30 Mar 2012

The last day of receiving entries for Photography Competition is on April 2, 2012

FR EE

Kuwait National & Liberation Days

www.kuwaittimes.net

Max 30º Min 19º

NO: 15403- Friday, March 30, 2012

‘Listen to reason’, Amir urges Assad SEE PAGE 9

BAGHDAD: Arab leaders and officials pose for a group picture during the first Arab summit yesterday.—AFP

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Conspiracy Theories

Looking for trouble

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

G

uys, if you pass by and see two people fighting, would you step in to help out or would you stay on the opposite side of the road and watch? The least you could do is call the police. This is exactly what I did in Salmiya a few weeks ago. I saw a group of young, strong men fighting with each other.

They started breaking the things around them on the street. I was aware of my size and decided to stay away. I am not Superwoman or Bat-lady so I stepped away to make sure that a box, cane, shoe or any other weapon used in the battlefield didn’t reach me. In all honesty, I dialled the police number. I stood waiting to hear a siren. Nobody showed up. It was as if I was calling from the moon or the mountains of Afghanistan, mind it without Taleban.

Two hours passed. The fight was over. People dispersed and everybody went home. It struck me that I should survey the reaction of people when they see somebody getting

beaten in the bus or on the street. The reactions varied: Most of the men said it depended on the country. Sherif said that if it were in Egypt he would step in immediately. I am not in danger. I am sure the whole neighbourhood of Cairo would step in to separate us. Bless the Egyptians who use the phrase: “Salli ala’h al nabi’ (Peace be upon the Prophet).

One smart guy, Ayman, told me that if women were fighting he would not step in at any cost. Another man told me that it depends on the nationality of women. I think as a woman, I will not shun two men fighting and will try to pacify the situation. With women: “No way, Jose!” as the Spanish say.

Many of my friends said that if it were in the West, they would leave it to the law-enforcement authorities because they never know what the consequences will be like. They worry that they might be accused later.

I have noticed that in Third World countries, in the Arab World especially, people really step in. They have a different attitude towards it. I have travelled a lot. In Asia, the situation is the same. If two people fight, within the flick of a moment many people will step in and help. In Kuwait, Kuwaitis will gather with each other and gang up against the expats. You have to be careful about this. I am a Kuwaiti and am telling you this.

Have a good weekend. Tell me what your reaction would be if you had such an experience.

From the editor’s desk

We have lost the Captain

By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan Editor-in-Chief

myopinion@kuwaittimes.net

M

any people are afraid of flying, to the extent that some even take pills or alcoholic beverages to calm themselves down. Travelling on a plane can be a tense experience for such people and on many occasions, turbulence puts them in a state of anxiety and panic. Seeing people in a state of panic doesn’t help anyone relax on a flight, especially when there is a child crying in the background. That just adds to the whole drama of trying to calm yourself down and put the fear of flying to bed.

Now, if you thought all these factors make flights difficult, take a moment and think of the poor passengers of JetBlue flight 191. The passengers of that flight had to witness the Captain of the aircraft run up and down the packed plane, shouting about bombs, Al-Qaeda, Iraq and Iran. It is one thing seeing passengers panic and a completely different thing, watching the Captain shout “We are going to die.”

Apparently Captain Clayton Osborne started acting strangely in the cockpit and the co-pilot encouraged him. The pilot had a breakdown and started running up and down, shouting about bombs, terrorism, death etc. The captain had to be taken down and restrained by stewards and passengers, and the plane had to land to put an end to the whole ordeal.

Ever since watching that on the news, I could not stop thinking of how terrified people must have been and how fortunate it was that nobody suffered a heart attack from what they just witnessed. I could not even imagine how the copilot or flight attendants could calm people down and explain to them that there are no bombs or terrorists on the plane, and it is only the Captain who suffered a nervous breakdown.

What triggered his meltdown? Why did he shout out about bombs and terrorists? What made him think of Iran and Iraq? The questions that must have crossed every passenger’s mind must have been endless. Personally, I am not sure how I would have reacted to such an experience, but I would definitely put it third on the list of bad flying experiences after crash/emergency landing and hijacking. After recently flying back from the US, I am just glad that I did not have to witness that myself. Have a nice weekend and a safe flight if you are going away.

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Local Spotlight

Just kiddin’, seriously

Empowering parents

Talkaholics Anonymous

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

By Sahar Moussa

sahar@kuwaittimes.net

“M

y partner gets really angry when he finds out that I tell my friends or family about a fight that took place between us. I’m sure that all women do it,” said 27-year-old American expat, Sandra. Yes, it’s true that almost all women talk!

They talk to their girlfriends, close friends, sisters, moms, colleagues and even to neighbours if they are around whenever they fight with their partners or husbands; and if nobody is available, a cat will do. Men, however, prefer to keep it to themselves, not discuss the problem and attempt to stay distracted. Even more talkative men reserve their complaints for a specific friend.

Men must realize that this characteristic is common to most women, yet they refuse to accept it. Still, men get angry every time women do it, and that is because of various reasons: They panic when they know that they have done something wrong, and if women get the right help or advice from friends, they may feel stronger and place men in a weak position.

In the Middle East and Gulf, it is all about ‘reputation’. Reputation is a very sensitive matter for both men and women. In Middle Eastern culture, privacy is valued a lot and everyone is scared to damage their images. That is the reason why men become furious when they learn that intimate details were discussed between strangers. Let me put it in this way; have you ever seen men writing and keeping diaries under their pillow or in private drawers? Ah! No! I don’t think so.

But women do, simply because they need an outlet for their emotions and feelings. Here is my favourite scenario that clearly tells the difference between men and women: Woman: She will call almost all her girlfriends on her phone list and start talking about how, when, who, and what happened with her partner. She will repeat the incident over and over again with an extraordinary ability to narrate the details of a fight, even adding sound effects to her story, making it creative. The listener feels like she is watching an overly dramatic soap opera.

Man: He will meet a friend and say, “Dude, I had a fight with my partner.” The friend will respond, “Dude!

There is a game on TV, get the remote control!”

Men versus women: In the eastern mindset, everyone knows that men do not talk about a woman they respect, while women talk about anyone and anything. However, not everyone can be trusted. One can face severe consequences for sharing too much with someone you are not confident about, and in some cases they can use the information you passed on to harm you.

In her book ‘The Female Mind’, Psychiatrist Dr Luan Brizendine says that women talk almost three times as much as men. While men utter just 7,000 words a day, women manage to rack up a total of 20,000 words each day. That’s a significant difference. So men are most probably right when they complain about their spouses sharing too much. However, Dr Brizendine also notes that talking triggers a chemical rush in the brain. What’s more, she compared the rush to those experienced by heroin addicts!

For men who think that women talk too much, I hope they will be able to understand the fact that talking is an addiction for them. It has been scientifically proven that nothing, not even rehab, can help them!

H

aving one’s first child is the most difficult experience that new parents experience! With the arrival of the first baby, they learn to feed the child, wake up at night and change diapers! The process of learning will continue until their baby grows into a child. It is a long journey and they learn many aspects about child-rearing.

Sometimes we make sacrifices for the sake of our children. We are even amazed at how tender we become while raising children. In a sad turn of events, beloved children begin dominating their parents once they grow up a little. I can say that for sure, as mother to three boys who are no longer little.

I think it is common for new parents to experience some discomfort when children attempt to take control.

If you are a parent who is experiencing this, it is time you take the initiative to put an end to such behaviour. The apple of your eye may destroy your self-respect and turn you into a butt of jokes in front of strangers and friends.

Very often, we see unruly children wreak havoc in several families, especially if they are pampered and doted upon. The child is ill-mannered, rude and with time assumes authority in his own family, lording over own parents.

It is up to parents — whether they want to cave in to childish tantrums by refusing gently or yelling and disciplining the child with the aim of getting him or her to behave properly. It is important for parents to monitor

children’s behaviour in public, and at home. They mistakenly assume that bad behaviour is only exhibited outdoors.

I believe today’s generation displays sharp mental acuity. It is okay to love our children and be kind to them, but we should set a conscious limit for everything.

Human life is bound by limitations, and the same concept applies to our feelings as well! The worst folly that anyone can commit is to give another person, even own children, unconditional love.

For example, when a six-year-old child shouts at his own parents at a public place, does it mean that he does not love them? Of course not. It is just that a spoilt child misinterprets parental love. He uses it to get what he wants even if his parents do not approve of it. Also, if he is brought up to believe that parents can fulfil his every whim, this child will grow up to be egotistic and turn into a headache for schools too! He or she will find it difficult to mingle with his peers and refuse to obey teachers. Such children think they are far superior than teachers to listen to instructions.

Experts say that the first two years in the life of a baby are formative. Let me ask this, what about the other five or ten years? I think we should serve as role models to our children and need to be careful about how we raise them. No parent should be humiliated or embarrassed at the hands of their children. Certainly, your child is not your boss!

Satire Wire

Kazakhs, Borat, and a lot of confusion

By Sawsan Kazak

sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

L

ast week, Kuwait made headline news around the world when organizers of the International Shooting Tournament played the wrong anthem during the closing ceremony. When Maria Dmitrienko from Kazakhstan stood on the podium with her gold medal and her right hand on her heart, she was not expecting to hear the parody version of her national anthem blaring from the speakers. Dmitrienko stood looking a little confused when the song written by Sacha Baron Cohen for his 2006 movie Borat was playing in the background.

Within a few hours, apologies were made, and the incident was water under the bridge; in Kuwait that is, but that was not the case internationally.

The video of the young Kazakh gold medalist went viral and it was all people were talking about.

My father always told me that our family name was Kazak because that was where our ancestors came from. I, of course, have no proof of this but choose to believe it as a fact. Now, as a Kazakh, I feel as though I should voice my opinion on the matter. I think that it was not a big deal. Mistakes happen all the time and

seeing that Kazakhstan become famous after the Borat movie, it is understandable that the Borat version of the national anthem was more accessible than the actual one.

Apparently, an investigation was launched after the incident to see why this took place and if there was any foul play. I think that this was just an accident, and as much as we Arabs like our conspiracy theories, this isn’t one of them. I must give Cohen credit - his song does resemble a national anthem and does have some selfpromotional lyrics to it; thus making it hard to distinguish between the real one and the spoof.

Kuwait received a lot of slack from the international media which it did not necessarily deserve. At least Kuwait played a song related to Kazakhstan, unlike a few weeks earlier when at a sporting event in Kazakhstan, they played Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin la Vida Loca’ instead of the anthem.

What’s done is done, and at least Kazakhstan and Kuwait both received a lot of publicity from the whole ordeal. And you know what they say: Any publicity is good publicity.

Sponsored by

Photography Competition

Shoot & Win from 19th Feb. till 30th March

2012

conducted as part of

Kuwait National & Liberation Days

1st

2nd

Prize

3rd

Prize

tt $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT tt 4UBZ BU #FJSVU GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF 4UBZ BU #FJSVU GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU tt 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU #FJSVU 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU #FJSVU ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM

Prize

t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT t 4UBZ BU 0NBO GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF t 4UBBZ BU 0NBO GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU 0NBO t 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU 0NBO ,VXBJU DPVSUFFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM

t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT XP OJHIUTT TJOHMF t 4UBZ BU %VCBJ GPS UX t 4UBZ BU %VCBJ GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFFBLGBTU EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU %VCBJ t 0OF &DPOPNZ DMBTT UJDLFU ,VXBJU %VCBJ ,VXBJU DPVSUFFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM

6th

5th

4th

Prize

Prize

Prize

t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT t $BNFSB $"/0/ % XJUI -FOT t 4UBZ BU "CV %IBCJ GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF t 4UBZ BU "CV %IBCJ GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU "CV %IBCJ t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU "CV %IBCJ ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM SBWFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS

t $BNFSB $"/0/ XJUI t $BNFSB $"/0/ XJUI -FOT -FOT t 4UBZ BU %PIB GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF t 4UBZ BU %PIB GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU %PIB ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU %PIB ,VXBJU DPVSUUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM SBWFM DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS

t $BNFSB $"/0/ XJUI -FOT t $BNFSB $"/0/ XJUI -FOT t 4UBZ BU #BISBJO GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF t 4UBZ BU #BISBJO GPS UXP OJHIUT TJOHMF EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG EPVCMF PDDVQBODZ JODMVTJWF PG CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM CSFBLGBTU DPVSUFTZ PG 4XJTT #FMIPUFM ,VXBJU ,VXBJU t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU #BISBJO t 0OF &DPOPNZ UJDLFU ,VXBJU #BISBJO ,VXBJU DPVSUFFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM ,VXBJU DPVSUFTZ PG $BFTBS 5SBWFM

s Canon will offer KD 110 discount for all on purchase of any of the Canon Mid-Range DSLR cameras on the following condition: Return your old DSLR camera (any condition/any brand) as a buy back scheme to support the participants to upgrade their camera to a new Canon MidRange DSLR Camera.

Offer valid only at Nasser Al-Sayer Showroom in Kuwait City.

s Competition is open s Competition open to to all. ss Participating Participating phot photos os should be be taken taken by by the entrants entrants only only.. ss A A maximum of ямБv ямБvee en entries tries will b bee allowed allowed p per er participant. participant. e or ccolor, olorr, siz ss Photos Photos ccan an b bee in black & whit white size e 30x40cm. provided in hard hard copy copy and CD in high ss Entries Entries should b bee provided he phot o of the par ticipant should b e on the rresolution. esolution. TThe photo participant be CD as well. well. be stuck on the back of each photo photo ss Original coupon should be Original coupon fo ormation of the par ticipant. with ccomplete omplete inf information participant. eturnable and will be be the property property of All en ss All tries ar entries aree non-r non-returnable The entries entries can can be be used by by the organizer. organizer.

K uwait TTimes. imes. The Kuwait judges. by a panel of independent independent judges.

Winners will be ss Winners be chosen by Sponsor Sponsored ed b byy

C COUPON OUPON

C Contest ontest Rules Rules

offer trade-in R L S D Canon

KKuwait uwait Na National tional & Liberation Liberation D Days ays Photography Photography C Competition ompetition

Shoot & Win Win from from 19th Feb. Feb. till 30th M March arch

2012

N Name: ame: A Address: ddress: TTel.: el.: e C ivil ID: Civil

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

By Nawara Fattahova

I

f you’re 16 and can’t wait to get behind the wheel (without getting behind bars) here’s some great news.

In a country where the legal age to drive is 18, Car Museum City in Shuwaikh, could give future drivers a good idea on what to expect by the time they are old enough to get their driving license.

The main idea behind this was to teach youngsters about traffic rules, and the basics of safe driving. “The City aims to spread traffic awareness through an entertaining program. The participants will later respect the traffic rules and apply safe driving on real roads,” explains Director of the Car Museum City Ahmad Al-Anezi.

Part of the Historical, Vintage, and Classic Cars Museum in Shuwaikh, the Car Museum City has 20 FullCar vehicles in four different colours available for visitors to drive. The vehicles are electronic and have speeds which are controlled by a computer. Around 16 male and female instructors are available to train children to drive responsibly. The cars are safe and suitable for the differently-abled, especially since it can be stopped by the instructor at any time.

This Museum City was built and designed according to international measures and technology using the highest standards.

“In order to let young visitors enjoy the simulated experience in a way that is similar to real driving, the tracks of the City have been designed like real streets with all the details,” Al-Enezi explains. He adds that the traffic signs,

car parking, public transportation, pavements, green spaces, and traffic signal lights allow the participants to learn traffic rules and safe driving in a simple and exciting way.

The program starts with a registration procedure, where parents register their children’s names by filling out the application form and attaching their photograph. After watching a short documentary film, the child is ready to get started. The documentary, Al-Enezi explains, includes the rules and restrictions of driving in the Car Museum City, along with instructions to control the car.

The next part of the program is practical application, which is 15-minutes long, depending on the participant.

“The participant will have the opportunity to drive the car with an instructor who will test them to determine what they have learnt. If the participant passes this test successfully, he will then receive a membership issued by the Car Museum City similar to a driving license. In case the participant fails, he receives another chance to come later and repeat the test,” he pointed out.

The Car Museum City has not been launched officially.

Its soft opening took place on January 1 this year. Al-Enezi explained that the official opening will be held soon.

According to him, the City began operating early because it wanted to provide better services. “We also take opinions and suggestions from visitors to improve our performance. We are also increasing the levels of difficulty so as to offer more activities for visitors,” highlighted AlEnezi.

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

According to Al-Enezi, seven vehicles can be operated at the same time. There are about 180 visitors pouring in every day. On Saturdays, the number of visitors reaches nearly 400. The individuals can come without making a reservation as we have a waiting list. Therefore, it would be better if a group from any school, embassy or institution makes an advanced reservation,� he added.

The vehicles in the museum were granted by HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah. The Car Museum City is open from Saturday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Entry and all activities are free of charge. Children above the age of 10 are allowed to take the cars for a spin.

KUWAIT: The Car Museum City in Shuwaikh is pictured. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

When emoticons are preferred to emotions, you know there’s a problem somewhere

By Priyanka Saligram

A

dmit it. We’ve all become tech zombies. Wherever we look, we see someone or the other attached to some form of technology or the other. It’s almost as if gadgets have taken over our lives and souls. The prospect of chatting with someone on Facebook seems more appealing than talking to someone right next to us. Whenever you see a youngster, you see them with their heads bowed down in reverence, white earphones plugged in, totally engrossed with either their smartphone or tablet. They wouldn’t look up or stop typing feverishly even if a UFO landed on their foot. If you’re a Martian, good for you, but you still can’t get them to look away from their iPad. It’s ironic that technology has helped us reach out to those in other countries and continents, but has also cut us off from the people right next to us.

Adults dismiss this annoying lack of interest in any form of real-time human communication as a fad, as something “all kids do”. But surely, it’s more than just a passing fad; it’s almost become a lifestyle. I mean, youngsters have been synonymous with noise, rebellion, and high energy over the past few thousand years (modest estimate). Since when have they taken on such a passive and uninvolved stance?

What happened to the good old days of hanging out and gossiping about who’s doing what? Why don’t we see college students hanging around, chatting, laughing and making noise anymore? Even if you do see a bunch of them sitting in a coffee shop, everyone has their heads buried deep into their BlackBerrys and iPhones or finger-skating on their iPads. Nobody’s really talking to each other and nobody’s really complaining at the increasing lack of involvement or interest. It’s almost like they decide to get together at a designated place, at a designated time only to ignore each other and sit and yak with someone who’s somewhere else. In the American Journal of Psychiatry, Oliver D Howes wrote “The ubiquitous nature of text messaging may result in compulsive text-messaging as a clinical problem.”

When emoticons are preferred to emotions, you know there’s a problem somewhere. There’s nothing more exasperating than trying to talk to someone who looks obviously distracted by their BBM. When you wonder why they look spaced out, you remember they’re on something: Crackberry.

Have you noticed how our perception of insanity has also changed thanks to technology? Earlier when you saw a man talking to himself, laughing like a madman and walking on the road, you knew that he was loco and the right thing to do was step out of his way. But now, nobody bats an eyelid because we all know that he’s connected to his Bluetooth and not simply “hearing voices in his head”.

Researchers claim that although technology has its grip on everyone, it’s particularly more dangerous for young people. The risk is that developing brains will become more accustomed to constant multi-tasking (which translates to less than 100 percent focus on any task on hand).

This also means a perennial state of defocus while scanning for newer technical stimuli. Who can forget numerous cases of young women who are so occupied with FarmVille that they forget to feed their infants or leave them in the bathtubs to drown to death?

As it is, we live in a world where it’s instant gratification or nothing. So while the brain is multi-tasking between being on a call with Person A, texting gossip to Person B, chatting on Facebook with Person C and simultaneously listening to a Podcast, are we on the road to becoming superhuman? Or simply compromising on quality, attention, and communication?

Whatever the case may be, it’s interesting to think about how the next generation’s brains will be wired and how many of us are setting ourselves up for Alzheimer’s or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome over the coming decades. Do you find yourself going to Yoga class to relax, breathe easy and get some peace of mind, but instead, end up reaching out anxiously to your phone every few minutes to see if you missed a tweet or a status update?

Guess we need a new app to attain nirvana now. priyankasaligram@kuwaittimes.net

Threat detected The latest reports show that technology which has been designed to aid mankind, can in many cases cause other problems no one anticipated: Crippling hands and wrists: BlackBerries, keyboards, game controllers used excessively, in awkward positions, or with excessive force, contributes to wear and tear on the body.

RSI: Computer and machine operators continue to become victims of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) and OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome), unless they take constant breaks to move the other parts of the body.

Hearing at risk: The maximum volume created by gadgets such as MP3 players, in-ear headphones and Bluetooth headsets, is equivalent to a jet plane taking off nearby. The effect destroys the sensory cells that take auditory information to the brain. An EU report revealed that listening at 89 decibels for an hour a day, over five years, can cause permanent loss of hearing.

The use of noise-cancelling headphones can reduce up to 98.4 percent ambient noise, requiring a lot less volume to get a clear reception.

Back and leg problems: Many back problems, including curvature of the spine, can be created from working up to seven hours, sitting at a computer, playing games, watching television, or operating a machine. This can also create chronic knee pain and lower back problems and shorten, or tighten hamstrings.

Sperm count problems: Using a mobile phone for more than four hours a day can increase the risk of sperm damage due to electromagnetic radiation. The prolonged use of a laptop heats the testicles by 2.8c, further impairing normal sperm production.

Loss of interaction: While people used to communicate face to face with each other, play games and generally interact with one another, millions now chat on the Internet and play games on the computer. Much of this can become addictive to the point where nations such as China and the US, are providing camps where ‘computer addiction’ is treated.

— www.prlog.org

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

BAGHDAD: Arab leaders and officials pose for a group photograph yesterday in the former Republican Palace in Baghdad during the first Arab summit to be held in Iraq after 22 years. — AFP

‘Listen to reason’, Amir urges Assad Blast rocks Baghdad as Arab summit opens BAGHDAD: Kuwait Amir HH Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah has called on Syria to listen to reason and cooperate with UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, at the opening of the Arab Summit in Baghdad. The Amir urged Damascus to “listen to the language of reason and wisdom and end all sorts of violence against its people,” saying that “prolonging the crisis in Syria will only make it more complicated.”

He also urged the government of President Bashar Al-Assad to “cooperate effectively” with Annan’s efforts. Annan’s plan calls for a commitment to stop all armed violence, a daily twohour humanitarian ceasefire and media access to areas affected by the fighting, which has killed almost 10,000 people according to monitors. The plan also calls for an inclusive Syrianled political process, the right to demonstrate and the release of people detained arbitrarily.

Syria has accepted a proposal crafted by Annan to end the bloodshed in the country, although Western states have expressed scepticism about the Damascus regime’s sincerity.

Arab leaders have called for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria at a landmark summit in Baghdad, marred by stayaways and a mortar attack near the Iranian embassy as the meeting opened. Only nine visiting leaders of the 22member Arab League turned up for the summit, the first to be held in the Iraqi capital in more than 20 years. Syria, which has been suspended from the pan-Arab body, was not invited.

The meeting was opened by UN chief Ban Kimoon who called on Syrian President Bashar AlAssad to move swiftly to implement a peace plan crafted by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. But reflecting the rift between Arab countries on steps they believe should be taken to end the bloodletting in Syria, officials said a final summit statement would not call on Assad to quit nor consider arming the rebels against him as some states have demanded. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, two states seeking the most aggressive measures on Damascus, only sent envoys to Baghdad.

Qatar explained its decision as being designed to send a “message” to the host, Iraq, which has taken a softer position than most other League members on its neighbour and trading partner. Even as the summit got underway, Syrian security forces assailed rebel strongholds across the country, a day after Assad’s regime made clear it would not abide by any Arab League initiatives. At least 23 people were killed

BAGHDAD: His Highness Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is pictured at the opening session yesterday. The year-long crisis in Syria is in the spotlight. Among those attending are nine Arab leaders including the Amir of Kuwait, who is on the first visit to Iraq by a Kuwaiti head of state since the 1990 Iraqi invasion. — AFP in clashes in Syria yesterday, monitors said.

While regional officials wanted to tackle a wide variety of issues, ranging from the ArabIsrael conflict to jumpstarting the bloc’s economies, the summit was firmly focused on Syria, where monitors say nearly 10,000 people have died in a year-long revolt against Assad’s rule. In his speech opening the summit, Ban called for Syrian authorities to implement Annan’s peace plan and for an end to violence ravaging the country. “It is essential that President Assad put those commitments into immediate effect. The world is waiting for commitments to be translated into action. The key here is implementation. There is no time to waste,” he said.

He added: “The conflict in Syria is on a dangerous trajectory with potential ramifications for the entire region.” Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, meanwhile, said that while his country was against military intervention in Syria, Damascus was only interested in “extending the conflict” so Assad’s regime could “negotiate ... from a position of strength.” Arab leaders have

said they will call at the summit for talks between the Syrian government and opposition based on Annan’s six-point peace plan, according to a draft copy of the Baghdad Declaration obtained by AFP. The region’s leaders “denounce the violence, murder and bloodshed, and are in favour of a political solution via national dialogue,” said the document, to be issued after the summit. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Wednesday that the summit would steer clear of strong moves advocated by Qatar and Saudi Arabia to resolve the Syria crisis, and that a ministerial meeting on Wednesday did not discuss arming the country’s rebels.

The two issues have pitted countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia that have called for Assad to leave and advocated sending arms to rebel groups against those pushing for political reconciliation, such as Iraq. Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani said in an interview with Al-Jazeera that he would have wanted the level of representation to be higher “but we will sit with them in the future and talk.” He did not elaborate.

Among the visiting leaders was the Amir of Kuwait, who was on the first visit by a Kuwaiti head of state in more than 20 years. Iraq has deployed 100,000 security forces in an effort to prevent attacks on the summit, and officials have closed down swathes of roads and mobile networks and shut down airspace. Despite razor-tight security measures that effectively shut down Baghdad, a mortar round struck near the Iranian embassy on the outskirts of the heavily-fortified Green Zone where the summit was being opened, a police official said, adding that the blast did not cause any casualties but damaged the embassy.

Smoke could be seen rising from the site, and security forces members, military vehicles and fire-fighters raced to the scene of the blast, an AFP journalist said. The Honein jihadist forum has included several recent messages from users threatening attacks on the Arab summit, using mortar shells as well as with suicide bombers. A week ago, Al-Qaeda-claimed attacks nationwide killed 50 people, including three in a car bombing opposite the foreign ministry. — Agencies

Local FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Bedoon protester released KUWAIT: A high-ranking official at the State Security Department ordered the release of one of the five stateless residents who were arrested for organizing and participating in unlicensed demonstrations in Jahra, while four others were sent for prosecution, a local daily reported. A security source said an official intervened to release the fifth detainee, claiming he was the informant of a Sulaibiya detective. He said the man released is active in organizing demonstrations, and was tweeting how proud he is of his release. He uploaded pictures of himself in front of the police station and in his diwaniya.

On the other hand, detectives arrested one of the most important organizers of demonstrations in Shuwaikh Industrial area. He is also accused of attacking police in Sulaibiya. A source said the arrested suspect worked for private companies and used to receive KD 1,200 salary, but forewent all of that to free himself to organize and run demonstrations and coordinate between outlawed groups.

Transsexual beats beautician A transsexual beat a female beautician black and blue in Salmiya after she discovered his real gender. A security source said the man entered the store to look for some female items. When the saleswoman discovered the person in front of her was actually a male, he beat her before escaping. The woman went to police and filed a complaint.

Drunkard vs military convoy A drunk man was arrested for obstructing a military convoy in Abdallah Al-Mubarak area. Security officers protecting the convoy in Abdallah Al-Mubarak area noticed a car obstructing the road, so they asked the driver to stay away. He insisted on driving between the military vehicles, so he was stopped and found to be drunk.

Drunken woman busted An Egyptian female drew attention in Hawally by walking erratically and could hardly stand. She was checked and found to be drunk. The woman was taken to the police station and charged with public drunkenness.

GCC citizen caught with drugs A Gulf citizen who was driving on Chalets road was suspected to be under the influence by a Southern Road police patrols. He was asked to stop. Policemen searched his car and found a bag of illegal drugs. The drugs were confiscated and the man was sent to the General Department for Drug Control.

Saudi beaten A Saudi man was beaten severely by two persons he knows. They lured him to the Equestrian club before escaping. The victim called police who arrived at the scene with an ambulance that transported him to Jahra Hospital.

Maid beaten A citizen who had a dispute with his maid became very angry with her at the domestic help office and beat her with a paper puncher, injuring her left eye.

The maid claimed she was badly treated by the family.

Fahaheel police station officers charged him with beating, and investigations are underway. — Al-Rai

NA eyes death penalty for religious offences Kuwait condemns Sunnis for burning Iran flag

By B Izzak and Agencies KUWAIT: The National Assembly decided yesterday that it will review amendments to be made to the penal code on April 10, calling for death penalty for those who insult the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) or his wives, amidst heated sectarian exchanges between radical MPs. The Assembly asked its legal and legislative committee to study the proposed amendments and prepare a report so that it can be reviewed and approved. The decision was made during a debate on alleged insults made against the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) by a Kuwaiti Shiite who was arrested and remanded in police custody for 21 days pending further investigations.

The man, identified as Hamad AlNaqi, is reported to have written the insults against the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), his wife Aisha and some of his companions on his Twitter account.

It was not immediately known if the man had confessed to posting the tweets or not.

Ahead of yesterday’s assembly debate, several MPs submitted amendments to the penal code in a bid to stiffen penalties against those who insult

the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) or his wives. The amendments call for raising the penalty from the current seven years imprisonment to as high as the death penalty or life in jail for those who commit the crime of insulting the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) or his wives.

During the debate, MP Ahmad Lari blasted the crime but stressed that the whole sect should not be blamed or held hostage because of it. Falah AlSawwagh called for stiffening the penalties against those who insult religious values. Salaf MP Mohammad Hayef and Shiite MP Adnan Abdulsamad clashed when Hayef called on the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to supervise and monitor the Shiite Husseiniyas like it does with the Sunni mosques.

Samad rejected Hayef calls and insisted that Husseiniyas have played a very positive role in Kuwait during the past centuries and it should not be involved in current issues. In other news, the Assembly approved in the first reading, a law calling to establish Sheikh Jaber Technology University within the next three years amidst objections by the Education Minister about the duration. The Assembly also decided to hold a special session next Thursday to study and approve

newly amended tenders law.

Meanwhile, Kuwait yesterday condemned Sunni activists for setting ablaze an Iranian flag during a rally to protest a Shiite tweeter’s insults against Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him). A foreign ministry official expressed his “rejection and condemnation of this irresponsible action,” in a statement.

The statement said the action, “made by a deviant group,” is considered a “breach of the laws and norms and greatly undermines the distinguished relations between Kuwait and its (Shiite) neighbour Iran.” The gathering was staged on Wednesday night by Sunni activists and several MPs. Hamad AlNaqi, was in custody pending further investigations amid a frenzy of condemnation by Sunni preachers and MPs. Some of them demanded the death penalty for the man. The foreign ministry official reiterated Kuwait’s keenness to maintain good relations with Iran, and vowed legal measures will be taken to curb such actions. Sectarian tensions have flared in Kuwait between the Sunni majority and Shiites, who form about a third of the native population of 1.17 million, amid rising regional tensions between the two Islamic sects. — AFP

Photo competition extended until April 2

By Adnan Saad KUWAIT: As of yesterday, 500 participants delivered their entries into the Kuwait Times photography competition. “We have extended receiving photographs until 6 pm on April 2 to give a chance for others to apply,” said Adnan Saad, Kuwait Times marketing Director. Next week, the judges will start choosing the first 75 candidates from 2,000 photographs. “We hope to announce the winners before April 12,” he said.

The first 75 winners will be invited to the closing ceremony and dinner party on April 16 at the Swiss-belHotel Kuwait when six grand prize winners will be announced. The concept of the competition this year was the same as last year, which is Kuwait National and Liberation Days. “Very soon we will announce the competition with a new concept; either Environment (Go Green) or Faces or Action photos.”

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the judges, Abdul Karim Al-Enezi, Ahmed Dashti and Sara Al-Sayegh for sharing their time with us. Moreover thank you to our main sponsor, Canon, for believing in us and supporting Kuwait Times photography competition which we started in 1996. Our co-sponsor SwissbelHotel Kuwait is very keen on sup-

KUWAIT: (From left) Abdul Karim Al-Enezi, Adnan Saad, Kuwait Times Marketing Director, and Dr Ahmed Al-Dashti review some of the photographs submitted into the Kuwait Times photography competition. porting the event and are providing the banquet for the closing ceremony and six different prizes for two nights of accommodation in Beirut, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain.

Of course, thank you to Caesar’s Travels Company for their generosity

in providing six airline tickets to the same locations as the accommodation, and last but definitely not the least, thank you Response Media for showing interest and support to Kuwait Times by providing media materials,” he concluded.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Pope meets Cuba’s Fidel Castro, slams US embargo

15

Two UN workers, four Shiites killed in Pakistan: Police

18

Swedish defense minister quits amid Saudi weapons scandal

13

ANKARA: Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara yesterday. Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the demonstration, which had been called by the KESK public service union with the aim of marching on parliament. (See Page 12) —AFP

Islamists find foothold in Syria revolt Foreign powers, minorities wary of backing wrong horse BEIRUT: Sheikh Abu Abdullah Zahed, a Lebanese Muslim cleric with influence amongst radical youth, is part of a growing effort to push the uprising in Syria towards militant Islam. Hard-line Sunni Muslims in Lebanon are maneuvering for influence over Syrians across the border who have spent the last year fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. “At first Syrians called on the West and NATO. Now they are calling on God,” said Zahed, sitting in his library, where black Islamic flags hang on the walls.

As opposition groups abroad squabble over politics and Assad’s army pounds rebellious cities, Muslim hardliners want to make religion the unifying basis of the revolt. Radical Islamist elements are still on the fringe, but that’s enough to make a headache for opposition activists who are struggling to convince Syrian minorities to support a revolt led mostly by the country’s Sunni majority.

Foreign powers joining exile opposition leaders at a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Istanbul this week will also want proof of whom exactly they are making friends with, if they are ever to consider

arming rebel forces.

“We don’t want to accidentally wind up supporting extremist groups,” said Joseph Holliday, of the Institute for the Study of War, in Washington.

“The fundamental question is: What happens in the future? And does our involvement make this turn better or worse?” Some activists are already uneasy about a series of car bombs that hit Syria’s two main cities. An unknown group called AlNusra Front claimed the attacks on a website that posts messages from many al Qaeda branches.

“There is a growing radical presence inside Syria and I think they were behind the bombings.

I’m afraid controlling them could be a losing battle,” said an activist. He asked not to be named for fear of angering fellow opposition members, who are reluctant to discuss potential radical infiltration.

STEREOTYPED BY BEARDS Zahed, a Lebanese sheikh with a long beard and a leather jacket over his blue robe, sits in front of shelves of gold embossed religious books. He

offers the Islamic flags that hang behind him to people who join anti-Assad protests in his hometown of Tripoli. “At first no one raised anything other than the Syrian flag. Now some are raising the Islamic flag,” Zahed said. Assad has long raised the specter of Islamic extremism and says “terrorists” are behind Syria’s bloody uprising. Activists say they lead a grassroots, inclusive movement but are unfairly stereotyped because many of them are religious.

“I want a pluralistic state that is democratic and belongs to everyone. Why are people so afraid? Yes, our revolution has Salafists, we have Islamists. Everyone is participating in the revolution,” said a Syrian activist in Tripoli who calls himself al-Shami, which means “the Syrian”. He tugs on his brown, bushy beard: “Do we have to shave our beards so people don’t feel threatened? We’re not terrorists.” It is hard to know what impact radical groups are having in Syria, which has restricted access to journalists. But here in Lebanon there are signs they are gaining ground.

From the seaside city of Tripoli to border

towns along the rocky foothills of Syria where rebels and refugees cross the frontier, Salafists are showing up in greater numbers.

When night falls on the border, dancing Syrian protesters set tires ablaze and fly their colorful independence flag. But as the flames grow higher and the night wears on, they are overtaken by young men whose black banners emblazoned in white Arabic script declare: “There is no God but God.” Members of this hard-line, austere brand of Islam say they are drawn to the revolt because their religion says they should aid the oppressed.

But some clearly resent Syria’s minority Alawites , an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, to which much of Syria’s powerful elite belong, including the president. Many Sunnis feel the government discriminates against them in favor of Alawites.

Some Syrian activists sheltering in Lebanon say Salafist clerics don’t represent them but are taking over at rallies. “I try to speak at protests and some sheikh comes up and takes over.

These protests are for the people not the sheikhs. —Reuters

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

NGOs sue French military over Libya boat people deaths BRUSSELS: A European rights watchdog rapped NATO yesterday for failing to help a distressed migrant boat during the Libyan war as NGOs said they would sue the French military over the incident in which 63 people died. The small boat left Tripoli in late March 2011 carrying 72 Africans, including 50 men, 20 women and two babies, but only nine survived after two weeks adrift in the Mediterranean, the Council of Europe said. “Many opportunities for saving the lives of the persons on board the boat were lost,” a council committee said in a report denouncing a “catalogue of failures” by Libyan, European and NATO authorities.

Several Western warships were in the Mediterranean at the time enforcing a NATO-led arms embargo, but no one including fishing vessels

in the area responded to distress calls, the report said. “NATO failed to react to the distress calls, even though there were military vessels under its control in the boat’s vicinity when the distress call was sent,” it added. It said a Spanish frigate, the Mendez Nunez, was 11 miles away from the drifting boat but Spain disputes this distance. A helicopter dropped biscuits and water to the migrants at one point but never returned, and a large military ship “came into close contact with the boat, but ignored obvious distress signals,” the council report said.

Stephane Maugendre, a lawyer and president of the French Immigrant Worker Support and Information Group (GISTI), announced at a press conference in Brussels that it would file a lawsuit in Paris next month in the name of survivors. “We will

file a complaint against the French armed forces for failure to assist people in danger,” Maugendre said.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance received a general notice from Italian authorities of a small boat probably in difficulty on March 27 last year and that the message was passed on to all of its ships.

There is no record of any NATO ship or aircraft having seen or making contact with the boat, she said, adding: “NATO conducted other rescue operations in the area at that time, and rescued hundreds of people.” NATO ships and aircraft helped rescue more than 600 people during the seven-month-long Libyan operation during the uprising which overthrew dictator Moamer Kadhafi, she said. — AFP

Turkish police break up pro secular opposition protest ANKARA: Turkish police in Ankara yesterday broke up a demonstration by several thousand people protesting an education bill that could extend religious schools, a move seen as contrary to the country’s secular constitution. Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the demonstration, which had been called by the KESK public service union with the aim of marching on parliament. Several demonstrators were hurt. Similar demonstrations held elsewhere in Turkey on Wednesday were also broken up by

police.

The Islamist-rooted government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to abrogate a law which forbids socalled Imam Hatip religious schools from signing up pupils under the age of 15. The schools, originally set up to train Muslim clerics, have been increasingly sought by conservative families anxious to keep their children away from secular state schools.

The secular opposition People’s Republican Party has accused Erdogan of wanting to Islamise Turkish youth. — AFP

Nigeria arrests seven over kidnap of Emirati man ABUJA: Nigerian authorities have arrested seven suspects over the kidnapping of an Emirati man held for two months after being lured to the country by a fake business transaction, police said yesterday.

The Emirati had been kidnapped on January 20 by a gang in Osun state in southwestern Nigeria and was released on March 19, with his abductors having dropped him off in the city of Ibadan.

United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM has reported that the man was released without the abductors’ demand for a $5-million ransom being paid.

Nigerian secret police spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar told reporters the investigation had led to the arrests of seven people between 22 and 33 years old, while the four considered to be the masterminds remained at large. Ogar said the victim “was lured to visit Nigeria for a phantom

business transaction by a fake company, Finuche Investments” and was abducted and held hostage. She did not say if a ransom was demanded or if any money was paid. The seven suspects were presented to reporters yesterday. One of them said he was not aware if a ransom had been demanded. “All I was asked to do was to keep watch over the man,” he said.

Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region, but far less often in the southwest.

Long-distance scams targeting foreigners are however common in Nigeria, though most do not involve abductions. A British and an Italian hostage were killed earlier this month after being kidnapped nearly a year earlier in Nigeria’s northwest.

Nigerian authorities blamed their abduction on a faction of Islamist group Boko Haram. — AFP

HEBRON: A Palestinian schoolgirl walks past Israeli border policemen standing guard outside a Palestinian house in the centre of Hebron in the occupied West Bank yesterday after dozens of Jewish settlers took over the Palestinian property overnight, claiming they have legal ownership. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Smoke billows following a blast near the Iranian embassy in Baghdad on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital’s heavily-fortified Green Zone yesterday as a landmark Arab summit opened. The blast came despite strict security measures by the Iraqi government, which had 100,000 security forces’ members on alert in Baghdad, and effectively locked down the city. — AFP

French ‘Big Bang’ scientist on trial for alleged terror plot PARIS: A Franco-Algerian nuclear physicist went on trial yesterday for allegedly plotting terror attacks in France, where an Islamist’s killing spree has already overshadowed the presidential campaign. A week after police shot dead Franco-Algerian Mohamed Merah for killing seven people in and around Toulouse, Adlene Hicheur stood trial charged with criminal association as part of a terrorist enterprise.

French police arrested Hicheur, a researcher studying the universe’s birth the Big Bang-at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), in October 2009 after intercepting emails he wrote.

The trial began yesterday in a Paris courtroom and was to last two days, with the court to examine 35 emails between Hicheur and an alleged AlQaeda contact. At the start of the trial, Hicheur, 35, denounced the case against him. “I see a lot of confusion and inaccuracies,” he told the court. “It would be too tedious to revisit each of them (but) the assertions about me... are inaccurate, are subject to debate.” After more than two years in preliminary detention, Hicheur appeared visibly tired and thin during his court appearance. His father and brothers were in court to support him. Following Hicheur’s arrest at his parents’ home near CERN, which lies on the Franco-Swiss border northwest of Geneva, police discovered a trove of Al-Qaeda and Islamist militant literature.

France’s DCRI domestic intelligence agency’s suspicions were raised following a statement from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that was sent to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Elysee Palace in early 2008. Police carried out surveillance on several

email accounts including Hicheur’s and his exchanges with Mustapha Debchi, an alleged AQIM representative living in Algeria. In the emails Hicheur proposed “possible objectives in Europe and particularly in France”, mentioning for example a French military base at Cran-Gevrier, close to CERN. Asked by Debchi if he was “prepared to work in a unit becoming active in France,” Hicheur replied: “The answer is of course YES”.

Magistrates investigating the case said the exchanges “crossed the line of simple debate of political or religious ideas to enter the sphere of terrorist violence.” They say the accused “knowingly agreed with Mustapha Debchi to set up an operational cell ready to carry out terrorist acts in Europe and in France.” The defense is contesting the identity of the alleged Al-Qaeda agent and Hicheur told the court police had selectively taken documents from his home. Investigators “left behind 99 percent of the literature at my home, it’s dishonest, it’s even disgusting,” he said.

He also said that police had carried out “dirty work” while translating documents in the case.

Since he was arrested, Hicheur has said he never agreed to “anything concrete”. “There is not the least proof of a beginning of a (terrorist) intention,” said Hicheur’s lawyer, Patrick Baudouin, before the trial. The lawyer slammed what he called “the steamroller of anti-terrorist justice”. “He has since the beginning been painted as the ideal guilty party,” Baudouin said. “When the justice system gets going it finds it difficult to admit its mistakes.” — AFP

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Toulouse gunman to be buried in France Algeria refuses body, burial delayed by a day

GHENT: This file photo shows Swedish Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors arriving for an informal EU defense ministers meeting in Ghent, Belgium. Sten Tolgfors has resigned, the prime minister said yesterday following weeks of controversy over the revelation that Sweden had entered a defense deal to help Saudi Arabia build an arms factory. — AFP

Swedish defense minister quits amid Saudi weapons scandal STOCKHOLM: Swedish Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors has quit, the prime minister said yesterday, following weeks of controversy over revelations Sweden planned to help Saudi Arabia build an arms factory. “I have today, upon request from Sten Tolgfors, decided to relieve him (of his duties),” Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told a news conference. Reinfeldt stressed that Tolgfors, who has served as defense minister since 2007, had begun hinting months ago that he wanted to leave, but acknowledged that media focus on the weapons factory scandal had sped up his exit.

“The probe and the questions around this issue will continue... and that is of course a good thing,” Reinfeldt said, adding that Tolgfors would maintain his seat in parliament while infrastructure Minister Catharina Elmsaeter-Svaerd would temporarily take over the defense portfolio. Public broadcaster Swedish Radio revealed earlier this month that the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) had secret plans since 2007 to help Saudi Arabia build a plant for the production of anti-tank weapons. Part of the so-called Project Simoom involved, according to Swedish Radio, FOI’s alleged creation of a shell company called SSTI to handle dealings with Saudi Arabia, in order to avoid any direct links to FOI and the government. FOI director general Jan-Olof Lind said last week he had reported “a suspected crime” following an internal review, and Swedish prosecutor Agneta Hilding Qvarnstroem opened a preliminary investigation into the affair. Sweden has in the past sold weapons to Saudi Arabia, but classified government documents say Project Simoom “pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish authority,” the radio said when it broke the story on March 6.

The story has dominated Swedish headlines since then, with numerous politicians and public figures critical of Sweden’s plans to provide weapons help to a country they describe as a “dictatorship,” and calls for Tolgfors to resign. Under pressure to come clean, Tolgfors admitted on March 9 he knew of FOI’s plans to help Riyadh build the factory and of the shell company, but has insisted no Swedish laws had been broken. “When it comes to the past weeks’ debate on Saudi Arabia, I have nothing more to add,” Tolgfors said in yesterday’s news conference.

The 45-year-old father of two young children insisted he had already planned to resign, among other things for family reasons, but that “media attention in recent weeks has facilitated and accelerated my decision”. Opposition parties were quick to hail Tolgfors for his decision to go. —AFP

TOULOUSE: The body of an Islamist extremist gunman was to be buried in France yesterday, a Muslim official said, after Algeria refused it for security reasons and despite the family’s objections. However, reports later in the day said that the burial was to be delayed by 24 hours.

Family members had said earlier the body of 23-yearold Mohamed Merah, a Frenchman of Algerian descent, was to be flown to Algeria yesterday for burial in his ancestral homeland. But an Islamic official who has been assisting the family, Abdallah Zekri of the French Muslim Council, said Merah’s relatives had instead asked him to organize a funeral in the southwestern city of Toulouse.

“The family has asked me to organize a funeral in France within 24 hours, in agreement with the authorities, because Algeria refused to accept Mohamed Merah’s body for security reasons,” Zekri told AFP in Toulouse.

“The family is disappointed, but at the same time it understands,” Zekri said.

Merah, branded a “monster” by French leaders after the killing of three Jewish children and a teacher and three French paratroopers, died in a hail of police bullets last Thursday after a 32-hour siege on his Toulouse flat. Zekri said he believed the body would be buried in an anonymous grave and that “the family wants a burial that is the most simple and discreet as possible”. Merah’s parents had asked for his body to be buried in Algeria, with his mother Zoulhika Aziri saying she feared his grave would be “vandalized”. His father, Mohamed Benalal Merah, has lashed out at French authorities over his son’s death and threatened to sue France, drawing sharp criticism from French officials.

French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said the choice of a burial site was a “private matter” for the family. In the latest developments in the probe into Merah’s attacks, police said they had found an abandoned car near Toulouse with possible links to the killings. The car, a Renault Clio, was discovered in the village of SaintPapoul and contained a helmet and parts for a Yamaha TMAX scooter like the one used in Merah’s attacks, a police source told AFP. The car was registered under the name of a man with the same address as Merah, the source said without elaborating.

When police surrounded Merah’s Toulouse apartment last week, the gunman fought off an initial assault and then, in a conversation with a police negotiator, claimed responsibility for the attacks. He said he shot

PARIS: This file photo shows Abdallah Zekri, head of the Paris Grand Mosque. Zekri told AFP that Mohamed Merah’s family had asked him to organize a funeral in France after Algeria cited security reasons for rejecting their request for him to be buried in their ancestral homeland. — AFP

dead three soldiers in two separate attacks in Toulouse and nearby Montauban on March 11 and 15, then last Monday opened fire at a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing a 30-year-old teacher, his sons aged five and four, and a seven-year-old girl. On Sunday, authorities charged the gunman’s brother, 29-year-old Abdelkader Merah, with complicity in the attacks, but he has denied any involvement. — AFP

Ukrainian woman whose rape caused protests dies KIEV: An 18-year-old Ukrainian woman who prosecutors say was gang-raped, half-strangled and then set on fire in an attack that sparked street protests in a provincial Ukrainian town, has died, a hospital official said yesterday.

Hundreds of people took to the streets earlier this month after police released two of Oksana Makar’s three suspected attackers whose parents had political connections, reigniting a public debate on corruption in the ex-Soviet republic.

The two men were re-arrested and police disciplined after the intervention of President Viktor Yanukovich who sent an investigating team to the town of Mykolayiv in southern Ukraine. All three young men have been charged with rape and one of them additionally with attempted murder. Ukrainian media regularly report cases of children of the country’s wealthy elite, who are known as “mazhory,” escaping punishment from traffic offences, or from more serious crimes including causing fatal road

accidents while at the wheel. Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko confirmed earlier this month that the parents of at least one of the three suspects were former government officials in the Mykolaiv region. “Lung bleeding began and then her heart activity stopped. We tried three times to revive her with defibrillation,” said Emil Fistal, head of the specialist burns unit where Makar was taken for treatment. Local media say Makar met two of the three accused in a local bar on March 10 and after spending some time there with them, went to the apartment of the third. The reports say she was then raped and one of the suspected attackers tried to strangle her with a cord.

They subsequently wrapped her in a blanket, took her to a pit on a building site and tried to set her body on fire before escaping. She was found by a passing motorist and taken to hospital with serious burns. She had both feet and an arm amputated in surgery, according to the reports. — Reuters

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Three Bulgarians arrested for alleged baby trafficking SOFIA: Three Bulgarian men were arrested yesterday suspected of attempting to traffic pregnant women to Greece in order to sell their babies, the interior ministry said. The alleged 41-year-old mastermind of the gang and his two accomplices, aged 30 and 31, were detained in the Black Sea city of Burgas and will be charged with trafficking of human beings, it said in a statement. The suspected gang leader had already been jailed for the same crime before.

The ministry did not say if any of the women were arrested or how many were involved. Bulgarian police have uncovered several cases of baby trafficking to Greece, France and other countries in recent years. In 2011 alone, prosecutors opened 138 cases into alleged human trafficking, including seven for trafficking of newborns. There were 29 cases of pregnant women illegally taken abroad to sell their babies, interior ministry data showed.

Under the usual scheme, the pregnant women agrees to recognize the foreign citizen who is to buy her baby as its father, thus avoiding lengthy international adoption procedures. — AFP

Slovenian police find missing 5-yr-old LJUBLJANA: Slovenian police said yesterday they have found a five-year-old girl who had been missing since March 2011 amid a custody battle between her parents.

“The girl is alive and healthy,” police in the northern city of Celje said, adding they found the girl late Wednesday in Ljubljana with her grandmother. In a case that has made headlines for months in this Balkan country of two million people, the girl went missing last year after a year-long legal battle following her parents’ divorce.

Although a local court awarded custody to the child’s mother, the father Bostjan Kaker abducted the girl and later hid her, claiming she had been sexually abused by her maternal grandfather. He was detained last June but no trace could be found of the child and police searches at his house and the homes of relatives and friends proved fruitless. Police said yesterday the five-year-old was kept in several locations over the last year, including in a small remote village with her paternal grandmother, who insists she was not in touch with her son.

Kaker was sentenced on March 15 to three and a half years in prison for abduction and negligent treatment of a minor. However, the case did not end there as he accused social workers who had been helping him in his custody battle, of hiding his daughter against his will and refusing to reveal her location. Two employees of the agency were arrested last week following his accusations. — AFP

ATHENS: A detained immigrant waits to board a police bus in central Athens’ Omonia square area, during a police ‘sweep’ operation for the undocumented migrants and illegal street yesterday. The police sweep was centered on Omonia Square, around which thousands of illegal migrants live. — AFP

Four Muslim preachers banned from entering France Ban imposed in wake of Merah killings PARIS: France said yesterday it had banned four Muslim preachers from entering France to attend an Islamic conference, saying their “calls for hatred and violence” were a threat to public order. President Nicolas Sarkozy had wanted to ban the high-profile Islamic clerics from attending the conference next month in the wake of a series of killings by Al-Qaeda inspired gunman Mohamed Merah that shocked France.

Saudi clerics Ayed Bin Abdallah al-Qarni and Abdallah Basfar, Egyptian cleric Safwat al-Hijazi and a former mufti of Jerusalem Akrama Sabri are banned from entering France, a statement said.

“These people’s positions and statements calling for hatred and violence seriously damage republican principles and, in the current context, represent a serious threat to public order,” said the statement from Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and Interior Minister Claude Gueant. The ministers also voiced

“regret” that prominent Swiss intellectual Tariq Ramadan has been invited to the April 6-9 meeting organized by the Union of Islamic Organizations in France (UOIF). They said his “positions and statements are against the republican spirit, which does not do any service to France’s Muslims”.

France cannot prevent Ramadan from entering as Switzerland is a member of Europe’s visa-free Schengen zone.

Influential Qatari preacher Yusuf alQaradawi and Mahmud al-Masri of Egypt have decided not to come for the conference, the statement said.

Ramadan is considered one of Europe’s leading Muslim thinkers and was an advisor to former British prime minister Tony Blair. His grandfather founded Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, of which his father was a senior member exiled by former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser.

He is known for promoting a mod-

ernized form of Islam and for his opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

He has been barred from entering US territory since 2004. Sarkozy said on Monday that Qaradawi, 86, an influential Qatar-based Sunni Muslim cleric, was not welcome in France.Qaradawi, who hosts a popular show on Al-Jazeera satellite television, backed the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and has launched a fund-raising effort for the Syrian opposition.

That ban, which has now turned into a withdrawal, was criticized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars which Qaradawi heads. The union said that Qaradawi is “a moderate scholar who contributed to combating extremism in Islamic thoughts.” The cleric is accused of having made anti-Semitic and homophobic statements and was banned from entering Britain in 2008.

He has been banned from entering the United States since 1999. — AFP

Polish PM urges ‘discretion’ around CIA prisons probe Charges reported against former Polish intelligence head WARSAW: Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday appealed for more “discretion” around the country’s investigation into alleged CIA prisons for Al-Qaeda suspects on Polish soil, after media revelations about the probe. Polish media said on Tuesday prosecutors had charged a former head of Poland’s intelligence service with helping set up secret CIA detention centers at the height of the US “war on terror” in the early 2000s. “I did not came up with those charges and, if I were in the prosecutors’ shoes, I would not come up with such charges. But maybe I don’t have enough information,” Tusk told a news conference.

He added those investigating the case “must rise to the highest standards of concern for state

interest” and show the “utmost discretion”.

Polish officials have repeatedly denied the existence of secret CIA facilities on Polish soil in spite of reports by the European Parliament as well as the Council of Europe saying Poland and Romania hosted such bases. Human rights activists say the bases served for “extraordinary rendition” of suspects and that prisoners were kept there without necessary court orders and often tortured. In 2008, Poland launched a classified probe and yesterday Tusk also said it must clarify the matter to the very end.

“There is no doubt Poland is a democratic country. This is a painful but very clear proof that no politician, even if hand in hand with the biggest superpower in the world, can do some-

thing that will never see the light of the day,” Tusk said. “We must act calmly, discreetly and in the spirit of responsibility for the state on this, but we can take no pride in the fact that such cases must be probed in Poland,” he said.

Lithuania was the first European country to admit it had hosted CIA prisons following the Sept.11, 2011, Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States.

Poland’s former head of intelligence, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, and the US embassy in Warsaw declined to comment on the reports by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily and public television’s news bulletin Panorama. Poland has traditionally been one of the staunchest US allies in the EU. — Reuters

15

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Pope meets Cuba’s Fidel Castro, slams US embargo Pope, Fidel Castro discuss world, joke about age

BUENOS AIRES: Argentinians rally in Plaza de Mayo square, in front of the government house, in support of the government during the South Atlantic war for the Falklands (Malvinas) Islands, in Buenos Aires, April 1982. — AFP

Demining the Falklands, 30 years on STANLEY: Thirty years after the Falklands War thousands of abandoned mines, mortars and grenades still dot the remote island chain. But one historic popular haunt has now been rendered safe. Before the 1982 conflict, the “Stone Corral” had been a favorite place for weekend picnics and socializing with its stunning views across the South Atlantic, as it ebbs and flows off the coast of the capital Stanley.

But it had been largely abandoned after being caught in the crossfire of the 74-day war over the sovereignty of the islands-held by Britain but claimed by Argentina. So far, no one has died from unexploded ordnance since the end of the war, which killed 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers. And all of the islands’ minefields have been identified, which has removed some of the urgency to clear them, the islands Governor Nigel Haywood said. But estimates of how much ordnance is still lying around are hard to pin down.

Kyle Lucas, chief executive officer of BACTEC, a company that specializes in removing military explosives, estimated there could be anywhere between 12,000 and 15,000. The company has already cleared about half a million mines left over from conflicts in some 45 countries.

“We have cleared the area between the minefields to be sure that there’s no mortars or grenades there,” Lucas said about the stone corral project. “The idea is to give the locals all the land back.”

The corral was originally built between 1842 and 1848 and was used to hold cattle driven from Lafonia to Stanley for use as beef by the Stanley residents. Governor Haywood presided over Monday’s reopening ceremony attended by about 60 people, with entertainment from a choir, and sandwiches handed out to the crowd. “People used to come out here and have picnics,” Haywood told AFP. “For 30 years you’ve been able to see it from the road but not been able to get to it, so now it’s open again and it’s fantastic.”

“It just means we can enjoy it as we used to do it before ‘82,” Nancy, who only gave one name, told AFP. “We used to come here and have barbecues.” She added, “It’s something symbolic,” saying she had been born in Chile but raised in the Falklands. The de-mining operation was funded by the British government, but much remains still to do.

Tinashe, 27, a Zimbabwean worker who was employed on the demining project, said he and his co-workers are not too worried about the dangers. “I’m a searcher,” Tinashe said. “I do the clearing of the mines and cluster bombs. I detect it, I mark it and then I excavate it to expose it. Then they come and destroy it.” —AFP

HAVANA: Pope Benedict called for an end to the US trade embargo against Cuba and met with revolutionary icon Fidel Castro on Wednesday as he ended a trip in which he urged the communist island to change.

He also spoke at a public Mass in Havana’s sprawling Revolution Square where the Vatican said 300,000 people gathered to hear the 84-year-old pontiff.

In a trip laced with calls for change in Cuba, his last message was aimed at the United States, its longtime ideological foe, which for 50 years has imposed a trade embargo trying to topple the Caribbean island’s communist government. Speaking in a departure ceremony at a rainy Havana airport, Benedict said Cuba could build “a society of broad vision, renewed and reconciled,” but it was more difficult “when restrictive economic measures, imposed from outside the country, unfairly burden its people.”

“The present hour urgently demands that in personal, national and international co-existence we reject immovable positions and unilateral viewpoints,” the German pope, dressed in white vestments, said in his soft voice and heavily accented Spanish. Beginning at his arrival in eastern Santiago de Cuba on Monday, Benedict sprinkled his speeches with thinly-veiled references to Cuban dissidents, political prisoners, Cuban exiles and the need for the Caribbean island to push ahead with its economic reforms.

The pontiff rode in his Popemobile on the way to the airport and was bid farewell by streets lined with Cubans waving flags and cheering him. President Raul Castro, who attended the pope’s Masses in Santiago on Monday and in Havana on Wednesday, saw off the pontiff, who is frail and moves slowly, before he boarded his jet for Rome and flew into stormy skies.

The two men clasped hands and Raul Castro dipped his head briefly in a show of reverence that he had made at their other meetings. Both he and his older brother were educated by Jesuits, the worldwide Catholic order.

HAVANA: This handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office shows Pope Benedict XVI with Cuban leader Fidel Castro (L) during a meeting on Wednesday in Havana. — AFP MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING “Your visit has taken place in an atmosphere of mutual understanding,” President Castro said. “Your holiness, we have found many and deep agreements, although it’s natural that we don’t think the same on all issues.” Under 49 years of rule by Fidel Castro, the Roman Catholic Church lost its schools, hospitals, access to media and its prominent role in Cuban society. But Raul Castro, who succeeded his ailing brother four years ago, has improved relations with the Church and is using it as interlocutor on issues such as political prisoners and dissidents as he undertakes potentially disruptive reforms to the country’s struggling Soviet-style economy.

He is encouraging more private enterprise to offset plans to cut 1 million jobs from government payrolls, which is 20 percent of the country’s labor force of 5.2 million. But while Benedict is urging Cuba to make deeper changes, the government sees its reforms as a way of strengthening communist rule, not weakening it. The pope mentioned several times during his

visit that he was happy relations had improved, but also said they needed to get better so the Church could help buffer against “trauma” or social upheaval. “This must continue forwards, and I wish to encourage the country’s government authorities to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path,” he said.

The Church, he added, “seeks to give witness by her preaching and teaching, both in catechesis and in schools and universities.” After the Mass, Fidel Castro, the president’s older brother, visited Benedict at the Vatican embassy where the two octogenarian world leaders with widely divergent political views chatted for 30 minutes in what a Vatican spokesman called a “very cordial” atmosphere. They discussed serious issues such as Church liturgy and the state of the world, but also joked about their age-Benedict is 84. At one point, Fidel Castro asked a simple question - what does a pope do? “The pope told him of his ministry, his trips, and his service to the Church,” said spokesman Federico Lombardi —Reuters

US charges JetBlue pilot for midair meltdown AUSTIN: US authorities filed criminal charges on Wednesday against a JetBlue Airways pilot who witnesses said yelled incoherently about religion and the 2001 hijack attacks and pounded on a locked cockpit door before passengers subdued him in a midair uproar. Flight 191 was diverted to Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday, following what authorities described as erratic behavior by Capt. Clayton Frederick Osbon, who allegedly ran through the cabin before passengers tackled him in the galley.

A flight attendant suffered bruised ribs, officials said.

The Justice Department filed a complaint charging Osbon with interfering with the crew. It is unusual for a commercial airline pilot to be charged in this way, and a US official said he could not recall a similar case in recent years. Osbon, 49, remains in a guarded facility at a hospital in Amarillo, and US Attorney Sarah Saldana said he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The 12-year JetBlue veteran was suspended while the FBI and aviation authorities investigate the incident, the airline and the government said on Wednesday.

A JetBlue spokeswoman said the company was cooperating

fully with authorities and would conduct its own investigation as well. Dave Barger, chief executive of the New York carrier, said he knows and respects Osbon, who regulators said underwent a routine medical evaluation nearly four months ago and had a clean record. The harrowing events raised questions about pilot medical qualifications and workplace stress in an industry under chronic financial pressure and more generally in an economy only slowly shaking the grip of severe recession.

TROUBLE IN THE COCKPIT An affidavit by an FBI agent shows trouble for the flight started before the Airbus A320 took off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport en-route to Las Vegas with 141 passengers and crew. Osbon was late arriving at the airport, and missed the routine pre-flight crew briefing, agent John Whitworth said in the affidavit. Whitworth said problems continued as the plane took off. “Osbon talked about his church and needed to focus,” Whitworth said in the affidavit. “Osbon began talking about religion, but his statements were not coherent.” —Reuters

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Romney locks in Rubio, Bush endorsements WASHINGTON: White House frontrunner Mitt Romney earned the endorsement Wednesday of Senator Marco Rubio, but the rising Republican star often discussed as a potential vice presidential pick said he does not want to be on the ticket. Rubio said he endorsed the ex-governor of Massachusetts in part because of a concern that a prolonged primary battle leading all the way to the national nominating convention could ultimately hurt Republican chances to defeat incumbent Barack Obama in November. “I think we are at a stage where two of the candidates have openly admitted, the only way they can win a nomination is to have a floor fight in Tampa in August,” he told Fox News. “I think it’s a recipe for disaster,” he added. “We have to come together behind who I think has earned the nomination and that’s Mitt Romney.”

Rubio also sought to tamp down concern that

Romney was too moderate of a Republican to fire up the party’s conservative base. “I have zero doubt in my mind about two things: number one, that Mitt Romney will govern as a conservative, and number two, that he will be head and shoulders better than the guy in the White House.” Romney earned a double backing of sorts, with his campaign announcing that former president George HW Bush will also endorse the frontrunner, at an event today in Texas. Bush’s son Jeb Bush, the onetime governor of Rubio’s state of Florida, announced his support for Romney last week.

Rubio’s nod is important-as a young Cuban-American who switches effortlessly between English and Spanish, he can help pull in the large and influential Hispanic vote, especially in swing states like Florida crucial in the general election. “Marco Rubio is living proof that the American

dream is still very much alive,” Romney said in a statement after the endorsement. “From humble origins, he has risen to become one of the brightest lights in our political party.” But with buzz about a possible Rubio vice presidential nod growing louder, Rubio seemed eager to put that talk to rest. “I am very honored and privileged to serve this country in the United States Senate” and the people of Florida, he said.

“I don’t believe I will be asked to be the vice-presidential nominee. That’s not what I intend to be (or) what I want to be and that’s not what is going to happen.”

Romney is ahead in the nomination race with 565 delegates, followed by Rick Santorum with 256, Newt Gingrich with 141 and Ron Paul with 66, according to the Real Clear Politics website. A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to clinch the nomination. — AFP

Santorum video evokes horror classics in attempt to bash Obama Democrats describe attack video as ‘new low’

BATTAMBANG: This photo shows a Cambodian boy chained to a power pole in Battambang province, some 290 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh. An irate Cambodian father chained his teenage son by the neck to the power pole to punish him for skipping school to play online games, police said yesterday. The 40-year-old father, who works as a motorbike taxi driver, fled the scene after the incident and is now wanted on child abuse charges. — AFP

DSK claims immunity in US assault case NEW YORK: Lawyers for Dominique Strauss-Kahn told a US court Wednesday that a maid’s lawsuit alleging sexual assault should be thrown out because the French politician had diplomatic immunity at the time. Judge Douglas McKeon said he would rule quickly following a 90-minute hearing in a Bronx courthouse where a Strauss-Kahn attorney argued that the disgraced former head of the IMF had “the same kind of diplomatic immunity that other high-ranking officials and diplomats enjoy.”

The civil suit, seeking unspecified damages, “must be dismissed,” attorney Amit Mehta said in New York state court. A lawyer for Nafissatou Diallo, the Manhattan hotel maid whose accusation of sexual assault triggered the spectacular downfall of a man tapped to be the next French president, ridiculed the notion of dismissal. Douglas Wigdor said Strauss-Kahn “brutally sexually assaulted Ms Diallo” on May 14 last year and now wished to use the immunity argument to “deny Ms Diallo’s right to a trial in this case and delay these proceedings.”

Strauss-Kahn, who was managing director of the International Monetary Fund at the time, admits consensual sex took place with Diallo in his luxury Sofitel suite, but denies assault. New York prosecutors initially charged him, but then dismissed the case because of concerns over the maid’s credibility. Strauss-Kahn had some level of immunity. However, a key sticking point appears to be whether that only extended to him in his official duties.

McKeon, who spent most of the hearing in a rigorous probe of Mehta’s arguments, at one point referred to the hotel incident and asked drily: “You’re not contending that he was in the furtherance of the (IMF) business?” The judge did not rule in court, but promised “to expeditiously issue a decision.”—AFP

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK: A squawking crow. A single shoe turned on its side. Dark skies. A slow-spinning carousel on an empty playground. All the ingredients of a horror movie come together in a Rick Santorum presidential campaign video that depicts a terrifying “Obamaville”. The video has grabbed attention for its use of scary themes and images in the world of political ads. It was released at a time when Santorum lags Mitt Romney in the Republican race to find a challenger to President Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election.

Complete with eerie music, the video is a teaser for an eight-part series and looks like an “Amityville Horror,” “Twilight Zone” and Alfred Hitchcock mash-up. Using the time-tested tools of horror masters, it paints a picture of a frightening future if Obama wins reelection. In some shots, the camera’s movement slows and zooms in, a favorite filmmaker technique to make viewers feel uneasy.

“Those kind of shots are common to post-apocalyptic zombie movies. You kind of half expect a zombie to shamble around the corner,” said Spencer Parsons, who teaches film production at Northwestern University and is finishing work on his own horror film.

The setting is a run-down town called “Obamaville.” The year is 2014, after the Democratic president’s re-election. A dozen iconic horror movie images fill the minute-long video: barren trees, empty streets, a clock with fast-spinning hands, a candle that flames out, a baby. “Small businesses are struggling and families are worried about their jobs and their future,” the deep-voiced narrator says in ominous tones. “The wait to see a doctor is ever increasing. Gas prices through the roof, and their freedom of religion under attack.”

The bleak scenes are tinted green, a common hue horror directors

turn to. “It’s a sallow color that makes people look pasty and drawn,” Parsons said.

At the end, a typeface reminiscent of 1960s horror movies screams “welcome to Obamaville” on screen. “Classic, campy horror films” like “Night of the Living Dead” come to mind, said Greg Smith, chief creative officer of advertising firm The VIA Agency.

“Particularly with the use of the font. That is so derivative of that ‘60s style of trailer.”

IRANIAN THEME Crows overhead recall Hitchcock’s famous thriller “The Birds.” A man holds a gas nozzle to his head like a gun. Flickering TV images show Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the narrator warns a “sworn American enemy has become a nuclear threat.” An Obama campaign staff member in Chicago said Santorum was trying to scare Americans into voting for him. Other Obama backers complained the video likened the president to Ahmadinejad by quickly flashing alternating images of the two. The Democratic National Committee, on its website, calls the video a “new low” and asks for donations to “fight back.” “I don’t know what goes too far about it,” said John Brabender, Santorum’s longtime media strategist and ad maker. He said the campaign was warning there will be a nuclear-armed Iran and higher gas prices if Obama were elected.

Santorum, on the other hand, would get tough with Tehran, he said.

While horror themes are rare in political ads, they are not completely new. A famous ad for Democrat Lyndon Johnson’s campaign in 1964 showed a girl picking a daisy, then zoomed in on her eye and flashed a nuclear explosion, driving home a message against his Republican rival Barry Goldwater.— Reuters

SEOUL: South Korean activists burn placards containing the picture of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and chat slogans after a rally outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul yesterday over Tokyo’s renewed claim to disputed islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Some 60 activists torched four placards containing Noda’s picture and chanted slogans after a rally outside the Japanese embassy, which has been tightly guarded by riot police. The protest came after Japan’s education ministry this week announced the results of its review of a high school history textbook reasserting Japan’s claim to the islets, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan. — AFP

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Japan executes first prisoners since 2010 ‘Punishments for crimes are decided by the public’: Ogawa

NEW DELHI: Indian police personnel detain a Tibetan activist protesting near the Taj Palace Hotel, venue for the BRICS Summit yesterday. — AFP

BRICS summit insists on dialogue for Syria, Iran NEW DELHI: The world’s emerging powers yesterday said dialogue was the only answer to crises in Syria and Iran at a summit aimed at bolstering their non-Western alliance’s influence on global affairs. The BRICS bloc-comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa vowed to work together more closely on areas of mutual concern and launched plans for their first joint institution, a development bank.

At their fourth summit together, they also issued a pre-emptive warning against any military action by the West or Israel to end the unrest in Syria or the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. “We agreed that a lasting solution in Syria and Iran can only be found through dialogue,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a closing statement at the one-day summit in New Delhi. A summit declaration warned of the “disastrous consequences” of allowing the Iran standoff to escalate into conflict and stressed that the bloodshed in Syria could only be resolved by “peaceful means”.

Much of the final statement at the conclusion of the one-day meeting dwelt on how the BRICS alliance would coordinate their positions together while lobbying collectively to grab a greater say in world affairs. “In the future the BRICS agenda will be a step-by-step transformation of this forum into a strong and powerful organisation,” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters.

Though it remains in the planning stages, the newly proposed “BRICS Bank” is an attempt to cement the countries together. It is envisaged as a counterweight to other multilateral lenders such as the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.

BRICS finance ministers will examine the “feasibility and viability” of the proposal and report back before the grouping’s next summit, in South Africa in 2013. South African President Jacob Zuma said the bank would fund infrastructure and was an idea welcomed by other leaders on his continent. “Such a bank has great potential to help us create good jobs,” he said. Two other agreements were signed aimed at simplifying credit facilities for exporters and increasing the use of each others’ currencies-and not the US dollar-in trade deals.

The leaders also pushed for the reform of international financial and economic institutions-a cornerstone of the BRICS agenda-but there was no common ground on who should become the new president of the World Bank. The leaders said they “welcome the candidatures from the developing world” for the new head of the Washington-based body-to be announced by April-but they did not throw their weight behind either of them. Colombian university professor Jose Antonio Ocampo and Nigerian finance minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala are attempting to break the US monopoly on the position.

This lack of unity, says critics, underlines the problems of the BRICS bloc, which brings together five geographically dispersed countries with different political systems, economies and priorities.

Walter Ladwig from the British think-tank the Royal United Services Institute wrote recently that they “have little in common” and will shape global governance in the future only as “individual nations.” “BRICS countries have different national conditions and development models,” Chinese President Hu Jintao conceded. “We should see the differences as an opportunity to draw on each others’ strengths.” Alongside the statements on the need for dialogue in Syria and Iran, the BRICS also voiced their support for a Syrian peace process promoted by international envoy Kofi Annan.

Russia and China-which both wield vetoes on the UN Security Council-have stridently opposed using force or outside intervention to resolve the Syrian crisis or defuse Iran’s nuclear drive. The United States and its allies have been frustrated by a Sino-Russian veto in the Security Council on condemning Syria in stronger terms. The lead-up to the BRICS gathering at a luxury hotel in the centre of the Indian capital saw demonstrations by hundreds of Tibetan exiles protesting against the presence of the Chinese president. On Monday, a 27year-old activist set himself alight during an anti-Beijing demonstration and died two days later. —AFP

TOKYO: Japan resumed its use of capital punishment yesterday after a 20-month break, with an unapologetic government minister signing death warrants for three multiple murderers. The convicts went to the gallows on the orders of the justice minister, who said he was performing his job and acting in line with public opinion, which overwhelmingly supports the death penalty.

“Today, three executions were carried out,” Toshio Ogawa said of the hangings, the first in Japan since July 2010. “I have carried out my duty as a justice minister as stipulated by law.”

Apart from the United States, Japan is the only major industrialized democracy to carry out capital punishment, a practice that has led to repeated protests from European governments and human rights groups.

Amnesty International condemned the executions and said it would write to Ogawa and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to protest. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations also protested, reiterating its calls to abolish the death penalty, saying it goes against global trends.

Japan did not execute anybody in 2011, the first year in nearly two decades the country had not carried out a single death sentence amid a muted debate on the rights and wrongs of the policy. International advocacy groups have denounced the Japanese system, under which death row inmates can wait for their executions for many years in solitary confinement and are only told of their impending death a few hours ahead of time. The wait can become decades, with Japan’s wheels of justice turning slowly.

Ogawa was unrepentant for his order, citing the legal requirement for execution and demand from the public, who in polls have shown 85 percent support for capital punishment. “Punishments for crimes are decided by the public,” he said, referring to Japan’s long-standing policy of using capital punishment. The three inmates put to death yesterday were all multiple murderers, whose violence in low-crime Japan shocked the public.

Yasuaki Uwabe, 48, drove a car into a train station in Kyushu in a planned random killing, hitting several people before running onto the platform with an 18-centimetre (seven-inch) knife. He killed five people and injured 10. Tomoyuki Furusawa, 46, whose wife was hid-

ing at her parents’ home in Yokohama to escape his abuse as she filed for divorce, killed her elderly parents and her 12-year-old son in 2002 before abducting and assaulting her. Yasutoshi Matsuda, 44, killed two women in southern Miyazaki prefecture in 2001.

The most recent executions in Japan before yesterday’s were in July 2010 when then justice minister Keiko Chiba approved the hanging of two inmates, despite her long-standing opposition to the death penalty. In an unusual move, Chiba attended the executions and later allowed the media to visit the execution chamber at the Tokyo Detention House in a move to increase public debate over the death penalty. Under Chiba, the justice ministry began looking into whether capital punishment should continue. But the review ended inconclusively this year under Ogawa. Ogawa said following the executions that 132 people remained on death row. — AFP

TOKYO: Japanese Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa announces that three executions were carried out for three multiple murderers in Japan during a press conference yesterday. — AFP

North Korea begins fuelling rocket: report T O K Y O : North Korea has reportedly begun fuelling a rocket for a launch next month, defying calls to abort an event the West says is a disguised missile test, as the United States suspended planned food aid. “The launch is coming closer.

The possibility is high that the launch date will be set for April 12 or 13,” Japan’s Tokyo Shimbun reported yesterday, quoting a source “close to the government” in Pyongyang. It cited the source as saying that North Korea had begun injecting liquid fuel into the rocket.

South Korea’s defense ministry said Sunday the North has transported the main body of the rocket to a site in the far northwest of the country in preparation for blast-off. Japan’s newspapers pay close attention to North Korea and often break stories on the secretive state. South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff said it could not confirm the report. North Korea insisted this week it would go ahead with what it calls a peaceful satellite launch, snubbing a call from US President Barack Obama to drop the plan and accusing him of a “confrontational mindset”.

The United States has suspended plans to send food aid to North Korea, saying it has broken a promise to halt missile launches and cannot be trusted to

give the aid to those who need it, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. Under a deal reached last month, North Korea had agreed to a partial nuclear freeze and a missile test moratorium in return for 240,000 tons of US food aid. The West and North Korea’s Asian neighbors have urged the nuclear-armed state to scrap the launch, which is seen as a pretext for testing ballistic missile technology that is banned under UN resolutions.

South Korea, China and Japan will hold talks in eastern China next month on regional security and cooperation, and the rocket plan is certain to be discussed on the sidelines, Seoul’s foreign ministry said yesterday. Preparations for the event “have entered a full-fledged stage of action”, Pyongyang said last Friday. It will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding president Kim Il Sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-Un. The North insists it has a right to launch a civilian satellite and says it will estimate crop yields and collect weather data. The home-built satellite will also assess the country’s forest coverage and natural resources, the official news agency said late Wednesday in another attempt to stress the purportedly peaceful nature of the exercise.—AFP

International FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Two UN workers, four Shiites killed in Pakistan: police Ensuing protest sees policeman killed accidently

HYDERABAD: This file picture shows Indian Chief of Army General VK Singh attending a press conference at the college of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in Hyderabad. India’s army said yesterday that the leaking of a letter he wrote describing the country’s army as unfit to fight a war was “high treason” and urged ruthless treatment of the culprit. — AFP

India army chief calls leak of letter ‘high treason’ NEW DELHI: India’s army chief yesterday said the leaking of a damning letter he wrote describing the army as unfit to fight a war was treason and urged “ruthless” treatment of the culprit.

Army Chief General VK Singh told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the letter that India’s tanks lacked shells to fire, its air defenses were out of date and its forces “woefully short” of weapons. “The leakage of the letter should be treated as high treason... and sources of the leakage should be found and dealt with ruthlessly,” Singh, who is due to retire on May 31, said in a statement. Defense Minister AK Antony also slammed those responsible for releasing the letter, calling it an “anti-national” move that “only helps enemies”. Antony said at a defense trade show in New Delhi that “we will take strongest action under laws after going into the root of the leak of the army chief’s letter.”

The opposition outcry over the letter, which was splashed across the media on Wednesday, forced Antony to promise parliament that the government would do everything “necessary for the security of the nation.” The general said in his letter, dated March 12, that India’s air defenses were “97 percent obsolete” and its tank fleet was “devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks.” The army chief has been in a public dispute with the government over the date of his retirement and was again in the headlines earlier this week over a bribery scandal. —AFP

QUETTA: Gunmen separately killed four Shiite Muslims and two local UN employees yesterday in Baluchistan, a Pakistani province plagued by Taliban violence and a separatist insurgency, police said.

There were angry demonstrations after the killings of the Shiites, in what police described as the latest sectarian attack in the volatile southwest province. The gunmen, who were on a motorbike, fired at a van carrying members of the minority Muslim community in the Speeni Road neighborhood of Quetta city, the capital of Baluchistan, police official Jamil Kakar told AFP. “Four people including a woman were killed and seven others were wounded,” Kakar said, adding that it appeared to be a sectarian attack. Afterwards, a policeman was shot dead by Shiite protesters in the Hazara Town neighborhood of Quetta, where police tried to break up a road block erected by a mob, local police station chief Ameer Mohammad Dasti told AFP. “Some protesters fired in the air in anger and one of the bullets wounded a policeman, who was taken to hospital but died,” Dasti said.

Dozens of other Shiites demonstrated in Quetta’s main Meezan Chowk square and outside the provincial police chief’s office, and torched a motorcycle at a local hospital to protest against the killings, witnesses said. Human rights groups have heavily criticized Pakistan for failing to crack down on sectarian violence between the majority Sunni Muslim community and Shiites, who account for around 20 percent of the population.

Thousands of people have died in related unrest since the late 1980s.

In a separate incident, gunmen shot

QUETTA: A relative sits in an ambulance next to a victim of an attack by gunmen in Quetta yesterday. — AFP dead two employees of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Mastung, a city 40 kilometers south of Quetta, police official Shakir Ullah told AFP. “A driver and a staff member of FAO were killed and another staffer wounded after gunmen fired at their vehicle,” Ullah said. It was not immediately clear why they were targeted and so far no one has claimed responsibility, he said.

Human rights groups say hundreds of people have been detained, killed or have gone missing as government troops have tried to crush an uprising that began in 2004. Baluch rebels want a greater share of the oil, gas and mineral deposits in the region, which borders Iran and Afghanistan. Taliban and sectarian extremists have also taken up arms. — AFP

US suspect’s comrades struggle with fallout of Afghan killings FORWARD OPERATING BASE MASUM GHAR: In a natural amphitheatre high among the jagged grey peaks of Afghanistan’s Panjwai district, the shock of a village shooting rampage is still settling over US soldiers who served with accused gunman Robert Bales. The soldiers of Tacoma-based 3/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team were moving into areas inherited from Alaska-based troops, tracking their armored vehicles to memorize the mazy roads of southern province Kandahar, when more than a dozen people were shot dead in Belandai and Zangabad villages.

Bales’ brothers in arms are perplexed and distraught by the March 11 slaughter, which has dragged US-Afghan relations to new nadir, prompting President Hamid Karzai to demand a pullback of NATO forces from Afghan communities. “We are all talking about Sergeant Bales. I talk with some of the soldiers who served with him and they are all surprised.

It saddens the friends of his, because my understanding is it was totally out of character,” 3/2 Brigade Chaplain Major Edward Choi told Reuters at the unit’s headquarters at Forward Operating Base Masum Ghar.

The US military last week lodged 17 charges of premeditated murder against Bales, a four-tour veteran, ahead of what is expected to be a long trial. In theory at least, the death penalty is on the table. Bales had been a popular leader, Choi said, making the massacre even more bewildering. Comrades reject reports his marriage had been in trouble ahead of an Afghan deployment he was reluctant to undertake. “That is not the case,” said Choi, shrugging in frustration. “People that knew him, that dealt with him personally, said he was a great NCO (non-commissioned officer), cared for soldiers, was tactically and operationally professional, loved his wife and kids.”

Choi, whose small plywood chapel overlooks a wide river plain and brigade command fenced by concrete blast walls, said some of Bales’ comrades had been stressed by moving into a dangerous area that birthed the Taliban, and where its one-eyed leader Mullah Mohammad Omar still has a home.

Choi said he had no doubt multiple deployments were taking a toll on some of the fighting men. New rules governing elite units like the one Bales was assigned to guard, and wandered from in darkness on the night of the killings, were likely.

“When I speak to some of my leaders, our concern is lack of oversight. There are conventional soldiers attached to special forces who are well trained, off on their own, very mature and growing beards and doing their own thing,” he said. “When you take a 19 or 20-year-old conventional soldier and put him into special operations, they might not be able to handle it.”

Captain Janel Schlaudecker, a combat stress counselor for US soldiers in Panjwai, including Bales’ unit, said while there was no explanation for what led to the massacres, she had not noticed an impact on the wider stress levels of Bales’ brigade, even among the far-flung infantry units. “It’s so hard to judge how they would respond to this. But they are used to going out there and eating next to nothing, if anything,” Schlaudecker said. “They are used to being under a lot more pressure and not having a lot of sleep. They are wired completely differently. They are lot more resilient.”

FIGHTING SEASON Tensions over the incident are still high in Panjwai, an insurgent hotbed west of Kandahar city, and the scene of some of the war’s fiercest battles. Scores of Canadian soldiers were killed there before the Americans took over in mid-2011.

US authorities have given the victims’ families cash compen-

sation of around $50,000 for each person killed, but at a meeting with district elders this week, US officers and advisers were confronted by angry Afghans demanding to know why more was not done to prevent such an atrocity. “Local people are very angry. I get hundreds of calls from people who want this soldier tried here, in Afghanistan,” said Panjwai radio journalist Abdul Karim, who also runs a curio shop from a shipping container, used by US troops.

Some soldiers worry the massacre will undo hard-won gains over the past year, when insurgent attacks fell 40 percent, and turn sentiment against incoming units of Bales’ 3/2 Strykers ahead of the summer fighting months. The 2012 fighting season is the last which will be fought by NATO in surge-level numbers, as the end-2014 deadline for the exit of most foreign combat troops approaches. Insurgents have already carried out small attacks as a bitter winter recedes, but US commanders say this does not mean an emboldened Taliban have brought hostilities forward. “I think the coming summer will be bad and the new guys are worried,” said Staff Sergeant Robert Nelson, 37, a garrulous ex-Marine from Texas who runs the ‘Mission One’ base shop at Masum Ghar for the outgoing 1/25 Arctic Wolves, now packing to leave.

Colonel Todd Wood, the outgoing US commander for the 25th Infantry Division, said patrols were brushing lightly over Belandai and Zangabad to avoid provoking more anger, but he did not think the massacre would make the fighting months worse. “Right now it’s probably still too early to tell,” said Wood, a weathered, hyperactive Iraq veteran from Iowa. “We’ve still got villagers that will point out IEDs (improvised explosive devices), we’ve still got villagers out there that will warn us of a possible attack ... that hasn’t changed,” he said. — Reuters

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

BRICS flay West over IMF, fiscal reforms

Global Islamic finance assets hit $1.3tn: Study PAGE 20

PAGE 21

BURGOS: People gather on a parking lot of the Burgos transport bus company during a national strike in Burgos yesterday. Unions have called a national strike to protest the labor reforms, which weaken industry-wide work contracts and make it cheaper to lay off workers. — AFP

Recession-hit Spaniards strike work Thousands take to streets over labor reforms, austerity MADRID: Recession-hit Spaniards staged a 24-hour general strike and took to the streets yesterday in anger over labor reforms, austerity cuts and soaring unemployment. Carrying placards declaring “Work Reform, No”, unions picketed businesses, wholesale markets, industry, banks and public transport hubs as police deployed in heavy numbers.

It was the first national strike to challenge Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was sworn in 100 days ago vowing to cut Spain’s 23-percent unemployment rate and fix its faltering finances.

Workers walked out a day before ministers adopt a 2012 budget set to axe tens of billions of euros more in spending, adding to cuts that have already squeezed public services. Spain’s major CCOO and UGT unions called the strike over the right-leaning government’s February 11 labor reform which makes it cheaper to lay off staff and easier to cut salaries.

They plan protests in 100 towns and cities.

“If they don’t go back on the reform there will be a growing social conflict until they fix it,” said CCOO general secretary Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, warning of a new show of force May 1.

Minimum service agreements kept schools and hospitals open, ensured 20-30 percent of trains and buses ran, and allowed some planes to fly despite Iberia, Air Nostrum and Vueling cancelling two-thirds of flights.

Participation was reportedly patchy. Interior ministry policy chief Cristina Diaz said fewer people took part than in the last general strike in September 2010 with near normal activity in many banks, supermarkets and offices.

But unions reported heavy participation including in some areas of industry such as car plants. One measure of the impact-electricity use-was about 15 percent below normal in the early afternoon, according to the

national network Red Electrica de Espana.

Police arrested 58 people and six police and three strikers were lightly injured in minor incidents in the morning, the interior ministry said.

One policeman hit a protester with his baton, cutting the activist above his eyebrow as he and others tried to stop buses leaving a station in Carabanchel, southern Madrid, an AFP photographer said. At one union rally in Madrid that was hemmed in by police, 57year-old Antonio Rodriguez said he had been laid off 10 days ago after 38 years working in a graphics design business which shut down.

“So you can have an idea of why we are here, I can tell you that I calculate I will be left with about 700 euros ($930) a month until I die. And that’s after 38 years,” he said. The Popular Party government says the new labour law is needed to attack Spain’s 22.85percent jobless rate, which it predicts will rise to 24.3 percent this year as another 630,000

people lose their jobs.

But unions say the economy, not the law, is to blame for Spain’s employment woes. “I can understand why they strike. The reform is just to fire people more easily and more cheaply,” said Pedro Moreno, who works at a large supermarket in the Madrid suburbs.

“But this is not the time to lose work days. I am lucky to have a job,” the 32-year-old added as he took an underground train at Plaza de Castilla, one of the city’s major hubs.

For Spain’s prime minister, the timing of the strike could not be worse, just as he is trying to show European partners that Spain will fulfill its promises to cut spending and trim the public deficit to 5.3 percent of economic output this year from 8.51 percent last year.

The government has already announced budget cuts amounting to 8.9 billion euros and tax increases to rake in another 6.3 billion euros but analysts say Spain needs to shave a total 50 billion euros. —AFP

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Saudi Arabia will act to push down oil prices PARIS: Saudi Arabia will act to bring down oil prices, Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi said yesterday as France signalled that a release of strategic stocks was likely to boost supply. Saudi Arabia “would like to see a fair and reasonable price that will not hurt the global economic recovery, especially in emerging and developing countries”, the minister wrote in a column amid concerns that rising energy prices are hurting the world economy.

While the market is “fundamentally balanced” Saudi Arabia “will use spare production capacity to supply the oil market with any additional required volumes”, the minister said. Oil prices, despite falling yesterday, have risen in recent weeks, putting pressure on economies worldwide.

The negative impact of high oil prices on the global economy has spurred speculation that the United States, France, and Britain will resort to tapping its strategic oil reserves.

In Paris, French Economy Minister Francois Baroin told Europe One radio yesterday that he was “reasonably” confident that the International Energy Agency would decide in favor of the release of oil from strategic stocks. Baroin said the stocks could function as a “sort of buffer” but that “no one should expect miracles” with regard to prices at the pump. In France, the price of fuel for vehicles has reached record levels in nominal terms and is now a significant subject in campaigning for a presidential election. Oil prices fell in Asian trading yesterday following US and European indications of support for the release of strategic oil reserves. —AFP

ATHENS: Civil servant demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the economy austerity measures in Athens yesterday. — AFP

Global Islamic finance assets hit $1.3tn: Study Sukuk funds reached $58bn in 2011

MUMBAI: US Commerce Secretary John Bryson (left) speaks with B Muthuraman, Vice Chairman Tata Steel, during a session organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Mumbai yesterday. Bryson who is leading a 16-member business delegation to New Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai, is aimed at building stronger US-India commercial relations and promoting investment opportunities in the US. — AFP

LONDON: Islamic financial assets around the world hit $1.3 trillion in 2011, a 150 percent increase over five years as the industry expands into new country’s beyond core markets in the Middle East and Malaysia, a report yesterday estimated.

Developed markets in Malaysia, Iran and the Gulf remain fertile ground for future growth, but considerable potential also exists for expansion as more countries look to cultivate Islamic banking operations, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Russia, the report by lobby group TheCityUK’s UK Islamic Finance Secretariat (UKIFS) said. The figures were based on UKIFS growth estimates projected on end-2010 figures from a survey of the top 500 Islamic Financial Institutions conducted by The Banker publication.

“Considerable potential exists for expansion of the industry worldwide, although appropriate legal and regulatory structures are crucial for its develop-

ment in individual countries,” the report noted. Morocco is also looking to launch its first fully-fledged.

Islamic bank in 2013, Reuters reported on Monday A lack of global standardization among Islamic institutions has been one of the main challenges for the Islamic finance industry. While regulatory bodies such as AAOIFI in Bahrain and IFSB in Malaysia have attempted to provide standards for sharia-compliant transactions, they are guidelines rather than enforceable rules.

The long-term impact of the Arab spring uprisings as new countries open up to Islamic finance remains to be seen and any further spread of political unrest could negatively affect prospects in some Middle Eastern countries, the report said.

Egypt, for instance, has raised the possibility of issuing a sovereign sukuk (Islamic bond), while Tunisia has set up a working group that will study how to develop Islamic finance in the country.

Sukuk issuance globally increased 62 percent to $84 billion in 2011, with Malaysia accounting for two thirds of that.

Islamic funds under management reached a high of $58 billion in 2010, with the available pool about 10 times larger at over $500 billion, the report found. Fierce competition, though, has driven down management fees worldwide from 1.5 percent in 2006 to 1 percent in 2011.

The new figures are higher than those predicted by Ernst and Young in a report in November, in which the consultancy estimated Islamic finance assets could climb 33 percent from 2010 levels to $1.1 trillion by the end of 2012.

Islamic assets represent only around 1 percent of the global financial market.

UKIFS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TheCITYUK, a lobby group composed of members across the financial services sector, including lawyers, bankers and asset managers. — Reuters

US Q4 GDP unrevised at 3.0% WASHINGTON: The US economy expanded as expected in the fourth quarter while personal income grew at a much faster pace than previously thought, which should help underpin spending this quarter. Gross domestic product increased at a 3.0 percent annual rate, the quickest pace since the second quarter of 2010, the Commerce Department said in its final estimate yesterday, unrevised from last month’s estimate. That was in line with economists’ expectations. The economy grew at a 1.8 percent rate in the third quarter.

However, personal income was $13.162 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, $3.3 billion more than previously reported. Disposable income was $10.6 billion more than previously thought, likely reflecting the strengthening labor market.

Gross domestic income, which measures output from the income side, increased at a 4.4 percent rate - the

fastest since the first quarter of 2010 - from a 2.6 percent rise in the third quarter.

The department also said after-tax profits increased at a 1.1 percent rate, slowing from 2.7 percent the prior quarter. The slowdown in profits reflects the increase in wage costs as companies step up hiring. Rising incomes should help to cushion consumer spending against surging gasoline prices. Spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of US economic activity, grew at an unrevised 2.1 percent pace in the fourth quarter.While the economy grew solidly in the final three months of 2011, momentum has slowed this quarter amid signs of cooling in manufacturing, business spending and a pause in the housing market recovery even as the labor market strengthens. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke this week said growth needed to accelerate to bring the unemployment rate down fur-

ther. While he offered no sign that the US central bank would launch a third round of bond purchases or quantitative easing, Bernanke said all options remained on the table.

First-quarter growth is seen around 2 percent, also as the economy loses the boost from restocking by businesses. However, rising gasoline prices are a wild card.

So far there is little sign that consumers have cut back, with auto sales surging in both January and February.

The build-up in business inventories accounted for the bulk of the rise in output in the last quarter. But the final GDP revisions showed a slightly better tone in the overall growth picture.

Business spending was revised up to a 5.2 percent growth rate from 2.8 percent, to account for slightly stronger investment in equipment and software. That offset weaker export growth. — Reuters

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

BRICS flay West over IMF, fiscal reforms Summit eyes new bank for bloc LONDON: Vehicles queue at a petrol station in north London yesterday. British motorists flocked to petrol stations yesterday to stock up ahead of a threatened strike by fuel tanker drivers as the government faced accusations of sparking a panic. — AFP

Petrol panic puts heat on British government LONDON: British motorists flocked to petrol stations yesterday to stock up ahead of a threatened strike by fuel tanker drivers as the government faced accusations of sparking a panic.

Retailers reported a huge increase in sales of jerrycans after a minister advised people to fill them with fuel, while petrol sales had soared by 81 percent above normal on Wednesday.

Opposition Labor party leader Ed Miliband called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologize after the government issued a string of conflicting messages to motorists. “The prime minister is presiding over a shambles on petrol. The country is paying the price for the incompetent way he is governing,” he said. Energy Minister Ed Davey denied the government was creating panic, but repeated that motorists should fill up where possible.

“Our major advice is that people just need to do the sensible thing if they’re going into the petrol station, they should get a full tank of petrol, not a half-tank of petrol, and they should top up where necessary,” he told the BBC. Workers in five oil companies have already voted in favor of industrial action over terms, conditions and safety standards but have not yet set a date for a strike. The fuel saga hotted up on Wednesday when senior cabinet minister Francis Maude said that motorists should fill up jerry cans with petrol and keep them in their garages. Firefighters said his advice was dangerous and the government retracted Maude’s advice yesterday.

Roads minister Mike Penning said it had been “a mistake by the cabinet minister... He has apologized since”. The government’s words failed to assure motorists. Halfords, a motor supplies retailer, said sales of some fuel cans had increased by 467 percent from the same time in 2011.

Britain’s Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 garages, said petrol sales increased by 81 percent and diesel by 43 percent on Wednesday. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging market nations pressed Western powers to cede more voting rights at the IMF this year and flayed the rich world’s reflationary monetary policies for putting global economic stability in jeopardy. “This dynamic process of reform is necessary to ensure the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Fund,” Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa said in a joint declaration after their one-day summit in New Delhi.

“We stress that the ongoing effort to increase the lending capacity of the IMF will only be successful if there is confidence that the entire membership of the institution is truly committed to implement the 2010 Reform faithfully.”

Promised changes to voting rights at the IMF have yet to be ratified by the United States, adding to frustration over reform of the G7 and the UN Security Council, where India and Brazil have been angling for years for permanent seats. The BRICS leaders also accused rich countries of destabilizing the world economy five years into the global financial crisis.

“It is critical for advanced economies to adopt responsible macroeconomic and financial policies, avoid creating excessive global liquidity and undertake structural reforms to lift growth that create jobs,” they said in a joint declaration.

The rich world’s monetary policy “brings enormous trade advantages to developed countries, and results in unfair obstacles for other countries,” Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff said at the summit.

Security was tight in New Delhi, days after an activist set himself on fire in protest at Chinese rule in Tibet, dying from his injuries just hours before

NEW DELHI: Heads of the BRICS countries (left to right) President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa pose with copies of the BRICS report during the BRICS summit in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP China’s President Hu Jintao arrived.

Police grappled with small groups of pro-Tibet protesters.

The declaration said the crises over Iran’s nuclear program should be resolved diplomatically and should not be allowed to escalate. It also recognized the right of Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. “We agreed that lasting solution to the problems in Syria and Iran can only be found through dialogue,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

The five BRICS nations, which collectively account for nearly half the world’s population and a fifth of its economic output, signed an agreement to extend credit facilities in their local currencies, a step aimed at reducing the role of the

Oil holds near $124, release talk continues LONDON: Oil prices held near $124 a barrel yesterday on concerns about the loss of Iranian oil despite the prospect of a release of strategic oil reserves in the West and renewed promises of additional supply from Saudi Arabia.

France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon said yesterday there was a good chance of an accord between the US and Europe on a release of strategic oil reserves.

Ahead of elections in both France and the US, pressure is mounting to tackle high fuel prices.

“The talk of a possible strategic oil reserve release by the US and EU is another big effort to talk prices down, but that’s not really happening,” said David Morrison, a market analyst at financial services company GFT, adding the downward effect of last year’s emergency release had only been temporary.

Brent crude was down 19 cents at $123.97 a barrel at 0953 GMT, after falling 1.09 percent the previous session.

US crude was down 42 cents at $104.99 a barrel, after a drop of 1.79 percent on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali Al-Naimi attacked high oil prices in a rare opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Wednesday. Oil prices also held up

against signs of a slowdown in China, with the Shanghai exchange closing at a two and a half month low as corporate results disappointed.

“There seems to be more pressure on the upside despite concerns about global growth... The big thing underpinning oil is central banks’ willingness to continue printing money,” Morrison continued.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke spurred expectations in comments at the start of the week the bank could yet launch a third round of quantitative easing if the US economy needed a boost.

A below-forecast increase in new orders for US durable goods dented optimism about growth in the world’s largest oil consumer. US jobless claims data due at 1230 GMT yesterday was expected to show a small increase in claims after the number dropped to a fouryear low last week. Front-month Brent crude is on track to post a second straight quarterly rise of more than 15 percent by the end of this week. Rising tension between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program, accidents in the North Sea and reported attacks on oil-producing areas in South Sudan have all contributed to the upward trend. —Reuters

dollar in trade between them.

They also agreed to examine in greater detail an Indian proposal to set up a BRICS-led South-South Development Bank, funded and managed by the BRICS and other developing countries.

“We have directed the finance ministers to examine the proposal and report back at the next summit,” Singh said.

Other moves to bring their economies closer together include the launch on Friday of benchmark equity index derivatives allowing investors in one BRICS country to bet on the performance of stock markets in the other four members without currency risk. The indexes will be cross-listed on their stock exchanges from Friday. — Reuters

Zuma hails BRICS for not ‘looking down on Africa’ NEW DELHI: South African President Jacob Zuma said yesterday that his country had found its place in the BRICS bloc of emerging countries where it was “treated with respect” and not patronized.

In comments seen as a barely disguised jab at the rich world, Zuma told reporters at a BRICS summit in New Delhi that South Africa was comfortable in the alliance where he claimed to represent the whole continent of Africa. “In BRICS, we have a place where we feel that Africa is being treated with respect. Our views are treated equally among the partners. There is no feeling that some people are looking down on the continent of Africa,” he said.

The BRIC name was termed in 2001 by investment bank Goldman Sachs to group together fast-growing emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The alliance held its first summit in 2009 and later agreed to admit South Africa as its fifth member at the end of 2010. The summit in the Indian capital ended with a “Delhi Declaration” in which the five countries pledged to deepen their cooperation in international forums and open up the world’s institutions to developing nations.

They also stated that dialogue was the only solution to the current unrest in Syria and the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, a pre-emptive warning against any military action by the West or Israel.

While the BRICS bloc is a major non-Western alliance grouping together countries representing 40 percent of humanity, it is also seen by cynics as a collection of disparate nations with relatively few common goals. — AFP

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Euro-zone lagging behind in G7 recovery: OECD No rush for central banks to start tightening

BERLIN: CEO of German national railway Deutsche Bahn (DB) Ruediger Grube (right) poses next to a model of the fast train ICE as part of the yearly results press conference in Berlin yesterday. —AFP

Co-Op raises doubts over Lloyds deal LONDON: The Co-Operative Group raised doubts about its bid to buy 632 retail bank branches from Lloyds yesterday, as regulators put the proposed deal under intense scrutiny.

Britain’s financial watchdog has so far blocked the branch sale, a move one Financial Services Authority (FSA) insider last week said was due to worries that the eclectic board of the food-to-funerals conglomerate lacked the nous to manage one of the UK’s biggest retail banking networks.

“I can’t predict right now whether we’ll get to the end on this,” Peter Marks, group chief executive of the mutually owned Co-Op, told reporters on a conference call yesterday.

“There are a number of regulatory and economic issues that we have to be clear about, before we make a transaction,” he added. Marks said the Co-Op would decide whether to go ahead with its bid for the branches, estimated to be worth about 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion), in “weeks rather than months.”

Lloyds shares slipped by 0.8 percent to 34.16 pence in early morning trade, with traders citing the increasing risk that a sale of the branches to the Co-Op would unravel. The Co-Op, which expanded its small presence in financial services by acquiring the Britannia Building Society, would be catapulted to Britain’s seventh-biggest bank with the Lloyds deal.

Regulators are looking closely at the bid because of its importance to British consumers.

The FSA is expected to want reassurances that the Co-Op has strong enough capital, an experienced board and adequate systems and business plan before it gives a go-ahead for the deal.

Co-Op also still needs to appoint a permanent chief executive for its financial services arm, and analysts also say it would have to tap the bond markets to raise funds for the acquisition.

Marks said there were no concerns over the Co-Op’s corporate governance systems or the company’s funding capabilities, and added that the group had a chief executive for its financial services business “waiting in the wings.”

Regulators have ordered Lloyds to sell the branches as payback for the company’s state bailout by the British government during the 2008 credit crisis, which left Britain with a 40 percent stake in Lloyds. Lloyds has to sell the assets by 2013, a task which has been code-named “Project Verde”.

A sale would mark an important step towards Britain’s longer-term plans of selling off its 40 percent Lloyds holding and its 82 percent stake in rival bailed-out lender Royal Bank of Scotland.

New British banking venture NBNK, which lost out to the Co-Op last year in the bid to become Lloyds’ preferred partner in the branch deal, is still interested should the Co-Op deal unravel.

On their own, the lloyds branches represent 4.6 percent of UK personal current or checking accounts and 5 percent of the mortgage market. — Reuters

PARIS: Euro-zone nations are falling far behind the United States and Canada as a fragile recovery takes root in advanced economies, the OECD said yesterday, advising central banks to keep easy money flowing so the rebound does not prove short-lived.

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast that the Group of Seven advanced economies were on course for average annualized growth of 1.9 percent in both the first and second quarters although rates varied widely.

“There is a recovery which is firming with respect to past numbers. But it is clearly coming at different speeds, with North America and the United States growing faster and the euro area still in a weak spot,” OECD chief economist Pier Carlo Padoan told journalists. An improving US labor market would help the world’s biggest economy grow 2.9 percent in the first quarter on the same basis, and 2.8 percent in the second quarter, the OECD said.

Its latest predictions were contained in a brief report in which it gives quarterly estimates for a handful of countries ahead of a fuller publication in May. As unemployment fell in the United States, confidence was firming, particularly among households, while easy financial conditions were helping them rebuild their strained budgets, the OECD said.

“Monetary policy needs to be supportive in the medium term to allow this process to continue,” Padoan said.

With the euro-zone creeping out of a sovereign debt crisis, the recovery would be weakest there, with the economies of France and Italy in contraction in the first quarter and Germany eking out growth of only 0.1 percent.

Grappling with weak industrial production and fragile household confi-

PARIS: OECD Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Economist Pier Carlo Padoan talks while presenting an interim assessment “what is the economic outlook for OECD countries?” at the OECD headquarters in Paris yesterday. — AFP

dence, Italy would be mired in recession as its economy contracted an annualized 1.6 percent in the first quarter and 0.1 percent in the second quarter, the organization estimated.

“This is going to be a delicate period over the next quarters,” Padoan said, noting that Italian and Spanish bond yields had begun creeping higher again. “We have to be careful and ready to support the situation.” OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria called on Tuesday for euro zone nations to ramp up the size of their rescue fund, judging that the debt crisis was not over with banks still weak, debt still rising and fiscal targets far from assured.

Outside the euro-zone, Britain’s economy was seen contracting an annualized 0.4 percent in the first quarter before posting growth of 0.5 percent in the following quarter. In light of the still shaky nature of the recovery, the OECD said that central banks should be prepared to keep interest rates low and maintain other crisis measures “for a considerable time to

come”.

“In the euro area one might even argue there is some policy space in the interest rate which could be used given inflation is not a source of concern if activity slows down,” Padoan said.

“In the UK one might argue in favor of additional easing,” Padoan said, adding that the outlook was still too uncertain for most countries to begin setting a time frame for winding down crisis measures.

With their balance sheets loaded up to record levels, the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve are facing growing calls to consider unwinding the unconventional measures they have adopted in the last three years to stave off financial meltdowns. Among risks to the overall outlook, the OECD estimated surging oil prices, which have risen 15 percent since the start of the year, would add a quarter of a percentage point to inflation in developed countries and knock 0.1-0.2 percent off growth on average over the next year. — Reuters

World’s oldest bank posts 4.69bn euro loss for 2011 MILAN: Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world’s oldest bank, yesterday unveiled a loss of 4.69 billion euros for 2011 due to “extraordinarily difficult” conditions after making a profit in 2010.

The bank, which was founded in 1472 and had posted a profit of 985 million euros in 2010, said in a statement it was hit by “a progressive slowdown in economic growth and an exacerbation of the sovereign debt crisis.” It said last year had seen “an abrupt increase in credit spreads and closure of interbank and institutional markets, triggering at the same time a negative spiral for both stock prices and Italian government bonds.

“This scenario strongly affected the operations of the entire banking industry and had significant repercussions on the group’s balance sheet.”

The earnings statement triggered a stock market fall for the bank in early trading, with its share price down 1.38 per-

cent at 0.356 euros. The Italian economy entered recession in the second half of last year and Prime Minister Mario Monti’s is struggling to implement budget cuts and structural reforms to keep public finances in check and boost growth.

The bank said it had been forced to make “significant value adjustments due to impairment of goodwill” for a total of 4.48 billion euros in order to adapt to current market conditions and prepare for “foreseeable future scenarios.”

“This reduction in value... has effects on the accounting items but has no impact on the bank’s cash flow, liquidity, capital ratios, nor clearly does it have any influence on its prospective profitability and reliability,” it said. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is the latest in a long series of leading banks to announce large losses for 2011. The country’s leading bank, UniCredit, on Tuesday announced a loss of 9.21 billion euros for last year. — AFP

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

German job prospects defy euro-zone crisis Labor market remains unfazed

BUDAPEST: A man works on a car in the new factory of German carmaker Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz in Kecskemet, about 90km east of Budapest yesterday.

German luxury car maker Daimler has completed construction of an 800 million euro factory in Kecskemet. The project is the largest new investment by far in recent years in Hungary and one which highlights the government’s ambivalent relationship to investors. — AFP

Drop in British lending highlights recovery woes LONDON: Approvals for home loans in Britain fell to an 8month low in February, and banks expect to tighten lending in the next few months, Bank of England data showed, highlighting the tough path ahead for the recovery. The figures come after mortgage lender Nationwide said prices fell at their fastest pace in two years in March, though analysts said some of the weakness in the data may have been due to the end of a temporary tax break for first-time home buyers.

But the gloomy housing market and lending data were tempered by figures showing output in Britain’s dominant services sector grew 0.2 percent in January, suggesting the economy made a firm start to 2012, having shrunk at the end of last year.

The BoE said mortgage approvals numbered 48,986 in February, well below analysts’ forecasts and down from 57,899 in January. Net mortgage lending, meanwhile, eased to 1.2 billion pounds in February. “Does this reflect something seasonal or does it reflect perhaps the imminent expiry of the stamp duty holiday for first time buyers?

I think time will tell,” said Peter Dixon, economist at Commerzbank. “But I do think we shouldn’t be expecting the recent upward trend in the market to continue.” A weakening housing market will make hard-pressed Britons even more reluctant to spend, denting hopes for a consumer-led recovery this year. Indeed, a survey from the EU Commission showed UK consumer confidence dipped to a 3-month low in March.

Analysts said it was still too early to gauge whether the Bank of England would expand its quantitative easing program once its 325 billion pounds of purchases were complete in May. “On balance, we still think brighter signs in international and domestic cyclical activity ... will persuade the MPC to hold off from further easing,” David Page, economist at Lloyds Bank WBM, said.

“However, if activity indicators do not improve from here and credit conditions remain tight, the MPC may yet add a further 50 billion pounds to its QE target.”

One of the biggest obstacles to Britain’s economic recovery is a lack of credit to companies and households, and a separate BoE survey showed the availability of bank lending had remained unchanged in the first three months of this year. This is partly due to subdued demand, with Britons wary of borrowing at a time of economic uncertainty, high unemployment and government spending cuts. Official data this week showed that as disposable incomes have plunged, households have been squirreling away any spare cash. —Reuters

FRANKFURT: Unemployment in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, fell to a new record low in March, as the robust outlook for jobs continues to defy the euro-zone debt crisis, new data showed yesterday.

“The German economy is currently experiencing a period of weakness, but the labor market remains unfazed by this,” the head of the Federal Labor Agency, Frank Weise, said. Recent data showed that the German economy, Europe’s biggest, contracted by 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the latest output and orders data suggest little improvement can be expected in the first quarter, Weise said.

“On the other hand, forward-looking indicators suggest the economy could stabilize during the course of the year.

The improvement on the labor market is continuing,” he said.

The total number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell by 81,990 to 3.028 million this month, equivalent to a jobless rate-which measures the unemployment total as a proportion of the workforce as a whole-of 7.2 percent, down from 7.4 percent in February.

Headline unemployment tends to fall in the spring as sectors such as the construction sector take on workers again with the end of the cold winter weather.

But even adjusted for such seasonal factors, the jobless total declined by 18,000 to 2.841 million, the lowest level since unification in 1990, according to separate data calculated by the Bundesbank.

The seasonally-adjusted jobless rate slipped to an all-time low level of 6.7 percent in March from 6.8 percent in February. “The labor market remains on its upward trend,” said Economy Minister Philipp Roesler.

“The nascent spring upturn is providing the first additional impulses. In the difficult international economic environ-

BERLIN: German chancellor Angela Merkel (right) and vice-chancellor and Economy Minister Philipp Roesler attend the parliamentary debate on the fiscal discipline pact, agreed by 25 of the 27 European Union members, and the long term bailout fund, the ESM, at the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, yesterday. — AFP ment, the labor market remains a reliable pillar for domestic demand. And as the German economy picks up momentum, the positive trend on the labor market will continue,” Roesler said.

Employment is on the rise, too, with a total 41.1 million people in work in Germany in February, 550,000 more than a year ago, data published by the national statistics office Destatis showed. “Despite the contraction in fourth-quarter gross domestic product, the German economy remains relatively resilient versus its euro-zone peers,” said Newedge Strategy analyst Annalisa Piazza. Indeed, the rosy picture was set to continue for the next few months and even if the decline in unemployment was unlikely to continue at the same pace, “sideways moves will not have to be interpreted as a sign of stagnation as the unemployment rate is at record lows,” the economist said.

Carsten Brzeski of ING bank in Belgium said “the mild March weather and almost unshattered business optimism seem be the most important drivers behind today’s drop in unemployment.” He said the resilience of the German labor market “bodes well for private consumption in the first half of the year.” “The German jobs miracle is continuing,” said Christian Schulz at Berenberg Bank.

Andreas Rees at UniCredit said the latest figures “confirm our optimistic story for the German labor market. We expect further improvements in coming months, although the pace of the build-up in new jobs will ease a bit.”

Commerzbank economist Eckart Tuchtfeld said he expects “unemployment to decline further and employment to rise in 2012 — although probably no longer as dynamically as before.” — AFP

HK’s Hutchison Whampoa profit rises 178% HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa, controlled by Asia’s richest man Li Ka-shing, said Thursday its 2011 net profit leapt 178 percent thanks to strong recurring revenue, earnings and cashflow growth.

The conglomerate spanning ports to telecoms and financial services said it booked a net profit of HK$56.02 billion ($7.21 billion) in the year to December 31, compared with HK$20.18 billion the previous year.

Total revenue grew 22 percent to HK$387.72 billion, boosted by a gain of HK$44.3 billion from the sale of a ports unit in Singapore in the first quarter of the year.

Excluding profits on investment property revaluation and the disposal of investments, net profit totalled HK$22.56 billion in 2011, or 36 percent more than the previous year. “In 2011, uncertain economic conditions affected most markets and geographies to

varying degrees,” Li, 83, said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. “A measure of uncertainty is expected to remain in 2012,” citing a short-term slowdown in China due to monetary tightening to manage inflation.

Hutchison announced its results after markets closed with its shares down 0.44 percent at HK$79.05. The overall Hang Seng index had dropped 1.32 percent. Blue-chip developer Cheung Kong Holdings, Li’s property flagship, said its net profit rose 72 percent in 2011, boosted mainly by gains from its transfer of a Beijing commercial project to a sister company.

Cheung Kong said net profit for the 12 months to December 31 rose to HK$46.06 billion from HK$26.84 billion.

Revenue rose 29 percent to HK$42.36 billion from HK$32.86 billion. Forbes magazine recently named Li Asia’s richest man with an estimated wealth of

$25.5 billion.

His personal fortune is believed to have grown significantly in recent years thanks to investments in technology companies including Facebook, Spotify, Skype and Siri. Despite his financial successes, Li lost a political battle on the weekend when his choice for Hong Kong’s next leader, Henry Tang, failed to win the backing of the city’s pro-Beijing electoral committee.

The chief executive job went to former property developer Leung Chunying, whose “populist” campaign commitments to give the poor a greater share of Hong Kong’s wealth spooked some of the city’s powerful tycoons.

Nicknamed “Superman” for his business acumen, Li expressed support for the incoming leader and again denied media reports that he was planning to divest some of Hutchison’s assets in the southern Chinese city. —AFP

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

China tells Apple to ‘care for workers’ US giant fends off flak over factory conditions BEIJING: The man tipped to be China’s next leader has told Apple that foreign firms should protect workers, state media said yesterday, as the US giant fends off criticism over factory conditions in China.

International labor watchdog groups have said workers in Chinese plants run by major Apple supplier Foxconn of Taiwan are poorly treated, and have blamed a string of apparent suicides on the conditions.

Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who is likely to be China’s next premier, met Tim Cook while the new Apple chief executive was visiting Beijing on Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Li told Cook multinational companies should “pay more attention to car-

ing for workers”, the report said. Cook on Wednesday visited a Foxconn plant employing 120,000 people in China’s central city of Zhengzhou, where he viewed the production line, Apple said.

California-based Apple is wildly popular in China, where its products such as the iPhone and iPad are coveted by wealthy consumers. Greater Chinawhich includes Hong Kong and Taiwanhas become Apple’s fastest growing region, and revenue from there is second only to the United States.

“Tim had great meetings with Vice Premier Li and other top officials in Beijing,” Apple said in a statement provided to AFP yesterday.

“China is very important to us and we look forward to even greater invest-

ment and growth here,” it said. The company declined to comment on the issues discussed at the meetings with officials, which included Beijing’s mayor. Apple is still grappling with a series of problems from negative publicity over its supply chain to a trademark contest.

Chinese computer firm Proview Technology (Shenzhen) claims it owns the “iPad” trademark, and has sought to block sales of the iconic tablet computer in China through lawsuits.

Apple says it legally bought the rights to the trademark. Xinhua quoted Li as saying that China would “strengthen intellectual property rights protection”, although the report did not say whether he commented directly on the

trademark dispute.

The Taiwan affiliate of Proview registered “iPad” as a trademark in several countries including China as early as 2000 — years before Apple began selling its product. The US titan subsequently bought the rights for the global trademark, but Proview claims the Taiwanese affiliate had no right to sell the Chinese rights. A Chinese court is now considering an appeal by Apple after rejecting its earlier lawsuit against Proview for trademark infringement last year due to lack of evidence. A watchdog group, Fair Labor Association, recently toured Foxconn facilities and factories of other Apple suppliers in China with Apple’s consent but has yet to release its findings. — AFP

Indonesians rally over fuel price hike

TOKYO: Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) president Toshio Nishizawa (right) addresses a press conference at TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. The operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant asked Japan for a capital injection of $12 billion in exchange for government control over the company. — AFP

TEPCO asks for $12bn capital injection TOKYO: The operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant yesterday asked the Japanese government for a capital injection of $12 billion in a bid to avoid insolvency. Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) officially requested one trillion yen, because it is in a “very serious financial condition,” President Toshio Nishizawa told a news conference. The firm separately asked a statebacked entity for an additional 846 billion yen in financial aid to pay ballooning compensation bills to victims of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant after last year’s earthquake-tsunami disaster.

The company needs a capital injection to shore up its finances because of the increasing costs it faces running obsolete and inefficient thermal plants amid public distrust of nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

TEPCO also faces a growing bill for the work to dismantle the crippled plant and to clean areas polluted by radiation.

Creditor banks have reportedly demanded TEPCO receive taxpayers’ money before turning to them for fresh loans.

In return for the one trillion yen capital, the government wants to take at least a 51 percent stake in TEPCO, with an option to take up to a two-thirds stake to essentially nationalize and reform the company, local media have said. Under the latter scenario, the government could move to separate TEPCO’s power generation and power distribution functions to encourage new entrants in the power generation market.

Industry Minister Yukio Edano has been at the forefront of the push to reform the utility, which may not be able to continue as a going concern without public money, but is seen as slow to change. —AFP

JAKARTA: Thousands of Indonesians rallied nationwide yesterday against a planned fuel price hike they say will cause great hardship, as the parliament prepared to vote on the proposal.

The government says that with global oil prices soaring above $100 a barrel, the nation can’t afford to maintain heavy subsidies, and parliament is expected today to approve raising the fuel price by a third. Demonstrations have occurred almost daily in recent weeks, sometimes turning violent, but turnout in the capital Jakarta Thursday was much lower than organizers had promised.

Around 14,000 police and 8,000 soldiers were deployed at key locations, including parliament house, the presidential palace and the international airport.

But only a few thousand protesters turned up, while across the country 26,500 people joined demonstrations in various cities, said national police spokesman Saud Usman Nasution, a modest number for a nation of 240 million. “This is a wicked government who doesn’t care about the people’s welfare,” Irwan Saifullah, a 42-year-old teacher, told AFP outside the presidential palace.

“My kids will have to drink less milk and we’ll all eat less rice,” he said among protesters dancing around a truck blaring music. Around half of Indonesia’s population live on less than $2 a day.

The government has said that without hiking the fuel price, the cost of subsidies will push the country’s budget deficit above the three percent of GDP cap stipulated by law.

But disgruntled Indonesians have turned out to major cities across the country, fearing the hike-from Rp 4,500 (49 cents) to Rp 6,000 per litre-will push up prices of everyday items.

In Makassar city on Sulawesi island, around 1,000 students blocked several main roads and burnt a banner bearing

JAKARTA: Indonesian members of the Front Perjuangan Rakyat or People Struggle Front shout slogans during a protest against the government’s plan to hike fuel prices in Jakarta yesterday. Thousands of Indonesian protesters rallied yesterday against a planned fuel price hike. — AFP pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Local TV stations showed images of protesters outside local parliament in Pekanbaru city on Sumatra island hurling stones at police, who responded by striking crowd members with batons and letting off a water cannon.

Around 2,000 members of Hizbut Tahrir-a prominent religious group in Indonesia which is the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation-demonstrated outside the presidential palace in Jakarta.

Men wearing Muslim caps and women in headscarves chanted “Replace, replace this rubbish system” and carried banners saying “Reject the fuel price hike! Rulers are liars, wicked and traitors”.

“Capitalism and imperialism will only put people in misery as foreigners have always exploited countries with rich nat-

ural resources like Indonesia,” the group’s spokesman Ismail Yusnanto said.

“Everything will become more expensive, which will create a burden. It just means misery,”, added Nining Elitos, chairman of the Indonesian Trade Unions Alliance. “Those with big families and children in school will suffer the most. The move will only cause social problems, raise crime rates and stress levels.”

Planned mass rallies in the capital fizzled Tuesday, with 22,000 security personnel overseeing just 3,500 protesters.

But almost 10,000 people showed up in other cities including Medan in Sumatra island and Surabaya in eastern Java.

Some rallies turned violent as hundreds of protesters pelted rocks, petrol bombs and sticks at police, who fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. — AFP

Business FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Exporting America’s future US manufacturing shifting to Asia, Latin America Jobs fled to cheaper labor markets, unprotected by US health and safety standards. And they took with them wealth.

Seventy large US firms — including Apple, Microsoft, GE and Pfizer — hold $1.2 trillion in cash overseas, according to a recent Bloomberg survey.

W

e all know the United States has a jobs crisis. President Obama further acknowledged it when he made manufacturing a top priority in this year’s State of the Union address. He has his eye set on fixing the tax code to keep jobs onshore, training young people to fill them, reforming immigration to retain workers once trained and setting new standards to drive innovation and create more jobs. That’s all good news for the nation; it’s practically an industrial policy.

In all this, though, there’s a worrisome undercurrent. The United States didn’t just suddenly find itself in this crisis. Our nation has worked long and hard to get here, after decades of so-called free markets while other nations tilted the playing field, of American jobs going offshore, of politicians, economic advisers and industrialists finding common cause in letting manufacturing move to Asia and Latin America.

Jobs fled to cheaper labor markets, unprotected by US health and safety standards. And they took with them wealth. Seventy large US firms — including Apple, Microsoft, GE and Pfizer — hold $1.2 trillion in cash overseas, according to a recent Bloomberg survey. Much of that money is unlikely ever to be repatriated to the United States because of tax laws.

So US industrial policy — or the lack of it — has made many nations rich in jobs, short on worker safety and loaded up on cash.

But that’s the least of it. The United States also has put at risk its greatest asset: the return on its intellectual capital. We have let China learn by doing, South Korea innovate

President Barack Obama, flanked by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, delivers remarks on the administration’s commitment to export promotion to grow the economy and support new American jobs, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. —MCT

by manufacturing, India build new capabilities in design and research and development — much of it on the back of initial American innovation.

With manufacturing gone to China, for example, R&D followed Apple to Foxconn. Applied Materials

R&D. And with that, jobs.

The results are in: Pacific Rim nations are increasing their dominance in the electronics and communications technology that is central to the continued advancement of the high-tech industry. But some economists seem to find manufac-

“Nowadays, the number of television sets manufactured in the United States is zero. A failure? No, a success,” Blinder wrote. “Like the cowboy hero, the leader innovates and moves on.”

Such thinking is shortsighted. As we now know, letting others handle

Though President Obama made manufacturing the top priority, American exports continued to decline. set up a major R&D shop in China, where solar cells are being manufactured. GE, Texas Instruments, Cisco and others established major R&D and design centers in Bangalore, India.

Why? Because you can’t do R&D offshore from a distance. The “looksee-do” of innovation depends on close ties to the manufacturing process. Proximity to manufacturing is the key to other higher-value activities — design, engineering and

turing almost demeaning _ highrent, low-wage scut work best left to the developing world. Losing those jobs, they say, is really proof of America’s greatness, its very essence.

That’s scary. Writing for a Harvard symposium in 2007, for example, Princeton professor Alan Blinder, a member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers and a former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, seemed practically heartened by job loss:

our manufacturing over the long term does deep, slow-moving and irreparable damage to the welfare of nations.

These turn out to be hard lessons to learn. President Obama offered a vision that tied together jobs and taxes, manufacturing and training, education and welfare. Yet Christina D. Romer, past chairwoman of his Council of Economic Advisers, demurred. Writing in the New York Times, she asked: Why favor manu-

facturing over service industries such as insurance or entertainment?

The answer is in the vertical supply chain integration that made Silicon Valley and later, Austin, Texas, the innovation centers and jobs engine they once were, and what Albany, NY, is now for nanotechnology. Writing in CrainsNewYork.com last November, Jeremy Smerd reported that Albany has become “the new Austin” — loaded up with R&D, manufacturing and jobs: “Companies in the computer chip supply chain, facing exponential increases in development costs, relocated employees to the nanoscience center — which in 2004 became a college — to conduct research and collaborate with competitors. “(Since then), companies have begun flocking to the college and to the area; more than 200 have workers at the campus. The semiconductor industry in Albany has bloomed to more than 400 companies, more than New York City or the midHudson Valley.

“The college estimates that its funding has spurred billions of dollars in private investments that have helped create 12,500 high-tech jobs statewide, a number it expects to double within 10 years. “‘We develop technology before anybody else in the world,’ (said one engineer.) ‘Not just New York — the world.’”

One wonders where America might be today without the advice of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers. One guess: more manufacturing, more innovation and more jobs. By now surely ordinary Americans would be within their rights to question the council’s own marginal utility. —MCT

Opinion FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

(Left) Four Iranian criminals are hanged in public in the southern city of Shiraz in this Sept 5, 2007 file photo. Iran executed 21 criminals on that day. (Right) Yemenis gather to watch a Yemeni soldier stand over a man lying face down on a large piece of red cloth, his hands bound behind him, after shooting him four times, in front of the central prison in Sanaa in this July 6, 2009 file photo. The barber has been publicly executed after he was found guilty of raping and killing an 11-year-old boy who came to his shop for a haircut. — AP/ AFP Photos

Death penalty stalks Mideast Amnesty report records big rise in executions, led by Iran, Saudi Arabia

By David Rosenberg

A

t least 588 people were executed across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) last year, the largest number anywhere in the world except in China and a 50 percent rise over 2010, Amnesty International said in a report yesterday. While China, which the international human rights organization believes executes untold thousands every year, the MENA region includes an unusually large number of countries in the bulge bracket for capital punishment. Iran was No. 2 in the world, officially executing 360 people last year. Saudi Arabia sent 82 to their deaths, Iraq 68 and Yemen 41, earning them places as the world’s third, fourth and sixth-biggest executioners (the US is No. 5 with 43 deaths), according to Amnesty data.

Last year was the year of the Arab Spring, but Philip Luther, Amnesty’s MENA region director, told The Media Line, the region’s transition to more openness and democracy had not yet had any effect on laws or popular attitudes towards executing criminals. “The reality is that while we are pushing for it to be among the issues that the new and transitional governments tackle, it’s fair to say it’s often not at the top of their list even if they support it in principle,” he said. He pointed to the effort by the London-based organization to get Egypt’s political parties to sign on to a human rights manifesto last year ahead for the country’s first post-revolution parliamen-

tary elections. “While many parties were keen to sign up there were a couple of clauses that were particularly problematic for them. One was abolition of the death penalty,” he recalled.

Not counting China, where accurate information is impossible to collect, the report found 676 executions were known to have been carried out around the world in 2011, compared with at least 527 the year before.

The increase was mainly due to a significant increase in judicial killings in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, it said. Except in the MENA region and probably China, the world’s governments are engaging less and less into capital punishment. Only 20 out of 198 countries executed people at all last year, down from 23 in 2010 and 31 a decade ago. In Asia, outside of China, only 51 people were executed last year, 34 in the Americas (all in the US), 22 in Sub-Saharan Africa and just two in Europe and Central Asia (both in Belarus).

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen upset the global trend with big increases in executions. But, Amnesty said the figures of people put to death in the four countries may in fact be higher because deaths are not always done through entirely legal channels and/or are not disclosed. Amnesty estimates that Iran really has executed at least 634 people.

Iran is also the only country in the world that continues to execute juvenile offenders, although Tehran officially denies it. Amnesty said it had reports of varying degrees of reliability that at least seven minors were killed by

the state, including Ali Reza-Molla Soltani, who was hanged in Karaj near Tehran in September in a public execution.

In Iraq, Amnesty accused the Central Criminal Court of conducting trials ending in the death penalty in just a few minutes and uses confessions extracted under torture and without proper access to a lawyer. Saudi Arabia also conducts trials that fail to meet international norms and has executed people for the crime of sorcery. The number of confirmed executions in the kingdom tripled in 20011 compared with 2010, the report estimated. In spite of the large number of executions in the region, Luther said he did not think there was any kind of cultural or religious reason for the phenomenon. “If you take all 19 countries and territories of the region, 99 percent of the executions occur in four countries - Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen,” he said. “There are number of other countries in the region that would describe themselves in a similar way culturally but have decided not to go the path of death penalty or are even going the other way.”

Among the other major countries of the region, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates executed one person each. The Islamic movement Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, sent three people to their deaths. The Palestinian Authority, which rules in the West Bank, conducted no executions. Many countries in the MENA region have kept the death penalty of their books, but rarely if ever actually carry out executions.

Among them is Algeria, whose courts imposed death sentence on 51 people alone in 2011 but in practice has not executed anyone since 1993, according to Amnesty. Luther pointed to the phenomenon as an example of how the Arab public is not necessary enamored of public executions. “Where countries have become effectively abolitionist like in North Africa, where they have not been executing for over 10 years, the clamor for a return to executions hasn’t been there,” he said.

Libya, which officially discontinued executions in 2011, is a special case. For most of the year, the country was in a state of anarchy as forces loyal to strongman Muammar Gaddafi battled rebels, leaving much of the country under little or no control. While Amnesty did not make any estimates for judicial or extrajudicial executions for the country, it said that they almost certainly occurred in large numbers. Syria, also paralyzed by fighting between the government and rebel, engages in executions, but Amnesty provided no estimate. It noted that last December President Bashar Al-Assad signed a law calling for the death penalty for anyone convicted of providing arms to carry out “terrorist acts,” which is how the government routinely describes the rebels.

A

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

y

e niv rsar n

Years

www.kuwaittimes.net

A flowerhorn fish is displayed at the annual fish festival or "Pramong Nomjai Thai Tuala" at a shopping mall in Bangkok yesterday.

Fish festival shows a variety of beautiful fish between March 24 to April 1.—AFP

Relationship FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Adopting ture a different- c Girl from China expresses duality of her adopted life

I

n the world of Chinese adoption, Sarah Mitteldorf stands at the edge of the known universe. She came first - or among the very first, landing in the United States as a baby in early 1986. That was five years before the People’s Republic loosened its laws to allow foreign adoption, and a decade before it began sending children here in large numbers. She has always been an outlier.

Now, at 26, Mitteldorf is pushing that frontier further, creating one of the first serious works of art by a Chinese adoptee that is based on the Chinese adoption experience - a theater performance that promises to be by turns probing, funny, and searing.

“It’s time,” said Mitteldorf, of Philadelphia’s Mount Airy neighborhood, who is currently directing a festival play in New York City.

“I’m finally ready. But I’m still terrified.”

More than 81,000 Chinese children, almost all of them girls, have been adopted to the United States during the last two decades. Researchers and parents have wondered how those girls would interpret their hard beginnings - often abandoned at birth because of their gender, swept into state orphanages, then spirited across the sea to new homes in white families. They wondered if the girls would explore the duality of their lives, not just in the high school poetry or pastel self-portraits that have begun to emerge, but in major pieces of sculpture, painting, dance, and music.

In Mitteldorf, they have the beginnings of an answer. Her resolve to create the work crystallized when she attended a screening of the documentary “Wo Ai Ni Mommy,” which translates to “I Love You Mommy,” about the adoption of an 8-year-old girl.

The audience discussion was dominated by advocates, professionals and parents, and while all were sincere and caring people, one voice was missing: the adoptees.

Transracial adoption What is Mitteldorf’s play about? Right now it exists mostly as an idea, “a personal investigation” to “explain to people that I fit between racial identities.” Some key themes: The complexity of transracial adoption. The loss of birth parents. The gulf between Chinese adoptees and Chinese Americans. It’s likely to dissect a big, discomfiting topic: Can you and your parents experience the same family life but have disparate views of what it was like for you?

“That’s something as adoptive parents we all sort of fear - what if I’m not good enough?” said Sarah Davies, president of the Delaware Valley chapter of Families With Children From China. “Her perception of her story might be different than mine.”

Today, with Chinese products dominating American markets and flights to Beijing departing daily, it’s hard to imagine the extent of China’s isolation in 1985. Few people outside the big cities had ever seen anything as exotic as a live American. Into that China went Alice Ballard and Josh Mitteldorf.

Adoption agencies had tried to steer them to South Korean programs, but Josh

resisted. He had lived in Taiwan as a student and learned to speak Mandarin. If they were going to adopt from Asia, why not China?

The answer: It was impossible. China’s laws generally allowed adoption only by domestic or overseas Chinese. Prospective parents had to apply through their local danwei, or work unit, the entity that controlled virtually every aspect of Chinese life.

Plainly the American couple had no danwei. But they did have two advantages. One was their unshakable belief that they could

Mitteldorf. “We got off the plane, and there were people there to help us, well-connected in the Communist Party, who felt they owed us a favor,” Josh said. A baby had been identified, living in a community home in the town of Jingjiang, north of Shanghai. Rounds of document signings followed.

The couple brought Sarah home in January 1986. A second daughter, Maddy, followed three years later. In 1991, China made it easier for foreigners to adopt, and

Sarah Mitteldorf, 26, came to the United States when she was adopted at six months. She holds a teddy bear given to her by her great aunt and uncle when she arrived in 1986. —MCT somehow adopt from China. Alice, as a lawyer, was used to handling complex situations, while Josh’s language skills permitted nuanced talks with Chinese officials.

Second, they had the crucial help of a close friend, a Chinese woman living in the United States.

At the time, and to a lesser extent now, people in China depended on personal connections known as guanxi, a sort of economy of favors. The Chinese friend transferred the favors she was owed to Ballard and

soon waves of 3,000 to 4,000 children were arriving here each year. When adoptions from China peaked at 7,903 in 2005, Sarah was already in college.

Opening up Mitteldorf is on the run, bouncing between Philadelphia and New York, where she’s directing “Nobody But Somebody” in the Strawberry One-Act Festival. She’s been nominated there for best director. She previously co-wrote and directed two works in

the Philly Fringe Festival: “Eurydice in Market East,” where a woman ends up dead - twice - and “Spill”, in which dancers express emotion through extreme contortions.

“She has such an original voice,” said Ashley Alter, who works in arts education for several Philadelphia theater groups.

“She melds text and movement together in a way that’s unique - it’s beyond body language.” And beyond surprising. Because Mitteldorf never planned to go into theater.

Her degree from Reed College was in linguistics and literature.

Growing up, she was more musical than artsy, immersed in violin, the Temple University Children’s Choir, and a passion for Irish step dancing that eventually led her to competitions in Ireland. She was fascinated by China - and her parents made sure Sarah and Maddy knew their birth culture, even opening their home to a Chinese family. Sarah learned to speak Mandarin at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota and spent her junior year of high school in Beijing.

“I took pride in China,” Mitteldorf said.

“But I don’t think I understood this sense of being special was also a sense of being different.” Her mother saw how others sometimes viewed Sarah. “People think they know something about her by looking at her - that’s what racism is all about,” Ballard said.

In college, Mitteldorf considered becoming an English teacher, because she loved the flow and mystery of language. But when she experimented with a couple of directing classes, it felt like coming home. After graduation, she worked a million part-time jobs - sales clerk, counter server, tutor - so she could take low-pay or no-pay theater positions.

She’s cleared a hurdle for her new project: Families With Children From China agreed to be her official “change partner,” which lets her apply for a grant from the Leeway Foundation. Her plan is to use the summer to raise money and gather a collaborative group of adoptees, the fall to write the script, and finally, next spring, to stage the finished production.

Mitteldorf isn’t the first adoptee to inspect her life through art. But the China experience differs from others: The numbers are gigantic. The children are almost all the same gender. And generally they’ve grown up knowing kids like themselves.

“People have been waiting to see what Chinese adoptees are going to do,” said Amanda Baden, a New York psychologist who specializes in adoption. “Art can provide a language that’s largely internal: ‘That’s the thing I’ve been feeling for so long.’ “ Mitteldorf is determined to bring her play to the stage, even if she has to “bakesale it into existence.” “We can talk about things in theater that are difficult to articulate - you have the words, the images, the structure,” she said. “I’m excited to have the big questions, and have a tool to explore those questions.” —MCT

Food FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

By Sawsan Kazak othing says breakfast like a warm bowl of oatmeal, topped with milk and some fresh berries. But Quaker Oats have been around for centuries and the uses for this product has grown exponentially. Now the goodness of Quakers can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The following recipes are courtesy of www.quakeroats.com

N

Send your suggestions and/or recipes you would like to share to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

1-3/4 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked) 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional) 12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts 1 cup caramel ice cream topping

eat oven to 350ยบ F. Grease bottom of 13x9-inch metal baking pan. In large bowl, combine oats, 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter; mix well. Reserve 1 cup oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture onto bottom of baking pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with chips and nuts. Mix caramel topping with remaining flour in small bowl; drizzle over nuts to within 1/4 inch of pan edges.

Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Continue baking 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack; refrigerate until firm. Cut into bars.

H

Food

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter or margarine, chilled, cut into pieces 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries 1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt 1 egg 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Cranberry ginger oat scones

n large bowl, combine flour, oats, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda and salt; mix well. Work butter into dry ingredients with fork or fingertips until mixture resembles small peas. Stir in cranberries. In small bowl, combine yogurt and egg; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir with fork until soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto floured surface; knead gently 8 to 10 times. Transfer to ungreased cookie sheet.

Pat into 8-inch diameter circle; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Cut into 8 wedges; separate wedges slightly. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown.

Separate wedges; transfer to cooling rack. Serve warm.

I

Spicy oat crusted chicken

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

2 tablespoons canola oil 1 tablespoon margarine, melted 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3/4 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 cups Quaker quick oats, uncooked 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon water 4 boned and skinned chicken breast halves Chopped cilantro (optional) eat oven to 375ยบF. In flat, shallow dish, stir together oil, melted margarine, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt.

Add oats, stirring until evenly moistened. In second flat, shallow dish, beat egg and water with fork until frothy. Dip chicken into combined egg and water, then coat completely in seasoned oats.

Place chicken on foil-lined baking sheet. Pat any extra oat mixture onto top of chicken. Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and oat coating is golden brown. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

H

Classic meatloaf 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey 3/4 cup Quaker Oats(quick or old fashioned, uncooked) 3/4 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup catsup 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

eat oven to 350ยบF. Combine all ingredients in large bowl; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape meatloaf mixture into 10x6-inch loaf on rack of broiler pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until meatloaf is to medium doneness (160ยบF for beef, 170ยบF for turkey), until not pink in center and juices show no pink color. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Cover and refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 2 days, or wrap airtight and freeze up to 3 months.

H

THEY ARE THE 99!

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

THE STORY SO FAR : On K2, the world’s second-largest mountain, Kabeera the Great tries to rescue a fallen mountaineering party -- but at a crucial moment, she loses her nerve. Now, aided by

www.the99.org

The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2012, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Musawwira and the Mubdiayn, she must try again...

C h i l d re n FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Spot the difference

connect the dots

figure it Look at the clues below and fill all the numbers you can into the grid. Then start again and use your answers to help solve the other clues.

Across 2. Sixty-seven doubled 4. 6 down minus fifty-seven 5. 2 down plus twenty-two 7. Nine times nine 8. 3241 re-arranged 10. Number of weeks in a year 12. 19 down minus forty 13. Three times 620 15. 6 down plus half of 2 down 16. Quarter of 176 17. Seven times seven 18. Three times fifty-four Down 1. Nine times seven 2. A third of forty-eight 3. Three times 1442 4. Number of days in three weeks 6. 4 down plus sixty-two 7. Seventeen plus six times 2 across 9. 7 down minus 400 11. 4163 re-arranged 14. Four times 4 down 15. A third of 297 17. A quarter of 168 19. Five times thirteen

C h i l d re n FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

mystery-word

word-search

Can you enter the words correctly into the grid? The letters in the shaded boxes will spell out the name of the mystery word.

5 letters CHINA GHANA INDIA KENYA SPAIN 6 letters FRANCE GREECE RUSSIA SWEDEN 7 letters AUSTRIA DENMARK GERMANY NIGERIA 8 letters PAKISTAN PORTUGAL 9 letters SINGAPORE

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal or vertical.

ARCHERY, BADMINTON, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, BOXING, CRICKET, FOOTBALL, GOLF, GYMNASTICS, HOCKEY, JUDO, NETBALL, POLO, SKIING, SQUASH, SURFING, SWIMMING, TENNIS, VOLLEYBALL, WRESTLING.

find the numbers There are twelve numbers in the box between 37 and 97.

The numbers increase by four. Can you work out which numbers are missing?

sudoku

solution

Books FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

The End of Money I

n early May 1970, a long-standing wage dispute between Ireland’s banks and their employees’ unions finally came to a head.

The staff walked out, and to the nation’s horror virtually the whole of Ireland’s banking system shut up shop. Wage negotiations dragged on into the summer, and then through the autumn.

In the end, it was November before the banks reopened. For six and a half months, Irish companies and individuals had to survive without access to the facilities of the modern monetary system: no bank accounts; no clearing of cheques; no withdrawals of cash; no wire transfers; and so on.

Most people, when they hear this story, assume that its effects on the economy must have been catastrophic. The reaction at the time was no different. A contemporary newspaper warned darkly of “a rapidly growing paralysis... spreading through the economy because of the banks dispute”. The reality was very different.

The Irish Central Bank concluded in its official review of the episode not only that “the Irish economy continued to function for a reasonably long period of time with its main clearing banks closed for business”, but even that “the level of economic activity continued to increase”. In the absence of the official banking system, people and companies simply resorted to using private IOUs to settle payments. Few people would have believed that such a widespread and successful ad hoc monetary system could spring up and spontaneously replace the official version.

But in the breach, it did - and it worked.

At a time when the banking systems of sever-

al European countries are on the brink of collapse, one might have thought that this episode would have received considerable attention.

Unfortunately, the gaze of the economics profession has long since drifted from what was once one of its core subjects - money and how it works. Meanwhile, in the popular media, knowl-

convicted counterfeiter and the self-styled Monetary Architect of the Royal Hawaiian Mint Company. At their best, these evocative vignettes are worthy of Hunter S Thompson.

3The book has its flaws. British readers already puzzled to find Wolman in “Covent Gardens” will wonder if he isn’t in a parallel uni-

David Wolman’s vision of a future without cash has a serious side, but has gonzo brilliance as well edge of the technical aspects of money and banking is understandably limited. One of the good things about David Wolman’s The End of Money is that it takes us on a whistle-stop tour of intriguing monetary phenomena - including, though only in passing, the closure of the Irish banks - that it would be difficult to learn about elsewhere.

The title of Wolman’s book is a bit misleading. The End of Money is not about the end of money, but the end of cash: it deals with the evolving technologies that enable us to pay and save without the need for coins and banknotes, and considers why this might be a good or a bad thing. This is an important topic in its own right, and Wolman has made himself an expert in it.

Though not a specialist in money or economics he is a contributing editor of Wired magazine, and has written books on subjects ranging from left-handedness to English spelling - Wolman vowed, for the purposes of the book, to live without cash for a whole year, and criss-crossed the world to meet the various prophets and opponents of the cashless economy referred to in the book’s subtitle.

Wolman’s accounts of these meetings are the book’s strongest suit. Each one represents, broadly speaking, a particular argument for or against keeping cash, and each has its own chapter. In these accounts, Wolman’s conversational prose style comes into its own; and many of his interlocutors are, if you’ll forgive the pun, priceless. One chapter (“The Missionary”) recounts his meeting with an apocalyptic pastor in rural Georgia who believes that the anonymity of cash payment is all that stands between us and an economy in which our every commercial move can be monitored, and therefore controlled. If he meant by PayPal or Google, I would have shared his concerns; but his fears are not so mundane - he means by Satan. In another chapter (“The Traitor”), Wolman travels to Honolulu to dispute the merits of the gold standard over mai tais and Guinness chasers with the unlikely-sounding Bernard von NotHaus - a

verse when he starts talking about “25-pence pieces” and taking the tube from “Canterbury Lane”. His breezy treatment of monetary history and side-stepping of the fundamental questions of what money is and how it works are more substantive shortcomings. Then again, anyone after these things should probably look elsewhere. Despite its title, Wolman’s interest is less in money than in the prospects for replacing coins and banknotes with electronic payments and his book is a lively introduction to this important topic.—Guardian

Books FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Game Theory: A Critical Introduction

Economics and Reality

By Tony Lawson

By Shaun P. Hargreaves Heap

T

n recent years game theory has swept through all of the social sciences. Its practitioners have great designs for it, claiming that it offers an opportunity to unify the social sciences and that it is the natural foundation of a rational theory of society. Game Theory is for those who are intrigued but baffled by these claims, and daunted by the technical demands of most introductions to the subject. Requiring no more than simple arithmetic, the book: Traces the origins of Game Theory and its philosophical premises Looks at its implications for the theory of bargaining and social contract theory Gives a detailed exposition of all of the major games’ including the famous prisoner’s dilemma’ Analyses co-operative, non co-operative, repeated, evolutionary and experimental games.

I

here is a wide spread belief that modern economics is irrelevant to the understanding of the real world. In a controversial and original study, Tony Lawson argues that the root of this irrelevance is in the failure of economists to find methods and tools which are appropriate for the social world it addresses.

Supporting his argument with a wide range of examples, Tony Lawson offers a provocative account of why economics has gone wrong and how it can be put back on track.

Social Capital versus Social Theory

Postmodernism, Economics and Knowledge

By Jack Amariglio, Stephen E Cullenberg , David F Ruccio

By Ben Fine

O

he idea of Social Capital is an attempt to incorporate social considerations into mainstream economic thinking. Its proponents feel that social factors are properly quantifiable. So, they use the compex algebra and statistics beloved of mainstream economic theory and measure ‘units’ of health care or education in the same way that they would machinery or transport. Ben Fine’s main argument in this book is that such concers cannot be judged in terms of mathematical methods and that to try t odo so is overly simplistic. Fine assesses the impact of Social Impact across the social sciences and shows how economic analysis is being subsumed into these areas and how thinking in sociology and politics impacts upon economics.

nly in the past twenty years have debates surrounding modernism and postmodernism begun to have an impact on economics. This new way of thinking rejects claims that science and mathematics provide the only models for the structure of economic knowledge. This ground-breaking volume brings together the essays of top theorists including Arjo Klamer, Deirdre McCloskey, Julie Nelson, Shaun Hargreaves-Heap and Philip Mirowski on a diverse range of topics such as gender, postcolonial theory and rationality as well as postmodernism.

T

Beauty FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

How to keep your hair straight in humidity

Hair Straight In Humidity When the scorching heat of the sun becomes unbearable, rain showers come as a respite to quench the thirst of parching land.

However, though the heat level comes down, the humidity in the air rises. This makes the weather sultry, making it difficult to manage hair. Most of the people like straight hair, which have their own charm, but as soon as the humid season arrives, hair become curly or wavy.

Humidity And Straight Hair Summer time can really be hard on your hair with all the sun, heat, and humidity added on top of the styling that someone does everyday. The heat and humidity can make your hair frizzy and unmanageable making even the straightest of hair untamed.

A hair straightening iron can help you get your hair back into the sleek, straight appearance that you would like to have.

Strawberry hand and foot exfoliant 8-10 Strawberries 2 tablespoons Apricot Oil (you may substitute olive oil) 1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher Salt, or Sea Salt Mix together all ingredients, massage into hands and feet, rinse, and pat dry. Strawberries contain a natural fruit acid which aids in exfoliation.

How To Keep Hair Straight Longer Hair straightening is a process of straightening your hair by using certain chemicals along with heat applications. However, people who opt for hair straightening, are often doubtful about the effectiveness of the process. They also want to know for how long this technique will last on their hair.

Keep Hair From Curling With Humidity For each section, separate into 3 sections and apply a generous amount of texturizing mousse or a maximum hold hair product of your liking.Finish each section with a generous amount of hairspray and blow dry again using heat (blow downwards always), spray again finishing on cool setting to set hair. Smooth out with your hands.

Prevent Puffy Hair In Humid Weather Work with it. If your hair normally has curl or wave to it, it will

become more curly when the humidity is high. Consider going with a layered style that accentuates curls.Use humidity-resistant or anti-frizz hair care products in everything from shampoo to hair spray.

Keep Hair Silky And Smooth In Humidity Stylist Robert Steinken has handled the famous hair of such celebrities as Beyonce, Angelina Jolie, and Sandra Bullock, and now he’s going to show you how to handle your’s. So whether it takes you hours to get your hair straight or you roll out of bed with it, learn the tricks to keep it silky, smooth, and frizz-free, even in humidity.

Keep Hair Straight On A Rainy Day When the temperature drops, hair takes on an unruly life of its own - from static fly-aways to frizz, to straw-like tresses. To help you through winter’s bad hair days, we asked three leading hairdressers for their top tips.(www.beauty-makeup-tips.org)

Beauty FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Fine lines & wrinkles: How to get rid of them

By Julyne Derrick Anti-aging products dermatologists swear by The number one question I get these days from women over 35 is what lotions and moisturizers they can buy to fix sagging skin, diminish fine lines and brighten a dull complexion. While lasers, Botox, fillers, face lifts and liposuction work best to turn back the hands of time there are creams and peels available to those of us not ready or able to go under the knife or the needle.

But all of this anti-aging stuff can prove overwhelming. The industry is bigger than ever and the marketing tactics are more questionable than ever. You simply cannot trust the claims most brands make about fixing wrinkles and tightening a jawline. But some ingredients and products do have a track record of results.

The key is knowing which ones are worth the buy. Here, I outline the anti-aging products dermatologists recommend.

Moisturizer Dry skin leads to wrinkles, at least according to a study by Greg Hillebrand, PhD, of P&G Beauty and Science, and reported in Elle Magazine. “Hillebrand’s study found that having dry skin more than doubles the rate at which lines will develop. That means a 28-year-old with dry skin will have a 52-percent increase in wrinkles by the time she’s 36, whereas a woman of the same age with a well-hydrated dermis will show only a 22-percent increase,” writes April Long in the October, 2010 issue of Elle.

No matter your age, it’s important to keep skin moisturized.

Moisturizers have the temporary effect of plumping up the skin and the longer-lasting effect of keeping skin supple and less prone to the inevitable etching in of lines.

Retinoids I’ve done a ton of research on anti-aging products and what I’ve found is that dermatologists agree on one thing: The only anti-ager on the market that has proven again and again to reduce fine lines and wrinkles are retinoids (think Retin-A and Renova), which work by increasing cell turnover deep within the dermis.

“I never recommend any of the other expensive products out there claiming to do this,” says Dermatologist Maryann Mikhail of Spring Street Dermatology in Manhattan.

I’ve been using Retin-A on my skin for years. I noticed results within a couple weeks and I get regular compliments on my skin tone. My dermatologist, Dr. David Colbert, even told me on a recent visit that I have “great skin.” Used nightly (or every other night), retinoids stimulate collagen renewal and prevent skin cells from breaking down. They also keep fine lines from turning into deeper furrows.

Retinoids come in a large range of strength. The most powerful punch comes from prescription retinoids such as Retin-A and Renova. You can buy these over-the-counter outside of the US, but in the US, you need a prescription and insurance typically won’t cover anti-aging products. The good news is you can buy over-the-counter retinoid products, which are milder than prescription-strength formulas. Try RoC Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System or Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer.

Retinoids can be irritating to skin. The key to usage is to not give up when your skin shows its first signs of redness and peeling.

Alpha-hydroxy Acids As we age, our skin tends to become thinner, drier and dull.

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) work as exfoliants, helping break down dead, dry skin and leaving skin looking brighter and more dewy. Studies also show AHAs may increase the thickness of skin.

They come in the form of topical creams and chemical peels and the most common AHAs are made from food products. According to Wikipedia, these include glycolic acid (from sugar cane), lactic acid (from sour milk), malic acid (from apples), citric acid (from citrus fruits) and tartaric acid (from grape wine).

Dermatologists recommend using an alpha-hydroxy acid peel no more than once a week. You can use a milder cream every day.

Great over-the-counter AHAs include Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion.

Antioxidants Free radicals — the unstable oxygen molecules produced by pollution, stress and sun — are a skincare nightmare. They attack healthy skin cells and cause collagen breakdown, all of which lead to wrinkles.

You can fight free radicals by using an antioxidant cream each morning that has a combination of any 2 or more ingredients such as green tea, vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10. These work together to neutralize free radicals and a cocktail of these antioxidants are like a multi-vitamin for skin, according to dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.

You may use antioxidants both orally and topically. In Elle Magazine, dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, swears by Heliocare vitamins. Topically, antioxidants are great for bolstering UV protection. Apply an antioxidant serum containing vitamins C or E, Co-Q, alpha-lipoic acid, grean or white tea, pomegranate or idebenone under your sunscreen . The antioxidants will fight those free radicals the sun generates.

The most popular antioxidant on the market right now is Prevage but you can find some decent antioxidants at the drugstore. I recommend Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum.

Sunscreen Sun damage is the No. 1 cause of wrinkles. The lighter your skin, the more susceptible you are to wrinkles caused by the sun.

This is why women with darker skin tend to age better than Caucasian women.

No matter your age, you can prevent more skin damage by wearing at least an SPF 30 sunscreen daily. Dr. Fredric Brandt, dermatologist to the stars, suggests using a “two-finger scoop” of sunscreen to the face and neck (never forget your neck when it comes to an anti-aging regimen). Get into the habit of wearing sunscreen every day, no matter the weather. Your skin will thank you down the road. You’re dermatologist too.

Look for a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection.

Hydroquinone Dark spots on skin are caused by sun damage and can make your skin appear years older than it is. The quickest and most effective way to get rid of dark spots is by lasers, but these can be costly and must be performed in a doctor’s office. A cheaper version is to use a hydroquinone cream such as the dermatologist favorite, Ambi Fade Cream, which is super affordable at less than $10 a tube. Apply to dark spots at night and keep in mind it may take up a few weeks to see positive results.

Other Ways to Keep Skin in Tip-top Shape As you age, there are many other ways to keep your skin in tiptop shape. Here are a few of my favorite tips: 1.Get plenty of rest. Lack of sleep shows on your face.

2.Wear sunglasses on sunny days. Excessive squinting can cause permanent crow’s feet.

3.Wear a hat and long sleeves when out in the sun for a long time.

4.Stress leads to furrowed brows, which leads to permanent lines etched into your face. Turns out wrinkle prevention is just another reason to take up meditation or yoga!

5.Put up a UVA/UVB protector screen on the driver’s side of your car window if you spend a lot of time in the car. Studies show lines develop more on the left of the face on people who spend a lot of time commuting in a car!

6.Find a good moisturizer and use it regularly. Moisturizers temporarily plump up the skin, which can diminish the signs of wrinkles. —abaut.com

Health FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Omega 3 benefits for a healthy body Omega 3 fatty acid is not a new term for health conscious individuals. These compounds come in 3 forms - Alpha-linolenic acid, Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid - and function collectively to keep our system healthy and provide essential supplements required for proper growth.

P

eople often wonder about Omega 3 benefits offered by various food sources.

Omega-3 is a vital fatty acid, necessary for good health and body maintenance. These nutrients are not manufactured by the body; they have to be obtained from external sources.

Omega 3 benefits and sources Omega 3 fatty acid is not a new term for health conscious individuals. These compounds come in 3 forms - Alpha-linolenic acid, Docosahexaenoic acid and

Eicosapentaenoic acid - and function collectively to keep our system healthy and provide essential supplements required for proper growth. All of them are obtained through diet or supplements. Consuming foods like walnuts, flaxseed, fishes or almonds enables the body to take advantage of Omega 3 benefits as the digestive organs absorb Alpha-linolenic acid and convert it into Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid respectively.

A random survey conducted by AHA (American Heart Association) showed that Omega-3 compounds obtained through dietary supplements or natural food items are necessary for maintaining heart health. These fat compounds relieve stress on the heart, thus maintaining a stable blood pressure. Diets rich in Omega-3 are essential for people with high blood pressure.

Additionally, Omega 3 benefits include reduction of bad cholesterol levels; reduction of the risks of strokes, heart attacks failures and congestion.

Other prominent Omega 3 benefits include healthy functioning of the nervous system.

These compounds are regarded as “vital brain foods” that effectively prevent memory loss, depression and headaches. It is interesting to note that protein compounds responsible for Alzheimer’s disease are efficiently controlled by Omega-3 fats.

Fats found in fish oil and sea food, specifically EPAs, also offer inflammatory Omega 3 benefits. They assist with the inflammatory responses or inflammatory cycle of the body and relieve swelling, pains and irritation. Chronic inflammation, which is responsible for cancer, autoimmune disease, skin aging and hemorrhoids, is successfully controlled by consumption of caviar, salmon, sea weeds and shellfish.

Omega 3 benefits are largely experienced by women, especially pregnant or nursing mums or young girls who have recently entered teen-age. When a pregnant or nursing lady consumes Omega-3 rich compounds, it promotes intelligence, proper growth and good health of their babies. Moreover, gestating mothers are relieved from sharp labor pain during final stages of child birth. Lastly, teens can easily overcome menstrual discomfort or dysmenorrheal pain.

Disadvantages of Omega 3 rich Diets Despite of all these Omega 3 benefits, there are some risks. For instance, many fish supplements, oil or caviar may contain harmful heavy metals and toxins like Cadmium or Mercury. This problem is persistent near offshore drilling plants or in industrial areas. Diets comprising of excess EPA or DHA can result in frequent mood swings, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorders and depression. It is therefore essential for users to acquire only branded food items from reliable sources. (www.fatburningfoodsforbelly.com

Health FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Common causes of I

f you suffer from back pain, you are far from being alone. Four out of five adults experience the symptoms of low back pain at least once in their lifetime. The back is a complex structure made up of 33 vertebrae, over 30 muscles, numerous ligaments, multiple joints, and inter-vertebral discs. As you can see, there are many structures that can cause discomfort if injured or affected.

The most common cause of back pain is due to muscular strains. This happens when an unexpected force, twist, or pull is applied to one or several of the muscles in the back.

As a result, several tears occur in the muscle.

These muscular tears cause pain felt in the back. Ligamentous sprains are another common cause of back pain. This occurs when the ligaments of the back are stretched beyond their means. Sprains often occur along with muscular strains.

Herniated discs result in back pain by compressing the spinal nerves where they exit the spinal column. They are often the result of repetitive vibratory motion (as experienced by truck drivers/machine users) or due to a sudden heavy loading of the back (as occurs with improper lifting) This injury results in a radicular type of back pain in which pain is felt at the site of injury and along the course of the affected nerve. Sciatica, for example, is a type of radicular pain.

Spinal stenosis is another cause of back pain. It occurs more commonly in people over 50 years old. The term refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis has many causes including thickened ligaments along the spinal canal, bony spurs, and enlarged joint cartilage from arthritic changes.

This condition often results in back pain that is worse with extended periods of weight bearing or walking.

Surgery is sometimes necessary to correct this disorder.

Osteoarthritis affects the joints of the spine. As with spinal stenosis, it found more commonly in people over 50 years of age. It is often referred to as degenerative joint disease. With time cartilage starts to degenerate in the discs between our vertebrae and in the joints of our spine. Without this cartilaginous cushion, our bones begin to rub against each other. This results in inflammation, swelling and stiffness that in turn cause back pain. As this disorder progresses bones devel-

Exercises to

op spurs and ligaments become thick, both of which result in spinal stenosis as described above.

Osteoporosis is a common cause of back pain especially in women. It is a disease characterized by progressive loss of bone density.

This results in thinning of bone tissue making one more susceptible to fractures, or broken bones. The bones of the spine are especially affected in this disorder. Injury from falls, lifting of heavy objects, or even the force of sneezing can result in painful vertebral compression fractures.

Lastly, fibromyalgia is a common cause of chronic back pain. It is a rheumatic condition characterized by widespread soft tissue pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and the presence of evenly distributed areas of tenderness. A history of at least three months of widespread pain and tenderness in eleven or more of the eighteen designated tender point sites is required in diagnosing this disorder. — About

minimize or prevent back pain

B

y strengthening and stretching the muscles of your back, stomach, core, and thighs, you can help reduce or prevent problems with back pain. Below are exercises specifically directed toward strengthening the above listed muscles. Remember, however, to discuss any exercise program with your physician before starting it.

Wall Slides 1)Stand upright with your back against a wall and feet shoulder width apart 2)Slowly bend your knees, sliding your back down the wall, for a count of five until your knees are bent at a 45 degree angle. (do not bend too much further than this as it will cause increased strain on your knees) 3)Hold this position for 5 seconds 4)Begin straightening your knees for a count of five, sliding up the wall until you are fully upright with knees straight 5)Repeat the above steps five more times 6)Do three times per day

Prone Leg Raises 1) Lie flat on your stomach 2) Lift one leg off the ground 2 feet into the air 3) Hold for 10 seconds 4) Relax 5) Repeat with opposite leg 6)Repeat the above steps five more times 7)Do three times per day Supine Leg Raises 1) Lie flat on your back 2) Lift one leg off the ground 2 feet into the air 3) Hold for 10 seconds 4) Relax 5) Repeat with opposite leg 6)Repeat the above steps five more times 7)Do three times per day

back pain

Arts FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin:

Rhythms of patterns on the cards

I

n late 2007, Waddesdon Manor - that neoRenaissance palace oddly plonked in the Buckinghamshire countryside - acquired Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin’s Boy Building a House of Cards (1735) on long-term loan from a Rothschild family trust. The picture shows a young lad absorbed in the tricky act of balancing a playing card on top of its fellows. One puff of breeze or buttery fingers and the whole structure could go flying. Full of drama yet preternaturally still, the picture speaks of a moment of pause, one in which both the boy in the painting and the rapt spectator don’t dare draw breath for fear of spoiling everything.

It is certainly not the kind of painting you would expect to see at Waddesdon, which has always been associated with a more swaggering type of pre-revolutionary French art. On the mansion’s ornate walls, originally curated by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the late 19th century, a grand Madame de Pompadour by Boucher rubs shoulders with a glittering Duchesse de Polignac from Vigee Le Brun, overlooked by Watteau’s carnivalesque The Italian Actors. In this rococo company Chardin’s Boy Building a House of Cards strikes a distinctly mundane note. The lad in the picture is no silk-suited aristocrat squan-

dering an afternoon in listless play. Instead, his dark apron and dull clothes identify him as a servant who has been sent into the velvetswagged salon to clear up after a gaming party. Becoming momentarily absorbed in building a house of cards from the detritus of the night before gives the young adolescent the chance to steal back, however briefly, the privileges of a carefree childhood.

The picture was probably one of the paintings that Chardin showed to the selection panel at the Academie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1735, when he put his name forward for an academic position. He clearly liked it, or at least liked what he thought it was about, because he returned to the subject again and again, producing four variations in as many years. These versions of Boy Building a House of Cards have long been scattered across America, France and Britain.

This spring, however, they have been dexterously brought together at Waddesdon for Taking Time, an exhibition of Chardin’s figurative art. Visitors will for the very first time have the chance to see all four paintings hung side by side.

The differences between the four are immediately obvious. In two the boy wears an apron, in three he has a hat. In one he builds a

Arts FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

stockade out of cards, in the rest he sticks to houses. In two he faces right, in two left. He appears as a servant in one, a bourgeois in another and in the fourth it’s anyone’s guess.

Keep looking, though, and what emerges is much more than an extended game of “spot the difference”. What you get is a visual riff on a series of embedded themes: time, youth, chance and the nature of play.

A servant boy bunking off was exactly the kind of subject that Chardin had begun to make his own by the 1730s. Ignoring high-status themes drawn from history and mythology, he dealt instead with the intimate lives of the Parisian working and middle classes. With an intense scrutiny and serene sensibility more usually associated with Dutch painting from the golden age, Chardin produced a series of burnished interiors inhabited by people going about their daily business. Several of these works have been summoned to Waddesdon to hang alongside the four card house-building boys. Among them you will find a housewife taking tea, a young girl with a racquet and shuttlecock, a swabbing scullery maid, and a cellar boy pausing during a day of back-breaking labour. Set against Waddesdon’s shimmer, these purposeful yet muted figures offer a moment of calm repose.

“We stop in front of a Chardin as if by instinct,” wrote the painter’s great champion, Diderot, reviewing the Paris Salon of 1767, “like a traveller weary of the road choosing, almost without realising, a place that offers a grassy seat, silence, water and cool shade.”

Not that there is anything naive or sentimental about Chardin’s work. His pictures push far beyond convention, unafraid to ask questions about their own subject matter.

You cannot look at the card paintings, for instance, without being prompted to ponder the slippery definitions of “play” during the early modern period. By the 1730s, games of chance had long been used as a shorthand for the snares of gambling, vanity, duplicity and even sexual licence. By showing a servant lad entranced by cards, if only for a few minutes, Chardin makes us wonder what lies ahead. Is this rapt adolescent heading for a life dedicated to frittering away time and money?

The artist seems aware of another set of meanings emerging from the boy’s nimble fingers. Marked by the earlier writing of Fenelon and Locke, the 18th century was beginning to understand play as another word for learning. Balancing playing cards requires patience, a steady hand, the ability to focus. Far from wasting time, the boy may actually be engaged in a valuable act of discipline, one that will help him grow into the kind of self-regulating man the age of Enlightenment required.

There are probably additional symbolic references embedded in the card paintings that are unrecoverable now, although you could take a punt on the knave poking out of the table drawer in the Washington Boy as hinting at a certain rascality. What can still be caught, however, is the way the playing cards have been deftly rendered by Chardin as physical objects in space - bent over, lying flat, seen on the skew. It comes as no surprise to learn that Lucian Freud was fascinated by Chardin, as were an earlier generation of European modernists. Manet, Cezanne and Matisse poured over him for inspiration, while Van Gogh gave the Frenchman the greatest compliment of all by hailing him “as great as Rembrandt”.

The question remains why Chardin made so many return visits to a small group of favourite subjects? As well as the four card paintings, he did multiple versions of a cellar boy pausing in his work and a draughtsman bent over his drawing board. There are at least two scullery maids too. A cynic might say that it was a way of making easy money.

Chardin’s work appealed not only to the

emerging bourgeoisie but also to aristocratic collectors, including Empress Catherine of Russia and Louis XV’s maitresse-en-titre, Mme de Pompadour. Giving the punters what they wanted - again and again - made sense.

A more nuanced response might draw attention to the way that Chardin deliberately built a rhythm of patterns, pairs and repetitions into his work, intending not to cheapen but deepen. In Taking Time, the card paintings will not only be shown together but will also be reintroduced to their original “pendants” or companions. For instance, the Waddesdon Boy will be hung next to Lady Taking Tea, with which it was once paired but from which it has long been sundered. The figure in the painting is that of a middle-aged woman - generally thought to be Chardin’s first wife - who sits with her back to the viewer, poised meditatively over a steaming teapot. The juxtaposition of the two figures sets up a series of contrasts between young/old, male/female, and between the different yet similarly dreamy states that we all sink into when we think no one is watching.

Another Waddesdon re-pairing takes place between the Washington Boy and Girl With Racquet and Shuttlecock. The Boy in the Washington painting is the most successful of all the card-wranglers, managing to fold and stand 10 of them upright to form a kind of hedge of paper. This dexterity makes him the natural partner of the girl, whose rosycheeked enthusiasm for play suggests she is equally nimble. In the process, an interesting inversion becomes apparent: the boy has chosen the indoor pastime of cards, the girl opts for the romping option of sport.

Taking Time, finally, will go some way to exploring why Chardin became an unlikely favourite artist of one Rothschild in particular, Charlotte (1825-99). While her extended family collected more obviously crowd-pleasing work, from 1870 Charlotte (Baroness Nathaniel) developed a particular fondness for Chardin’s quiet depictions of domestic life.

Art historians have speculated that Charlotte may have found in Chardin’s bourgeois Frenchness an important prop for her own strongly felt patriotism as a citizen of the Third French Republic. The first of the sprawling Jewish banking family to be born in France, her identity became even more cherished following the humiliating defeat of France by Prussia in 1870. It was then that she started seriously to collect Chardins,

bequeathing around 20 to her grandson Henri, who went on to acquire more.

Dispatched to Britain on the eve of the second world war to keep them safe from purloining Nazi hands, the Rothschild Chardins were stored in a house in Bath. One night in 1942, a German plane returning home unleashed its remaining bombs, destroying 14 priceless pieces of art. Happily

two of Charlotte de Rothschild’s Chardins escaped this fate and now travel to Waddesdon where they will hang alongside work that enjoyed a safer passage through the 20th century. —Guardian

Comic

C R O S S W O R D

6 3 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS 1. A state-chartered savings bank owned by its depositors and managed by a board of trustees.

4. Genus of medium to large Malaysian trees yielding gutta-percha.

10. A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.

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

14. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.

15. A long thin fluffy scarf of feathers or fur.

16. A collection of objects laid on top of each other.

18. A fluorocarbon with chlorine.

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

21. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

22. A public promotion of some product or service.

23. A rounded thickly curled hairdo.

29. Any of several plants of or developed from the species Dahlia pinnata having tuberous roots and showy rayed variously colored flower heads.

31. A nonmetallic largely pentavalent heavy volatile corrosive dark brown liquid element belonging to the halogens.

32. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

33. Fleshy and usually brightly colored cover of some seeds that develops from the ovule stalk and partially or entirely envelopes the seed.

34. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

36. Goods carried by a large vehicle.

40. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

41. An investment trust that owns and manages a pool of commercial properties and mortgages and other real estate asssets.

43. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

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

45. Having the slant of a bevel.

46. Being one hundred more than three hundred.

48. Showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering.

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

54. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices.

57. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

61. (South African) A journey by ox wagon (especially an organized migration by a group of settlers).

62. The arch of bone beneath the eye that forms the prominence of the cheek.

63. (usually followed by `to') Having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something.

64. A unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries.

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

66. Common Indian weaverbird.

67. A language unit by which a person or thing is known.

DOWN 1. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

2. A vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs.

3. The cry made by sheep.

4. An informal term for a father.

5. The act of accumulating.

6. A port in western Israel on the Mediterranean.

7. (computer science) A coding system that incorporates extra parity bits in order to detect errors.

8. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion.

9. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

10. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.

11. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with gray furry ears and coat.

12. A Portuguese province on the south coast of China and two islands in the South China Sea. 17. (Spanish) Saffron-flavored dish made of rice with shellfish and chicken.

20. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

24. The law enforcement agency in the Justice Department.

25. Dearly loved.

26. The lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle).

27. Make a vibrant noise, of grasshoppers or cicadas.

28. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

30. An elaborate song for solo voice.

35. Type genus of the family Arcidae.

37. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

38. Government agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plants.

39. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

42. With eagerness.

43. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion.

47. Measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects.

49. A switch made from the stems of the rattan palms.

50. Deciduous shrub of North America.

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

52. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

53. An island in Indonesia east of Java.

55. A word or expression used for some particular thing.

56. Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its fragrant flowers and colorful fruits.

58. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

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

60. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

Yesterday’s Solution

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

E

asy to make (with the help of your washing machine), these vibrantly colored eggs will brighten your Easter year after year.

You will need: * Plastic eggs * Electrical tape * Wool roving (ASTERISK) * 100-percent wool yarn (optional) * Panty hose leg * Twist ties 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

F

First, seal the eggs with electrical tape. For each egg, pull three 4- to 5-inch-long sections from the wool roving. Spread the wool out fl at so that each piece is roughly 4 inches square.

Wrap one piece of the wool around a plastic egg.

Wrap a second piece of wool around the egg, with the fibers perpendicular to the first. Repeat with the third wool piece, laying the fibers perpendicular to the second.

Add designs with small tufts of wool roving or, for narrower stripes, pieces of wool yarn.

Place the wrapped egg into the panty hose without shifting the wool, by gripping the egg in one hand and carefully working your hand into the hose. Slide your hand out, then cinch the hose with a twist tie. Add eggs to the hose, separating them with twist ties.

Wash the tube of felted eggs in a washing machine on hot, then dry them in a dryer. The process will shrink and tighten the wool around the plastic. Remove the eggs from the hose and they will be ready to be part of your fun Easter decorations. — MCT

irst study the color, then the nose, the structure and taste: tasting chocolate is both a treat and a serious art, requiring regular practice to fine-tune the senses. And who better to offer a lesson in chocolate tasting than Pierre Herme, the French master pastry chef? “You start by looking at the texture,” he explained at a recent tasting organized in Paris by the “Chocolate Crunchers’ Club”-a 150strong fellowship created three decades ago to celebrate a common passion for the cocoa bean. “I rough it up a bit first-crushing it to test its resistance,” Herme said, pressing a blade onto various parts of the chocolate bonbon on his plate.

Then comes the time to taste, paying close heed to “intensity, acidity, the lightness of the texture, the finish”-how the flavor lingers after each mouthful-”and for flavored chocolates the balance between the chosen aroma and the chocolate itself.” Without forgetting the most important of all: “pleasure.” Five times a year the club’s members gather around some of France’s top artisans to taste all

manner of cocoa-based treats-from truffle bars to mousses, biscuits, patisseries and ice creams. The ritual is always the same: each taster needs a small knife, a glass of water and some bread to cleanse the palate.

“The knife is essential, especially for chocolate bonbons,” explained Claude Lebey, the doyen of French food critics and one of the founders of the club, gathered for the occasion in a Paris mansion. “You have to slice the sweets in two, to see the thickness of the coating. It should offer resistance, but should not be too thick either, or it stops you from tasting what is inside.” Lebey confesses to keeping chocolate stashed away in various corners of his apartment so he can indulge in a quick nibble at any moment. “Hmm, the coffee in this one is dosed just right,” he mused approvingly, sucking on a bonbon named “Brasilia”, created by Jean-Paul Hevin-a star Parisian chocolatier with his own stores in Japan and Hong Kong.

“It’s a dark chocolate ganache, but I added a bit of milk to bring

Chicks, that are dyed with artificial colors, are sold at a street market in Beirut, to celebrate the Christian occasion of Easter. Lebanese traditionally buy colored chicks in the lead up to Easter on April 8.

out the scent of the coffee,” explained Hevin, who uses ground coffee from Colombia and Brazil-rather than instant as is often the case.

The club’s expert crunchers sample another bonbon, this one flavored with Earl Grey tea. “The bergamot could be a little more pronounced,” reckoned one taster. “Yes but that’s risky, bergamot will easily crush any other flavor,” tempered another. For Hevin, “getting the right dose between different flavors is particularly difficult, it takes months of work.” “Most often I will put the accent on the chocolate, above any other flavor.” But sometimes, on a smoked tea bonbon for instance, he does the opposite: “I am a big tea fan, so on this one I pulled out the stops so you can really taste it. I wanted something more powerful, more virile.”—AFP

Easter eggs are displayed at a market in the center of Vienna. — AFP photos

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Earl Scruggs

T

E

arl Scruggs, the American banjo legend who brought bluegrass to a mass audience and strummed along to a hit TV show and movie in the 1960s, has died at 88, according to his son. As part of the famed Flatt & Scruggs duo, he helped define bluegrass music a country genre combining “high, lonesome” vocal harmonies and the playful, jazz-like cascade of guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles. His son Gary said he died in Nashville from natural causes on Wednesday. “He was one of the first and the best three-finger banjo player,” fellow bluegrass veteran Ralph Stanley, 85, said in a statement. “He did more for the five-string banjo than anyone I know.”

He is widely credited with inventing the three-finger “Scruggs Style” of playing the banjo, an instrument that until then had mainly been used as a prop by comedians but in Scruggs’s nimble hands became a symphony in itself. Scruggs joined pioneer Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys-which formally established the genre-in 1945 and immediately dazzled audiences on the “Grand Ole Opry” radio show broadcast out of Nashville. Scruggs and Lester Flatt, who had played guitar in the Blue Grass Boys, later shot to fame with the memorable theme song of the 1960s television hit “The Beverly Hillbillies,” known as “The Ballad of Jed Clampett.”

Their now instantly recognizable “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”-written by Scruggs-accompanied the chase scenes in the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde.” The film’s star and producer Warren Beatty had personally requested that Flatt & Scruggs do the theme music. The song became an instant hit and the duo went on to win their first Grammy award. More than 30 years later, filmmakers Ethan and Joel Coen named the bluegrass band in their 2000 film, “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” the Soggy Bottom Boys, a clear allusion to Flatt & Scruggs’s Foggy Mountain Boys band. Starting in the 1960s, Scruggs played alongside numerous music legends, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Byrds, Elton John, The Eagles’ Don Henley and John Fogerty.

He also inspired actor, writer and banjo aficionado Steve Martin, who played

alongside Scruggs in 2005 on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” “Before him, no one had ever played the banjo like he did. After him, everyone played the banjo like he did, or at least tried,” Martin wrote in a profile of the musician in the New Yorker magazine in January. “A grand part of American music owes a debt to Earl Scruggs. Few players have changed the way we hear an instrument the way Earl has, putting him in a category with Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Chet Atkins, and Jimi Hendrix.”

Flatt and Scruggs-later inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985 — split up in 1969. Scruggs went on to form the Earl Scruggs Revue with his two sons, who are also musicians. Earl Eugene Scruggs was born January 6, 1924, in Flint Hill, North Carolina, and began playing the banjo at the age of four following the death of his father, who also played the instrument. He is survived by sons Gary and Randy. His wife Louise died in 2006, and his son Steve died in 1992.—AFP

he documentary “Bully” is essential to see, whether you’re a parent or a kid, whether you’ve been on the giving or receiving end of such increasingly pervasive cruelty.

But it’s also frustrating to watch, because while the stories included here are undeniably moving by nature, they’re not exactly told in the most artful way, rendering “Bully” far less emotionally impactful than it might have been. Director Lee Hirsch’s film grows repetitive and seems longer than its relatively brief running time. Tonally, it bounces with no rhyme or reason between a handful of students across the country who’ve suffered from bullying; technically, it feels a bit messy, with needless zooms and images that fade in and out of focus. Perhaps that was an intentional aesthetic choice.

Either way, it’s distracting and headache-inducing. Still, if “Bully” does nothing more than provide the impetus for a dialogue, it achieves its purpose. Hirsch spent a year with about a half-dozen families with children who’ve been bullied at school teased, abused, humiliated and ostracized - behavior which adults too often sweep aside with the cliche that kids will be kids. Among them are David and Tina Long of Murray County, Georgia, whose 17-year-old son, Tyler, hanged himself. Tina bravely shows the closet where the family found him, in his bedroom since turned into an office, and the death has turned the Longs’ quiet suburban life into a crusade for awareness.

Among the movie’s other stories is 12-year-old Alex, a scrawny kid from Sioux City, Iowa. His parents acknowledge he’s a bit weird but as his mom points out, he’d be the most devoted friend to anyone who would accept him. Hirsch’s camera captures Alex’s grueling daily school bus ride as big, mean kids use him as their punching

S

Spike Lee

bag. Alex has no idea how to stand up for himself and no adults seem capable of doing it for him (the assistant principal of his middle school comes off as especially clueless and inept).

These moments are also the ones that earned “Bully” a ridiculous R-rating for language from the Motion Picture Association of America; The Weinstein Co. is now releasing the film unrated.

—AP

In this undated film image released

by The Weinstein Company, Alex Libby is shown in the documentary film, ‘Bully.’ — AP

pike Lee meant to retweet George Zimmerman’s home address, but instead he left an elderly Florida couple fearing for their safety. The “Inside Man” director’s decision already had critics fretting that it could inspire vigilantism, but the hot water boiled over after a Smoking Gun report revealed yesterday that Lee had shared the wrong address with his over 250,000 followers. Instead of the home of the killer of 17year-old Trayvon Martin, Lee’s tweet contained the address of Elaine and David McClain. The McClain’s son’s name is reportedly similar to that of Zimmerman.

Elaine McClain told the website that she was scared that her family would be targeted, and that they had already received a disturbing letter. “We’re keeping everything

locked,” McClain told the Smoking Gun. Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch member who shot and killed the unarmed Martin last month in Florida.

Zimmerman claimed he acted in selfdefense, but the killing of the AfricanAmerican teenager has whipped up a debate about race relations. A spokeswoman for Lee did not respond to request for comment, but as of Wednesday afternoon, the retweet had not been deleted. The original tweet was sent to Lee and celebrities like Will Smith on Friday by Marcus Davonne Higgins with a request to repost the address.—Reuters

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Indian musicians participate in the ‘Sahasra Veena Jhenkara’ (thousand veena recital), a concert featuring 1110 artists playing the ‘Veena’ an Indian classical music instrument in Bangalore on March 28, 2012. — AFP photos

A

year after his public meltdown, Charlie Sheen is returning from Hollywood’s purgatory with a flourish, appearing in two commercials ahead of a new TV show this summer-all playing off the bad boy image that got him in trouble in the first place. Sheen’s return to TV after being fired in March 2011 from hit sitcom “Two and A Half Men” is currently playing out in TV ads for satellite company DirecTV and carmaker Fiat in which the 46-year-old star displays his trademark smirk and even extols the virtue of “house arrest” after racing the Fiat 500 Abarth through the halls of a mansion.

Charlie Sheen

“He is who he is, and we’re not going to change that,” said his long-time manager Mark Burg, who plotted a series of TV appearances last year he now refers to Sheen’s “mea culpa tour.” On June 28, Sheen’s new show, aptly titled “Anger Management” and loosely based on the 2003 movie of the same name, launches on cable channel FX. In the show, Sheen plays “a stalled minor league baseball prospect whose road to the majors was sidetracked by his own struggle with anger issues,” the network said in a press release.

Sheen’s character becomes a “non traditional therapist specializing in anger management” after he goes through his own therapy. The show is a leap of faith that Sheen has overcome his issues with drug and alcohol abuse, FX president

John Landgraf acknowledged during a presentation to television critics in January. “We’re a network that likes to take risks,” he said. Sheen’s role is “the character that Charlie ought to be playing at this point in the sense that he is a character who has a checkered past but is pretty self aware, is struggling in a very honest way with that checkered past and desire to do more positive things in his life,” Landgraf said.

‘Mea culpa’ tour By the time Sheen pitched FX on the program, manager Burg already was in full image-altering mode. He had hired Larry Solters, a veteran of public relations makeovers and crisis management, to direct the star to appear on talk programs such as “Today” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”Sheen began apologizing for erratic behavior that included undertaking a short-lived substance abuse rehabilitation effort in his home and often rambling interviews and Web videos in which he criticized “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre.

The “mea culpa” tour highlight was an appearance on cable’s “Comedy Central Roast” last September, where Mike Tyson, William Shatner and Jon Lovitz were among those who hurled good-natured jabs at the star. With 6.4 million viewers in its first airing, the roast was the show’s highest rated installment, the network said in a press release. The actor also turned up that month on the Emmys, US TV’s top honor show, where he wished his old colleagues on “Two and a Half Men” “nothing but the best” for their current season.

Now comes his current wave of promotion meant to re-introduce the actor to fans as a new version of the same man who helped make “Two and a Half Men” the most watched comedy on TV and even turned out last year for his one-man stage show, “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option.”—Reuters

T

wo thirds of US hip hop pioneers De La Soul, proponents of a jazzflavoured sound a world away from gangsta rap, are back, with an album born of a chance encounter with a pair of French producers. The album and the new duo share a name, “First Serve”, and see De La Soul’s Pos and Dave working with French producers Chokolate and Khalid to perform in the alter egos of young rappers hitting the big time. The collaboration emerged from an unplanned meeting on the streets of Paris. “We had a great show here. We were chilling and freestyling on the streets of Paris with some hip hop dudes when they came up with their offer,” Pos told AFP. “They were looking very good. Nice suits on. I was like-they got to be rich, let’s go in the studio and make money!”

The producer pair tell the story with the same tongue-in-cheek delight.

“We were sitting outside a cafe, downing expressos like all Parisians do when we saw them on the street,” said Khalid. “We were looking for talent to produce. Seeing as they were small-time and didn’t have much of a career, we wanted to give them a helping hand,” joked Chokolate, who created the Jesgrew label with his partner for the release. Formed by Pos, Dave and partner Maseo in Long Island in 1987, De La Soul played a major role in hip hop history, known for quirky lyrics, wide-ranging sampling and contribution to the creation of “alternative hip hop.”

The group’s 1989 debut “3 Feet High And Rising” shook up the hip hop establishment with its word play, humor and jazz, funk and soul samples. The album also introduced De La Soul’s concept of the “D.A.I.S.Y. Age”-an acronym standing for “Da Inner Sound, Y’all”-a credo of upbeat positivity rather than the aggression that marked most other rap at the time. Hit releases like “Me, Myself & I”, “Saturdays” and “Ring, Ring, Ring” saw the group win audiences outside of traditional rap fans. After a dry patch, De La Soul returned in 2006 to work with UK artists Gorillaz on the single “Feel Good Inc” and gained a taste for collaborations.—AFP

A file picture shows US rap artists De La Soul arriving at the MTV European Music Awards at the Atlantico Pavillion in Lisbon, November 3, 2005. — AFP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

S

kinny, colored jeans are more than this spring’s fashion must-have — they are becoming the apparel industry’s savior. Or at least that’s what the pants feel like to retailers who, after nearly four years of dismal women’s clothing sales, finally are experiencing an uptick. “It’s just been fabulous,” said Pam Katz, owner of Lafayette Hill, Pa., boutique First Impressions. Katz says her sales are up 25 percent this year over last, largely in part to the bevy of bottoms her customers are buying. “Sixty percent of my jean business is in colored denim. We are selling out in orange, neon green, hot pink-even that light, paleblue color.” (After Princess Kate wore coral-colored jeans last week, look for that to be the shade of the moment.)

Part of the trouser trend’s success comes from its mainstream allure. Jeans in jelly-bean greens, purples, and pinks are at high-end specialty stores as well as mall haunts, from Free People to Ann Taylor to the Gap. Brett Perloff, co-owner of Denim Habit, said his stores’ sales are exceeding projections, thanks in part to multiple sales of the popping pants.

“It’s a trend that’s appealing to people of all sizes and all budgets,” said Catherine Moellering, executive vice president of the Tobe Report, which forecasts fashion merchandising trends. “Color isn’t about status. This is a trend that looks great if you buy it at $19 or $199.” According to US Census Bureau figures, total apparel sales rose 1.5 percent in February, to $19.7 million, from $19.4 million in January. And apparel sales jumped 11.6 percent from January 2011 to January 2012, according to the National Retail Federation.

Marketing research firm NPD Group, which tracks denim sales quarterly, won’t have its latest figures until next month. But NPD’s Marshal Cohen predicts those numbers will rise, too. “I can almost guarantee that colored denim will play an integral role in soar-

ing denim sales,” he said. Of course the bump is not just a pants thing. Industry experts say color is driving sales of all kinds of clothes, and the mild winter has meant more shoppers in stores.

“Consumers have been excited by the warm weather and eager for the bright, flashy apparel,” said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. She said the new color palette was boosting home decor sales, too. “We aren’t seeing the growth we’ve seen prerecession. But it’s starting to become OK to shop.”

The “skinny” silhouette was introduced about two years ago, much to the horror of women with wide hips. But now that people are comfortable with the style, adding a shock of color makes a familiar piece fresh-and it gives shoppers reason to buy multiple pairs. Also, the popularity of the latest color-blocking trend has given women confidence pairing turquoise pants with something other than white. “It’s a perfect confluence of events,” said Roseanne Morrison, fashion director of the Doneger Group. “People’s moods are lifting, and the customer is updating her favorite fashion item in quantity.” Jen Goldenberg, 45, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa, has five pairs-in orange, blue, green, pink, and salmon-and she loves them for their versatility. “I can wear them with my flats, my wedges, my pumps,” said the mother of two. “I can dress them up, I can dress them down.”

Bold hues came on the scene last year in both solid and striped maxi dresses. However, it was Raf Simons’ spring 2011 collection for Jil Sander that made flashy pants a high-fashion go-to, Moellering said. By fall, fashionistas were wanting J Brand and Rag & Bone in rust, red, and cobalt blue. When stores transitioned to spring stock this January, folks almost immediately began slipping into the lighter shades as fast as they appeared on the shelves.

“I’ve been wearing my colored jeans all winter,”

said Elyse Mack, 38, a personal trainer from Voorhees, NJ She owns a pair each of Elizabeth and James, J Brand, and Paige Denim in blue, light blue, and orange. “I just mix and match them with so many different colors.” Come summer, expect to see the Skittles shades on hot pants. And, Moellering says, look for prints, in floral and geometric patterns, on denim this fall. “Pants are getting their due again,” Moellering said.— MCT

Models wear creations by Mexico’s designer Jose Maria Torre at the Mercedes Benz Fashion show in Mexico City, Wednesday, March 28, 2012. — AP photos

Skinny jeans in colors are selling well at Denim Habit in the Promenade, Marlton, New Jersey, March 20, 2012. — MCT

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Models present creations at the BIFT Graduates Show 2012 held during China Fashion Week in Beijing, China, yesterday. — AP photos

Lifestyle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Landmark

Amsterdam

This undated handout picture shows Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.

A

virtual adventure at sea with storms and battles, a new “jewel box” for Asian art and a hightech building shaped like a bathtub: Amsterdam’s landmark museums are getting facelifts to catapult them from their dusty pasts into the 21st century.

The makeover of three of the capital’s most important museums, the Maritime Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum, has been hailed as the dawn of a “new cultural golden age” to attract the 12.2 million visitors to Amsterdam every year. At the recently reopened National Maritime Museum in the grand white 17th-century Zeemagazijn (sea storehouse) building, excited children and their parents lined up for an experience spiced with interactive computer games and electronic simulations.

“We have chosen to redefine the museum,” said spokeswoman Kerstin Ruter. “Our goal is to make everybody part of the story with innovative and interactive presentations,” she added.

Closed to the public in January 2007 for a makeover costing 75.5 million euros ($99 million), the museum has attracted some 250,000 visitors since it was reopened last October by Dutch monarch Queen Beatrix. Built on thou-

museums get 21st-century facelifts

sands of stilts in Amsterdam’s IJ River, the building, which was completed in 1658, stands as a monument to the 17th-century Golden Age of Dutch maritime achievements. As well as the life-size replica of an 18th-century Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) sailing ship-its main attraction since 1990 — it now boasts an arsenal of the latest space-aged gadgets to wow a generation more used to iPads than ancient sea charts.

One of its biggest attractions is the “Voyage at Sea” where visitors can “meet” 17th-century Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter, experience terrifying waves on the high seas and even join a battle with pirates in a virtual simulation. “It’s crazy here! The interactivity now is great, it’s like the real thing and that’s why kids love it,” said Sjaak Hella, 50, who brought his two sons Leonard, 9 and Thimon, 7, for a day out in Amsterdam. Across the capital, on the famous Museumplein (Museum Plaza), the stately Rijksmuseum’s main building has been closed for renovations costing 375 million euros since 2003. Work crews are furiously labouring to have the country’s best-known museum home of famous Dutch Old Master paintings

This undated handout picture shows part of a new exhibition at the Dutch Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.— AFP photos like Rembrandt’s “Night Watch”-ready for its grand reopening in spring next year. Visitor numbers reaching a million per year prompted the museum’s management to rethink its layout, design and display, which had not greatly changed since it first opened 127 years ago. As its collection grew over the years however, so did its clutter. The interior of the main building became more crowded with double ceilings, partitions, climate control installations and offices. “As a result,

A picture shows the 17th-century building of Amsterdam’s Maritime Museum seen from the deck of a18th-century replica sailing vessel.

there was less and less space for the building to serve its intended purpose: for the display of works of art and historical pieces,” said Tim Zeedijk, head of exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum.

One of the Rijksmuseum’s new additions is its Asian Pavilion-already dubbed affectionately the “jewel box”of eastern art treasures, a modern glass and grey stone structure designed to blend with the museum’s original building opened in 1885.The new free-standing Asian Pavilion next

to the museum will house a collection dating as far back as 2000 BC and will have 365 different objects on displayone for every day of the year.

“As the museum is being renovated it is, so to speak, also being reinvented,” said Rijksmuseum general director Wim Pijbes. “The revamped museum will be completely in step with the 21st century,” he added. A short walk along Museumplein brings visitors to yet another construction site at the city’s Stedelijk Museum. Closed since 2003, the building will house one of the five most important collections of modern and contemporary art including major works by Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.

This museum too, which partially reopened in 2010-2011, but closed again in October for final a renovation, has undergone some radical changes to cope with 21st century demands, including an anticipated 500,000 visitors per year. Its old building, which opened in 1895, is being completely revamped. And a new addition in the form of a building shaped like an angular bathtub has been added at a total cost of 120 million. Its grand opening is expected in autumn this year.—AFP

An artist’s impression of what Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum will look like at the end of its major makeover.

Stars

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Aries (March 21-April 19) Your energy is high and your creative ideas are abundant, ready to be applied to the work at hand. With your enthusiasm, you should find success with every project. You have a natural sense of what the public wants at this time. Later today, you may be dealing with young people. Patience, persistence, fairness and a sense-of-limits are in order. You could be in conflict about how many restrictions are needed with each child but you will know instinctively just what to do. There is an opportunity to double your money through some sort of investment this afternoon—not gambling. This is also a time that favors communication. It is a day to talk to a special someone, perhaps taking or planning a trip with them.

Relationships get a plus at this time.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may not place much value on the ideas of others just now. You may find it easy to overdo or work at cross-purposes to yourself. This can result in a frustrating day; it is temporary however. An answer to this is to work at your regular pace with your usual chores and with your customary breaks. You are well inclined toward friends and family this afternoon. Companionship with others is most rewarding at this time and you should take every opportunity to be with these friends now. You are helping them as much as their presence is helping you. You should notice an enthusiasm for new projects; however, a little research may be in order.

Answers are as close as the articles in the old magazines you have been saving.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others. The technical steps of a project may slow you a bit this morning but others find you happy to work the cobwebs out for now. This may be a time for new accomplishments, during which insights and breakthroughs in organization and determination are in order. You have a lot of energy for improving your surroundings or life situations. You are very motivated to improve. In your quest to improve, you could overstep your boundaries and find hard feelings, especially from young people— respect the space of others. Underneath your cool exterior there is a need for physical hugs and long talks. You may feel that you are in-touch and in-harmony with others.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Everything points to your taking the initiative today. You have a larger amount of work to get through than usual today; help is available. You could feel great support from those around you, or circumstances could dictate your taking action. You feel healthy and natural. You could be most persuasive with others and powerful in speech and communication. The situation is a natural for self-expression and lends itself to your particular ideas. You may spend a great deal of time, effort and worry balancing commitments this afternoon. Yet again . . . a friend lends a helping hand.

Tickets for a future event may fall in your lap tonight. You count your blessings this evening and show your appreciation to your friends.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You are likely to obtain success financially through the powers of attraction. There is a sense of invincibility in everything you do. It is a great idea to check out the many projects available to you now.

There are positive opportunities for you to be expressive. You will also be able to lend support to others—even though you may not immediately realize you have helped. Mutual activities that take place after work today should be successful. The need for emotional security is emphasized at this time, though you should not pressure a partner into doing things just to please and satisfy you. You are apt to spend a great deal of time communicating with co-workers and people outside of work today. Surprises are abundant— just go with the flow.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Achievement, ambition and authority take on greater importance now. There is an increased desire to succeed in the world. You are full of wit and sharp insights. Many projects come to fruition, especially large ones. You should resist selling short, though, just to finish work. A financial increase is in the making. Remember your friends and family at this time and try to include them in any of your good fortune. This is an excellent time to talk business or engage in discussions about philosophy, religion or the arts. You may find that someone close to you understands and is patient with your eccentricities. Just about anything you do should be both rewarding and enjoyable. Take a little time to show your appreciation of a friend tonight.

COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) This is an easy, calm day that should find everything running in a smooth manner. You can demonstrate a great deal of understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others and are in a good position to communicate through political or society concerns. Interaction with authority figures or older people may be possible. You are particularly creative and taking advantage of this energy is a good idea. Working with— rather than against—the flow should be easy to do. Your mind is quite clear and natural. Ideas are flowing and come with ease. On the home front this evening you may rebel against monotony by initiating exciting new activities. Giving flowers or some other token of esteem to that special someone in your life brings wonderful surprises.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Some sort of interference tends to disrupt your relations with those in authority and increases the possibility of conflict. On the positive side, this situation may be the cause of the beginning of a new and successful project. Things may not always be what they seem—get away from an intense situation when you feel that no satisfactory outcome is possible. Orally, you could say that you would like to think about a project before making decisions. This afternoon you may run into a friend from your youth.

You have such a variety of friends—you might just quietly take a look around and see for yourself. This is an endorsement to you, that so many different types of people enjoy your company. Keep your good attitude of gratitude strong—it is contagious.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Ambition takes center stage now. Achievements that win you rewards and recognition are yours for the making. You must make them happen—you cannot simply wait around and expect them to appear; enter contests and sign up for the prize. A raise or promotion is also in the forecast but you will have to show others that you have the desire to take on the responsibilities. You have enthusiasm. You should expend great zest in moneymaking efforts but show caution toward costly activities. Lottery tickets could be one example here—one or two tickets are all that is needed. A friend returns a favor this afternoon. There is time to engage in some fun activities with friends or family this evening. Relationships with loved ones are positive.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) This is a good time to throw yourself into work, though you should check the desire to complain about others who do not work as hard. This is a time when you should not let office gossip or intrigue interfere with the normal flow of business. This is an excellent time to emphasize practicality and realism in any endeavor you are engaged with now. Your creativity is inspired today—exploit it. Romance becomes better as you try something new. You may find yourself serving to guide someone younger than you in important matters tonight. You could make one or two guesses at the lottery—you have a lucky trend just now. Do not become carried away with the feelings that good luck can bring. A sense of support and harmony make this a good time.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may be under a lot of pressure, at least in the way you appear to others. All is not in harmony between your emotions and the way you come across to others. However, your sense of humor will see you through anything. Your mental impressions are strong and you excel in positions where quick decisions are vital. Your home is due for some basic enhancements but remember that it is your home. Do not let contractors take advantage of you or get too many friends involved in advising you.

When you start asking for input from others, you could run into all sorts of problems. You are open to new ideas and if you are out in the stores this afternoon, look for ideas, not necessarily purchases for now. You have the answers.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You show a tendency to be extremely hard-working and ambitious on the professional level. There could be a collision of powerful energies now that spill into your life in unpredictable ways. The decisions and actions of today will have long lasting effects, so think through your decisions carefully. Do your work and involve yourself in relaxing activities when you are not working. A quiet lunch break would be ideal! You are buoyed with confidence in any project you attempt this afternoon. Broadening your intellectual and spiritual horizons takes on a high priority now. You are intent on seeing the big picture and getting to the point. Travel and further education can help bring this about in the near future. You will feel the power of love tonight.

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African Republic 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062 Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677 Somalia 00252 South Africa 0027 South Korea 0082 Spain 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Sudan 00249 Suriname 00597 Swaziland 00268 Sweden 0046 Switzerland 0041 Syria 00963 Taiwan 00886 Tanzania 00255 Thailand 0066 Toga 00228 Tonga 00676 Tokelau 00690 Trinidad 001868 Tunisia 00216 Turkey 0090 Tuvalu 00688 Uganda 00256 Ukraine 00380 United Arab Emirates00976

W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

A musical evening with Hariharan

H

ariharan, one of the most celebrated Indian singers of today, will lead a star-studded cultural show in Kuwait today at 5 pm onwards. The show organized by Jai Hind TV will also feature several musicians and film artists from India. The organizers have shifted the venue from Qadsiya Indoor Stadium to, Touristic Park open air auditorium, Abbassiya due to certain technical reasons.

The highlight of the show will be the mesmerizing performance by the versatile ghazal singer Hariharan and the renowned female singer Chandreyee Bhattacharya. A

musical fusion by Stephen Devassy and singers Franco and Sonia will certain to enthrall the audience.

The inaugural ceremony will include many luminaries from India such as KPCC president Remesh Chennithala and former minister M M Hassan.

National award winner Salim Kumar (arts and culture), K. T Rabiullah (in the field of medical services), Rajan Daniel (educational services), Siddique Ahmed (Business and charitable services) and Malayil Moosa Koya (in the field of media industry) will be honored on the occasion.

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

Future Eye Theatre second anniversary

Manjulan

F

uture Eye Theatre, Kuwait will hold it second anniversary event ‘Kaliyarangu 2012’ from 6pm to 9.30pm Friday (April 13) at the Indian Central School, Abbassiya. Manjulan, a well-known film and theatre personality from Kerala, will be the chief guest of this year’s celebration whose path-breaking solo drama ‘Koonan’ has broken all records in Malayalam theatre. Manjulan’s solo drama ‘Koonan’ will be a major attraction of the celebration and will certainly be a treat for theatre lovers in Kuwait. Future Eye will present Samuel Beckett’s legendary play ‘Waiting for Godot’ during the event. The play in Malayalam is scripted by Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan and directed by Future Eye Theatre Vice president Shemej Kumar. A theatre sketch in English based on Bertolt Brecht’s popular play ‘Threepenny Opera’ will also be staged on the occasion. The sketch is directed by John Mathews. Wataniya Telecom, Kuwait is the platinum sponsor of the event. All theatre lovers are welcome.

DAI’s 1st family day at The Amricani Cultural Center On March 31, 2012 @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Amricani Cultural Center (Corner of Arabian Gulf Road & Al-Shuhada Street, by the National Assembly Parliament building, across from Youm Al-Bahaar) Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, 2240-0992

Jayachandran musical concert postponed

L

ive musical concert by ‘Bhava Gayakan’ P Jayachandran organized by Kalanjali Kuwait has been postponed to May 4, 2012 due to certain unavoidable circumstances, organizers announced. The time and the venue will be notified at the earliest.

D

ar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah at their first family Day at the Amricani Cultural Center! Through 2012, the last Saturday of each month will be Family Day at Amricani from noon to six PM. During that time, you and your children will be able to visit the exhibitions and then, at specific times, participate in activities (20 - 30 minutes each) created on a theme for four different age groups (4 - 6, 6 - 8, 9 - 12 and secondary school kids). All the activities are designed to allow families to have fun together while learning more about the art and culture of the Islamic world.

This month they will be focusing on their latest exhibition: The Golden Age of the Arab Sciences. Created and curated by the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and sponsored by Total, the multi-media exhibition highlights the contributions to science made by scholars and scientists from the Islamic world.

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy has moved. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies.

Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on Thursday, April 5, 2012 on account of “Mahavir Jayanti”. nnnnnnn

Kozhikode District Association second anniversary on April 13

K

Write to us

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 A.M until 12:00 P.M on Sunday through Wednesday. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home.

The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait.

Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.uae.gc.ca.

ozhikode District Association, Kuwait is celebrating its 2nd anniversary with variety entertainment programmes including music, dance, mimicry and other entertainment programmes by famous artists from Kozhikode at Touristic Park, Abbasiya on Friday, 13th April 2012 from 4 pm onwards.

Musical treat by a team led by Sindhu Premkumar (Playback Singer and TV Artist, Judge Mylanchi-Asianet TV), Saleesh Shyam (Super Troupe, Amrita TV fame) and Faisal (Kalabhavan) is the highlight of the celebrations. Mimics by Siraj M., a talented artist from Kozhikode, dances, folk songs, etc. add colour to the programmes.

Association invites all to witness the mega programme that will provide a treat to eyes and ears.

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref. New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturdays to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location.

Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com

W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Announcements Ambassadors of Comedy Dean-Obeidallah (The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour), Nitin Mirani (King Of UAE Comedy), Aron Kader (The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour). All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the St. John Ambulance Brigade (India) and the Fazlani Foundation (India). Go out and have fun while supporting a wonderful cause When: April 27, 2012 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm at the American International School (Hamood Al-Naser Street, Dr. Kamil Al-Rayes Auditorium, Meidan Hawalli) Contact: Mohamed Kagdi or Minhaj Shikari 99788692 or 99710242 Ian Buchanan lecture Professor Ian Buchanan is the Director of the Institute for Social Transformation Research at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Prior to taking up this appointment he was Professor of Critical Theory at Cardiff University in the UK. He is the author of numerous books including Michel de Certeau: Cultural Theorist (2000), Deleuzism: A Metacommentary (2000), Fredric Jameson: Live Theory (2006), Deleuze and Guattari’s Anti-Oedipus (2008), and, most recently, the Dictionary of Critical Theory published by Oxford University Press (2010). He is founding editor of the journal Deleuze Studies; editor of two book series, “Deleuze Connections” (Edinburgh University Press) and “Deleuze Encounters” (Continuum); and co-editor of two additional book series, “Critical Connections” and “Plateaus” (both from Edinburgh University Press). Professor Buchanan has given papers at conferences all over the world. When: April 2, 2012 @ 10:45 am - April 4, 2012 @ 11:45 am KKIC to hold Islamic Conference for Indian Students Kuwait Kerala Islahi Centre (KKIC) will conduct an Islamic Students Conference (ISCON 2012, Kuwait) for Indian teenage students on May 4-5 at the Kuwait Grand Masjid premises. The conference, adopting the phrase ‘Knowledge for Salvation’ as its slogan, is aiming at invigorating the moral conscience of the student community. The core events will include workshops on value based character building, scientific personality assessment and self management techniques. Ashraf Ekarul, Education Secretary to KKIC informed that experienced trainers, academics, Islamic scholars and other dignitaries will attend the two day conference.

Family picnic Farooque College Old Student Association (FOSA) annual family picnic will be held tomorrow today in Mina Al Zour. The whole day program will start at 9am at the venue, accordingly, the buses will start from Salmiya and Farwaniya at 7:30 am and will gather at Fahaheel Al Kout Mall parking to start from there at 8am.

Picnic which is meant for FOSA families and guests will have various entertainment and informative programs, and special games for children. A one hour General Body will be held in the morning at the same venue, to elect new office bearers. All alumni of Farooque College are requested to participate in the picnic. For details contact 66479132, 66503456, 66636112.

Diabetes aware seminar Diabetes aware seminar by The Indian Women’s Association on April 5, 2012 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Clover Medical Clinic (Jabriya, off the 4th Ring Road, near the Maghreb/40 Expressway). Following the seminar, attendees will also have the opportunity to have their queries answered by our experts. All attendees will also receive a free individualized and comprehensive risk assessment by appointment at Dr. Kashif’s diabetic clinic.

This seminar is open to all and is free contact: iwa_kuwait@hotmail.com

UFCA anniversary today

U

nited Friends Cultural Association, is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary today in Cambridge International School, Mangaf. Main attraction of this program is a musical event by Jyotsna, a popular playback singer from Indian film Industry along with Harish and other eminent singers in Arabic as well as various Indian languages. The photo shows Jyotsna being received at the Kuwait International Airport on arrival yesterday.

AUK Environmental Club takes part in ‘Environmental Month’

I

n collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA), the Environmental Club (Al- Akhdar) at AUK will be hosting a talk entitled “Every Breath You Take: Understanding Air Quality”. The event comes as part of the Environmental Month running from March 20 to April 22 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, and organized by Edara Group & Vision Company.

The lecture will be conducted by Brian Freeman, Team Leader of Air Regulatory Management Systems for the Kuwait Integrated Environmental Management project funded by the UNDP. During his lecture, Freeman will be talking about air pollutants in Kuwait, how they are generated, and their impact on human health and the environment. The lecture will also discuss the newly approved amendments to Kuwait’s environmental regulations dealing with air quality and their impact on Kuwait.

Freeman holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Ohio.

His twenty years of experience include service with the United States Department of Defense and international environmental regulatory authorities. Freeman lived in the region for over seven years including Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan.

The lecture, which will be conducted in English, will take place on April 4 - 6pm at the AUK Auditorium, Salmiya Campus.

The event is open for public attendance.

Grand Mosque Tour For a rewarding, spiritual and informative experience. This is a 1 1/2 tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks. Ladies are required to cover (long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, otherwise the mosque will provide a cloak; If you have your own scarf you’re welcome to bring it). Cameras are allowed and children are welcome. This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque at 9:15am on April 14, 2012 @ 9:15 am - 10:45 am at Grand Mosque.

Contact: AWARE Center 2533-5280 Cricket team selection Kuwait Cricket will have the selection trials of Under 16 boys for forming the Kuwait National Cricket team which will participate in the ACC U-16 Elite Cup 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 213 May 2012. The age cut-off eligibility date is 1 May 1995 which will be later scientifically verified by ACC. Additionally, the player should be either Kuwait born or must be a resident since last 7 years. All interested youngsters satisfying these conditions should attend the selection trials at the KC Sulaibiya cricket grounds on Saturday 31 March 2012 between 8.30 am-12 Noon.

Free Arabic language course

I

PC and all its branches is opening free Arabic language course for ladies accessible in beginners and advanced levels. Class will commence on March 2, 2012. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages.

Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah: 22512257 / 97290278; Salmiyah: 25733263 / 97533263; Mangaf: 23723002 ext. 124/123; Jahra: 24558830 / 97533948; Khaithan: 24730137.

AWARE lecture

By Bryn Barnar will deliver a lecture on the ‘Impact of Islamic Civilization On The West.’

April 17, 2012 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm AWARE Center (Surra, Block 3, Surra Street, Villa 84),

B

ryn Barnard will discuss the impact of Islamic civilization on the West, the subject of his book The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World. This one hour illustrated PowerPoint talk will include aspects of Islamic philosophy, art, book arts, music, astronomy, medicine, engineering ; a discussion of how Islamic civilization is presented in North American schools; and suggestions about why the deep historical connections between Islam and the West are not better known today. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. Bryn Barnard teaches art at the American International School. He is an author & illustrator with 25 years experience creating images for clients that include NASA, National Geographic and Scientific American. He has illustrated 25 books for children & is the author & illustrator of 3 books, (Random House, NY) amongst which is “The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World” which was on the November cover of Booklist magazine & selected as one of its top ten books on religion published in 2011. It also received the top award for non-fiction from the Middle East Outreach Council, a North American university educational consortium.

Animal rights H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, Metropolitan of Chennai Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, reached Kuwait yesterday to lead this year’s Passion Week Services of Kuwait St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka.

I

nhumane practice of euthanizing stray animals, dog fights, dismal conditions at the Friday Market, and other acts of animal cruelty all tarnish Kuwait’s reputation in the international community. Sign the petition (change.org - search for paafr) & Join the forum to find out how you can help. April 10, 2012 @ 7 pm. Tel. 25335280.

TV Listings FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

20:30 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:20 23:45

00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 I Was Bitten 02:35 Untamed China With Nigel Marven 03:30 Nick Baker’s Beautiful Freaks 04:25 Wild France 05:20 Gorilla School 05:45 Xtremely Wild 06:10 New Breed Vets With Steve Irwin 07:00 Orangutan Island 07:25 Pandamonium 08:15 The Really Wild Show 08:40 Cats Of Claw Hill 09:10 Extraordinary Dogs 09:35 Extraordinary Dogs 10:05 Wild France 11:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 11:55 SSPCA: On The Wildside 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Wild Africa Rescue 13:15 Wild Africa Rescue 13:45 Animal Cops Houston 14:40 Wild France 15:30 Echo And The Elephants Of Amboseli 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Penguin Safari 17:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 18:20 Your Pet Wants This, Too! 19:15 Going Ape 19:40 Wildlife SOS 20:10 Gorilla School 20:35 Xtremely Wild 21:05 Wild France 22:00 Sharkman 22:55 Human Prey 23:50 Pit Bulls And Parolees

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

00:10 00:35 01:45 02:10 03:00 03:45 04:10 05:20 05:40 06:35 07:45 08:10 08:55 09:20 10:05 11:00 11:50 12:35 13:25

Eastenders Doctors Sport Relief Special Last Woman Standing Last Of The Summer Wine Fimbles Tellytales Teletubbies Buzz & Tell Balamory Bobinogs The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Fimbles Tellytales Teletubbies Buzz & Tell Balamory Bobinogs The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Last Of The Summer Wine Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Coast Sport Relief Special The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Orang-Utan Diary Coast The Weakest Link My Family Doctors Sport Relief Does Dragons’ Den Doctor Who Jekyll Lee Evans XL Tour This Is Sport Relief Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive The Jonathan Ross Show Doctor Who

Glamour Puds French Food At Home French Food At Home 10 Years Younger Fantasy Homes By The Sea Glamour Puds French Food At Home French Food At Home Antiques Roadshow French Food At Home French Food At Home MasterChef Australia MasterChef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger Celebrity Fantasy Homes Celebrity Fantasy Homes

Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show

00:00 Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 The Situation Room 02:00 World Report 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Quest Means Business 05:45 CNN Marketplace Europe 06:00 Erin Burnett Outfront 07:00 World Sport 07:30 The CNN Freedom Project 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 African Voices 11:00 World Business Today 11:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 12:00 Backstory 12:30 Talk Asia 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 The Brief 18:30 News Special 19:00 World Sport 19:30 Inside Africa 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 21:45 CNN Marketplace Africa 22:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

ARMY OF DARKNESS ON OSN ACTION HD 14:10 14:55 15:45 16:30 17:20 17:40 18:00 19:35 19:55 20:45 21:35 22:25 23:10

00:00 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 07:45 08:30 08:45 09:30 09:45

Fantasy Homes By The Sea Holmes On Homes Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA Cash In The Attic USA French Food At Home French Food At Home 10 Years Younger Gok’s Fashion Fix Gok’s Fashion Fix Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow

BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News America Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Hardtalk Newsday World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today

10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact 16:30 Our World 17:00 Impact 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 World Have Your Say 18:30 World Have Your Say 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 19:30 The Hub With Nik Gowing 19:40 Weekend World 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World Have Your Say Extra 21:40 Weekend World 22:00 BBC World News 22:30 Middle East Business Report 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 World Football Focus

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25

Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo

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

The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Scooby Doo Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Duck Dodgers Tom & Jerry Kids Pink Panther And Pals Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Garfield Show A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Looney Tunes Puppy In My Pocket Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas

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

Destroyed In Seconds When Disaster Strikes Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Dirty Jobs Mythbusters Fifth Gear Fifth Gear American Chopper: Senior vs

00:35 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:35 04:00 04:25 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:35 10:25 11:20 12:15 13:05 13:55 14:20

Cosmic Collisions The Tech Show Bang Goes The Theory Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Trek How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made The Future Of...

Da Vinci’s Machines Cosmic Collisions The Gadget Show The Gadget Show How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made Bang Goes The Theory Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Trek Mighty Ships Da Vinci’s Machines Cosmic Collisions The Future Of...

How Does That Work?

How Stuff’s Made

How Do They Do It? Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Hot Rod Apprentice: Hard Shine Hot Rod Apprentice: Hard Shine Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Auction Kings How It’s Made How Do They Do It? Cake Boss American Chopper: Senior vs Desert Car Kings Street Customs

14:50 15:15 15:40 16:05 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:30 20:20 20:45 21:10 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:40

The Gadget Show The Gadget Show The Tech Show Da Vinci’s Machines Mighty Ships Cosmic Collisions Tech Toys 360 Tech Toys 360 Ways To Save The Planet The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Da Vinci’s Machines Tech Toys 360 Tech Toys 360 Ways To Save The Planet Mighty Ships

00:15 00:40 01:05 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:45 03:10 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:35 10:00 11:30 11:40 12:05 12:30 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:05 17:30 18:47 19:10 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:05 23:35 23:45

Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Fish Hooks Recess Timon And Pumbaa Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Wizards Of Waverly Place So Random The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody A.N.T. Farm Cheetah Girls Have A Laugh Jake & Blake Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb So Random Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Jessie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Starstruck Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Have A Laugh Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Phineas And Ferb Shake It Up Fish Hooks Recess Cheetah Girls Have A Laugh Kim Possible

00:15 00:40 00:55 01:10 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:05 03:20 03:40 03:55 04:10 04:35 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:50 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:10 08:20 08:35 08:50 09:05 09:15 Pooh

Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Lazytown Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Hive Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The

TV Listings FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

09:20 09:30 09:35 09:55 10:05 10:20 10:45 11:10 11:35 11:45 12:10 12:25 12:40 13:05 13:15 13:25 13:50 14:15 14:40 14:55 15:05 15:20 15:30 15:35 16:00 16:05 16:20 16:45 17:10 17:20 17:30 17:45 17:55 18:10 18:25 18:35 19:00 Pooh 19:05 19:25 19:40 19:50 20:05 20:20 20:30 Pooh 20:35 20:40 20:45 21:00 21:25 21:40 21:55 22:20 22:30 22:45 22:55 23:20 23:35 23:50

Mouk Cars Toons Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Cars Toons Jungle Junction Imagination Movers Art Attack Imagination Movers Special Agent Oso Lazytown Handy Manny Jungle Junction Imagination Movers The Hive Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates Mouk Mouk Cars Toons Little Einsteins Cars Toons Jungle Junction Lazytown Art Attack The Hive Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Little Einsteins Mini Adventures Of Winnie The

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

Kendra Style Star E!es THS 25 Most Stylish Sexiest Extreme Hollywood THS Behind The Scenes E! News Dirty Soap THS E! News Bridalplasty Keeping Up With The Kardashians Style Star THS Behind The Scenes Scouted E! News THS Dirty Soap Chelsea Lately E! Investigates E! News Chelsea Lately Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 01:15 02:05 02:50 03:40 04:25 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:25 10:10 10:35 10:55 11:40 12:25

Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Kidnap And Rescue Fugitive Strike Force Extreme Forensics Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Mystery ER On The Run Forensic Detectives Fugitive Strike Force Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Mall Cops – Mall Of America On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Fugitive Strike Force

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 101 Dalmatians 101 Dalmatians Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The A Poem Is...

Animated Stories Mouk Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Timmy Time Jungle Junction Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Lazytown

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

Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Mall Cops – Mall Of America On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared On The Run Forensic Detectives Fugitive Strike Force Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Mall Cops – Mall Of America On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared I Was Murdered I Was Murdered Ripped From The Headlines Extreme Forensics

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00

Departures Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet Bondi Rescue: Bali One Man & His Campervan One Man & His Campervan Exploring The Vine Market Values Geo Sessions Geo Sessions Dive Detectives Departures Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet Bondi Rescue: Bali One Man & His Campervan One Man & His Campervan Exploring The Vine Market Values Geo Sessions Geo Sessions Dive Detectives Departures Geo Sessions Making Tracks Travel Madness Travel Madness Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled Word of Mouth

16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00

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

Word of Mouth City Chase Marrakech Ultimate Traveller Geo Sessions Making Tracks Travel Madness Travel Madness Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled Word of Mouth Word of Mouth City Chase Marrakech

Army Of Darkness-18 Gothika-18 Full Metal Jacket-18 Riddles Of The Sphinx-PG15 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within-PG Little Big Soldier-PG15 Rocky v-PG15 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within-PG True Justice: Lethal Justice-18 Rocky v-PG15 The Killer Inside Me-18 Kalifornia-18

00:45 Broken Embraces-18 03:00 West Is West-PG15 05:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 07:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 09:00 Ice Dreams-PG15 11:00 Despicable Me-FAM 13:00 My Dog Tulip-PG15 14:45 Ice Dreams-PG15 16:45 District 9-PG15 18:45 The Way Back-PG15 21:00 Faster-PG15

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:30 03:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report The Big C Family Guy Melissa And Joey

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

Mad Love The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Simpsons Yes Dear Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Melissa And Joey The Simpsons Cougar Town Traffic Light Yes Dear The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Simpsons Yes Dear Mad Love Cougar Town The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Late Night With Jimmy Fallon New Girl Happy Endings 30 Rock Perfect Couples The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Neighbors From Hell Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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

American Idol Necessary Roughness Psych Justified Live Good Morning America C.S.I. Emmerdale Look-A-Like The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View American Idol Live Good Morning America C.S.I. The Ellen DeGeneres Show Law & Order: Los Angeles Glee American Idol Drop Dead Diva Survivor: One World

00:00 01:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Bones Necessary Roughness Psych Bones Emmerdale Parks And Recreation Terra Nova Psych Law & Order: Los Angeles The Ellen DeGeneres Show Terra Nova Bones Law & Order: Los Angeles The Ellen DeGeneres Show Terriers Glee Drop Dead Diva Survivor: One World Mildred Pierce

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Collector-18 The Grudge 3-18 Survival Of The Dead-18 A Lonely Place For Dying-PG15 Ip Man-PG15 Shanghai Knights-PG15 Largo Winch 2-PG15 Ip Man-PG15 Stonehenge Apocalypse-PG15 The Craigslist Killer-PG15 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 Kill List-PG15

00:00 The Bounty Hunter-PG15 02:00 It’s Complicated-PG15 04:15 Garfield-PG 06:00 Post Grad-PG15 08:00 A Guy Thing-PG15 10:00 You Again-PG15 12:00 Knucklehead-PG15 14:00 How To Go Out On A Date In Queens-PG15 16:00 The Bounty Hunter-PG15 18:00 Love And Mary-PG15 20:00 Killing Bono-18 22:00 Tank Girl-PG15

01:00 03:00 05:15 06:45 08:45 10:15 12:30 14:15 16:30 18:45 20:45 23:00

00:45 03:15 05:15 PG15 07:15 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:15 19:00 21:00 23:00

I Like It Like That-18 Mother And Child-18 Game Of Four-PG15 On Strike For Christmas-PG15 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 Dance With Me-PG Veronica Guerin-PG15 The Remains Of The Day-PG15 The Sting-PG The Deep End Of The Ocean-PG15 Sideways-18 Female Agents-18

Biutiful-18 Paper Man-PG15 Everybody Wants To Be ItalianGlitter-PG15 Legend Of The Guardians-PG Ramona And Beezus-PG Marmaduke-PG Glorious 39-PG15 Legend Of The Guardians-PG B-Girl-PG15 Rango-FAM The Messenger-18

00:15 Wrong Turn 3: Left For Dead-18 02:00 Film Socialisme-PG15 04:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 06:00 Uncorked-PG15 08:00 Film Socialisme-PG15 10:00 Chasing 3000-PG15 12:00 Fly Me To The Moon-PG 13:30 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt.1-PG15 16:00 Head Over Heels-PG15 17:45 Wall Street: Money Never SleepsPG15 20:00 Rango-FAM 22:00 Little Fockers-PG15

LETTERS TO JULIET ON OSN CINEMA

00:00 Alex & Alexis-FAM 02:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 04:15 The Nimbols: Part II-FAM 06:00 Alex & Alexis-FAM 08:00 Winner & The Golden Child: Part IFAM 10:00 Scooby-Doo! Curse Of The Lake Monster-PG

12:00 Flicka 2-PG 14:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 16:15 Little Bee 2-FAM 17:45 Scooby-Doo! Curse Of The Lake Monster-PG 19:45 A Venetian Rascal Goes To America-FAM 21:45 Flicka 2-PG

00:30 01:00 02:00 05:30 06:00 09:30 11:30 12:30 14:30 15:30 18:30 19:00 21:00 21:30

Futbol Mundial WWE NXT European PGA Tour Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Premier League Darts Live Super Rugby Trans World Sport Live NRL Premiership WWE NXT Live PGA European Tour Cricket ODI Highlights Super Rugby Futbol Mundial Live Super League

00:00 00:30 01:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 13:30 14:00 15:00 18:30 21:00 21:30 23:30

Super Rugby Highlights Trans World Sport Premier League Darts Futbol Mundial Scottish Premier League Highlights European PGA Tour ICC Cricket World NRL Full Time Live NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial Golfing World Premier League Darts AFL Premiership Top 14 Highlights Live Top 14 Total Rugby

00:00 00:30 01:30 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 12:00 15:00 17:00 17:30 19:30 21:30 22:00

European Tour Weekly Golfing World AFL Winners SPL Highlights Ping Pong World Championship Ping Pong World Championship Ping Pong World Championship Super Rugby Highlights Golfing World Live Asian Tour Golf Live AFL Premiership Super Rugby NRL Full Time NRL Premiership NRL Premiership Total Rugby Live Pro 12 Celtic League

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

WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter V8 Supercars Highlights Speedway UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection Speedway This Week in WWE V8 Supercars Extra V8 Supercars Highlights V8 Supercars Highlights WWE NXT WWE Experience Power Boats Power Boats Speedway UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC The Ultimate Fighter

01:30 02:55 04:30 06:10 07:40 09:20 11:00 12:20 13:45 15:20 17:05 18:35 20:05 21:45 22:00 23:35

Gothic Some Girls-PG Mad Dog Coll-PG The Ranch High Tide-PG Salt And Pepper-PG Ghoulies Sibling Rivalry-PG For Better Or For Worse Stanley & Iris-PG Radio Days-PG Killing Mr. Griffin-PG Dust Factory-PG Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM Saved Eureka

Information FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines PIA JZR QTR JZR JZR ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD DHX FDB MSR QTR KAC THY MSR JZR BAW KAC JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD GFA MEA JZR MSR RBG IYE JZR JZR RKM MSR GFA RJA KAC FDB OMA KAC QTR KAC JZR KAC QTR JZR ETD UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR ABY ALK

Flt 205 185 148 539 267 620 642 211 853 305 370 67 612 138 544 770 503 555 157 416 529 206 53 302 332 676 352 284 344 855 125 132 55 619 301 213 404 165 606 3553 825 561 201 310 610 219 640 672 57 645 538 140 788 257 546 134 215 303 857 215 510 982 177 127 227

Arrival Flights on Friday 30/3/2012 Route LAHORE DUBAI DOHA CAIRO BEIRUT ADDIS ABABA AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO DOHA CAIRO ISTANBUL KHARTOUM ALEXANDRIA LONDON JAKARTA ASSIUT ISLAMABAD DUBAI MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI COCHIN DHAKA CHENNAI DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA DUBAI LAR ABU DHABI BAHRAIN BEIRUT DUBAI LUXOR ALEXANDRIA SANAA SOHAG DAMASCUS RAS ALKHAIMAH CAIRO BAHRAIN AMMAN DUBAI DUBAI MUSCAT SOHAG DOHA JEDDAH BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA DOHA DEIREZZOR ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH WASHINGTON DC DULLES DUBAI SHARJAH COLOMBO

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

KAC KAC KAC FDB MSR JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC KAC KAC FDB MEA GFA SVA KAC JZR JZR FCX ABY QTR UAE DHX AIC GFA UAL SAI JZR DLH THY KLM

502 542 166 63 624 787 618 674 742 572 102 774 562 61 402 221 506 786 481 135 304 129 136 859 372 975 217 981 441 239 636 772 413

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

Flt 545 982 981 637 411 206 773 621 854 68 371 306 613 139 149 560 643 164 200 212 771 537 156 54 504 175 256 126 671 787 856

BEIRUT CAIRO PARIS DUBAI SOHAG RIYADH DOHA DUBAI DAMMAM MUMBAI NEW YORK RIYADH AMMAN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN JEDDAH JEDDAH SABIHA BAHRAIN RIYADH SHARJAH DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN CHENNAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN LAHORE AMMAN FRANKFURT ISTANBUL AMSTERDAM Departure Flights on Friday 30/3/2012 Route ALEXANDRIA-BORG EL ARAB AHMEDABAD WASHINGTON DC FRANKFURT AMSTERDAM LAHORE ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA DOHA SOHAG AMMAN DUBAI DAMASCUS BAHRAIN ISTANBUL SOHAG LONDON DUBAI DUBAI FRANKFURT BEIRUT SHARJAH DUBAI JEDDAH DUBAI

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

Time 0:00 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:55 1:30 2:15 2:45 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:50 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:10 8:05 8:25 8:25 8:50 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:35 9:40

JZR KAC QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA KAC RBG MEA KAC MSR KAC IYE JZR JZR RKM GFA FDB MSR RJA KAC OMA KAC KAC KAC JZR QTR KAC KAC ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY SVA UAL ALK FDB MSR JZR KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC MEA GFA JZR SVA KAC ABY KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR DHX FCX UAE KAC JZR SAI

214 117 133 56 302 618 214 541 3554 405 501 623 103 825 480 176 311 220 58 611 641 561 646 673 785 617 786 135 773 741 304 238 538 141 858 216 134 128 511 982 228 64 621 184 283 571 62 343 351 403 222 502 507 361 120 381 137 301 205 554 373 102 860 411 528 442

DEIREZZOR NEW YORK DOHA DUBAI ABU DHABI LAR BAHRAIN CAIRO ALEXANDRIA BEIRUT BEIRUT SOHAG LONDON DOHA ISTANBUL DUBAI RAS ALKHAIMAH BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN AMMAN MUSCAT DUBAI JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH DOHA RIYADH DAMMAM ABU DHABI AMMAN CAIRO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI CHENNAI KOCHI BEIRUT BAHRAIN LUXOR JEDDAH COLOMBO SHARJAH DELHI DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI DUBAI BANGKOK ASSIUT LAHORE

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

9:45 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:20 10:45 11:30 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:05 13:15 13:20 14:10 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:45 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:25 19:55 20:05 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:35 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:10 23:40 23:50 23:59

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation two bedroom flat in Abbassiya, two bachelors accommodation from April 1st. Rent KD 40. Contact: 99162583.

(C 3917) Accommodation in Farwaniya near Gulf Mart, big room for bachelor or couple, Filipino only, available April 21. Contact: 94418396.

20-3-2012

SITUATION VACANT Housemaid wanted for a small family in Farwaniya.

Mob: 97514390 21-3-2012 Manager (Asian) in Maidan Hawally looking for a maid.

Part time. Good salary. Call 97263962 for details.

(C 3915) 17-3-2012

TUITION FOR SALE Toyota Corolla 1.8 XLi, model 2010, color gray metallic, km done 25000, excellent condition, cash price KD 3,600.

Contact: 60685504. (C 3926) 29-3-2012 Toyota Prado 2006, Golden color, 6 cylinder, excellent condition, price KD 5,200/-.

Contact: 50699345.

(C 3921) 25-3-2012 Household goods for sale, includes furniture, electronics, kitchen equipments, books, curtains, and other miscellaneous items. All at throw-away prices. Call 99510519 or 66210509.

(C 3919) 21-3-2012

SITUATION WANTED Qualified Chemical Engineer, extensive experience working at laboratory based research petroleum industries and industrial chemistry, more than 15 years in KISR Kuwait and Sydney-Australia, fluent in English and Arabic. Contact: 65151142, E-mail: salsafadi@hotmail.com (C 3927) 29-3-2012 Male Indian secretary B.Sc., 14 years experience, including 7 years in Kuwait, well versed in secretarial practices, computer operations & correspondence, conversant in English, Hindi, Malayalam & Tamil, Transferable residence.

Contact: 97667430.

(C 3924) 26-3-2012 Female 26 years post graduate 4 years experience in HR executive, seeking suitable jobs.

Mob: 60473639. Email: soumyakt.4u@gmail.com (C 3918) 20-3-2012 25 years experienced Indian seeking part time or full time assignment in finance management/ development analysis, or internal auditing or any other senior position any big company. Contact: 65802853.

Math teacher for secondary stage, language schools, bilingual schools and intermediate stage: Algebra, Gmath, Geometry, Statistics for arts and science branches. Tel: 66974020.

English language teacher specialized in starting elementary and intermediate, 10th and 11th experienced in starting functions, grammar, set book, vocabulary, notes and model exams available.

Tel: 65791555.

Arabic language teacher, masters in methods of teaching for secondary and intermediate students. Tel: 50644685.

Senior Arabic language teacher, elementary and intermediate, long experience in Kuwait curricula, explaining grammar rules and starting those weak in reading and writing. Tel: 99262948.

Senior chemistry and physics teacher. Long experience for 10th, 11th and 12th stages.

Intermediate science and applied institutions. Highly competent. Tel: 99542922.

Mathematics and statistics female teacher for female students in the secondary, intermediate, university and applied institutions female students. Tel: 99410370.

Female Syrian Arabic language teacher for elementary and intermediate, and starting the weak using Halaby method in her house located in Abdallah AlMubarak area. Tel: 50513699.

Senior biology and science teacher for 12th, 11th and 10th grades, and science for all intermediate classes, religious institutes, nursing, educational experience, simple explanation for fast understanding.

Tel: 66543474.

Senior Arabic language and Islamic studies teacher to help weak and slow learning students in a short time. 20

years experience, teaching all elementary subjects excep E. Arabic and Islamic studies for elementary and intermediate.

Tel: 66896088.

Senior mathematics and statistics teacher. Long experience in Kuwait curricula to teach secondary students both science and arts branches, and university admission exams. Tel: 97975096.

Senior chemistry teacher for secondary students and science for intermediate. All reviews and exams, and university qualification chemistry. Tel: 99560268.

Female senior mathematics teacher, 35 years experience in Kuwait for secondary, intermediate and elementary stages, applied, initial university, communications and navigation and special courses. Tel: 97926737.

Elementary stage teacher, 12 years experience, ready to give remedial lessons for all topics in the elementary stage in a simple method. Tel: 66594901.

English teacher specialized in elementary and intermediate, experienced in grammar, book questions and synonyms. Highly experienced in Kuwait curricula. Tel: 97373301.

French language teacher, specialized in 11th and 12th grades, languages schools, Pakistani and Indian schools.

Long experience in Kuwait curricula.

Senior philosophy and logic teacher for the 12th stage, psychology for 11th grade, with notes and exams solutions. Tel: 99835421.

Senior mathematics and statistics teacher for the secondary and intermediate stages and fifth grade, clear and simple explanation for slow learners and exams method.

Tel: 99410112.

Female Syrian Arabic language teacher to initiate weak students using the Halaby method, and follow up of intermediate and elementary in her Abdallah AlMubarak area home. Tel: 50513699.

Mathematics teacher for universities, applied, secondary and intermediate, experienced in Kuwait. Simple explanation. Tel: 97725411.

Mathematics teacher for the elementary and intermediate stages. Experienced in Kuwait curricula. Tel: 60421808.

FOR RENT Flat in South Surra, 3 bedrooms, 2 of which are master + living room + kitchen + maid room, new, super deluxe. Tel: 97864628.

For rent, commercial flat in Hawally, can be used as workshop, large area. No middle men. Parking. Tel: 66043961.

Flat in Bneid Al-Gar, 2 rooms + 2 bathrooms + living room + kitchen + Gym + swimming pool overlooking the sea, central satellite + internet. For families, no middle men. Tel: 66043961.

Flat in Salmiya 3 bedroom + 2 bathrooms + living room + kitchen + central satellite + internet. 4x4 rooms, 4x8 living room for expatriates only. Rent KD 330. No middle men. Tel: 66043961.

Flat in Salmiya 2 rooms + 2 bathrooms + living room + kitchen + central satellite + internet. Families only, no middle men. Tel: 66043961.

A commercial floor in Salmiya. Close to Blajat. Car

No: 15403 Arabic language teacher, long experience in general secondary with simplifying grammar for institutions and universities. Tel: 66900427/ Secondary physics teacher 10th grade, 15 years experience. Tel: 677020697.

Syrian mathematics teacher for secondary and intermediate classes. Graduate from Damascus University. Tel: 99460277.

Syrian Arabic language teacher. Masters to initiate weak students using the Halaby method (the alphabet then the word), follow up of intermediate, secondary, university and religious institute.

Tel: 50513599.

parking. No middle men. Tel: 66043961.

First floor in Shuhada, 4 rooms + living room + 5 bathrooms + maid room + balcony. Must be small family. Tel: 60308586.

Flat in Zahra, 2 rooms + living room + kitchen + 3 bathrooms + laundry room + maid room. Tel: 60308586.

A floor in Zahra, 4 rooms + living room + kitchen + 3 bathrooms, second floor, elevator. Must be small family.

Tel: 99719887.

Flat in west Jleeb, 3 rooms + living room + kitchen + 2 bathrooms first floor. No elevator. Must be newlyweds or one child only. Tel:99719887.

Flat in Salam, 3 rooms + living room + kitchen + 3 bathrooms + maid room. Must be newlyweds or two children only. 60308586.

First floor in Rumaithiya. 4 rooms + living room + kitchen + maid room + 6 bathrooms. Super deluxe.

Must be foreigners and expats only. Tel: 60308586, 99719887.

Large first floor with the roof in Firdous. No middle men.

Tel: 99490502.

Fully furnished flat in Mahboula 2 rooms + 2 baths + living room + Gym + DSL, Satellite + full sea view. Rent starts from KD 450. Tel: 66060822.

Furished flat in a Salmiya resort 3 rooms + maid room + garden + swimming pool + children play room + DSL. Sea view + hotel service + car parking. Rent KD 800. Tel: 66060299.

For rent or investment, medical clinics in Salmiya. Good location licensed and unlicensed. No brokers. Tel:

66060299.

Flat in Salmiya, 3 bedrooms (2 master) + maid room + 3 bathrooms + 2 balconies + sea view + Gym. No brokers.

Rent KD 550. Tel: 66060299.

Commercial floor in Salmiya, main street, sea view, good location. Can be used for saloon, clinics, lawyer office.

Rent KD 1650. Tel: 66297171.

Complete building in Salmiya, 55 flats. 2 rooms + 2 bathrooms + kitchen + living room. Good location + central satellite. Good for company residence.

Tel: 55939470.

Ground floor in Jabriya.

Private entrance, 4 rooms (2 master) + living rooms (10x10) + saloon 11x10 + 5 bathrooms + very large kitchen + guest wash area + 2 maid rooms. Rent KD 950.

Tel: 94463321.

Flat in Zahra, 3 rooms + 3 bathrooms + maid room + spacious living room + shaded parking + electricity and water + DSL, foreigners and expats, rent starts from KD 600. Tel: 66297171.

Villa in Zahra. 4 rooms + 5 bathrooms + maid room + driver room + 2 large balconies. Super deluxe + satellite + DSL. Rent KD 1000. Tel: 66297171.

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Spanish League Preview

Madrid seek to avoid goring in Pamplona MADRID: Taking on Osasuna in Pamplona can be as intimidating as the city’s famous “running of the bulls” and Real Madrid will be hoping to avoid the goring Barcelona suffered there last month when they play the Navarrans tomorrow. Real come into the match on a high after all but securing a place in the Champions League semifinals thanks to Tuesday’s 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia but have seen their advantage over second-placed Barca in La Liga whittled down to six points from 10 in recent weeks.

One of only two teams to beat Barca in the league this season, Osasuna are sixth, well placed to secure a berth in Europe next season, and their tough-tackling, well-organized side has only lost twice at home this term, to Racing Santander and Atletico Madrid during a poor run in January. “They (Real) have three points at stake that could decide the league title, while we will simply go out there to win,” Osasuna defender Miguel Flano told a news conference on Wednesday.

“It seems to me that Madrid are on good form, just like the rest of the season,” he added. “They are a solid team, who allow themselves few errors and if they are given space they are extremely dangerous.” Victory for Jose Mourinho’s side would stretch their lead over Barca to nine points, at least for a few hours until the Spanish, European and world champions host 11th-placed Athletic Bilbao in Saturday’s late kickoff. The Basques, who play at Schalke 04 in a Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday, have lost three and drawn one of their last four La Liga games, while Barca are chasing an eighth straight win since the 3-2 reverse at Osasuna.

HEFTY OUTLAY With nine matches left, Real have 75 points, Barca have 69 and Valencia and Malaga are tied on 47 points in the third and fourth Champions League qualification places respectively. Qatar-owned Malaga, whose hefty outlay on players in recent seasons appears at last to be bearing fruit, host 15th-placed Real Betis tomorrow, while Valencia are at home to their city rivals Levante on Sunday. The season’s surprise packages, Levante are fifth and a win at the Mestalla would put

NICOSIA: APOEL Nicosia’s Savvas Poursaitides (front) jumps for the ball with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema during their Champions League quarterfinal soccer match at GSP stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus. — AP them level on points with their much wealthier neighbours and heap more pressure on Valencia coach Unai Emery, assuming he is still in charge by then.

Emery’s side have their Europa League last-eight clash at AZ Alkmaar to negotiate on Thursday and with the board demanding improvement and fans increasingly restless, a poor performance in the

Netherlands may enough to prompt a change of coach. Bottom side Real Zaragoza, who have taken seven points from their last three games, continue their bid to avoid the drop at fellow strugglers Sporting Gijon tomorrow. “We are ready to fight until our last drop of energy,” forward Luis Garcia told a news conference on Tuesday. — Reuters

Italian League Preview

Juventus under pressure to reconsider Del Piero MILAN: Alessandro Del Piero has given Juventus a lift in recent games but his inspirational performances are a double-edged sword for club President Andrea Agnelli, who is coming under pressure to rethink his decision not to extend the 37-year-old’s contract. Del Piero, in his 19th season at the club, has had such an impact off the bench in the last two games that fans are also debating whether coach Antonio Conte will finally hand him a starting place in Sunday’s match against Napoli (1845 GMT). Juventus are unbeaten in Serie A this season, although a series of recent draws has left them trailing leaders AC Milan by four points with nine games each to play. Milan, who have 63 points from 29 games, have shown few signs of slipping up although they may be vulnerable tomorrow as they face a difficult trip to Catania (1600) only three days after a demanding Champions League match against Barcelona. Seventh-placed Catania battled back for a 2-2 draw at Napoli one week ago and are hoping to qualify at the very least for the Europa League. Del Piero has made only 16 Serie A appearances for Juventus this season, of which 13 have been as a substitute and most of those too late in the game to make any impact.

Conte gave Del Piero more of a chance against Inter Milan last Sunday, bringing on the playmaker in the 53rd minute with the score at 0-0. Del Piero quickly changed the face of the game, scoring the second goal in Juventus’s 2-0 win. He also scored and played a key role in the 2-2 draw against AC Milan on March 20 which took Juve to the Italian Cup final.

Those performances had observers wondering why Conte has not made more use of Del Piero, especially in the potentially costly home draws against Siena, where he stayed on the bench, and Chievo, where he was brought on with only 12 minutes left.

MISFIRING STRIKERS The misfiring performances of preferred strikers Alessandro Matri and Mirko Vucinic have added to the mystery. Del Piero, whose Juventus career included a season in Serie B in the wake of the “Calciopoli” scandal when the club was demoted, has won admiration for refusing to complain about his bit-part role and his future. He diplomatically ducked the issue again despite impressing on Sunday.

“There’s nothing to add at the moment except that my future at the moment is Sunday evening’s game against Napoli,” he said. “I don’t want to miss a moment of this adventure, the objective at the moment is to keep in touch with Milan.”

Defender Giorigio Chiellini added: “Alex is a great champion and always will be, and we as players can just observe and accept his choice. “I think that the end of the season will be the time for him and the club to sit down and talk and make a decision together.” Napoli, joint fourth with 48 points, are battling to finish third which would earn them a place in next season’s Champions League qualifying tournament.

However, their draw against Catania, when they squandered a two-goal lead, has left them three points behind third-placed Lazio, who visit struggling Parma tomorrow (1845). Andrea Stramaccioni makes his debut as Inter Milan’s third coach of the season as the crisis-torn club, champions five seasons in a row from 2006 until 2010, host lowly Genoa on Sunday (1300). —Reuters

French League Preview

Lille watch backs as Ligue 1 sprint starts PARIS: Lille will be watching their backs when they entertain Toulouse in Ligue One as the race for a place in next season’s Champions League enters the home straight on Sunday. Lille, who have a slim chance of retaining their league title, are third with 53 points and nine games to play, seven behind leaders Montpellier, but only three ahead of fourth-placed Toulouse. “The sprint is about to start between the four or five teams still in a position to clinch third place,” Lille forward Gianni Bruno was quoted as saying on the team’s website (www.losc.fr). “No need to say that to that regard the Toulouse game is important because they are our closest rivals,” said Bruno.

The top two teams in Ligue 1 directly qualify for the

Champions League group stage while the thirdplaced side has to go through a playoff tie.

Olympique Lyon, in fifth on 49 points, travel to Stade Rennes on Sunday having snatched away wins at Paris St Germain in the French Cup quarter-finals and arch-rivals St Etienne. “We’ve been more rigorous. We all want to qualify for the Champions League so everybody needs to pull together. Even if we struggle in the end of our matches, we do not let go,” defender Samuel Umtiti told the club’s website (www.olweb.fr). “Anything is now possible. Let’s just stick together and we’ll see where it takes us. But I think we have what it takes to finish third.” Among the Champions League contenders, sixth-placed St

Etienne appear to have the easiest game on paper as they host lowly Nice.

However, striker Bakary Sako pointed out the Azurean side may not be easy prey as they will be fighting relegation. “All our opponents will have something to play for and (Nice) will be fighting for their place in Ligue 1,” he said. Second-placed Paris St Germain, who trail Montpellier on goal difference after last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Girondins Bordeaux, travel to Nancy tomorrow.

Montpellier’s match at Olympique Marseille has been postponed until April 11 to help Marseille prepare for their Champions League return leg against Bayern Munich. — Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

City eye chance as United battle Blackburn demons LONDON: Manchester City can steal a march on Premier League title rivals Manchester United this weekend and hope mind games do the rest when the champions play on Monday for the second straight week. Roberto Mancini’s City took top spot temporarily last Saturday after a 1-1 draw at Stoke City only for United to go three points clear with a 1-0 home win over Fulham, where they were lucky to get away with a late penalty shout.

This time City are at home to midtable Sunderland tomorrow (1400 GMT) while United visit relegation-threatened neighbors Blackburn Rovers (1900), the only team except for City to win at Old

Trafford in the league this term.

December’s 3-2 defeat rocked United’s shaky defense and though the backline has recovered its poise recently with Jonny Evans in especially fine form, City will look to pile on the pressure by beating Sunderland and hope Rovers get a repeat win. Steve Kean’s side lie three points above the drop zone in 16th but even a tough match against a physical side battling to avoid relegation does not faze United forward Javier Hernandez.

“It’s a part of the season that all the players want to be involved in,” the Mexican told ESPN. “It’s a long season so these final few games are more emotion-

al for everyone, but we have a big chance to win the Premier League again.

We’re in a great position because it depends on us.”

With eight games left and the Manchester duo meeting at Eastlands on April 30, a twist in the title race is almost inevitable and City executive Patrick Vieira has been trying his best to undermine Alex Ferguson’s men. The former France and City midfielder first said United were desperate for calling Paul Scholes out of retirement to fill a hole in their less-than-stellar midfield.

Ferguson angrily responded by pointing out that City had welcomed back Carlos Tevez, a player who refused to

warm up for a Champions League game in September, disappeared to Argentina and was told by Mancini that he had no future at the club. Undeterred, Vieira was at it again this week, stating that referees were scared to give penalties at Old Trafford after most pundits agreed that Michael Carrick had tripped Danny Murphy in the dying stages of the Fulham game.

“When United play at home they get some advantage that other teams don’t get,” Vieira told the BBC. “I think when you go to United, Madrid, Barcelona or Milan, when the referees referee these kind of games, it’s always difficult to go against these kind of teams.” —Reuters

Ferguson hits back at Vieira comments MANCHESTER: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday hit back at claims by title rivals Manchester City that the defending champions received preferential treatment from referees. Manchester City football development executive Patrick Vieira was widely quoted this week as saying that United and other top clubs around Europe were often given the benefit of the doubt by referees, particularly in home matches.

The former Arsenal and City midfielder pointed to United escaping what looked a clear penalty decision against them following a challenge by Michael Carrick on Danny Murphy late in the 1-0 victory over Fulham on Monday. City later insisted Vieira’s remarks were taken out of context-but Ferguson was in no mood to ignore the comments on Thursday, as the battle for the Premier League enters a tension-filled climax. Ferguson said United themselves could have had a penalty in Monday’s win over Fulham, insisting that decisions even themselves out over a season. “I think we could have had a penalty on Monday night,” said Ferguson.

“But you don’t often get these ones when a wide player has crossed the ball and the player almost caught the ball between his arm and his body. We could have got a penalty but I wouldn’t have expected one to be honest with you. “I think that from the referee’s position I could see why the referee didn’t give one when Danny Murphy was brought down because the ball was moved to the angle as Michael Carrick challenged him. “From that position it wasn’t clear but it was a good claim. “But then City could have had a penalty kick against them at Stoke, as everyone saw, with Gareth Barry (challenge on Glenn Whelan). So you get breaks here and there. “Every club gets good breaks, they get bad breaks that even themselves out over a season and that will never change.

“We’ve had some terrible decisions at Old Trafford, when Newcastle got a penalty kick. Tottenham could claim the same when Balotelli wasn’t sent off and ended up scoring the winning goal (in City’s 3-2 win). “You could go through millions of things like that. “I think you maybe have a point that the smaller clubs feel that way.

Someone said that to me some years ago that United always get penalty kicks at Old Trafford but you go back through the 25 years I’ve been here, it’s only averaged three a year, or three and a half a year, or something like that.

“You can’t say that’s a lot when we’re attacking teams every minute of the day. It has some mileage in terms of the press but most managers believe the breaks even themselves out.” Ferguson has also moved to remove lingering fears that goalkeeper Anders Lidegaard will not play again this season after breaking down in training as he recovers from an ankle ligament injury. The United manager has also given defender Rio Ferdinand a clean bill of health ahead of Monday night’s visit to Blackburn, leaving Nani as his only current injury concern, although the winger appears on the brink of returning to first team action.—AFP

MARSEILLE: Marseille’s Rod Fanni (left) challenges for the ball with Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery (center) during their Champions League quarter-final soccer match in Marseille, south France. — AP

Bayern count the cost of cards after victory MARSEILLE: Bayern Munich put one foot in the last four of the Champions League with a clinical victory in Marseille on Wednesday but five yellow cards and a suspension for Bastian Schweinsteiger left coach Jupp Heynckes fuming. Dutch winger Arjen Robben shone on a bright night for Bayern at the Stade Velodrome and a 2-0 victory put them firmly on course for a semi-final meeting with Real Madrid, who won 3-0 at APOEL Nicosia in their quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday.

Heynckes naturally refused to accept that his team were as good as through but his concern that seven of his players were a booking away from suspension indicated that he had half an eye on a meeting with the nine-times European champions.

Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, David Alaba and Anatolyi Tymoshuk joined Jerome Boateng and Thomas Mueller on a list of players who would miss a game if they receive another yellow, while Schweinsteiger will be suspended for the return leg. “I’m happy with the game but I’m not with the five yellow cards we received. That’s too many,” Heynckes told reporters.

“I’m particularly unhappy with the one Schweinsteiger was shown. Bastian is back

from injury and he needs to play,” he added. “He could have spent time on the pitch in the return leg as he needs to play. I talked to him, he knows there was no use being booked like that.” There were few other grounds for complaint for the Germans, particularly with Robben’s oustanding performance in setting up the first goal and scoring the second. His fellow forward Franck Ribery was not at his best, however, and was possibly affected by the boos which rained down on him from the terraces all night. “I am very happy we won here, away,” Ribery, who left Marseille for Munich in 2007, said. “It’s never easy to come back but I can understand.”

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said he did not think the the France international had been too distracted by the hostile reception. “He does everything wholeheartedly,” he said. “I think he’s used to this after all he has been through both personally and on the pitch. I don’t think he was disturbed too much.”

Ribery was not the only one to attract the ire of the crowd, however, with the normally passionate Marseille fans staging a silent protest against the club’s recent form. Marseille, who have not win a game

in more than a month, barely threatened the Bayern goal and the absence of goalkeeper Steve Mandanda proved costly as his replacement Elinton Andrade should have done better on Mario Gomez’s opening goal. The club may have bid farewell to the Champions League for a while as they are ninth in Ligue 1, 13 points adrift of a qualifying place for next year’s competition with nine games to play. “We still have a chance, even if it’s a very slight one,” Deschamps said.

“We have a week to rest and recover.

Despite what happened (tonight), we still have a Champions League quarter-final to play in a great stadium. We’ll do our best.” Midfielder Stephane Mbia was the only Marseille player to sound any sort of note of defiance in his promise of “a surprise” for the return leg. His coach already sounded like he was focused on domestic business. Marseille, who suffered a shock exit to third-tier Quevilly in the French Cup and have lost seven straight in Ligue 1, will have a chance to lift a trophy next month when they face Olympique Lyon in the League Cup. “It could be worse.

There is no reason to resign,” Deschamps said.— Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Bartoli ends Azarenka’s winning streak Radwanska beats tired Venus Williams KEY BISCAYNE: World number one Victoria Azarenka’s 26-match winning streak finally came to an end on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-3 defeat to France’s Marion Bartoli at the Sony Ericsson Open. Seventh-seed Bartoli moves into the semi-finals where she will face Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-1. Azarenka’s winning streak was the best start to a WTA Tour season since Martina Hingis won 37 in a row in 1997.

The Belarusian’s impressive run included wins in her last four tournaments, Sydney, the Australian Open, Doha and Indian Wells, but it was clear the run had taken a toll. Bartoli played with aggression and confidence from the outset to take the game to Azarenka, who appeared short of inspiration and heavy on her feet.

“Physically I was just not able to do anything today. It was just not possible. You know, I’m a human, not a super woman. I wish I could be but I’m not,” she said. “But Marion really played really well today, and she deserves the win. What else can I say?”

The Frenchwoman produced a superb cross-court return to break and go 4-3 up in the second set, the decisive blow which finished off Azarenka’s resistance.

“I just went out on the court full of belief

in myself,” said a delighted Bartoli, who raised her arms aloft in delight at beating the top seed. “I’m working extremely hard, and I’m just happy that everything is paying off right now and I’m able to play some great tennis,” she added. Williams, playing in her first singles tournament since her shock withdrawal from last September’s US Open with Sjogren’s Syndrome, said her late-night match against Ana Ivanovic on Monday had affected her. “I was up until like 4am recovering from the match and all the things that you have to do after,” said Williams. “So the next day I think I should have rested more.” The auto-immune disease causes fatigue and joint soreness and, after doing well to reach the last eight by outlasting Ivanovic in three sets, Williams looked sluggish in the latter stages of Wednesday’s 80-minute match. World number four Radwanska, who won in Dubai in February, enjoyed a 74 percent first serve while Williams, who entered the tournament as a wildcard, paid the price for 33 unforced errors. The American, however, was encouraged to have made it to the last eight in her first tournament back. “This is definitely a start,” said Williams, whose sister Serena was eliminated by Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday, “I’ve definitely learned a lot about ways that I could prepare during the tournament.”— Reuters

FLORIDA: Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, returns the ball to Marion Bartoli, of France, during the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne. — AP

Rangers go top of NHL standings Blue Jackets clip Red Wings WINNIPEG: New York moved to the top of the standings with a win over fading Winnipeg. Ryan Callahan and Michael Del Zotto each had a goal and an assist, while Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan also scored for the Rangers, who lead Pittsburgh by five points in the Eastern Conference.

New York is tied with Western Conference-leading St Louis with 105 points, but the Rangers have the edge because of one more nonshootout victory. Spencer Machacek and Bryan Little scored for the Jets, who are 10 points off the final playoff-yielding position in the East.

Winnipeg went 0-4 against New York this season.

CANUCKS 1, AVALANCHE 0 Vancouver’s backup goalie Cory Schneider made 43 saves to preserve the Canucks’ 1-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday, extending their dominance of the fading Avalanche. Chris Higgins scored a short-handed goal in the first period and that was enough for Vancouver, which also won its previous game 1-0.

Vancouver moved within two points of Western Conference-leading St Louis with five games remaining.

KINGS 3, FLAMES 0 In Calgary, Jonathan Quick stopped 19 shots for his team-record ninth shutout of the season as Los Angeles beat Calgary to move into the eighth place in the West. Willie Mitchell, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams scored for the Kings. With eight shutouts, Quick had been tied with Rogie Vachon, who set the Kings’ mark in the 1976-77 season. Los Angeles blanked its opponent for the 10th time this season to tie another club record set in 2000-01. The Flames are three points behind the Kings with four games remaining.

DUCKS 3, SHARKS 1 In Anaheim, Teemu Selanne scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period as Anaheim dealt a blow to San Jose’s playoff ambitions. Jonas Hiller made 28 saves, Bobby Ryan also scored and Corey Perry scored his 36th goal of the season into an empty net for the Ducks, who who notched their fifth win in six meetings with their California rivals this season.

Anaheim also knocked the Sharks out of first place in the Pacific Division as Dallas (89 points) moved ahead of San Jose (88), Los Angeles (88) and Phoenix (87) in a remarkable four-

team race for a division title and just three probable playoff spots. The Sharks’ loss also clinched a playoff berth for the Nashville Predators, who are fifth in the Western Conference.

Ryane Clowe scored for San Jose, which had won three straight.

STARS 3, OILERS 1 In Edmonton, Michael Ryder scored twice and added an assist to lift Dallas over Edmonton and to the top of the crowded Pacific Division. Mike Ribeiro also scored and had two assists for the Stars (42-30-5), who moved back into first place in the Pacific - one-point ahead of Los Angeles and San Jose, and two points in front of Phoenix. Each team has five games remaining. Ales Hemsky had the lone goal for the Oilers.

BLUE JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 2 In Columbus, the hosts avenged a rout by Detroit two days earlier by beating Columbus. Blue Jackets thirdstring goalie Allen York stopped 29 shots and earned his first NHL victory in an emergency start. Vinny Prospal and Derek Dorsett scored in the first period, and Derick Brassard and RJ Umberger added goals in the second.

Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall scored for the Red Wings.— AP

NHL results/standings NY Rangers 4, Winnipeg 2; Columbus 4, Detroit 2; Los Angeles 3, Calgary 0; Dallas 3, Edmonton 1; Vancouver 1, Colorado 0; Anaheim 3, San Jose 1.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS NY Rangers 49 21 7 213 172 105 Pittsburgh 47 23 6 256 200 100 Philadelphia 44 24 8 241 213 96 New Jersey 43 28 6 208 201 92 NY Islanders 32 33 11 185 227 75 Northeast Division Boston 45 28 3 249 186 93 Ottawa 39 28 10 236 227 88 Buffalo 38 29 10 202 210 86 Toronto 33 35 9 217 242 75 Montreal 29 34 14 199 214 72 Southeast Division Florida 37 24 15 189 208 89 Washington 38 31 8 206 219 84 Winnipeg 35 34 8 207 227 78 Tampa Bay 35 34 7 216 260 77 Carolina 31 31 15 205 228 77 Western Conference Central Division St Louis 48 20 9 199 147 105 Detroit 46 26 5 239 191 97 Nashville 44 25 8 219 202 96 Chicago 42 26 9 231 222 93 Columbus 25 45 7 181 252 57 Northwest Division Vancouver 47 21 9 231 187 103 Colorado 40 33 6 201 208 86 Calgary 35 28 15 191 215 85 Minnesota 31 35 10 161 210 72 Edmonton 31 37 9 207 226 71 Pacific Division Dallas 42 30 5 205 204 89 San Jose 39 28 10 211 199 88 Los Angeles 38 27 12 178 165 88 Phoenix 37 27 13 200 202 87 Anaheim 33 33 11 194 213 77 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Dodgers delighted by Magic move LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Dodgers players are already under the spell of Magic Johnson, the NBA icon whose ownership group won the auction for the bankrupt baseball club with a $2 billion bid. “I think it’s tight, man,” said centerfielder Matt Kemp, whose eightyear, $160 million contract-inked last November-makes him the highest-paid Dodger in history. “For Magic to be one of our owners, he knows what the Dodgers mean to LA,” Kemp said in an article from the team’s spring training base in Arizona and posted on the team’s website. “Magic is real important to LA. The fans love him. To get him to be part of the organization, it’s a pretty good day for the Dodgers.” Kemp said he was skeptical when he heard the first reports of the sale on Tuesday night,

when it was announced that Johnson, Guggenheim Partners and Stan Kasten were heading a group buying the club from Frank McCourt.

Kemp told MLB.com he was at a Phoenix Suns NBA game when his phone “started blowing up.” “I thought everybody was playing around,” he said.

“I didn’t know if it was real until I got texts from important people.” Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles before his retirement in 1991 after announcing he was HIV-positive. He made brief comebacks, one as coach of the Lakers, before becoming a successful businessman.

Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr told the Los Angeles Times he was thrilled to have his club part-owned by a sportsman he grew up idolizing. “I’m

pumped,” Gwynn said. “I’m only pumped because I’m the biggest Lakers fan. I grew up a huge Magic Johnson fan.”

The sale of the club must still be confirmed by the US Bankruptcy Court in a hearing April 13. The transaction is set to close by April 30, the same day McCourt must pay his ex-wife $131 million in a divorce settlement. Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who pushed for McCourt to sell the club and charged McCourt’s financial mismanagement had damaged a storied baseball institution, welcomed the announcement of the sale. “I believe that a man of Magic’s remarkable stature and experience can play an integral role for one of the game’s most historic franchises, in a city where he is

revered,” Selig said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Major League Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities, and Magic Johnson is a living embodiment of so many of the ideals that are vital to our game and its future.”

While some pundits have already questioned the record-setting price for the club, along with an additional $150 million for Dodger Stadium, Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano said the price includes a wealth of intangibles. “The brand of the Dodgers, it’s hard to put a price tag on it,” he told MLB.com. “You know that’s pretty subjective. I can’t speak to the financial side. I do know a lot of people in Magic’s group get it. Magic is such an iconic figure. It’s fitting. I think it feels right.” —AFP

Tseng roars into the Kraft Nabisco CARDIFF: British heavy weight boxer Dereck Chisora (right) seen at British Boxing Board of Control hearing in Cardiff Wales with boxing promoter Frank Warren. — AP

Chisora appeals against boxing license withdrawal LONDON: A month after brawling with David Haye in a post-fight news conference, Dereck Chisora yesterday appealed against the decision to strip him of his British boxing license. The 28-year-old heavyweight was stripped of his license indefinitely following a four-hour British Boxing Board of Control hearing on March 14. “The grounds for the appeal are that we’re not satisfied with the way the hearing went,” Frank Warren, Chisora’s promoter, told Britain’s Press Association. “Dereck Chisora will present his side of events and then we’ll see what happens.”

After losing to Vitali Klitschko in Munich on Feb. 19, Chisora got into a brawl with former WBA champion Haye during the news conference. Before the bout, Chisora slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in and later in the ring spit water in the face of Klitschko’s brother, Wladimir. Chisora was questioned by Munich police after the scuffle with Haye. The BBBC then ruled that Chisora “is not a fit and proper person to hold a license.” But Warren is disputing the findings of the hearing.

“A lot of stuff came out at the first hearing,” Warren said.

“For example we thought (BBBC Chairman) Charlie Giles was in charge but it turns out there was no steward from the BBBofC representing the British boxer’s interests.

Instead he was working for the WBC.” If Chisora gets his license back, Warren said he expects his fighter and Haye to meet again in the ring. “I do see the fight happening. It’s the proper forum for them to settle their differences,” Warren said. “There’s lot for them to fight about - in a proper environment.” Haye, however, is still to be questioned

by German police regarding the brawl and is likely to face several obstacles if he were to come out of retirement and apply for a boxing license.— AP

RANCHO MIRAGE: Last year a near-miss in the Kraft Nabisco Championship proved potent fuel for Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, the world number one who starts as overwhelming favorite in the first women’s major of the year.

Tseng, the 2010 champion at Mission Hills, settled for a runner-up finish last year behind American Stacy Lewis.

She said that the defeat-in which Lewis overtook her in a final-round duel-helped motivate her in a 2011 season that eventually included 12 global titles-seven of them on the LPGA tour and two of them at majors.

“That experience gave me lots of things that improved myself, last year through this year,” she said. “I know my emotional control wasn’t very good. I was very stressed after I missed a putt, after I made a bad shot. “But after that tournament, I had a little meeting with my team, my trainer, to see how much I can improve on the tournament, and I did after that. I learned how can I win in a tournament when I was leading on Sunday or when I was behind on Sunday, and I know how to play golf better on Sunday instead of just playing Sunday like the first day of a tournament.”

The lessons have clearly stuck. Tseng has won six of the last 12 events she entered-including three LPGA tour wins that have taken her total on the circuit to 15. “Right now Yani doesn’t have as much competition as maybe she even wants, so we all need to practice a little bit harder and we need to go out there and challenge her more often because right now she’s beating us pretty badly,” said American Morgan Pressel, who made LPGA Tour history in 2007 when she became the youngest major champion at 18 years, 10 months, and eight days old, with a one-stroke victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. “So we need to step up our games. So I think that it’s good for competition and good for women’s golf.”

Pressel said it’s hard to believe her victory was five years ago. “It’s almost like you need to step back and take a breather and really enjoy everything that has happened out here, both the good and the bad,” she said. “It’s not a life full of roses, but it’s a challenge. But it’s a fun challenge.” Norwegian veteran Suzann Pettersen calls Tseng “phenomenal” but added the key to beating her is to stay focused on her own game. “I still think it’s possible to play better than her, and that’s what I believe,” Pettersen said. “I believe in my own game. I know what I’ve done in the past, and I know what I’m capable of doing. “I don’t try to compare myself to other players. I know if I can finish what I’ve started, I think I can be pretty good.”— AFP

CALIFORNIA: Yani Tseng, of Taiwan, watches her tee shot on the sixth hole during the pro-am round of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship golf tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif. — AP

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

India’s long journey for one-off clash JOHANNESBURG: India and South Africa meet in a one-off Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium today with India coach Duncan Fletcher insisting the long round trip will be worthwhile. India arrived in Johannesburg Wednesday with a near full strength T20 squad, with batsman Virender Sehwag and pace bowler Zaheer Khan the only key players being rested. Superstar Sachin Tendulkar, reportedly receiving medical treatment in London, is not a regular T20 international player. South Africa, by contrast, have picked only eight of the squad

which won a T20 series in New Zealand last month, resting all their Test players with the exception of Jacques Kallis, who will be the recipient of a special tribute at the match.

The South African Test squad arrived back just over 48 hours ahead of the Wanderers game. Cricket South Africa (CSA) will contribute to the Jacques Kallis Foundation, which provides scholarships for talented cricketers from under-privileged areas to attend leading cricket schools.Kallis said he would, in turn, assist the Yuvraj Singh Foundation. India player Singh is being

Stormers beef up for run-in with the Bulls SYDNEY: The unbeaten Western Stormers have bulked up their forward pack for what is shaping as a physical South African Super 15 derby against triple winners Northern Bulls in Cape Town tomorrow. The Stormers remain the only unbeaten team after five rounds of the southern hemisphere provincial championship but the Bulls, who crushed defending champions Queensland Reds 61-8 last week, are looming as their biggest test. In other action, All Blacks ace Dan Carter will get his first start of the campaign for the Canterbury Crusaders against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg, after recovering from the groin injury he suffered at last year’s World Cup. Meanwhile New Zealand conference leaders Waikato Chiefs take on the NSW Waratahs in Hamilton, while Jake White’s much-improved ACT Brumbies face South Africa’s Coastal Sharks in Canberra.

Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee has brought in lock Rynhardt Elstadt at blindside flanker and will use loose forward Nick Koster as an impact player off the bench against the powerful Bulls pack. “We have gone for Elstadt because we feel the change will be important for this match. It’s horses for courses,” Coetzee said. “We know we have to be prepared for a physical onslaught, and we saw what happened to the Reds’ championship pack last week-the Bulls demolished them.” Coetzee has also recalled hooker Deon Fourie, at the expense of Scarra Ntubeni, and fly-half Burton Francis, who replaced Gary van Aswegen.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has named an unchanged runon team and expected a stiffer contest from the Western Cape outfit this weekend. “We did well last weekend against the defending Super Rugby champions, but now the only undefeated team in the competition waits,” Ludeke said. “The Stormers are an established outfit with a lot of experience and it will take a massive effort from us to beat them at home.” The Bulls, winners in 2007, 2009 and 2010, have lost the backbone of their championship team and some 640 Super caps of experience with the departures of Springboks Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez, along with veteran Gerhard van den Heever.

Goal-kicking scrum-half Brendan McKibbin has kept star South African import Sarel Pretorius on the bench for the Waratahs match with the Chiefs tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Waratahs edged out the Sharks 34-30 last week but coach Michael Foley knows his team face a big test in New Zealand.

“We know the Chiefs will be a big game for us. They’ve always been a side able to spread the ball, they’ve certainly got pace out wide and, in Sonny Bill Williams, they have another dimension in attack,” Foley said. For the Brumbies’ match against the Sharks, Matt Toomua has been named at flyhalf with Christian Lealiifano shifted to inside centre. Dan Palmer’s absence through illness gives Irish import Ruaidhri Murphy his first start at loose-head prop with Wallaby Ben Alexander taking over at tight-head. Coach Ewen McKenzie has made five changes to the Queensland Reds’ run-on side for tomorrow’s match with the Western Force in Perth, with outside centre Joel Rapana named for his debut. Radike Samo was the biggest casualty from last week’s mauling by the Bulls, with the Wallabies flanker replaced by Eddie Quirk on the bench. —AFP

treated for cancer. Kallis’ father died of cancer in 2003.

The South African squad includes three uncapped players and will be captained by off-spinner Johan Botha in the absence of the regular captain AB de Villiers and vice-captain Hashim Amla, who both played in the Test series in New Zealand.

India, though, will be led as usual by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Fletcher said the Indian team contained a significant number of young players. “We’ve been trying to develop a young one-day squad and Twenty20 squad,” he said.

“These blokes have played well on the subcontinent and any game they play out of it must be very good from an experience point of view.” The announcement of the match was made as recently as March 5. It was one of the last acts of Gerald Majola before he was suspended as CSA chief executive following a judicial report on undeclared bonuses paid to him. The game comes at the end of a long international season for both teams and only five days before the start of the Indian Premier League, which will feature most of the players involved.—AFP

Sri Lanka’s Herath spins out England Trott’s century in vain for England GALLE: Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed a career-best match haul of 12 wickets to propel Sri Lanka to a 75-run victory in the first test yesterday as England slumped to their fourth defeat in a row.

The world’s top-ranked side, beaten 3-0 by Pakistan in their most recent series and chasing 340 for victory here, were bowled out for 264. Man of the match Herath took six for 97 to add to his first-innings return of six for 74. Jonathan Trott’s century gave England a great chance to pull off an unlikely win until the match took a dramatic turn in the last 20 minutes before tea when they lost three wickets for seven runs in 24 balls.

They were 259 for eight at the interval and Sri Lanka wrapped up victory in seven deliveries after tea. Herath’s spin partner Suraj Randiv had James Anderson (5) caught behind before removing last man Monty Panesar for a duck with the next ball. “At one stage it looked like the powerful England batting lineup was going to do the job,” said Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford. “Trott and Matt Prior started to really control the innings and it took a bit of freakish fielding to suddenly change things.

“Rangana Herath is a tough little customer ... and has been doing the business for us for quite a while. I thought his control in both innings was really special,” added South African Ford. The 34-year-old Herath picked up his first 10-wicket haul in his 36-test career but Sri Lanka were indebted to three outstanding catches.

Randiv had the defiant Trott (112) brilliantly caught low down at leg slip by Tillakaratne Dilshan. Trott had mixed caution with aggression, hitting 10 fours in his 266-ball vigil.

He survived a caught and bowled chance off Herath on 62 when the spinner failed to hold on to a leading edge. Herath broke a threatening fifth-wicket partnership of 81 between Trott and Prior (41) when he had the England wicketkeeper superbly caught at short-leg by Lahiru Thirimanne. Prior attempted a sweep but the ball got stuck in the fielder’s midriff and he hung on for the catch.

Samit Patel was then expertly caught for nine by Dilshan at cover and Herath followed up by trapping Graeme Swann lbw for one in the last over before tea.

GALLE: Sri Lankan bowler Rangana Herath (front bottom) dives to field a ball as England’s batsman Jonathan Trott (center) looks on during the fourth day of the first test cricket match between England and Sri Lanka in Galle yesterday. — AP Earlier, England lost Kevin Pietersen (30) and Ian Bell (13) in the morning session after resuming on 111 for two. Sri Lanka struck in the third over of the day when Pietersen, stifled by tight bowling, went down the track to Randiv but only managed to spoon a catch to Mahela Jayawardene at short mid-wicket. His dismissal ended a third-wicket stand of 70

with Trott. Bell hung around for more than an hour before he was given out lbw to Herath despite playing forward at full stretch. The ball dipped late and hit Bell low on his pads, a decision which he reviewed unsuccessfully as he trudged off convinced he had made contact. “We are bitterly disappointed,” said England captain Andrew Strauss.— Reuters

SCOREBOARD GALLE: Final scoreboard of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium yesterday: Sri Lanka 1st innings: 318 (M. Jayawardene 180, J. Anderson 5-72, S. Patel 2-27) England 1st innings: 193 (I. Bell 52, S. Broad 28, R. Herath 6-74, S. Randiv 2-26) Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 214 (P. Jayawardene 61 not out, G. Swann 6-82) England 2nd innings (overnight 111-2) A. Strauss c Dilshan b Herath 27 A. Cook c P. Jayawardene b Herath 14 J. Trott c Dilshan b Randiv 112 K. Pietersen c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 30 I. Bell lbw b Herath 13 M. Prior c Thirimanne b Herath 41 S. Patel c Dilshan b Herath 9 S. Broad not out 5 G. Swann lbw b Herath 1 J. Anderson c P. Jayawardene b Randiv 5 M. Panesar c Dilshan b Randiv 0 Extras: (lb6, w1) 7 Total (all out, 99 overs) 264 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Cook), 2-48 (Strauss), 3-118 (Pietersen), 4-152 (Bell), 5-233 (Prior), 6252 (Patel), 7-256 (Trott), 8-259 (Swann), 9-264 (Anderson), 10-264 (Panesar).

Bowling: Welegedara 13-2-40-0, Lakmal 10-5-22-0, Herath 38-9-97-6, Dilshan 12-1-25-0, Randiv 26-2-74-4.

Sri Lanka won by 75 runs, lead 1-0 in two-Test series.

Sports FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Bulls overpower Hawks 98-77 NBA results/standings Minnesota 88, Charlotte 83; Detroit 87, Cleveland 75; NY Knicks 108, Orlando 86; Toronto 105, Denver 96; Chicago 98, Atlanta 77; New Jersey 100, Indiana 84; Boston 94, Utah 82; San Antonio 117, Sacramento 112; New Orleans 102, Golden State 87; LA Clippers 103, Phoenix 86.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Philadelphia 28 22 .560 Boston 28 22 .560 NY Knicks 26 25 .510 2.5 Toronto 17 34 .333 11.5 New Jersey 17 35 .327 12 Central Division Chicago 41 11 .788 Indiana 29 20 .592 10.5 Milwaukee 23 27 .460 17 Detroit 18 32 .360 22 Cleveland 17 31 .354 22 Southeast Division Miami 35 13 .729 Orlando 32 19 .627 4.5 Atlanta 30 22 .577 7 Washington 11 38 .224 24.5 Charlotte 7 41 .146 28 Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 38 12 .760 Utah 27 24 .529 11.5 Denver 27 24 .529 11.5 Minnesota 25 27 .481 14 Portland 23 27 .460 15 Pacific Division LA Lakers 31 19 .620 LA Clippers 29 21 .580 2 Phoenix 25 26 .490 6.5 Golden State 20 29 .408 10.5 Sacramento 17 33 .340 14 Southwest Division San Antonio 35 14 .714 Dallas 29 22 .569 7 Memphis 27 21 .563 7.5 Houston 27 24 .529 9 New Orleans 13 37 .260 22.5

Cuban player missing in US NASHVILLE: A Cuban soccer player who may be trying to defect in the United States left his team while it was in Tennessee for an Olympic qualifying tournament, local media reported on Wednesday. US authorities declined comment on the location of Cuban defensive player Yosmel de Armas, who was not with the team when it left a downtown Nashville hotel on Tuesday, according to local television station WZTV Fox-17.

Another Cuban player told WZTV De Armas had left the team. When De Armas was absent from Monday night’s final game in the tournament against Canada, the Cuban coach said the player was sick and had stayed at the hotel. De Armas had played on Saturday night when Cuba lost 4-0 loss to El Salvador. Metro Nashville Police referred all inquiries to the US Department of Justice. The US Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security had no comment about the player or his possible defection.

Tournament sponsor CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) would not comment on his whereabouts either. There is a history of Cuban athletes defecting to pursue a potentially lucrative professional career outside communist-run Cuba.—Reuters

Griffin soars to spark Clippers victory ATLANTA: Chicago’s Luol Deng led a flurry of 3pointers to help the NBA-leading Bulls blow out the Atlanta Hawks 98-77 on Wednesday for another road victory. Deng was 5 of 8 from beyond the arc and the Bulls finished 9 of 16 to improve to their NBA-best record away from home to 21-6 and their overall mark to 41-11, even though Derrick Rose was missing for the eighth straight game with a shoulder injury. The Bulls haven’t missed a beat, winning six times without their MVP. Deng finished with 22 points and had plenty of help, with Carlos Boozer scoring 20. Josh Smith led Atlanta with 19 points.

KNICKS 108, MAGIC 86 In New York, the hosts climbed above .500 for the first time since mid-January by convincingly beating Orlando. The Knicks scored 21 straight points in the third quarter to set up their eighth win in nine games. Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert each scored 25 points for New York, which moved 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and pulled within 2 1/2 of Philadelphia and Boston for first place in the Atlantic Division. Jameer Nelson scored 17 points and J.J. Redick had 15 for the Magic, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

CELTICS 94, JAZZ 82 In Boston, Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and added 10 rebounds to lead Boston to its fifth win in six games, downing Utah. Rajon Rondo had 14 assists for the Celtics, who moved into a tie with Philadelphia atop the Atlantic Division. Former Celtic Al Jefferson had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz.

CLIPPERS 103, SUNS 86 In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin threw down three dunks in a 1:40 span late in the fourth quarter to power Los Angeles beyond Phoenix.

Griffin had 27 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Paul had 15 points and 15 assists to help the Clippers move two games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division. They have won five straight at home. Marcin Gortat led Phoenix with 23 points and seven rebounds.

SPURS 117, KINGS 112 In Sacramento, San Antonio edged Sacramento to record a sixth straight win. Manu

SACRAMENTO: San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal (left) and Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas battle for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento. — AP Ginobili scored 20 points and Kawhi Leonard had 19 for the Spurs, who were playing their fifth game in six nights but still shot 54 percent and outrebounded the Kings. Isaiah Thomas scored a career-high 28 points and had 10 assists for Sacramento, which has lost four straight.

NETS 100, PACERS 84 In Newark, Deron Williams had 30 points and nine assists for lowly New Jersey, who finished with eight fit players but still beat Indiana.

Rookie MarShon Brooks added 17 points for the Nets, who started the game with only 10 players available before losing starting center Shelden Williams to an eye injury in the second quarter and backup center Jordan Williams with concussion in the third. Paul George had 22 points for Indiana.

RAPTORS 105, NUGGETS 96 In Toronto, Andrea Bargnani scored 26 points to lead Toronto to a win that ended a run of nine straight defeats by Denver. Jose Calderon had 10 points and 10 assists for the Raptors. Ty Lawson had 26 points and nine assists for Denver.

PISTONS 87, CAVALIERS 75 In Cleveland, Tayshaun Prince matched a season high with 29 points as Detroit handed Cleveland its fifth straight loss. Prince made four 3-pointers and added eight rebounds for the Pistons, while rookie Brandon Knight added 16 points for the Pistons. Rookie Kyrie Irving had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Cleveland.

HORNETS 102, WARRIORS 87 In Oakland, Marco Belinelli had 22 points and six assists as New Orleans comfortably beat Golden State. Jarrett Jack added 20 points and nine assists for the Hornets. David Lee had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Warriors.

TIMBERWOLVES 88, BOBCATS 83 In Charlotte, Kevin Love had 40 points and 19 rebounds in Minnesota’s victory over Charlotte.

Love scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves led the entire second half.

Luke Ridnour had a season-high 14 assists and added 15 points for Minnesota. Corey Maggette had 22 points for the Bobcats, who lost their fifth straight and remained stuck on just seven wins from 48 games. — AP

Real Madrid-themed hotel seeks investors RAS AL-KHAIMAH: A proposed island theme resort hotel in the United Arab Emirates using the brand of the Real Madrid football team is still working to line up investors, the chairman of the development said yesterday. The Spanish club announced plans for the $1 billion Real Madrid Resort Island project in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah earlier this month.

Ras Al-Khaimah is one of seven semiautonomous city-states that make up the Gulf federation of the UAE. It includes glitzy Dubai and the oil-rich Abu Dhabi. Project CEO Louis-Armand de Rouge told reporters that a locally based company plans to begin seeking out investors in a “road show” starting in April.

De Rouge is CEO of RAK Marjan Island Football company that was set up to develop the 50 hectare resort. The firm is controlled by the northern emirate’s government-controlled RAK Investment Authority. Real Madrid and its UAE business partner did not say how much they are each contributing to the project. Plans call for it to include a theme park, a stadium, marina and other attractions on a previously built artificial island off the emirate’s Gulf coast. Officials say they hope to attract both individual and institutional investors for the project that is scheduled to open in January 2015.— AP

RAS AL-KHAIMAH: (From left to right) Emirati Crown Prince of Ras AlKhaimah Mohammed bin Saud, former French football star and Real Madrid sports director Zinedine Zidane, ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al-Qassimi and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez pose for a picture during a press conference to unveil the one-billion-dollar Real Madrid Resort theme park on a man-made island in Ras AlKhaimah yesterday. — AFP

Bartoli hands Azarenka first defeat of 2012 Page 60

www.kuwaittimes.net

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

CALIFORNIA: Golden State Warriors forward Jeremy Tyler dunks as New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith watches in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. — AP

Bulls down Hawks 98-77 Page 63