Italian embassy in Sanaa yesterday, a security source said. “The diplomat was near the embassy building when men came by in a car and took him by force. He is responsible for security in the embassy,” the source said, adding that it was not known where the men had taken the diplomat.

NEW DELHI: India has protested to London Olympic organizers after a mysterious woman gatecrashed their squad at the opening ceremony, media reports said yesterday. The unidentified woman, dressed in a red top and blue pants, was seen walking alongside India’s flag-bearer Sushil Kumar at Friday’s ceremony even though she was not part of the contingent. India’s acting chef-de-mission Muralidharan Raja slammed the intrusion, but stopped short of calling it a security breach even though the woman was not wearing the customary identification badge. “She had no business being there. It was a clear case of intrusion,” Raja was quoted as saying by the Times of India. “We are taking up the issue with the organizers. “We don’t know who she is and why she was allowed to walk in. It is a shame that she was walking with our athletes. “I can’t say that (if it was a security breach) as she was in a sanitized zone, but this was bizarre. We will ask for an apology. “She embarrassed us in front of the world.

The Indian contingent was shown (on television) for just 10 seconds, and to think this lady hogged all the limelight.”

ASPEN: Poverty across the planet will be virtually eliminated by 2030, with a rising middle class of some two billion people pushing for more rights and demanding more resources, the chief of the top US intelligence analysis shop said Saturday. If current trends continue, the 1 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day now will drop to half that number in roughly two decades, Christoper Kojm said. “We see the rise of the global middle class going from one to two billion,” Kojm said, in a preview of the National Intelligence Council’s global forecast offered at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “Even if some of the most dire predictions of economic upheaval” in the coming years prove accurate, the intelligence council still sees “several hundred million people...entering the middle class,” Kojm said. The National Intelligence Council analyzes critical national security issues drawing from all US intelligence agencies. The unclassified global forecast, which is due out by the end of the year, tries to “describe drivers of future behavior” to help government agencies from the White House to the State Department plan future policy and programs, Kojm said.

LONDON: India’s flagbearer Sushil Kumar (right) leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. An unidentified woman, dressed in a red top and blue pants, was seen walking alongside India’s flag-bearer. — AFP

local

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

KUWAIT: The Missoni Hotel recently celebrated the advent of the holy month of Ramadan by holding a special Ghabqa for members of the media. They were received by Alfio Bernardi, General Manager and Wassim Tarabay Sales and Marketing Manager. Several competitions and recreational activities were held. Winners were awarded valuable prizes.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Teachers Association held a Ramadan Ghabqa at its premises on Thursday for its members.

local

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Sumptuous Iftar held to welcome guests at The Regency

KUWAIT: The Regency’s Silk Road restaurant was the venue of a sumptuous Iftar attended by a bevy of guests representing Kuwait’s best known media establishments and all the hotel’s senior management, including Adib Rawas Acting General Manager who stood in for Riaz Mahmood who was away on annual vacation.

On July 25, crowds of media were seen heading into the hotel’s lobby Al Liwan. For this year’s Ramadan, it has as its centerpiece a gilded ‘fanooz’, (Arabic lantern), surrounded by ruby-red and gold diwaniya-style seating, specially constructed by the hotel’s craftsmen.

As guests arrived, they were met at the beautifully adorned entry to the restaurant by food and beverage staff, the men dressed in dishdashas and ghutras, while the ladies wore colorful beaded red darah. Almost a dozen chefs were on hand to serve a myriad of dishes to guests who commented on the spectacular decorations such as a metre-high golden coffee pot or ‘della’ and a huge silver leaf creaking with ripe fruits next to a plethora of homemade Arabic and international desserts.

Guests marveled at the range of irresistible goodies displayed across the vast room; silver chafing dishes of favorite local and regional foods steamed away while three chefs were busy in the show kitchen grilling a variety of meats and fish.

At other live stations, guests could order fresh helpings of chicken shawarma, delectable qozi and handmade saj. As the call to prayer sounded, they happily broke their fast with glasses of sharab al ward bin ghalib, ruby-red Karkade, Qamar Al-Deen and deliciously sweet Jallab. Others ate freshly baked breads or nibbled on fresh dates and dried fruits laid out in baskets in an appetizing display that made use of the traditional red

Resha Galouti

‘sadu’ cloth.

As the evening wore on, more guests turned up, some who had not seen the hotel for a while commented on the many improvements that have taken place and the wide variety of quality dishes.

Over a hundred VIP media attended the Iftar which was the first one held at The Regency. Each guest was offered a small souvenir of the evening from the Marketing Department team, headed by Charlotte Shalgosky, Marketing and Communications Director, Ahmed Mourad Assistant Marketing and Communications Manager. They were joined by fellow members Preetha Manoj, Marketing Executive Mariam Emil, PR Executive and newcomer Lemuel Leachon, Senior Designer.

For those who cannot wait for the festival of Eid AlFitr, marking the end of Ramadan, The Regency will be

Chana masala

INGREDIENTS Lamb cubes - 2 kilograms Vegetable Oil - 1 cup Cinnamon - 1 stick Green cardamom -1teaspoon Cloves - 1/2 teaspoon Bay Leaf - 2-3 nos Sliced onion - 2 medium size Ginger garlic paste -1/2 cup Turmeric powder -1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon Coriander powder - 2 tablespoon Black cardamom seeds - 1 teaspoon Crushed roasted cumin seeds - 2 tablespoon Ghee- 1 cup Chopped ginger - 2-3 tablespoon Chopped coriander - 1 cup Chopped onion - 1 cup Egg white - 2 nos Hung curd/ Labneh - 1/2 cup Mint Leaves - 1/ 2 Bunch METHOD 1-Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add whole spices (cinnamon , cardamom , clove , bay leaf) allow to splutter.

2-Add sliced onion to the pan. Saute till golden brown, add lamb cubes followed by ginger garlic paste and coriander powder.

3-Cover the lamb and cook gently on a low flame.

4- Add little water while stirring.

5-Once the lamb is cooked, add turmeric powder, Kashmiri chilly powder and salt. Allow the excess moisture to evaporate.

6-Use a whisk or wooden mallet to pound on the meat while it is cooking. The plan is to shred the meat and tenderize it at the same time. Once all the meat acquires a thread-like (called resha, in india. Hence the name) texture, transfer to a tray and cool.

7-Pick out the whole spices from the pounded lamb, add black cardamom seeds, crushed cumin seeds, chopped ginger, coriander and onions followed by clarified butter and egg white.

8-Knead the lamb mixture thoroughly to mix the flavors.

Divide the mix into small balls (approx 30 grams each). Stuff each lamb ball with a teaspoon of hung curd and shredded mint leaves. Flatten between the palms to shape like discs .

9-Shallow fry the lamb patties on a medium to hot flame on both sides to form a golden brown crust.

INGREDIENTS • Chick peas boiled -2 cups • Vegetable oil -2 tablespoon • Ajwain seeds-1/2teaspoon • Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon • Onion chopped - 1/2 cup • Ginger grated - 2 tablespoon • Chopped garlic -1 tablespoon • Tomato puree - tablespoon • Turmeric powder -1teaspoon • Red chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon • Corriander powder - 2 tablespoon • Salt - 1/2 teaspoon • Tamarind pulp -1/2 cup • Chopped coriander- 2tbsp • Ginger juliennes - 1 tablespoon • Black cardamom -2 nos • Bay leaf - 2 nos • Kasurimethi powder - 1/2 no METHOD: -Wash the chickpeas and soak them overnight.

-Boil the chickpeas in water, seasoned with salt bay leaf and black cardamom.

-Once the water starts boiling, reduce the temperature, cover the pot and allow to simmer till it turns soft.

-In a separate pan, heat oil add cumin seeds, ajwain seeds allow them to splutter add chopped onions, followed by grated ginger and chopped garlic .

-Once the onion turns golden brown add tomato puree allow it to cook for 10-15 minutes add boiled chickpeas mix them gently with onion tomato masala.

-Add all the powdered spices (coriander powder , turmeric powder, red chilly powder,dry fenugreek leaves ) along with tamarind pulp and salt.

-Allow the chana masala to cook till required consistency. Adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon juice if required.

-Serve chana masala hot garnished with chopped coriander and ginger juliennes.

launching a spectacular four-day Eid celebration, which will include amazing buffets and activities for families.

Moreover, there will be an offer which will see a very limited number of special room and suite rates for the ‘early birds.’ These will be available strictly on a firstcome, first-serve basis and will include plenty of benefits. Enquiries may be made on 2576 6666.

During Eid, there will be a chance for citizens to see one of the Middle East’s biggest singing stars, Hala AlTurq, who will be joined by a host of other TV celebrities at an exclusive event at The Regency. The promoters of the event will be giving more details of ticket sales very soon in the local media.

The Regency’s management and staff would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a very blessed Ramadan and would like to offer their thanks to patrons, old and new, for their wonderful support.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Majority Bloc wasting time

Opposition group still together?

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

By Omar Al-Tabtabaei

et us start the subject from where N.A. Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi ended his declaration on Monday at the National Assembly. In my opinion, Abu Abdul Mohsan did nothing in his declaration except include in it some “comic” sense, which is used by the majority figures day and night.

The man only tried to joke with them by how they embarrass their opponents in their own declarations.

But it seems that they did not like it, and it even made them angry, and the proof is their reaction and criticism of the new style which was not known before for Abu Abdul Mohsan, and they forgot that he said very important things. The necessity to protect the election system constitutionally to avoid falling into constitutional default, and this is demanded by everyone and on top of them the majority, though some of its members became angry by the speaker’s declaration, who came back based on the government’s verdict.

Secondly, he explained the simple steps that he will take later on which calls for convening the N.A. Council if a quorum is incomplete. He will call for another convening and again if a quorum is incomplete, he will then take up the matter with His Highness the Amir, to make a decision and this is what will happen and everyone will call for it, including the majority members. We like the majority, and some of the members of the majority whom we like and respect their political work are making jokes in their declarations. I don’t find anything wrong in that, as everyone has his style in declaring there are some who play around with words and others who play around with the truth and some who play around with the overall meaning of speeches, similar to all politicians throughout the world. But apparently they became very nervous when they were faced with their own style, although I see among them those who are more patient, especially those among them who are experienced MPs. “The majority is still together” is what is said by some of its members. And I don’t know if their saying it is truth or just political hope. Apparently, the majority has lost some of its glory. But in my opinion the majority, in the end, is popular again in its current shape and should remain together. They are not simply an opposition group, but they are a fence for any possible violations and their staying together is something that concerns us all.

Trying to offend the majority through some rumours by the media is nothing more than the attempt of children through telling stories about the neighbor’s tree. They might get 20 to 30 fruits out of the tree by their stories. But in the end, the tree remains in the ground as it is the property of the neighbors and the kids are nothing but small thieves, and we laugh at them when we see them.

NOTE: It is very easy to spoil the image of someone though a rumour, but if you use one thousand rumours, you will not be able to improve your image, especially if your political image is very bad. — Al-Anbaa

fter youth activists ended their pressure on lawmakers who claimed commitment to achieving reform as being their top priority, and MPs were left without motivation to achieve these demands or at least attempt to, this led to the majority position MPs obtained in parliament to be exploited for their electoral benefits.

During the months in which the 2012 parliament was in session, the majority opposition did nothing more than infighting, as well as submit a number of ‘embarrassing’ proposals that hurt the block’s position and reputation. Moreover, controlling the majority number of seats led some Majority Bloc members to count on the numbers game by giving priority to personal aspects, ahead of public demands.

Unfortunately, such actions were not stopped or even criticized by the Majority Bloc, which became more concerned about keeping their numerical advantage than to realizing priorities that, if achieved, might benefit all. Said attitude also resulted in strange appeasements with the Cabinet of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, which brought nothing new to the table and did not even have a timetable for work.

All of the above led the Majority Bloc to implode.

The pressure that youth activists put on the opposition to give top priority to achieving public demands was the glue that kept members of the Majority Bloc together.

Of course, there are other factors that prevented the Majority Bloc from achieving public demands, including the short life of the 2012 parliament, as well as the Cabinet’s ability to create obstacles while mastering the art of ‘playing by the book’. However, this doesn’t give the opposition any excuses for failing to create a proper way to manage the process of presenting public demands, as well as exerting all efforts to achieve them, instead of wasting time on increasing their popularity among voters. The Majority Bloc had a golden opportunity to accomplish achievements that would change the image people have about lawmakers; that they give priority to their personal interests before that of the public good.

The Majority Bloc failed to predict the public’s reaction after the Constitutional Court made its ruling that annulled the dissolution of the 2009 parliament. They then pushed this verdict into the headlines in an attempt to take people’s attention away from their breakdown, and put the blame for the political crisis entirely on the government. While I do not try to defend the Cabinet, I believe that the Majority Bloc’s failures are not better than the governments’. Exploiting people’s enthusiasm to achieve personal gains is a crime that is equal to corruption.

The Majority Bloc should have come up with a timetable for achieving priorities, and then follow it strictly through productive work, instead of being motivated by vengeance. They ought to avoid presenting draft laws that damage national unity, such as certain constitutional amendments, as well as respect the different opinions expressed inside the parliament building. They were supposed to focus more on internal problems, as a struggling country cannot help solve other countries’ problems.

Members of the Majority Bloc should have done away with ‘campaigning’ once elections were over, and instead adopted a political speech that points to the framework of dealing with the present issues.

Most importantly, the opposition should have maintained a decent level of dialogue.

When people defended the Majority Bloc during their tenure in the 2012 parliament, they were actually defending their demands, which they hoped MPs would realize. This is exactly why the same people are criticizing the bloc now; because they are defending their demands. Therefore, the opposition should never think that they could use the people as a tool to fight the government whenever they like. On the contrary, the opposition is the tool by which the people can outline their blueprint for a better future. — Al-Rai

A

L

kuwait digest

The NDA’s questionable stance

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

T

he ‘warning’ that Secretary General of the National Democratic Alliance Khalid Al-Khalid made to the cabinet against amending the electoral constituencies system is perplexing. It is not a secret that the NDA and other democratic groups are the biggest losers from the current distribution of constituencies, which was proven by the results of the last elections. It seems unjustifiable that the NDA would strongly push for keeping the current system; not only due to a lack of interest, but also because this system lacks legitimacy and constitutionality.

It’s common knowledge that the current distribution of constituencies resulted from a governmental ill-planned approach to take over the parliament that started in 1981 (the year in which constituencies were first expanded from 10 to 25). Lawmakers elected via the altered distribution would normally be in favor of keeping it. And since the MPs who were elected through the 25 constituencies system made the amendment to merge constituencies into five, this automatically would make the current system a product of an initial tampering with the initial 10constituencies system, the only legal and constitu-

tional distribution of constituencies. The government has for certain sought to change the electoral constituencies system. Today, they reportedly seek to amend the system once again. Some believe that the government plans to alter the system even more in order to control the results of upcoming elections.

Others, in the meantime, argue that the government could be seeking to correct the mistakes made before. While I personally wouldn’t bet on the second scenario, there’s still a chance that it could be true. I am concerned, however, about the probability of further tampering in the constituencies distribution which haven’t been corrected since 1981 - and apparently the NDA is trying hard to keep it that way.

The safest way for the NDA to avoid public criticism was to call for the issue pertaining to the electoral system to be left to the court to handle. Their recent stance is naive and puts them in an unnecessary battle through which not only they are going to be hurt, but so are all democratic groups and the country as a whole. On the other hand, the only party benefiting from this stance is the tribal-religious coalition of oppositionists. —- Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Our political absurdity!

By Dr Shamlan Yousif Al-Essa

A

NO: 15524

11

RAMADAN 10, 1433 AH

The dawn prayer for Muslim called?

Fajr Zhur Mughrib

t a time when the government is trying hard to find a legal and constitutional way out of the crisis that started with the constitutional court’s verdict on annulling the 2012 parliament and dissolving it, the majority is holding intensive meetings and its leaders are issuing daily statements with threats to the PM and his cabinet. They simply refuse to amend the five electoral constituency system and the number of votes, on the ground that this would only serve the government and its allies, which is against their wish to return to the upcoming parliament with a majority bloc of 40 MPs that is, itself, full of contradictions and competition amongst the oppositions MPs. How can one ensure the winning of the same bloc again with all its diverse elements, including the Muslim Brethren, Salafis, Tribes, public powers and the development group?

During the last meeting of the opposition majority at Ahmed Al-Sadoun’s diwaniya, youth groups decided to launch a signature collection campaign to seek signatures on a memo declaring their intent to boycott the coming parliamentary elections if the law is amended by a necessity decree in the absence of the parliament. The question is: If the young people and those who support and encourage them really believe in the constitution and institutional work, why then do they jump to conclusions, throw accusations around and declare they will boycott the elections before knowing what the constitutional court will have to say once the government referred the law to it on Monday (today)? HH the Amir and the government will decide the next move according to the constitutional court ruling, which means that the government is more transparent and keener to ensure the constitutionality of the coming elections in order to avoid previous mistakes, especially when there were many cases filed with the constitutional court contesting the constitutionality of the five electoral constituency system with unequal number of voters in each, namely in the fourth and fifth constituencies with over 120,000 voters, while the second constituency has less than 50,000 voters. So what’s wrong with the rational measures taken by the government so far in the course of executing the constitutional court verdict? What’s wrong with waiting till everything is clear about whether the coming elections will be constitutional or not?

We wished that the opposition’s icons would offer their legal and constitutional view on how to get out of the current crisis, instead of insisting on keeping things as they are despite the problems. Why on earth have they called to collect signatures and boycott the elections after hearing what the constitutional court has to say?

Will boycotting the elections stop democracy in Kuwait? Why are they so afraid of the court ruling and decreasing the number of votes from four to one per voter, the way all the countries throughout the world do? The sure thing is that the coming elections will have winners and losers; the opposition might win or lose, which is normal in all democracies. Do you want to always win as all the oppressive Arab regimes do?

Come on, be democratic....the whole world is changing! — Al-Watan

kuwait digest

Government’s mismanagement Dr. Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

A

ccounting is one of the most important aspects of management science that helps improve quality of per formance.

Accounting means holding each party responsible for direct or indirect negligence of duties or violations of law and regulations. It is, therefore, an effective means to correct mistakes and avoid mistakes in the future, as well as to correct negative behaviors in society.

Although everything mentioned above is common sense, I felt the need to write this introduction before talking about the situation of management in Kuwait which has been deteriorating in all fields for a long time. Management is the key in each profession which organizes the work of individuals, administrations, finances, etc. Several aspects of advancement in our lives can be attributed to the presence of the quality of the management behind it; while poor management is mostly found behind the regression in development.

Errors in Kuwait’s governmental departments are countless due to their complexity and effects.

Errors in systems and administrative regulations lead to hurting employees’ motivations to carry out productive work, thus hurting the organization’s general productivity level. Unproductive labor forces in the public sector - or what is known locally as masked unemployment - squanders public funds and leaves negative influences on the role of productive employees. Therefore, management science experts believe that in order for management to be successful, the quality of all aspects in a department must equally be maintained. This means that not only should the quality of employees’ performances be maintained, but also the quality of regulations running the process of work. — Al-Rai

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

LOCAL

Liberal bloc divided over swear-in ceremony Al-Omair slams ‘quitters’

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The National Action Bloc members are divided over whether to take part in any demonstrations following the Cabinet’s swearing-in event on Tuesday of the reinstated 2009 parliament, according to sources close to the liberal group. The main point of conflict pertains to whether to vote on any bills that can be produced during the session, or walk out immediately after ministers finish taking the oath.

On that regard, sources explained that “MP Saleh Al-Mullah strongly pushes for walking out right after the Cabinet’s swearing-in.” The lawmaker further informed his colleagues about his intention to resign following the ceremony, or if the session is not held due to lack of quorum, said the sources. The remaining bloc members believe that they should wait and see if the Cabinet presents a request to refer the electoral system to the Constitutional Court “and vote in approval of said request,” sources added.

Neutral stance MP Ali Al-Omair criticized lawmakers who announce plans to resign from the 2009 parliament “but fail to live up to their promises.”

“Lawmakers refusing to take part in the 2009 parliament are advised to resign from their posts and give up their immunity and all other privileges that the MP’s position provides,” Al-Omair told reporters who attended a ghabqa he hosted Saturday for third constituency voters.

And while announcing his ‘neutral’ stance at a potential request by the government to preside over the dispute of the current electoral system an action that the opposition highly opposes, AlOmair indicated that he plans to attend tomorrow’s session “if that would help the government continue with constitutional procedures.”

Constitutional Court’s rulings MP Adnan Al-Abdulsamad criticized oppositionist lawmakers for often using the word ‘tampering’ to describe a potential step of the Cabinet to verify the constitutionality of the current fiveconstituency electoral system by referring it to the Constitutional Court. “Opinions about constituencies or votes must be kept within constitutional framework that are built on studies instead of statements,” Al-Abdulsamad said in a statement released yesterday. “Using the term tampering to refer to a verdict made within the frameworks of the Constitution as a violation of the Constitution itself,” Al-Abdulsamad explained, further insisting that “the 2009 Parliament is legal and constitutional.” Al-Abdulsamad also announced that he will not be attending tomorrow’s session, and warned the Cabinet against “submitting to pressure in order to take steps outside the legal and constitutional framework.”

Salafists look for replacement The Islamic Salafist Assembly plans to nominate former MP Fahad Al-Khannah as a candidate in the second constituency, while they are still looking for another candidate to replace Khalid Al-Sultan and Abdullatif Al-Omairi.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources indicated that the assembly looks to convince former lawmaker and minster Ahmad Baqer to run for Parliament “because he currently does not appear to be planning to contest elections.”

Meanwhile, sources confirmed that Al-Sultan and Al-Omairi “will run as independents” in the upcoming elections.

‘Where else can we seek justice?’

Lawmakers from the annulled 2012 parliament, Nabil Al-Fadhl stressed that real reform should start by altering the electoral constituencies and allowing a voter to choose only one can-

didate instead of four. “The four vote-system is susceptible to forgery, the nation’s will,” he stressed. Furthermore, Al-Fadhl pointed out that the call made by the majority MPs to boycott elections will not change the situation. “In the previous elections, 40 percent of voters failed to take part. With the opposition MPs, it will hardly be 41,” he underlined. “If the constituencies are amended and the one vote system is used, the only MP who will not run for the elections will be Ahmed Al-Saadoun. He would know that he does not stand a chance,” added Al-Fadhl expressing surprise at the rejection of the majority MPs to go to the Constitutional Court. “If they refuse to move the Constitutional Court, where else should we go to achieve justice?” he concluded.

Dashti sues Al-Harbash’s son Attorney and lawmaker of the annulled 2012 parliament Abdulhameed Dashti filed a lawsuit against citizen Abdullah Jamaan Al-Harbash, son of MP Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash, in the parliament storming case that took place late last year. In a petition filed with the Attorney General yesterday, Dashti argues that there is “photographic evidence” as well as testimonies of eye witnesses which level the same accusations against AlHarbash which 68 suspects face in a case filed after the incident.

KTUF demands leave on 50 C days The Kuwait Trade Union Federation(KTUF) demanded that employees be given “paid leaves during days on which temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius,” in a statement released yesterday. The KTUF based its demand on regulations “which ban work in unsuitable weather conditions for safety reasons”, adding that “the difficulty of working during fasting hours throughout Ramadan adds to the need for taking this decision.”

27 oppositionists to boycott ‘amended’ elections KUWAIT: While several lawmakers announced plans to boycott a session of the 2009 parliament next Tuesday, the Cabinet looks to take part “as a step to implement the Constitutional Court verdict” that reinstated the dissolved parliament.

This was revealed by a government insider who indicated that a recommendation in that regard made by the Cabinet’s legal committee is expected to be viewed during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting today.

Meanwhile, 27 members of the 35-member coalition of opposition-

ists which formed the Majority Bloc in the annulled 2012 parliament have reportedly signed a petition to boycott upcoming elections if the state’s current 5-constituencies electoral system is amended. Those signing include 13 members from the 2009 parliament, according to sources close to the bloc, who indicated that members Shaya Al-Shaya, Abbdullatif Al-Omairi, Mohammad Al-Kandari and Ammar Al-Ajmi remain undecided on the decision to boycott.

And while MP Saadoun Hammad announced plans to boycott

Tuesday’s session, citing “the Cabinet’s inability to resolve an unconstitutional electoral situation”, sources with knowledge of the Shiite MP’s thinking believe that Dr. Yousuf Al-Zalzalah, Faisal Al-Duwaisan, Husain Al-Qallaf, Massouma AlMubarak, Saleh Ashour and Adnan Al-Mutawa’a have decided to boycott the session as well, while MPs Adnan Al-Abdulsamad and Dr. Hassan Jowhar haven’t made a similar decision. In the meantime, opposition lawmaker Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei argued that the current Cabinet

would become null and void if the Constitutional Court ruled the current electoral system as being unconstitutional on the grounds that such a verdict would automatically annul both the 2008 and 2009 parliaments.

In that regard, constitutional expert Mohammad Al-Muqate’a agreed that the verdict would deem the 2009 parliament null and void, and automatically return the 25-constituencies electoral system through which a citizen has two votes instead of the four votes given by the 5-constituencies system.

Kuwait Dive Team cleans up location north of Kubbar isle KUWAIT: Kuwait Dive Team of the Environmental Voluntary Foundation made a comprehensive survey in the North of Kubbar Island to clean up waste harmful to the marine environment and reefs.

Walid Al-Shatti, in charge of marine operations of the team, said in a statement that the team has been examining the reefs for the last 20 years to protect them against adverse effects, in addition to submitting periodic reports about their condition to the research center of University of Queensland, Australia.

The team lifted damaged fishing iron cages from coral reef sites, threatening the marine organisms underwater, Al-Shatti said.

Placing the iron cages at these natural sites constitutes violation of laws of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and fish resources, Al-Shatti said, explaining that the reefs are considered as natural reserves. He also explained that fishing with cages or other means is prohibited within a three-mile-long radius around the islands. — KUNA

Lawmakers insist on enjoying immunity KUWAIT: The court order annulling the 2012 parliament and reinstating the 2009 one has greatly impacted investigations at the Public Prosecution Office where some MPs’ bank accounts are under scrutiny over millions-worth cash deposits.

This is, of course, a procedure that requires lifting the parliamentary immunity of the lawmakers under scanner. A number of accused MPs’ lawyers made official requests to Public Prosecutor Dherar Al-Assousi, asking him to stop investigations and contact the National Assembly, requesting that parliamentary immunity be lifted before proceeding with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Kuwait University law professor, Dr Redha Al-Feeli stressed that

the Public Prosecution Department would have to lift the immunity of accused MPs before interrogating them because they are now members of the revived 2009 parliament.

Some legal sources asserted that the previous investigations conducted were void because they were interrogated without lifting parliamentary immunity.

Other high-ranking sources stressed the legality of the previous investigations on the ground that they were conducted when the parliament was annulled. “However, resumption of investigations under current circumstance will call for lifting their immunity since the 2009 parliament was reinstated,” stressed sources.

6

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

LOCAL

Ministry plans hunt for 250,000 unregistered vehicles

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society fundraising campaign in progress. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KRCS holds fundraising campaign for Syrians

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) is holding the Fundraising Campaign for the Relief of the Syrian People. During this five days campaign it is accepting financial donations until Thursday from 10:00am - 1:00pm, and 9:00pm 12:00 midnight.

Until yesterday afternoon the campaign already collected about USD 1.5 million. They are now preparing the trucks that will carry the donations to the JordanianSyrian borders for the Syrian refugees in Jordan. “We are cooperating with the Jordanian Red Crescent and the Kuwaiti Embassy in Jordan to distribute the donations. These trucks will leave there next week, and the volunteers will distribute the food there,” Khaled Al-Zaid, Head of Media Center told the Kuwait Times yesterday.

“We are preparing other team with donations to leave to Lebanon, particularly the Lebanese-Syrian

borders. This team will go by plane.

Even after the holy month of Ramadan is over we will still collect donations for the Syrians until this problem is over. In fact we aim to

Khaled Al-Zaid enter Syria and deliver the donations to all areas in Syria,” he added.

The KRCS is cooperating with the United Nations Refugee Agency

UNHCR and other organizations.

“The Jordanian Red Crescent for instance have told us what are the needs of the refugees there, so we are only sending food staff including sugar, milk, tea, oil, rice, and other commodities which will supply all the families there for a month. As they informed us that these are the most important things they need in Ramadan. There are about 150 thousand Syrian Refugees in Jordan,” explained Al-Zaid.

The donations accepted at KRCS are only financial. “Our society is experienced with the materials and commodities that we have to buy. Also we have to make sure that the food stuff has certain validity and is not expired, this is why we don’t accept from people.

Thus we made an exception today for instance, a donor came and brought us 100 rice bags each of 20 kg, and we had to accept it, especially that it’s one of the commodities that the refugees need,” he pointed out.

This five days campaign was also supported by the Ministry of Information and the Kuwait Channel is broadcasting the donations daily. “I would like to thank the Minister of Information for his support to this campaign which made it successful especially in Ramadan. Also many banks have collected donations and brought them here and we reached this number,” concluded Al-Zaid.

Um Ahmad is one of the donors who came to donate for Syria said this is a duty to help our brothers in Syria. “Especially in Ramadan it is the best time to donate. We can also pay Zakat of Ramadan to Syria. We have to help them as they need our help, it is a religious and human responsibility to support them. We don’t like to call it donation and instead it should be called support to respect their feelings. We call upon the citizens to support the Syrian nation through their donations,” she stressed.

Reckless drivers close Sabhan road KUWAIT: A large group of reckless drivers closed Sabhan road Friday night and damaged several police cars when the road became a “closed track” where the young men showed off their skills and dangerous driving moves. A large crowd of young men gathered on both sides of the road to watch and this kept police from reaching the area. A security source said that patrols headed to Sabhan Road after reports that a large crowd was obstructing traffic. As soon as patrols arrived, however, the crowd began throwing stones at them, then threw nails onto one of the roads, damaging the police cars’ tires. The source said there were nearly 150 young men, and they have been gathering there almost daily since the start of Ramadan and staying from 1:00 am until dawn. The young men show off with their cars, and an accident took place a few days ago when one of the reckless youths hit a family car, injuring a 13 year old girl. Police authorities are taking measures to put an end to such acts.

said customs officials noticed the woman was acting strangely, so they searched her bag, where a small amount of marijuana was found. The woman told officials that the drug was for her personal use. Airport detectives sent the woman and the marijuana to drug authorities.

Woman in custody Airport security officers apprehended a female citizen and transferred her to concerned authorities when they discovered marijuana in her luggage. A security source

Grocery store fire Fire destroyed a grocery store behind the chamber of commerce and industry, prompting Hilali and Madina fire centers to respond. No injuries were reported, and

Jahra fight Police in Jahra acted to break up a fight between two families during which four persons were injured and they all were issued medical reports detailing their injuries. A security source said a call from a resident in Jahra reported a large fight had broken out between two families, so patrols rushed to the scene and broke up the fight. The injured were sent to different hospitals so they would not resume fighting. The “combatants” were bedoons. A girl from one of the families told police that a woman attempted to kidnap her at a flat, but she was able to escape and this caused the fight.

investigations are underway to find out the exact cause of the fire.

Farwaniya fire A fight broke out between an Indian and an Egyptian expat in Farwaniya, and the Indian received a heavy bruise on his right eye. The Indian was sent to Farwaniya Hospital, while the Egyptian was placed under arrest pending further action.

Car accident A car accident killed a 17 year old Kuwaiti man at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the man lost control of his car, striking trees and a light post. The driver was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Boy arrested Police arrested a 15 year old boy as he was driving a car in Failaka Island that he stole from Hawally. A security source said a citizen told Hawally police that his car had been stolen while it was parked near a football field. Officials said police published the car descriptions, and a few days later Failaka police informed their Hawally colleagues that they found the car and arrested the thief.

KUWAIT: Warning to unregistered and uninsured vehicles. The General Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior plans to launch a campaign to look for more than 250 thousand vehicles registered in its database that are uninsured.

They will be impounded if found, although notice will be ser ved.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources from the traffic department said vehicle owners will first be contacted to either renew their cars’ registrations or hand over their license plates, otherwise the drivers’ privileges at the traffic department will be suspended.

There are people in Kuwait who ignore directives from authorities, even as their cars have been uninsured and unregistered for a long period of time.

Billy and Muhammad are just two of them. “I had a problem with my visa 2 years ago. So I can’t renew my residency and other personal and public documents, but I was allowed by the MSAL to stay in Kuwait while my case was

being heard,” admitted Billy, who is from England. Billy ’s car has been parked at its flat and is rarely used for business purposes. His new company, however, provides him with transportation. “I don’t know how it will affect me, but I am ready. Maybe they’ll take my car, which is okay,” he said.

But the likes of Muhammad, a mandoub from Egypt, has a different story.

His car wasn’t registered for over eight years, yet he seems not to care. “I have a big wasta,” he brags. “I avoid police because I don’t want hassles, I don’t want delays, but if they are there, I will give up my car,” he said.

Currently, there is a proposal to raise the penalty to KD100 for the current ‘fixed KD5 fine’, although sources admitted the penalty is not always a good deterrent, which motivated the ministry to go ahead with its planned campaign, which reportedly seeks to look for some vehicles registered to Kuwaiti citizens that haven’t been insured since before the 1990 Iraqi Invasion.

Fish prices continue to soar KUWAIT: Despite low demand for fish during the holy month of Ramadan, the prices of all kinds of fish, especially local varieties, have been soaring. A medium size zubaidi (Pomfret)was sold for KD 135, and a basket of small mullet was sold for KD 75 and Balool was sold for KD seven per kilogram.

Salem Al-Salmi Al-Failakawi, supervisor of the Main Fish Market in Sharq, said that the prices of fresh fish have reached record rates, with zubaidi being sold for KD 10 per kilogram. AlFailakawi also urged the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and

Dama championship to begin Tuesday KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Sheikh Ali Al-Yousif AlSabah, the Touristic Enterprises Company’s(TEC), 8th ‘Computer Dama’ (PC Checkers) competition will begin on July 31, 2012 at the Yachts Club overlooking the Gulf Road.

Commenting on this year’s championship, Sheikh Ali stressed that holding it this year means that the past seven championships had proven to be very successful and had attracted many par ticipants from various age groups and nationalities.

Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Nouri Al-Wattar stressed that previous competitions have greatly contributed to boosting this year’s competition level. He added that the championship mainly focuses on reviving Kuwaiti Dr Nouri Al-Wattar heritage by spreading the game among younger generations in both Kuwait and other GCC states. He added that starting from the fifth year, female participants began taking part in the competition.

Al-Wattar also hailed the competition sponsors like Abdul Aziz Soud Al-Babtain and Sons Company and the Touristic Enterprises Company that will give away valuable prizes for the winners besides the ones provided by the organizing committee.

Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to put out a trawl near Kuwaiti islands, namely Boubyan, where schools of fish exist.

“This ban has caused a shortage in fish supplies. The excuse of placing a ban during fish mating season is not needed. In neighboring countries, trawling is done freely,” he complained.

He also noted that for the first time in Kuwait’s history, a basket of small mullet (Maid) was sold for KD 75 and Nuwaibi was sold for KD four per kilogram.

Finally, Al-Failakawi expressed hope that prices will return to normal after Eid. —Al-Watan

News

in brief

Safar sworn in as minister KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday at Seif Palace, in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah, D. Fadhel Ali Safar. Safar was sworn-in as Minister of Public Works. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Secretar y General of the Cabinet Abdulatif Abdullah Al-Roudan, Director of His Highness the Amir’s office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, and Head of Amiri protocols Sheik h Khaled AlAbduallah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah.

Municipal Council disapproves of Jleeb church KUWAIT: Member of the Municipal Council, Mane Al-Ajmi stressed that the formal approval granted by the Ministry of Awqaf to construct a new church building should not be understood to mean that the Municipality has completely approved of the request. He added that the ministry may not authorize building of a church in Kuwait. “The old fatwa bans building churches in the Arabian peninsula and Kuwait is part of it,” said Al-Ajmi noting that Muslim scholars have prohibited building churches in the lands of Muslims. “We already have enough churches in Kuwait,” he added, noting that the Municipal Council does not approve of the idea of building a new church in Jleeb. —Al-Watan

One killed, several injured in a spate of accidents

Burgan Bank completes summer training program KUWAIT: Burgan Bank recently held a graduation ceremony to mark the conclusion of its annual summer training program. 47 students participated in this program, which aimed to develop their talents and introduce them to the world of banking, which is one of the key sectors of the Kuwait economy.

Students aged between 15 and 19 years old were split into two groups, each group undergoing extensive two-week training. The course was divided into a week of classroom theory and another week of practical execution. Throughout the program, participants got to visit the head office vault, the Private Banking and Treasury department, as well as the call center.

A key component of the internship program was to induct students about basic banking operations, and Burgan Bank’s wide range of products and services. Students received the chance to develop their creativity, understand the basics of successful customer services, and finally, they were trained on how to write winning resumes.

The students celebrated the completion of their training in a prestigious ceremony host-

ed by Burgan Bank, where Halah El Shirbini, Burgan Bank’s Chief Human Resources and Development Officer gave a motivational speech in congratulations to the graduates.

The bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer, Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem was also present and distributed certificates of completion.

Burgan Bank continues to embrace an active role in its contributions towards the Kuwaiti social fabric. The bank continuously holds summer training programs with an objective to foster and encourage future leaders and talent working across the banking sector.

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial bank based in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries: Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”).

The bank has continuously improved its performance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base. The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire.

‘People come first’ is the foundation on which its products and services are developed.

Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ - the international brand valuation company- rated Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook. The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at 2nd amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait.

Excellence is one of the bank’s four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the first bank in the GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive

such accreditation. The bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive years.

Burgan Bank won the prestigious “Banking Web Awards” prize in the commercial and corporate Category for Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan Bank was awarded with the “Best Internet Banking Service award” from Banker Middle East Awards. Burgan Bank was recognized in 2011 as Kuwait’s “Best Private Bank”, by World Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted “International Platinum Star for Quality” award from Business Initiative Directions, and “The Best Technical Award” from Banking Web Awards. In 2012, Global Banking and Finance Review online magazine recognized Burgan Bank as the “Best Banking Group in the MENA” as well as the “Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait”. The bank also won the coveted “Best Bank Branding” award by the Banker Middle East.

Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned regional bank in the MENA region.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: A car accident took place at Kabd near Radio Kuwait’s premises, resulting in an unidentified individual’s death. A 45-year-old Sri Lankan expat suffered bruises and a 55-year-old Egyptian expat fractured his left thigh bone. The body was removed for an autopsy by the medical examiner. The others were referred to AlFarwaniya Hospital.

Another car accident took place at the Fifth Ring Road under Al-Rumaithiya and Bayan bridge, resulting in two Egyptian expats aged 18 and 48 respectively sustaining fatal injuries. They were admitted to Mubarak Hospital.

A car accident took place at Al-Fintas and Al-Eqaila crossroads, resulting in a 30-year-old Bangladeshi expat suffering injuries. A 39-year-old Egyptian expat suffered facial injuries. Both were admitted to AlAdan Hospital.

Fire incident A fire broke out at a building in Bnaid Al-Gar. Two Indian expats aged 48 and 60 years and a 41-yearold Egyptian national also suffered from smoke inhalation. They were administered treatment on the site. The other two were admitted to Al-Amiri Hospital. The flames were tackled within an hour’s time.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Anti-nuke human chain surrounds Japan parliament

Romania decides fate of suspended president

Page 12

Page 10

Romney eyes foreign policy kudos Republican hopeful supports Israel strike on Iran JERUSALEM: White House hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday held top-level talks in Israel about how to handle fears over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, on a visit aimed at burnishing his foreign policy credentials. “Like you, we are very concerned about the development of nuclear capabilities on the part of Iran and feel it is unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear armed nation,” Romney told reporters on meeting President Shimon Peres. “The threat it would pose to Israel, the region and the world is incomparable and unacceptable.”

The Republican challenger, who will face off against President Barack Obama in November’s US election, flew in from Britain late on Saturday for a one-day visit expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel and much of the West believes is a covert bid to develop atomic weapons.”Iran and its effort to become a nuclear-capable nation (is one) which I take with great seriousness, and look forward to chatting with you about further actions that we can take to dissuade Iran from their nuclear folly,” Romney told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier yesterday in remarks carried on Israeli public radio.

He also said the two could discuss “developments about the region” including in Syria and Egypt.

Netanyahu told him it was important to have “a strong and credible military threat” because sanctions and diplomacy “so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota”. “I think

JERUSALEM: US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad yesterday. —AP it’s important to do everything in our power to prevent the Ayatollahs from possessing that capability,” he said.

“And that’s why I believe that we need a strong and credible military threat, coupled with the sanctions, to have a chance to change that situation.”

Romney also met Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad later yesterday and was to give a statement on foreign policy.

Shortly before talks with Netanyahu, Romney’s senior national

security aide, Dan Senor, told reporters travelling with the candidate: “If Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing that capability, the governor would respect that decision.” The comment seemed to put Romney at odds with Obama’s efforts to press Israel to avoid any preemptive strike before tough Western economic sanctions against Iran run their course.

Senor later expanded on his remarks, saying Romney felt “we

should employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course”. It was Romney’s “fervent hope that diplomatic and economic measures will do so” and “no option should be excluded”, Senor said, adding that “Romney recognises Israel’s right to defend itself, and that it is right for America to stand with it”.

Romney has consistently attacked what he says is Obama’s weak and misguided Middle East policy, saying in January that the Democratic incum-

bent “threw Israel under the bus”, by defining the 1967 borders as a starting point for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He has also charged that Obama’s policy towards Iran is too weighted towards engagement with an Israeli enemy with suspected nuclear ambitions, and has vowed tougher sanctions if he is elected.

Obama made a show of support for Israel at the White House on Friday, signing a law reinforcing US security and military cooperation with Israel as

representatives of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC stood next to him in the Oval Office.

Israeli journalists were invited to attend the signing along with photographers and reporters accredited to the White House. Such signing ceremonies have been uncommon in the Obama presidency. The law, which gives Israel preferential access to US arms and munitions, “underscores our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security,” Obama said. Israel is widely believed to have the Middle East’s only, albeit undeclared, nuclear arsenal, which international experts believe contains between 100 and 300 nuclear warheads.

Yesterday, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon had briefed Netanyahu on Washington’s contingency plans for a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Citing a senior US official, the paper said Donilon met Netanyahu for three hours over dinner in Jerusalem two weeks ago and shared with him details of US military capabilities for attacking Iranian bunkers. “Donilon sought to make clear that the United States is seriously preparing for the possibility that negotiations will reach a dead end and military action will become necessary,” Haaretz wrote. Israeli officials did not formally confirm or deny the report.

“We don’t comment on what is discussed in closed diplomatic meetings,” one official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “But the story is full of factual errors.” —Agencies

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

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

Rural fighters pour into Syria’s Aleppo for battle Rebel-held areas deserted, fighters use houses as bases ALEPPO: The route to Aleppo from the Turkish border is a long web of dirt back roads with miles of exposed ground. But undaunted and in total darkness, dozens of young men jump onto white trucks with their AK-47 rifles, keen to join the fight there.

Syria’s 16-month revolt has finally erupted in the country’s commercial hub, but the momentum was not generated inside the city - it was brought into the historic city’s ancient stone alleyways from the scorched fields of the surrounding countryside.

“We liberated the rural parts of this province. We waited and waited for Aleppo to rise, and it didn’t.

We couldn’t rely on them to do it for themselves so we had to bring the revolution to them,” said a rebel commander in a nearby village, who calls himself Abu Hashish.

The short scrawny man with a drooping grey moustache sits juggling cell phones and a walkietalkie, arranging for the next convoy to head for Aleppo. Tanks of fuel and homemade grenades for use in rocket launchers are piled up along the outside of his house, ready to be dispatched. “About 80 percent of the fighters in this city come from the countryside. Aleppo is a business town, people said they wanted to stay neutral. But now that we have come, they seem to be accepting us,” he said.

As towns across Syria were rocked by the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad - in which it is estimated 18,000 people have been killed Aleppo, home to conservative Muslim families and businesses, stayed largely silent. Although armed resistance began in poorer districts where residents had more tribal allegiances or rural backgrounds, Aleppo’s sacrifices have paled in comparison to nearby nor thern Idlib, central Homs or even Damascus, the capital. Exasperated by the slow progress in Aleppo, rebels in the countryside said they were finally emboldened to push into the city after an assassination in the capital Damascus of four top government officials, including the defense minister.

“It was a boost to our spirits. We were so excited because we knew it was time. Aleppo is the economic centre, the true source of regime power. If we can strike it hard, and hold on, we can bring Bashar down,” said one rebel fighter joining the convoy who called himself Abu Bakr. As they

arrived in Aleppo before dawn, the fighters sped through the winding alleyways of the city’s outskirts shouting: “God is great”. And then the morning skirmishes began. The rattle of rebel machinegun fire greeted the thuds of army tank fire, artillery could be heard in the distance, and an air force fighter jet streaked overhead.

SCHOOL PARTY The streets of rebel-held neighborhoods are a graveyard of overturned, torched buses, specially placed along the streets by rebels to block army

until Aleppo is free.”

Toting grenade launchers, the fighters are incongruous alongside the school’s pastel-colored walls. Every rebel unit that has passed through here has left a message in graffiti. “The Farouq Brigade was here”, “The Muthanna Brigade will topple Bashar”, “God is with those who will triumph”.

One rebel plays on an electric keyboard that he found in the school music room. Other men play table tennis in the main hallway. Nearby, fighters sleep along the walls, curled up next to their guns and grenades.

HOMS: Armed Syrian rebels inspect a destroyed Syrian armored vehicle in Homs, Syria. — AP tanks from rolling in. The charred remains of tanks can also be seen - in heaps - by palm trees lining main thoroughfares. “So far things here are going well for us. We have been used to fighting in olive groves and open fields. We were always exposed,” said Hakour, a 23-year-old with a straggly beard wearing camouflage fatigues. Lounging inside a school taken over by the rebels as a temporary base, he said: “It’s much nicer to fight here where we can hide in alleyways and buildings. We will stay

“It took us months and months to liberate the countryside. But here things are moving quickly.

We have even set up a security team with a hotline if residents want us to help them,” Hakour says. The rebels drink fizzy soft drinks as they sing and make jokes. But their jubilation is premature. A few minutes later a loud blast shakes the school and the rebels scatter to grab their weapons and head to the basement - a reminder of the army’s determination to crush the uprising. As another ripple of

mortar fire echoes nearby, the men decide that they should switch bases.

LET THEM DESTROY US “We had to start the battle to encourage Aleppo and get the residents accustomed to being part of the uprising. A lot of families have given the fighters money secretly, but they didn’t want to do more.

And there are even people unfortunately who still support the regime,” said a fighter named Jumaa. “I think for Aleppo the memories of the 1980s are still very deep,” Jumaa said, referring to an Islamist uprising which was crushed by Assad’s late father, whose forces killed at least 10,000 people in the central city of Hama. The rebel-held area of Aleppo visited by a Reuters reporter appeared to be completely deserted by residents. Fighters were using houses as bases to sleep in. Just 20 km outside Aleppo, rebels have declared most of the countryside free of Assad’s forces. In the villages men gather to smoke and chat at night, while women wrapped in colorful veils let their children run onto the rubble-strewn streets to cheer at smiling gunmen. “God protect the Free Syrian Army,” they shouted. Despite the tentative calm their home towns now enjoy, there is a hint of resentment towards Aleppo’s residents from rural fighters gathered on the city’s streets.

“My brother was shot dead just last month,” says 22year-old fighter Mustafa. He points out other faces in the crowd of rebel fighters. “His cousin died six months ago. Soldiers poured gasoline on him and set him on fire,” Mustafa says. Pointing to another group, he says: “Their families have fled and they haven’t seen them in a year.” Outside the city, rebel commander Abu Hashish says more sacrifices are necessary, and that the time has come for his urban brothers to share the burden. “In Aleppo they only think about trade, about money. They think about their own life, they think about their children’s future. They don’t fight the regime because they care about the here and now,” he said. “In the countryside we know we must give up on the present. I will sacrifice my life and my children’s lives. Let them destroy our homes. This fight is for a new generation coming that will have a chance to have a life of dignity. And for me, that is worth sacrificing everything.” — Reuters

Notion of Syria power transition ‘an illusion’ Syria can defend every inch of its soil: FM

JINDERES: Syrian Kurds guard a check point at the entrance of the Kurdish town of Jinderes, near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo as Kurdish activists on the SyriaTurkey border started taking control of towns in the area without encountering much resistance from the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. — AFP

Kurds in secret weapons deal BAGHDAD: A high-ranking Iraqi official yesterday said security agencies have uncovered a secret weapons deal between the autonomous Kurdistan region and an unnamed foreign country. “Iraqi security agencies (discovered) a secret weapons deal between the president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Massud Barzani, and a foreign country,” the security official said on condition of anonymity. “The weapons include anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles, and a large number of heavy weapons,” the official said, without specifying the exact weapons systems.

The official said Iraqi authorities have obtained “all the documents” pertaining to the deal, which is for “weapons of a Russian type made in 2004,” and are trying to block it. “This step is a breach of the law and the Iraqi constitution, because the only side that can (buy arms) is the federal ministry of defense,” the official said. Several Kurdish officials either declined to comment on the allegation or could not immediately be reached by AFP. For its part Baghdad has ordered 36 F-16 warplanes from the United

States, and has already fielded M1 Abrams tanks. Barzani expressed concern over the F-16s earlier this year, saying he was opposed to the sale of these warplanes while Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was in office, fearing they would be used against Kurdistan.

On July 17th, Umeed Sabah, spokesman for the Kurdistan region presidency also said in a statement that Maliki had “plans for the militarization of Iraqi society and supports the option of violence as a means to reach political aims.” Relations between Baghdad and Kurdistan are at a low ebb over multiple festering disputes. The two sides are at odds over Kurdistan’s refusal to seek approval from the central government for oil contracts it has awarded to foreign firms, and over a swathe of disputed territory in north Iraq. Barzani has also supported efforts to pass a no-confidence motion against Maliki.

And on Wednesday local Kurdish peshmerga security forces prevented soldiers sent by Baghdad from reaching a disputed north Iraq area that borders Syria, a top Kurdish security official said.— AFP

Iran young, urbanized and educated: Census TEHRAN: Iran is a very urbanized society with a largely educated, young Muslim population that ranks as the Middle East’s second-biggest, its latest census figures, published yesterday, show. The snapshot, issued on the website of the presidency’s planning and strategic supervision department (www.amar.org.ir), also corrected some misconceptions about the country, notably by reporting fewer than expected Jews and Internet users. The census, whose data was collected in 2011 and presented in resume last week by the department’s officials, gave Iran’s total population as 75.2 million, 99.4 percent of whom are Muslim. That was larger than any other country in the region except for Egypt (81 million, according to the World Bank).

Iranians accounted for 73.5 million of the total, with 1.5 million Afghans making up the biggest minority living in the country. Other minorities included Iraqis (51,500), Pakistanis (17,700) and Turks (1,600). An overwhelming proportion of the population - 71 percentlived in urban areas, and Tehran and its satel-

lite towns are home to 12.2 million inhabitants. The literacy rate for those aged between 10 and 49 was 93 percent. Most of the population is young, with 55 percent aged under 30.

The proportion of young Iranians use to be even higher, but a rapidly slowing birth ratean average 1.29 children per couple, compared to 1.62 in the last census in 2006 - has resulted in a decrease in recent years.

The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has recently sought to reverse a previous policy favoring birth control in a bid to boost the population to between 150 million and 200 million. Even though Iran-a Shiite theocracy-is almost completely Muslim, other faiths are present. There are 8,756 Jews in the country, according to the census. That was fewer than the 20,000 figure previously estimated. There are also 117,704 Christians, the census said, as well as 25,271 Zoroastrians (adherents of a faith that dominated pre-Islamic Persia), and 49,101 listed as “other.” A total 265,899 people did not give a religion. —AFP

TEHRAN: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid AlMuallem arrived in Tehran yesterday for unscheduled talks with Iranian officials, state media reported. The trip, confirmed by Iran’s foreign ministry, came as Syrian troops battle rebels in Syria’s second city of Aleppo in an offensive that world powers fear could result in heavy civilian casualties and spark a humanitarian disaster. The foreign ministry said Muallem was greeted by Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

“The Syrian foreign minister in his trip to Tehran will discuss bilateral relations, developments in Syria, and other regional and international issues,” Iran’s deputy foreign minister in charge of Arab affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. He said that, as well as Salehi, Muallem would see the head of Iran’s supreme national security council, Saeed Jalili, who is close to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani.

The idea of a managed transition of power in Syria is an “illusion,” Iran’s foreign minister said yesterday, as his Syrian counterpart expressed Damascus’ commitment to international mediator Kofi Annan’s peace plan.

“Thinking naively and wrongly that if there is a power vacuum perhaps in Syria and if there is a transition of power in Syria, simply another government will come to power, that I think is just a dream,” Ali Akbar Salehi said at a news conference with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Al-Moualem.

“It’s an illusion. We have to look carefully at Syria and what’s happening inside the country.” Moualem said Syria was also committed to Annan’s six-point plan that aims to end 16 months of violence in which 18,000 people have been killed. The plan calls for a ceasefire, which has been widely ignored by both sides, as a first stage in the political transition to ending the violence. It also calls for access for aid, the release of arbitrarily detained people, freedom of movement for journalists and the freedom to protest peacefully. “We are committed to fulfill Mr. Annan’s plan fully because we consider this plan a reasonable plan,” he said.

Moualem said Syria was able to defend every inch of its soil from what he called a conspiracy by armed terrorist groups that served Israel’s interests. “I assure you the Syrian people are insistent, not just on confronting this conspiracy, but they are insistent

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (left) shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem (R) in Tehran. — AFP

on emerging victorious,” Moualem, who has not appeared since a bomb attack killed four of President Bashar Al-Assad’s top security officials nearly two weeks ago. “Today I tell you, Syria is stronger ... In less than a week, they were defeated and the battle failed (in Damascus) so they moved on to Aleppo, and I assure you, their plots will fail,” said Moualem.

SYRIANS SHOULD BE ENABLED Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said Syrians should be enabled to protect themselves against government attacks but declined direct comment on a report that it had helped set up a secret liaison centre in Turkey to aid a rebellion against President Bashar Al-Assad.

Gulf sources said on Friday that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar had established a centre in Adana, southeastern Turkey, to help the rebel Free Syrian Army with communications and weaponry as it battles in major cities against forces loyal to Assad.

“The very well-known position of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to extend to the Syrian people financial and humanitarian assistance, as well as calling upon the international com-

munity to enable them to protect themselves at the very least if the international community is not able to do so,” a foreign ministry spokesman said by text message on Saturday, answering a Reuters query about the base.

“The Syrian regime is importing and using all kinds of weapons to fight and oppress its own people in a fierce war as if it’s launched towards a foreign enemy - not against its disarmed population”, the spokesman added.

The Gulf sources had also said the Adana centre, which is near the Syrian border and a US airforce base at Incirlik, was set up at the suggestion of Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah during a trip to Turkey. However, the foreign ministr y spokesman said Prince Abdulaziz, who was promoted to deputy foreign minister last year, and is a son of King Abdullah, had not visited Turkey. Saudi Arabia, the largest Gulf Arab country by size and population has led efforts

by Sunni Muslim states to isolate President Assad’s government, which is dominated by members of the Alawi Shiite sect, since the outbreak of a popular revolt against him early last year. — Agencies

Gunmen take over ministry building SANAA: About 100 armed tribesmen loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh stormed the Interior Ministry building in the Yemeni capital Sanaa yesterday demanding to be enlisted in the police force, an official said. The tribesmen briefly held some employees hostage before freeing them a few hours later, the Interior Ministry official said. Yesterday’s showdown highlighted the continuing turmoil in the country despite a peace deal under which Saleh stood down after months of protests against his 33-year rule and was replaced in February by his deputy, AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi.

It is also a direct challenge to Hadi’s authority. He is trying to restructure the armed forces and stabilize the impoverished Arab nation, where Saleh’s legacy still looms large.

The Interior Ministry official said the tribesmen were Saleh loyalists, who were promised they would be enrolled in the police force in return for helping tackle last year’s uprising.

The reward has not been granted to them. “At midday, the armed tribesmen... stormed the ministry’s building, took control of it and climbed onto the roof with their guns,” the official said. “They refuse to leave until their demands are met.”

Tribesmen have fought alongside government troops in a US-backed offensive against Al Qaeda-linked militants that drove insurgents out of several towns in the south of the country last month. Many tribal fighters also sided with Saleh who was toppled by a popular uprising. Disgruntled tribesmen often kidnap foreigners and bomb oil and gas pipelines as a way to press demands on authorities. In April, officers and tribesmen loyal to Saleh forced Yemen’s main airport to close for a day in protest at the sacking of the air force commander, a half-brother of Saleh. — Reuters

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

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

In Cyprus, a new generation inherits a conflict PYLA, Cyprus: Tell a Greek Cypriot that your next destination is the Turkish city of Istanbul, once the seat of empires, and there’s a chance you will be gently chided. “You mean ‘Constantinople,’” the conversation partner might say, referring to the former Byzantine capital, which fell to Ottoman armies in 1453. This allegiance to the past is tinged with defiance, a stubborn refusal to call a place by the name chosen by the inhabitants of a hostile country. But it is more recent civil strife and war, nearly half a century ago, that infuse the psyche of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island favored by vacationers for its sun and beaches.

In a strange twist, divided Cyprus has taken on a role meant to unify, this month assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union, a sixmonth stint that gives it a self-promotional platform even as it scrambles for a multi-billion dollar bailout to support its troubled banks. In another quirk of split-screen Cyprus, it is seeking money from oil-rich Russia, an increasingly important friend, in addition to the EU, as it tries to avoid the austerity measures that would likely come with any European aid.

At the heart of these dueling directions lies the “Cyprus problem”, as it is blandly known. Talk of a peace settlement between the island’s majority Greek Cypriot community and Turkish Cypriots that would end decades of political uncertainty is giving way to a sense that the problem is, unofficially, the default solution. “People are simply not interested in any form of power-sharing,” said Yiannis Papadakis, a

social anthropologist at the University of Cyprus. “There is a strong denial of this reality.” Papadakis said the problem is so consuming that it has sapped will on both sides to debate migration, the environment, women’s rights and other important social issues. He questioned whether they can compromise and trust each other if they ever reach a political settlement.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, split into an internationally recognized, Greek-speaking south and a Turkish-speaking north after a 1974 invasion by Turkey, a reaction to a coup attempt by supporters of union with Greece. Travel restrictions between the two sides have relaxed, but negotiations on security and territory foundered. Only Turkey, whose EU candidacy has stalled partly because of the impasse, recognizes the government in the north.

The result is an island that is not quite a nation, with an identity that is the sum of its shards. When George Andreou became the first Cypriot to climb Mount Everest and held up his nation’s flag at the summit in May, it was a reminder of division as well as a symbol of unity. The flag, designed by a Turkish Cypriot and adopted in 1960 after independence from British rule, shows a map of the whole island and two olive branches, a symbol of peace between communities. But Turkish Cypriots use a flag that is a variation of the star and crescent emblem of Turkey, their patron.

In his rucksack, Andreou, 39, also carried the old flag of his hometown Famagusta, which he and his ethnic Greek family fled ahead of Turkish

who was inspired to become a professor of politics in order to help find a solution, even though his selfdescribed “life mission” sometimes exhausts and frustrates him. Polls by his group indicate that Turkish Cypriots, who have leaned toward living apart because of fears of being dominated, and Greek Cypriots, who have tended to prefer a one-state island dominated by their majority, are moving further from the compromise of a power-sharing federation.

Greek Cypriots fear encroachment from Turkey, a rising power that objects to Greek Cypriot plans for offshore oil and gas exploration. They highlight past suffering, but gloss over the question of 1960s attacks on Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots resent the Greek Cypriot rejection of unification in a 2004 referendum. “As more time passes, it’s not good for the result, meaning that people are not moving toward the solution spirit. On the contrary,” said Sozen, noting that the problem is exacerbated by a gap In this May 19, 2012 photo, Cypriot George Andreou, 39, holds up his between Cypriots and their leaders. nation’s flag on Mount Everest. — AP “People are alienated in the sense that the common people are shut away promote joint understanding. Sozen from the official process. The general part of the island.

“It is like I never lived my childhood said the uncertainty goes back to the public is not really informed by what is or I refused to remember,” Andreou 1950s, when his father, now 80 years happening.”

In February, Turkish Cypriot leader wrote in an email. “I know from my old, was a police officer in a British parents that they had been very diffi- administration fighting a Greek Dervis Eroglu said negotiations with cult years since we left everything Cypriot guerrilla group that sought the Greek Cypriot leader left “a zucchini taste in the mouth,” a Turkish behind, hoping we would go back union with Greece.

While today’s stalemate is violence- way of saying they have grown bland. soon. It never happened. Instead, we lived in houses without doors and free, Sozen maintains the ethnic His Greek Cypriot counterpar t, windows, in tents, in the fields, any- Greek-Turkish divide has a corrosive President Demetris Christofias said in where just to stay safe and away from impact on Cypriot psychology. “I don’t May that talking to Eroglu was like war.” Days after Andreou, a banker, want my little daughter to go through trying to knock down a wall by throwreturned from the Himalayas, his wife the same thing in her life,” said Sozen, ing eggs at it. — AP forces, less than one year after he was born. The climber has never returned to his house in Famagusta, where Turkish Cypriots now live, because he thinks it would help to legitimize Turkish forces based in the northern

gave birth to their first child, who may grow up to discover the same sour politics. The same goes for the 3-yearold daughter of Ahmet Sozen, a Turkish Cypriot research director at Cyprus 2015, a group that seeks to

Romanians vote on impeaching president Basescu unpopular for backing austerity

MBABANE, Swaziland: A picture taken on July 24, 2012 shows a group of pupils playing in an empty geography class at St Mark’s High School. — AFP

Swazi strike battling to gain more traction MBABANE: In the geography class at St Mark’s High School, boys play chess on a board scratched onto a workbench in one corner, while in another a girl knits a scarf while her friends gossip. Swazi teachers have been on strike for more than a month, but so far their abandoned classrooms are the only tangible result of a movement that wants not just salary increases but democratic reforms in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. “Our ultimate goal is democracy,” said Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, who see King Mswati III as the country’s biggest problem. “He creates the poverty himself.”

Teachers went on strike on June 22 demanding a 4.5 percent salary increase.

Other public servants joined briefly, but the movement is stuttering after nurses returned to work on Tuesday following a court interdict.

Sporadic protests have drawn hundreds into the streets, where police greet them with rubber bullets, water cannons and batons. Now most teachers go to school only to sign attendance registers, but still don’t teach. Police have arrested 41 teachers, and the union has spent almost 150,000 emalangeni ($18,000) on legal fees, Mazibuko said.

“The protests have become unsustainable. We are looking at stayaways, picketing on the premises,” she said.

Their financial demands are modest they want a 4.5 percent raise, while inflation is around nine percent. It’s their political demands that roil the palace, which like to paint a picture of traditional mountain kingdom where the monarch is revered by his subjects. That image has faded as pro-democracy protests mushroomed over the past year, sparked by a crippling financial crisis. The International Monetary Fund has urged the government to slash its public wage bill as the economy stagnates, but has pulled its team from the country after the kingdom made no progress on reforms.

Striking teachers have had their salaries slashed as authorities retaliate against the strikes, receiving as little as 30 emalangeni for their last paycheck.

Some were handed dismissal letters and

threatened with jail for contempt of court if they didn’t report to work, said government spokesman Percy Simelane.

“Even if money could come now it would be ver y difficult to increase salaries,” he told AFP. “We need to adhere to this advice or sink.”

Teachers point to a 30 percent increase lawmakers awarded themselves in 2010. “If you’ve paid yourself so much, why can’t you pay them?” asked Mazibuko. “The politicians’ kids are outside the country. The king’s children are outside the country.

They will not invest in educating kids for the poor,” she said.

Public servants also blame the lavish lifestyle of Mswati and his 13 wives.

Forbes magazine rates him as among the world’s 15 richest royals, keeping each wife in her own palace. This week opposition groups claimed three of the queens and an entourage of 66 would travel to Las Vegas for a holiday. The lawmakers’ big paychecks “could be contributing towards the hefty salary bill that we have,” Simelane said. “If it is not (withdrawn) amid the outcry... discontent will be very rife.”

But he insisted democratic reforms were not necessary. “We are one of the most democratic societies in the region,” he said. “The king loves his people. I don’t think he can create conditions where people go hungry,” he said. About 60 percent of the tiny country’s 1.1 million people live on less than $2 a day.

The UN World Food Programme says one-fifth of the country experienced food shortages this year.

Simelane also justified police violence against protesters. “In most cases provocation of some kind came out,” he said.

“We have one of the most disciplined police forces in the region. They normally don’t shoot to kill.”

Life in Swaziland continues despite the school groundings, the tiny country’s troubles far from the international spotlight. Other government workers are also demanding raises, but general l y are n ot down in g tools. But Mazibuko is adamant that growing awareness will see her movement succeed. “Little by little people are seeing the light,” she said.

BUCHAREST: Romanians voted yesterday on whether to impeach their unpopular president, Traian Basescu, after a government campaign to remove him that has drawn international criticism of its methods and raised doubts about the country’s IMF aid deal.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s leftist Social Liberal Union (USL) has suspended Basescu and its drive to unseat him has brought a stern dressing-down from Brussels, which accused him of undermining the rule of law and intimidating judges.

Ponta’s government took office in May and is holding the referendum to seek popular backing for the impeachment of Basescu for overstepping his powers. He is unpopular for backing austerity and for perceptions of cronyism. Opinion polls show that some 65 percent of Romanians want to remove the former sea captain from office, but the opposition has called for a boycott of the vote and the USL is struggling to get the turnout of over 50 percent needed for a valid vote. “I am not a fan of Basescu but I will not vote because I do not approve of the way the government stepped on laws to have their way,” said Dan Popescu, a 52-year-old Bucharest pensioner.

Many people are on holiday and the temperature is expected to hit 39 Celcius, prompting the government to set up extra polling stations, many of them at seaside restaurants and hotels, to make it easier to vote. After three hours of voting, the election bureau said turnout was 9.1 percent by 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), suggesting it could be very close to 50 percent by the time polls close at 11 pm.

Basescu and his allies, the opposition Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), asked their supporters to boycott the referendum. The suspended president initially urged Romanians to vote against what he called a coup d’etat, but his stance shifted this week when he and his PDL allies said they were concerned about the possibility of electoral fraud.

The government had tried to make it easier to impeach Basescu by removing the minimum turnout rule but was forced to back down by harsh EU criticism and a Constitutional Court ruling that a 50 percent turnout was obligatory. “I hope the voting presence will be decisive and ... that by the end of this day we will know and enforce the will of a majority of citizens,” interim president and USL co-leader Crin Antonescu said after voting. The row over Basescu has delayed policymaking, raised doubts about Romania’s 5 billion euro International Monetary Fundled aid deal, sent the leu currency plunging to record lows, and pushed up borrowing costs.

The IMF has said it will begin a two-week review of Romania’s aid deal on July 31, a

week later than planned because of the impeachment referendum. Romania has made progress since the 1989 overthrow of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and joined the EU in 2007, but the economy slipped back into recession in the first quarter of this year and pockets of severe poverty remain. Brussels has a wide range of levers with which to put pressure on Romania, whose justice system is under EU monitoring.

Romania gets European cash to help it catch up with other members and the bloc contributes to its IMF-led aid deal. Ponta felt the full weight of EU wrath after his government took on the Constitutional Court, threatening to replace judges and reduce its powers, and ignoring one of its decisions. — Reuters

MAMAIA, Romania: A Romanian tourist casts her ballot at one of the additional polling stations which have been set up along the Black Sea coast to facilitate voting for holidaymakers and rural populations in this Black Sea resort city yesterday. — AFP

Death no deterrent for S African gem diggers KOMAGGAS, South Africa: The man slips the plastic pouch of gems into his mouth, an illicit haul from the sandy deposits scattered among the mountains of South Africa’s diamond coast. “It’s my safe,” he explains, sliding the stash

back along the inside of his cheek.

The group of diggers are waiting for the cover of darkness to make another raid on a disused mine, opposite their make-shift camp, where 10 miners died in an avalanche three months ago. Illegal

KOMAGGAS, South Africa: A picture taken on July 6, 2012 shows an illegal miner sifting sand and stones as he looks for diamonds. — AFP

miners in South Africa are ready to risk death to chase a share of the mineral riches that shaped the continent’s biggest economy.

In sparsely populated Namaqualand, where the famed gem deposits run along the icy Atlantic Ocean to the Namibian border, diamond giant De Beers was once the top employer, providing 3,000 jobs and building two towns with recreation halls, a golf course and schools, to house its staff. But its mines were halted in 2008 and the company’s Namaqualand operations are in the final stages of a 225 million rand ($27 million, 22 million euro) sell-off after years of retrenchments. The slowdown has emptied out the private mining towns, but has lured growing numbers of diggers from the area’s other small settlements into the abandoned fields.

“I can say that more than 60 percent of the active workforce are involved in the informal diamond trade,” said Andy Pienaar, of

the social outreach office in Komaggas, one of the few small villages in the mining area. “There was sort of a blessing from the community that ‘people, you may go’” dig, he added. “It was about survival. It was about sustaining and we’re not talking about high life standards, we’re talking about just basically survival.”

Komaggas has little sign of gem wealth along dirt roads that wind past humble homes where many residents survive on government welfare payments. But one local buyer, who also digs with a team who share the profits, estimates that he has made about 400,000 rand since he started digging three years ago. “It changed my life completely. I don’t even mind about looking for a job now because I was running around Cape Town, Johannesburg, looking for a job - there’s no need now, I’ve got a job now,” he told AFP. “I’m not a rich man but I can support my family each and every month.” — AFP

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

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

Water ‘crisis’ signals fierce fight for Selangor KUALA LUMPUR: The surprise statement came during a rainy spell and when the seven dams in Malaysia’s richest, most populous state were full.

Reserves of treated water in the opposition-controlled state of Selangor were perilously low, said the water company supplying a population of 7 million in the country’s main industrial base. It was seeking approval to start immediate rationing. For many it looked like politics, not water, was behind the problem - a measure of how high tensions are running ahead of national elections that must be called by early next year and which may be the closest in Malaysia’s history.

“Of course, it’s a political conspiracy,” said Teresa Kok, a member of the Selangor state executive council and opposition member of parliament. The July 14 announcement has set off an ill-tempered battle between the opposition-run state and the federal government that foreshadows an intense election struggle for the crucial swing state that is a base for multinationals including Panasonic Corp and British American Tobacco. The state leadership says the ruling coalition is using water supplier Syabas to manufacture a water crisis and sow doubts in voters’ minds over the opposition’s competence.

Syabas, a unit of Puncak Niaga Bhd, has links with the Malaysia’s ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Rozali Ismail, the chairman of Puncak Niaga and executive chairman of Syabas, is

treasurer for the party’s Selangor branch and was dubbed Malaysia’s “water king” by Forbes, which ranks him as the country’s 37th richest person. The federal government says the state has jeopardised its water supply by blocking the construction of a 3.8 billion ringgit ($1.2 billion) treatment plant.

“If we can make Malaysia the global centre for IPOs, how can it be that we can’t resolve water issues,” Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying this week by The Star newspaper, referring to several big stock debuts in Malaysia this year. The problem could be resolved, he said, once the people of Selangor “choose a government that can do it”.

As Malaysia’s traditional engine of growth, the west-coast state was a prized, unprecedented win for the opposition in the last election in 2008, and the most potent symbol of the ruling coalition’s worst election performance. Wresting back the state would help lay to rest doubts about Najib’s leadership within his own party and help the coalition rebound nationwide. For the opposition, retaining Selangor is crucial if it is to have any chance of winning a parliamentary majority and forming a government for the first time.

The state has been at the centre of concerns over voter fraud, with the opposition accusing the government of handing out voting rights to thousands of illegal immigrants. “The stakes are the highest in Selangor. The prime minister really needs to win it

back,” said Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst and lecturer at Kuala Lumpur’s private UCSI university.

The perceived performance of the four oppositioncontrolled states will be a crucial campaign issue as the three-party opposition alliance tries to convince voters it is capable of running the country. Penang, another opposition-held state, has set an enviable record, attracting the country’s highest level of investment in the manufacturing sector for two years running and slashing public debt levels by over 90 percent in three years. Selangor’s record is less spectacular. The state government has been dogged by talk of infighting and Malaysia’s ruling coalition is presenting the water issue as exhibit A to show the state is being mismanaged.

“They want to influence the course of the elections. They have a monopoly over water resources and are holding the people to ransom,” said opposition MP Tony Pua, adding that uncertainty over water supply was endangering investment in the state. Syabas’ shock warning of water rationing this month prompted indignant state officials to pose for pictures in front of dams brimming with water to show there was no shortage. Syabas hit back with images showing treatment plants at low reserve capacity, bolstering its case for the new plant. “The responsibility for ensuring that Selangor has enough water treatment plants lies with the Selangor state government,” it said in a statement

released on Thursday.

Selangor has threatened to take over the water company’s operations, a bid that was rejected by the government. The state government remains set on a takeover and is going ahead with plans to sack Rozali, aiming to use its 30 percent stake in Syabas to trigger a vote of no-confidence. The federal government wants to open tenders for the new plant in a month, but it needs Selangor’s permission to proceed. The state government says the plant would lead to a steep rise in water tariffs and that projections for water consumption and population growth used to justify its construction are too high. Instead, it wants 225 million ringgit from the federal government to upgrade two existing plants and is prepared to add 200-300 million ringgit of its own funds.

Selangor state sources say the level of non-revenue water - the volume lost before it reaches the customer - at Syabas is above 33 percent. That measure of efficiency compares with Singapore’s 5 percent, Denmark’s 6 percent, and even falls short of Bangladesh’s 29 percent, they say. Campaigners against Syabas are urging the company to open its books to show if there really is a shortage. “Failing to do so would only prove that the water crisis is manufactured,” said Charles Santiago, an opposition member of parliament and coordinator of the Coalition Against Water Privatisation group. — Reuters

India anti-graft activist Hazare starts new fast Campaign has lost momentum, media support

CANNING, India: An Indian farmer participates in a bull race in a paddy field in this village around 105 km south of Kolkata yesterday. Farmers participate in the race in the belief that participation before ploughing their fields will bring good rain and a better harvest. — AFP

Philippines nabs top Abu Sayyaf militant MANILA: Philippine police commandos have captured a militant from the violent Abu Sayyaf group who is linked to past kidnappings and helped Southeast Asian terrorists travel in and out of the southern Philippines, officials said yesterday.

Regional police chief Senior Superintendent Edgar Danao said a special police action force and agents of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime arrested Ahmadsali Badron on Saturday in Lamion village in Tawi Tawi, the country’s southernmost province. Tawi Tawi is near Sulu province, where the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf has jungle strongholds.

Badron, who also uses the names Asmad and Hamad Ustadz Idris, has been implicated in the 2000 kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf gunmen of 21 people, mostly European tourists, from Malaysia’s Sipadan diving resort, Danao said. Badron is also suspected of helping arrange the entry and exit from the southern Philippines of Asian operatives belonging to the Indonesiabased Jemaah Islamiyah militant network.

Among the top terror suspects who managed to travel in the country’s south with Badron’s help was Dulmatin, an Indonesian militant accused of helping plot the 2002 nightclub bombings that killed 202 people in Bali, Indonesia, Danao said.

Dulmatin, a suspected bomb-maker

who was on a US list of most-wanted terrorists, hid for years with the Abu Sayyaf in the southern Mindanao region and returned to Indonesia, where he was gunned down by police in March 2010.

Badron allegedly received funds from a Palestinian militant that were used to spread Islamic extremism. A Muslim preacher from Sulu, Badron is also believed to have kept ransom money raised by the Abu Sayyaf. He has been identified by former hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, according to a police report.

The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the country ’s worst bomb attacks, kidnapping sprees and for beheading some of its hostages during the last two decades. The Abu Sayyaf was founded in 1991 on southern Basilan island with suspected funds and training from Asian and Middle Eastern radical groups, including Al-Qaeda. It came to US attention in 2001 when it kidnapped three Americans, two of whom were later killed, and dozens of Filipinos. The kidnappings prompted Washington to deploy hundreds of troops in the country’s south in 2002 to train Philippine forces and share intelligence, helping the military capture or kill most of the Abu Sayyaf’s top commanders. Now without a central leader, the group still has close to 400 armed fighters and is still regarded as a key threat. — AP

US drone kills seven militants in Pakistan MIRANSHAH, Pakistan: A US drone attack yesterday killed at least seven militants in Pakistan, officials said, days before the country’s intelligence chief visits Washington with the contentious raids likely to be discussed. Attacks by unmanned American aircraft are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but US officials are said to believe the attacks are too important to give up. Drone strikes are likely to be a major issue when Pakistan’s spymaster, Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, holds talks in Washington on August 1-3 with his CIA counterpart.

In yesterday’s attack, the second in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, missiles struck a compound in Khushhali Turikhel village of the troubled North Waziristan tribal district, which lies on the border with Afghanistan. “US drones fired six missiles into a militant compound. At least seven militants were killed,” a security official told AFP. “It is not immediately clear if there was an important militant killed in the attack.”

The toll might rise as militants search for colleagues buried under the rubble of the compound, the official said, adding that missiles also hit and destroyed two militant vehicles. Local intelligence officials confirmed the attack and casualties.

Khushhali Turikhel lies around 35 km east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan which is considered a stronghold of Islamist militants. Washington regards Pakistan’s semi-autonomous

northwestern tribal belt as the main hub of Taleban and Al-Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

Ten militants were killed on Monday in a similar attack in Shawal area of North Waziristan. In a drone attack at the start of July, six militants were killed and an attack on June 4 killed 15 militants, including senior Al-Qaeda figure Abu Yahya Al-Libi. There has been a dramatic increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan since May, when a NATO summit in Chicago could not strike a deal to end a six-month blockade on convoys transporting supplies to coalition forces in Afghanistan.

On July 3 however, Islamabad agreed to end the blockade after the United States apologised for the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in botched air strikes last November. Islam’s trip on Wednesday marks the first Washington visit in a year by the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and signals a thaw in relations beset by crisis since US troops killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad in May 2011. In protest at US drone attacks, local Taleban and Pakistani warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur have banned vaccinations in North and South Waziristan, putting 240,000 children in the region at risk.

They have condemned the immunisation campaign as a cover for espionage. In May, a Pakistani doctor was jailed for 33 years after helping the CIA find bin Laden using a hepatitis vaccination program as a cover. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian activist Anna Hazare, who galvanised the country last year with his hunger strikes against corruption, began a new fast yesterday to press demands for a crackdown on official graft. Hazare and his supporters want parliament to strengthen a pending anti-corruption bill and the creation of a special team to probe possible graft allegations against 15 ministers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 75-year-old former army truck driver threatened to fast until death if the demands are not met.

“I am confident that... the people of my country will not let me die. I draw my strength and confidence from you,” Hazare told several thousand supporters gathered at a popular protest site in central New Delhi. Some senior members of the Hazare campaign had already started hunger strikes at the same venue four days before. Hazare became an unlikely national hero last August when he led countrywide protests that tapped into a rich seam of public anger at India’s endemic corruption.

During a 12-day hunger strike, he was feted as a latter-day Mahatma Gandhi and mobbed at a triumphal procession through the capital New Delhi. Singh’s government, tainted by a series of graft scandals, was caught out by the outpouring of public emotion and forced to negotiate with the Hazare campaign, which it previously condemned as manipulative and undemocratic.

Although around 4,000 supporters turned out Sunday as Hazare began his latest fast, observers say the campaign has lost much of its momentum since the heady days of last summer.

The media has also been less supportive, suggesting that Hazare risks overstepping in insisting that parliament adopts his campaign’s input for the new anti-corruption bill. “Anna and his cohorts must realise that they are only a pres-

NEW DELHI: India’s anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare gestures at a protest yesterday. — AP sure group. They cannot hold parliament to ransom. Their primary job is to keep the issue of corruption in play, the Times of India said in a recent editorial. Using fasts to arm-twist the government is against the very spirit of democracy and amounts to political blackmail,” it said.

Hazare’s direct attacks on Prime Minister Singh and the ruling Congress party have also led to accusations that he and his campaign organisers were pursuing a political agenda. But his supporters who gathered yesterday insisted that Hazare’s message was very much alive and rejected suggestions that the campaign was los-

ing steam. “This rally is not about numbers. Our strength should not be measured in how many people have come here. Our strength lies in our conviction and truth,” said Mitul Rana, 26, a software engineer. Housewife Kaushalya Devi, 40, brought her eight-year-old son to the protest venue. “Hazare is fasting for us, so we thought it was our duty to come and show our support,” Devi said. “I want my son to know about him because he is the only true leader of our country.

Those who claim to be the leaders are corrupt from head to toe. We must expose their real faces,” she added. — AFP

Afghan forces deaths outstrip NATO’s 5-1 KABUL: Afghan security forces are dying at five times the rate of NATO soldiers as Taleban insurgents step up attacks ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2014, the latest figures show.

While deaths among NATO’s troops are regularly chronicled in the 50 countries that contribute soldiers to the war, the daily casualties among the Afghans they are fighting alongside rarely make headlines. A total of 853 Afghan soldiers and police were killed in the past four months, government figures show, compared with 165 NATO troops, according to a tally kept by the website icasualties.org.

President Hamid Karzai warned in May that the Afghan death toll would increase as the US-led troops start withdrawing and hand increasing responsibility for security to Afghan forces. Both NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghanistan’s interior ministry have noted a surge in attacks in recent months since the start of the Taleban’s annual summer offensive.

“Enemy-initiated attacks over the last three months (April-June) are 11 percent higher compared to the same quarter last year,” ISAF said in a report last week. The month of June alone saw the highest number of attacks in nearly two years, with more than 100 assaults a day across the country, including firefights and roadside bombings, the US-led coalition said. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said at the weekend that there had been a surge in casualties suffered by police in the past four months, with 635 killed and 1,246 wounded.

“This year, the enemies of Afghanistan have intensified their attacks against Afghan security forces,” he said. “We have increased our operations against the enemy and they also intensified their attacks,” he said, adding that 1,730 insurgents had been killed over the same period.

The upturn comes as NATO countries have already started to withdraw their 130,000 troops after more than 10 years of war and ahead of a 2014 deadline for an end to combat operations.

Politicians in NATO countries, where polls show that most voters want their soldiers out of Afghanistan, regularly refer to “ending the war in 2014”. But all signs point to the fact that the war will not end for the Afghans - and could get much worse. “The Taleban are sure that at the end of the day the foreign forces will leave and the only force that will remain to fight them is the Afghan force,” author

and analyst Waheed Mujda told AFP. “Since they started their new summer offensive their goal has been to target Afghan forces, to demoralise them and to create fear so that no one could join them,” he said.

Mujda also suggested that the government underplayed casualties in their statistics because “they don’t want to demoralise the forces”. He said a more realistic figure had been presented earlier this month by a former chief of the National Directorate of Security, Amrullah Saleh, who said more than 1,800 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the previous three months - well over double the official figure. Defence Ministry sources told AFP that in the four months since the start of the Afghan solar year at the end of March, 218 Afghan soldiers had been killed.

Police, who play a paramilitary role in the wartorn country, are more exposed to insurgent attacks

in local areas where they are always on the roads or manning small checkposts while the army operates out of fortified bases. ISAF said one reason for the increase in the number of attacks over recent months was an earlier start to the summer fighting season because of an early end to the harvest of opium poppies - a major source of income for Taleban Islamist insurgents.

Another was the increased presence on the battlefield of Afghan security forces as they take more responsibility from NATO troops ahead of the drawdown. Despite the rise in attacks, the number of coalition deaths in the first six months this year 220 - was down on the same period last year when 282 died, according to icasualties.org. About half of all deaths in both periods were due to roadside bombs, the statistics show. The homemade bombs are also responsible for most civilian deaths - which run higher than those for either army. —AFP

MANILA: A Filipino woman holds on to the umbrella as strong winds blow while her son eats bread in a Manila suburb yesterday. Rains continue to pour in the city as tropical storm Saolan blows off the northeastern coast of the Philippines. — AP

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

NEWS

MADHYA PRADESH: Dharamveer Kamboj (left) an innovator, explains his aloe vera processor invention in a temple in the village of Lasukiya in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, India. (Inset) Prof Anil Gupta walks towards a village during his Shodh Yatra (Journey for the Search of Knowledge) in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. — AP

Professor on quest for India hidden inventors SEHORE: It’s 43 degrees Celsius (110 F), and Prof Anil Gupta has been hiking the scorched plains of central India for hours. But he smiles widely as he enters a tiny village in search of another unsung genius. “If you have any new ideas or you have any new inventions, I’m here to promote you,” he tells farmers squatting beside a dusty roadside shrine to the Hindu god Shiva. For more than two decades, Gupta has scoured rural India for its hidden innovations, motivated by the belief that the most powerful ideas for fighting poverty and hardship won’t come from corporate research labs, but from ordinary people struggling to survive.

Gupta and his aides have uncovered more than 25,000 inventions, from the bicycle-mounted crop sprayer to the electric paintbrush that never needs to be dipped in a paint can. Many of the cheap, simple ideas he spreads for free from one poor village to another with the inventor’s blessing. Some he is working to bring to market, ensuring the innovator gets the credit and the profit that will spur others to create as well. Many ideas are simply documented in his database waiting for some investor to spot their potential.

He routinely dispenses tiny grants, either from a government fund or his own web of organizations, to help poor innovators finish their projects.

The 59-year-old management professor with a thick graying beard reminiscent of an ascetic holy man says he gets no financial benefit from his finds, reveling instead, with almost childlike joy, in the process of discovery itself.

“Every time we walk in a place we discover a solution that we would not have imagined, and we find that eagerness,” he said.

Many finds focus on agriculture: a more productive strain of peppers, a makeshift seat that lets coconut harvesters rest high up in trees, a hollow spear that pierces a hole in a field and drops in a seed.

There are traditional herbal medicines for cracked heels and sore muscles, stoves and engines modified to be more efficient, and a rice cleaner designed by a 13-year-old after he watched his mother wearily picking pebbles from yet another sack of grain. And there are the eyebrow-raisers: the washing machine mounted on the back of a scooter and powered by its engine, the bulletproof vest packed with herbs that absorb the concussive force of the bullet, the amphibious bicycle.

Gupta has received the Padma Shri, one of the Indian government’s top honors. He works with India’s president to fete the innovators. He helped found the government-sponsored National Innovation Foundation, routinely addresses top business conferences and recently linked up with one of India’s largest retailers, Future Group, to bring some of the most promising finds to market. Consumers will be attracted to the products - everything from all-natural cookies to a toothbrush that adds its own toothpaste - because the profits go to a good cause and because of the subtle simplicity of the inventions, said Ashni Biyani, a top Future Group exec-

utive.

“These are ideas that are rooted within the context of India,” she said. Gupta’s explorations have boosted inventors throughout rural India who, much like the “mad” uncles tinkering away in garages around the world, are dismissed as nuts by their neighbors until he arrives and declares them geniuses. Take Nattubhai Vader, a farmer from the state of Gujarat, who watched women and children harvesting an especially troublesome variety of cotton and figured there had to be a better way. Vader designed and then obsessively tweaked a massive apparatus of spinning rubber hoses and vacuums that fits over a tractor and can pick as much cotton in one hour as 10 people can in two days, he said.

He sank more than $20,000 into the harvester before his wife threatened to divorce him if he didn’t save the family’s remaining money for their kids’ education. A few years later, Gupta found Vader, gave him the funding to restart and now plans to bring in a team of engineering students to refine it. At the heart of Gupta’s mission are his grueling weeklong Shodh Yatras, consisting of 20 kilometer daily hikes in the searing summer and frigid winter, nights spent sleeping in school courtyards, meals of watery lentils. The idea is to scare off uncommitted “tourists” and give participants a taste of peasant life.

“Your eyes will open and you will see things you’ve never seen before,” Akash Badave, a 23-year-old preparing to be rural administrator, says Gupta told him before the first of his three Shodh Yatras. “And that was the case.” On one recent trek along parched hillsides in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, Gupta was accompanied by dozens of followers: young urbanites curious about rural poverty, an engineer who came to find herself, a team of inventors he collected from his previous journeys.

He began the hike after arriving on an overnight flight from China, marched in rubber sandals, drank little water despite the heat and even fasted for a day. His arrival at a village rarely visited by outsiders was an event akin to the circus coming to town. He handed out colorful magazines and pamphlets showing farmers how to make natural pesticides out of local plants, to treat cattle diseases with spice mixtures, to prolong the life of their water pump by sticking an old tire under the handle. And he appealed to them to come up with ideas of their own.

“Solutions to our problems are not so scarce,” he declared. As an example, he introduced Amrit Agrawat who more than two decades ago was watching women in his village struggle to pull heavy water buckets from a well.

Agrawat made a pulley with an automatic brake so the women could rest without the bucket plunging back down.

It costs $7. Wonderful, one man said, “now my wife can answer her cellphone while she gets water.” Agrawat has sold 5,000 of his pulleys, but donated one to each village along the way and encouraged the farmers to copy it for themselves. — AP

UAE widens crackdown; more Islamists...

Continued from Page 1 Others detained included Salem Al-Shehhi, a lawyer, Abdul-Raheem Al-Zarooni, who worked for a media organization, Musbah Al-Rumaithi, another Islah member, and Issa Al-Suwaidi, a former education official, activists and relatives said. Most of the men detained over the past months are from the more religiously conservative emirates such as Sharjah and Ras AlKhaimah, which are also less affluent than the oil-rich capital Abu Dhabi and trade hub Dubai. Many are wellknown figures and include a ruling family member, under house arrest in Ras Al-Khaimah emirate.

The arrests are the latest in what international rights groups and activists describe as a crackdown on political opposition in general, and Islamists in particular. On Friday, the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said the UAE must end its crackdown on

lawyers and human rights defenders. “The recent crackdown...is part of a broad campaign of intimidation and harassment by UAE authorities that aims to silence any and all critical voices. This campaign must end immediately,” said Said Benarbia, Senior Legal Advisor for the ICJ Middle East and North Africa Program.

UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville has said the crackdown looked like an excuse to silence legitimate demands. But the UAE authorities, like other Gulf monarchies, are concerned that the rise of Islamists in Egypt and other states in the wake of the Arab Spring could stir up Islamist groups and dissent on their turf. Last week, Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan warned of an “international plot” to overthrow the governments of Gulf Arab countries, saying the region needed to be prepared to counter any threat from Islamist dissidents as well as Syria and Iran. — Reuters

Assad forces declare ‘victory’ in Damascus Continued from Page 1 do not move soon,” he said, adding that talks would start on forming a transitional government.

Arab League head Nabil Elaraby said the battle in Aleppo amounted to “war crimes”, and perpetrators would eventually be punished, Egypt’s MENA state news agency reported. The Arab League has suspended Syria and lined up with the West and Turkey against Assad. Assad’s government blames Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for the revolt. Reuters reported on Friday that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey had set up a base in southeastern Turkey to aid the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Asked about the base, a Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesman declined yesterday to comment directly but said Riyadh provided financial and humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. Hinting at more direct support for the rebels, he said countries should enable Syrians “to protect themselves at the very least, if the international community is not able to do so”. Assad’s ruling structure draws strongly on his Alawite minority sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while his opposition is drawn largely from the Sunni Muslim majority, backed by Sunni leaders who rule nearly all other Arab states.

That has raised fears that the 16-month-old conflict could spread across the wider Middle East, where a sectarian divide between Sunnis and Shiites has been at the root of violence in Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and elsewhere. Shiite Iran demonstrated its firm support for Assad by hosting his foreign minister. At a joint news conference with Moualem, Iran’s own Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi rebuked the West and Arab states for holding the “illusion” that Assad could be easily replaced from power in a managed transition.

In Damascus, where Assad’s forces pushed back a rebel offensive following a deadly bomb attack on his

inner circle, many residents have fled fighting on the outskirts for relative safety in the heart of the capital.

Even the centre has been shattered by the violence.

Shops open only between 9 am and 3 pm, food prices have soared and no one dares walk outside after dusk, even in the holy month of Ramadan when streets are normally packed late into the night with people celebrating after a day of fasting. “To begin with I was with the regime, for sure,” said Ahmed, from one of the southern suburbs where the army, backed by helicopter and tanks, launched its fierce counter offensive. “But now, no, the regime must go. Take what they want with them, but they must go.”

The battle for Alelppo, a city of 2.5 million people, is a decisive test of the government’s ability to retake its two main cities. It has committed huge military resources to the battle there after losing control of outlying rural areas and some border crossings with Turkey and Iraq. Fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army were also in evidence on the approaches to Aleppo from the north, where many villagers were still shopping or tending their fields. One man in his 40s, carrying his family on a motorcycle, said he was fleeing the fighting in the city. “We are living in a war zone,” he told Reuters. “I and my relatives are just going back and forth, trying to stay away from the fighting. We left Aleppo when we saw smoke and helicopters firing.”

The British-based Observatory, which compiles reports from anti-government activists, said 26 people were killed in Aleppo on Saturday and 190 total across Syria. It reported fighting in Deraa, the cradle of the revolution, Homs, the scene of some of the bloodiest combat, and Hama. There was no way to verify its figures.

The fighting in Aleppo follows a July 18 bomb attack that killed four top security officials including Assad’s defense minister, intelligence chief and powerful brother-in-law. — Reuters

Israel denies Iran war plan report Continued from Page 1 Netanyahu yesterday. Haaretz said Donilon had told Netanyahu the Pentagon was planning for a possible decision to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, and had shown him some of the plans. The failure of talks between Iran and six world powers to secure a breakthrough in curbing what the West fears is a drive to develop nuclear weapons has raised international concerns that Israel, widely assumed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state, may opt for a go-it-alone military strike.

Israel has warned the West it thinks it is only a matter of time before Iran’s nuclear program achieves a “zone of immunity” in which bombs will not be able to effectively strike uranium enrichment facilities buried deep underground. Iran says its program is solely for peaceful purposes. On a visit to Jerusalem this month, Clinton said Israel and Washington were “on the same page” with respect to Iran, calling Iran’s latest proposals to world power talks on the issue “non starters.” “Our own choice is clear, we will use all elements of American power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Clinton said. — Reuters

Kuwaiti royal detained Continued from Page 1 Saudi Arabia where he met the governor of Riyadh.

So far, there has been no official comment on his arrest.

Sheikh Meshaal is a member of the Al-Sabah family which has ruled the oil-rich emirate for the past 250 years without challenge. In tweets he wrote over the past few days, he said he will contest the next parliamentary election to become the first royal in Kuwait to

do so, and also vowed that if he becomes an MP, he would expose corruption among top officials. He also complained that the Kuwaiti constitution entrusts power to only one branch of the Al-Sabah family—the descendants of Mubarak Al-Kabeer who ruled Kuwait from 1896 to 1915. Sheikh Meshaal, who is not descended from Mubarak Al-Kabeer, called for the constitution to be amended and the introduction of political reforms. — AFP

14

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

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Issues

US in major policy ‘shift’ in Rwanda

By Nicolas Revise

W

ashington is loosening its ties to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, long a favorite of the donor community, amid allegations his government is stirring violence in neighboring DR Congo, analysts say. Last week, in a statement slipped out without fanfare late Sunday, the United States said it was freezing its modest $200,000 in 2012 military aid to Rwandaa move experts say represents a major shift in long-held US policy.

“As we have repeatedly said to the government of Rwanda, we have deep concerns about Rwanda’s support to the Congolese rebel group that goes by the name M23,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. The M23 are Tutsi ex-rebels from the Rwanda-backed National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). They were integrated into the regular army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009 as part of a peace deal that followed their failed 2008 offensive on the Congo’s eastern city of Goma.

But the ex-rebels mutinied in April, demanding better pay and the full implementation of a March 23, 2009 peace deal, and have been engaged in running battles with the Congolese army in the eastern Nord Kivu region. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of sponsoring the rebellion-a complaint supported by a UN panel, which said in June that Rwanda was supplying the rebels with arms and soldiers. Nuland said the United States also has its own evidence of Rwandan involvement in the upheavals, but believed the UN report was “quite comprehensive and quite concerning.”

US State Department war crimes investigator Stephen Rapp even told the British daily The Guardian this week that Kagame could one day find himself charged with war crimes. The Netherlands also cut its military aid to Rwanda. “It is really the first time we have heard strong words spoken against Paul Kagame in Rwanda by the US government. There is a real shift,” said Richard Downie, expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “This is a real change in tone.

Rwanda will find itself in a unusual and uncomfortable position right now,” he said.

Since Kagame took up the reins of power of his African nation in 1994 ending a bloody genocide which left some 800,000, mainly Tutsis, dead, Rwanda “has been the darling of donors’ community for so long,” Downie said. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is a special advisor to Kagame, and has been a steadfast supporter of Rwanda’s development through his Africa Governance Initiative. But the winds began to change in June with the publication of the United Nations report.

Even if the amount of aid was small “there are other signs of unhappiness by the United States,” Downie said.

“I am told that the head of the Africom postponed a visit to Rwanda and also some people are making some noise that Rwanda wants to get a seat on the UN Security Council.” John Campbell, from the Council on Foreign Relations, said: “The report the UN experts produced provided a clear evidence of Rwandan meddling in Eastern Congo. It is a careful and credible report. “It has long been US policy to oppose outside intervention in Eastern Congo. In light of the UN report, the Obama administration had to respond.”

Rwanda has categorically denied that it is interfering in the DR Congo, accusations which Kagame told CNN were “not true” and “actually ridiculous.” “You see, I hope people can just be fair. It’s not even very complicated.

I’m really surprised people called experts can make a report this way.” There have long been tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rwanda has been accused on several occasions of aiding Tutsi forces in DR Congo to combat Hutu rebels on its western border. It charges the Hutu rebels with joining the 1994 genocide and says they remain a threat to their country.

Kigali sent troops into the DR Congo from 1996-1997 and then between 1998 to 2002, before moving to act through proxy militias, experts say. Nuland insisted: “We are continuing to watch this case very carefully and to send public and private messages to the government of Rwanda.” French journalist and expert on the region, Pierre Pean said the US decision could mark a major shift in regional policy. It could “perhaps signal the beginning of the end for the soldier Kagame and his license to kill and pillage since 1994 as well as a revision of American policy in the Great Lakes region,” he said.— AFP

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US loves cops and firefighters - but not their pensions

By Steven C Johnson and Chris Francescani

P

harmacist Michael Nastro is full of admiration for how police responded to a deadly robbery in his suburban New York neighborhood in 2011. A gunman walked into a pharmacy near his own on Long Island, killed four people and fled with a stash of painkillers. Police in the area, which is part of wealthy Suffolk County, best known for the exclusive Hamptons beach towns, boosted patrols and gave advice on what to do if the robber hit again.

They caught him three days after the shooting.

But Nastro, 50, admits he’s torn about police officers’ pay and retirement benefits.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t conflicted,” he said. “I want good police work, but I’m a taxpayer too. There’s got to be a middle ground.” The average annual pension for Suffolk County cops who have retired since 2007 was $86,702, according to figures from the Manhattan Institute, a public policy think tank, against $37,270 for other county employees, excluding teachers. The county, facing a three-year deficit of $530 million, declared a fiscal emergency in March.

Traditionally, US voters have backed generous pay and benefits for the cops and firefighters willing to risk their lives to keep citizens safe. That was especially so after the deaths of many emergency workers in the Sept 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center in New York. But as economic conditions have worsened and many local governments have run into severe fiscal problems, that attitude has started to change.

Since the 2007 recession, some cities have tried to roll back pension benefits and pay, among the most rigid and, in some cases, highest expenses in municipal budgets.

From New York to California and points in between, cops and firefighters have been drawn into pitched battles over their pay and benefits. In San Diego and San Jose, California’s second and third biggest cities, voters in June overwhelmingly backed sweeping pension reforms. In San Jose, all employees will have to choose between reduced benefits or higher retirement contributions. In the mid-sized California cities of Stockton and San Bernardino, officials say public safety costs were among the factors that forced both to declare bankruptcy.

In Vallejo, a former US Navy town near San Francisco that emerged from a threeyear bankruptcy last year, public safety pay and benefits were consuming three-quarters of the city’s general fund. Detroit, plagued with one of the highest crime rates in the country, nonetheless cut pay and healthcare benefits for city workers, including police, by 10 percent just over a week ago, a move the mayor says will save the cash-strapped city $102 million a year. A legal challenge by the Detroit Police Officers Association failed, even as union President Joe Duncan publicly complained of what the cuts would mean for Detroit’s ability to hire police, noting that the city is “already 50th on the list of pay for the biggest 50 cities in the United States.”

St Louis this month approved an overhaul of the firefighter retirement system that rolls back decades of increases, while Miami officials trying to plug a $60 million budget gap this week declared “financial urgency,” which will let them alter employee contracts.

Among the city’s proposals: limit overtime for firefighters and require higher health care contributions. According to an analysis by New York-area newspaper Newsday published last month, police and sheriff’s department employees in Nassau and Suffolk counties reached nearly two-

thirds of each county’s payroll. “That is why a lot of municipalities are choosing bankruptcy, because it’s the only way - other than getting a state control board - of getting out of these salary and pension requirements,” said the former top official of Suffolk County, Steve Levy.

SAVINGS AND SAFETY Striking the right balance between savings and safety is a touchy business, though. While it’s become almost routine for voters to rail against fat paychecks and generous benefits for teachers, transit workers and other public employees, cops and firefighters have in the past been largely spared such anger. For example, in Wisconsin, where most public workers were stripped of their collective bargaining rights and made to pay more to fund their pensions, firefighters, cops and other public

“Everybody’s complicit in this,” said Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the National Center on Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

Noel DiGerolamo, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in Suffolk County, has harsh words for the public officials, saying they should be bearing the blame for fiscal woes. “Rather than being responsible leaders of government and saying, ‘We have these pension obligations that we’re going to have to pay,’ and saving towards those obligations, they are being politicians,” DiGerolamo said. “And when the bill comes due, blaming employees who have worked towards and earned these pensions for 20 or 25 years.”

BROKE IN CALIFORNIA Of course, scores of municipalities are managing to balance their budgets even as

COLORADO: Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates arrives for the funeral of Aurora, Colo, movie theater shooting victim Micayla Medek in Denver. — AP safety workers were given an exemption.

Still, Jim Carver, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, says politicians have started to target cops and firefighters. The state seized control of Nassau County’s finances after the county failed to balance its budget and had its credit rating cut last year. Carver bristles at the notion that police and firefighters don’t deserve what they earn. “After 9/11, you couldn’t find a politician that wasn’t rushing to put his arms around a cop or a firefighter,” he said. “Ten, 12 years later, we are to blame for everything. Politicians have made us the enemy. We didn’t put a gun to anybody’s head. These were fairly negotiated contracts.”

EVERYBODY’S COMPLICIT To be sure, it took decades of bad decisions and poor management by local authorities to put many communities in fiscal dire straits. In countless cases, cities, counties and states over-promised benefits to retirees but neglected to set aside sufficient reserves to cover their liabilities. When the economy and stock market were booming, cities often sweetened pension benefits, confident the money would be there in the end. After 9/11, the cops and firefighters’ heroic status with the public meant that they were in a particularly strong bargaining position.

But the 2007-2008 recession and the impact of the housing bust on real estate taxes hammered municipal revenues and badly hurt pension funds’ investment returns. The Pew Center on the States said the gap between states’ pension promises and liabilities was $757 billion in 2010.

costs rise. Only a few of the 90,000 issuers in the municipal debt market are in true distress. Even many with escalating pension costs can meet their current obligations. It’s keeping up with promises to aging citizens who are living longer that keeps officials up at night. In some cases, contracts that may once have seemed fair are helping to bankrupt cities and leading to severe cuts in services, including fire station closures and reductions in police forces.

Eight municipalities have sought protection from their creditors so far this year, following 13 that filed in 2011, and many others are having to slash their budgets.

San Bernardino, a city of 210,000 some 65 miles east of Los Angeles that has been hit hard by the collapse of the housing market, says public safety spending eats up 73 percent of its general fund budget, with overtime for firefighters especially onerous.

Pension costs are expected to reach $25 million this year, double the 2006 level. The city imposed a temporary 10 percent pay cut, but the firefighters’ union successfully challenged it in court and is entitled to back pay. The city council voted last week to suspend debt payments and quit paying into a retiree health fund. Some 350 miles to the north, Stockton, the biggest US city ever to file for bankruptcy, allows police officers to retire at 50 with pensions based on 3 percent of final pay for each year in service.

When he signed the bankruptcy filing in June, Stockton city manager Bob Deis said a 1996 decision to provide firefighters with free health care in retirement, later expanded to all city employees, was a “Ponzi scheme” that saddled the city with a $417

million liability. Because their jobs are dangerous and physically taxing, cops and firefighters typically retire after 20 or 30 years on the job, and that’s as it should be, said Michael Coleman, a policy adviser for the League of California Cities, an association of municipal officials from the state.

But that’s why it’s important to keep pensions reasonable. “I don’t think anyone disagrees that these are dangerous jobs.

But how much is enough? Unfortunately, I think it’s gone too far,” Coleman said. The contrast between benefits in the public and private sectors is stark.

Only 26 percent of US companies offer retiree healthcare benefits, compared with 66 percent that did so in 1988, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Most private sector employees bear the brunt of providing for their retirement by saving money in funds known as 401(k) plans, with companies typically also making contributions.

After the 2007 recession, some firms stopped making contributions altogether.

It can all add to tensions as some taxpayers question why their services are being cut or property taxes raised so a city or county can find the money for generous retirement benefits. In New York, a 2010 investigation by then-attorney general Andrew Cuomo, now governor, found widespread incidence of “pension padding” - public employees working extra overtime in their last year on the job to boost pay and retirement income. That’s especially costly when it comes to well-paid public safety workers. The Manhattan Institute estimates nearly 10 percent of New York State cops and firefighters who retired in 2011 will receive six-figure pensions, from 2 percent in 2001.

NO QUICK FIXES Quick fixes, however, are unlikely. Efforts to revamp public pension plans face stiff legal challenges. Each state has its own constitution, courts and case law that affect how it can go about changing retirement systems. Firefighters in San Bernardino have filed seven legal actions against attempts to scale back pay and benefits since 2007. In many municipalities, public salaries and pensions are pegged to those offered in comparably sized regional cities. In New York, pensions, once set by the state, cannot be negotiated through collective bargaining. At the same time, alternative ways to tackle deficits, such as raising taxes, are politically unpopular.

In the small Southern California city of Stanton, voters recently rejected a proposed utility tax hike that would have raised $1.1 million. The city instead cut back on active police and fire staff, which account for 77 percent of its spending. “Will there be some impact on response time?

There could be,” said city manager Carol Jacobs. “But this city is not going to go bankrupt.” In some cases, unions have preferred layoffs to reduced retirement benefits. Two troubled cities in New Jersey are cases in point. Camden, one of the state’s poorest and most crime-plagued cities, recently cut its police force by about half, and Newark cut its force by a third after unions declined concessions demanded by their city governments.

In New York, former Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Long Island Democrat who has clashed with police unions, gave a stark assessment. “We’re facing a problem that will be faced by every town in America. “You can’t raise property taxes anymore - people won’t go for it.

There’s no more money. So, do you cut services, which will result in the death of the suburbs, I think, or do you make these salaries and pensions more rational than they’ve been?”— Reuters

sp orts

Park wins Evian Masters FRANCE: South Korea’s Park Inbee had a magical day with the putter to hold off a bunch of players and win the Evian Masters with a fantastic closing 66 here yesterday.

The 24-year-old started the day tied with American Stacy Lewis, but had 11 single putts and eight birdies to post a 17 under par total and won by two shots from Lewis and Karrie Webb, the veteran Australian who won back in 2006. Lewis, the leader from round one, eagled the last from 30 feet for a 68, while Webb birdied the final two holes for a 67.

China’s Feng Shanshan, who holed a bunker shot for an eagle at the last and a 66, South Korean amateur Kim Hyo Joo (68), and the 2007 champion Natalie Gulbis (68) of the United States shared fourth place on 14 under par. “ This is so exciting,” said Park, who dropped shots at the third and 11th but birdied four holes in each half. “Today I was red hot with the putter.”

Park’s win was just her second as a professional, but she has proved she has the nerve for the big occasion. Her first win was as a 19year-old in the US Women’s Open - and the 350,000 euro ($431,000) first prize at Evian is the most lucrative in women’s golf.

“It’s been tough to wait so long for another win but I think this will be really big for me.”

By contrast her playing partner Lewis, the runner-up last year, could not buy a putt in the first 14 holes and had another hiccup when she cracked the face of her driver hitting from the 12th tee.

But she battled bravely with birdies at the 15th and 16th and then holed the monster for eagle at the 18th. South Korea’s 17-year-old

amateur Joo completed an amazing week with her 68 her fourth sub-70 score - for 14 under par.

Winner of the World Junior (15-17-years) Championship last year, Kim has already won as a 16-year-old amateur on the Korean and Japanese Women’s Tours and intends joining the professional ranks at the LPGA Championship in South Korea in October. “I have had a great time here,” she said through an interpreter. “It was really good fun and I played really well.”

Karine Icher, who has had three top tens on the LPGA Tour in America this season, was on her first trip back home to France since the birth of her first child, Lola. And she produced a great final round of 69 to tie for 12th place on nine under par.

Lola is 11 months old, and the 33-year-old said: “My life has changed forever since she arrived. To have a baby, it’s completely different. Now my priority is not my golf but my daughter. But I’m more relaxed and it’s fun to travel with her.”

Icher had four birdies in the final round and she is already looking forward to next year when the tournament will become the fifth women’s major alongside the US and British Women’s Opens and the Kraft Nabisco and LPGA Championships.

“It’s going to be super,” she said after her closing four birdie round. “France is not a big country. We don’t have a lot of golf courses like in the United States. We’re going to have the Ryder Cup in 2018 and next year we’re going to have a women’s major. It means so much.” —AFP

FRANCE: Korea’s Park Inbee kisses the trophy after winning the Evian Masters women’s golf tournament. —AP

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Garrigus leads Canadian Open ONTARIO: Robert Garrigus grabbed a one-shot lead as American players took a stranglehold on the Canadian Open after the third round in Ontario on Saturday. Garrigus fired a six-under-par 64 to move to 16-under 194, one clear of William McGirt (66) and two in front of Scott Piercy (67). McGirt and Piercy had shared the lead overnight.

American players made up the top 10 players on the leaderboard with former major winners Retief Goosen of South Africa (63) and Fijian Vijay Singh (69) the best of the international challengers, seven shots back.

Garrigus carded four birdies and an eagle on a bogey-free day and promised to continue to attack on Sunday as he searches for his second PGA Tour victory. “It’s foot to the floor as much as possible,” he said. “I know I can’t let anybody in the golf tournament and if I go out and make birdies they’re not going to catch me so I’m just going to go hammering at flags and hit fairways and hopefully everything works out.

“I just like the way the course sets up. It’s a hilly golf course, fitness is a big issue and I’m in really good shape right now so I’m loving where I am at.”

Goosen rose 42 places into a tie for 11th with his seven-under round. Scott Stallings and Chris Kirk matched his 63 and share fourth spot with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (67) on 198.

Kirk looked set to smash the course record of 62 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club after getting to seven under through 10 holes but he parred the last eight.

David Hearn and Graham DeLaet were the best of the locals on 208, meaning Canada’s victory drought in the tournament is almost certain to be extended to 58 years. —Reuters

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

sp orts Taylor gets England’s call

Pocock heads to Brumbies

Querrey in LA Open final

LONDON: Uncapped Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor is poised to make his England test debut in the second match of the series against South Africa starting on Thursday after Ravi Bopara said he was unavailable for personal reasons.

Taylor, who is set to bat at six and has one limited-overs cap, is the only change for the Headingley contest after England were trounced by an innings and 12 runs in the first match of the three-test series at the Oval.

“We were outplayed during the first test last week but it is important that this squad regroups and focuses on preparing for the second test,” England national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement. “We have made one change to the squad with James Taylor replacing Ravi Bopara, who is unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.

“James has been part of the England Performance Programme for a number of years and has performed consistently for England Lions and now has an opportunity to step up and experience the Test environment.”

Bopara, who only returned to the team for the first test after an absence of almost a year, has struggled to impose himself in the test arena but the full reason for his withdrawal has not been released. Pace bowler Steven Finn will be looking to return to the side after England took just two wickets at the Oval as they battle to avoid losing the series and their number one test ranking to the South Africans. —Reuters

SYDNEY: David Pocock will swap Perth for Canberra in the next Super Rugby season after the Wallabies captain ended a sevenyear association with the Western Force by signing a three-year deal with the Brumbies, local media said yesterday.

The move is likely to present the openside flanker, who made his debut with the Force when they were established in 2006, with a greater opportunity to win the Southern Hemisphere’s most prestigious club rugby title.

The chance to work under South African World Cup-winning coach Jake White from the 2013 season also played a part in his decision.

“The Brumbies have a good coaching and management team of Jake White, Laurie Fisher, Stephen Larkham and Tony Thorpe,” the 24-year-old told Australia’s AAP. “The opportunity to learn from them and challenge myself was appealing,” said Pocock, who added that the move would also allow him to spend more time with his family. “Over the last seven years, I have travelled long distances to visit my family in Brisbane,” he said. “With the Wallabies schedule there is more and more of my time required on the east coast with training camps.

“Being based in Canberra will make it easier to travel to Brisbane and Sydney.”—Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Two-time Los Angeles Open champ Sam Querrey came back from a break down in the second set to reach his third straight final at his home event with a defeat of Rajeev Ram 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). The southern Californian will be bidding to join Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors as three-time champions at the UCLA campus facility when he plays Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, who put out Australian sixth seed Marinko Matosevic 7-5, 6-1 in the other semi-final Saturday.

Querrey, winner of 12 straight matches in Los Angeles, and the 22-year-old Berankis have never played. The youngster will be competing in his first final on the ATP Tour, the best ever achieved for a player from his small nation. Querrey lost serve for the first time this week as Ram, a semi-finalist in two of the last three weeks, finally cracked the code to catch the second seed’s serve for a 2-0 lead. Querrey wrapped up the opening set in half an hour.

Querrey, seemingly dis-satisfied with his string tension and calling out grumpily to his coach, rallied to break back in the seventh game en route to a tiebreaker.

He notched 11 aces in victory, along with 38 winners and 31 unforced errors and now stands at 3-1 against Ram. “It was a tough match, he’s a serveand volley guy and knows how to use his slice. I managed to win by serving well to recover the break.—AFP

Blue Jays tame Tigers

DENVER: Ryan Ludwick No. 48 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. —AFP

Dodgers pound Giants SAN FRANCISCO: Matt Kemp homered among his four hits and drove in four runs, Chad Billingsley took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 10-0 on Saturday. Hanley Ramirez had three RBIs in helping the Dodgers beat San Francisco for the second straight day to pull within a game of the NL West-leading Giants. Billingsley (6-9) drove in a run for Los Angeles with a sacrifice fly. He gave up leadoff doubles to Buster Posey in the second and Angel Pagan in the fifth, the only base runners he allowed through seven innings. He gave up two more hits and was lifted with one out in the eighth. Barry Zito (8-7) gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Nationals 4, Brewers 1 At Milwaukee, Wisconsin-native Jordan Zimmermann pitched his first game against Milwaukee, and his teammates hit three home runs in Washington’s win over the Brewers.

Zimmermann (8-6) struck out six and gave up five hits in six innings. Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 19th save. Washington center fielder Bryce Harper was a late scratch because of a stomach virus and was replaced by Corey Brown.

In the fourth, Brown’s solo homer to left - his first career hit - and Tyler Moore’s two-run blast gave Washington a 3-0 lead. Ryan Zimmerman added a solo homer in the fifth.

Randy Wolf (3-7) gave up four earned runs and nine hits in seven innings for Milwaukee, which got a home run from Rickie Weeks.

Cubs 3, Cardinals 2 At Chicago, pinch-hitter Reed Johnson drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single in the seventh inning and the Cubs got past St. Louis, ending the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak.

The Cubs had lost five in a row to St. Louis, but has won nine of its last 11 overall at Wrigley Field. Johnson caught the Cardinals by surprise when he squared up on the first pitch with runners on first and third and two outs. His bunt fell perfectly between reliever Brian Fuentes and third baseman Matt Carpenter, allowing pinchrunner Tony Campana to score. James Russell (3-0) earned the win in relief, with Joe Kelly (1-4) taking the loss.

Marlins 4, Padres 2 At Miami, Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer, and Nathan Eovaldi won his Miami debut, leading the Marlins over San Diego. Justin Ruggiano also homered, and Steve Cishek earned his fourth save for the Marlins, who ended a threegame slide. Yonder Alonso had two hits and drove in a run for the Padres, who had won seven of 10. Eovaldi (2-6) was traded to Miami on Wednesday from the Dodgers in a four-player swap that sent Hanley Ramirez to Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old right-hander allowed one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walking two. Eovaldi reached base on an infield single in the third and scored on Reyes’ shot to right field off Ross Ohlendorf (3-1) for a 30 advantage. The home run extended Reyes’ hitting streak to 15 games, which ties a season high.

Braves 2, Phillies 1 Mike Minor struck out nine and combined with Craig Kimbrel on a four-hitter, Jason Heyward had two hits and drove in a run, and Atlanta edged Philadelphia. Minor (6-7) allowed one run and four hits, and didn’t issue a walk in eight innings. He matched a season high with nine strikeouts and retired his last 13 batters.

The Phillies’ only run came on Chase Utley’s homer in the fourth. Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 30th save. The Braves, who lost 12 of 18 games to the Phillies in 2011, are 6-2 against Philadelphia with five straight wins in 2012. Joe Blanton (8-9) gave up two runs and four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Pirates 4, Astros 3 At Houston, Rod Barajas hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and Pittsburgh sent Houston to its club-record 12th straight loss.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched six innings in his Pittsburgh debut, allowing three runs and six hits with five walks against his former team. The freefalling Astros, who have lost 25 of 27, traded the left-hander to the Pirates on Tuesday. Alex Presley and Neil Walker homered for Pittsburgh.

Barajas stopped an 0-for-18 slide with his clutch single off Fernando Rodriguez that scored Andrew McCutchen. The hit also ended an 0-for17 streak with runners in scoring position for the Pirates. Chris Resop (1-3) earned the win with a scoreless seventh. Brad Lincoln pitched the eighth, and Jason Grilli earned his second save.

Chuckie Fick (0-1) gave up a run and two hits.

D’backs 6, Mets 3 At Phoenix, Miguel Montero homered, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs to help Arizona overcome Ike Davis’ three home runs in a win over the sinking New York Mets.

Ian Kennedy pitched into the seventh inning, and Gerardo Parra added three hits and two RBIs for Arizona (51-50), which has won eight of 11.

New York managed nothing at the plate besides three solo shots by Davis and lost for the 14th time in 16 games. Davis connected in his first three at-bats, all against Kennedy. The first baseman added a single in the eighth and finished 4 for 4, raising his batting average to .216.

He was on deck when J.J. Putz struck out David Wright with two on to end it.

Mets starter Chris Young (2-5) lasted four innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He allowed six runs and seven hits.

Reds 9, Rockies 7 At Denver, Johnny Cueto withstood a rough start to pitch effectively for six innings, Ryan Ludwick hit two home runs, and Cincinnati won their season-high ninth straight by beating Colorado. Scott Rolen, Drew Stubbs and rookie Todd Frazier also homered for the NL Central leading Reds, who have gone 13-2 since the AllStar break and hit a high-water mark for the season at 20 games above .500 (60-40). The winning streak is the longest for the Reds since a 10-game run in 1999. —AP

TORONTO: Edwin Encarnacion, Colby Rasmus and Yunel Escobar homered off Detroit newcomer Anibal Sanchez, leading the Toronto Blue Jays over the Tigers 5-1 Saturday.

The Tigers have lost three straight and four of five after a five-game winning streak that briefly lifted them into first place in the AL Central.

Sanchez, acquired from Miami earlier in the week along with infielder Omar Infante, gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings in his Detroit debut.

Sanchez (5-8 overall) lost to Toronto for the second time this season; he gave up six runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-5 loss on June 22 while pitching for the Marlins.

Henderson Alvarez (7-7) pitched seven innings for the win.

Encarnacion hit his 28th home run and Rasmus went 2 for 3 with three RBIs in his first start of the season at designated hitter.

Mariners 4, Royals 3 At Seattle, Kevin Millwood pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Jesus Montero hit a two-run homer and Seattle beat Kansas City.

Millwood (4-8) gave up one unearned run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out three, walked one and was aided by two excellent plays from shortstop Brendan Ryan.

Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth for his 13th save. Lorenzo Cain hit an RBI triple with two outs before Alex Gordon grounded out.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas sprained his right knee while diving for a grounder in the first inning. He is day to day and will be examined again Sunday.

Billy Butler was 3 for 3 for Kansas City. Montero hit his 10th home run, connecting in the third off Bruce Chen (8-8).

Athletics 6, Orioles 1 At Baltimore, Yoenis Cespedes and Chris Carter hit two-run homers to back an effective pitching performance by Bartolo Colon, and Oakland beat Baltimore for their ninth win in 10 games.

Jemile Weeks had three hits and scored twice for the surging A’s, who are on course for the best July in franchise history. They are 18-3 (.857) this month.

Colon (7-8) scattered seven hits

over 5 2-3 shutout innings, striking out five and walking one, to earn his first win in six starts since June 12.

Nick Markakis’ ninth-inning homer off Evan Scribner enabled the Orioles to avoid being kept scoreless for the eighth time.

Tommy Hunter (4-6) gave up five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.

The right-hander has yielded 23 home runs this season.

criteria, players should be passport holder or Kuwait born or valid residents of Kuwait. Players who are valid Kuwait residents for a minimum period of 7 years and 4 years also are eligible to participate in the selection trials.

Players are hereby requested to bring either their original passport or a copy of the passport while attending the selection trials. Please contact Murali Kutticode on 99542107 for more details.

Indians for the second consecutive night after being swept three games in Chicago.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson (7-9) allowed 10 runs - eight earned over 5 2-3 innings. The Indians are 6-10 since the All-Star break.

Rays 3, Angels 0 At Anaheim, California, Matt Moore outpitched C.J. Wilson, scattering four

ANAHEIM: CJ Wilson No. 33 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium. —AFP Red Sox 8, Yankees 6 At New York, Curtis Granderson misplayed Pedro Ciriaco’s ninthinning flyball into a go-ahead triple, and Boston beat the New York Yankees after Mark Teixeira had tied the score with a two-run homer off nemesis Vicente Padilla in the eighth.

Down 6-1, the Yankees closed in the fifth on Jayson Nix’s two-run homer off Jon Lester and Derek Jeter’s RBI grounder.

After Teixeira’s homer, Rafael Soriano (2-1) walked Jacoby Ellsbury with one out in the ninth and Ciriaco hit a fly that could have been caught.

Andrew Miller (3-1) got one out for the win, just the second for Boston in eight games against the Yankees this year. Alfredo Aceves finished for his 22nd save in 26 chances.

first two in a three-game series between the division leaders. Humber (5-5) didn’t allow a hit through three innings and won for the second time in three starts. He yielded one run and four hits, and struck out four.

Matt Harrison (12-6), who lost his second straight start, gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander walked three and struck out four.

Twins 12, Indians 5 At Minneapolis, Samuel Deduno pitched seven strong innings for his second major league win, and Josh Willingham hit his 27th homer of the season, leading Minnesota over Cleveland.

Deduno (2-0) allowed two hits and struck out a career-high six in his fourth big league start. The Twins routed the

hits over 6 1-3 innings, and Ben Zobrist homered to lead Tampa Bay past the Los Angeles Angels.

Moore (7-7) struck out six to increase his season total to 112, second-most among rookies behind Texas’ Yu Darvish. The 23-year-old lefty pitched a career-high eight innings in his previous start and retired his final 17 batters in a 2-1 loss to Seattle last Sunday. He is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in his last 10 outings. Fernando Rodney worked a perfect ninth for his 29th save in 30 attempts, dropping his ERA to 0.79 in 46 appearances.

Wilson (9-7) threw 121 pitches in 6 2-3 innings, allowing three runs - two earned - and four hits. He struck out seven and walked three. The All-Star lefty is 0-3 with a 4.23 ERA over his last six starts after going 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA in his previous seven. —AP

Windies sniff victory after breaking N Zealand stand ANTIGUA: Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill put on a 123-run partnership to help New Zealand end the fourth day of the first Test on 199 for three on Saturday, but two late wickets will give the West Indies hope of securing a victory. After the hosts built a 171-run first innings lead in Antigua with skipper Darren Sammy (50) and Narsingh Deonarine (79) ensuring they reached 522, the tourists needed to show plenty of resolve to save the Test.

Guptill (67) and Daniel Flynn put on 47 for the first wicket before Sunil Narine, who grabbed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, trapped the latter on the back foot lbw for 20. Despite the wicket, New Zealand knuckled down with McCullum (84) and Guptill batting

sensibly, exercising caution against Narine’s spin as they looked to see the visitors through to the close of play without any more alarms.

However, Narine struck again, coming around the wicket and getting some bounce with a ball that struck Guptill’s glove and was snapped up by Assad Fudadin at short leg. The momentum shifted further towards the West Indies when McCullum, looking well set for a century, played on with an inside edge from Kemar Roach.

A lead of 28 runs with seven second innings wickets remaining ahead of Sunday’s final day will require some disciplined batting from New Zealand against a West Indies attack that can sense victory. —Reuters

Kuwait Cricket invites players for ACC Trophy KUWAIT: Kuwait Cricket would like to invite cricketers to attend a selection trial which is to be held at Sulaibiya cricket ground today, July 30, 2012 at 9:30 pm and on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2012 at 9:30 pm. The selection trial is part of Kuwait Cricket’s intension to select the National cricket team to participate in the forthcoming ACC trophy (ODI format) which is slated to be held in UAE between Oct 1-12, 2012.

As per ICC eligibility qualification

White Sox 5, Rangers 2 At Arlington, Texas, Adam Dunn hit his major league-leading 31st home run, Philip Humber pitched six solid innings, and the Chicago White Sox won their fifth straight game by beating Texas.

Paul Konerko added a two-run homer for Chicago, which increased its AL Central lead to 21/2 games over Detroit. The White Sox have won the

ANTIGUA: In this image released by DigicelCricket.com, West Indies’ batman Narsingh Deonarine plays a shot off New Zealand’s bowler Chris Martin (unseen) during the first cricket Test match. —AP

Scoreboard DHAKA: Complete scoreboard of the one-off Twenty20 international between Bangladesh and the West Indies yesterday: Scoreboard at the end of the fourth day of the first test between West Indies and New Zealand at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

New Zealand first innings 351 West Indies first innings (overnight 442-6) C.Gayle c McCullum b Williamson 150 K.Powell c Van Wyk b Wagner 134 A.Fudadin c McCullum b Williamson 55 M.Samuels b Martin 28 S.Chanderpaul c Van Wyk b Martin 0 N.Deonarine b Martin 79 D.Ramdin b Bracewell 3 D.Sammy c & b Vettori 50 S.Narine run out 4 K.Roach not out 6 R.Rampaul lbw b Bracewell 1 Extras (lb-9, nb-3) 12 Total (all out, 163 overs) 522 Fall of wickets: 1-252, 2-304, 3-355, 4-355, 5-410, 6-428, 7-497, 8-502, 9516, 10-522 Bowling: Martin 30-9-134-3 (nb-3), Bracewell 29.3-5-96-2, Wagner 33-8112-1, Vettori 51-14-124-1, Williamson 20-2-47-2.

New Zealand second innings M.Guptill c Fudadin b Narine 67 D.Flynn lbw b Narine 20 B.McCullum b Roach 84 R.Taylor not out 11 N.Wagner not out 4 Extras (b-3, lb-7, nb-3) 13 Total (three wickets, 64 overs) 199 Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-170, 3-194 Bowling: Rampaul 6-0-25-0, Roach 13-1-44-1 (nb-3), Narine 26-5-67-2, Sammy 12-3-24-0, Samuels 3-1-22-0, Deonarine 4-2-7-0.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

sp orts

Chiefs to face Sharks in Super 15 final WELLINGTON: South Africa’s Sharks have crisscrossed the globe to reach the final of the Super 15 rugby tournament and now face one last, long journey to take on the Waikato Chiefs in the first-ever final played in Hamilton.

The Sharks were forced to travel 11,000 kilometers (7,000 miles) from Durban to Brisbane for their quarterfinal against the defending champion Queensland Reds and, having passed that formidable obstacle, flew another 11,000 km to Cape Town where on Saturday they beat the top-ranked Stormers 26-19. Already travel-weary and with a mounting air points balance, the Sharks will board another flight this week for a further 11,000 km flight to Auckland followed by a 120 km (80 mile) bus trip to Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island where the Chiefs lie in wait.

The Chiefs reached the final for only the second time in 17 years with a 20-17 win over the seven-time champion Canterbury Crusaders as both semifinals fell to the underdogs.

While the Chiefs won the New Zealand conference and finished second behind the Stormers in the overall standings they were still underdogs against the powerful Crusaders, who were playing their 14th semifinal in 17 years and who had never previously lost a playoff against a New Zealand opponent.

The victories of the Chiefs and Sharks over more

highly-rated opponents led to the least likely of finals in the least likely of venues. Hamilton, a rural service and university town 120 kilometers south of Auckland, is New Zealand’s fifth-largest city and the Chiefs draw their players from the smallest population base among the five New Zealand franchises.

On Friday, against all odds and expectations, they stared down the formidably experienced Crusaders whose appearance in the playoffs stages each season is almost a tournament tradition.

In a physical and sometimes spiteful match, in which clattering tackles led to errors and turnovers from both sides, the Chiefs emphatically declared they wouldn’t be intimidated by the Crusaders. They handed out some rough justice throughout the match when Canterbury players routinely infringed at rucks and mauls, particularly targeting the All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. The match was punctuated by flare-ups among the forward packs but South African referee Craig Joubert, with admirable restraint, kept a lid on emotion and didn’t issue a single yellow card in a tense match. The Chiefs outscored the Crusaders two tries to one, with all three tries coming in the first half. Prop Sona Taumalolo scored his ninth try of the season in his 50th match for the Chiefs to remain the leading New Zealand try scorer in the tournament.

When flanker Liam Messam ran onto a short offload from Sonny Bill Williams to score Waikato’s second try in the 32nd minute, he gave the Chiefs their largest leading margin of 11 points at 17-6. But the Crusaders hit back with a try to center Ryan Crotty on the tick of halftime, closing the margin to 17-11 at the interval and setting up a nerve-wracking second half in which the only points came from penalties. Crusaders flyhalf Dan Carter kicked two second half penalties for the Crusaders to one by his All Blacks understudy Aaron Cruden for the Chiefs. Carter, who surpassed 100 points for the season, had a chance to take the match to extra time with a penalty four minutes from fulltime but his attempt, from 45 meters, fell short.

“Their try before halftime certainly made the game interesting,” Chiefs captain Craig Clarke said. “They talk about good teams scoring before and after halftime and we talked about having to come out in the second half and be strong.”

The Chiefs disrupted Canterbury’s usually fluent attacking game by dashing up quickly on defense and placing intense pressure on Carter and scrumhalf Andy Ellis. Their ability to maintain that intensity throughout the match, especially in the desperate final minutes when Carter tried to set up a dropped goal, won the match.

“From a forward’s point of view, looking up from a

set piece and seeing our backs getting up and smashing guys does wonders,” Clarke said.

The Sharks also defended with courage to hold out a late rally by the Stormers and to book their latest airline ticket for the final. The Stormers seemed out of the match when JP Pietersen’s try gave the Sharks a 14 point lead with 20 minutes remaining. But Gio Aplon scored for the Stormers seven minutes later and the home team pressed relentlessly for the try that would have leveled the scores.

The Sharks held on to complete one of the most astonishing late season rallies in the history of Super rugby. They seemed almost out of the reckoning with only weeks remaining in the regular season but they won three of their last four matches, beating both the Stormers and three-time champions the Bulls, to grab the sixth and last playoffs place.

They then toppled the Australian and South African conference winners to reach the final and must now beat the New Zealand conference champions to clinch their first title. Neither the Sharks nor Chiefs have ever won a Super rugby title.

Coach John Plumtree said the Sharks had resolved during the break in the Super 15 schedule for June test matches - three weeks before the end of the regular season - to throw everything into a last-ditch bid to make the playoffs.—AP

Flawless Hamilton wins Hungary GP MIAMI GARDENS: Djamel Mesbah No. 15 of AC Milan is challenged by (center) Eden Hazard No. 17 of Chelsea as (left) Mathieu Flamini No.16 of AC Milan looks on during the Herbalife World Football Challenge.—AP

Milan edge Chelsea 1-0 MIAMI: With several offseason player departures and the absence of a top scorer, Urby Emanuelson showed how valuable he is to AC Milan.

Emanuelson scored in the 69th minute to lift AC Milan to a 1-0 victory over Champions League winner Chelsea in an exhibition match Saturday night. “It always feels good to score,” he said. “Tonight was a good test for us. We played well and I’m happy that I scored a goal.”

Emanuelson dribbled unmarked deep toward the Chelsea penalty area and, as defenders closed in, he sent a pass toward the left wing to Stephan El Shaarawy.

Shaarawy returned an immediate pass to Emanuelson, who beat Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech with a shot near the 6-yard box.

“We were standing good on defense, when we got the ball there was a lot of space to go to the goal,” Emanuelson said.

Emanuelson has scored both AC Milan goals in its two preseason matches. He also scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Schalke 04 Tuesday in Germany.

“Last year I played a lot of games and now it’s a chance to build on that,” Emanuelson said. “I want to feel important.”

Milan played without star striker Robinho, who could not leave his native Brazil because of a passport problem. Robinho is expected to join the club for an exhibition match against Real Madrid on Aug. 8 in New York.

“I’m very happy the way the team played,” Milan coach Massimilano Allegri said. “This is a team that has to grow and this was a very good step.”

Eden Hazard had Chelsea’s best attempt to draw level with 4 minutes remaining but his free kick near the edge of the box sailed a couple of feet above the crossbar.

“This is what pre-seasons are for, these are games to give young players a chance,” Chelsea head coach Roberto DiMatteo said.

The match at Sun Life Stadium was played before 57,748 fans, the highest of the 2012 Herbalife World Football Challenge and second-best for a football game in the stadium’s history.

“I’m not surprised because the four cities we went to had great support from the fans,” DiMatteo said after his team finished its fourmatch, preseason tour in the U.S. After a scoreless first half, both teams sought in an immediate strike in the opening minutes of the second half. In the 47th minute, Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia stopped Hazard’s shot from 20 yards. Milan nearly broke through 4 minutes later as Emanuelson dribbled deep into the goal area and flicked a shot that required Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech’s diving save.

Amelio was tested again in the 53rd minute when he stopped Frank Lampard’s shot from 20 yards. Chelsea had the first scoring opportunity of the match in the sixth minute when John Terry’s shot deep in the penalty area sailed above the crossbar.

The Blues controlled the ball for most of the first 20 minutes but could not mount additional scoring threats. Milan came into the game midway through the first half with several shots on Cech’s goal.

In the 26th minute, Bakaye Traore blasted a shot near the large area that sailed a couple of feet wide right. Boateng had another shot from a similar distance that also went wide of the right post. Traore pressured the Chelsea backline again in the 33rd minute as his shot from the right wing sailed above the crossbar.

Chelsea ended its North American tour with just one win from its four matches.—AP

BUDAPEST: Lewis Hamilton delivered a flawless drive from pole position to the chequered flag to win yesterday’s Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren and revive his challenge for this year’s Formula One drivers’ world championship.

The 27-year-old Briton took control of the race from the start and stayed in front, pit stops apart, as he resisted strong late pressure to come home ahead of Finland’s Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton’s win was his second of the year and the 19th of his career.

Raikkonen pushed hard to find a way of passing Hamilton in the closing laps, but the Englishman resisted despite having to fight to preserve his worn tyres.

Raikkonen finished a strong second ahead of his Lotus team-mate, Frenchman Romain Grosjean, and defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull. Current world championship leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari came in fifth, with Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Jenson Button finishing sixth. Alonso stays on top of the drivers’ standings, but Hamilton closed the gap and his victory in the much improved McLaren boosted his team’s hopes of mounting a challenge for the title in the second half of the season following the annual summer break. After 11 of this year’s 20 races, Hamilton is back in fourth place with 117 points behind Alonso on 164, Webber on 124 and Vettel on 122. As they climbed the podium, a grinning Hamilton said to Raikkonen: “It’s just like old times, Kimi.” Hamilton added:

BUDAPEST: British Formula One winner Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes (centre) celebrates with the trophy on the winners’ podium, as second placed Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (left) and third placed French driver Romain Grosjean of Lotus (right) looks on after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.—AP “An amazing day, fantastic work by all the team and the fans have been fantastic. Thank you for having us.

“I am looking forward to the continuation of the championship.

There’s a long way to go and a lot of work to do but we have shown we can compete. It is very, very close but we are going to give it all we can.” A less than ecstatic Raikkonen said that a problem with his car’s kinetic energy recovery system (Kers) was partly to blame for his inability to catch Hamilton.

“We came second, it’s not enough, but we had some problems with the

Kers,” said the Finn. “We had some speed and we’ll try to win the next race. At least we are up there all the time and we put ourselves in a good position but we are not happy until we win.” His teammate Grosjean added: “It was a fantastic race and we were fighting for the win but we wanted to get back onto the podium with the two cars and that’s what we did.”

On another hot day at the Hungaroring, where the air temperature was 32 degrees celsius and the track temperature 45 degrees, Hamilton had stayed cool at the start

when, after one aborted effort because Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes failed to start, he pulled away from pole position and into the lead. Behind him, with the race reduced from 70 laps to 69 because of the aborted first start, Schumacher started from the pit lane and collected a drive-through penalty for speeding when he came in for an early tyre change.

Schumacher ended a dreadful day in 24th and last place, seven seconds adrift of compatriot Timo Glock of Marussia. Hamilton went on to build up a lead of 2.1 seconds ahead of Grosjean, but that lead was cut down to less than a second as the Frenchman, on used softer tyres, closed on Hamilton, running on harder medium tyres.

In the searing heat, tyre-wear and management was a major factor and Hamilton’s teammate Button made a second pit stop after 35 laps to change to soft tyres.

McLaren had changed to a “plan B” for Button, understood to be a threestop strategy instead of two, although Hamilton stuck to a two-stop plan.

As Hamilton pitted again, Raikkonen enjoyed a spell in the lead before making another stop of his own in the hope that his fresher tyres would give him an advantage in the closing laps.

Hamilton’s lead increased to 4.4 seconds from Raikkonen and Grosjean with 20 laps remaining and, although the rapid Finn ate away at that gap, Hamilton battled successfully to preserve his tyres and win the race.—AFP

Wenger rues ‘fragile defence’ HONG KONG: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Sunday his side have “a lot of work to do” defensively before they are ready for the upcoming English Premier League campaign, following a 2-2 draw in Hong Kong.

The boss of the north London club said he was disappointed with his “fragile” defence, adding that several players who had taken part in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia were not yet ready to play in England’s top flight.

Wenger’s comments imply he may be tempted to delve into the transfer market to strengthen at the back, however he has a number of experienced defenders at his disposal who were left out of the tour because of a lack of fitness.

“Defensively we looked fragile, especially in the first half. In the second half not so much because we weren’t challenged,” Wenger said in the southern Chinese city following the draw to local outfit Kitchee. “We have a lot of work to do as a unit to defend much better,” he added.

The club shipped five goals in their three games in Asia, including one against a select Malaysian side on Tuesday and two against Manchester City in Beijing on Friday, much more than Wenger would have liked.

“We let everybody play today and some players are not yet at the level of the Premier League,” he said. “It’s a learning process. If you don’t do it in the pre-season, you never do it you know, to give them a chance to see what is requested at the top level.

“I played all the defenders during this tour to see who is ready, who is not ready, and we have (Bacary) Sagna and (Laurent) Koscielny at home, (Per) Mertesacker at home, so we have three experienced defenders at home.”

Arsenal started with a back four of Kieran Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Ignasi Miquel and Craig Eastmond. A capacity crowd of 40,000 filled Hong Kong Stadium to cheer on both sides, in a match that was much more competitive than some had anticipated.

Kitchee broke the deadlock after only seven minutes when Spaniard Yago Gonzalez Lopez neatly slotted the ball into the corner, giving Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny no chance.

England international Theo Walcott then pulled the match level on 23 minutes, passing the ball casually into the net after it broke kindly for him in the six-yard box.

Undeterred, Kitchee were ahead again only five minutes later when left-back Daniel Cancela Rodriguez lashed the ball into the roof of the goal from around 12 yards, giving the local side a 2-1 lead at half-time. Arsenal pressed but their lack of firepower was evident as they spurned a number of chances, highlighting how crucial striker Robin van Persie, left out of the tour after saying he wanted to leave the club, is to the team.

On 77 minutes Arsenal had their equaliser, however. Playmaker Gervinho skillfully took the ball to the byline before cutting it back to right-winger Thomas Eisfeld for the easiest of tap-ins.—AFP

10 Kuwaiti players shine at Manchester United’s training program in England Al-Khudhur recalled by United’s Soccer School for further training KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, yesterday announced the return of the 10 players who visited and practiced at Manchester United’s Cardington training ground in England as part of the five-season sponsorship agreement VIVA has with this world leading football club. All the players enjoyed a fully funded week-long training camp in Manchester, being trained by the team’s best coaches, and playing a game at Old Trafford, the club’s main stadium.

Khaled Faisal Al Khudhur was the star of the trip; his display of football skills and talents has persuaded MUSS coaches, to recall him to train at their facility in the future.

VIVA held an honoring ceremony for the 10 players at its headquarters on their return to recognize their efforts during the training course.

Commenting on the occasion, Eng. Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Badran, VIVA’s Chief Executive Officer at VIVA said: “We are very proud of each and

every player who went to MUSS and demonstrated their skills, and particularly Khaled Faisal Al Khudhur, whose unique talents were noted by the distinguished MUSS coaches.

“We were pleased to support all these young athletes in bringing them closer to their dream of becoming professional football players. VIVA is very committed to encouraging young people to develop their talents and hone their skills, and the Manchester United program is just

one of the many ways in which we attempt to do this.”

The top 10 players who trained at the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) from 8 July to 15 July were: Abdullah Meshari Al Yehia, Khaled Faisal Al Khudhur, Ali Mohamed Ali Al Mutawa, Sayed Abdullah Abdel Reda, Abdelrahman Adel Al Attar, Ali Mansour Abdullah Abl Sadeq, Bader Waleed Bader Al Qanaei, Meteb Fahad Nahar Al Mutairi, Duaij Al Duaij, and Mahmoud Mohamed Jawad Abdullah

Sadeq. Each of the players received practical sessions on football skills and football tactics, workshops on football formations, nutrition and psychology.

The training program focused on different technical areas, such as dribbling, short passing, turning and finishing. The programs were also designed to develop young players’ skills in other fields, such as tactical understanding, and mental, physical and social growth. In 2011, VIVA announced a five-year sponsorship agreement of Manchester United, starting with the 2011- 2012 Premier League season. In August 2011 VIVA started to provide football fans with the chance to win VIP tickets to watch Manchester United play at Old Trafford in England. To support its sponsorship, VIVA has also developed a number of exciting promotional offers and distinguished gifts, entertaining programs, interactive competitions, and organized a number of activities to provide the subscribers with chances to watch the club stars playing matches at Old Trafford.

18 MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

London 2012 learns again how to lose LONDON: Rule Britannia? Try cruel Britannia. An unrepentant ex-doper from Kazakhstan kissing his gold medal on the queen’s front drive was hardly how Brits had imagined Day 1 of their Olympics. Instead of a British champion in cyclist Mark Cavendish, they got Borat without the fun and a lesson in how to lose. As if they needed one.

The omens for Britain had been so good. Everyone figured Cavendish a.k.a “the Manx Missile,” on account of his ungodly speed in the finishing straight - as a sure thing. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, came to give Cavendish a royal send-off. The world champion also had Bradley Wiggins in his corner, ready to repay one good turn with another after Cavendish helped the rider now universally known across these isles as “Wiggo” (soon to be Sir Wiggo?) become the first Briton to win the Tour de France. “Cav,” the thinking went, would get Britain’s first gold of 2012 hopefully, the first of many.

Only hours earlier, director Danny Boyle had made maximum use of his license to thrill and ensured everyone

had a gas, gas, gas at the opening ceremony. If Cavendish could then follow James Bond and the rock of the Rolling Stones by kick-starting Britain’s medal count, then London 2012 would be off to the best possible beginning. IOC President Jacques Rogge himself had said beforehand how important an early British medal would be to the mood and atmosphere of the London games.

But what’s that phrase about best laid plans going awry? Alexander Vinokourov had it memorized. Wiggo huffed, puffed and gave his all, as did Cav’s three other teammates in their Team GB jerseys, as they guided and pulled him across the English countryside. They’d hoped to maneuver their human rocket into a sprint finish on The Mall, the road that leads to Queen Elizabeth II’s rather large pad. But Vinokourov shot off too far ahead to be caught.

Britain agonized long and hard before these games about whether its own ex-doper cyclist, David Millar, deserved a spot on Team GB. After strong-arming from the World AntiDoping Agency and sport’s highest

court, which ruled that Millar and other Britons who served doping bans can’t be barred from the games for life, British Olympic officials held their nose and let him in.

Kazakhstan, as far as we know, had no qualms fielding Vinokourov. Unlike Millar, now an ardent and eloquent campaigner against doping, he’s never been keen to come clean about his past, the blood doping at the 2007 Tour de France and his subsequent two-year ban. Nor was he about to start now, not after the Grand Duke of Luxembourg hung the gold medal around his neck on the top step of the podium set against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace.

“I’ve turned the page on 2007. I’ve shown and proved to everyone that Vino is still here,” he said. “Today is not the day to talk of that.”

Just because Vino says so doesn’t actually make it so. Still, American rider Chris Horner said Vinokourov has served his time, “done the same drug tests all of us have done” and should be cut some slack.

“I haven’t seen anything out of him that tells me that he’s still doing any-

thing sketchy,” Horner said. “Those are the rules and that’s the way it is. It’s crazy to think that those are the rules and you come back and then all of a sudden everybody still wants to hang you.”

Well, not exactly. But a “sorry” from Vinokourov would have been good.

Millar’s readiness to address his doping, why and how he started and his subsequent repentance, has made it easier to forgive him.

But, hey, that’s sports. Win some, lose some, sometimes to people who don’t feel quite right. As the British say, on T-shirts and tea mugs, Keep Calm and Carry On. There will be medals aplenty for Team GB in the two weeks ahead.

Plus, it wasn’t all negative. The monster crowds - pre-race estimates of about 1 million looked on the mark - that lined the 250-kilometer route Saturday from the British capital through rolling countryside and back again had a jamboree, at least until Cavendish proved the streets of London aren’t paved with gold.

If their enthusiasm is a foretaste of things to come, Rogge has nothing to

worry about. The landmarks of London - the queen’s palace, the royal guards in the bearskin hats whose band regaled the crowds with the James Bond theme and music from “Chariots of Fire,” the lush parks - provide pathos and stunning images. Even without gold from Cav, one felt London 2012 will still be quite a party.

“Exceptional. Even at the Tour de France, I’ve rarely seen so many people,” French rider Sylvain Chavanel said.

“Insane,” Horner said, “but to a degree that it was just absolutely, probably, the most dangerous and crazy race I’ve done, for sure.”

And besides, it’s not as if Brits don’t know how to lose. Learning how to laugh off defeat is practically the only way to stay sane for a country that invented modern football but hasn’t won the World Cup since 1966, and hasn’t seen a British man win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

Richard Jones, a Londoner who hustled over to Buckingham Palace, got the tone just right when Cav didn’t deliver. “I was there when he didn’t win it!” he yelled. —AP

US NBA stars rip France in opener LONDON: Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Shahar Peer at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon at the 2012 Summer Olympics. —AP

Murray, Sharapova win at Wimbledon wash-out LONDON: Hail and heavy rain caused chaos at the Olympic tennis at Wimbledon yesterday as play was forced indoors for the first time in 100 years. Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova were among just a handful of winners under the Centre Court roof, which was hastily closed after a cloudburst as play was about to get under way. Out of a schedule of 43 matches, only three results were possible by 6:00 pm (1700 GMT). Olympic tennis had not been played indoors since Stockholm 1912. Despite the disruption, Murray and Sharapova both enjoyed the first Olympic wins of their careers. The Scot beat Swiss flag-bearer Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3, while French Open champion Sharapova thrashed Israel’s Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-0.

It was a cathartic victory for Murray, who was back on Centre Court for the first time since crying tears of frustration after his Wimbledon defeat against Roger Federer exactly three weeks ago.

The 25-year-old, who had hoped to become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, brushed aside Federer’s compatriot to set up a last-32 clash with Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen or India’s Somdev Devvarman. Murray admitted he had been keen not to repeat his first round exit in Beijing at the hands of Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun. “I was disappointed with the way I played in Beijing. I didn’t understand what the Olympics meant to me,” he said. “I know how much that loss hurt me and I wanted to come here as well prepared as I could be. Today was a

good start.” For Sharapova, beating Peer meant more than just a place in the last 32 as the Russian finally got to savor a taste of the Olympic experience-as she chases a career “Golden Slam” of all four grand slam titles and Games gold.

Sharapova missed Beijing 2008 with a shoulder injury and the world number three looked determined to make up for lost time as she reached the second round for the loss of just two games.

The 25-year-old, who carried her country’s flag at the Games’ spectacular opening ceremony at the Olympic Park on Friday, will play Britain’s Laura Robson or Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic for a last 16 berth. Meanwhile, world number two Agnieszka Radwanska endured more Centre Court woe as the Polish second seed was beaten 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 by Germany’s Julia Goerges, less than a month after her Wimbledon final defeat to Serena Williams.

The 23-year-old was the first Pole to reach a Grand Slam singles final since 1939 when she got to this year’s Wimbledon title match, an achievement which lifted her to a career-high second place in the world rankings.

But she was unable to recapture that magic under the Olympic banner and stumbled to a lacklustre defeat against the world number 24, who was making her Games and Centre Court debuts.

Goerges, who served 20 aces and hit 56 winners, will play Varvara Lepchenko of the United States or Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg in the last 32.

“It was great,” she said. “I know if I play well it’s dangerous for anyone and that’s how it was today. It was a lucky day.” —AFP

US impress despite Wieber heartbreak LONDON: Jordyn Wieber’s dream of emulating her World Championship title with Olympic gold ended in tears yesterday as she failed to qualify for the women’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around final.

While the United States shone in qualifying for the team event, the 17-year-old from Michigan was left in tears as she missed out on a place in the individual final by the narrowest of margins.

Wieber’s score of 60.032 was the thirdhighest of the session but because she was beaten by two of her own teammates, Alexandra Raisman (60.391) and Gabrielle Douglas (60.265), she will not be able to compete in Thursday’s final.

“It is a bit of a disappointment,” Wieber said, before pledging to throw her support behind her USA team-mates.

“It has always been a dream of mine to compete in the all-around final of the Olympics but I’m proud of Aly and Gabby and happy that they reached the allaround (final) and that I was able to help the team get to the finals.” Wieber had been expected to compete in the allaround final alongside Douglas but a superb 15.325 floor routine from Raisman saw the 18-year-old from Boston surge to the top of the individual standings at her room-mate’s expense. “She’s a really good friend and I know that she’s going to support me,” said Raisman. “I’m really proud of her and I hope that she’s happy with how she did today.” — AFP

LONDON: With US First Lady Michelle Obama and a host of top US Olympic athletes watching them, the American collection of NBA stars sent a message to Olympic rivals-we’re ready for you.

Kevin Durant scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the United States over France 98-71 on Sunday in their opening game of Group A round-robin play at the Olympic men’s basketball tournament. “It was important for us to come out and make a statement for ourselves,” US guard Chris Paul said. “We are the most talented team on paper. You don’t win a game on paper.”

After the victory, US players traded hugs with Obama, who had also watched them in a pre-Olympic exhibition game in Washington. Also in the stands were some US Olympians who were not competing yesterday. “We’re representing all the country,” US playmaker LeBron James said. “We understand that every time we step on the floor, it’s about the name on the front of the jersey (USA) not the one on the back (of a player).”

Kevin Love added 14 points for the NBA multi-millionaire squad while Kobe Bryant had 10 points. James and Carmelo Anthony each had nine as the Americans rose to 55-1 since revamping the team after taking bronze at the 2004 Olympics.

“It’s a huge responsibility,” Paul said of defending 2008 Olympic gold. “We don’t take that lightly. We know about what we’re here for. That’s what makes this special.” For spectators, what made the game special were some spectacular slam dunks and fast breaks by the US stars, especially from Durant, the reigning NBA scoring champion.

“We just played with attitude, fighting for each ball, defending hard and getting every rebound,” Durant said. “That’s how we beat teams that are hard to beat. We just have to play hard and we’ll be fine. “ Durant produced two electrifying back-to-

back slam dunks in the early minutes-one off a half-court-length pass from James in a game that became a romp after the opening quarter.

“I threw it because I could get it to him,” James said. “He got it with one hand, dribbled it and finished it off. “KD is on this team for a reason. We don’t need him to be reserved.” The US NBA stars led only 22-21 after the first quarter, but began the second quarter with an 11-0 run, stretching the margin to 12 points and keeping the French

dominant US side flexing its muscles to the finish.

“The first half they were able to slow the game down,” Anthony said. “The second half we were able to shut them down.”

In their first Olympic meeting since the US squad outlasted France 85-75 in the 2000 Sydney final, the Americans served notice by half-time that this matchup would not have such drama in the final minutes. “It seems like we get better as the game progresses. We have to get better at

LONDON: US guard Kobe Bryant (right) is challenged by French guard Tony Parker during the Men’s Preliminary Round Group A match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. —AFP fighting an uphill battle. “Defence is our strength. I’m glad we could take advantage of it,” James said. “We’ve still got room for improvement. We had too many turnovers (14). We can cut down on the fouls (26). We can get more rebounds (56).”

The Americans pulled ahead 52-36 by half-time and from there it was simply a

the start,” Paul said. “We learned a lot of different things about how the game will be officiated. You have to adjust every game.”

Ali Traore led France with 12 points while San Antonio Spurs playmaker Tony Parker added 10 in a losing cause. “USA played a great game, especially defensively,” Parker said. —AFP

Neymar the star as Brazil bounce back LONDON: Neymar showed just why the world’s top football clubs want to sign him with a virtuoso display as Brazil came from a goal behind to beat Belarus 3-1 at a packed Old Trafford on Sunday.

Spanish giants Barcelona are the latest leading club to have expressed an interest in the 20year-old and it was easy to see why as, thanks largely to Neymar’s brilliance, they qualified for the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament with a match to spare.

Belarus took a shock lead in front of a crowd of more than 66,000 at the home ground of English giants Manchester United.

But from then on Brazil battled back in this Group C clash, with Neymar setting the seal on a superb display with a 65th minute free-kick bent over the wall and beyond the reach of diving Belarus keeper Aleksandr Gutor.

Brazil, five-times the world

champions but still seeking a first Olympic gold medal, were 1-0 down when Belarus’s Renan Bardini Bressan opened the scoring with an eighth minute header.

However, Neymar then took centre stage, crossing for AC Milan star Pato to equalise, then putting Brazil in front and also

setting up Oscar for the clinching third goal.

Earlier at Old Trafford, Egypt’s last eight hopes suffered a setback when they were held to a 11 draw by New Zealand. The All Whites took the lead through a 16th minute strike from Chris Wood, who plays his club football

LONDON: Brazil’s Neymar (right) vies with Belarus’ Aleksei Kozlov during the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s football match between Brazil and Belarus at Old Trafford. —AFP

for English Premier League West Bromwich Albion.

Mohamed Salah equalised from close range shortly before the break and the Africans could have had several more goals by the final whistle but instead squandered a host of chances.

Now Egypt must beat Belarus on Wednesday to get to the quarter-finals while New Zealand will have to cause one of the great upsets by defeating Brazil if they are to go any further in this tournament than the group stage.

Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani dos Santos scored both goals in Mexico’s 2-0 Group B win over Gabon at the City of Coventry Stadium.

Giovani, who struggled to earn a place at White Hart Lane under former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute after coming on as a second-half substitute and then scored from the penalty spot in injury-time. This was Mexico’s first win of the tournament and it kept their quarter-final hopes alive. —AFP

19

London 2012 Olympic Games

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Rhode makes US history LONDON: World recordequalling shooter Kim Rhode earned a place in the US record books yesterday after destroying the field to win women’s skeet gold as China fired an ominous warning to their rivals.

Thunderstorms lashed the Royal Artillery Barracks throughout the day but the American took advantage of a dry spell to put on a flawless display in the final, hitting all 25 targets to take her overall score to 99 out of 100.

Earlier, as rain hammered on the roof of one of the temporary venues in south London, China’s Guo Wenjun showed nerves of steel, coming from behind on the very last shot to successfully defend her 10m air pistol Olympic title.

Rhode’s win means she becomes America’s first individual medallist at five straight Olympics after medals at Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

China’s Wei Ning was a distant second, winning silver with 91 hits. Danka Bartekova of Slovakia took bronze after a shoot-off.

Rhode, 33, won golds in women’s double trap in Atlanta in 1996 and in Athens in 2004, taking bronze in the event in Sydney in 2000.

She switched to skeet full-time when women’s double trap was discontinued as an Olympic event after Athens, and grabbed silver in the discipline four years ago in Beijing.

“One got away but everyone misses every now and then,” said a delighted Rhode, who then vowed to go on and on.

“I know that I felt very comfortable in that final round and through the match and was really ready. I felt that I had done everything I could and there wasn’t anything more and I was just going to let the chips lay where they may.” “It’s just been an incredible journey and ultimately I couldn’t be happier for bringing home the gold for the United States,” she added.

Speaking about her American first, she said:

LONDON: US Kimberly Rhode competes in the skeet shooting women final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks. Rhode took the gold medal and scored a new Olympic record of 99 points. —AFP “I don’t think it’s hit me yet. I’m sure later on tonight that the record and everything that represents (will hit me). Right now I’m just focusing on my second event... and hopefully we’ll be looking at 2016. I’m not looking at this being my last Olympics.”

Rhode missed just one target out of 100, in the morning qualifying session, equalling the world record and setting a new Olympic mark.

Gold for Rhode, who will also entered in the trap, comes after flight problems forced her to miss her team’s training camp in Denmark. Her four-month-old puppy even ate her plane ticket.

Earlier, protected from the elements, China won their second shooting gold of the Games, when Guo, with her final effort, shot a 10.8, just 0.1 points short of a maximum score,

drawing gasps from the packed crowd.

That meant she overhauled France’s Celine Goberville, who had led going into the last round. Goberville could only manage 8.8, putting her level on points with Athens 2004 gold-medallist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine. In a shoot-off, Goberville recovered from her disappointment at missing gold and secured silver. Ice-cool Guo, 28, who said her motto was, “Never give up”, maintained she always felt she had a chance of gold going into the final shot-even though she was trailing by 0.5 points.

“I just focused on doing my best on the final shot,” she said, adding: “I think everyone is good, I just never give up.” Guo finished with a total score of 488.1, 1.5 points ahead of Goberville. —AFP

At London, yesterday 10 of 14 medal events 22 of 302 total medals.

Britain 0 1 Nation G S B Tot China 6 3 2 11 Colombia 0 1 US 3 3 2 8 Cuba 0 1 Italy 2 3 2 7 Poland 0 1 South Korea 2 1 2 5 Romania 0 1 Kazakhstan 2 0 0 2 Taiwan 0 1 Brazil 1 1 1 3 Belgium 0 0 Hungary 1 1 1 3 Canada 0 0 Netherlands 1 1 0 2 Moldova 0 0 Russia 1 0 2 3 Norway 0 0 Australia 1 0 1 2 Serbia 0 0 North Korea 1 0 1 2 Slovakia 0 0 Georgia 1 0 0 1 Ukraine 0 0 Japan 0 2 3 5 Uzbekistan 0 0 France 0 1 1 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Japan’s Oiwa rubs salt into dressage rivals’ wounds

LONDON: Tamas Kasas (left) of Hungary defends against Filip Filipovic of Serbia in a preliminary water polo match at the 2012 Summer Olympics.— AP

Croatia and Spain open water polo with wins LONDON: Croatia used a late surge to pull away for a 8-6 win over Greece yesterday in the opening match of the men’s water polo competition at the London Olympics.

With the score level at 5-5 after three quarters, Croatia netted three unanswered goals from Niksa Dobud, Miho Boskovic and Sandro Sukno to take control of the match.

“It was a bit nervous start for us, the first two quarters, and after we started to play more aggressively our quality came to give us the result,” Boskovic said. The win puts Croatia, one of the leading medal contenders in a crowded field in London, atop Group A with world champion Italy and Spain.

Spain opened its Olympic campaign in Group A with an easy 14-6 victory over Kazakhstan behind five goals from Filipe Perrone Rocha.

“It was amazing, we feel like we were flying in the water,” Rocha said. “To score five goals is perfect, but the most important thing is that we were playing amazing and that we beat Kazakhstan.”

Alex Giorgetti scored twice to lead 2011

world champion Italy past Australia 8-5 in the third match.

The 12-team field is broken down into two groups of six for the preliminary stage, and the top four teams from each group advance to the knockout round.

The marquee matchup on day one of the competition is later yesterday in Group B between three-time defending champion Hungary and gold medalfavorite Serbia.

Hungary, which is looking to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold, hasn’t lost an Olympic match in 12 years, a streak of 17 games that dates back to the Sydney Games. Serbia, meanwhile, has been the most impressive team in the past few years, and has its sights set on the nation’s first water polo gold as an independent nation.

Two other serious medal contenders also face off in the final game of the day between the United States and Montenegro. The U.S. is looking to improve upon its second-place finish in Beijing four years ago and win the Americans’ first water polo gold since 1904. In the other Group B match, Romania plays host Great Britain.—AP

LONDON: Japan’s Yoshaki Oiwa outshone a posse of more established stars to take the lead in the individual Olympic Games eventing standings at the conclusion of a stormy dressage session yesterday. Oiwa, riding Noonday de Conde, and who begins every performance by spreading salt over himself and his mount, leapt to the top with a score of 38.10 — raising his top hat in celebration at Greenwich Park.

Italian Stefano Brecciaroli, on 38.50, was in second with New Zealand legend Mark Todd, Olympic gold medallist in 1984 and 1988, and last of the 74 competitors to step into the ring, third on 39.10. The Germans, with three of their riders in the top 10, were in pole in the team competition from Australia with Great Britain placed third and New Zealand and Sweden in a tie for fourth.

Britain were helped by an honourable Olympic debut from Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, with grandfather Prince Philip and mother the Princess Royal, watching from the stands.

For Oiwa, third in the 2010 Asian Games, but only 49th at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, this was a red letter day, and after emerging from the arena he lapped up the applause from the Japanese fans. The 36-year-old, whose pre-performance superstition involves sprinkling salt over himself and his horse, comes from a sporting family-his aunt was a Japanese champion figure skater and uncle, a swimming silver medallist at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

“I still can’t believe I’m leading,” he beamed. “Probably everybody in Japan is in a state of shock! Just look around, there aren’t many Japanese journalists here, no one was expecting it.”

Oiwa added: “Before I began my horse was spooked by lightning, but after a few minutes listening to me she calmed down.”

Asked if he had ever dreamt of being in the lead at the Olympics he shook his head, only for Todd, appearing alongside him at a press conference, to chip in: “Yes, he dreams about this every night!”

Phillips, meanwhile, who just scraped into

LONDON: Karin Donckers from Belgium competes with her horse Gazelle De La Brasserie in the equestrian eventing dressage phase at Greenwich Park. —AP the top 25 with a score of 46.10, was revelling in her first Olympic appearance.

“It’s incredible to be selected for the team and to be here at home in London is an amazing feeling and I just want to do my best for the team,” said the 2006 world champion.

“The Olympics is the greatest show on Earth and it is incredible to be here and to be competing for my country.” On her horse’s performance she added: “This was High Kingdom’s second biggest test, after the Burleigh Horse Trials, he’s only getting better.” “Although he’s inexperienced he’s coped with the crowds well. He is a chilled character.” Lying in 15th in the individual classification was a Buddhist monk, Japan’s Kenki Sato, who scored 40.20 with Chippieh. He commented: “It is really special I am sure I am the first monk to be an Olympic rider but I am not so prefect a monk and not so perfect a rider.

“Every morning I close my eyes and think of getting better.” After Saturday’s sunshine came the storm, leaving one competitor positively fuming.

Todd’s veteran teammate Andrew Nicholson was made to wait for 10 minutes by the judges as the arena was hit by heavy rain and lightning.

“They didn’t mind the thunder and the lightning and the rain earlier, and then suddenly it’s a 10-minute delay,” said the Kiwi. “It was a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. I thought the British were meant to be sporting people. I’m serious.”

Britain’s Tina Cook was in the middle of her routine when the roof on one of the judge’s wooden huts came loose in the wind.

She commented: “When the judge’s roof went up I was a bit worried and there was some muttering from the crowd because they didn’t like the weather, but it was okay because he kept focussed and I was able to keep a lid on things.”

The eventing continues today with the cross country for which organisers are forecasting a 50,000 crowd, with the competition concluding in the show jumping ring tomorrow. — AFP

Britain’s Radcliffe out of Olympics LONDON: Veteran British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe withdrew from the London Games with a foot injury yesterday. There had been prolonged speculation the 38-year-old world record holder, who has never won an Olympic medal of any color, would pull out because of her foot problem and Radcliffe confirmed her exit in a statement yesterday.

“From the day when it was announced that London had won the bid, taking part and performing well in the London Olympic Games has been a major goal in my life,” Radcliffe said. “The goal of a fifth Olympics in my home country, what better? The chance to make amends to myself for bitter disap-

pointments at the previous two Olympics.

“Through a lot of tough times it has kept me fighting, motivated and focused. That is why it hurts so much to finally admit to myself that it isn’t going to happen,” added Radcliffe, who will be 42 by the time of the 2016 Games in Rio. Radcliffe, whose career has been blighted by injury and illness, tried to put a brave face on her crushing disappointment. “My sport is a beautiful sport, it gives so much fun and enjoyment, I believe it helps me to be a better person, and I have been very fortunate to experience some great success and have so many beautiful and happy memories,” she insisted.

“However, the downside is that it can break your heart and spirit many times over when your body is simply unable to match

what your heart and brain want it to do.

“Sadly mine is not a career or a hobby where mind over matter can work when your body is hurt, nor where giving less than your best each day can ever work.”

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee added: “This is obviously a disappointing day for Paula and our sport, but it was important to her that if she made the start line it would be in the best possible shape. “It wasn’t meant to be and she has taken the right decision to withdraw at this stage,” the Dutchman added.

“I think it is important that we don’t look at Paula’s career in Olympic cycles. She is undoubtedly one of the greatest female distance runners of all times and still holds the marathon world record. —AFP

US NBA stars rip France in opener

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

18

LONDON: Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo clears 131 kilograms on her second clean and jerk attempt for a world record during the women’s 53-kg, Group A, weightlifting competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Inset) Germany’s Julia Rohde competes during the weightlifting women’s 53kg Group B at the Excel Center in London during the 2012 London Olympic Games. —AFP

Chinshanlo wins 53kg class LONDON: Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo set a world record in the clean and jerk as she powered to Olympic gold in the women’s 53kg class yesterday to claim a cash bonus from her country’s president. The twotime world champion, 19, snatched 95kg and then registered a best of 131kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 226kg.

Asian champion Hsu Shu-Ching of Taiwan took silver with a total of 219kg (96, 123), on

countback from Moldova’s Cristina Iovu, who took bronze with 219kg (99, 120). “I want to celebrate the gold medal by drinking a glass of beer.

Actually, I am only able to drink half a glass,” said Chinshanlo, who was not too upset at just missing out on breaking the world record in the total with a narrow miss at 135kg in the clean and jerk.

“On the last lift I had a plan to break the record but I failed. I am a bit disappointed.” Chinshanlo said that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev had been in the stadium to watch her claim the central Asian country’s second gold medal in as

many days following Alexandre Vinokourov’s win in the men’s cycling road race.

“He came and said congratulations, but I won’t tell you how much money he will give me.

I am afraid I will be robbed,” she said with a laugh. The Chinese team, looking to repeat their Beijing Games form, made a bad tactical blunder, Zhou Jun failing to register a mark in the snatch after opting to compete in the ‘B’ group.

Zhou offered up a low 150kg entry total, having recorded 220kg in domestic competition. But after waiting for all her rivals to finish, Zhou

Dutch, Argentina cruise as Kiwis stun Australia LONDON: Defending champions The Netherlands eased to a 3-0 win over Belgium while World Cup holders Argentina coasted to a 7-1 victory against South Africa on the first day of Olympic Games women’s hockey.

Elsewhere, New Zealand pulled off a 1-0 victory over former champions Australia, while Asian Games champions China outplayed South Korea 4-0.

Kim Lammers fired two field goals and Caia van Maasakker capitalised on a late penalty corner to launch the Dutch campaign with a sound win over hard-working Belgium in Pool A. The Dutch dominated the game, but were kept at bay until Lammers opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when she shot in after picking up a long pass from Eva de Goode.

Lammers was again on mark in the 42nd minute on a pass from Ellen Hogg before van Maasakker rounded off the scoring in the 60th with a low penalty corner drive.

Captain Luciana Aymar converted two penalty corners in the first session to lead Argentina’s scoring spree against the South Africans.

Josefina Sruoga, Silvina D’Elia and Noel Barrionuevo scored from penalty corner action while Martina Cavallero and Carla Rebecchi fired in field goals as Argentina stamped their authority over South Africa in Pool B. The South Africans got a consolation goal through Dirkie Chamberlain on a counter-attack.

New Zealand rode on an early goal from Cathryn Finlayson in the Pool B match to score their maiden victory in the Olympic Games against rivals Australia. It was the first time the Black Sticks had taken even a point off Australia in the Olympics. They had always lost by at least three goals in the past. Finlayson scored from a corner in the third minute with a follow-up shot from eight yards after the initial drive by New Zealand captain Kayla Sharland had been saved. New Zealand were the more cohesive team but both sides created enough chances to have added to the score. “It was not pretty, we were lucky.

They hit the post,” said Kiwi coach Mark Hager. Australian coach Adam Commens admitted his team paid for missing opportunities. “We created enough chances, and when you do so you should be able put the ball in,” he said.

China came back to form after two lean years with what their coach Kim Sang-Ryul described as an “unbelievable” win over South Korea in Pool A. China had not beaten their Asian rivals in their previous nine matches. “Everything went right for us today. I have had faith in this team. Others doubted me. Such a result against Korea,” said Kim. Ma Yibo helped by scoring her side’s first and last goals with penalty corner shots, the others came from Zhao Yudiao and Li Xongxia.— AFP

failed three times to register a snatch at 95kg.

“The basic move went totally wrong,” she said.

“I don’t know what happened on the platform. I just couldn’t find how to relax in my body. My condition today was bad. “It was the coach’s decision,” Zhou added of her snatch entry weight, with only three lifters in the ‘A’ group having registered similar or higher. The clean and jerk was given some extra spice when Turkey’s Aylin Dasdelen, in the running for a medal after nailing 91kg in the snatch, failed to register a mark in the clean and jerk. Dasdelen, who finished fourth at

the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the -58kg class, and a twice world silver medallist, bombed out after two failed attempts at 129kg.

That left the baby-faced Chinshanlo to step forward to roars from the crowd that included London Games chief organiser Sebastian Coe. As the packed stadium at the ExCel arena slowly hushed, Chinshanlo paced the lifting dais, slowly approached the barbell and threw the weight up just metres away from Coe. “What an outstanding piece of sport,” beamed Coe. “What composure for a 19-year-old.” —AFP

Farcical scenes in judo q-final

LONDON: Roccio Sanchez Moccia of Argentina takes evasive action from a shot

by Jennifer Wilson of South Africa during the preliminary round women’s field hockey match of the London 2012 Olympic Games. —AFP

LONDON: The Olympic judo quarter-final between world champion Masashi Ebinuma and Cho Jun-Ho of South Korea descended into farce yesterday after Cho was awarded victory, only for his Japanese rival to be declared the winner moments later.

The under-66kg fight remained level after a five-minute contest, plus an extra three minutes of golden score, meaning it went to a judges’ decision.

All three judges on the mat awarded the bout to Cho, clad in blue, but the International Judo Federation’s Refeering Commission then intervened. Following frantic discussions on the sidelines, referees director Juan Carlos Barcos, who had been seen consulting federation president Marius Vizer, called the judges over and seemingly told them to change their minds. The three judges then went back onto the mat and having originally all lifted blue flags denoting a Cho victory, this time thrust up three white ones instead.

Ebinuma was declared the winner and although he lost to eventual gold medallist Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia in the semis, both he and Cho went on to take the two bronze medals.

When the original decision was made it brought protests from the crowd and Ebinuma felt that helped him. “I thought I was going to lose but there was all this support in the spectator seats and that allowed me to get this medal,” he said.

“But I’m feeling a bit bad for (Cho).” Having matched Ebinuma’s medal, the Korean let sleeping dogs lie.”Initially I thought I had won but when it was reversed I was a little sad,” he said.

“But I had my remaining fights to focus on and I hoped (Ebinuma) would get a good result because he beat me. We both won

bronze so I’m happy.”

Federation general secretary Jean-Luc Rouge told AFP the move was made as it was believed an Ebinuma attack had not been scored.

“The referees weren’t told to change their minds, they were merely reminded about an incident (an attack by Ebinuma that could have scored) that should have influenced their decision,” he said. “It had escaped their minds but having reconsidered it they then gave their modified verdicts.”

When put to him that the incident had been damaging for the federation, Rouge added: “It’s better that the federation is damaged rather than judo.”

The crowd, who were upset over the original decision and jeered loudly, became even more vocal following the farcical overturn and Cho was afforded a standing ovation as he left the mat. Already, during the sudden death golden score period, the referees commission had overturned the award of a winning score for Ebinuma by the judges — the incident the commission then reminded the judges to consider in their later decision.

For the first time at the Olympics, video replay technology is being used to review contentious scoring but the over-rule of a judges decision following a draw has never been done before. The federation later put out a statement trying to clarify its ruling. “The International Judo Federation (IJF) is strongly committed to equity and, as part of our sport judo, to the development of all the tools that in our competitions help the referees to make the right decisions, so that the best fighters win. “In order to achieve this, a video system was set up and has proved successful. “The referee and the two judges of the fight, after having received the details from the experts commission, decided to change their decision and give victory to the Japanese. “The IJF states that this is the final and right decision.” — AFP

Driven by China sales, luxury goods challenge slowdown

Business

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India is likely to keep rates on hold: Analysts Page 23

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Wary consumers, trade curb US growth in Q2 Page 26

Lexus unveils 2013 ES 350 and ES 250 in Kuwait Page 25

PARIS: Picture shows an illustration made with a figurine and euro coins. Europe’s economic crisis has deepened, with a slump in German confidence, worsening British recession. —AFP

Continued pressure for bailout fund Euro-zone crisis heads for September crunch BRUSSELS: Over the past couple of years, Europe has muddled through a long series of crunch moments in its debt crisis, but this September is shaping up as a “make-or-break” month as policymakers run desperately short of options to save the common currency. Crisis or no crisis, many European policymakers will take their summer holidays in August. When they return, a number of crucial events, decisions and deadlines will be waiting.

“September will undoubtedly be the crunch time,” one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the antibailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens. On top of that, the eurozone has to figure out how to help its next wobbling dominoes, Spain and Italy - or what do if one or both were to topple.

“In nearly 20 years of dealing with EU issues, I’ve never known a state of affairs like we are in now,” one euro zone diplomat said this week. “It really is a very, very difficult fix and it’s far from certain that we’ll be able to find the right way out of it.” Since the crisis erupted in January 2010, the euro-zone has had to rescue relative minnows in Greece, Ireland and Portugal as they lost the ability to fund their budget deficits and debt obligations by borrowing commercially at affordable rates. Now two much

larger economies are in the firing line and policymakers must consider ever more radical solutions. If Spain, the euro-zone’s fourth biggest economy and the world’s 12th, loses affordable market financing the next domino at risk of falling is Italy - the eurozone’s third biggest economy and a member of the G7 group of big wealthy nations. A bailout of Spain would probably be double those of Greece, Ireland and Portugal combined, while Italy’s economy is twice as large as Spain’s again. The European Union has already agreed to lend up to 100 billion euros to rescue Spanish banks. One euro-zone official said Madrid has now conceded that it might need a full bailout worth 300 billion euros from the EU and IMF if its borrowing costs remain unaffordable.

Deflating life raft The euro-zone does not seem to have enough cash in the current setup to deal with a scenario of Spain and Italy needing a rescue, and a sense of doom is growing among some policymakers.

Fighting the crisis, said the euro-zone diplomat, is like trying to keep a life raft above water. “For two years we’ve been pumping up the life raft, taking decisions that fill it with just enough air to keep it afloat even though it has a leak,” the diplomat said.

“But now the leak has got so big that we can’t pump air into the raft quickly enough to keep it afloat.”

Compounding the problems, Greece is far behind with reforms to improve its finances and economy

so it may need more time, more money and a debt reduction from euro-zone governments. If Greek debt cannot be made sustainable, the country may have to leave the euro-zone, sending a shockwave across financial markets and the European economy.

Sept. 12 is a crucial date in the European diary. On that day the German Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule on whether a treaty establishing the euro zone’s permanent bailout fund, the 500 billion euro European Stability Mechanism (ESM), is compatible with the German constitution. A positive ruling is vital, because Germany is the biggest funder of the ESM, and the euro zone would be powerless to protect Spain or Italy without the ESM. On the same day, parliamentary elections are held in the Netherlands where popular opposition to spending any more money on bailing out spendthrift euro zone governments is strong. The Dutch vote may complicate talks on a revised second bailout for Greece, which also has to be agreed in September. Athens wants two more years than originally planned to cut its budget deficit to below 3 percent of GDP, so as not to impose yet more spending cuts on a country which is already in a depression.

This would mean Greece’s 130 billion euro second bailout package may need to be increased by 20-50 billion euros, according to estimates by some euro zone officials and economists, and there is no appetite in the euro zone to give Greece yet more

extra money. More importantly Greece needs to bring its debt, which is equal to 160 percent of its annual economic output, under control. This means euro zone governments, which own roughly two thirds of it, may need to write part of it off. Private creditors have already suffered a huge writedown in the value of their Greek debt holdings but so far euro zone taxpayers have not lost a cent on any of the bailouts.

Last chance options Policymakers are working on “last chance” options to bring Greece’s debts down and keep it in the euro zone, with the ECB and national central banks looking at also taking significant losses on the value of their bond holdings, officials said. If governments swallowed the bitter pill by also accepting a cut in the value of their contributions to loans already made to Greece, this would break a taboo and could provoke demands for similar treatment from Ireland or Portugal. Peter Vanden Houte, chief economist at ING bank, said euro governments might be forced to accept a halving of the value of their Greek debt - known in the business as haircut.

“If Greece is to be saved, we must see some debt forgiveness from euro zone governments in the coming years because otherwise Greece is never going to come out of the situation it is in now,” he said. “We are talking about potentially a 50 percent haircut, which would still mean the Greek debt

Market relief no cure for Spain’s economy MADRID: Vows of support for the eurozone calmed financial worries about Spain this week but could not polish its economy, whose recession is set to deepen as unemployment nears 25 percent. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi delighted investors Thursday when he vowed “to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro,” which implied the bank may ease credit conditions by buying bonds or making cheap loans.

“We hope Draghi’s words will last and will serve as an oxygen tank for the financial markets in the coming weeks,” said analysts at brokerage Link Securities in a report.

But they added: “This does not mean the problems of the economies of southern Europe are over.” After Draghi’s comments, Spain’s sovereign interest rates eased back from danger levels and Madrid’s stock market shot up on Thursday and Friday, recovering some of the huge falls of previous days. The government Friday dismissed warnings that Spain might need a full international bailout as economists have warned.

But Spain’s economic and financial problems run deep, the legacy of a decade-long real estate boom that went bust in 2008 with the debt crisis. The International Monetary Fund warned Friday that the Spanish recession would be worse than previously thought, forecasting a contraction of 1.7 percent this

year and of 1.2 percent in 2013. Spain’s economic growth figures for the second quarter were due to be released on Monday by the national statistics office.

The Bank of Spain last week estimated the contraction in growth has accelerated in the second quarter to 0.4 percent, after falls of 0.3 percent in each of the previous two quarters. Under pressure from European authorities who have agreed to bail out Spanish banks, Spain’s conservative government has approved tens of billions of euros’ worth of spending cuts, tax hikes and other measures to cut the deficit and restructure the economy.

Critics say the the poor will suffer unfairly from moves such as a public sector bonus cut and a rise in sales tax that together will hit consumption. “All the spending cut policies they are taking are restrictive and run counter to growth,” said Alberto Roldan, an analyst at Spanish brokerage Inverseguros. “Raising the fiscal pressure in a country with 25 percent unemployment is absolutely regressive.”

Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have marched noisily in the street over recent weeks in protest at the measures. Labour unions have threatened a general strike and have called for fresh demonstrations on September 15. Figures from the national statistics office Friday showed Spain’s jobless rate rose in the

second quarter to 24.63 percent and a huge 53 percent among the under-25s, despite the tourist season which usually boosts jobs.

The job losses “are further blows for households already struggling to cope with poor real income developments and the prospect of a sharp VAT hike,” wrote Raj Badiani of analysis group IHS Global Insight.

“Very low consumer confidence will weigh down heavily on spending in late 2012 and 2013, adding further tensions to a faltering economy,” he added.

The Spanish government’s latest unemployment forecast is for a rate of 24.6 percent at the end of 2012, easing to 24.3 percent in 2013 and 23.3 percent in 2014, but some economists made darker forecasts.

Analysts at financial group Citi forecast unemployment would average 24.7 percent in 2012 and climb to 26.1 percent next year. Badiani forecast the rate would top 25 percent in late 2012 and early 2013. Economists were waiting for the European Central Bank’s next policy meeting on August 2 to see if it announces concrete measures. “The crisis in the eurozone is as much about growth as it is about debt,” wrote John Higgins of consultancy Capital Economics. “Buying sovereign bonds does nothing to address the fundamental problem of a lack of competitiveness that plagues troubled euro-zone countries.” —AFP

would be (proportionately) around the euro zone average.” The euro zone would want concessions from Athens. “Most probably in exchange, euro zone partners will be more strict on Greek compliance with structural reforms and may ask Greece to give up some sovereignty,” said Vanden Houte. While no official discussions are underway on another Greek debt restructuring, euro-zone officials say privately it may be necessary if Greece is to have a fighting chance. “The Greeks might say they are in such a mess that to survive they we need to ease up the austerity a bit, and to still regain debt sustainability they will have to default on 30-40 percent of the loans,” one euro-zone official said.

“There would be a lot of people saying this is understandable, so maybe this makes sense and maybe we could have a reasonable discussion among the member states on how Greece can move forward,” the official said. The official speculated that euro-zone debt forgiveness for Greece could be made dependent on progress in structural reforms or that it could be reviewed once Athens has to start paying back the capital of the loans in 10 years. “Maybe we could agree to give debt relief of, say, 25 percent to make possible some changes in the programme. Then we implement that for six months or a year and maybe we find out that we need to give them another 25 percent and at the end of the day we might get to a stable situation,” the official said. —Reuters

Dubai’s Emaar’s H1 profits surge 82% DUBAI: Dubai-based real estate giant Emaar Properties said yesterday it posted an 82 percent surge in net profits in the first half of 2012 as retail and hospitality grew, costs fell and a write-off was not repeated. The developer of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, saw its net profit in the first six months rise to 1.22 billion dirhams ($332.4 million), compared with 671 million dirhams ($182.8 million) in the corresponding period last year, a company statement said.

Net profits in the second quarter of 2012 more than doubled to 614 million dirhams ($167.3 million), compared with 250 million dirhams ($68.1 million) in the second quarter of 2011, when the company wrote off 172 million dirhams ($46.87 million) investment in its loss-making Dubai Bank.

Revenues in the first half stood at 3.921 billion dirhams ($1.06 billion), two percent down from 4.014 billion dirhams last year, while costs dropped to 1.723 billion dirhams ($469.48 million), compared with 2.023 billion dirhams ($551.2 million).

The hospitality and retail sectors contributed 51 percent to revenues, with rental and retail businesses, mainly malls, generating earnings of

1.3 billion dirhams ($354 million), 23 percent up from the same period last year. Dubai Mall hosted around 30 million visitors in the first six months of 2012. Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said that Dubai’s property is turning around after crashing in 2009 because the global financial crisis dried up available finance for the overheated sector.

“The real estate market in Dubai is turning around, led by the robust performance of key growth sectors including aviation, retail, hospitality, tourism and foreign trade,” he said.

“The city’s appeal to high net worth individuals as the ideal destination for a home is also gaining strength.

Emaar’s financial results for the first half of the year reflects the growing strength of Dubai’s economy,” he added. The company said it recorded sales exceeding 1.6 billion dirhams ($436 million) in the first half of 2012 in Dubai, approximately five times more than the same period in 2011. A major developer throughout Dubai’s five-year real estate frenzy, Emaar has succeeded in diversifying its business, focusing on hospitality and retail, while also spreading its real estate business activities abroad. —AFP

22

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

BUSINESS

Driven by China sales, luxury goods challenge slowdown Companies optimistic on year-end growth PARIS: Fuelled by surging demand in China, luxury goods makers are bucking the global economic slowdown and reaping huge profits on sales of highend handbags, expensive jewellery and posh perfumes. Results for the first-half of 2012 released this week showed major brands, including world leaders LVMH, PPR and Luxottica with rising profits driven by growing sales in emerging markets. The results beat analyst expectations and allayed fears that the cooling down of China’s economy would dampen luxury sales.

Company bosses even expressed confidence that year-end figures would show continued growth.

Paris-based LVMH, whose assets include jeweller Bulgari, fashion house Louis Vuitton and a string of brands, said Thursday its net profit was up 28 percent in the first half at 1.68 billion euros ($2.06 billion). Sales were up 26 percent, with 29 percent of revenues coming from Asia outside Japan, the group’s largest market. “We approach the second half of the year with confidence,” company CEO Bernard Arnault said, with LVMH noting the “global market (is) experiencing strong growth” despite “an uncertain economic environment in Europe.” Another leading French luxury and retail group, PPR, said the same day its first-half net profit was up 5.9 percent to 477 million euros, following a 17 percent jump in sales.

PPR’s sales of luxury goods, which

include fashion brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and jeweller Boucheron, were up by nearly a third, compensating for a 9.2 percent drop in sportswear sales dragged down by its Puma brand.

“Business in greater China remained

maker in the world, said its first-half profits jumped 20.6 percent to 195.5 million euros. The company, which produces Oakley and Ray-Ban sunglasses as well as eyewear for Chanel and Prada, said sales rose by just one per-

SHANGHAI: A woman leaves a luxury shopping mall. Chinese shoppers are increasingly buying luxury goods in mainland China, turning away from high-end stores abroad and in Hong Kong. — AFP extremely buoyant, with sales climbing by an overall 21.5 percent, fuelled by a 24.4 percent surge in mainland China,” the company said of its luxury division.

Italy’s Luxottica, the biggest eyewear

Credit Suisse cuts back ME private banking research DUBAI: Credit Suisse has moved the head of its Middle East private banking equity research division to Geneva, two sources told Reuters yesterday, the latest European bank to scale back research roles in the region. Kamran Butt will support private banking sales in Switzerland with market research after spending six years in Dubai, two people familiar with the matter said. “Other analysts from outside the Middle East will be covering the local market here,” one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is not public, said.

Credit Suisse could not immediately be reached for comment. The Swiss bank unveiled measures this month to boost its capital base in response to criticism from the central bank, and also announced new cost cuts, including at the investment bank, although some analysts have called for even more radical steps. Leading global investment banks have been cutting research staff in the Middle East to save costs amid tough global conditions and a dearth of work in the region. In the past year, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank have cut top equity research jobs while Japan’s largest bank Nomura has shut down its research department, sources told Reuters.

Middle East private banking staffing is down about 30 percent in the last two years due to redundancies and relocating staff to other regions, the second source said. — Reuters

cent in Europe but were up 35 percent in emerging markets. The results echoed similar figures released earlier this month by French luxury goods group Hermes, which reported first-half

sales up 21.9 percent to 1.59 billion euros, with Asian sales excluding Japan up 25 percent.

Analysts say China now accounts for about 40 percent of the global luxury goods market and that Chinese appetites are driving sales not only in the country but abroad, as Chinese tourists often rack up sales while on foreign trips. Despite high taxes on luxury goods in mainland China, companies are also increasingly expanding into its retail market, with PPR alone opening 22 stores in China in the first half of the year.

Still, analysts are warning that some sort of slowdown in luxury goods sales is to be expected if China’s red-hot economic growth continues to cool.

China’s economy grew by a still-strong 7.6 percent in the second quarter, but the expansion was at its slowest pace in more than three years as global economic problems started to hit the world’s second-largest economy.

Thomas Mesmin, an analyst at CA Chevreux, said it was inevitable that a global economic downturn would have an impact on luxury goods. “Saying that luxury goods are resistant to the crisis sounds good, but it’s wrong.

There is a fairly strong correlation between the development of the global economy and the luxury market,” he said. “We are accustomed to caviar, but we’re probably going to have to eat a little more salmon,” he said.

Poor S African kids unlikely to escape poverty: World Bank JOHANNESBURG: Inequalities in South Africa are threatening economic growth, with children born into poor families unlikely ever to escape poverty or reap the rewards of living in Africa’s largest economy. The World Bank’s sobering assessment released last week found that a child’s gender and ethnicity at birth, combined with a lack of education, largely determine that person’s chances of success in lifeeven 18 years after the end of apartheid.

“South Africa, the continent’s largest economy by far and its only G-20 member, displays strikingly high and persistent inequality and marginalization for an upper middle-income country,” said the report. Although South Africa has made great strides in transforming the economy, which has produced one of the continent’s fastest-growing black middle classes, poverty levels and unemployment remain high outside urban centres.

South Africa is often compared to Brazil, which also has a huge income gap, but while the Latin American country has narrowed the divide over the last decade, here the chasm is as deep as ever, the World Bank said. The richest 10 percent of South Africans account for 58 percent of the nation’s income, while the bottom 10 percent accounts for 0.5 percent, the Bank said. The bottom half earns less than eight percent of the nation’s income.

The country will struggle to grow the economy until its riches are spread more evenly, the Bank

said. Sharp economic and social inequalities were especially visible along racial lines, said the report, with whites largely shielded from economic hardships thanks to privileges inherited from the fallen apartheid regime.

“Peering past the first-world living conditions of urban South Africa, it is not too hard to see the downcast situation of townships, informal settlements, and former homelands,” said Sandeep Mahajan, who headed the report. “Our results show that a South African child not only has to work harder to overcome the disadvantages at birth due to circumstances, but having done so, finds that these reemerge when seeking employment as an adult,” he said.

The report said residents of these areas were usually unemployed or lacked the means to look for jobs, as they were disconnected from the job market. Unemployment in the first quarter of 2012 rose to 25.2 percent, up from 23.9 percent in the previous quarter, and black people form the bulk of the jobless. Modest economic growth, which averaged 3.2 percent since 1995, had proved “insufficient to absorb the wave of new entrants to the labour market from dismantling apartheid’s barriers”, the report said.

Labour analyst Andrew Levy said challenges of inequality were “deep rooted and not unique to South Africa”. — Reuters

Fragility of euro needs daily encouragement

By Hayder Tawfik

O

n Thursday, the European Central bank, president said that “The ECB will do everything in its power to preserve the euro”. Very encouraging statement.

Investors around the world pushed global stock markets higher and the Euro bounced back by a mere 0.5 percent! What the ECB president said is very clear, that they Hayder Tawfik will do everything at their disposable to “Preserve” the euro, not the value of it or come to the help of the euro nations who need further financial help. Is it a coincidence that the ECB president comes out with such statement a day after Moody’s, the credit rating agency put Germany on its credit watch for a possible downgrade! I think it is not a coincidence as I said on so many occasions the ECB is not acting as an independent central bank for the whole euro-zone members.

The reaction of the European stock markets and the good performance which followed in the US and on Friday in Asia shows how nerves investors are of missing a long waited bull market rally. I am a strong believer that most of the bad news is discounted already and any hints of some financial or economic measures are welcomed immediately. I think investors are aware of this and they just need reassurance and encouragement on daily basis.

Long term inventors should divorce themselves from the animal herd mentality and take advantage of the sell off and accumulate top quality stocks which are trading way below their intrinsic value. The crisis in Europe are not going away by daily statements from central bankers or some politician who have no idea how to tackle the problems apart from keep pumping money into the system.

At last, maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Is Europe waking up after spending years, borrowing money on a big scale then spending it without any accountability? We remember the days of borrow and spend and when faced with crisis, just devalue and to hell with investors. Hopefully, those days are over. I am not that optimistic at all. However, investors around the world have said what they think and warned and now they are carrying out their warnings. European politicians should take note of this. We have to be fair to history too. Banks around the world in particular in Europe and US have played a big part in creating the mess we are all in now.

They were the facilitators and in doing so made huge profits and warmed up to politicians for personal benefits now some of them paying the price for it.

How do we know that politicians are waking to the fact? Because whatever decisions taken by politicians are immediately rejected. Just look at the daily demonstration taking place in Spain, Italy and Greece even in Germany and France. They call the crisis in Europe a financial one. I totally disagree. It was created by politicians and now it requires those same politicians to solve them. Central bankers have done most of what is required from them.

Literally short term interest rates in Europe and US are zero. Even long term rates are just above 1 percent. How much more they can do? People in Europe have lost trust in politicians to solve their problems. I have doubt in trusting these politicians to come up with solutions, because they don’t know themselves where to start. The crisis is too big for them to handle. They need men or women who have great vision and who prepared to take decisive actions. Unfortunately not many of them around these days, at the same time people need to accept the facts and start changing their behaviour. I always say that good economics start at home. Politicians should be determined and tell the truth and stick with it. Part of this truth is that some people and countries have benefited a lot out of the euro crisis and now they should come to the rescue and help, because otherwise the snow ball will engulf everyone. They should put self interest aside and work together for the benefit of all.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2797210 .4341140 .3390920 .2822760 .2747220 .2880150 .0050240 .0021460 .0761870 .7422620 .3956460 .0746120 .7268320 .0466200

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2812000 GB Pound/KD .4364080 Euro .3408850 Swiss francs .2837680 Canadian dollars .2761740 Danish Kroner .0458160 Swedish Kroner .0405370 Australian dlr .2895380 Hong Kong dlr .0362490 Singapore dlr .2233160 Japanese yen .0035930 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0765900 Bahraini dinars .7461850 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0750070 Omani riyals .7306740 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

3.553 5.072 3.053 2.141 3.173 220.090 36.173 3.425 6.439 8.876 89.338

.2851140 .4424830 .3456290 .2877180 .2840180 .2935680 .0051200 .0021880 .0776560 .7565720 .4032730 .0760500 .7408440 .0475190 .2833000 .4396670 .3434300 .2858870 .2782360 .0461580 .0408400 .2917000 .0365200 .2249840 .0036200 .0050880 .0021740 .0030080 .0034780 .0771620 .7517580 .4007070 .0755670 .7361310 .0067920

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.883 77.158 729.380 745.850 76.464

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.250 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.466 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.309 Tunisian Dinar 176.65 Jordanian Dinar 396.190 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.884 Syrian Lier 4.899 Morocco Dirham 32.64 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.700 Euro 354.52 Sterling Pound 441.820 Canadian dollar 274.79 Turkish lire 152.400 Swiss Franc 295.01 US Dollar Buying 279.500 GOLD 293.000 148.000 75.250

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

292.700 751.680 3.730 278.700 555.100 46.000 46.900 167.800 48.140 345.600 37.140 5.330 0.032 0.161 0.237 3.710 400.540 0.191 91.700 43.600 4.340 224.900 1.831

47.700 734.190 3.100 6.980 78.180 75.470 225.390 36.490 2.692 442.000 41.500 287.700 4.400 9.290 198.290 77.060 283.000 1.360

10 Tola

GOLD 1,705.960

Sterling Pound US Dollar

734.010 3.002 6.715 77.750 75.470 225.390 36.490 2.155 440.000 286.200 4.400 9.100 76.960 282.600

COUNTRY

SELL DRAFT

291.200 751.680 3.449 277.200

225.400 46.571 344.100 36.990 5.050 0.031

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 440.000 282.600

SELL DRAFT

294.51 281.95 289.17 345.07 282.00 441.81 3.68 3.455 5.030 2.161 3.168 2.990 76.85 750.87 46.52 401.76 733.93 77.87 75.41

SELL CASH

294.00 282.00 288.00 344.00 282.85 442.50 3.63 3.580 5.295 2.380 3.650 3.150 77.35 750.00 48.10 399.00 736.00 78.00 75.65

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 400.510 0.190 91.700 3.180 223.400

Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

Selling Rate

282.400 282.280 438.165 344.215

Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

286.125 747.650 76.865 77.515 75.270 398.085 46.538 2.151 5.053 2.991 3.451 6.705 692.730 4.605 9.010 4.400 3.265 88.875

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars

282.400 2.984 5.060 2.160 3.454 6.750 76.990 75.460 750.700 46.545 443.800 2.990 3.205 1.550 348.800 285.000

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

*Rates are subject to change

281.700 349.200 444.850 281.710 3.655 5.095 46.443 2.140 3.440 6.735 2.995 750.140 76.800 75.300

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

business

India is likely to keep rates on hold: Analysts India seen holding back on reforms

PARIS: Vintage cars pass by the Concorde square yesterday, during a parade as part of the fifth summer edition of the “Traversee de Paris Estivale” (“Summer Paris Crossing”), the largest gathering of classic vehicles in the French capital streets. — AFP

French consumer morale weaker than expected PARIS: French consumer confidence fell unexpectedly in July to its lowest level since February in the face of growing fears about unemployment as a slew of companies unveil plans for major layoffs, a survey showed. The INSEE official statistics office said that its consumer confidence index fell to 87 in July from 89 a month earlier. The June figure was also revised down from 90 originally. The reading, well below the longterm average of 100, fell short of expectations in a Reuters poll of 16 economists which had indicated an average forecast of 90.

The survey showed that a rash of headlines about factory closures and surging unemployment were taking their toll on consumer morale with the proportion of households reporting it to be a concern at the highest level since June 2010. The number of households expecting their personal finances to get tighter in the months ahead worsened while the number expecting their economic situation to get tougher

rose the most since November 2007.

France’s new Socialist government has made fighting unemployment a top priority but is struggling to halt a wave of layoffs in the face of a deteriorating economic outlook. The nation’s biggest carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen announced plans this month to cut 8,000 jobs in France and companies such as Air France, Alcatel Lucent and Sanofi also have job cuts in the works.

Unions have warned that up to 75,000 job cuts could be forthcoming as companies, many of which withheld plans to reduce their workforce until after elections in May and June, cut capacity in the face of a European downturn. The jobless total rose in June for the 14th month running to hit its highest level in nearly 13 years, according to labour ministry data on Wednesday. The consumer confidence figures bode ill for June consumer spending data due on Tuesday, with economists forecasting an increase of 0.6 percent on average over the month. —Reuters

Empty stomachs in N Korea as Kim eyes fiscal changes SEOUL: Talk that North Korea’s young leader plans to reform the broken economy is already having an impact. It’s helping send rice prices even further out of the reach of most families in one of the world’s most under-fed societies. Seo Jae-pyoung, a defector who now lives in South Korea, spoke this week to a friend in the secretive North who had furtively called him by mobile phone from a mountain-side to plead for cash to be smuggled across to help.

“He couldn’t cope with the high prices, saying rice prices had shot up ... and he is running out of money,” Seo told Reuters. “It shows that the economic situation is seriously worsening...I feel that...(it) has already reached the critical point and (leader Kim Jong-un) may know that without reform or openness, the regime is not going to last long.”

One of the reasons he and others gave for the price increase was rice hoarding by middlemen hoping that talk of reform would materialise into a chance to turn a profit. A source with ties to North Korea and its chief backer, China, told Reuters last week that the North is gearing up to experiment with economic reforms.

Evidence is hard to come by in the almost hermetically sealed and suspicious state, where casual contact with outsiders can mean imprisonment. And because it usually takes defectors many months to make their way out of the North to a country where they can speak openly, information can be out of date. But some of the defectors Reuters spoke to in Seoul said they were in clandestine contact with people inside the North. Reuters also spoke to foreigners who had gone to North Korea in recent months under government-sponsored visits.

The overall impression was that in the about seven months Kim Jong-un has been in office, there have been few tangible changes inside a country which is now, since Myanmar’s decision to open up, Asia’s last pariah state. “I’ve not heard anything to suggest any improvement for the rank and file there. And in some sectors, things continue to slide,” said one Christian activist with Helping Hands Korea, which works with refugees fleeing the North.

Kim, thought to be in his late 20s, is the third generation of a family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since its founding.

He took over when his father Kim Jong-il died in December. With international sanctions over weapons programmes, and the insistence of the Kims on food and resources going to the military first, the general population has been on the edge of starvation for decades.

Startling The effects of such prolonged meagre diets is one of the startling images of North Korea, making the chubby leader Kim stand out even more against his subjects. “What’s strikingly obvious is peoples’ stunted growth, they’re all very short for their age,” said one humanitarian worker who visited the North earlier this year.

“There’s always going to be a food shortage, The problem is, what they can produce, the best always goes to the best (top of society).” That elite refers especially to

the military, estimated at 1.2 million out of a population of 25 million.

According to North Korean defectors who still keep in touch with family and friends and Daily NK, which monitors conditions in the reclusive state, the price of 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of rice in the market was estimated to be at least one month’s salary.

But that, said one defector, is meaningless because the cash-starved state, the main employer, rarely pays salaries.

“Even if you are employed by the state, you do business in the market. If you are an office worker, you do business in the market in the afternoon ... There’s no way other than this to make it there,” said the woman, in her 30s, who asked not to be identified because she feared reprisals against family members still in the North.

She fled the North late last year.

“Basically, many people are doing restaurant business or selling things on credit and pay off credits later. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor.

Pyongyang has enough supplies but other areas fall short. So it is completely up to an individual’s effort. If you try hard to make money, you can survive. But if you don’t, you struggle,” she said.

She and other defectors said the authorities had been tightening their watch on the border with China, about the only route for escape. The dangers of crossing the border are compounded by the very high risk of being sent back to the North by Chinese authorities to face imprisonment or even execution.

Fear of reform North Korea has dabbled with reforms over the years but never stuck to them, forced to rely increasingly on China to prop up a rusting industry and broken infrastructure. Most recently, in 2009, it orchestrated the re-denomination of the currency, a move deemed so catastrophic that the official who initiated it was reportedly executed. None of the defectors Reuters spoke to believed the leadership would dare allow reforms that damage its grip.

Some thought the Pyongyang elite had been scared by the disastrous 2009 experiment.

Analysts say this fear of reform explains why the Kim dynasty has stuck so rigidly with a system that ensured the country was excluded from any benefit of being at the centre of the world’s most rapidly growing region-China, Japan and South Korea. While their economies have surged, North Korea’s has shrunk. Once wealthier than the South, its economy is now less than three percent of South Korea’s. Its population is half the size.

“I think even if it loosens up, it would only be partial. If it fully opens, the regime will collapse. People began to not trust the regime after the currency reform in 2009,” said the woman defector who said she fled because she could no longer tolerate the constraints on her life. Kim Yong-hwa, a defector who heads the NK Refugees Human Rights Association on Korea, was equally dismissive. “Is North Korea is planning to reform and open up? I thinkthe foreign press is over-reacting. The only thing Kim Jong-il left to Kim Jong-un is debt. He has no funds to run the regime.” — Reuters

NEW DELHI: Despite a slowing economy India will likely keep interest rates on hold this week as worries mount that a truant monsoon could drive up food costs and stoke still-high inflation, analysts forecast. Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central bank, made a half-percentage-point cut in April to jump-start Asia’s third-largest economy following an aggressive rate-hiking cycle that reduced inflation from double-digits. But since then, the bank has been holding back on easing monetary policy amid fears about the impact on the cost of living of a possible drought and the lack of decisive steps by the government to curb a gaping fiscal deficit.

“With below-normal monsoons and little (reform) policy action out of Delhi, the central bank is likely to keep rates unchanged” at its meeting tomorrow, said Leif Eskesen, HSBC’s chief India economist.

Wholesale inflation stands at 7.25 percent-far above the bank’s comfort level of five to six percent-while the consumer price index, which covers a smaller band of goods, is at 10.02 percent.

“Unless the bank sees a trend that inflation is actually coming down, I don’t see the RBI reducing interest rates,” Deepak Parekh, chairman of leading bank HDFC, told shareholders. Central bankers have reason to worry about rising prices with memories still fresh of India’s severe 2009 drought that sent food prices soaring and fuelled overall inflation, analysts say.

Also, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress party-led government has not made any significant strides toward scaling back hefty subsidies on food, fuel and fertilisers and cutting its sizeable fiscal deficit, analysts note. The bank is “waiting for heavy rain and a drizzle of (economic) reform” before it reduces rates, Eskesen said. Heavy government subsidies are pumping too much money into the system and are undermining monetary authorities’ anti-inflation battle, the bank maintains.

But the government is caught in a vicious circle as it attempts to reduce subsidy spending while the economy is losing steam. The economy grew at 5.3 percent between January and March-its weakest quarterly pace in nine years-and latest economic numbers have been discouraging. Industrial production was up a paltry 2.4 percent in May. There are big divisions about spending cutbacks among the ruling centre-left coalition’s members who fear voter anger. There is also discord over proposed reforms such as allowing entry of foreign supermarket chains-seen by economists as a vital step in removing bottlenecks in India’s antiquated foodsupply chain and reducing food inflation.

Singh, who unleashed India’s first wave of economic reforms, said this month he wants to restore the economy’s “animal spirit”. But coalition divisions have “again brought an air of uncertainty to the flexibility (Singh) has on revving up the pace of reforms”, said Ajay Bodke, investment strategist at Indian brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher.

Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to hold off on widely anticipated fuel subsidy and retail reforms because of renewed opposition from party colleagues and coalition allies, leaving budget targets in tatters and rattling investors. Members of Singh’s Congress Party and senior government officials told Reuters that no movement was expected until at least the second week of September, despite market expectations of an announcement

this week or the next.

The Indian rupee fell for a fourth successive session on Wednesday on growing worries of dithering on policy reform. Despite consultations with partners and state governments, it was not clear how Singh would be able to build a consensus on opening the $450 billion retail sector to foreign supermarkets like Wal-Mart Stores or on increasing fuel prices.

“Such an announcement will not be made unless a political consensus is reached,” one party leader said. A senior civil servant with knowledge of the reform agenda said “efforts are on” to allay fears of coalition allies and party members. He declined to give a timetable for implementing the policies. A month-long session of parliament starts on Aug. 8. While the government does not need parliamentary approval for the reforms, many Congress politicians said the party would find it hard to stomach protests from allies and the opposition. Singh took over the finance ministry portfolio after Pranab Mukherjee resigned in June to contest and later win election to the largely ceremonial role of the nation’s president.

The architect of India’s initial economic reforms in the 1990s, Singh has promised to revive the “animal spirit” of the economy and many investors had expected him to move in the period between Mukherjee’s election on July 19 and the opening of what is dubbed as the monsoon session of parliament.

Changing rules to allow multi-brand foreign retailers to operate in India was expected to be the first major announcement. But that plan hit fresh opposition from the Samajwadi (Socialist) Party, a Congress ally. “We urge the government not to open up the retail trade to FDI (foreign direct investment) any further,” Samajwadi leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and communist party leaders told Singh in a letter on Saturday that predicted

Russian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of energy Igor Sechin substitute inexpensive onshore oil and gas sites with far more expensive ones located offshore and in other remote locations,” said Renaissance Capital analyst Ildar Davletshin.

The unquestioned leader and instigator of this drive is Sechin-a quiet man with a past in Portuguese-speaking Africa that some link to Soviet military intelligence. His precise biography details have never been publicly confirmed. “If he takes something on, you can be sure that the job gets done,” Putin said of his fellow Saint Petersburg native in March. “This is very important for the executive.”

Russia’s steely ruler followed those rare words of praise by sending the 51-year-old to the day-to-day running of the company he

Already spent A senior finance ministry official told Reuters delays to reforms, especially raising heavily-subsidised fuel prices, meant India would struggle to meet the fiscal deficit target of 5.1 percent of the budget, or $91.4 billion. The government has already spent most of the $7.6 billion set aside for fuel subsidies in the 2012-13 fiscal year. To make matters worse, demand for diesel is expected to rise as farmers try to cope with poor monsoon rains by pumping more from wells. Subdued tax income and hiccups in plans to sell stakes in state-run companies are adding to pressure on the budget and subsidies for food are also rising, leading the government to mull asking for $5 billion-$7 billion beyond budgeted subsidy spending, the official said.— Agencies

AHMEDABAD: An Indian farmer sprays fertilizer in a paddy field. Indian farmers are desperately waiting for the long-delayed monsoon, the annual rains that replenish rivers and quench crops to keep this agricultural nation of 1.2 billion fed through the year. — AP

Feared Putin lieutenant making major of Rosneft MOSCOW: The man regarded as President Vladimir Putin’s most mighty lieutenant may now be just three months away from cobbling together the world’s biggest publiclytraded oil company for the Russian state. The last piece of the puzzle for Igor SechinRosneft chief and long-time surveyor of Russia’s globe-topping energy sector-would be clinching a deal to acquire British group BP’s troubled half of its TNK-BP venture in Siberia. But some see the rapid rise of Rosneft as part of a mad scramble in Russia by both the state and private players to pool resources as they seek to replace dwindling Soviet-era field output with the promise of untapped Arctic oil.

This consolidation “is based on the need to

massive job losses.

Shares of retailers fell as much as 7 percent after the contents of the letter were made public. Singh had introduced the retail plan last year but quickly abandoned it after protests in parliament and on the street. The plan to reduce subsidies on diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, that are aimed at India’s poor and rural majority, also looks in trouble because crop yields and farm incomes could be affected this year by poor rains.

Most Indians work in agriculture and political parties are loathe to hurt their pockets, especially since inflation has run at over 7 percent for two years. Singh’s office said this week that the rains in the June-September monsoon season that irrigate 55 percent of India’s farmlands were likely to be below average. The season accounts for 75 percent of the country’s annual rainfall and half of that is usually delivered in June and July. The oil ministry indicated this week that diesel prices wouldn’t be raised before September, and unlikely to cover the subsidy, putting more pressure on the budget.

had already overseen as energy sector tsar during the Putin’s 2008-2012 spell as premier.

Rosneft’s unlikely emergence began a decade ago when it first hoovered up the prized pieces of Yukos-a private firm that was not only the country’s largest but whose owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky openly fought with the state.

Khodorkovsky is now in jail on tax and fraud charges while Yukos exists only on paper. Its owners still blame Sechin of masterminding a dubious campaign as a top member of Putin’s administration to get Rosneft better control of oil. Rosneft now has some of the world’s largest proven reserves but is still suffering from lagging production. One recent state study said output may actually start falling across Russia by 2025 unless action is taken fast.

The firm’s response has been rapid and transformational for Sechin’s image abroad.

Three huge Arctic deals with world majors in the past year have seen Putin’s favourite turn into the pointman for oil executives in the West. Yet Rosneft’s prospects of becoming established as a bigger producer than ExxonMobil depend largely on what happens should it forge an alliance with the same tycoons who had served as BP’s acrimonious partners since 2003.

The Alfa Access Renova (AAR) billionaires were being treated with open disdain by some Rosneft insiders during a 2011 meeting that came just days after the group managed to block Rosneft’s initial Arctic tie-up with BPa deal masterminded by Sechin. One unnamed AAR shareholder assured Russian media this week that “I don’t see a big problem if BP decides to sell its stake in TNK-BP to Rosneft.”

To which UBS Investment Research responded that “while AAR is willing to accept Rosneft as a partner in TNK-BP, it is unclear at this stage whether Rosneft sees AAR as a long-term shareholder in the company.” The tycoons have entered their own talks to buy out BP. But they would just as easily sell their stake instead in exchange for the British group’s shares and cash-a deal that would make a Rosneft-BP alliance complete.

Yet no deal seems certain while some question the wisdom of Rosneft-its debt at $25 billion and no big cash project on hand besides the backup it gets from the stategoing after a BP stake estimated at around $30 billion. — AFP

News

in brief

Hungarian PM blames EU for economic crisis BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban lashed out at the European Union for failing to solve the bloc’s economic crisis on Saturday, a day after calling for a new economic system. “It must be said: The crisis is in fact Brussels’ crisis,” Orban told several thousand supporters during a visit to the prominent Hungarian minority in neighbouring Romania.

“Brussels is the main obstacle to finding ways to resolve the economic problems,” the conservative Hungarian premier said in Baile Tusnad, 230 kilometres (145 miles) north of the Romanian capital Bucharest. “Brussels wastes weeks defining the size of chicken cages, forcing farmers to put toys in pigsties, worrying that the peace of a goose’s soul is an important European issue while hundreds of thousands of citizens lose their jobs, watch their financial system collapse and feel it is getting harder and harder to survive,” he added. There are no “European recipes” to manage the debt crisis, Orban charged. He has repeatedly clashed with European Union officials owing to moves that would stem Hungarian media freedoms, stack members of his rightwing Fidesz party in key institutions and undermine the national central bank.

On Friday the outspoken Hungarian leader told entrepreneurs in Budapest: “We hope that it will not be necessary to introduce a new system to replace democracy, but we need new economic systems and new ideas.”

Greek steel workers end nine-month strike ATHENS: The union at one of Greece’s main steel plants has decided to end its nine-month strike, state television reported. Workers are expected to return Monday to the Hellenic Halyvourgia plant at Aspropyrgos west of Athens, where police have clashed with striking workers in recent weeks. The workers first downed tools last October, protesting lay-offs as well as cuts in working hours and in pay to 500 euros ($615) per month that were imposed amid Greece’s deep economic crisis. At a union meeting with 150 workers reported present, 107 voted to end the protest, while 14 voted against and 29 abstained.

They agreed to return to work as long as police forces now guarding the plant leave the premises. Last week, police intervened following a court order and opened the gates of the factory, meeting resistance from a group of strikers while others wanted to return to work. Some protesters were detained and later released, now awaiting trial, charged with breaching a court order that had outlawed the strike weeks ago.

The government said it had acted upon the wishes of the workers, while the radical left main opposition party Syriza and the Communist Party condemned the police action.

24

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

business

Brazil’s Rousseff pledges more economic stimulus Stimulus to focus on ports, airports, railroads, roads

Everyday tasks the new frontier in service jobs

Y

ou can hire Sara Fisher to straighten up your room. You can hire Amber Leigh Salisbury to straighten out your love life. And why stop there? You can call Deneane Maldonado when your child needs minding and Dennis Freeman when you want to improve your child’s mind. Of course, you could also do all those things yourself. But if you hire someone, you can save time, avoid stress, make your life less cluttered - and maybe even better.

By the way, you’ll also be fanning a series of small, glowing embers amid the ashes of the job market. Many American families are juggling an array of tasks every day.

And they are increasingly hiring people and companies to do what they can’t do - or don’t want to. “I am sure that the market is growing,” said Freeman, owner of In-Home Tutors Atlanta, which sends tutors to client homes. “On a good week, I pay about 100 tutors, who are working with maybe 150 students. People have a lot on their plates.”

The trend accelerated after the recession, starting in late 2007, cast millions of workers into unemployment. The lackluster recovery beginning in 2009 has not created enough jobs to pull all those people back onto payrolls. The result has been a huge supply of potential entrepreneurs. Many of them have started offering services - from dog-walker to rent-a-friend. Sue Cleere, for example, started She’s Wired LLC after being laid off by WebMD in late 2008, just as the economy was falling off a cliff. She installs technology, fixes problems and teaches her clients how to get the most out of their devices.

“They are not necessarily tech people, but they want the latest technology,” she said. “They are always looking for the next thing.” Right now, Cleere said, she has enough business

to consider taking on an employee or even franchising what she does in different cities. Many of her clients are themselves entrepreneurs who are running small businesses.

The trend extends through all sorts of personal needs, according to sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of a new book, “The Outsourced Self.” “Every stage of life has its corresponding market service,” she wrote. “I interviewed love coaches and wedding planners, birth surrogates and parenting counselors, paid friends and mourners-for-hire.”

Hochschild discounts narrow economic explanations. The trend, she argued in a recent email, has been caused by a conjunction of factors: growth in the two-job family, decline of community services and rising demand as more for-profit businesses get contracts to run public institutions like prisons, schools and parks. “What comes out as an economic ‘demand’ is a result, I’d argue, of a modern-day ‘perfect storm,’ “ she said. “So if we’re privatizing public life, the thinking is, why not privatize private life?”

Are these “outsourced” services just marginal jobs at the edge of the economy that will never amount to much?

E.J. Reedy, a research fellow at the Kauffman Foundation, which studies entrepreneurship, predicted that some will be able to “scale,” or expand to provide the same services to more customers by hiring more employees. Some services have already made the jump to a larger scale, creating many jobs. Nanny Poppinz Inc. - a project that Deneane Maldonado started two decades ago when she was a stay-athome mother - now has more than 3,000 nannies placed in metro Atlanta. A database with tens of thousands of names lets the company find nannies who fit client requests, she said. —MCT

ATLANTA: Certified professional organizer Sara Fisher organizes paperwork at a client’s home. — MCT

LONDON: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Friday her government will unveil more measures to stimulate the economy in the next few months, including investments in ports, airports, railroads and highways. Speaking to reporters in London, where she is attending the opening of the Olympic games, Rousseff also said Brazil’s economy will grow at a faster rate in coming months, despite the impact of the global economic crisis.

“We will move forward with our counter-cyclical program in August and September,” she said, referring to the slew of stimulus measures Brazil has deployed since the beginning of the year, such as tax breaks to stimulate consumer demand. The government does not rule out additional tax breaks, but the focus now seems to be on tackling the so-called “Brazil cost” - the mix of logistical bottlenecks, high taxes and other costs that make Brazil one of the world’s most expensive places to do business.

“We’re very worried about the country’s cost,” Rousseff said, citing plans to reduce electricity costs by lowering taxes for energy utilities. Brazil, which will host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later, has been struggling to improve and expand its infrastructure as its economy grinds to a near halt. After strong growth of 7.5 percent in 2010, the economy grew by just 2.7 percent in 2011. This year, economists are forecasting growth of as low as 1.5 percent.

Rousseff said additional stimulus measures will not compromise Brazil’s fiscal stability, even as some economists warn the country may miss this year’s primary surplus target - a measure of revenues left over at yearend that excludes debt payments. “We surely are on a path to stability. We will do all of that while maintaining our fiscal strength, inflation under control and keeping our social policies,” she said. — Reuters

Agriculture sector down on profit-making WEEKLY COMMODITIES UPDATE

By Ole S Hansen

T

he president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, reacted to the continuing deteriorating outlook for Europe and rise in borrowing costs for some euro-zone countries by saying that the ECB was “ready to do whatever it takes”. This resembled the now famous Jackson Hole speech by the US Fed’s chairman in 2010, when he signalled the introduction of QE1 later that year. The market took the comment by Draghi as a sign that the ECB will intervene to buy sovereign bonds issued by Spain and Italy, which both have seen borrowing costs reach levels where a bailout could become necessary.

The euro jumped from a two-year low and the dollar weakness generally helped commodities move higher as well. The chance, however, that this risk-on rally in currency markets turns out to another one of a relative shor t duration is ver y high, given the current north/south divide within Europe as to what can and will be done to save the Euro in its current set-up. In a change from recent weeks, the agriculture sector saw the weakest performance during the past week, as both the grains and soft sub-sectors suffered losses above four percent on the back of profit taking following a dramatic rally recently. US weather forecasters now sees the chance of rain to reach drought-stricken parts of the country but the risk - particularly for corn is that it is too little too late. Precious metals were the best performers, not least helped by a weaker dollar, with gold taking the lead after moving above previous levels of resistance at $1,610.

Oil markets finding support The strong rally in oil markets - which was kicked off in late June by geo-political concerns regarding Syria, Iran and most recently Iraq, together with lost supplies from a Norwegian oil strike - seems to have run out of steam as the macroeconomic sentiment continues to deteriorate.

The sanctions against Iran have proved very effective so far and exports from the country with nuclear aspirations have slowed to a trickle, removing an amount equal to what was lost during the Libyan conflict in 2011. The escalating tensions in Syria and worrying signs that it could spill over into Iraq have also unnerved the oil markets. All in all, this leaves the global oil market with less supply at a time of seasonal peak demand, and it has helped the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for more than 50 percent of physical transactions, to recover almost half of its March to June sell-off.

The rally has primarily been supportive for Brent crude as the tightness from lost Norwegian production and geo-political worries impacts this global benchmark the most. The front month futures spread between WTI and Brent crude has as a consequence widened by USD 5 dollars since the oil prices reached the low point on June 21.

Following the strong rally since mid-June, Brent crude has now settled into a 102 to 108 trading range while trying to decipher which leg to stand on. Geopolitical tensions and the chance of renewed quantitative measurements in Europe and potentially the US leaves the market supported despite weak macroeconomic conditions across many different economies.

Economic data from China has improved slightly recently, but at the same time oil imports in June were down 12 percent from May, which could signal that the rush to fill commercial and strategic reserves have begun to slow as they fill up. The building and filling of strategic storage facilities has been a Chinese aspiration, in order to bring its forward cover closer to 90 days which is what OECD nations generally have.

Speculative investors who got badly burned during

the June slump on overextended long positions have only slowly begun to rebuild long exposure, following sharp reductions in net-long positioning in both WTI and brent crude. This could indicate some hesitancy in getting too bullish at this stage, with higher prices from current levels not being justified, while support towards 100 dollar equally should contain any sell-offs until the market works out whether slowing demand from weaker economic activity or the risk to supplies carries the greatest risk.

Hot weather supports natural gas - for how long?

The dynamics in the US gas market have changed over the last couple of months as the heat wave across the country have significantly helped to reduce the overhang of natural gas held in underground storage facilities. As the chart shows the current surplus inventory over the five year average have now shrunk from 60 percent in March to just 16 percent today. The demand for gas has been strong enough to push the Aug12/Sep12 futures contract spread into backwardation (August price higher than September) which is a relatively unusual event this time of year but which also reflects the fact that demand for gas has generally been rising as the low prices during the early months of 2012 saw power generators replace coal with gas.

The summer related peak in demand generally occurs within the next couple of weeks and as demand begins to slow, with another few months still to go before winter heating demand begins to exceed injections, storage levels can still climb towards and above the record high of 3,852 billion cubic feet from November 2011 and on that basis further advances much above $3 will begin to find some resistance.

Gold back above 1600 - looking for momentum The yellow metal has taken a small initial step in its attempt to break out of the relatively tight trading range which has prevailed for several months this week. Spurred on strength against other currencies than the dollar, not least the euro combined with signs of renewed safe-haven interest it broke above previous resistance at 1,610. Whether this will be enough to drive it higher at this stage remains to be seen, as many view the recent dollar weakness as temporary and once the speculative overhang of long dollar positions has been removed renewed headwind from a strengthening dollar will make further advances difficult.

Hedge funds and other large investors are still holding a relatively small net-long gold position while ETP investors have scaled back their holdings from a recent record of 2,413 metric tons to 2,396 currently. The threat by Moody’s, the credit rating agency, might downgrade core European economies should support gold, as there are increasingly few quality investments available to the global investors looking to a safe place to put their cash. While these all offer some level of support to gold, the main driver for a move higher will be the emergence of momentum in the market, something that has not been seen for months. Whether this require a break above the June high at 1,641 or the 200 day moving average at 1,655 remains to be seen but at least for now gold has a fighting chance of that happening providing 1,600 holds up against any downside selling attempts.

US crops desperate for a drink The price of key US crops finally succumbed to some selling this week following one of the strongest rallies in recent memory, which resulted in the price of both soybeans and corn reaching new record highs. The selling was triggered by weather forecaster who predicted that some rain would finally hit some of the drought stricken areas of the US Midwest, bringing some temporary relief, and causing some selling by money managers who had been scrambling to build long exposure as prices surged higher. Further dry and hot weather is however expected for next week, and while corn crops in many areas are beyond repair, soybeans could still benefit from rain. This helps to explain why corn has been the relative better performer during the recent setback as the chart below highlights.

25

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

business

LexusES 350 unveils 2013

and

ES 250 in Kuwait

An elegant sporty style with spindle grill

KUWAIT: Toyota and Al-Sayer officials are pictured during the launch of the all-new Lexus ES lineup. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat KUWAIT: Toyota Motor Corporation’s & MNSS Kuwait has announced the launch of the all-new 2013 Lexus ES lineup including the ES 350 and ES 250. Featuring a progressive new design and enhanced handling, the 2013 ES sedan range is set to continue as a favorite of luxury car buyers in the region. The ES 350 is powered by a 2GR-FE V6 DOHC VVT-i engine, featuring advanced technologies and providing excellent acceleration feeling and sporty driving. The six-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) provides enhanced performance, fuel efficiency and smooth shifts. Low friction materials further improve efficiency. In addition to ES350, Lexus newly introduces ES 250 which is powered by a 2AR-FE I4 DOHC 4-Valve Dual VVT-i engine and has adopted various features such as roller rocker arm system which help achieve advanced engine performance and low fuel consumption.

Signature Lexus design The new ES features a lower, progressive profile, and clean, continuous styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions. The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 45mm, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just 25mm, resulting in a more spacious interior.

The new ES unmistakably bears the new face of Lexus with its distinctive, spindle grille. Oversized grille molding with a chrome plated finish and a grille with a dark gray metallic finish have been adopted, creating a sense of luxury. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps have been adopted, effectively ensuring nighttime visibility. LED daytime running lights which enhance product appeal while effectively ensuring visibility, and combination rear lamps which enhance appearance and fuel economy, reflect the “L” design motif.

Interior designed for comfort, spaciousness The modern interior of the 2013 ES has been designed to provide both a sense of openness and security. Sightlines and visibili-

ty are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin materials express a high level of craftsmanship. A newly sculptured seat enhances driver comfort. A power tilt & telescopic steering column has been adopted. The steering wheel position can be adjusted in the up/down and forward/rearward directions, ensuring an optimum driving posture. Fluid-filled engine mounts, new sound absorbing materials and a tuned engine intake minimize the intrusion of outside noise.

Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of the redesigned, more spacious cabin. The seat backboards have been made thinner to expand knee space for rear seat occupants.

Knee room is increased by 70mm and legroom is increased by 104mm. The new design also offers additional foot room below the front seats.

Available comfort and convenience features include manual door window shades, a power rear shade, and a one-touch power trunk closer. Optional ambient lighting, discretely placed under the wood trim, softly illuminates the surfaces of the instrument panel and all four doors.

The new ES will feature enhanced NuLuxe seating surfaces, developed to reduce environmental impact. Embossed leather is also available, as is semi-aniline leather for an even more refined look and feel. In addition to the Black, Light Gray and Ivory color schemes from the current generation semi-aniline interior colors, Criollo*1 has been newly added to the lineup for a total of four available color schemes.

Crisp, confident driving dynamics Suspension and steering changes and a stiffer body deliver more precise handling. Opposite-wound coil springs on the front suspension enhance straight-line stability. Revised rear suspension geometry and improved shock absorber damping characteristics enhance ride comfort. A reduction in the steering gear ratio delivers a more responsive and direct steering feel. Increased body rigidity is achieved through lightweight, high tensile strength steel, added bracing and additional spot welds. The ES

comes equipped with standard 215/55R17 low rolling resistance tires on 17-inch alloy wheels.

Driver-focused cockpit Designed with attention to ergonomics and driver focus, the cockpit features separate display and operation zones to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road. The instrument panel, with its long, layered look, places the main information display directly in the driver’s line of sight. Just below the center display is a dial-illuminating LED analog clock. Controls are clustered beneath the information zone, on the steering wheel, and on the center console. The second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, optional navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller conveniently located on the center console. RTI reduces eye and hand movement, helping reduce effort and distraction.

Safety features An array of safety features aid the driver. The available Blind Spot Monitor helps detect vehicles in side blind spots. Available Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is integrated with automatic high beam dimming technology. The available Pre-Collision System (PCS) uses sub-millimeter wave radar to detect obstructions and prepare the vehicle for a potential collision.

The brake control system features that have been adopted include: Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, TRaction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Emergency Stop Signal. A brake mechanism developed with the concept of braking performance that provides the driver with a sense of security has been adopted, realizing excellent brake feeling and anti-fade performance.

Ventilated front 17-inch(V6) or 16-inch(L4) disc brakes are available and solid rear 16-inch disc brakes have been adopted.

The ES features a segment-leading 10 airbags as standard equipment, including dual-stage SRS airbags for the front seats as

well as driver and front passenger SRS knee airbags, front and rear SRS side airbags, and full-length SRS curtain shield airbags.

Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats are designed to limit excessive head movement in certain rear-end collisions helping to decrease the severity of whiplash-type injuries.

26

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

BUSINESS

Wary consumers, trade curb US growth in Q2 Second-quarter GDP rises 1.5% WASHINGTON: US economic growth slowed as expected in the second quarter as consumers spent at their slowest pace in a year, potentially pushing the Federal Reserve closer to pumping more money into the economy. Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.5 percent annual rate between April and June, the weakest pace of growth since the third quarter of 2011, the Commerce Department said on Friday. First-quarter growth was revised up to a 2.0 percent pace from the previously reported 1.9 percent. Output for the fourth quarter was raised to a 4.1 percent rate from 3.0 percent.

“The economy is struggling to maintain altitude,” said Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica in Dallas. Dye made the comments before the release of the report. The ailing economy could cost President Barack Obama a second term in office when Americans vote in November.

The expansion following the 2007-09 recession is the slowest since the 1980-81 period and the recession itself was the deepest in the post-war period, annual revisions to the data showed.

The weak second-quarter reading, which was in line with economists’ expectations, could raise expectations of a third round of bond purchases, also known as quantitative easing, by the Fed. No major policy announcement is expected at the Fed’s two-day meeting next week, but many economists now say the central bank could move when policymakers gather on Sept. 12-13.

The economy has been hit by worries of deep government spending cuts and higher taxes

scheduled to kick in at the start of 2013, as well as troubles from the debt crisis in Europe. The biggest factor weighing on the recovery is fear that politicians in Washington would be unable to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff at the turn of the year, economists said. Recent economic data ranging from employment to manufacturing suggest limited scope for growth to bounce back in the third quarter.

Consumers hunker down Much of the slowdown in growth in the second quarter was caused by a softening in consumer spending as Americans eased off on automobile purchases due to tepid job and income growth.

Consumer spending, which makes up about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, increased at a 1.5 percent rate, a step down from the 2.4 percent pace logged in the previous three months.

Consumer spending was the weakest in a year.

Much of that reflected a drop in spending on long-lasting goods such as automobiles, which had buoyed consumption in the prior period. But there was some silver lining, with spending on services rising at a 1.9 percent rate, stepping up from 1.3 percent. Labor market weakness, marked by three straight months of job growth at less than 100,000 jobs per month, remains a major constraint to spending.

The economy needs to grow at a rate of between 2 percent and 2.5 percent to keep the unemployment rate stable. Business inventories rose $66.3 billion in the last quarter, contributing

nearly a third of a percentage point to GDP growth. However, with domestic demand slowing, businesses could find themselves with unwanted stock, which would hurt growth in the third quarter. Excluding inventories, GDP rose at a 1.2 percent rate, the weakest pace since the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter, the comparable figure was 2.4 percent.

Export growth pushed higher, despite slowing global demand, especially in Europe and China.

But that was offset by a strong rise in imports.

Trade subtracted almost a third of a percentage point from GDP growth. Government spending contracted for an eighth straight quarter, but the pace of decline slowed. Defense spending fell marginally after two quarters of hefty declines.

There was no relief from state and local government spending, which has been a drag through much of the recovery. State and local government spending fell at 2.1 percent rate after dropping 2.2 percent in the first quarter. Housing - the Achilles heel of the US economy for six years - increased at a 9.7 percent rate, slowing from the prior period’s weather-related 20.5 percent surge.

Business spending on equipment and software rose at a 7.2 percent rate. With demand weak, inflation pressures subsided during the quarter. A price index for personal spending rose at a 0.7 percent rate, the lowest rate since the second quarter of 2010, after rising 2.5 percent in the first quarter.

A core measure that strips out food and energy costs advanced at a 1.8 percent rate, moderating from 2.2 percent in the prior quarter. —Reuters

Al-Tijari Announces Najma draw winners KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al-Najma Account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Saquer Al-Manaie.

The winners of the Al-Najma Daily Draw who get KD 7,000 are: Jumana Rezq Jerjes Abdulmaseeh Jerjes; Mohammed Fahad Mohammed Al-Atiqi; Diab Ahmad

Jabr; Mohammed Ashraf Mohammed Aazzam; and Fidaa Jamel Al-Tabaa.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account.

Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the

year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on June 19 which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or two months prior to the mega draw. In

addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50. Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

Andalusia’s small business crushed by Spanish slump SEVILLE: Andalusia’s sunny beaches, shady plazas and flamenco dancing attract millions of northern European visitors each year but the southern region has become symbolic of Spain’s decline and its small businesses are paying the price. Nearly one in 10 of Andalusia’s companies has closed in the last three years and more than 80 percent of those remaining are tiny, with less than three employees. This makes them particularly vulnerable to the economic slump caused by a 2008 property crash, a banking crisis and growing concern over the future of the euro zone.

After growing faster than the national average for more than a decade, Andalusia is slumping faster than the rest of Spain and is stuck with massive unemployment and growing poverty. Local authorities say they don’t plan to follow Valencia and ask for a central government bailout. While Andalusia has one of the country’s highest debt levels, it is also the most populous region with the lowest debt-per-person ratio. However, with its economy expected to shrink this year and next, pressure to slash its deficit and no access to credit markets, doubts linger about how it can refinance some 1.6 billion euros of debt by the end of the year without help. Since the real estate boom years ended, Andalusia has survived almost entirely on tourism and agriculture.

Parked in front of a centuries-old bullring on the banks of the Guadalquivir river, Juan Zabala Franco, 44, who has been offering visitors horse and cart rides around the city for 25 years, can’t remember such a quiet summer. “Tourism right now is a disaster. There was an explosion of money as the banks lent to everyone, and now we’re paying for that,” he said, offering a halfprice ride to a Spanish family. “Families come here on package holidays, with their little paper bracelets and all included. They don’t have a budget for anything else.” The story is the same in the bars and restaurants surrounding the Cathedral, the world’s oldest gothic church, with empty tables at the Bar Giralda. “Many don’t spend and would rather buy lunch from a supermarket than eat in a restaurant,” says Yusef Najib, a waiter at the Giralda since 2006. “Before, this bar would take in 5-6,000 euros a day. We’re lucky if we make half that now.”

Accelerated development For a quarter of a century, Andalusia gorged on European Union funds that helped it blossom from a backwater with a high illiteracy rate, paying for high-speed rail lines, thousands of

km (miles) of highways, modern schools and universities. Much of this bonanza was negotiated by the region’s favourite son, former Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, who signed Spain’s accession treaty in 1985 and brought an extravagant world fair to his home town, Seville, in 1992.

EU funds accounted for one-third of all investments in the region in 1996 but only 12.3 percent by 2008, according to the OECD. They run out next year, and their loss will only add to growing pressure on the region. Andalusia was sucked into the property fever and grew fast as cheap money poured into concrete especially along its hundreds of km of once-pristine coastline. The construction industry has collapsed and gross domestic product per capita is now 17,587 euros, one of the lowest in the country, compared to 31,288 euros in the industrialised northern Basque Country region and an EU average of 25,134 euros. One in every three workers in Andalusia is now unemployed, compared to a national average of nearly one in four. Some 7.5 percent of all the jobless in the euro area live here.

Almost 30 percent of the region’s residents live below the poverty line, compared to the national average of 19.5 percent. “Every day we hear worse news about data and risk premiums and that has pushed people from fear to panic,” said Seville Business Confederation president Miguel Rus Palacios.

Palacios, whose office is in the orange-treelined centre of Seville, says he has been criticised for his outright views, but needs to speak his mind. “Businesses must make some very difficult decisions to define their own futures. Our project, as a country, is just not viable and we can’t carry on like this.” Andalusia is only one of three regions the Socialists managed to hold this year after losing national power when they were trounced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives in a general election last November. They blame his austerity measures aimed at reducing the deficit for worsening the crisis. “No one will ever grow through Rajoy’s policies. How can we grow with these cuts? We agree with cuts, but not with these cuts,” says Pepe Caballos, economy secretary for the Socialists in Andalusia’s parliament. “To rise from this crisis, we need to change the model of productivity, invest in it, invest in research.” The conservatives accuse the Socialists in Andalusia of having squandered boom-year revenues on an inflated bureaucracy designed to keep themselves in power indefinitely. —Reuters

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake sets a striking example STUTTGART: With the new CLS Shooting Brake, Mercedes-Benz is once again setting an example when it comes to creativity of design, and as such highlighting its leading role in this area: in terms of its proportions, the new CLS is quite clearly a coupe, but with five doors and a roof which continues through to the rear, it promises some remarkable new possibilities. The idea of the four-door coupe - successfully introduced in 2004 with the first CLS and long imitated in the meantime - has now been taken to new heights and to innovative effect. The result is automotive independence at its most beautiful.

According to CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche: “Any memorable machine is equal parts art and science. A car has to first deliver in function - the ticket of entry - and then in fascination: the ticket to real excitement. The CLS Shooting Brake excels on both accounts - unlike any other car in the market”. The proportions of the CLS Shooting Brake are surprising but clearly those of a coupÈ, and create a basic stance which makes it look ready for the off: the long bonnet, narrow-look windows with frameless side windows, and dynamic roof sloping back towards the rear. It is only when taking a second look that it becomes clear that the Shooting Break actually has five doors and offers “more” in terms of function.

In essence it represents an unprecedented version of a sports car with five seats and a large tailgate. It is a special proposition for people looking to differentiate themselves from the mainstream, and who do not wish to compromise on either sportiness or stowage space when it comes to travelling in style. The Shooting Brake is a further highlight in the innovative luxury vehicle series from Mercedes-Benz and, like the CLS CoupÈ, has the potential to become the role model for a new market segment. “The CLS Shooting Brake is based on the great tradition of stylish sportiness which has always characterised Mercedes, and takes these unique icons an exciting step further”, explains Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at MercedesBenz. “It stands for the enhanced design idiom of Mercedes-Benz which is oriented towards aesthetic, avant-

garde principles”. This is seen in the impressive series of market-defining new vehicle concepts, such as the SLK for example, which in 1996 established a genre as the first Roadster with a retractable steel roof, the M-Class as the first premium SUV in 1998, or the first four-door CLS CoupÈ in 2004.

Exclusive innovation in the interior The second generation of the CLS set high standards in terms of the design and quality of the interior: straightforward elegance combined with innovative details and handcrafted perfection. The Shooting Brake also applies this same aspiration in the luggage compartment. It is lined with high-quality carpet, and the handstitched material is also incorporated into the sideliners in conjunction with leather appointments. Optional designer loading rails made of aluminium give an even more exclusive look.

An extravagant and unique feature for the automotive industry is the designo wooden luggage compartment floor, which serves to underscore the hand-finished nature of the interior. Cherry tree wood is a classic among fine wood species and contrasts perfectly with the inlaid smoked oak and aluminium rails. This affords the luggage compartment a touch of elegance normally found on yachts, combined with the exciting worlds of technology and precision craftsmanship.

The wood is characterised by its flexibility and elasticity, as well as its density and fine texture. For the luggage compartment floor made of American cherry tree wood, selected veneer sheets are glued and pressed together by hand in five cross-bonded layers to achieve high dimensional stability. The blanks are milled into their precise shape using a CNC machine, and the surfaces sanded to a smooth finish and waterproofed to maintain the natural beauty of the wood. Inlaid work using darker smoked oak, precisely cut into three millimetre strips using laser technology, helps to enhance the design of the wooden floor. The lavishly produced aluminium rails have a brushed finish and rubber inserts, and not only help to protect the wooden floor but also feature anti-slip properties.

The CLS coupÈ already set new standards in interiors with its wide variety of individualisation options. The Shooting Brake also offers five interior colours, five trim designs and also three qualities of leather to choose from. Customers have a choice of three exclusive wood types: high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss black ash and satin-finish light-brown poplar.

The interior is given an even more progressive look with the addition of piano lacquer or AMG carbon fibre/black piano lacquer trim elements. A completely new addition comes in the form of porcelain interior appointments which afford both CLS models a sense of luxury normally

the roof, and is easy to use thanks to the automatically opening tailgate fitted as standard. A load compartment cover also protects luggage from prying eyes.

The standard air suspension at the rear helps to ensure optimum road holding at all times. For additional flexibility, the rear seat backrests can be folded down from the luggage compartment as standard. The rear seats themselves provide room for three people, with individual seats on the outsides and a third seat in the middle.

The three saddle-type head restraints on the rear seats barely affect the view towards the rear, and can be lowered at the touch of a button by the driver.

found in the S-Class. The CLS Shooting Brake also lives up to its role as a design icon thanks to the innovative nature of the materials used. These comprise a mixture of satin and highgloss finishes used on the metal surfaces.

An optional trailer coupling is also available.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Board Member of Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Sales & Marketing, sums it all up: “The new CLS Shooting Brake represents a new dimension in vehicle concepts and offers discerning customers independence at its most beautiful.”

A new dimension in vehicle concepts No-one likes to have to compromise: even when the focus is not on the practical elements of the design of the Shooting Brake (length x width x height: 4956 x 1881 x 1413 mm), the new CLS model still has some trump cards up its sleeve. With a load volume of between 590 and 1550 litres, the luggage compartment offers a lot of room despite the flat, sporty lines of

Lightweight construction and aerodynamics Intelligent lightweight construction plays a decisive role in bridging the classic conflict between the objectives of low weight and high strength in the CLS Shooting Brake. The model features frameless, all-aluminium doors made from deep-drawn aluminium

panels with extruded sections, and in comparison with conventional steel doors, are some 24 kilograms lighter.

The tailgate, bonnet, front wings, various support profiles and substantial parts of the suspension and engines are all made of aluminium too.

The aerodynamics also make a significant contribution to the efficiency of the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. With a frontal area of 2.30 msq and a Cd value of 0.29, the drag area is 0.67 msq.

Drive system: powerful and efficient The CLS Shooting Brake is available with two different Petrol engine variants -Features common to all engines include the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission as well as the ECO start/stop function. In addition, CLS 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, available with all-wheel drive CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY produces 225 kW (306 hp). The top-of-the-range model is the CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY with a V8 biturbo engine producing 300 kW (408 hp). Efficiency is also increased by the standard electro-mechanical power steering EPS (Electric Power Steering). EPS is a radical move in the relationship between the driver, car and road surface. This is because for the first time, it gives engineers the freedom to choose and programme many of the parameters that influence steering feedback. So they defined a Mercedes-Benz feeling behind the wheel. In addition to fuel economy, the result is a considerable improvement in handling and agility. The electromechanical power steering also enables another innovation to be implemented - Active Park Assist. The CLS Shooting Brake is not only able to detect parking spaces, but can also park automatically.

Another world exclusive: dynamic full LED headlamps The CLS was the first passenger car in the world to offer optional dynamic full LED High Performance headlamps, which combine the exciting colour elements of LED technology - similar to those of daytime driving lights - with the performance, functionality and energy efficiency of today’s bi-xenon generation. Some

95 percent of all customers have opted for these lights in the CLS CoupÈ.

Of course, as the world’s second car to feature this optional extra, the CLS Shooting Brake also offers the new light system. For the first time ever, it provides the Intelligent Light System already proven in Mercedes models fitted with bi-xenon headlamps in combination with LED technology.

The headlamps, with their 71 LED lamps in total, look exciting; and they serve to underline the unmistakable appearance of the CLS. The light specialists from Mercedes-Benz have for the first time been able to use LED technology in the innovative Adaptive Highbeam Assist, resulting in an entirely new quality of illumination when driving at night. In contrast to the first vehicles equipped with LED headlamps, no compromises are now necessary with respect to the functionality and performance of the lighting technology. There are further arguments for LED-based lighting technology: the average operating life of an LED is around 10,000 hours, around five times longer than that of a xenon light; moreover, LED headlamps most closely approximate to the colour of daylight. This means that LED light is in keeping with the normal human perception patterns and that the driver experiences significantly more brightness on the road at night.

Studies have shown that the closer the colour of artificial light comes to daylight, the less the strain on the eyes. With a colour temperature of 5,500 kelvin, LED light is closer to daylight (6,500 K) than xenon light (4,200 K).

More than a dozen driving assistance systems help to prevent traffic accidents and reduce the severity of an accident. Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist are available as part of the Driving Assistance package Plus, in combination with Distronic Plus, Bas Plus and the Pre-Safe Brake. Both assistance systems are not only able to detect an unintentional lane change or vehicles in the blind spot, but can also correct the direction of travel by gentle brake intervention if the driver ignores the visual or audible danger warnings.

27

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Google: Didn’t delete Street View data after all LONDON : After being caught spying on people across Europe and Australia with its Wi Fi-slurping Street View cars, Google had told angry regulators that it would delete the ill-gotten data. Google broke its promise. Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) received a letter from Google in which the company admits it kept a “small portion” of the electronic information it had been meant to get rid of.

“Google apologizes for this error,” Peter Fleischer, Google’s global privacy counsel, said in the letter, which the ICO published on its website. The ICO said in a statement that Google Inc. had agreed to delete all that data nearly two years ago, adding

that its failure to do so “is cause for concern.” Other regulators were less diplomatic, with Ireland’s deputy commissioner for data protection, Gary Davis, calling Google’s failure “clearly unacceptable.” Davis said his organization had conveyed its “deep unhappiness” to Google and wants answers by Wednesday.

Google said that other countries affected included France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and Australia. Attempts to reach regulators in several of those countries weren’t immediately successful Friday. Google angered officials on both sides of the Atlantic in 2010 when it acknowledged that its map-

ping cars, which carried cameras across the globe to create threedimensional maps of the world’s streets, had also scooped up passwords and other data being transmitted over unsecured wireless networks. Investigators have since revealed that the intercepted data included private information including legal, medical and pornographic material. The Mountain View, California-based company had been meant to purge the data, and Google chalked up its mistake to human error. The company said it recently discovered the data while undertaking a comprehensive manual review of Street View disks. The company said it had contacted regulators in all

of the countries where it had promised to delete data but realized it had not. Fleischer’s letter asks Britain’s ICO for instructions on how to proceed; the ICO told Google that it must turn over the data immediately so it can undergo forensic analysis.

Friday’s disclosure comes just over a month after the ICO reopened its investigation into Google’s Street View, saying that an inquiry by authorities in the United States raised new doubts about the disputed program.

In April, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission fined Google, saying the company “deliberately impeded and delayed” its investigation into Street View. It’s

unclear what, if any, penalties would be imposed on Google by Britain’s ICO or regulators in any of the 10 other jurisdictions in which the company had wrongly retained Street View data. “We need to take a look at the data... There’s all sorts of questions we need to ask,” an ICO spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity because office rules prohibit him from being named in print.

The ICO has the power to impose fines of up to 500,000 pounds (roughly $780,000) for the most serious data breaches, although penalties are generally far less severe and can involve injunctions or reprimands. — AP

US Air Force looks to train pilots for hi-tech threats Air Force getting back to basics

CHIBA: Engineer Kogoro Kurata (C) walks in front of Japanese electronics company Suidobashi Heavy Industry’s newly unveiled robot “Kuratas” at the Wonder Festival in Chiba, suburban Tokyo yesterday. The Kuratas robot, which will go on sale with a price tag of one million USD, measures four meters in height, weighs four tons and has four wheeled legs that can either be controlled remotely through the 3G network or by a human seated within the cockpit. —AFP

Apple buying AuthenTec for about $356 million NEW YORK : Apple has agreed to buy fingerprint reader AuthenTec Inc. for approximately $356 million as the maker of iPhones and iPads looks to strengthen its digital security capabilities. Apple’s acquisition comes as consumers use their smartphones for more and more daily activities, including shopping. “As cellphones become essentially credit cards, consumers will look to secure them in the event of theft or loss. AuthenTec’s fingerprint sensors offer one way to secure handsets,” said Raymond James analyst J. Steven Smigie.

It’s not known what Apple’s plans are.

Rival devices running Google’s Android system are starting to come with a wireless technology that can let phones make payments with the tap of a reader. Apple’s patent filings hint at an interest in the technology, known as near-field communications, but the notoriously secretive company has given no clue when the technology might show up in iPhones. A new model is expected this fall. Beyond

protecting payments, a fingerprint system could keep unauthorized people from accessing email, contact lists and more.

Current phones offer protection through passwords, which can be guessed or forgotten. AuthenTec said Apple Inc. is paying $8 for each of its common shares, a 58 percent premium to their closing price on Thursday.

AuthenTec’s stock jumped $3.27, or 65 percent, to $8.34 in Friday afternoon trading, above Apple’s offer. That could suggest investors think there will be a higher bid for the company. The deal was unanimously approved by AuthenTec’s board. It still requires approval from a majority of the holders of the Melbourne, Fla., company’s stock. AuthenTec has about 44.5 million outstanding shares, according to FactSet. A higher offer for AuthenTec is possible. In a regulatory filing, AuthenTec said it’s not allowed to actively seek out other offers, but it could hold talks with other parties before its stockholders approve Apple’s buyout terms. — AP

8.7 m mobile customers hacked in South Korea SEOUL: South Korean police have arrested two hackers who stole personal data of 8.7 million customers of the nation’s second-biggest mobile operator, the company said yesterday. KT said the hackers-formally arrested yesterdayhad stolen data such as customers’ names, phone numbers and residential registration numbers for five months since February and sold the information to telemarketing firms.

“The number of affected people account for nearly a half of about 17 million customers of ours,” a KT spokesman told AFP, adding the company had alerted police on July 13 after detecting traces of hacking attacks. Yonhap news agency, citing police, said the duoincluding a former veteran programmer at a local IT company-had earned at least

1 billion won (about $880,000) by selling the stolen data. Seven other people were also booked for buying the leaked data for telemarketing purposes, Yonhap said.

“We deeply bow our head in apology for having your precious personal information leaked... we’ll try our best to make such things never happen again,” KT said in a statement to customers. Hacking attacks on major companies aimed to gain access to the personal data of their customers is a frequent occurence in South Korea, one of the world’s mostwired nations. Seoul authorities said in July last year hackers using an Internet address registered in China had gained access to South Korean major websites including web portal Nate.com and may have stolen the private data of 35 million users.

WASHINGTON: David Schwartz, Oblong Industries vice president for sales demonstrates the use of a data glove to navigate on a computer screen at Los Angeles-based software company Oblong Industries’ offices in Washington yesterday. The software behind the film “Minority Report” — where Tom Cruise speeds through video on a large screen using only hand gestures — is making its way into the real world. —AFP

NEVADA: For more than a decade, US fighter pilots have become accustomed to “owning the sky” in wars against insurgents who have no warplanes or air defenses. But in the desert outside Las Vegas, the US Air Force is trying to get back to basics, reminding pilots how to fly against a sophisticated enemy with fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles and satellite jammers. Traditional combat skills have gotten “a little rusty,” said Steve Imonti, a former fighter pilot who helps oversee simulated air battles out of Nellis Air Force Base.

If a pilot goes three years or more without attending the “red flag” mock battles at Nellis, “then you see that rust really start to build up,” said Imonti, director of programs and evaluation for the 414th Combat Training Squadron. American pilots have become adept at precision air strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a handful of planes circling over a single target after receiving a call for air power from troops on the ground.

With the United States withdrawing most of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, senior commanders are anxious for crews to train for operations other than close air support, officials said. Military leaders want pilots from all the services to spend more time training for large-scale assaults in a “contested environment,” where US air superiority is not a given and where batteries of anti-aircraft missiles pose a lethal threat.

“When we pull out of Afghanistan, we will have an increase here” at Nellis, said Colonel Chip Thompson, chief of the vast range just north of Las Vegas where the red flag exercises take place.

“The goal is, I want every lieutenant within his first two years to go to a red flag,” he said, instead of the current average of about three years. “So that when you go to war, you’ve seen it before.” At red flag, pilots on a “blue team” face off against a hostile “red” fleet of fighters that employ tactics drawn from intelligence reports on Iran, China and other potential adversaries. Instead of insurgents equipped with AK-47s and roadside bombs, the red team is well-armed, with an array of simulated surface-to-air missiles and the ability to jam radar, disrupt radio communications and disable computer networks at a command center.

Although officers insist the red side represents a generic enemy, the scenarios and tar-

gets often closely resemble real world armies, particularly Iran. The red flag exercises started in 1975 after American pilots suffered heavy losses in Vietnam, where the “kill ratio” was 2:1, much worse than in previous conflicts.

Senior officers decided pilots needed more realistic training that would convey the intensity of aerial combat, as statistics showed if airmen could survive their first 10 sorties, their chances of survival dramatically improved.

“When you’re flying around and you look

along with crews from the United Arab Emirates and Colombia, woke every day to a briefing on a daunting new mission involving dozens of aircraft, including F-15 and F-16 fighters, B-1 and B-52 bombers, A-10 ground attack planes, aerial refueling tankers, unmanned drones and early warning radar aircraft. In day and night time battles, they faced off against US pilots flying F-15 and F-16 fighter jets painted in camouflage resembling the patterns on Russian warplanes.

NEVADA: This US Air Force photo released July 27, 2012 shows a three-ship of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, fly alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma during Red Flag 12-4 July 20, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. —AFP over and see a smoke trail coming at you, it’s The red team pilots are part of dedicated OK to have your pucker factor as long as it “aggressor” squadrons that work full-time at occurs at red flag,” said Lieutenant Colonel emulating tactics of potential enemies, based Brian Morrison, deputy commander of the on the latest intelligence analysis from spy 57th Adversary Tactics Group. “So that when agencies. Commanders are also increasingly it actually happens in combat, you’re saying, adding simulated underground targets to red ‘I’ve been there and done this,’” he said. After flag scenarios, officials said, training pilots on the end of the Cold War, the red flag exercises techniques that might be required if the were scaled back, and drills held at bases United States moves to take out buried overseas were scrapped. But the exercise got nuclear sites in North Korea or Iran. a new lease on life starting in 2005, with the “Underground targets are becoming more of Air Force adding mock surface-to-air missiles a factor, especially with Iran, North Korea sce(SAM) and space and cyber warfare units. narios,” Thompson said. “These are very hard At this month’s red flag, young US pilots, to find, hard to destroy.” — AFP

‘Predictive policing’ takes byte out of crime WASHINGTON: Crime fighters have long used brains and brawn, but now a new kind of technology known as “predictive policing” promises to make them more efficient. A growing number of law enforcement agencies, in the US and elsewhere, have been adopting software tools with predictive analytics, based on algorithms that aim to predict crimes before they happen.

The concept sounds like something out of science fiction and the thriller “Minority Report” based on a Philip K. Dick story.

Without some of the sci-fi gimmickry, police departments from Santa Cruz, California, to Memphis, Tennessee, and law enforcement agencies from Poland to Britain have adopted these new techniques. The premise is simple: criminals follow patterns, and with software-the same kind that retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon use to determine consumer purchasing trendspolice can determine where the next crime will occur and sometimes prevent it.

Colleen McCue, a behavioral scientist at GeoEye, a firm that works with US Homeland Security and local law enforcement on predictive analytics, said studying criminal behavior was not that different from examining other types of behavior like shopping.

“People are creatures of habit,” she said. “When you go shopping you go to a place where they have the things you’re looking for... the criminal wants to go where he will be successful also.” She said the

technology could help in cities where tight budgets were forcing patrol reductions.”When police departments are laying more sworn personnel, they can do more with less,” she said.

The key to success in predictive policing is getting as much data as possible to determine patterns.

This can be especially useful in property crimes like auto theft and burglary, where patterns can be detected. “You can build a model that factors in attributes like the time of year, whether it is hot and humid or cold and snowy, if it is a payday when people are carrying a lot of cash,” says Mark Cleverly, who heads the IBM unit for predictive crime analytics. “It’s not saying a crime will occur at a particular time and place, no one can do that. But it can say you can expect a wave of vehicle thefts based one everything we know.”

IBM has worked with dozens of agencies such as London’s Metropolitan Police, the Polish National Police and a number of US and Canadian cities. In Memphis, officials said serious crimes fell 30 percent and violent crimes declined 15 percent since implementing predictive analytics in a program with IBM and the University of Memphis in 2006.

The program known as CRUSHCriminal Reduction Utilizing Statistical History-targeted certain “hot spots” to allow police to deploy more efficiently.

John Williams, crime analysis manager for the city’s police, said the system has had a dramatic impact, allowing Memphis to get

off the list of worst US cities for crime. ‘Quality arrests’- “If the data is indicating a hot spot, we are able to immediately deploy resources there. And in a lot of instances we are able to make quality arrests because we’re in the right area at the right time,” he told AFP. Although beat officers can use their instincts for similar results, Williams said the software could be far more precise, such as predicting burglaries in a small geographic area between 10 pm and 2 am. In one case, the software was able to help police break up a group that was committing armed robberies on the city’s Hispanic population. “There were 84 robberies, but we had no idea it was so organized,” Williams said.

By crunching the numbers, police were able to pinpoint the zone and time of likely holdups: “We caught a group of robbers in progress, we had leads on additional robberies,” he said.

Williams said police officials from as far away as Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro and Estonia have come to review the experience in Memphis. In Los Angeles, another program developed by scientists at the University of California-Los Angeles and Santa Clara University was tested in a single precinct, and resulted in a 12 percent drop in crime while the rest of the city saw a 0.2 percent increase.

That test and others led to the creation of a company called PredPol. And Los Angeles will expand its use of the program

under contract with PredPol, said CEO Caleb Baskin. Baskin said the system is based on a model from mathematician George Mohler which “is very effective in predicting the time and location for crimes that have not yet taken place.” PredPol had begun working with other cities in California and “we’ve had inquiries from a lot of places in the US and international locations,” Baskin said.

“The science that underlies the tool will work anywhere. The question is does the agency maintain a database that we can plug into.” While use of such analytics generally wins plaudits for helping “smarter” policing, it does raise concerns about Big Brother-like snooping. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, a law professor at the University of the District of Columbia, said the use of technology could be positive but that it could lower the threshold for constitutional protections on “unreasonable” searches.

“To stop you and frisk you and search you, a police officer needs reasonable suspicion, so my question is how will this affect reasonable suspicion?” he said. If the search is based on a computer algorithm, Ferguson said, and the case comes to court, “How do you cross-examine a computer?” IBM’s Cleverly said the technology can in many cases improve privacy.

“You can pinpoint the record of who has access to information, you have a solid history of what’s going on, so if someone is using the system for ill you have an audit trail,” he said. — AFP

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Science fiction comes to life in Italian lab Bionic arm commanded by human brain

BOHEME: In this file picture taken on August 7, 2007 nine-week-old baby gorilla Tatu lays in the arms of her mother Kijivu at the gorilla enclosure of the Zoo in Prague. A gorilla accidentally hanged himself at the Prague zoo, five years after gaining the spotlight when his birth was broadcast live on the internet. Tatu died in the morning while playing in a rope structure in the gorilla wing, the zoo director said. —AFP

Zoo moves orangutan to stop her smoking JAKARTA: Indonesian zookeepers have moved an orangutan out of visitors’ sight so she’ll no longer smoke lit cigarettes people regularly throw into her cage. Taru Jurug Zoo spokesman Daniek Hendarto said Thursday that Tori and her male companion, Didik, were moved Wednesday to a small island within the zoo. There are four endangered orangutans at the zoo in the Central Java town of Solo.

The 15-year-old Tori has been smoking for a decade. She mimics humans by holding cigarettes casually between her fingers while visitors watch and photograph her puffing away and flicking ashes on the ground. Hendarto said recent medical tests show the four primates are in good condition. The two other orangutans will be moved later to another island.— AP

Study questions CT scans to rule out heart attacks NEW YORK: If you’re having chest pains, an advanced type of CT scan can quickly rule out a heart attack. New research suggests this might be good for hospitals, but not necessarily for you. These heart scans cut time spent in the hospital but didn’t save money, the study found. They also prompted more tests and questionable treatments and gave relatively large doses of radiation to people at such low risk of a heart attack that they probably didn’t need a major test at all.

There is no evidence that adding these tests saved lives or found more heart attacks, wrote Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco in an editorial.

Her commentar y accompanied the study in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine. And since radiation from the scans can raise the long-term risk of developing cancer, doctors “may legitimately ask whether the tests did more harm than good,” she wrote.

Let’s be clear: None of this changes the advice to seek help quickly if you’re having chest pain or other signs of a heart attack. Any delay raises the risk of permanent heart damage. But more than 90 percent of the 6 million people who go to hospitals each year in the U.S. with chest pain have indigestion, stress, muscle strain or some other problem not heart disease. Doctors are afraid of missing the ones who do have it, and increasingly are using CT scans - a type of X-ray - with an injected dye to get detailed views of arteries.

More than 50,000 of these scans were done in Medicare patients in 2010, and their use is growing. Far more than that were done in younger patients like the ones in this study, who were 54 years old, on average.

The test requires a substantial dose of radiation, which can raise the risk of cancer years down the road. In some cases, patients might just be told that a doctor wants the test. They may be too frightened to question it or unaware they can refuse or ask about other testing options without jeopardizing their care.

The aim of the study was to see whether these heart scans, called coronary CT angiography, were faster, better or less expensive than usual care, such as simpler tests or being kept a while for observation. Researchers led by Dr. Udo Hoffmann at Massachusetts General Hospital enrolled 1,000 patients who went to one of nine hospitals around the country during regular daytime, weekday hours with chest pain or other possible heart attack symptoms. All showed no clear sign of a heart attack on initial tests - an electrocardiogram and blood work. They were randomly assigned to fur ther evaluation either with a C T angiography scan or whatever is standard at that hospital, such as a treadmill or other heart tests. Those given the CT scans spent an average of 23 hours in the hospital versus 30 hours for the others. More patients given the scans were sent home directly from the emergency room rather than being admitted - 47 percent versus 12 percent.

“Identifying the underlying cause of

chest pain more quickly with CT scans could allow medical care providers to better allocate limited resources to the patients who are most in need of treatment” while letting others go home faster, said a statement by Dr. Susan Shurin, acting director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which sponsored the study. However, the average cost of care was $4,289 for patients given the CT scans versus $4,060 for the others, despite spending seven hours less in the hospital. That’s because CT scans led to more follow-up tests and treatments, even though the burden of disease was about the same; 8 percent of both groups turned out to have heart disease and only 5 of the 1,000 had had a heart attack.

In the CT group, 29 patients wound up getting a heart bypass or arteryopening angioplasty and stent procedures versus 18 patients in the usual care group. That suggests overtreatment, said Dr. W. Douglas Weaver, a former American College of Cardiology president from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. “If you look more, you’ll find more, and the more you’ll do” to treat whatever is found, said Weaver, who had no role in the study. He also said time in the hospital seemed unusually long for both groups - most hospitals have protocols to evaluate such cases within 12 hours.

Furthermore, patients fared the same in the month after their ER visit regardless of how the hospital evaluated them for chest pain.

No heart attacks were missed, and no one died. Those given CT scans had nearly triple the amount of radiation about 14 millisieverts (a measure of dose) versus less than 5 millisieverts for the others, some of whom received tests requiring less radiation. “Exposures of 10 millisieverts have been projected to lead to 1 death from cancer per 2,000 persons,” Redberg wrote in her editorial.

“Equally alarming, the testing may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer among these patients, many of whom are middle-aged women.” Radiation risks are a growing concern - Medicare’s HospitalCompare website recently started adding information on inappropriate radiation exposure rates at the hospitals it tracks. Many study authors have consulted for imaging device makers and radiology groups.

A much larger study comparing CT scans and other tests for evaluating heart risks in 10,000 patients is under way now, but it won’t provide answers for several years. In the meantime, a patient’s gender, age, and history of chest pain or other illnesses such as diabetes go a long way toward predicting risk as long as the initial EKG and blood work suggest no problem, Redberg contends. “With no evidence of benefit and definite risks, routine testing in the emergency department of patients with a low-to-intermediate risk...should be avoided,” she wrote.

“The question is not which test leads to faster discharge of patients from the emergency department, but whether a test is needed at all.” —Reuters

PISA: Once the preserve of science fiction, increasingly sophisticated robotic devices are vying for a place side by side with humans in the real world. At Italy’s Sant’Anna university, a bionic arm commanded by the human brain or a limb extension that allows rescuers to lift rubble after earthquakes are just some of the futuristic innovations in the pipeline.

“The idea is to get robots out of factories where they have shown their worth and to transform them into household machines which can live together with humans,” says Professor Paolo Dario, director of the college’s bio-robotics department. The university in the historic town of Pisa in Tuscany is a veritable factory of ideas. Researchers here are working on projects ranging from a robot that can come to your door to collect your recycling to tomatoes that slow the effects of ageing and plants that survive underwater to help floodprone regions of the world.

“You can innovate here. Whoever has a project gets help, ideas are not blocked. We are investing in individuals,” the rector of Sant’Anna, Maria Chiara Carrozza, a professor of bio-robotics said in an interview. The dustcart looks like the famous R2-D2 from Star Wars with its laser scanner and location sensors. The idea is that it can work through

phone bookings to come to your street at a fixed time to collect your waste.

“We tested it for two months with 15 fami-

PISA: A picture taken on July 17, 2012 shows Researcher Paolo Dario, director of the BioRobotic Institute of the St. Anna School University in Pisa. —AFP

Aging AIDS epidemic raises new questions WASHINGTON: AIDS is graying. By the end of the decade, the government estimates, more than half of Americans living with HIV will be over 50. Even in developing countries, more people with the AIDS virus are surviving to middle age and beyond. That’s good news - but it’s also a challenge. There’s growing evidence that people who have spent decades battling the virus may be aging prematurely. At the International AIDS Conference this week, numerous studies are examining how heart disease, thinning bones and a list of other health problems typically seen in the senior years seem to hit many people with HIV when they’re only in their 50s. “I’m 54, but I feel older,” said Carolyn Massey of Laurel, Md., who has lived with HIV for nearly 20 years. “When I hear young people talk about, ‘Well you get HIV and you take your drugs and you’ll be all right’ - that’s just not the truth,” she said. “This is a lifelong thing we’re talking about, and it unfolds every day on you.” The graying isn’t just because people like Massey are surviving longer. Some of it comes from older adults being newly diagnosed, a trend U.S. health officials say is small but slowly growing. Yes, grandparents still have sex - and that’s an age group missed by all those hip safe-sex messages aimed at teens and 20-somethings.

“They let down their guard,” is how Dr. Kevin Fenton of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts it. Already, a third of the nearly 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S. are over 50, and by 2020 half will be, Fenton said at one of numerous sessions on aging at the world’s largest AIDS meeting.

People 50 or older accounted for 17 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2009, according to the CDC’s latest data. That’s up from 13 percent in 2001. There aren’t as good counts in poor regions of the world, where access to life-saving medications came years later than in developed countries.

But even in hard-hit sub-Saharan Africa, home to most of world’s HIV-infected population, studies suggest 3 million people living with HIV are 50-plus, said Dr. Joel Negin of the University of Sydney in Australia. By 2040, he said, that could reach 9 million. There, challenges are different. Ruth Waryaro of Kenya, addressing the conference on her 65th birthday, said clinic workers hassle her when she goes to pick up her monthly supply of medication - not believing a grandmother really needs it.

“If you’re not strong enough, you just leave the medication and go home,” said Waryaro, who raised four children of her own and now is raising four AIDS orphans. She also has diabetes and high blood pressure. As Negin pointedly told the conference, “50 is not old.” But for years, world health authorities didn’t even measure HIV in people beyond age 49. Today, people who are diag-

nosed and treated early can expect a nearnormal life-span, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, told The Associated Press. The new focus is on what these pioneering survivors can expect as they reach their 50s, 60s and beyond. They’re now getting chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and osteoporosis - some of the common ailments when anyone gets old. But studies suggest people with HIV may be at higher risk for some of those illnesses, or get them earlier than usual.

“It’s almost created a new subspecialty of medicine,” Fauci said. Perhaps the strongest evidence links HIV and an increased risk of heart disease. Some AIDS medications raise that risk. But in research published for the AIDS meeting, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital uncovered another reason.

They scanned the arteries of people with and without HIV, and found the HIV patients had more inflammation inside their arteries, putting them at risk for the kind of clots that trigger heart attacks. That’s even though the HIV patients had their virus well-controlled and weren’t that old - their average age was 52, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

HIV triggers body-wide inflammation as a person’s immune system tries to fight the virus, a process that persists and can quietly damage organs even with good medications, CDC’s Fenton said. HIV is not acting in a vacuum, said Dr. Amy Justice of Yale University, noting that people’s histories of smoking, for example, also contribute to inflammation. But she pointed to data from a Veterans Affairs study that said older people with HIV use more medications for other diseases than HIV-free patients the same age. At the conference, some older people with HIV lined up to have their photographs made and their personal histories recorded, part of a Web project called “The Graying of AIDS.” It’s a chance to be counted, and share knowledge. “We’re so concerned about the youth factor, we forget about the people who’ve brought us thus far,” said Massey, the Maryland woman, who leads an HIV group called Older Women Embracing Life and works with churches to raise HIV awareness.

CDC’s Fenton noted that those voices can help other older adults realize they’re at risk, when they’re getting back onto the dating scene after years of monogamous relationships. Older people don’t use condoms as much as younger people. “We still have this huge issue with stigma so thick you can cut it with a knife,” says Massey, who also wants HIV testing to become a routine part of health check-ups. “We have to normalize the conversation.” The latest installment of Aging America, the joint AP-APME project examining the aging of the baby boomers and the impact that will have on society.— AP

lies living in one of the towns near here.

Everything worked well but there are still some problems to sort out,” said Pericle Salvini, a member of the team behind the project. “First of all it is slow for security reasons and it sometimes blocks the traffic. Also it cannot legally be on the road since there is no type of insurance for this type of robot in case of an accident,” he said.

Professor Dario also heads up a project entitled “The Robot Companions for Citizens” which is one of six contestants for a European Union prize of one billion euros ($1.2 billion) in funding spread out over a decade. Marco Controzzi, who is working on a bionic arm, says it will operate by using electrodes attached to the skin or implanted in your head. “It will move only according to your intentions,” he said, adding that powering it would be easy as it can run on just two mobile phone batteries.

The exoskeleton or “body extender”, a prototype costing a million euros, meanwhile, is a kind of armour weighing 160 kilos (353 pounds) which multiplies the strength of its human user by 20. “The idea is to use this type of instrument for emergency workers in disasters like an earthquake,” said engineer Marco Fontana.—AFP

Humans would be also-rans in all species Olympics PARIS: Human beings would be made to look decidedly unimpressive were animals allowed to compete in the Olympics-outperformed by the likes of kangaroos, gorillas and ostriches, a science paper said Saturday.

Usain Bolt, currently the world’s fastest man, may just be able to outrun a Dromedary camel but would trail the cheetah, greyhound and ostrich in a sprint race, said a feature in the Veterinary Record journal. “‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (faster, higher, stronger) is the Olympic motto, but if we allowed the rest of the animal kingdom into the Games ... we could not offer much competition!” wrote author Craig Sharp. Jamaican track star Bolt holds the 100m-record of 9.58 seconds, which translates into a speed of 37.6 kilometres per hour.

The world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah, can reach speeds of 104 kph, a thoroughbred racehorse 70 kph, a greyhound 69 kph and an ostrich 64 kph, said Sharp of the Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Brunel University in London. The camel comes in just behind Bolt at 35.3 kph. The 2012 Olympics were officially opened in London on Friday evening. When it comes to marathon running, the human athlete could not hold a candle to endurance animals like camels or sled dogs, and he would also be beaten in the long jump by the kangaroo (12.8 meters compared to the human record of 8.95 m). The high jump record of 2.45 m would be smashed by the springbok gazelle, which can bound over three metres into the air, and the snakehead fish which can leap over four metres out of water.— AFP

FRIEDRICHSKOOG: Two seals swim in the water at the seal nursery in Friedrichskoog, northern Germany yesterday. A young seal “Fips” was found at a shipyard in Hamburg at the beginning of July and was brought to the nursery in Friedrichskoog. —AFP

Spain angers feminists with plan to tighten abortion law MADRID: Spain’s conservative government has provoked a storm among women’s groups with plans to tighten the country’s abortion laws to make the procedure illegal in cases where the foetus is deformed. The government announced Friday it would alter an abortion law introduced by its Socialist predecessors in 2010 which gave women the legal right to abortion on demand for up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

The 2010 law also allowed women the legal right to abort up to the 22nd week of pregnancy in cases where the mother’s health is at risk or the foetus shows serious deformities. In cases of an extremely severe serious malformation of a foetus, an abortion could be carried out at any time if approved by an ethics committee. But last week Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon came out strongly against allowing abortion in cases of a deformed foetus.

“I don’t understand why we should deprive a foetus of life by allowing abortion for the simple reason that it suffers a handicap or a deformity,” he said in

an interview published in conservative daily La Razon on July 22. On Friday the minister justified his plans on the grounds that the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urges nations to “adopt all necessary measures to guarantee the rights of disabled people”. A collective of women’s rights groups has planned a protest in Madrid yesterday against the planned abortion law reform that will get under way at noon (1000 GMT).

“The reform will send the law back to an era close to the Franco dictatorship and it distances Spain from the vast majority of European nations in terms of women’s rights,” the collective said in a statement.

Santiago Barambio, the head of the Spanish association of abortion clinics, Acai, and one of the authors of the 2010 abortion law, accuses the Popular Party government, in power since December, of hypocrisy.

“It is the peak of cynicism. At every international conference, all UN health agencies, the World Health Organisation, the Council of Europe, they all say not

to restrict abortion,” he told AFP. “The minister represents the extreme right and the ultra-Catholics, which are perhaps a minority but are very powerful economically, such as Opus Dei for example,” he added in a reference to the conservative Roman Catholic organisation whose name in Latin means “Work of God”. Trinidad Jimenez, a health minister in the previous Socialist government who now acts as the party’s secretary for social policy, called the planned abortion law changes a “counter-reform”.

“It sets us back 35 years,” she said. Before the 2010 abortion reform, women could have an abortion only in cases of rape, serious deformity or when the mother’s mental or physical health was threatened. The vast majority of the 115,000 abortions carried out in 2009, the year before the reform, were performed at private clinics and were justified on the grounds that the pregnancy posed a “psychological risk” to the woman. Anti-abortion groups welcomed the planned abortion law reform. —AFP

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Australian kids can’t run, jump, throw: Study SYDNEY: Australia may pride itself on its sporting prowess, but a new study has revealed that most of its children struggle to run, jump, kick and catch a ball. Research led by the University of Sydney has uncovered an overall decline in children’s ability to perform the skills at the appropriate agewith most seven year olds yet to have mastered leaping, running and jumping. “The majority of our children don’t have these skills,” Louise Hardy from the university’s School of Public Health told AFP yesterday.

“It’s a total myth that kids will naturally acquire these particular skills. They do need some tuition.”

The study, which analysed data gathered in 2010 from up to 8,000 school children aged five to 16 years from New South Wales state, found that girls performed better at movement skills such as running or leaping. But boys had a greater mastery of those used in ball sports such as kicking and catching. Overall, the data revealed a poor performance on movement skills, with only about 30 percent of children aged nine and 10 able to run properly.

And only about five percent of girls at this age had mastered throwing or kicking a ball. Hardy said the key reasons for the poor performance on these skills was the lack of sports teachers in primary schools in New South Wales state, the country’s most populous, and the fact there were not enough parents kicking a ball around with their kids.

By high school, most students had improved but Hardy said that the slow development of these activity goals could have health consequences for later in life. Research suggested that if a child failed to master the basic “building blocks” of physical activities, they would not have the skill or confidence to do them and this could impact their overall fitness, she said.

The research, conducted in collaboration with the University of Wollongong and Southern Cross University, raised serious issues because low fitness is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, Hardy said. “It’s just important that we get our kids out there moving, and teaching them how to move properly,” she said.—AFP

Mysterious nodding disease afflicts young Ugandans Some 3,000 children in East Africa suffer from affliction KITGUM: Augustine Languna’s eyes welled up and then his voice failed as he recalled the drowning death of his 16-year-old daughter.

The women near him looked away, respectfully avoiding the kind of raw emotion that the head of the family rarely displayed. “What is traumatizing us,” he said after regaining his composure, “is that the well where she died is where we still go for drinking water.”

Joyce Labol was found dead about three years ago. As she bent low to fetch water from a pond a half mile from Languna’s compound of thatched huts, an uncontrollable spasm overcame her. The teen was one of more than 300 young Ugandans who have died as a result of the mysterious illness that is afflicting more and more children across northern Uganda and in pockets of South Sudan. The disease is called nodding syndrome, or nodding head disease, because those who have it nod their heads and sometimes go into epileptic-like fits. The disease stunts children’s growth and destroys their cognition, rendering them unable to perform small tasks. Some victims don’t recognize their own parents.

Ugandan officials say some 3,000 children in the East African country suffer from the affliction. Some caregivers even tie nodding syndrome children up to trees so that they don’t have to monitor them every minute of the day. Beginning today, Uganda hosts a four-day international conference on nodding syndrome that health officials believe will lead to a clearer understanding of the mysterious disease.

World Health Organization officials in Uganda said the conference will be attended by about 120 scientists from all over the world. Anthony Mbonye, of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, said the conference will allow scientists to share knowledge about the disease.

Scientists are working to find the cause of the disease, which is stretching health care capacities here and testing the patience of a community looking for answers as to why it attacks mostly children between the ages of 5 and 15, why it’s concentrated in certain com-

munities, and whether it is contagious.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been investigating nodding syndrome at the request of the Ugandan government, has ruled out 36 possible causes since 2009 and is carrying out a clinical trial for potential treatments. In midFebruary the lead investigator said on a visit to Uganda that there is now “clear evidence that this is an epidemic” about which very little is known. “We did repeated exams on several of these children and found that some of the children had stayed the same, some of the children had gotten worse, none of the children had improved,” said Scott Dowell, director of CDC’s Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response.

Researchers are focusing on the connection between nodding syndrome and the parasite that causes river blindness, Dowell said, though it is not yet clear there are any links. Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, has

been around for a long time, but nodding syndrome is somewhat new, he said. “And we also know that there are many parts of the world that have onchocerciasis but have no evidence of nodding syndrome.” Many residents here in the northernmost reaches of Uganda, nearly 300 miles from Kampala, say they think the disease is rooted in violence.

Locals have said it’s the only explanation for the disease’s prevalence in places most affected by the legacy of a brutal war carried out by Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group. Kony and the group have waged a campaign of murder, rape, and the abduction of boys and girls who go on to become killing machines or sex slaves.

“We the Acholi have suffered a lot, and I am asking why,” said Benjamin Ojwang, an Anglican bishop in the area. “In the absence of Kony, we were beginning to find relative peace. When are our people going to rest?” A

KITGUM: In this photo of Monday Feb. 20, 2012, Ugandan children sit in a classroom in Kitgum, Uganda. Uganda this week hosts a four-day international conference on nodding syndrome that health officials believe will lead to a clearer understanding of the mysterious disease. —AP

disease as strange as nodding head gives people a sense of hopelessness and helplessness, said N.K. Okun-Okaka, a retired veterinarian who has the status of a village elder.

“They can only do something about it if they know the cause, how it is spread. My heart goes out to these children. We feel very sorry and we feel like we do not live in the modern world,” he said. Ugandan health officials have known about the disease for nearly 10 years. By 2006, after Kony was repulsed from Ugandan territory, health care providers had diagnosed several cases of epilepsy without stopping to ask why. “This thing is old,” said Emmanuel Tenywa, a World Health Organization official in northern Uganda.

“After the war there were so many cases of epilepsy. That’s how this thing started.”

Yet serious steps to manage the disease were taken only in the last year after a group of parliamentarians accused the authorities of criminal negligence. The government then announced a $2.2 million plan. But the cash has been slow to reach treatment centers.

Sick children have remained stuck in villages where biting poverty sometimes combines with the inattention of caregivers. Children have been badly burned after falling in fires.

Others have died falling into water, like Languna’s 16-year-old girl. And it is common to see children tethered to trees by caregivers too busy to look after them.

In Languna’s household alone, eight children suffer from the disease, including a 12year-old boy whose growth is so stunted he looks half his age. Languna has given up on all of them. “We lost a child who was so promising,” he said. “But what pains us more is that these ones you see are destined to (die).”

Investigators said they are not certain the disease is non-communicable, but they advise against alarm. In the absence of definitive answers, some here have been taking matters in their own hands by isolating the sick. At the Okidi primary school, which Labol attended before she drowned, teachers once attempted to segregate the children and then dropped the idea after being criticized. —AP

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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

WHAT’S ON Greetings

urraaa! Cross and Dante are two day.

May the good Lord bless you as you grow to be a blessing to our family.

Greetings from mom and dad.

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Announcements Indian Embassy passport and visa Passports and Visa applications can be deposited at the two outsourced centers of M/S BLS Ltd at Sharq and Fahaheel. Details are available at www.bls-international.com and www.indembkwt.org .

Consular Open House Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizens 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 at the Embassy. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) can be contacted.

Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances.

ACK students visit Warba Bank’s call center arba Bank recently hosted a group of students from the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) during a field visit through which they got introduced to the work nature of the call center and its significance in serving clients with the most integrated facilities.

On this occasion, Ahmed Al Bukhari, Call Center Manager at Warba Bank, said, “We were very pleased to receive the

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ACK students in the bank and to introduce them to the daily work system at the call center. The students expressed great interest in the several products and services offered by the bank, in addition to the unique communication facilities and skills applied by the center which adopts state-of-the-art technologies and leading strategies for best customer service.”

He added, “Our clients can contact us

at 1825555 to receive all the information they need about our different products and services, and to inquire about their balance, apply for new accounts, or to receive new credit cards. The center also offers information about the bank’s deposits and Murabaha, while customers can register in the short message service (SMS). The center is also ready to serve its investors and provide information for all their inquiries.”

On her part, Tara Norris, Senior Instructor and Academic Coordinator at the ACK thanked Warba’s management for hosting them at their premises and for supporting such visits which enrich the skills and knowledge of the students.

This initiative is a reflection of the bank’s commitment towards the youth and the constructive communication built with leading educational institutions.

Indian workers helpline/helpdesk Indian workers helpline is accessible by toll free telephone number 25674163 from all over Kuwait. It provides information and advice to Indian workers as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. The help desk at the Embassy (Open from 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4:30PM, Sunday to Thursday) provides guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal and other issues. It also provides workers assistance in filling up labour complaint forms. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attachÈ in the Labour section and the head of the Labour Wing can be contacted.

Legal Advice Clinic Free legal advice is provided on matters pertaining to labour disputes, terms of contracts with employers, death/accident compensation, withholding of dues by employers, etc. by lawyers on our panel, to Indian nationals on all working days between 1500hrs to 1600hrs.

Ambassador’s Open House The Open House for Indian citizens by the Ambassador is being held on all Wednesdays at the Embassy for redressal of grievances. In case Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day.

Sahara Kuwait Resort blood donation drive

Register and Win promotion at Q8India.com

ahara Kuwait Resort recently organized a blood donation drive with the coordination of Kuwait Blood Bank. Many staff and guests contributed to this humanitarian cause which is common practice annually.

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ity Centre, Kuwait’s premier mega-market, in association with Q8India.com, a leading online Indian community portal, is holding a monthlong ‘Register and Win’ promotion campaign. Any resident in Kuwait can participate in the promotion by visiting www.Q8India.com and registering their name, email and phone number. A winner will be picked each day (except Friday), from the list of names registered on the previous day, and receive a free shopping voucher worth KD10 from City Centre.

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Student Visa Day at US Embassy held o support Kuwaiti students currently studying or planning to study in the United States, the US Embassy’s Consular Section, in cooperation with the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) - US Branch, held a Student Visa Day on July 18. The Consular Section allotted 200 appointments for student visa applicants, coordinating closely with NUKS-US Branch representatives to ensure that a successful event be held. Encouraging Kuwaiti students to pursue higher educational opportunities in the US is one of the top priorities of this US Mission.

For instructions on how to apply for a student visa to the US, please see our website for more information: http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/student3.html.

To avoid delays during periods of high demand, students are encouraged to apply for their visa as early as possible.

Free Arabic course in IPC PC (Islam Presentation Committee) and all its branches is opening free Arabic Language Course for nonArab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class will commence from September 14, 2012.

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Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah: Offers 2 alternatives for Level 1 - Call: 22512257. Once a week class (4-month course) and

twice a week class (2-month course). Salmiya: 25733263/97533263; Kheitan: 24730137/99285459; Mangaf: 23723002 ext. 124/123; Jahra: 24558830/97533948.

this tournament is open to all and will fall under three categories this year. The first category is for amateurs from ages 17 and above, second category is for professional players from ages 20 and above and the third category is for ladies 17 and above. Following its last three years of grand success, the 4th annual Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament is being organized during Ramadan for squash lovers who will have an opportunity to practice the sport while being encouraged to develop their skills in a healthy, competitive and social environment. Al-Awadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, commented, “In our last tournaments, we have received very positive feedback and have witnessed a huge number of interested participants thus giving us immense encouragement to hold an exciting tournament this year. The 2012 squash tournament offers a great opportunity to all squash players to accept another challenge and build on their sports skills in midst of a friendly atmosphere. I highly encourage all interested players to maintain their level of activity during Ramadan while balancing fitness and fasting and to register before the deadline ends”.

All details pertaining to the tournament and means to participate can be found on the tournaments facebook page under ‘Ramadan Stars Squash Tourney’ or follow the official twitter page @RamadanStars for updates. The registration is taking place at GO SPORT store located at The Avenues Mall.

Alawadi also pointed out the great interest the ‘Ramadan Stars Squash tournament’ received from the private sector, where companies took the initiative in sponsoring the tournament.

Alawadi expressed his gratitude and thanks to Kazma Sporting Clun, Go Sport, Comtel, Vio, Unite Colors and Alawadi Photography guaranteeing unique prizes for all winners.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

‘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.

Registration for Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament begins Once again this year, the stage is set for the fourth annual ‘Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament’ to be held from August 3 to 9 at the Kazma Sporting Club, Adailiya. Abdulrahim AlAwadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee has announced that doors are now open for registration to all those who are interested in participating, stating that the deadline for registration will be August 1. The participation in

Your health & Ramadan You are invited to “Your Health & Ramadan Dasman Diabetes Institute” from 9 am till 2 pm, today 15th July.* Blood Glucose Monitoring. * BMI Calculation * Blood Pressure Monitoring. For any inquiries, please contact us on: www.facebook.com/dasmaninstitute Burgan Bank Ramadan timing Burgan Bank announced its new branch timings which will be applicable all throughout the holy month of Ramadan. All Burgan Bank branches will commence work in one shift from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Additionally, the Airport branch will be open seven days a week in the mornings from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm and in the evenings from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm. On this occasion, Burgan Bank extends its best wishes to everyone during the holy month of Ramadan.

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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian ConsulateGeneral in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE

The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information.

The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy. The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency.

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EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the following office hours during the holy month of Ramadan. Sunday to Thursday: 9 am - 3:30 pm. Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays.

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EMBASSY OF BRITAIN

MP Ali Al-Omair recently threw a Ghabqa to the honors of the third constituency residents that was attended by other lawmakers, dignitaries and the media.

Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page.

Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320.

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EMBASSY OF INDIA During the holy month of Ramadan, the office timings of the Indian Passport and Visa Service Centres of BLS International Visa Services Co, Kuwait, situated at (i) Emad Commercial Centre, Basement Floor, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait, and (ii) Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26 Makka Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait, will be from 8.00 am - 3.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday (i.e. six days a week). Tokens for submission of applications will NOT be issued after 2.00 pm. Delivery of passports and visas will be from 11.00 am onwards. Embassy of India, Kuwait, will maintain its usual working hours.

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EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform Kenyan residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that with effect from June 1, 2012 the Embassy has moved from its current location to a new location in Surra Block 1, Street 8, Villa 303.

Please note that the new telephone and fax numbers will be communicated as soon as possible. For enquiries you can contact Consular Section on mobile 90935162 or 97527306.

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EMBASSY OF MEXICO The Embassy of Mexico is pleased to inform that it is located in CLIFFS Complex, Villa 6, Salmiya, block 9, Baghdad street, Jadda Lane 7. The working hours for consular issues are from 9:00 to 12:00 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 14:00 to 15:00 hours for lunch break. The Embassy of Mexico kindly requests all Mexicans citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the e-mail: embkuwait@sre.gob.mx in order to register or update contact information. Other consultations or/and appointments could be done by telephone or fax: (+965) 2573 1952 ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, e-mail:myankuwait11@gmai1.com ■■■■■■■

Competitions in Patriotic songs ndo-Kuwait Friendship Society, Kuwait (www.indokuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) is planning to conduct competitions in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. This is the first time in Kuwait, an Indian Association is organizing contests in “Patriotic Songs” for both Indian and Kuwaiti School students. The first 3 places will be declared separately by Judges who are experts in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. Several prizes and awards will be handed over for the winning schools. Pradeep Rajkumar and A K S Abdul Nazar said that IKFS wants let our children learn what they mean as a “Patriotic” to their home country. 4 pages of spot Essay competition related to “Patriotism” also will be held in the same day as a spot registration. 1 Girl and 1 Boy student from each School can participate in the ESSAY contest. Dr. Mohamed Tareq, Chairman of the First Indian Model School in Kuwait “ Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS) already confirmed as a CoSponsor of the Program.

I

Conditions apply 1) The competitions are meant for all the Schools located in Kuwait and should be nominated by school authority.

2) Each school can select group of 7 students for the “PATRIOTIC SONGS (Indian and Kuwaiti)” and nominate separately.

3) Children of above 12 years till 17 years (VII classes to XII classes) are eligible for the contest. But if School is permitted 4) Musical instruments or KARAOKE mixer should be accompanied by the participating students/Children and the school team should operate and select the mixers.

5) Time frame: 7 minutes - Names will be called as “First come” in the Registration.

The Event will be held at the auditorium of “Salmiya Indian Model School” on Saturday, 27th October 2012 from 09:30 am onwards. It will be a full

day program with fun and full of entertainments.

Food-stalls of different Kuwaiti and Indian tastes will installed.

Dr. Ghalib Al-Mashoor said in a press release that Invitations for all schools located in various parts of Kuwait are already been sent. Schools under one management but from different locations can also participate in the contest individually. As per the school directory, there 23 Indian schools in Kuwait. The last date of receiving names of the Participants is scheduled on 2nd day of October, 2012 (INDIA’s GHANDI JAYANTHI DAY). The entry is free to all and due to 2nd day of Eid Al-Adha holidays, a large crowd is expected to attend in addition to, Senior Kuwaiti and Indian citizens will also grace the function.

All the applications of interest should be sent to: ikfsociety@gmail.com Phone:99430786

EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 25317531, Ext: 14.

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EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES

In reference to our announcement last July 14 2012 announcing the transfer and opening of our new Philippine Overseas Labor Office due on August 1 , we regret to inform Filipinos in Kuwait that due to unavoidable circumstances, the August 1 opening will be moved to new date August 5. POLO will be closed to public transactions on July 30, 31 and August 1 & 2. For emergency please contact the POLO hotline at Tel 99558527.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Sharkman Animal Cops Specials 2009 Speed Of Life Monster Bug Wars Wildest Africa Great Ocean Adventures Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Austin Stevens Adventures Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Breed All About It Jeff Corwin Unleashed Monster Bug Wars Wildlife SOS Gorilla School Animal Cops Houston New Breed Vets With Steve

06:30 06:55 07:20 07:45 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 Doo 10:55 11:15 11:40 12:00 12:15 12:40 12:55 13:20 13:35 14:00 14:50 15:15 Doo 15:40 16:00 16:40 17:30 18:10 18:35 19:00 19:15 19:40 19:55 20:20 20:35

Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Ha Ha Hairies A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Garfield Show Johnny Bravo Dexter’s Laboratory Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-

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

Animal Precinct Monster Bug Wars Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Baby Planet Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Dogs 101 Wildlife SOS Gorilla School Living With The Wolfman Animal Battlegrounds Monster Bug Wars Great Animal Escapes Cats 101 Animal Cops Houston

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

Blackadder The Third Last Of The Summer Wine Doctor Who Life On Mars Spooks Blackadder The Third Fimbles Bobinogs Nina And The Neurons Teletubbies The Roly Mo Show Charlie And Lola Fimbles Tellytales Bobinogs Nina And The Neurons Teletubbies The Roly Mo Show Charlie And Lola Allo ‘allo!

The Impressions Show Supernova Elephant Diaries Doctors Coast New Tricks Allo ‘allo!

The Weakest Link The Impressions Show Doctors Elephant Diaries New Tricks The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Coast One Foot In The Grave Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show Spooks Dinnerladies As Time Goes By London Hospital Gavin & Stacey The Weakest Link Coast

00:30 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 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 The Marvelous Misadventures...

06:25 Casper’s Scare School 07:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 07:15 Adventure Time 07:40 Johnny Test 08:05 Grim Adventures Of...

08:55 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 10:10 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu 10:35 Powerpuff Girls 11:25 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 12:15 Ed, Edd n Eddy 13:05 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 13:30 Sym-Bionic Titan 13:55 Foster’s Home For...

14:45 Angelo Rules 15:35 Powerpuff Girls 16:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 16:40 Johnny Test 17:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:55 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 18:20 Batman Brave And The Bold 18:45 Young Justice 19:10 Hero 108 19:35 Ben 10 20:25 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:15 Grim Adventures Of...

22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:01 Grim Adventures Of...

22:10 Codename: Kids Next Door

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00 05:25 05:50 06:00 06:15

Puppy In My Pocket Tom & Jerry Kids Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Pink Panther And Pals Looney Tunes Popeye Classics Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes The Scooby Doo Show Johnny Bravo The Flintstones The Jetsons Wacky Races The Garfield Show Tom & Jerry Kids

00:00 00:30 01:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00

Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Puppy In My Pocket Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show Johnny Bravo Dexter’s Laboratory Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Dexter’s Laboratory

Aiming For Gold World Sport World Report Backstory Talk Asia Fareed Zakaria Gps CNN Newsroom I Report For CNN News Special World Sport Inside Africa World Report World Report World Sport World’s Untold Stories World Business Today

12:00 Backstory 12:30 African Voices 13:00 World One 14:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 African Voices 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 How Sports Are Made 07:00 American Chopper 07:50 Mythbusters 08:45 Ultimate Survival 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Kings 10:30 How Do They Do It? 10:55 How It’s Made 11:25 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 12:20 Extreme Fishing 13:15 River Monsters 14:10 Border Security 14:35 Auction Kings 15:05 Ultimate Survival 16:00 American Chopper 16:55 Fifth Gear 17:20 Swamp Loggers 18:15 Mythbusters 19:10 How Do They Do It? 19:40 How It’s Made 20:05 Border Security 20:35 Auction Kings 21:00 The Gadget Show 21:30 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 22:25 Extreme Fishing 23:20 Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing Challenge

00:35 01:25 02:15 02:45 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:05 07:00 07:50 07:53 08:20 08:50 09:40 10:30 15:35 16:00 16:03 16:30 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Tech Toys 360 Mega World Game Changers Scrapheap Challenge Junk Men Mega World Prank Science Game Changers Engineering Ground Zero Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science Smash Lab Junkyard Mega-Wars Superships The Gadget Show Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science Invisible Worlds Smash Lab Cosmic Collisions Mighty Ships Mega World The Gadget Show Mighty Ships Mega World Smash Lab

00:10 01:00 01:50 02:40 03:30 04:20 05:10 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05

Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Fish Hooks Recess So Random Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Handy Manny The Hive Mouk Recess So Random Hannah Montana Forever Fish Hooks Jake & Blake Sonny With A Chance

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

00:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 00:55 Style Star 01:25 E!es 02:20 THS 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Then And Now 06:00 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 40 (More) Crimes Of Fashion 12:05 Mrs. Eastwood And Company 13:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Giuliana & Bill 17:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 18:55 THS 19:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:55 Ice Loves Coco 22:25 E!es 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Outrageous Food 00:55 Unwrapped 01:45 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:25 Meat & Potatoes 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Outrageous Food 04:40 Unwrapped 05:05 Unique Eats 05:30 Chopped 06:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 06:35 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 07:00 Food Network Challenge 07:50 Unique Sweets 08:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 08:40 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:05 Gourmet Farmer 09:30 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 09:55 Food(Ography) 10:45 Unwrapped 11:10 Unique Eats 11:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 12:00 Food Network Challenge 12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:05 Mexican Made Easy 14:30 Unique Sweets 14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:20 Extra Virgin 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Cooking For Real 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Unique Eats 18:15 Food(Ography) 19:05 Unique Sweets 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 21:35 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 22:00 Andy Bates Street Feasts 22:25 Andy Bates Street Feasts 22:50 World Cafe Middle East 23:40 Grill It! With Bobby Flay

00:30 00:55 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:10 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

GRIDLOCKʼD ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb Timon And Pumbaa Jessie A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Jessie A.N.T. Farm Den Brother Wizards Of Waverly Place Jessie A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie So Random Suite Life On Deck Jonas Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie

Stalked: Someone’s Watching I Was Murdered Australian Families Of Crime American Greed Scorned: Crimes Of Passion Stalked: Someone’s Watching I Was Murdered On The Case With Paula Zahn Mystery Diagnosis Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

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

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

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared

00:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 01:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 01:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 02:00 Departures 03:00 Banged Up Abroad 04:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 05:00 Gone to save the planet 06:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 07:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 07:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 08:00 Departures 09:00 Banged Up Abroad 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:00 Gone to save the planet 12:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses

12:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 13:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 13:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 14:00 Departures 15:00 Banged Up Abroad 16:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 17:00 Gone to save the planet 18:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 19:00 Madventures 20:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 21:00 Chasing Time 22:00 Treks In A Wild World 23:00 Meet The Natives: USA

00:00 Child’s Play 3-18 02:00 Street Kings 2: Motor City-18 04:00 Child’s Play 2-18 06:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 08:00 Rocky v-PG15 10:00 Ladder 49-PG15 12:00 Green Lantern: Emerald Knights-PG15 14:00 Rocky v-PG15 16:00 Behind Enemy Lines-PG15 18:00 Green Lantern: Emerald Knights-PG15 20:00 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 22:00 The Killing Room-18

01:00 Cars 2-FAM 03:00 Oceans-PG15 05:00 The Conspirator-PG15 07:00 Justice For Natalee HollowayPG15 09:00 Cars 2-FAM 11:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs.

Evil-PG 13:00 African Cats: Kingdom Of Courage-PG 15:00 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 17:00 Stonehenge ApocalypsePG15 19:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15 21:00 Daydream Nation-PG15 23:00 Win Win-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 03:00 2 Broke Girls 03:30 Last Man Standing 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 2 Broke Girls 09:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 Happy Endings 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 14:00 Last Man Standing 14:30 Happy Endings 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 2 Broke Girls 18:30 Raising Hope 19:30 Happy Endings 20:30 King Of The Hill 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 22:30 American Dad 23:00 American Dad

07:00 08:30 10:00 16:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00

Century City Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show Century City Suits Justified Missing Warehouse 13

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

Cold Case Top Gear (US) Revenge Bones Covert Affairs Revenge Cold Case Emmerdale Coronation Street Bones Burn Notice Emmerdale Cold Case Emmerdale The Ellen DeGeneres Show Necessary Roughness Suits Justified Missing Top Gear (UK) Revenge

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 PG15 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:15 21:00 23:00

Gridlock’d-18 Law Abiding Citizen-18 Friday Night Lights-PG15 True Justice: BrotherhoodRed Faction: Origins-PG15 Friday Night Lights-PG15 Tremors-PG15 Red Faction: Origins-PG15 Tron: Legacy-PG15 Malibu Shark Attack-18 Sugarhouse-18 Deadtime Stories 2-PG15

00:00 Lottery Ticket-PG15 02:00 The Open Road-PG15 04:00 French Kiss-PG15 06:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 08:00 The Open Road-PG15 10:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 12:00 Flubber-PG 14:00 Kuffs-PG 16:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 18:00 Paper Man-PG15 20:00 The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy-PG 22:00 A Fork In The Road-PG15

01:00 Strange Culture-PG15 03:00 The Kid-18 05:00 Divorces!-PG15 07:00 On Strike For Christmas-PG15 09:00 Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming-PG15 11:00 Get Low-PG15 13:00 Stone Of Destiny-PG15 15:00 Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming-PG15 16:45 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 18:45 Random Hearts-PG15 21:00 Brothers-18 23:00 2:22-18

THE CONSPIRATOR ON OSN CINEMA

01:00 The Romantics-PG15 03:00 13 Going On 30-PG15 05:00 How To Train Your Dragon-PG 07:00 A Family Thanksgiving-PG15 09:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 11:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years-PG15 13:00 The Prince And Me 4: The Elephant Adventure-PG15 15:00 Battle For Terra-PG15 17:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 19:00 Just Go With It-PG15 21:00 Knight And Day-PG15

01:45 The Spy Next Door-PG 04:00 Young Fisherman-PG 06:00 Micropolis-FAM 08:00 Marco Antonio-PG 10:00 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure-PG 12:15 Young Fisherman-PG 14:00 4 Angies-PG15 16:00 Supertramps-FAM 18:00 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure-PG 20:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 22:00 Supertramps-FAM

00:00 Olympics - Sailing Summary 01:00 Olympics Repeat 11:00 Olympics - Shooting 11:45 Live Olympics - Swimming 13:45 Olympics - Handball or Volleyball 15:45 Olympics - Archery 16:45 Live Olympics - Diving 18:15 Live Olympics - Beach Volleyball 20:15 Olympics - Beach Volleyball 21:15 Live Olympics - Swimming

00:30 Live Olympics - Volleyball 01:00 Live Olympics - Volleyball or Basketball 02:00 Olympics 10:45 Live Olympics - Basketball or Volleyball 13:00 Olympics - Fencing 14:15 Live Olympics - Shooting 16:00 Live Olympics - Boxing 19:00 Live Olympics - Gymnastic 22:00 Live Olympics - Basketball

00:00 Olympics - Handball or Basketball or Volleyball 02:30 Darts World Match Play 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Darts World Match 10:15 Live Olympics - Badminton 13:00 Olympics - Shooting 14:15 Live Olympics - Badminton 19:00 Olympics - Fencing 19:45 Live Olympics - Fencing 22:45 Live Olympics - Tennis

02:00 UFC 149 05:00 UFC Unleashed 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Bottom Line 08:00 WWE Experience 09:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 10:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 11:25 Live Olympics - Judo 14:33 Olympics - Sailing 15:55 Live Olympics - Judo 19:00 Olympics - Handball or Volleyball 21:55 Live Olympics - Beach Vollyball

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00

Top Shot Beyond The Big Bang Top Shot The Universe Ancient Aliens Decoded Pawn Stars Ancient Aliens Britain At War Pawn Stars Ax Men Beyond The Big Bang

14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

Britain At War Ancient Aliens Beyond The Big Bang Britain At War Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Pawn Stars American Restoration

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

Jerseylicious Wicked Fit Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Clean House Videofashion News Videofashion News Videofashion Daily Open House Fashion Classics How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Clean House Mel B: It’s A Scary World Clean House: New York How Do I Look?

How Do I Look?

Big Rich Texas Big Rich Texas The Amandas The Amandas Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane The Amandas Fashion Police

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 Pokemon: Black And White 06:45 Rated A For Awesome 07:10 Kickin It 07:35 Phineas And Ferb 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Aaron Stone 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Zeke & Luther 15:00 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 15:25 Iron Man Armored Adventures 15:50 Rated A For Awesome 16:15 Kickin It 16:40 Lab Rats 17:05 Lab Rats 17:30 Scaredy Squirrel 18:00 Kickin It 18:25 Phineas And Ferb 19:15 My Babysitter’s A Vampire 19:40 Pair Of Kings 20:05 Zeke & Luther 20:30 Zeke & Luther 20:55 Mr. Young 21:20 Aaron Stone 21:45 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:05 Pro Hunter Journal 00:30 Dream Season: Celebrity 01:45 Mathew’s World Class Bowhunting 03:00 Pro Hunter Journal 04:15 Dream Season: Celebrity 05:30 Mathew’s World Class Bowhunting 07:00 Ride To Adventure 08:15 Adventure Guides - Fishing Edition 09:30 Ride To Adventure 10:45 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish

12:00 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife 13:15 World Class Sports Fishing 14:30 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish 15:45 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife 17:00 World Class Sports Fishing 18:15 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish 19:30 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife 20:45 World Class Sports Fishing 22:00 Ride To Adventure 23:15 Adventure Guides - Fishing Edition

00:15 Little Einsteins 00:40 Jungle Junction 01:10 Little Einsteins 01:30 Special Agent Oso 02:00 Lazytown 02:25 Little Einsteins 02:50 Jungle Junction 03:05 Jungle Junction 03:20 Little Einsteins 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:55 Special Agent Oso 04:10 Lazytown 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:15 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Lazytown 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 The Hive 08:20 Handy Manny 08:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:05 The Hive 09:15 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 09:20 Mouk 09:45 Minnie’s Bow Toons 09:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:15 Minnie’s Bow Toons 10:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:45 Art Attack 11:10 Imagination Movers 11:35 Lazytown 12:00 The Hive 12:10 Handy Manny 12:25 Jungle Junction 12:40 Imagination Movers 13:05 The Hive 13:15 Special Agent Oso 13:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons 13:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons 14:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:30 Handy Manny 14:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:00 Mouk 15:15 The Hive 15:25 Handy Manny 15:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:55 Imagination Movers 16:20 Lazytown 16:45 Art Attack 17:05 Tangled Ever After 17:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:10 Little Einsteins 18:35 Pixie Hollow Games 19:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons 19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons 19:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 20:00 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:20 The Hive 20:30 Tangled Ever After 20:35 Minnie’s Bow Toons 20:40 Animated Stories 20:45 Mouk 21:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 21:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:40 Special Agent Oso 21:55 Little Einsteins 22:20 Timmy Time 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Special Agent Oso 23:50 Lazytown

01:40 Somebody Up There Likes Me-PG 03:35 White Heat-PG 05:25 Never Let Me Go-FAM 07:00 Boom Town-PG 08:55 Two Weeks In Another Town 10:45 Invitation To The Dance-FAM 12:20 Young Bess-FAM 14:15 The Outriders-FAM 15:45 G-Men-FAM 17:10 Seven Women-PG 18:35 Skyjacked-PG 20:15 Hearts Of The West-PG

Classifieds MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Monday 30/7/2012

Depature Flights on Monday 30/7/2012

FOR SALE Nissan Pathfinder model 2006, silver color, mileage 104000 km, new tyres and battery, non-accident, price KD 3,600/-. Contact: 99949612. (C 4091) 29-7-2012 SITUAITON WANTED Looking for job, having 20 years of experience in cooking. Contact: 55052382.

(C 4088) 26-7-2012

POLICE STATION

Al-Madena Police Station 22434064

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

Al-Murqab Police Station 22435865 Al-Daiya Police Station

22544200 Ministry of Interior

Al-Fayha’a Police Station 22547133

website: www.moi.gov.kw

Al-Qadissiya Police Station22515277 Al-Nugra Police Station

22616662

Al-Salmiya Police Station 25714406 Al-Dasma Police Station 22530801

Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:37 11:54 15:30 18:42 20:08

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES

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

Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TAT TE OF K KUW WAIT A

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

WWW.MET.GOV V.KW .

Veery hot h with light variable wind changing to light to moderate north easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with light to moderate north easterly becoming south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 28 km/h No Current Warnings arnin a

WA ARNING

47 °C

36 °C

22451082

KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT

48 °C

31 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WA AISEEB

46 °C

32 °C

Sharq

22465401

WAFRA A

48 °C

32 °C

Salmiya

25746401

SALMI

47 °C

33 °C

Jabriya

25316254

ABDAL LY

49 °C

30 °C

JAL ALIY YA AH

48 °C

34 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

41 °C

31 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

38 °C

35 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

39 °C

34 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YA AN

42 °C

31 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

ST TATION T

DA AT TE

WEA AT THER

Monday

30/07

West Jahra

24772608

Tuesday

South Jahra

24775066

Weednesday

North Jahra

24775992

Thursday

North Jleeb

24311795

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

29/07/2012 0000 UTC

Temperatures DA AY

24575755

Al-Omariya

SFC. CHART

4 DA AY YS FORECAST

New Jahra

24892674

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

very hot

48 °C

32 °C

VRB-SE

08 - 30 km/h

31/07

very hot + high clouds

49 °C

33 °C

NE-VRB

08 - 30 km/h

01/08

very hot + scattered clouds

49 °C

34 °C

NW-NE

12 - 35 km/h

02/08

very hot + scattered clouds

48 °C

33 °C

N-NE

15 - 38 km/h

AIT AIRPORT RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WA

PRA RA AYER Y TIMES Fajr

03:37

MAX. Temp.

50 °C

Sunrise

05:07

MIN. Temp.

31 °C

Zuhr

11:54

MAX. RH

24 %

Asr

15:30

MIN. RH

Sunset

18:42

MAX. Wind i

Isha

20:09

TOT TA AL L RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

03 % SE 32 km/h 00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Salem soso

22618787 General Surgeons

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

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

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

BY Y DA AY:

KUW WA AIT CITY

Firdous

Al-Shohada’a

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours

MIN. REC.

24884079

Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630

22418714

Fax: 24348714

MAX. EXP P.

Al-Ardhiya

PHONE

Al-Madena

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

Endocrinologist Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Keeping Queen’s secret ‘a hell of a job’

Robert was ‘weeks away’ from proposing to Kristen

eeping Queen Elizabeth’s role in the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony a secret was “a hell of a job”. The monarch delighted those attending the ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London and an estimated worldwide audience of one billion by taking part in a pre-recorded segment with Daniel Craig as James Bond where she appeared to parachute into the stadium. Scenes were filmed in April and a source told MailOnline: “It’s been a hell of a job keeping it secret for so long.” A palace spokesman said: “She was delighted to be asked to be involved in something so exceptional.” The film began with James Bond arriving at Buckingham Palace in an iconic black cab and walking down a hallway flanked by two of the 85-year-old royal’s beloved Corgi dogs, Monty, 13, who used to belong to the Queen Mother and Holly, nine. He entered a room to be greeted by Queen Elizabeth, wearing a pale peach dress, with the words “Good evening Mr. Bond.”

The spy returned the formal greeting by answering “Good evening You Majesty” before the pair walked outside to a waiting helicopter before taking off, leaving the disappointed Corgis behind.

Queen Elizabeth and Bond travelled in the Union Jack decorated helicopter past a number of iconic London sights including Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye before arriving at the Olympic Stadium for her “jump”.

However, the royal revealed the joke when she and her husband Prince Philip appeared to loud cheers, where they walked down the steps in the stadium to their seats.

K

obert Pattinson was “weeks away” from proposing to Kristen Stewart before finding out she cheated on him. The ‘Twilight’ star was due to ask for the brunette beauty’s hand in marriage in the spring and he had even bought a £5 million Los Angeles mansion for the couple’s future before being told of the 22-year-old star’s affair with her ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ director Rupert Sanders, 41. A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “Robert hoped to marry Kristen and was making preparations to spring a proposal before she admitted cheating.

He had bought the house in Los Angeles to be their home and saw them staying there for a long time.” But since discovering the news, Robert - whose character in ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1’ married Kristen’s alter-ego onscreen last year - is “angry” with Kristen and the 26-year-old hunk has moved out of their LA home. The insider added: “Now Rob is angry - he’s left the mansion and not spoken to her since. They have exchanged heated text messages only.” After pictures of Kristen and Rupert together emerged, the pair publically confessed to cheating on their respective lovers, and the director has “apologized profusely” to his model-and-actress wife Liberty Ross - who played Kristen’s mother in ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ - in the hope he can save his marriage. A friend explained: “Liberty is hurting.

But she’s realistic. Things happen and marriage isn’t easy - she just hates the fact her name’s been dragged into all of this. Rupert has apologized profusely and she has accepted his apology. She hopes things get back on track - after all, they have kids together.”

Robert now wants to have a one-on-one chat with Rupert to find out “exactly what happened” between the filmmaker and his girlfriend. A source said: “Rob wants to have a man to man chat with Rupert to find out exactly what happened between him and Kristen. “Kristen has already betrayed his trust by cheating, so he can’t be sure that she will tell him exactly what went on between her and Rupert.” Robert and Kristen are contractually obliged to be pictured side by side on the red carpet at the premiere of their final ‘Twilight’ movie together, ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2’, later this year.

R

Cole loses appetite heryl Cole can’t eat when she’s stressed about men. The ‘Fight For This Love’ singer - who split from husband Ashley Cole in 2010 - loses her appetite when she has personal problems, though she has always tried to watch what she eats since she shot to fame after taking part in ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ in 2002. Cheryl’s niece Melissa Armstrong said: “Cheryl tells us that if she gets stressed with men, she can’t eat. When she went on ‘Popstars: The Rivals’, I remember [Girls Aloud] were all upset because they were told to lose weight.

That was ridiculous. “I know Cheryl loves her takeaways, and she did tell us that she wanted to lose weight, cos she joked she’d become a pop star and put on weight and that definitely wasn’t what was supposed to happen.” However, Melissa admits Cheryl will indulge in her favourite takeaways when relaxing at home with her family in Newcastle, North East England. Melissa added to heat magazine: “She likes to dress down when she’s with us. She’s in tracksuit bottoms - sometimes pyjamas - and no make-up and she looks stunning. We always have a Chinese takeaway - her favourite is duck.” Despite being catapulted into the limelight 10 years ago, Melissa is adamant Cheryl is the same small town girl Newcastle she always was. Her niece added: “She’s a very proud Geordie girl. She’s someone you can just to and chat to at a party. She loves you to call her up and tell her what’s going on - who’s ordered a new washing machine and that.”

C

Kidman attends ‘amazing’ Olympics Opening Ceremony icole Kidman attended the “amazing” London Olympics Opening Ceremony. The Australian actress who was accompanied by husband Keith Urban - couldn’t contain her excitement at watching the spectacular show live from the Olympic stadium in Stratford, East London and took to her Facebook page to share her enthusiasm. Posting a picture of herself, she wrote “At the Olympics with omega! Amazing!!” Fans in the audience were also thrilled to spot the star, with one twitter user writing “forget about the athletes, Nicole Kidman is at the Olympics opening ceremony (sic).” Other well known faces at Danny Boyle’s spectacular show included performers such as Kenneth Branagh and Rowan Atkinson. Duchess Catherine and her husband Prince William also attended along with a number of other royal family members including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Meanwhile despite being famously snubbed from Team GB for the Games , David Beckham

N

Kutcher buys phone case for Kunis

Hathaway to get in shape nne Hathaway had to “change her lifestyle” to play Catwoman in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The actress worked hard to get into shape to become the villain in the action film, so she could perform her own fight sequences and stunts. She said: “I had to change my lifestyle in order to play this character. Nobody told me to lose weight, but I was told I had to be strong enough to do my own fight scenes, so I spent several weeks getting into the best physical shape I could. “I made sure I got to the gym and made a conscious effort to make healthy food choices, and yes, I did feel healthier. Not only did I have to get into shape, but I had to maintain it for the ten months of shooting. I definitely did learn better eating habits during that time.”

However, soon after shooting the film, Anne had to dramatically lose weight for her role as tuberculosis-ridden prostitute Fantine in ‘Les Miserables’, which provided a completely different and difficult challenge for her. She added to Britain’s Hello! magazine: “I lost 25lb. It was very hard. I lost the first 10 in three weeks and the subsequent 15 in the next two weeks. I don’t recommend anyone try this. It was not designed with any health benefits in mind except to make me look like an impoverished prostitute who was near death. “I’m back to my usual weight now and feeling fine, but while shooting the film I didn’t look healthy or good and wasn’t supposed to. Dying of tuberculosis is not romantic and it’s not pretty.”

A

still made a spectacular appearance.

Fireworks appeared on Tower Bridge before a powerboat appeared which seemed to be driven by David as it passed along the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London. On the boat with him were Jade Bailey, Arsenal and England Under 17 ladies footballer player and the famous Olympic torch.

shton Kutcher bought Mila Kunis a $5,000 phone case engraved with both their initials. The ‘Two and a Half Men’ actor reportedly designed the bejeweled case himself, with pink crystals and a heart encircling both their initials in real diamonds, leaving the ‘Ted’ actress thrilled. A source told National Enquirer magazine: “He spent five thousand bucks on Mila’s case. Needless to say, she loved it!” It had recently been claimed Ashton and Mila are living together and how the former ‘That ‘70s Show’ co-stars are inseparable from each other. A source said: “They’re basically living together. Like any new couple in love, they’re pretty much joined at the hip. “They’ve been sneaking around for months but there’s only so long you can keep it quiet.

They’re staying with each other most nights. Mila’s practically moved in to Ashton’s Hollywood home.” Ashton’s marriage to Demi Moore broke down last November, following reports of his cheating and the ‘Ghost’ actress is said to be devastated he has now found love with Mila.

A

Spears confused about wedding ritney Spears isn’t sure what type of wedding she wants. The US ‘X Factor’ judge - who has been married twice before - is set to tie the knot with her former manager Jason Trawick and while he is keen to get married this Christmas, Britney is delaying plans as she is “confused” about whether she wants her nuptials to be huge or intimate. A source told National Enquirer magazine: “There is still no date or really even any plans in place yet. Jason really hope to get married around Christmas, and he wants to have a huge bash. Britney, on the other hand, is completely holding back from making any plans. “She just isn’t ready to commit to concrete plans, because she’s not sure what the right thing to do is. She’s confused. This is her third wedding, so she doesn’t know whether she should go really big and make a huge statement or just do it super toned down.” Britney was previously married to childhood sweetheart Jason Alexander, although their marriage was annulled after just 55 hours in January 2004. She then wed dancer Kevin Federline in September 2004, and had two sons with him, Sean Preston, six, and five-yearold Jayden James. She got engaged to Jason last December.

B

Watts needs two years off from bandmates he Rolling Stones Charlie Watts doesn’t want to see Ronnie Wood “for two years” after touring. The drummer spends so much time with his bandmates - Ronnie, Keith Richards and Sir Mick Jagger - when they stage huge worldwide tours, he doesn’t want to spend any more time with them after they have finished. He said: “The tours are two years long, so I’m living with Ronnie Wood for all that time, so I don’t need to see him for another two years.” Charlie added in the band’s 60s heyday they had a much more hectic schedule, and would spend even more time together, but didn’t mind being photographed all the time as they were more youthful. He told Classic Rock magazine: “In the mid 60s the tours would be a trip around England, then a trip around America, then recording in America back to Europe, England to America. You were living together the whole time, you’d get a month off at the most. You were younger though. And also, you were more photogenic, to be honest. I don’t think Keith would want you photographing him at two in the morning now.” —Bang Showbiz

T

37

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

LIFESTYLE

Olympic opener showed music is best of British t’s not a concert, Danny Boyle stressed. It’s about the athletes. In a very real way, though, the director of the Olympic opening ceremony was wrong. While sports are the heart of the Olympics, music - loud, bold, world-conquering British music, amplified in the most global of settings - was the booming beat Friday night. One of Boyle’s stated aims was to showcase “the best of us” - and ever since the Beatles and the Rolling Stones appropriated American blues, country and rock and remade them into something new, the best of British has been music.

Music ran like a river through Boyle’s “Isles of Wonder” extravaganza, which depicted a Britain brutally wrenched from its rural past by industrialization and upheaval before being thrust into a fast, uncertain, exciting new world - all propelled by the throb of homegrown music. It began gently, with Edward Elgar, the hymn “Jerusalem” and “Danny Boy” - but soon started to rock.

Olympic ceremonies often play it safe.

But Boyle, who brought in the electronic duo Underworld as musical directors, gave his show a cheeky edge. The Sex Pistols, once the outrageous face of punk, were included with their song “Pretty Vacant.”

Boyle even slipped in a few bars of the Pistols’ snarling “God Save the Queen” (“the fascist regime”) early on - although he respectfully did it before Queen Elizabeth II herself had entered the stadium. Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway said including the Pistols was typical of Boyle’s “wit and guts.”

“Normally it would be brushed over, but the punk spirit which is in Britain was written through the ceremony,” he said. “Anyone cynical about this has no lust for life. It’s just bloody brilliant.” In parts, it was like a Union Jack jukebox - a medley of tracks from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Queen, the Specials and the Jam, the Stone Roses and Eurythmics, and what seemed like dozens more. The list spanned generations, from The Who’s “My Generation” right up to live performances from two of the hottest homegrown acts of the moment: grime star Dizzee Rascal - who performed his hit “Bonkers” - and singer Emeli Sande.

The musical melange continued during the athletes parade, with members of the 204 national teams circling the track to everything from “West End Girls” by the Pet Shop Boys and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. And of course the evening could not

I

Members of the band Metallica, from left to right; Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, pose at a photocall before their first of eight concert performances in Mexico City, Saturday, July 28, 2012. The heavy metal band added two more tour dates to their Mexico City run after a record six sold out August shows. —AP

Russia courts Hollywood with vast new studios Russian company has spent $89 million building Eastern Europe’s largest production facilities in a field outside Moscow and hopes to lure Hollywood majors to shoot and produce movies. The idea is to create a modern flagship studio that will make Russia a competitively priced destination for film projects and in turn modernize the local industry. “It is one of the targets for us to invite international projects to get their experience, to get their technologies,” general-director of the Glavkino grou, Ilya Bachurin, told AFP. Opened by President Dmitry Medvedev in February, on a recent tour the Glavkino studios were still dusty from the construction process and smelled of paint.

Bachurin, 42, a former impresario and television executive, led the way through the studios to show off echoing sound stages and hi-tech 3D equipment. The largest sound stage measures 3,108 square metres (33,4340 square feet), a space so large that it swallowed up a bus parked in the corner. “It’s the biggest in eastern Europe,” Bachurin said. The studios have a Hollywoodstyle sign on the roof visible from passing planes. Their website boasts they are “equivalent to the best studios of America and Europe”. So far one feature film has been completed at Glavkino: “August 8,” a strongly pro-Russian drama based on the 2008 Russia-Georgia war that was 90 percent funded by the Kremlin.

It aims to attract major global players to do studio shoots and post-production there and pass on their expertise to Russia’s technically lagging film industry. “In fact we do not need their money-it’s not our major goal,” said Bachurin.

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“We need to attract their experience and their specialists: those who can make the studio a part of the big international filmmaking industry.” In June Glavkino gave British art-house director Peter Greenaway a voucher worth 30,000 euros ($37,000) to spend on post-production for a planned remake of “Death in Venice.”

Greenaway told Hollywood Reporter he was considering Saint Petersburg as a location.

Without giving details, Bachurin said that Glavkino was planning to submit quotes for several big international projects.

‘We do not feel competition with Mosfilm’ One problem is that Russia offers no tax breaks for filmmakers. Add in a mass of headaches from tough rules on customs to visas and work permits. “We are going to make special proposals, make prices lower,” said Bachurin.

“This is a pragmatic business. If it is convenient and profitable, people will be ready to do the maths.” Viktor Ginzburg, a Russian-born film director based in the United States was visiting the studios with a view to making his next film there-an adaptation of Viktor Pelevin’s novel “Empire V”. He said he was impressed by the facilities. “It seems terrific. They should dust it, though,” he added. Yet he said the hi-tech studios still lacked something: “film culture”. “You need projection designers, art directors, set decorators, craftsmen,” he said.

“Unfortunately there is a real problem in the Russian film industry right now with these key positions.” That is a hangover from the 1990s when the film industry almost dried up and professions skipped an entire generation. While Glavkino is brand-new, it reeks of money and

connections. Its name uses Soviet-speak abbreviations: “glav” or main and “kino” meaning cinema or film, to suggest the historic roots it lacks.

One co-founder with Bachurin is actor and director Fyodor Bondarchuk, 45, who made hit films including “The 9th Company.” His father Sergei Bondarchuk directed the Oscar-winning “War and Peace.” Another co-owner is Konstantin Ernst, the director-general of state-controlled Channel One television, which also has a major film-making division.

The three men together with UralSib bank own 50 percent, while the other 50 percent belongs to private investor Vitaly Golovachev, according to Glavkino’s website. The studio was built after the owners raised a massive loan from VTB bank. Glavkino could hardly be more different from what is still Russia’s main film studio, Mosfilm, a maze of buildings dating from the 1930s in a busy urban area hemmed in by construction. “We do not feel it will be competition with Mosfilm, because the market for technical services is not filled, even now as we finish the Glavkino studios,” Bachurin said.

Currently Glavkino is mainly being used to make television shows, while the plan is for the proportion to change to half-and-half. A second stage upgrading the studios with equipment and everything from costume workshops to a five-star hotel will cost a further $120 million and is expected to be finished by the end of 2013. —AFP

have been complete without a Beatle - a rousing live performance from Paul McCartney, still rocking at 70. The amazing thing about the outpouring was how endless it seemed - a reminder that British music, decade after decade, has retained its genius.

Could any other country have pulled off a similar homegrown aural feast? The United States, certainly. But Boyle reminded Britain

Opening Ceremony artistic director Danny Boyle speaks next to the Olympic Bell ahead of the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday in London.

—AP photos how much it has to be proud of - and the clapping, cheering, singing 60,000-strong crowd loved him for it. Broadcast to a television audience estimated at 1 billion, it played like an excellent ad for Cool Britannia 2.0.

Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg spoke for many when he tweeted: “Impressive though (the opening ceremony) in Beijing was, they didn’t have any great pop music to play, did they?” And if you haven’t heard enough, have no fear - Universal Music said an album of the ceremony soundtrack would be on sale “within moments” of the ceremony ending. —AP

Dizzee Rascal performs during the Opening Ceremony.

SQE takes an all-encompassing approach to handling musical acts eb Webber stood in a stark office space 12 floors above Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, surveying his new domain. The 27-year-old London expatriate and the recently minted managing director of the music-services firm SQE was dressed in his typical plastic Buddy Holly glasses and skinny black jeans. His office’s polished concrete floors lacked furniture for the moment _ move-in day was a week or so away _ but he had a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling panorama of the Hollywood Hills to his north and, on this clear day, almost to Catalina Island in the west.

It’s a workplace view befitting a lavish new tech startup or a cash-flush film production house. But Webber’s company is in a more volatile (pessimists might even say doomed) line of work. SQE is a contrarian bet that the music industry won’t be saved by novel technology or a radical new profit stream. Its magic bullet, if there is one, is absolute flexibility and transparency in handling a growing stable of artists like the punky Coachella 2012 headliner At the Drive-In and pop-savvy dubstep auteur Rusko.

“Our idea was, ‘Isn’t there a good company where you don’t feel cheated?’” Webber said. “I see us as a service. We literally just execute on their behalf. No one knows better than them what they want.” The L.A. office of SQE is the American arm and new flagship of the British Columbia-founded firm that President Nathan Beswick and Chief Executive Duncan MacRae _ both in their mid- to late 20s _ started in 2010.

SQE’s first big coup was landing Webber. He left his position as the vice president of A&R for the U.K.-based XL Recordings to helm the firm.

Billboard had even named Webber one of its “30 Under 30” music-biz stars in 2010 for his regional scouting acumen for XL. But after working on Adele and M.I.A.’s A&R teams and cosigning Odd Future’s Tyler, the Creator to the label, Webber wanted to build something from the ground up instead of being an L.A.-based “Our Man in Havana” for an English hit label.

“It was really difficult being the L.A. point person for a U.K. company,” he said. “I’m still close with Richard (Russell, XL’s founder), and the one thing he hammered home was that nothing exists without quality music. But if there was any time to stand on my own two feet, it was now.” SQE’s business model is simple _ find ambitious artists, ask them what they need to realize their career goals and be able to do anything that can help.

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Indian Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha pose with director Prabhu Deva during the DVD launch for the Hindi film Rowdy Rathore in Mumbai on July 28, 2012. —AFP

Snoop Dogg denied Norway entry for 2 years for pot lawyer representing Snoop Dogg says the American rapper has been banned from entering Norway for two years after trying to enter the country with a small amount of marijuana last month. Holger Hagesaeter, the rapper’s legal representative in Norway, told The Associated Press on Saturday that his client “can live with the decision” and has no immediate plans to appeal it.

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Snoop Dogg, whose name is Calvin Broadus, was on his way to a music festival in southern Norway in June when sniffer dogs detected eight grams of marijuana in his luggage. He was also carrying more cash than is legally allowed and was fined 52,000 kroner ($8,600) after admitting to the two offenses, the lawyer said. —AP

Many traditional record labels and management teams farm out aspects of artist-caretaking to specialists at different companies _ a label fronts advances and distributes physical albums; a licensing firm places songs in commercials, films and TV; a publicity company wrangles media coverage. SQE can do all these things for an artist _ or

Seb Webber leads the artist management firm SQE, handling management, PR, record label and licensing for a select group of clients, photographed with their mascot goat, in their new headquarters on Sunset Boulevard, in the heart of Hollywood, California, June 4, 2012. —MCT take on as few as one of those jobs. SQE handles management, licensing, press, marketing and record label duties in-house, with a staff of around 14 who specialize in each field.

When they sign an artist, the musician can choose which aspects they want to use. Don’t call

it a “360 deal” _ SQE has banished that term for a deal in which a label gives larger advances but takes cuts from all streams of an artist’s income from its offices. But the firm does imagine music management as a holistic project.

“Artists are able to control a lot by themselves nowadays, and considering the established awareness of how the business side of their art works, a la carte is a no smoke-and-mirrors, transparent way for them to get what they want when they want it,” Beswick said in an email. For artists, that transparency and selectivity is the key selling point. SQE handles artists at all points in their careers, from a seasoned and recently reunited act like At the Drive-In down to the young Irish electronica artist Mmoths, who was signed off a YouTube demo and has barely an EP to his name.

For an artist like Rusko, who is beloved in serious beat-music circles but who has also produced for Britney Spears, Rihanna and T.I., SQE’s flexibility is an asset in navigating an unconventional career.

“They do it all for me, or at least figure out how to get it done. Many times, they’ll take initiatives and bring cool opportunities that I didn’t even think about,” he said, highlighting SQE’s recent work with Cat Stone of Stone Management, a filmplacement and promotions firm. In a music business defined by decimated record sales, that creativity is essential _ even for an artist who headlined the 3,800-capacity Hollywood Palladium to rapturous crowds. “In one week, I’ll play to more kids in the U.S. than have bought my first album. I have only received one royalty check in my life, and it equaled the same amount as two months of my T-shirt sales.”

After a brief signing spree in which the firm snapped up promising young electronica acts Audrey Napoleon and Data Romance alongside locals L.A. Riots and Daniel Ahearn & the Jones, Webber is ready to dive into the details of making careers. He was about to fly to Texas to join Rusko _ one of the few clients he personally manages _ on the road for the Western leg of his U.S. tour. But he was eager to get back to L.A. For him, SQE has become as much a space for music-management creativity as much as it is for any of his artists.

“When you become a home where artists can explore, eventually you’re going to get an Andy Warhol,” he said. “But you can’t just go out and buy an Andy Warhol.” —MCT

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

A guest bedroom where blue color palette is used.

Inside

Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home is featured in Atlanta, Georgia. — MCT photos

vacation homes should be all about what’s outside Bert and Trudy Hene’s Lake Oconee home is featured in Atlanta, Georgia.

The living room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home.

The sitting room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home.

Stair South is placing stair rails in a horizontal format to emphasize the views at Lake Oconee.

Stair South recently was installing bunk beds out of solid ash in Bert and Trudy Hene’s home at Harbor Club.

The deck view of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home. wood is painted with a whitewashed look.

“It’s not going to be overwhelming. It’s not going to feel like a rustic log cabin,” Mooney-Macchia said.

Another option, which can be more affordable, is using bead board, which adds wainscoting as a detail in rooms of the house.

By Lori Johnston

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hen you’re paying for the view, a vacation home doesn’t need to have fussy decor or over-the-top interiors that distract from the lake setting. “That’s the reason why they’re buying the house,” said Alicia MooneyMacchia, owner of Alicia Mooney Interiors, an interior designer at Lake Oconee, Ga., and throughout metro Atlanta. “What you want to do is walk in the house and look straight back at the view.”

Heavy fabrics and details such as fringe on furniture are out, replaced with clean lines, linen fabrics and neutral colors, she said.

Still, vacation homes don’t have to be shabby or suffer from the bare-bones look of a college apartment. Lake home style can enhance the serene environment while maintaining functionality for friends and family.

“The layouts are more efficient and effective,” said Dan Jones, owner of Jones and Jones Premier Builders and president of the Lake Oconee Builders Association. “There’s not as much wasted square footage. Obviously, openness is a contin-

Matching the scenery Neutrals keep the attention on the view, and grays are the new neutral, Mooney-Macchia said. She brings in bold splashes of orange and blue through pillows and other accessories.

Homeowners find that water-inspired hues can add to a home’s soothing setting.

“I think the best thing that you could say about it is when we have guests that come, they just totally, totally relax,” said Carol Morrison, who used a blue color palette in her guest bedroom. “Everybody we’ve had that’s ever come to spend the night there, they’ve all thought that this is the most peaceful, relaxing stay that they’ve had.” — MCT

When you’re paying for the view, a vacation home doesn’t need to have fussy decor or over-the-top interiors that distract from the lake setting. Here, a view from Bert and Trudy Hene’s Lake Oconee home.

Chamberlain, owner of Stair South, based in Eatonton, Ga., said his company situates iron rails horizontally (allowed by local building codes), instead of vertically, both inside and outside the home.

“If you’re sitting on your porch and looking onto the lake ... you can look horizontally and see more,” he said. Builders, interior designers and homeowners shared other ways to decorate vacation homes with the scenery in mind:

Using nautical decor You don’t want to get seasick at your lake home. If you want to give a nod to the water setting and participate in the nautical trend in homes and fashion, Mooney-Macchia advises against creating a “lake room.” Instead, keep it simple.

She accessorizes with nautical items, such as old oars or glass fishing floats and buoys covered with netting. Or a throw pillow could have a nautical or water motif.

Making space for guests The sitting room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home. uing trend, and less walls.”

Carol Morrison, who owns a vacation home with husband Ken on the 10th hole of the Harbor Club golf course at Lake Oconee, said they used minimal window treatments to keep the house open and emphasize the view.

The desire for openness even extends to decisions about placing stair rails so they don’t obstruct the view. Dennis

Requests for bunk-bed rooms are rising, especially as grandparents seek to accommodate multiple grandchildren during weekends and summers. “One of the neat things we’ve done is bunk rooms,” Jones said. “You know you’re going to be loading the house with people. Instead of a bedroom with a queen or king bed, put bunks.” He adds that the main thing to consider is ceiling height — at least 9 feet is optimal.

Stair South recently was installing bunk beds out of solid ash in Bert and Trudy Hene’s home at Harbor Club. The downstairs room will have seven beds. The couple first owned a three-bedroom, 2 bath villa, or condo, at Lake Oconee, but

last year they moved into a five-bedroom, 4 { bath home there. “We have three children and we outgrew the condo. We have five grandchildren now,” said Trudy Hene. “We just knew that we wanted something bigger, that if all the kids came, and grandkids, we would have enough room for everybody.”

The Morrisons’ home, built in 1996, underwent a two-year renovation project, using DreamBuilt, a custom homebuilder and general contractor at Lake Oconee. With guests in mind, they also reworked the third level of the home, turning it into two master bedrooms, said Ken Morrison. The changes also included making the basement friendlier for entertaining, including a wine cellar and theater room.

Going big While much of the time is spent outdoors, homeowners are placing a greater emphasis on creating large spaces for themselves and their guests to eat indoors.

Chamberlain is seeing an increase in requests for massive tables that seat 12 to 16 people. The Henes have a custom 12foot table at their lake home. “We had it made to look like a picnic table, but it’s real heavy wood,” Trudy Hene said.

Working in wood Whether the interior design style is modern, traditional or transitional, vacation homeowners often use wood elements indoors to reflect their love for the outdoor surroundings.

Incorporating cedar beams or placing tongue-and-groove boards on the walls and ceilings in keeping rooms, living rooms and master bedrooms are two popular ways homeowners add natural elements. In lake homes, though, the

Whether the interior design style is modern, traditional or transitional, vacation homeowners often use wood elements indoors to reflect their love for the outdoor surroundings. Incorporating cedar beams or placing tongue and groove boards on the walls and ceilings in keeping rooms, living rooms and master bedrooms are two popular ways homeowners add natural elements.

In lake homes, though, the wood is painted with whitewashed look.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

lifestyle

Fashion designers catch the

Olympic spirit

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ymnast Jonathan Horton was just 10 when he had that first Olympic moment. “I remember watching the 1996 Olympic Games and ... the women’s gymnastic team,” he recalls. “It came down to Kerri Strug _ she had to land her vault _ and she did it on a broken foot. I just have this perfect memory of seeing them on the awards podium with gold medals ... the national anthem playing, and that was the moment I realized ... it’s time to commit myself to this idea of the Olympic Games.”

That memory comes at you not from NBC, ESPN or Sports Illustrated, but from a video of Olympic athletes-including Horton, swimmer Ryan Lochte, soccer star Heather Mitts and paralympic basketballer Matt Scott-on Ralph Lauren’s website.

These days, fashion websites are looking pretty darn sporty, as designers catch the Olympic spirit, creating gear for athletesand fans.

Lauren, an official outfitter of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, has designed uniforms inspired by vintage pieces worn by American athletes at London’s 1948 Summer Games. You’ll find consumer versions online, plus profiles of Olympic hopefuls.

Stella McCartney worked for more than two years on Great Britain’s team uniforms, collaborating with

Sprinter Usain Bolt models one of the Jamaican Olympic team’s opening ceremony uniforms, designed by Cedella Marley for Puma. The Cedella Marley for Puma collection l send the men on Jamaica’s Olympic team into the 2102 London Olympics opening ceremony clad in a lightweight, short-sleeve button-front shirts in army green with black accents at the shoulders, a black skinny tie and an embroidered Jamaican flag patch on the right breast. — MCT photos Adidas on technical performance pieces, footwear and accessories. Giorgio Armani is dressing Italian athletes. And Puma enlisted Cedella Marley, a designer (and daughter of reggae icon Bob) to create uniforms, podium and ceremony wear for the Jamaican Olympic team. “Puma got that right ... hooking up with a legendar y Jamaican,” said team

Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt, right, and hurdler Shevon Stoddart will compete in Cedella Marley’s race gear. Consumers can buy her black/yellow medal podium track jackets and stylized pants at select Puma stores and shop.puma.com.

Ralph Lauren outfits today’s Olympians and tomorrow’s, with this Toddler Girls’ Team USA Olympic Ruffle Dress, sizes 2T to 4T at Bloomingdale’s stores and Bloomingdales.com

Lauren Rally, an interactive cheering center where you can upload a message to athletes to be aired as they arrive in London.

For each message submitted, he’ll donate $1 (up to $25,000) to the U.S. Olympic Committee; at ralphlaurenrally.com. —MCT

member (and world’s fastest man) Usain Bolt.

Some gear (or replicas) are available to spectators, too, along with merch from other brands. What are you waiting for? On your mark, get ready, shop!

Jimmy Choo’s Van in Union Jack printed denim; look for the Union Jack line at select Jimmy Choo boutiques and jimmychoo.com.

Ralph Lauren turn Olympic jeers to cheers Ralph Lauren caught flack from politicians earlier this month when they learned his Team USA gear was made in China. In response, Lauren pledged to make his 2014 Olympics outfits in America, and “lead the conversation” to increase manufacturing in this country.

But you can’t question his desire to cheer the athletes on. He’d already created Ralph

Swimmer Ryan Lochte stands with a Polo Ralph Lauren beach towel, and Team USA polo,; at select Ralph Lauren stores and ralphlauren.com.

U.S. Paralympics team member Jessica Long chills in Ralph Lauren Blue Label’s Team USA jersey tank, and fleece jacket and Polo Ralph Lauren’s Team USA silk belt, $85; at select Ralph Lauren stores and ralphlauren.com.

British athletes will compete and march in gear from Adidas by Stella McCartney, plus for consumers, she’s got a line of ‘Celebrate GB’ pieces, including this waterproof Cape; at select Nordstrom stores, Adidas Sports Performance stores and adidas.com.

Centrepoint unveils ‘Back to School’ surprises KUWAIT: Getting back to school will be even more fun this year as Centrepoint launched its ‘Back to School’ and ‘Summer Collection’ with children’s favorite characters! A beautiful flow of colors streams through Centrepoint’s new summer line ranging from trendy outfits to fashionable and colorful accessories, from stylish summer footwear to fun and bright outfits for kids and to sum up with beautiful gifts ideas for your loved ones. An array of school related items including trolley bags, backpacks, lunch kits, water bottles, pencil cases, wallets and color pencils have been designed in exclusive theme based fun characters!

Looking to capture the imagination of kids and make

the new school year an enjoyable and memorable one, Junior’s reveals an exciting and new ‘Back to School’ collection for children aged 3-16 years. Featuring some of the latest and greatest from the world of action-heroes and animation, the vibrant collection is designed for style, safety and functionality. The young ones can now own school bags, water bottles, stationary pouches and lunch boxes that sport their favorite cartoon characters. The stylish light-

weight bottles are available in pleasant colors, have pop-up and screw-on lids as well as enhanced rubber-grip options for easy handling.

For the young super-hero buffs, Junior’s offers a complete collection of school-related products branded with popular characters such as Spiderman, Batman, Ben 10, Hot Wheels, Power Rangers and Avengers. Sports enthusiasts can avail the BTS series featuring Soccer favorites FC Barcelona, Manchester United and not to mention the top-gear F1 specialists Ferrari. The line-up for girls is colorful and trendy featuring fantastic products with the latest animation blockbuster Brave, as well as the popular Barbie, Dora, Hello Kitty, Lulu Caty, Princess and Minnie Mouse.

To add value to the learning experience, Junior’s has in store educational toys for preschoolers to the primary level which includes alphabet and number grid mats, analytical learning centres, toy laptops and white boards.

Also available are microscopes, telescopes and other material to enhance the school-going experience.

Centrepoint is also stocking up formal and sports uniforms along with formal school shoes from the Bare Feet, Dash & Pablosky Collection. The formal uniform range for boys includes white shirts and long pants whereas for girls the range includes pinafore dress and blouses. The sportswear range for boys comprises of track pants, white T-shirts, hooded vests and shorts and for girls the range includes blouses, hooded t-shirt, leggings and jog pants available in colors such as white, black, navy blue and grey.

Splash adds a touch of fashion to the simplest looks goes chic this summer with a color burst. The Summer Collection promises to bring a dramatic makeover to your wardrobe. It recre-

Batman bags ates the magic of lazy days and dreamy nights in extremely wearable pieces, filled with an ecstatic range of colors and styles, the collection is breathtaking with its versatile and trendy feel.

The exciting Back to School collection from Lifestyle features an array of bright and stylish yet durable and essential bags and accessories for children aged 5 to 18 years old. There are also colorful ranges suiting all budgets. The “Value Pack” range is a five-piece set featuring a rucksack, lunchbox, flask, pencil case and kit bag; all at an affordable prices of KD 8.900.

Available in two different styles; there is something for him and for her. The lunch bag range features a mixture of bold designs and minimalist prints perfect for making a style statement in the school canteen- price start from KD 2.500.

Additional ranges include Crush on Wheel

which is perfect for aspiring boy racers, Kimmi Junior, Happy House, Minmie and Nici, which all include beautiful bags, quality lunch boxes and a pretty yet functional array of stationery to get kids organised for the term ahead. The themes focus on the loveable hero superman, cars and pirates - cool favourites for the boys. Ranges for the older ones include Espirit, Jansport, I Love NY, as well as exclusive rucksacks from the Polo Club.

Lifestyle’s Back to School collection is bright and fun as well as being practical and reliable.

Kids can fill them up, hang them from their peg and cart them around school and they will still endure the journey home each day without so much as a zipper out of place.

Shoe Mart the region’s leading retail haven for shoes & bag’s have launched a unique ‘Back to School’ Campaign this season for every little boy and girl.

The great selection of school bags features a colorful and vibrant range of backpacks as well as rolling bags available in different sizes to fit your child’s needs. To kick off the school year in style, girls can choose from the simple yet elegant selection of Mary Jane and pumps, while boys can choose from a number of comfortable casual shoes, slip-ons and moccasins adorned with buckles or straps.

There is also a wide selection of sports shoes for boys and girls. A vivid range of colors and cartoon characters are seen on various school bags in the range. We are sure that the ‘Back to School’ range will have every little customer of ours happy and the Shoe Mart giveaway would be an ideal keepsake.

For the latest in the ‘Back to School’ and ‘Summer Collection’, walk into Juniors, Splash, Shoe Mart & Lifestyle located in Centrepoint showrooms at Al Rai, Fahaheel, Kuwait City, Salmiya, Hawally, Fintas and Jahra and discover a whole new range of school essentials for your little ones this season.

Olympic opener showed music is best of British

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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

Iranian Shiite Muslim worshipers attend Friday prayers, during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, at the Tehran University campus. Muslims fasting in the month of Ramadan must abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until sunset, when they break the fast with the meal known as Iftar.— AFP

With fewer wedding bells ringing, marriage in America has evolved

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he wore a brown floral dress for the ceremony. He wore his U.S. Army uniform, and after all this time, he still worries that it looked too rumpled to pass muster. When Flo Swanson married Herm Dorion at Fort Lewis, Wash., in July 1942, the future of the world was uncertain _ but they were convinced their future meant building a life together. Seven decades later, it turns out they were right. “We’ve had a wonderful life,” said Herm Dorion, 94, who like his wife is a musician and retired educator. The couple lives at the Atria El Camino Gardens senior community in Carmichael, Calif.

“I wouldn’t have had another person,” said Flo Dorion, 92. “We’ve had ups and downs, but we’ve been in love the whole time.” While the Dorions have had an extraordinarily long marriage, it’s not unusual these days for older couples to celebrate 40, 50 or 60 years together. But in the future, marriages of similar duration will likely be rare. These days, wedding bells are not ringing _ at least, not as often as they used to. As a result, marriage in America has evolved.

But into what?

For the Dorions’ generation, marriage was a bedrock of stability, the foundation of family life. “That was the most unusual generation of the 20th century,” said Andrew

Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University.

“They grew up in the Depression and the war. Afterward, the American economy was very strong. People were ready to turn toward home and family. “The effect of growing up in hard times made them more likely to want a stable family life. That’s one reason we see so many long anniversaries now.”

In contrast, the demographic portrait of marriage today shows the upending of tradition. Only half of American adults are now married, a record low, compared with 78 percent in 1950. While the divorce rate has leveled off, the marriage rate continues to drop: In 2010, 6.8 people per 1,000 entered new marriages, U.S. Census data show, compared with 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946, at war’s end.

And couples today are waiting longer to marry. The national average age of people marrying for the first time is 26.5 for brides and 28.7 for grooms. Researchers suggest the average ages are even higher in urban areas.

Statistically speaking, marriage has become the province of the high-achieving: Two-thirds of adults with college degrees get married, compared with less than half of people with only high school diplomas, the Pew Research Center reported. And people without college degrees are

Herm and Flo Dorion, eat lunch at the senior community where they live, Atria El Camino Gardens in Carmichael, California, July 19, 2012. The couple just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 11. — MCT more likely to divorce. “The people who can get good jobs are marrying and staying together,” Cherlin said. “Those are the college-educated people. Marriage is reflecting the socioeconomic polarization in society.”

Take Julia Spiess and Toby Lewis. She’s 34, a vice president at Perry Communications, and he’s the 39-year-old editor of Valley Community Newspapers. Neither has been married before. Their wedding date is Sept. 22. “I wanted to wait for the right person,” said Lewis, who lives with Spiess in Land Park. “I know that sounds like a cliche answer, but I only want to get married once. I’m a traditional guy. I believe a marriage should be a lifetime commitment.”

So has marriage become an economic luxury, the institutional version of a mansion in a gated neighborhood?

More than 60 percent of couples today live together before marriage _ or instead of marriage, as they churn from one partner to the next through the years _ and 41 percent of children are born to single parents.

“More people don’t feel able to afford being married, both financially and socially,” said Todd Migliaccio, a Sacramento State associate sociology professor. “They see marriage as something to do when they’re more stable.

“They don’t want to fail at it. They don’t want to become a statistic.” Economic forces have always driven marriage trends. During the early Depression years, the marriage rate languished at 7.9 per 1000 _ but after World War II, when jobs were plentiful, marriage boomed. —MCT

A pair of boys run across a hospital rooftop adjacent to an artist’s rendition of an Olympic mascot.

An Olympic mascot, painted in the likeness of Big Ben, is displayed across the River Thames from the actual Big Ben. Flavio LaGioia cleans an Olympic mascot statue painted like a tourist located along the River Thames.