09 April 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Pak president in rare but ‘fruitful’ India trip

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JAMADI ALAWAAL 18, 1433 AH

North Korea rocket installed on launch pad

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West to target Iran’s nuclear fuel work

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www.kuwaittimes.net

United eight points clear as City lose to Arsenal

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Panel meets ex-foreign minister over transfers Info minister set to face grilling • Court acquits 17 bedoon protesters

By B Izzak

Islamists in US charm offensive WASHINGTON: With a White House meeting, talks at a think-tank, and interviews with newspapers, Islamists unshackled by the Arab Spring are launching a new charm offensive to reassure a nervous Washington. The rise to power of elected Islamists in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere has alarmed many Americans, who fear the emergence of Iran-style theocracies that would deny the rights of women and minorities and antagonize Israel. The Islamist delegation in Washington this week hopes to dispel such fears, insisting that Islam and democracy are fully compatible and hoping for a new chapter in US relations with an Arab World in transition.

“We are here to discuss, and here to restore truth to the American opinion of Islam and Islamist parties,” said Sahbi Atig, a parliamentarian from the Ennahda, Tunisia’s governing Islamist party. “Islamist parties are not a threat. They are guarantors of democracy and individual liberty,” he told AFP after speaking at a conference organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a respected think tank. He and other Islamists say US President Barack Obama’s administration must open a dialogue with them, if for no other reason than that they won the landmark elections made possible by the Arab uprisings.

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KUWAIT: A full moon is seen over Kuwait early yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: The National Assembly committee investigating alleged money transfers by the former prime minister yesterday questioned former foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah, who resigned last October over the issue. Sheikh Mohammad declined to make any comment after the meeting, only saying that the committee has completed its meeting with him and that it will continue its work with others.

Opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak last September revealed that former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah had transferred millions of dinars of public funds into his private bank accounts overseas. The money was transferred through the Central Bank and the foreign ministry at the direct instructions of the office of the prime minister. The committee is scheduled to meet today with Kuwait’s ambassadors to Britain, Switzerland and the United States who are alleged to have received the transfers and deposited them into accounts unknown to the Assembly.

The committee’s work comes at a time when a special tribunal for the trial of ministers has started its investigations over the issue by questioning the foreign ministry undersecretary and the Kuwaiti envoys. The tribunal has established that a complaint filed by lawyer Nawaf Al-Fuzai was serious enough to initiate a full probe. Last week, the parliamentary committee questioned Khaled Al-Bannai, a senior official at the prime minister’s office, who reportedly told the committee that he had received verbal instructions to make the transfers.

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

LOCAL

MPs urge lifting immunity to face ‘parliament raid’ charges Mosque monitoring remains top issue KUWAIT: An oppositionist MP supported a motion to lift the immunity enjoyed by lawmakers who have been accused of leading angry protestors to storm the National Assembly building last November after an anti-government demonstration. “As we partner with the country’s youth, we plan to cooperate with the immunity lift request so that the truth can finally win,” said MP Dr Faisal Al-Mislem, commenting on news stating that the request has already been forwarded to Deputy Speaker Khalid AlSultan. The request will be debated and put for voting during a future parliamentary session, the date of which was decided yesterday ,

according to rapporteur Mohammad Al-Dallal. If the Parliament approves to lift the immunity of lawmakers involved in the incident, they will have to stand trial to face charges.

Separately, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs insiders expressed concern over minister Jamaal Al-Shehab’s latest decision to ease restriction placed on monitoring mosques in Kuwait, describing it as being ‘a reaction to MP Mohammad Hayef’s grilling threats.’

Speaking to Al-Qabas on condition of anonymity, sources explained that the ministry’s previous conditions called for closing mosques half an hour after prayers

“in order to protect worship places from being misused in spreading extremist ideologies.” “Does this mean that the ministry is able to eliminate this threat?” sources questioned.

MP Dr Mohammad Al-Kandari said in Al-Abdali that the bloc representing the majority in the Parliament cannot deny a member ’s right to initiate a grilling motion “but has to deal the consequences on his own.”

In other news, MP Nabeel AlFadhel requested in a letter to the Parliament’s secretariat, for measures to be taken against “serious violations committed by head of the investigations committee in the

cash deposits case.”

Al-Fadhel was referring to Musallam Al-Barrak’s statements, after he told reporters that the Central Bank governor failed to provide enough data to the investigations committee, repor ted Annahar. Meanwhile, he pointed out that Riyadh Al-Adasani had spoken openly about the six-hour session held with Al-Qabas Editorin-Chief as well as head of the financial monitoring unit at the Central Bank. Al-Fadhel accused both lawmakers of “revealing confidential matters concerning investigation committees,” in violation of Ar ticle 54 of the Parliament’s internal charter.

Rumors about bedoons spreading

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Different news about the stateless residents have spread in the press and the social media recently.

Maha Al-Barges, an activist in this issue sympathizes with the bad conditions of the stateless residents, who from her point of view are oppressed and lack many rights which they deserve. Officials statistics mention different numbers of stateless residents living in Kuwait. “The Central Apparatus for solving the Issues of the Illegal Residents mentions that the number of ‘bedoon’ is about 106,000 and this is the official source.

These sources consider about 35,000 deserve to be naturalized. I also agree on naturalizing those who deserve it. And I demand civil ID cards be issued to them, as the ID cards that they have now are not official identification documents,” Maha Al-Barges told the Kuwait Times. There are many rumors spreading about the stateless residents. “News was spread about deporting the bedoon from

Kuwait, but this is not possible according to international treaties. It is confusing where they may be deported to, as they are stateless and don’t have passports to travel. In addition, some rumors in the media say there are about 15,000 bedoon who have two nationalities. This information has not been confirmed by the national source in charge of this matter,” she added.

Regarding the news published a few days ago about naturalizing a number of people who are children of Kuwaiti mothers and nonKuwaiti fathers, Al-Barges said that this news was not published correctly and that none of them are bedoon. “These people who will obtain Kuwaiti nationality are from different nationalities, and their fathers were not bedoon. The press later verified this issue and published that those naturalized were not bedoon,” she said.

News spread on Twitter about Saleh AlFadhala, Director of the Committee, cooperating with Dhahi Al-Khalfan, Head of Dubai Police Department, to solve the issue of the

bedoon in both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. News on Twitter also said that AlFadhala will demand the help of different Arab security institutions to find the data on and the origins of the majority of bedoons to help solve the problem.

“Even this news was not announced by any official institution, so we can’t confirm if it is true or not,” she explained.

Al-Barges wondered what is the criteria for the security reservations set for some bedoon that restrict them from being naturalized.

“I demand to solve and clarify the problem of the security reservations. I wonder how a five-year-old boy has a security reservation?

This is ridiculous. I also call upon the authorities in charge to work fast in issuing Civil ID’s for the bedoon, as this makes them feel like human beings. I hope that, at least, they will be in the same situation as they were living in the year 1985, when they received most of the rights of Kuwaitis and they felt they are living in their home country, while now they feel like strangers,” concluded Al-Barges.

KUWAIT: Secretary General of the Kuwait Journalists Association Faisal Al-Qanaei met yesterday with Julian Clech, Cultural and Media Counselor at French Embassy in Kuwait. During the meeting, an agreement was made to host a workshop featuring lectures delivered by a French specialist in press, media and telecommunication technologies.

Cabinet holds weekly meeting KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Cabinet held yesterday its weekly meeting at Seif Palace here, under His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah.

Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah made a statement on the meeting’s deliberations and outcome.

At the onset of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the visit of Spanish King Juan Carlos to Kuwait and the talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah which focused on bilateral ties and latest developments on the international arena.

The Cabinet was also apprised of two letters sent to HH the Amir from Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Eretria President Isaias Afworki.

The letters focused on bilateral relations and how to enhance them as well as an invitation from Cyprus President to HH the Amir to visit his country.

Then, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid explained to the Cabinet the outcome of the “Friends of Syria” conference which was held recently in Istanbul.

Sheikh Sabah Khalid, who headed Kuwait’s delegation to the conference, said the meeting pledged support to UNArab Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan’s mission to staunch bloodshed in the Arab nation.

He noted that Kuwait has donated $1

million for UN refugee agency offering relief aid to displaced Syrians.

For his part, Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah AlMubarak Al-Sabah informed the Cabinet about the grilling motion filed against him on March 27 by MP Hussein Al-Qallaf who accused the minister of breaching the constitution and being lenient in applying laws.

The Cabinet listened to the minister’s views and defense about the accusations.

It expressed content with the Information Minister’s stance and proofs against the accusations.

The Cabinet also reviewed the latest developments over the implementation of the law No. 39 of 2010 which calls for the establishment of a shareholding company for water and electricity.

The ministers approved a request from head of the committee of following up on security decisions and head of the committee in charge of removing the encroachment upon state properties, Lieutenant General Mohammad AbdulAziz Al-Bader to appoint Eng. Khalid AlMohsen as head of the state property encroachment committee. The Cabinet reviewed the main issues on the National Assembly agenda.

Finally, the Cabinet discussed the political affairs in light of the reports related to the overall political developments at the Arab and international levels. —KUNA

‘Ministry to improve aviation safety conditions’ KUWAIT: New and improved measures to achieve the highest level of aviation safety in Kuwait will soon be enforced, the Minister of Communications said in a recent press statement.

Salem Al-Othaina said he is waiting for a response from Fawwaz Al-Farah, the President of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA), regarding complaints by air traffic controllers at Kuwait International Airport. Most of the complaints pertain to an alternative radar system in case the current one is out of order.

The controllers believe that the alternative radar is not capable of ensuring full safety conditions at the airport.

“The MCI gives full commitment to aviation safety conditions, and is keen on taking all necessary measures to maintain the safety of passengers and property”, Minister Al-Othaina said on Saturday.

According to the report, Al-Farah requested DGCA officials meet with traffic controllers for their recommendations on countering safety risks they are concerned about.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

local

More tax to hike state revenues: AB KUWAIT: Kuwait Audit Bureau will “seriously consider” a new taxation mechanism that will increase revenue into the state’s budget and also function as an effective tool of monetary and economic policy.

A recent bureau report said it is now “crucial to make overall tax reforms” to overcome loopholes in the implementation of the current income tax policy and address shortcomings which affect national labor.

It is particularly important to do so now in view of developments in global tax systems and the shortcomings now perceived in local tax laws.

The report said most countries, with different economic systems, have tax systems to help steer their economic and social affairs to satisfy national interests. It defined tax as “a fee levied by the state on individuals and corporations and other bodies in proportion to their finances for the aim of public good.”

One change proposed is imposition of tax on national companies. Currently only foreign investors pay a 15 percent tax on their net profit. “This state of affairs is both discriminatory and a damper on foreign investors’ interest in opportunities in Kuwait.” It also brings a risk of investors resorting to “on paper only” legal alliances with local agents to evade payment.

The report listed “loose terminology” in the tax decree, which brings a grey area to legislation and predictability of implementation. It said the law specifies a percentage of tax on national and on other bodies, but fails to classify taxes on types of activity, which is the case elsewhere.

The bureau said the Government’s working program clearly indicates the desirability of a fair and sophisticated tax system.

The authorities have also stressed legislation in this regard must be debated, finalized and approved without delay to help counter current budget structural imbalances.

The report said the law to support

national labor is unfair and a violation of social equality. It imposes a tax of 2.5 percent on net annual profit on companies listed with Kuwait Stock Exchange, but not on others. It would be fair and advisable to impose the same tax on other Kuwaiti companies, to support national labor programs.

A good alternative is to impose tax on all at a percentage of 2.5 percent which serves as an acceptable permeable to a comprehensive tax system.

In view of desired expansion in mega projects by Kuwaiti and foreign private sector entities, introduction of this tax on all alike will increase shared responsibility for bolstering the state budget. The imposition of tax with all its documentation will assist in compilation of thorough and regular records for reference in later projects executed by concerned companies.

The Ministry of Finance Tax Division is the Kuwaiti body responsible for supervising the state’s budget and implementation of tax laws and systems. It oversees implementation of laws on taxes imposed on foreign companies and the law taxing listed companies under the “support of national labor” article.

The ministry also implements the 2006 Alms Law, paid by companies to the state budget, which is a one percent tax on net annual profit spent according to Islamic Jurisprudence.

As shown by official records, the ministry collected a 15 percent tax imposed on 560 foreign companies operating in Kuwait between 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, at a total value of KD 43 million.

The ministry also collected a tax of 2.5 percent imposed on 222 KSE-listed companies during the said period, at a total sum of KD 28 million.

The one percent tax levied by the Alms Law affected 1,121 Kuwaiti shareholding companies at a total of 16 million.

The total sum of tax collected during the said time period amounts to KD 87 million, according to ministry records. —- KUNA

Protests against court rulings ‘illegal’ KUWAIT: Dharar Al-Assousi, Attorney General, said recent protests against some court rulings and some of the decisions by the Attorney General is something new and has never been seen before.

He said whatever the reasons might be, they must be stopped and banned, and those

who participate must be punished strictly. He explained that court decisions have special protection and cannot be objected to, except through a higher court. He said public objections to decisions, openly and in such a way, shows disrespect to the judge who issued the decision and is illegal.

KUWAIT: Some photographs of traditional Easter Sunday Service at the National Evangelical Church compound yesterday.

Christians face shortage of churches in Kuwait Easter celebrated around the country

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The places of worship for both Evangelical and Catholic denominations teem with faithful, come Easter and Christmas time.

Yesterday’s celebrations showed that there is a dearth in places of worship for the faithful. Both religious denominations had earlier appealed for additional land to construct new churches. Recently, there have been moves from new members of the parliament to block attempts to build new churches in Kuwait. A Kuwaiti parliamentarian has reportedly submitted a draft law banning the construction of churches and non-Islamic places of worship in Kuwait.

Kuwaiti MP Osama Al-Munawer announced on Twitter that he planned to submit a draft law calling for the removal of all churches in the country. However, he later clarified that existing churches should remain, but the construction of new non-Islamic places of worship should be banned. In an earlier interview with the Kuwait Times, Catholic Bishop Camillo Ballin, noted that with the number of Catholics, estimated at 350,000 out of 500,000 Christians, [Evanglicals, Anglicans, Coptic and Orthodox] he said the

Two held for gold jewelry theft

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Police have arrested two of the suspects involved in the recent gold jewelry theft case in which thieves stole 36 kilograms of gold from a Mubarakiya jewelry

store. In a brief statement released recently, security sources said that the suspects belonged to a country that was part of the former Soviet Union. They arrived in Kuwait only a few days before the theft.

Sources said that other accomplices were

still at large. Further details will be released in due time.

Sabahiya home fire A fire broke out at a home in Sabahiya, said security sources. Mangaf firemen rushed to the scene in response to an emergency report and found that the flames had gutted the first floor, with thick smoke billowing up. A woman, her fiveyear-old child and two Ethiopian housemaids ran upstairs to the roof top to avoid the smoke. One of the domestic helpers panicked before firemen arrived and leaped to the ground. The flames were brought under control within a short period.

Malfunction in KAC flight After over a 40 minute delay, a Kuwait Airways flight bound to Dubai touched down in Kuwait International Airport minutes after take-off owing to a malfunction in one of its engines, said security sources.

KUWAIT: Former foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah (right) meets MP Faisal Al-Mislem after a National Assembly committee investigating alleged money transfers by the former prime minister yesterday questioned Sheikh Mohammad, who resigned last October over the issue. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Car accidents A 27-year-old female Egyptian fractured her right thighbone in a car accident that took place along the Fifth Ring Road.

She was admitted to Mubarak Hospital. A 49-year-old Indian fractured his right arm in a car accident that took place along Fahaheel Expressway.

16,000 ‘bedoons’ registered in both Kuwait and Saudi KUWAIT: There are 16,000 stateless residents in Kuwait who are also recorded as the same in Saudi Arabia, says a report published yesterday quoting sources familiar with recent talks held by officials from both countries regarding the issue.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources indicated that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia agreed to form a joint committee on handling the 16,000 ‘bedoons’ in Kuwait who also hold special IDs from Saudi authorities to their

stateless residents. Saudi ID cards usually contain data about the “country or tribe of origin” of their holder, which will provide vital information to the Kuwaiti Government, which insists that many illegal residents here are Arabs who destroyed their original passports after entering Kuwait.

“Efforts are ongoing to categorize the state’s population of stateless residents to naturalize people that investigations and official documents prove their belonging to Kuwait”, said one

PACI smart cards KUWAIT: Musaed Al-Assousi, General Director of the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), said it has started issuing smart cards for GCC citizens, and those who are treated as Kuwaitis.

This first step will be followed by a smart card to be issued to expatriates. Depending on the residency article, authorities will soon start issuing smart cards for expatriates who have residency as per Article 17.

Exchanging an old ID card with a new smart ID card is subject to the expiry of the old card. PACI called upon those who have a valid ID card not to call upon the authority to avoid overcrowding.

source, adding that neighboring countries have shown a “positive response” towards these efforts.

Meanwhile, a source within the Central Agency for Stateless Residents said 500 bedoon servicemen are expected to be naturalized in mid May. They said Chairman of the agency, Saleh AlFadhalah, will hold meetings after returning from his current Gulf tour to discuss Kuwaiti citizenship for children of non-Kuwaitis who fell as martyrs during the 1990/91 Iraqi Invasion.

‘Drastic changes’ at Commerce Ministry KUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will undergo “drastic changes” by reshuffling a number of assistant undersecretaries and other senior officials within the next few weeks.

Minister Anas Al-Saleh hinted about plans to “reshuffle the shareholding companies sector” which he said is a step “that will help improve quality of work in favor of private companies”. In other news, sources within the Ministry of Housing Affairs stated that Minister Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri gave “director instructions” to hire 76 employees since he assumed office on Feb 14, filling all vacancies allocated for new jobs by the Civil Service Commission.

Catholic church needs new land to construct a new church. “Our numbers are very large, and the present premises is not enough to accommodate all. In case of panic, there will be hundreds dead in a stampede,” he noted. “We want only to pray,” he told the Kuwait Times.

Church at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City, celebrated early morning service from 4:30 am till 6am. The Easter Sunday Service at the Lighthouse Church was an annual event where Christians gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, three days after his death. At

Christians all over Kuwait thronged churches from morning till evening yesterday to celebrate Easter. The tradition of Easter is celebrated in different ways across various Christian congregations around the world. In Kuwait, the Lighthouse

the Evangelical Church, Easter Sunrise Service has been a tradition where Christians celebrate through joyful songs, dancing and playing musical instruments to express their jubilation over Christ’s resurrection.

In the Philippines, for example,

Easter is celebrated in many different ways. There is a ‘Salubong,’ an early church visit where an image of a Christ with Mary-the mother of Jesus is paraded across town and villages. In some East European countries, the tradition is to attend church with a bag of painted eggs and to engage in egg-fights. In the US, the Easter Bunny is one of the most waited characters. Children wait impatiently for an Easter egg hunt when they stroll around the neighborhood in search of hidden eggs.

In Kuwait, Evangelical church shared Easter eggs, some sandwiches to worshippers right after services.

Rev Warren Reeve, the new Senior Pastor at the National Evangelical Church led the congregation in the joyful celebration. Reeve’s message was simultaneously translated into Arabic by Pastor Nabil Attallah. He said, Christians all over the world should arise and be proud that they belong to the winning team. “Jesus rose from death; the fact that Jesus defeated death; and Jesus conquered death; we are in the winning team,” he said. He made note of statistical data which cited the growing number of Christians across the globe, from one in every 350 people in 100 AD to one in every six people in 2012.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Benefits of not following laws

Dangerous information

By Mikhled Al-Shimmary

By Basel Al-Jasser

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eing unable to implement the law is something unacceptable, dangerous and scary and it poses an obstacle for growth and development to any society. Yet, there is some benefit at being unable to implement some laws, like the law banning smoking of water pipes in specialized cafes.

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Few years ago, when smoking was banned in public places in the UK, some of the owners of Arab restaurants requested then prime minister Tony Blair to exclude water pipes from the ban. It was reported in the British media that the PM was surprised at the reason given — water pipe was a symbol of Arab values and tradition.

Lifting the ban has led the smokers to continue spending more time in those cafes doing nothing except smoking and losing their lives. Otherwise, they will be loitering around in the markets and malls, which are already full of people who are idle and disturb others.

Few years ago, when smoking was banned in public places in the UK, some of the owners of Arab restaurants requested then prime minister Tony Blair to exclude water pipes from the ban. It was reported in the British media that the PM was surprised at the reason given — water pipe was a symbol of Arab values and tradition. For Arab businessmen, it was the love of money, (forgetting that they were in the UK, where no official even the Prime Minister cannot be exempted from any law) that made them write the request.

This incident highlights the fact that we must think of being able to implement the law before passing it. Otherwise, we shall make others laugh at us more. The more important aspect is to expect results for any law passed, even if that means refraining from implementing some law or part of it like the water pipe ban law.

It is not a call not to implement laws. It is only a call to think of the results of any law. This is so that negatives are present more than positives in implementing that law. I dream of the day when laws are implemented in our country just like the UK. For sure, we will not live long enough to see that. — Al-Anba

kuwait digest

Where are the youth?

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

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t the climax of protests demanding the former prime minister’s resignation, the youth of the country were touted to be the driving force behind anti-government public activity. MPs and political activists at the time used the slogan ‘youngster’s ambitions for change’ as the main objective they sought to achieve while exerting pressure.

The main topic of discussion during seminars and other events was the need to change old figures and focus on the youth. This subject was a hot topic theme during election campaigns. Even leading liberal leader Dr Ahmad Al-Khateeb spoke at length about it while participating in seminars.

Political ideologies and practice remained intact.

Liberal groups promoted young activists during election campaigns at the expense of veteran candidates. Election results ushered in change in the

form of ‘fresh’ faces such as Osama Al-Munawer, Badr Al-Dahoom, and Abdullah Al-Turaiji. However, these MPs maintained the usual religious, traditional and conservative stance, instead of addressing the subjects promoted by young activists during protests at the Irada Square.

It is all clear as crystal now: the only change the former oppositionists sought through public pressure was to oust former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad. Once that was realized, all demands for change calmed down. This is despite the fact that the only apparent change the Cabinet seems to have had is to promote former deputy prime minister to become the new prime minister.

We no longer hear calls for ‘a new Cabinet with a new approach’. The present opposition blocs have accepted the reality of the Cabinet remaining intact, just like its predecessor. — Al-Qabas

angerous information was revealed by MP Saleh Ashour, in the grilling of His Highness the Prime Minister concerning transfer of money and huge deposits into some MPs account, with documents proving the charges.

Those transfers and deposits passed easily through banks and the Central Bank, while in the past it was a big deal when the media disclosed the news of deposits. The strange thing is that those accused of having amounts deposited into their accounts were all opponents of the Opposition group.

We say that might have happened by accident.

But MP Saleh Ashour disclosed dangerous documented information that no one can doubt. It is not less important than what the MPs were accused of, but even more important and more dangerous. That is because it included money transferred from abroad. Taking money from ‘inside’ is classified as a bribe, but from outside it is not only a bribe but implies betraying the nation.

Therefore I look forward, along with many other Kuwaitis, to send the accusations raised by MP Saleh Ashour to the committee formed by the majority MPs to investigate the deposits case. The work of the committee is still in progress, so there is no harm in investigating those accusations as well.

But it is clear, since MP Saleh Ashour raised his accusations and before the grilling, that the majority group did nothing and remained quiet. There was nothing from the Islamists, or the conservatives or the Independents. We heard nothing at all from them except silence, which raises doubts.

Those accusations are against persons close to the majority MPs in both cases.

If silence persists we shall have a real scandal not less dangerous than media news, and it will expose the majority MPs are fickle, and their decisions are bias and not subjective. History will record against them and it will be a shameful sign in their political history.

They will record a precedent, which is the bribe taker can be described as such only if he is an opponent, but not if he is a followers or close by.

They will tell him good luck, enjoy it, and provide protection for him. They will tell him this is not a bribe but a blessed gift, even if the money came from outside the state. The reality is that a crime must be seen as a crime, regardless of who did it.

This is the law.

kuwait digest

Citizenry involves responsibility kuwait digest

The lazy generation

Kilimanjaro Charity Challenge 2012 in partnership with the Kuwait Times

By Dr. Wael Al-Hasawi

ONE MAN, ONE MOUNTAIN, ONE MISUNDERSTOOD DISEASE Six Days Trekking, 6-7 Hours A Day To Reach 19,340 Feet, To Raise £10,000 In Aid Of Lupus UK. Help Us Reach The Target Goal By Doing Something Amazing Today.

Donate Now And Do Your Part In Solving The Mystery Of Lupus.

13th - 22nd September 2012

for more information & donations: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LeighPendleton

T

here’s a story about two lazy men who once sat down together and had the following conversation: A: I wish scientists would invent a device with buttons we can press to deliver food to us, or for a car to take us to places, or to take care of all of our other tasks.

B: ...and I hope once those devices are invented, someone will come to press the buttons for us and save us the trouble.

I remembered this fictional story while reading a recent column of Sami Al-Nisf, in which he listed aspects that distinguish Kuwaiti society from any other society in the world.

To quote some of the points he listed, Al-Nisf says that Kuwaitis are entitled to obtain farmlands, industrial spaces, stables and livestock farms from the Government, yet the Government never asks them when these properties are utilized for a purpose different than what they are licensed for.

He says that Kuwaitis always eye what other societies have instead of enjoying the things they have which many people around the world envy them for.

He added it is common for a Kuwaiti citizen to blame the Government for his inability to repay a loan he chose to take from the bank.

“The more Kuwaiti society practices democracy, the less open-minded they become”, Al-Nisf added.

In general, Al-Nisf talked about similarities between Kuwaiti society and Greek society which proved their unwise overspending methods. I personally disagree with this point, as I believe that Kuwaiti society is more similar to the two men mentioned in the story above, and I have a list of aspects to prove my point: l The Government has been calling to find new sources of income, even before the development plan was made. Two years after the plan went into effect, oil remains the sole source of income. l Most candidates who warned of a looming economic crisis due to current overspending policies lost the election in favor of candidates who promised voters even more financial privileges. l Trips abroad for treatment paid by the Government is the focus of attention of officials in state departments, while the Government is blamed for failing to fund projects to improve the local health sector. l Traffic jams are at their worst during the hours in which state employees are supposed to be at their offices. l Rates of sick leave are notably high in the public sector, while state employees aren’t shy to express their rejection of a fingerprint scanner system to record attendance. All of this despite the fact that Kuwait has one of the highest number of official holidays in a year. l People complain how boring their lives are yet the airport is always busy, especially on weekends. l Kuwait has a strange Parliament were members can suddenly turn from Oppositionist to proGovernment or vice versa, and where lawmakers can share a friendly conversation only minutes after engaging in a heated exchange. —Al-Rai

By Dr Salwa Al-Jassar

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rue citizenry involves responsibility. Only deep-seated values, principles and understanding leads to the development of patriotic feelings that materialize into the country being safeguarded and laws being respected.

The concept of citizenry has gone into regression, with several individuals making varied interpretations. However, when we decided to achieve goals, the situation became chaotic. Group values guarantee unity of civil society which aims to achieve justice and equality, regardless of affiliations and belonging.

Democracy will not succeed in a society that does not respect expression of opinion, and the spread of the extremism, violence and demonstration. This is because when this becomes widespread, it will be considered policy paralysis by politicians.

What happened? Why it did it happen? Where are we going? We are experiencing a crisis of self confidence. There is no respect and appreciation even among family members.

The principal of rights and duties has became mixed up towards the homeland. No rights are protected, and no duties are served despite the importance of the country. We live in a democratic set-up as spelled out by the Constitution for more than 50 years. We are going through a crisis, with the definition of democracy as we know it, going through a complete transformation in Kuwait.

The principle of democracy has been destroyed, including its importance, goals and beauty for a good living . Democracy does not mean distancing others and disrespecting their ideas. Rather, it means listening to others to fight political monopoly to cause change for the sake of citizen and country.

Voting for our representatives at Parliament does not mean representing us in all aspects of life, or robbing us of our right in political participation. The lawmaker is not our legal guardian. He has the responsibility to solve people’s problems in cooperation with the executive authority. This is based on the law being respected.

The person who represents us has taken up the duty to usher in reform so as to push development forward in a country that is stagnant despite its wealth and wisdom of some of its leaders.

Lawmakers accepted legislations and supervision for the sake of country and citizen, as cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities is something important and a national duty that needs cooperation, respect, initiative and advice to straighten the crooked It is our duty hold those representing us at the National Assembly to be accountable about performance and achievements. We should be included in amending regulations or expressing our opinions, or to take critical decisions under a regime that guarantees respect of the Constitution and state laws. We must correct political ideas about citizenry that is based on the principles of justice and equality. — Al-Watan

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Drug dealer offered freedom for cash Helicopter rescues lost father, son KUWAIT: A police investigator was reportedly arrested after offering to get a drug dealer out of jail in exchange for money.

According to a security source familiar with the case, the policeman was assigned to interrogate a Kuwaiti man arrested in possession of items suspected to be drugs. During interrogations, the officer reportedly offered to change the investigation report in favor of the drug dealer in exchange for KD25,000. He was arrested when his partners learned about the bribe and informed Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Police Affairs, Major General Ahmad Al-Khalifa, about the story. The officer remains in custody pending legal procedures after he reportedly confessed during investigations.

Sunken boat lifted off Failaka shores KUWAIT: Kuwaiti divers recently recovered a sunken boat at Failaka Island port where it was involved in an offshore accident.

According to Supervisor Faisal AlHarban, divers used underwater air lift bags to lift the four ton, 31-meter long boat off the sea floor.

It was then towed to Ras Al-Ardh har-

bor so that maintenance operations can be performed.

The Kuwait Dive Team is a voluntary group that acts under the Environmental Voluntary Foundation on Marine Environment Protection. According to the team’s estimations, divers have lifted 520 sunken boats since they began operations in 1986.

Kuwait hosts Gulf festival for social work KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah’s sponsorship of the Third Gulf festival for social work reflected Kuwait leadership’s keenness to cementing common Gulf social action, a Gulf official said yesterday.

Aqeel Ahmad Al-Jassem, Director General of the Executive Office of the Social Affairs Ministers in the GCC countries, also praised efforts of the Kuwaiti ministry of social affairs and labor to organizing the festival, to be held under the theme “Quality and Pioneering,” from April 8 to 14.

Sheikh Nawaf deputized Minister of Social Affairs Ahamd Abdul Latif Al-

Rujaib to attend the inaugural ceremony.

Al-Jassem, in a statement, said the festival would shed light on social affairs achievements in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The festival, he added, would include an exhibition displaying production of family businesses.

Organizers of the festival will honor leading figures who contributed to social affairs field in the Gulf region, said AlJassem. The festival is held once every two years, aims at reaching common principles in public social action and discussing obstacles facing it. — KUNA

Andalus accident A toddler was killed when he was accidently run over by a male driver who was placed under arrest. The incident took place recently in Andalus, where the 2year-old Indian child was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics who arrived shortly

after the accident was reported.

The driver, an Asian national, remains in custody pending investigations.

Desert rescue A police helicopter was used to locate and save a man and his son who were lost in the desert.

They were on their way to Abdali land port (north), when their car became trapped in sand. Police sent an air rescue team after the citizen expressed concern during his emergency call about his 4year-old son, who was with him during the ordeal. The man left the scene safely after police helped him to free his car.

Hitch-hiker thief A male driver resorted to police help to avoid being set up by a woman who threatened to report false charges in an attempt to steal his money. The incident happened in Fahaheel, when a stateless resident picked up a female passenger who signaled for a drive. Before he could start negotiating the fare, the woman told him to hand over all of his money or else she will scream for

help and claim he attempted to sexually assault her. The man had no choice but to seek the help of police officers he spotted nearby.

He told them the story, conceding that he will be ticketed for illegally carrying passengers. The woman, a Somali national, confirmed the man’s story when confronted by police. She broke down in tears and pled for forgiveness. She was eventually let go after the man declined to press charges.

crashed during a dangerous stunt. According to a police report, the accident occurred in Wafra between 12 cars joining in one stunt. Initially two vehicles collided, taking out five cars in the aftermath of the crash. The injured were hospitalized. In the meantime, police launched a search for spectators, who fled after the accident happened.

According to the police report, twenty one people were watching the dangerous stunt.

Suicide attempt A female citizen was hospitalized after overdosing on prescription medications in an attempt to end her life. The incident took place in Andalus, where the Kuwaiti victim was found unconscious inside her room. Her family rushed her to Farwaniya Hospital.

The girl is currently recovering after her condition was stabilized.

An investigation was opened to determine her motive behind the suicide attempt.

Search for drug dealer A manhunt is currently ongoing for a car owner who abandoned his vehicle and fled from police on foot. The incident took place in Jahra, where the suspect drove away to escape from an approaching patrol vehicle.

Police opted against chasing him down a narrow road, in the interest of public safety. The suspect was forced to stop when he crashed into a parked vehicle.

He was last seen running away with a plastic bag in his hand.

Police found hashish in his car. A case was filed at Jahra police station. —Al-Rai, Al-Watan

Injuries in car stunt Three people sustained injuries after reckless drivers

Arab judicial inspection chiefs meet in Kuwait KUWAIT: The 16th conference for heads of the judicial inspection services in the Arab States began here yesterday.

Advisor Faisal Al-Mershed, Head of the Supreme Judicial Council and President of the Court of Cassation, said in his speech at the opening of the conference that establishing justice among the people is the purpose of the judiciary, indicating that citizens’ confidence in their justice lies in the good performance, neutrality and impartiality in its judgments and decisions.

He stressed the need to develop the judici-

KD 13.5m Al-Bida project up for tender KUWAIT: A project to develop Al-Bida roundabout, on the cornice, is forecast to be floated for tender in July at KD 13.5 million, a Ministry of Public Labor official said yesterday.

Saud Al-Neqi, Assistant Undersecretary for Road Affairs, said the design of the project will include the construction of a causeway above the junction and is mostly finalized after 24 months of work.

The plan for the venture stipulates keeping the roundabout to facilitate the flow of traffic. It was originally designed to form part of Abdul Kareem Al-Khitabi road. Following consultations with Kuwait Municipality, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Public Works, the authorities opted to develop the circular road intersection.

This is favored by many motorists for quick access to multiple destinations.

Al-Bida roundabout is a major site of traffic in Kuwait, as it links several residential districts with entertainment complexes, hotels and restaurants dotted along the seafront.

Regarding the ministerial commission for tackling traffic problems, he said it is comprised of representatives from three government departments, in addition to the department of traffic studies at Kuwait University. It holds a weekly meeting to examine various issues related to traffic congestion and road projects.

The commission discussed various issues related to traffic jams, including some roads known for congestion. Its members looked into possible emergency schemes and solutions, and agreed on tackling problems at up to 29 points across the country.

As for upgrading the Fourth Ring Road, Al-Neqi said the ministry is seeking approval from the Audit Bureau and other supervisory authorities, ahead of executing this venture. — KUNA

ary and improve its performance, indicating that the advancement of justice is not only to overcome obstacles but to make their affairs a priority by increasing their efficiency.

Ambassador Abdul Rahman Al-Sulh, Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League and President of the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research, said the conference adds importance to the march of the Arab Judiciary.

“We are looking forward to this in these exceptional circumstances, where the Arab nation is facing a difficult stage of its history

that requires full solidarity,” Al-Sulh said.

He said judicial inspection bodies, as a regulatory authority, ensure proper functioning of the courts and monitor judicial activity.

He said the convergence of such gatherings are among the tasks entrusted to the Arab Center for Legal Research and judicial prosecution. It is a beacon to reach the lofty goals “that we work for in line with the directives of the Council of Arab Ministers of Justice in unifying legislation and development of these devices.” —KUNA

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Six Kuwaiti students bag ABEGS award JEDDAH: Saudi Minister of Education Prince Faisal bin Abdullah awarded six Kuwaiti students the Arab Bureau of Education for Gulf States (ABEGS) Award during its 6th session. The students are Talal Mohammad Al-Shugaih, Wadha Hajraf Al-Hajraf (high school), Yoused Yaqoub AlKandiri, Rawan Mohammad Al-Ajmi (middle school), Sultan Mohammad Mubarak and Fatema Al-Zahraa Al-Qattan (elementary).

Al-Shugaih told KUNA that he considers the ABEGS award as a motivation for further excellence and success in his educa-

tion. This is the second participation since middle-school, he added.

The award activities included honoring 42 students from member states of the Bureau with certificates of academic excellence and financial rewards, in addition to some social and cultural programs. The award is arranged annually in one of ABEGS member states.

The first session of the award was held in the city of Manama, Bahrain, while the second session was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the third in Kuwait, the fourth in Doha, Qatar, and the fifth session was held last year in Muscat, Oman.— KUNA

Investors Group organizes Gulf Petroleum Conference

Kuwait keen on GCC social cooperation KUWAIT: The leadership of Kuwait is very keen on bolstering ties within the social affairs domain amongst the GCC countries to provide welfare and development to the region, said Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of Labor Ahmad Al-Rujeib here yesterday.

In a keynote speech at the 3rd Gulf Festival for Social Work, held under the auspices of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Al-Rujaib said that Kuwait, through its various institutions, called for meeting the expectations of the GCC citizens via enhancing cooperation among social institutes in the region.

He noted that the festival, to be held under the theme “quality and pioneering” on April 8-14, would focus on moves to solidify social cooperation.

On his part, Saudi Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Yusuf bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen said in his speech that the festival, held every two years, was a reflection of the GCC states’ keenness on social cooperation.

He stressed that challenges facing social cooperation amongst GCC statues would be focused upon during the event, hoping that addressing the problems facing social cooperation would yield some fruitful solutions. The festival will shed light on social affairs achievements in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It will include an exhibition displaying production of family businesses and organizers will honor leading figures who contributed to the social affairs field in the Gulf region. —- KUNA

ExxonMobil reunites with KES to support ‘Physics Challenge’

KUWAIT: As part of its ongoing commitment to support educational initiatives in Kuwait and generate student interest in math and science, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Kuwait Limited sponsored the Kuwait English School (KES) ‘Physics Challenge’ for the third year in-a-row as the largest contributor and supporter.

This year’s ‘Physics Challenge’ gathered

100 KES students from grades 8, 9 and 10 that were divided into teams of five.

Students were given a number of construction and mechanical materials and three hours to construct a boat with a sail that is able to transport a small cargo of weights.

The panel of judges included a KES teacher, an A level student, and three other professional experts across Kuwait. The judges tested and assessed the students’ boats based on their design, construction, and performance quality. The winners of this year’s challenge were the “0” Kelvin team from year 10. Second place winners were the Ribbets and in third the Extendables.

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Kuwait Limited President, Faycel Bensaid said, “ExxonMobil is in a continuous drive

towards generating student interest in math and science through initiatives that encourage the bright young minds of tomorrow to develop analytical skills, learn about innovation and science and excel in the subject of their interest.”

ExxonMobil Kuwait is a co-founder of the largest nationwide annual science competition launched in 2008, the Kuwait Science Fair. ExxonMobil also supports several other educational programs in Kuwait.

With KES, ExxonMobil sponsored the ‘Physics Challenge’ for the third year in a row to help the school in its efforts to provide students with science activities that will help them grow and excel.

Kuwait English School Head of Science, Pete Dryhurst said, “KES has stimulated hundreds of students with this competition in the last seven years. We are very proud of every one of our students who rose to the challenge this year, proving that with a little guidance and support, young students are capable of yielding outstanding results.

We’d like to thank ExxonMobil for its contribution to this year’s challenge and for its continuous investment in our activities. We look forward to having them on board with us for next year’s challenge.”

Founded in 1979, Kuwait English School educates over 2400 students in KG/Prep, Primary and Senior High School levels. The School is an associate member of ECIS (European Council for International Schools) and a member of BSME (British Schools in the Middle East). KES has also established the Millennium Centre in 1997 to provide older students with an independent working environment in their transition from high school to university so they can benefit from greater freedom and personal responsibility.

KUWAIT: The solutions and applications management department at Zain Telecom won the inaugural ‘Best Work Team’ award for quality of teamwork during a recent ceremony held by Naseba International in Dubai.

Abdullah Bishara

Dr Jasem Bishara

Dr Salah Mudhi Al-Mudhi

Hussain Ali Al-Kharafi

Hussain E. Ismail

Jamal Al-Gharaballi

KUWAIT: With the motto ‘ The Integration of Gulf Petroleum Industry .. Prospects and challenges’, the Gulf Petroleum Conference and Exhibition is launched today. The GPCE is a two-day event organized by the Investors Group and sponsored by the Minister of Oil, the Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Hani Hussain and with the presence of chairpersons of local, Gulf and world oil companies as well as oil experts from inside and outside Kuwait.

On this occasion, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the event, Jamal Al-Gharaballi, said that the Conference convenes in view of the regional developments that highlight the global oil markets, stressing the importance of the GCC region that offers great possibilities and capabilities that help bringing stability and reinstating confidence in the oil markets.

He added that this conference is the first of its kind that translates the interest of Kuwait in the oil sector development plan. The conference will be sponsored by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC ) as well as a number of local, regional and global oil and gas companies. He highlighted that the conference will address the horizons and challenges facing the oil and gas industry in the GCC region in particular and in the world in general.

Al-Gharaballi added that the Conference attracts the most important companies operating in this vital sector in Kuwait, GCC and in the world to showcase the latest techniques and technology they use and to create awareness about their current and future projects.

He added that the conference will be an excellent opportunity for international companies to view the latest developments in the Gulf oil sector and the businesses and tenders that will be offered as part of Kuwait’s and regional mega projects.

From his side, the Chairman of the scientific Committee of the GPCE, Dr Jasem Bishara, said that the conference will discuss a number issues which highlight important aspects related to oil, gas and petrochemical industry as well as the technical, economic and commercial issues and the role of this vital industry in the development of Kuwait in particular and GCC countries in general. Bishara pointed out that the conference comprises five main sessions each of them discusses a key element of the conference in addition to the inaugural speech by the Minister of Oil, Hani Hussain, and the conference organizer. The former Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Ambassador Abdullah Bishara, will also launch an inaugural speech highlighting the issue of Gulf integration. Ambassador Bishara is a leading person in the Gulf cooperation field as he headed the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It is to mention that the Arab

Gulf overlooking countries possess 65% of the global oil reserves, and therefore, they are of a strategic importance in this area.

He added that the first session will highlight the oil industry horizons and the opportunities provided in this industry. This session will be attended by the CEO of KPC, Farouk Al-Zanki and the Secretar y General of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Abbas Naqi.

Bishara said that the second session of the first day will discuss the current trends in the field of oil exploration filed and production operations. The session will be attended by the CEO of Kuwait Oil Company, Sami AlRushaid, the Deputy CEO for Petroleum Engineering and Development Operations, Saudi ARAMCO Company, Dr. Mohamed Al-Kahtani, Chairman of Gulf Oil Company, Hashem AlRefaei, and the Advisor to the CEO of Canadian Natural Resources Company Limited, Dr. Hamid Maguid.

As for the second day of the Conference, Bishara said it comprises 3 work sessions; the first highlights the future opportunities in the oil and gas refining and petrochemicals industry, and will be attended by the Chairman of the Kuwait International oil Company, Hussain Esmail, the Deputy Chairman and CEO of Qatar fertilizer Company (QAFCO), Khalifah Al-Suwaidi, the Managing Director of Chevron Lummus Global Company, Dr. Bharat Srinivasan. He said that the second session will highlight the partnerships in oil and gas sector and will be attended by the General Director of Public Authority for Industry, Dr. Ali AlMadhaf, the Chairman of the Kuwaiti Industries Union, Hussain Al-Kharafi and the Managing Director of Petroleum Coke Industries Company, Riyad Al-Saleh.

He added that the third and last session of the second day will approach the environmental challenges of the oil and gas industry and the suggested solutions. This session will be attended by the Managing Director for Research, Development and HSE in Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Badr Al-Khashti, the General Director of the Kuwaiti Environment Public Authority, Dr. Salah Al-Mudhi, and the Environmental Consultant, Dr Sami Al-Yaokoub.

From his side, and on the occasion of participating in the Conference, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Industries Union, Hussain Al-Kharafi, talked about the current status of the industrial sector and its developments stating that the industrial sector is a key component of the Kuwaiti economy. However, it suffers from a number of difficulties that prevent it from fulfilling its targeted role.

He pointed out that the Gulf Petroleum Conference and Exhibition is a real opportunity to assure the par tnership

between the industrial sector and the Government oil companies, and highlighted the interest of both parties to overcome the obstacles that hinder the national product development and growth.

Al-Kharafi stressed the importance of the role played by the industrial sector to create national job opportunities, diversify the productivity base and income sources and to provide the food and strategic security that is a key driver in the comprehensive development.

He added that there are currently some obstacles that prevent the development of Kuwaiti industry, expressing his belief that such obstacles face the industrial sector since long time, but they have been aggravated by the forced involvement of industry in the political conflict which weakened the investor’s confidence in this sector.

He said that the mid term development plan 2010/2011 to 2013/2014 is the right and required frame to push the development wheel and achieve the progress adding that the strategic objectives highlighted by the development plan till 2035 are based on increasing the economic growth of non oil sectors and the private sector leadership of the economic activity.

On his end, the Chairman and Managing Director of Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) Hussain E. Ismail confirmed in his word in the Gulf Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2012 the importance of holding the petroleum conferences in creating a mechanism for motivating communication and exchange of opinions and experiences among the producers, consumers and the other interested parties in the oil industry.

Concerning the company ’s projects in Vietnam Hussain E. Ismail said that there is a vital project in the north of Vietnam.

This includes establishment of a refinery with a refining capacity of 200 thousand barrels per day in complementation with the petrochemicals complex with a net of fuel stations. The company, he continued, has an important project in Indonesia including the establishment of a refinery with a capacity between 200300 thousand barrels per day in complementation with the petrochemicals complex and the retail sale net.

On his par t the General Manager of Environment Public Authority (EPA) Dr. Salah Mudhi Al-Mudhi confirmed the Authority’s attention to acknowledge, execute and activate the laws and legislations that aim at environmental preservation, protecting its resources and cooperation with the governmental and private institutions and the regional and international organizations to curtail the phenomena of pollution and mitigate its effects.

Dr. Salah Mudhi Al-Mudhi said that there is a basic cooperation between the Authority and the oil companies affiliated to KPC

within the framework of a coordinating committee with the objective of reaching more coordination, follow up and supervision on the principle of abidance, commitment and partnership between both of the parties.

The Kuwaiti oil companies, he added, submit monthly reports to the Authority reporting their achievements in environmental protection, emissions resulting from their industries and the output of this industry including the wastes and the way of dealing with them, elucidating that the Authority studies these reports and puts remarks in case of any violations of the laws, regulations and the norms of the Authority.

In connection to the efforts of the Authority concerning limitation of the phenomena of the climatic change, Dr. Al Mudhi said that State of Kuwait was one of the first signatories of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change as it signed it in 1994 and joined Kyoto Protocol attached to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in 2005. The Authority, Dr. AlMudhi clarified, is considered the national point of contract for the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol.

In turn, the Chairman and Managing Director of Petroleum Coke Industries Company (PCIC) Riadh Al-Saleh confirmed the impor tance of the Gulf Petroleum Conference and Exhibition in giving an importance message to the concerned parties in the Government and the National Assembly that shows the necessity of paying high attention to the private sector as it is considered a basic partner in the process of development and the Kuwaiti economy and as an important guarantee for variability of income and not depending mainly on one source or sector.

The company, he said, has two major projects represented in the expansion of the green coal warehouses and expansion of the Calcined petroleum coke warehouses with a cost of KD 7 million within a studied methodology of the company towards expansion, utilization of the financial surplus and securing its needs of raw materials for some months against any shortage in supply operations.

Those two projects, he added, are targeting warehousing the produced materials in accord with some methods that regard the environment and to protect against any instability in the global market and in the marketing operations and to guarantee continuity of production.

The company, he continued, is working in the field of manufacturing the calcined coke in order to reach our final product that is a basically used in the aluminum industry reaching 40% with the use of the raw material that is the petroleum coal produced from the refinery of Abdullah Port.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Pope marks Easter with call for Syria violence end Page 10

Easter bomb attack near Nigeria church kills 38 Page 9

IDLIB: In this citizen journalism image provided by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria. Syrians chant slogans during a demonstration in Idlib, north Syria. A UN-brokered peace deal for Syria appeared to collapse yesterday as the government made a new demand that its opponents provide “written guarantees” to lay down their weapons before regime forces withdraw from cities, a call swiftly rejected by the country’s main rebel group. The banner with the Syrian revolutionary flag on it and Arabic writing reads, “dignity revolution in Syria.” — AP

Syria demands guarantees Rebels say peace plan doomed

BEIRUT: Syria yesterday demanded written guarantees insurgents will stop fighting before it pulls back troops under the terms of a UN peace plan, and a rebel leader said the initiative was doomed.

“The regime will not implement this plan. This plan will fail,” Free Syrian Army (FSA) chief Riad al-Asaad told Reuters. Escalating violence has already raised questions over the ceasefire. Opposition activists said dozens of people were killed and wounded yesterday when President Bashar al-Assad’s loyalists shelled a rebellious area near the border with Turkey.

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, seeking to end a conflict that has killed more than 9,000 people in the past year, said the latest bloodshed violated the guarantees he had been given and urged Damascus to keep its promises. The deal Annan brokered

calls on Syria to begin the pullback of troops from around towns and cities

by Tuesday and for a truce to start 48 hours later.

While emphasising that would happen, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said in a statement that Syria also wanted the written guarantees. “Syria has a plan for military pullback already in place and being implemented, but completing and achieving the main goal would definitely require the guarantees from the other side and those supporting them to abide by the terms of calm,” he said. “(Annan) has not delivered until now written guarantees regarding the approval of terrorist armed groups to end violence and readiness to lay down its weapons,” he said. Syria also sought guarantees that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - outspoken in criticising Assad - would not fund the

armed groups.

Annan made no specific reference to the new Syrian demands in a statement from his office in Geneva. He expressed shock at the “surge in violence and atrocities”. Each side has accused the other of intensifying assaults in the run-up to the truce.

“As we get closer to the Tuesday 10 April deadline, I remind the Syrian government of the need for full implementation of its commitments and stress that the present escalation of violence is unacceptable,” he said.

FSA leader Asaad said his group had not been asked to deliver written guarantees to end violence.

“We have given our word that if the regime commits to the plan then we will too,” he said. “We are honest.”

“Nobody has asked us for anything written. Nobody has discussed with us handing over our weapons. We will never hand over our weapons.”

Colonel Qassem Saad al-Deen, spokesman for the joint command of the FSA inside Syria, said the rebels would respect the deadline to cease fire. “We will commit to the deadline even if they (government forces) do not pull back, we will cease fire as we have pledged to the UN,” he said.

“But if they fire we will pick up arms again and fight them,” he told Reuters from inside Syria. “When the regime asks Kofi Annan for written guarantees that we will drop our weapons it is actually mocking the United Nations. This is a joke.”

He said at least 1,000 people had been killed during last week’s violence in Syria, most of them civilians. The Syrian government says its opponents have killed more than 2,500 troops and police since the unrest began in March 2011.

Dozens of people were killed and wounded yesterday when Assad’s

Mali’s chosen leader prepares for transition BAMAKO: The man tapped to oversee Mali’s return to democratic rule held talks yesterday on the West African country’s future with putschists and politicians, 17 days after an internationally condemned military coup.

Dioncounda Traore, who is to be interim president, was quick to praise the junta’s decision to return the country to democracy in a sanctions-lifting deal brokered by the West African bloc ECOWAS. But underscoring the many challenges facing Traore, Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists claimed responsibility for the April 5 kidnapping of seven Algerian diplomats from the Algerian consulate Gao in northern Mali. As the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) said they had kidnapped the Algerian consul and his team, Traore met with diplomats, junta leaders and politicians in the Malian capital Bamako.

A spokesman claiming to be from MUJAO told AFP the group would be “making its demands known”. Traore was also scheduled to meet with coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo, but the meeting appeared to have been postponed. Sanogo and his band of lowranking soldiers agreed Friday to a

timetable for a return to constitutional rule after the March 22 overthrow of President Amadou Toumani Toure, a chaotic power grab that sparked international condemnation.

Since the coup, the country has been split in two, with the north now in the hands of Tuareg and Islamist rebels.

Traore, who flew into Mali from Burkina Faso Saturday, said the country needs the army to recover the whole of its territory, though he did not elaborate on when this might be.

Under the agreement, Traore, who is now speaker of parliament, will take over as interim president and rule with a transitional government until elections are held. The accord states Traore should organise a presidential election within 40 days, though given the “exceptional circumstances”, this may be delayed.

Mediator Djibril Bassole, Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, said Toure, who has not been seen since he was ousted in the coup, should be able to live where he wants under army protection.

Coup leaders will also be granted amnesty in the power deal.

As a result of the agreement, ECOWAS, which had imposed a total embargo

tanks shelled an area in the rebellious province of Idlib, near the border with Turkey, opposition activists said.

Fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army were surrounded in the village of al-Bashiriya, activists said.

“The army is shelling al-Rouge with tanks, and helicopters are firing rockets at al-Bashiriya. Tens of people have fallen dead or injured but we cannot get to them because the bombardment is heavy,” said activist Mahmoud Ali, with the sound of helicopters audible on the phone.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 21 people were killed yesterday in shooting and shelling in Homs, Deraa, Idlib, Deir alZor and Hama province, and that security forces had detained at least 200 in raids across the country.

It said that separately, at least 12 government soldiers were killed in clashes. The Syrian army has launched

an offensive to seize back large swathes of Idlib that had fallen under rebel control. Thousands of Syrians have fled to Turkey.

No comment on the fighting was immediately available from Syrian officials. The government has placed tight restrictions on media access, making it hard to verify witness accounts. A team led by Norwegian Major-General Robert Mood has been in Damascus since Thursday discussing how around 250 U.N. monitors might oversee a ceasefire.

Annan said he was in constant contact with the Syrian government and urged “all states with influence on the parties” to exert it now to help ensure an end to the bloodshed and the beginning of a political dialogue.

The former UN Secretary-General plans to go to Tehran on April 11 for talks with senior Iranian officials. Iran is a key ally of Syria.—Reuters

Arab-Israeli activist wins appeal against deportation

NOUAKCHOTT: (From L) Niger Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum, his counterpart from Mauritania Hammadi Ould Hammdi and Algerian Junior Minister for Africa and Maghreb Affairs Abdelkader Messahel speaks during a meeting yesterday in Nouakchott. The three ministers, who met to discuss the situation in Mali, demanded the “immediate and without condition implementation” of the agreement on restoring the constitutional order signed by junta leaders and ECOWAS authorities. — AFP on Mali, a country of 15 million people, people have fled their homes in Mali said Sunday all sanctions would be lift- since January, seeking refuge elsewhere ed immediately. Mali’s neighbours in the nation or in neighbouring counMauritania, Algeria and Niger called for tries.

Amnesty International has warned of the immediate transfer of power to the a major humanitarian disaster in the interim government.

Morocco also said it would send 14 region. Though coup leaders justified tonnes of humanitarian aid to Niger, their action by accusing Toure of incomalready facing a food shortage as it petence in his handling the rebellion in struggles with drought to cope with an northern Mali, the coup backfired and influx of Malian refugees. According to sparked the biggest crisis in the counthe United Nations, more than 200,000 try’s history. —AFP

LONDON: An Arab-Israeli Islamist leader has won an annulment of an order for his depor tation from Britain, the interior ministry said yesterday, adding that it was “disappointed” by the ruling. An immigration tribunal ruled in October that pro-Palestinian activist Sheikh Raed Saleh, arrested after managing to enter Britain despite a ban, should be deported.

But a higher tribunal had now granted his appeal, said a spokesman for the Home Office, as the interior ministry is known in Britain. “We are very disappointed the Upper Tier Tribunal has reversed the decision of the First Tier and allowed Saleh’s appeal,” the spokesman said.

“We are considering the detailed judgement and, if we can appeal, we will.” Interior Minister Theresa May had argued the presence of Saleh, the head of the northern wing of Israel’s Islamic Movement, was not conducive to the public good. Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the ruling marked a “very important day for British justice”. “By arresting, imprisoning and attempting to deport

Sheikh Raed Saleh on what the judge has determined as a ‘misapprehension of the facts,’ the British government has acted in a shameful way,” she said. “I trust that there will be a serious attempt by the British government to rely in the future on accurate evidence rather than inaccurate anti-Palestinian propaganda against someone who has a history of opposing Israel’s crimes and violations of international law.”

Critics of Saleh, who has had repeated run-ins with the law in Israel and has spent time in prison, claim he is anti-Semitic-an allegation he denies. The father-of-eight was arrested in London in June, several days after arriving for a 10-day trip during which he was due to address several meetings including one in parliament organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

He was later freed on bail. In September, a judge at the High Court in London ruled that he was entitled to damages from the government as he was not informed why he was being held until two days after his arrest. But the court rejected the claim that his detention as a whole was unlawful. — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Fugitive Saddam deputy urges resistance in video

BAGHDAD: In this Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002 file photo, Izzat Ibrahim alDouri, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s second-in-command poses with a portrait of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq. — AP

BAGHDAD: The most senior member of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s entourage still at large has criticized the present government and urged former Iraqi Baathists to reorganize their resistance to it, according to a video broadcast on Baathist websites.

The video appeared to show Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri, the head of Saddam’s Baath party and the highestranking member of his government still at liberty. Saddam, a Sunni, was toppled and his party banned after the US-led invasion in 2003.

The broadcast was not dated and Douri’s identity could not be independently confirmed. Douri released a recording last year criticizing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for rounding up former Baath party members in Iraq.

“We have to restart immediately...

to rebuild the revolutionary Baath party,” he said in the video broadcast on the 65th anniversary of the formation of Iraq’s Baath party. The video showed a man closely resembling Douri sitting in a Saddam-era uniform in front of the old Iraqi flag, flanked by a group of bodyguards, just as he did when delivering speeches in the past.

After the invasion, Douri was ranked sixth on the US military’s list of 55 most wanted Iraqis and a $10 million reward was offered for his capture.

In the video, he criticized the present Shi’ite Iraqi government and the Arab governments that backed it and accused them of treason and conspiracy against Iraqi insurgents who fought against the US military after the invasion. US officials have accused him of organizing the insurgency.

“Nine years have passed since the invasion and occupation and these corrupt traitors have turned their backs on the heroic Iraqi resistance,” Douri said. He also warned Sunni Arab countries over what he called the “invasion of Safavid” - an apparent reference to Shi’ite Muslim Iran’s growing influence over Iraq’s government, in a region increasingly divided along a Sunni-Shi’ite faultline.

“We put it before your eyes and in your hands, the Safavid Persian enemy today stands at the doorstep,” he said.

Baathists were banned from politics after the 2003 invasion, but the government says many former party members have organized into insurgent groups resisting the rise to power of the Shi’ite majority following the fall of Saddam.

Maliki ordered the arrest of hundreds of former Baathists last year just before the last American troops left the country, causing a crisis that threatened to unravel a fragile powersharing deal among Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish blocs.

Many Sunni Iraqis now fear Maliki is trying to consolidate his position by ousting their leaders from the power-sharing agreement, depriving the Sunni minority of a voice in government. Douri was the deputy head of Iraq’s Revolutionary Command Council under Saddam, and took over the Baath Par ty leadership after Saddam was executed in 2006. He has seldom been seen since 2003. In a statement in 2009, he called on Sunni insurgent groups to move into politics. — Reuters

Talks in Istanbul to target Iran’s purer atom fuel Iran rejects West’s ‘demands’ before elusive talks

CAIRO: Supporters of former Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman kiss a Tshirt with his picture during a rally in front of the Higher Presidential Elections Commission, in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. A former strongman of ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime has announced his presidential candidacy, shaking up an already heated race that is emerging as a contest between two longtime rivals — former regime officials and Islamists who have surged in influence. — AP

Last day of registration for Egypt’s top job CAIRO: Registration for candidacy in Egypt’s first post-uprising presidential election closed yesterday, amid lastminute twists and turns that have shaken the political race. Sixteen people have registered so far, each hoping to lead the Arab world’s most populous nation through a fragile transition following an uprising that toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak last year.

The candidates include former Arab League chief Amr Mussa, ultra-conservative Islamist preacher Hazem Abu Ismail, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Khairat El-Shater and Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq.

Former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, a stalwart of the Mubarak regime and seen as close to the ruling military, is due to register later yesteraday.

The registration process alone has been filled with drama, becoming the butt of jokes likening it to a soap opera.

Abu Ismail, known for his fervent anti-US rhetoric, was found to have a mother who held an American passport, disqualifying him from the race.

The presidential election law states that all candidates must be born to

Egyptian parents who have never held citizenship of another nation. And the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, which had repeatedly vowed not to field a candidate, made a dramatic U-turn and put forward Shater, only to find out later that he too may be disqualified.

Politician Ayman Nur, whose unprecedented challenge to Mubarak in presidential elections in 2005 earned him worldwide recognition, was last week pardoned of a conviction for fraud, allowing him to run for the top job.

But then on Saturday he was told that under the law he could only stand for the presidency six years after his pardon. If Shater is banned under the same rule as Nur-he was freed from prison in March 2011 — the Muslim Brotherhood may instead field Mohammed Mursi, another candidate waiting in the wings just in case.

In response to what it called a “massacre” of Islamist candidates, the ultraconservative Gamaa Islamiya announced that it was nominating hardliner Safwat Hegazy to stand, the official news agency MENA reported. The first round of the election is due to take place on May 23 and 24.— AFP

Yemen’s main airport reopens day after attack SANAA: Security officials say Yemen’s main airport has reopened a day after gunmen loyal to the nation’s former president seized the facility in the capital Sanaa. The officials said normal air traffic resumed yesterday.

Supporters of former Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh attacked the airport on Saturday, with tanks and armored vehicles occupying the tarmac. Their action followed a military shake-up in which key commanders were fired. The officials also say a suspected US drone fired a missile on Saturday evening that hit a car carrying alQaida militants in the south of the country.

All eight occupants were killed in the strike.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below. SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Loyalists of former Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh seized the country’s main airport Saturday as tanks and armored vehicles occupied the tarmac and forced authorities to cancel flights, a day after a military shake-up in which key commanders were fired.

Driving pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, armed tribesmen along with troops in uniform blasted buildings of Sanaa International Airport and opened fire on one of the airport surveillance towers before surrounding the entire complex, blocking roads and turning away passenger vehicles.

The standoff highlighted the challenges facing the country’s new leader, who must balance a promise to purge ex-regime elements from the army with the lingering influence of his predecessor.

At stake is the stability of the Arab

world’s poorest country, where al-Qaida is poised to fill the vacuum. Yemen’s new president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, fired several generals and other figures from the old regime Friday in a bid to show he was making good on promises of reforms and to appease protesters worried Saleh is trying to wield power from behind the scenes.

In his more than 30 years in power, Saleh had stacked key security and government posts with relatives and cronies.

The restructuring didn’t touch the expresident’s son Ahmed, who kept command of the well-equipped and powerful Republican Guard, or Saleh’s nephew, Yahia, the head of the Central Security Forces. The show of force appeared to be an attempt to intimidate Hadi from trying to implement more sweeping reforms that would remove them and other family members.

Both men deployed forces to help with the airport siege, according to military officials. Saleh was the fourth ruler to fall in the Arab Spring wave of revolts in the Mideast, stepping down in the face of protests according to a Gulf-brokered agreement under which he handed over power to Hadi, who was his vice president. But the deal allowed him to remain as head of his party, kept half of the cabinet ministries in place and did not stipulate that he must leave the country. Some fear he may someday try to return to power.

Many Yemenis are worried about his loyalists who command military units. The army recently has suffered several defeats in its war against Al-Qaeda-linked militants who took control of several towns in the south of the country, and many believe that Saleh commanders may be actively sabotaging the campaign. —AP

JERUSALEM/DUBAI: The US and its allies are pressing for an end to Iran’s high-level uranium enrichment and the closure of a facility built deep under a mountain as talks on Tehran’s nuclear standoff with the West resume this week.

Iranian media said the talks, which collapsed more than a year ago, would be held in Istanbul. A return to the table, as the Western allies tighten sanctions over what they say is a programme to develop nuclear weapons, had been in doubt after Iran and the P5+1 countries - the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany - released conflicting statements about the venue.

Tehran had earlier voiced concerns about holding them in Turkey, whose opposition to Iranian ally President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has angered the Islamic Republic. “After weeks of debates, Iran and the six world powers agreed to attend a first meeting in Istanbul,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported, citing unnamed sources. State-run English language Press TV carried the same report.

The Fars news agency also said the sides had agreed to a second round of talks in Baghdad if there was progress in Turkey. There was no immediate comment on the venue from the world powers.

Turkey’s NTV news quoted Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan as saying: “It wouldn’t be appropriate to make a statement on an issue that hasn’t been confirmed. As soon it’s confirmed, we will immediately share this with you.”

Getting Iran to suspend highlevel uranium enrichment and close a nuclear facility built deep under a mountain near the holy city of Qom are “near-term priorities” for the United States and its allies, a senior US official said yesterday. The New York Times said the United States and other Western nations planned to demand Iran immediately close and ultimately dismantle the Fordow facility and also would call for a halt in the production of 20-percent enriched uranium.

The US official told Reuters “20 percent and closing Fordow are near-term priorities” for the Obama administration and its international partners in dealing with Iran. Iran says its nuclear programme is for power generation and producing isotopes for medical purposes, but the UN Security Council has demanded a full suspension of enrichment, both to the 20 percent

TEHRAN: A picture released by the official website of the Iranian presidency shows President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2nd R) and the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi Davani (C) listen to the national anthem as they attend a ceremony with Iranian nuclear scientists to mark National Nuclear Day in Tehran yesterday. — AFP and the 3.5 percent level.

Iran has enough 3.5 and 20 percent-enriched uranium for around four bombs if refined further to about 90-percent purity, Western experts say. Earlier yesterday, Israel, which has also demanded an end to all enrichment and has threatened attacks on its arch-foe’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails, signalled it would accept, as a first priority, the Western powers focusing on stopping 20-percent enrichment.

“We told our American friends, as well as the Europeans, that we would have expected the threshold for successful negotiations to be clear, namely that the P5+1 will demand clearly that - no more enrichment to 20 percent,” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS to be aired late yesterday.

Iran’s stocks of 20 percent-pure uranium should be removed “to a neighbouring, trusted country”, Barak said, according to an advance transcript of the interview.

While Iran says it has a sovereign right to peaceful nuclear technology, it has at times appeared more flexible regarding 20 percent enrichment, which it began in early 2010, and some experts say that initially getting Iran to stop this

higher-grade work could open a way to ease the deadlock.

It is not clear what Iran would expect in return, but an easing of some of the sanctions, which include an oil embargo by the European Union, might be among them. Asked about Barak’s comments to CNN, another Israeli official confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was focusing lobbying efforts on Iran’s 20-percent pure uranium, but said the long-term goal remained the ending of all its enrichment work.

“The understanding that has emerged in our contacts with the powers is that there should be a staggered approach,” the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. A statement from Barak’s office later said Israel wanted the removal of most of the 3.5 percent enriched uranium, not just all the 20 percent.

There was scant encouragement from Iran to signal it was ready for concessions. In an address on Iran’s annual day to celebrate its nuclear achievements, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Western powers that Iran would continue its pursue swift scientific progress.

“The nuclear industry is like a locomotive that can carry other industries along with it. It is like the

space industry that has raised tens of sub-industries under it and it is clear that we must continue on this path,” the Iranian state news agency quoted him as saying.

“You are blind if you think you can block scientific growth in Iran by martyring Iranian scientists,” he added referring to the killing of four Iranian scientists since 2010.

“Don’t think you can stop this roaring river, and know that if you assassinate one scientist, hundreds and thousands will take his place.

The head of its parliamentary committee for national security and foreign policy, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said late on Saturday that despite the climate of threats and sanctions, Iran was proficient in all stages of enrichment from mining raw uranium in Iranian mines, producing yellow cake (concentrated uranium powder), to building centrifuges and injecting uranium gas into them.

In February Iran announced it had loaded domestically made fuel rods into the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces radio isotopes for medical use and agriculture. International sanctions are aimed at depriving the regime of funds and technology to further the nuclear programme and are squeezing its vital oil exports and government finances. — Reuters

Deadline confusion for Southerners in Sudan KHARTOUM: Confusion about what to do next faced an estimated half a million ethnic South Sudanese yesterday, the deadline for them to leave Sudan or formalise their status in the country.

Southern officials sent to Sudan have been reassuring their people and telling them not to panic, a non-governmental worker said, as Sudan’s Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmud Ahmad confirmed the deadline.

But the minister also said police stations would be open for those wishing to register as northern residents, the official SUNA news agency reported. The April 8 time limit ended a grace period after South Sudan separated last July in the wake of an overwhelming “yes” vote in an independence referendum that followed Africa’s longest civil war.

The 22-year conflict killed two million people and drove many more to the north. While hundreds of thousands have already returned to the South, an estimated 500,000 remain in Sudan, waiting for clear direction on what to do. “So far, we don’t know what’s next,” said Canon Sylvester Thomas, dean of All Saints Episcopal Cathedral in Khartoum.

He spoke by telephone from the South Sudanese capital Juba where he had flown on

Saturday to obtain a passport from the new nation. After getting the document he plans to return to Khartoum to register his presence.

That, he said, is where the uncertainty lies.

His wife and university-student children had already obtained their documents and gone back to the Sudanese capital, but they had no information about what to do next to officially become resident in Sudan, Thomas said. “We don’t know how we are going to regularise our status,” he said.

“There are so many Southerners who would like to stay,” either because they are still working in the north, are former civil servants waiting for severance pay or, like Thomas, have children in university or other schools, he said.

The Khartoum government fired ethnic Southern members of its civil service before the South’s independence. Those seeking to apply for northern residence need documents from South Sudan.

Jill Helke, chief of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) mission in Sudan, confirmed that people do not know where to register. Although it was unclear what would happen on the deadline, she said officials from the South have been in Sudan to tell their people: “Don’t panic.”

“They don’t really know what is going to happen to them,” said the Reverend Iskander Ali, an ethnic southerner who also preaches at All Saints. “Is the government going to kick them out?” The deadline falls on Easter Sunday, one of the holiest days for the mostly Christian Southerners, and also comes during a period of high tension between Sudan and South Sudan.

Border clashes that erupted two weeks ago between the two neighbours in the most serious unrest since Juba’s independence have prompted international fears of a return to full-blown conflict. African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki held talks late last week over the crisis with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir. During the Khartoum meeting Mbeki and Bashir also discussed the future of the Southerners still in Sudan. “President Bashir said Sudanese people are very hospitable and there are many Africans living in Sudan. For the Southerners, nothing negative will happen to them and there is no reason for fear among them,” Mbeki told reporters. Under a “framework agreement” signed by negotiators from Khartoum and Juba last month, nationals of each country have freedom of residence, movement and economic activity in the other state. —AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Hollande rides zeitgeist as France embraces left RENNES: The man polls say has the best shot at becoming France’s next president wants to hire thousands more teachers, scrap Europe’s expensive, hard-won bailout package, and pull his country back from both Afghanistan and NATO. But Socialist Francois Hollande appeals less for his platform than for his persona: the innocuous, intellectual everyman is many things that conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy is not. Hollande, 57, is tapping into a French zeitgeist wary of international finance, weary of Sarkozy ’s “bling-bling” personality and eager for change. While countries in struggling Europe shift to the right, France may hand the presidency to the left for the first time in a generation, with repercussions for the continent’s direction and France’s future.

Part of Hollande’s appeal is his Mr. Nice Guy image, but he still must convince voters that he’s got what it takes to run a complex, nuclear-armed nation and one of the world’s biggest economies.

Hollande isn’t the only leftist making headlines in this campaign: Firebrand farleft candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon has amassed some of the biggest crowds so

far at rallies blanketed in red communist flags. Melenchon, with the charisma that the mainstream Hollande lacks, is complicating the political calculus.

French voters kick off the balloting in two weeks, with 10 candidates from across the political spectrum facing off in a firstround vote on April 22 that will winnow the race down to two. While Hollande has slipped a little in recent weeks, polls have suggested for months that he would win the expected two-man finale against Sarkozy on May 6 by a broad margin.

The economic crisis in Europe has felled many governments in recent years.

A Hollande victory could break from a recent rightward trend in the continent, and put France out of step with other big European countries like Germany, Spain, Britain and Poland - all run by center-right or conservative leaders. Italy, hobbled by a debt crisis, is led by technocrat Mario Monti. Some of Hollande’s major proposals could raise eyebrows abroad: As governments enact austerity measures elsewhere in Europe, he wants to hire thousands more teachers. He wants to scrap a European bailout package led by Sarkozy

and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He has pledged to pull all French combat troops out of Afghanistan by year-end, and says that pledge would be the first thing he tells allies at a NATO summit in Chicago in May. For many in France, the time seems ripe for a return to a Socialist president: the only one in postwar France was Francois Mitterrand, from 1981 to 1995; throw-the-bums-out has been an election theme in Europe; Sarkozy, in part for reasons of personal style, has been unpopular for years; and the financial crisis and debt crises in Europe have emboldened the left.

Hollande is seen as more of a consensus manager and a listener than visionary.

For much of his tenure as party first secretary from 1997 to 2008, he served mostly as a water carrier for party elders and only now is coming into his own. His advisers insist to a foreign reporter that Hollande is no old-school Socialist, but a social democrat wary of the economic challenges coming from 21st-century powers like China and India.

Yet while major parties of the left in

Europe reformed and tacked toward the political center in recent years - like Gerhard Schroeder’s Socialists in Germany, or Britain’s Labour party under Tony Blair, the Socialists in France eschewed such a move. And when he speaks to the French faithful, Hollande’s class-warfare style rhetoric - inveighing against the financial world that he calls his “adversary”, and demanding justice for the underclass often draws cheers.

Hollande, who once quipped “I don’t like the rich” on TV, got a recent boost in the polls after he announced a proposal to slap a 75-percent tax on income beyond the first €1 million ($1.3 million) earned each year.

Hollande last Wednesday drew thousands who spilled out of two warehouses at a convention center near the city of Rennes, in the heart of the left-leaning region of Brittany. The highlight was Hollande’s appearance alongside Segolene Royal, his longtime partner and mother of his four children. Royal, who is also Socialist, was the party’s nominee in 2007 - and lost handily to Sarkozy.

Hollande and Royal split not long after

that election. On stage, Hollande and Royal appeared just seconds together, and the body language was uncomfortable: they clasped hands from a distance, and smiled to the cheering throng. But the message - party unity - was clear. His new romantic partner, political journalist Valerie Trierweiler, looked on from a seat in the crowd. Hollande’s near 90-minute speech covered his platform: A focus on education, job support for French youths facing high jobless rates, equal pay for women, respect for culture and ethnic diversity. Sarkozy has structured his campaign on a theme of a “strong France.”

Hollande claimed that Sarkozy, who took office promising economic growth, fiscal responsibility and competitiveness in France, had failed on all - and promised more responsible Socialist leadership.

“People say to us, ‘Watch out, the left is back, it’s going to empty the (state) coffers.’ It’s already happened! ‘Watch out, if the left is back, it’ll raise the debt’. It’s already happened! ‘ The Left will hurt competitiveness’ - It’s already happened,” he thundered. “Well, we’ll do the opposite.”— AP

Easter bomb attack near Nigeria church kills 38 ‘Bombs were concealed in two cars’

TSKHINVALI: Women light candles in a church in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgian maverick region of South Ossetia yesterday. South Ossetia holds a run-off vote to elect a leader after months of political turmoil.—AFP

Rebel South Ossetia holds run-off election TSKHINVALI: Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia held a run-off vote yesterday to elect a leader after months of political turmoil. Former local head of the KGB security service Leonid Tibilov was facing human rights commissioner David Sanakoyev after falling short of the 50 percent required to win in the first round, with 42.5 percent of votes last month.

Residents of South Ossetia’s main town Tkhinvali slowly gathered at polling stations to cast ballots after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time on the day when the mostly Orthodox Christian region celebrates Palm Sunday. About 35,000 people are registered voters at the 84 polling stations in the impoverished region where a heavy Russian military presence remains after the 2008 war with Georgia. The tiny region, which is recognised

by Moscow as independent after the brief war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, has been in political turmoil since November, when opposition candidate Alla Dzhioyeva’s victory was annulled in court, leading to 10 days of street rallies.

Dzhioyeva did not register for the ballot in

the repeat election last month, after a long stay in the hospital and allegations that she was beaten and held against her will. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, shortly after the 2008 war, while other world powers insisted that both territories should remain an integral part of Georgia. Georgia called the leadership elections a sham.

“It’s a continuation of farce and an imitation of elections in the Russian-occupied ethnically-cleansed region,” Eka Tkeshelashvili, a minister in charge of reintegration with breakaway regions, told AFP. The population of South Ossetia is also the subject of dispute, with the separatist authorities claiming 70,000, but Tbilisi saying the real figure is closer to 15,000 due to migration and what it describes as wartime “ethnic cleansing.”

Most South Ossetian residents hold Russian passports and some 15,000 also voted in Russia’s presidential polls last month.

Official reports said 92.7 percent of them voted for president-elect Vladimir Putin. — AFP

KADUNA: A car bomb blast outside a church in northern Nigeria on Easter Sunday killed at least 20 people and put the country on alert over fears of further attacks, rescue officials and residents said. The explosion, a stark reminder of Christmas Day attacks that left dozens of people dead in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, hit the city of Kaduna, a major cultural and economic centre in the north.

Motorcycle taxi drivers and passers-by caught much of the blast. As news of the attack spread, security forces boosted patrols in key areas, including in the capital Abuja, where soldiers were sent to reinforce police posted near churches, an AFP correspondent reported.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

At least one car said to be driven by a suicide bomber was involved in the Kaduna attack, but a rescue official speaking on condition of anonymity said two vehicles packed with explosives detonated.

“Now we have 38 dead from the twin explosions,” the rescue official, who was not authorised to speak publicly, told AFP. Officials were still counting the number of wounded, he added.

“Bombs concealed in two cars went off just opposite this church,” he said.

A police officer at the scene said a man believed to be a suicide bomber driving a car was stopped at a checkpoint near the church and turned back, but drove to a nearby area close to a hotel and detonated the bomb.

Other cars in the area were damaged, but it was unclear if they were also carrying explosives, he said. A spokesman for the national emergency management agency said most of the victims appeared to be motorcyle taxi drivers.

Police said the explosion was a bomb, but did not comment further. “We have a bomb explosion.

We are trying to sort things out,” police spokesman Aminu Lawal told AFP. Residents reported seeing dead and injured being taken away. An AFP correspondent said he saw 10 bodies, while one resident said he counted at least 10 wounded.

“From my balcony, I could see policemen loading the dead and the injured into waiting vans,” another resident said. One resident said the explosion was strong enough to shake his house and cause his ceiling to cave in. He ran to the site, which had already been cordoned off, but he said he could see damage to the Assemblies of God

Church as well as cars.

Islamist group Boko Haram carried out a series of attacks on churches and other locations on Christmas day, the bloodiest at a church outside Abuja, where 44 people died. Authorities as well as foreign embassies had warned of the possibility of an attack on Easter Sunday.

Boko Haram’s increasingly bloody insurgency has left more than 1,000 people dead since mid2009. Police and soldiers have often been the victims of such attacks, though Christians have occasionally been targeted as well.

Islamists saying they could not trust the government.

Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south. Despite a number of high-profile arrests and heavy-handed military raids, Nigerian authorities have appeared unable to stop the attacks.

President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the oil-producing Niger Delta region, said in his Easter message that “as people of faith, we must never succumb to hopelessness and despair.”

KADUNA: People gather at the site of an explosion in Kaduna yesterday. A car bomb blast outside a church in northern Nigeria on Easter Sunday killed at least 20 people and put the country on alert over fears of further attacks, rescue officials and residents said. — AFP The group also claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in the capital Abuja which killed 25 people. Its deadliest attack yet occurred in the northern city of Kano on January 20, when coordinated bombings and shootings left at least 185 people dead.

An attempt to hold indirect talks between Boko Haram and the government last month appears to have collapsed, with a mediator quitting over leaks to the media and a spokesman for the

There has been intense speculation over whether Boko Haram has links to outside extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda’s north African branch.

Diplomats say such links so far appear limited to training for some Boko Haram members in northern Mali with Al-Qaeda elements, without significant evidence of operational ties. Analysts say deep poverty and frustration in Nigeria’s north has fed the violence, pushing young people toward extremism. —AFP

Banda praised for Malawi’s transition

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth receives flowers as she leaves Saint George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle after attending the Easter Mattins Service yesterday. — AFP

Spain police smash Nigerian drug ring MADRID: Spanish police said yesterday they had smashed a Nigerian ring that smuggled cocaine and other drugs into Spain and the rest of Europe from Latin America and Africa, arresting 15 people.

The group, based in the Madrid suburb of Alcala de Henares, would use drug mules who would injest pellets filled with drugs and avoid detection at airports, police said in a statement.

Police seized about eight kilos (18 pounds) of cocaine and 17,000 euros ($22,255) in cash as part of their investigation, which began in September 2011. The majority of those arrested were Nigerian citizens.

Police carried out their first arrest as part of the operation in October 2011 at the air-

port at Palma de Majorca of a man who had swallowed 77 pellets of cocaine. Later that month police detained another man at the same airport who had swallowed 68 pellets of cocaine.

“These people had been sent by the organisation to Madrid to collect cocaine from other members of the ring which based in Alcala de Henares. From there they would also send mules to South America and Africa to collect the drug,” a police statement said.

Spain’s proximity to north Africa, a key source of hashish, and its close ties with its former colonies in Latin America, a major cocaine producing region, have made it a major gateway into Europe for drug traffickers. — AFP

LILONGWE: Malawi’s new President Joyce Banda won praise yesterday for keeping a young democracy on track, but southern Africa’s first woman leader must now put the brakes on an economic and diplomatic nosedive.

The 61-year-old was sworn in smoothly on Saturday just hours after officials confirmed the death two days earlier of president Bingu wa Mutharika whose rule had sparked alarms over democratic freedoms and economic mismanagement.

“This has helped to entrench and cement a democratic culture in the country and is a fresh breath of air on our African continent, where smooth transitions are rare,” said the country’s Sunday Times.

“Malawi, with a young history of 18 years of democracy, joins African countries such as neighbours Zambia and Senegal in West Africa who have recently had peaceful, orderly and smooth transitions.”

Banda was hailed for offering an olive branch to Mutharika’s backers, saying there was no room for revenge, after two days of political uncertainty in which the former leader’s inner circle tried to block her assuming the post.

“We can now all look back with pride and optimism at what we have achieved as a nation in the last few days and focus on the huge task of healing and rectifying the undeniable mess that our nation finds itself in,” said the Nation yesterday.

Information Minister Patricia Kaliati, who on Friday said that as vice president Banda had no claim to the presidency, said the cabinet was now

behind Banda’s unifying call.

“Whatever was there, they’ve withdrawn and they’ve promised to work together,” she told AFP after the swearing-in, to lead until scheduled 2014 polls.

“We are in the young democracy but we practice it as if our democracy is matured,” she added. Mutharika had expelled Banda from his ruling party in a bitter succession battle, as he chose to groom his brother Peter as heir apparent.

Last year she formed her own People’s Party and became a vocal critic of Mutharika’s handling of the economy. At her inauguration, she did not lay out any policy proposals, saying the nation should rather focus on mourning Mutharika.

But her party’s platform includes calls for greater private investment, boosting commercial agriculture, and diversifying exports away from the main cash crop tobacco. Mutharika died after a heart attack on Thursday

LILONGWE: A street vendor sells newspaper yesterday in the streets of Lilongwe. Malawi’s new President Joyce Banda was sworn in smoothly just hours after officials confirmed the death two days earlier of president Bingu wa Mutharika whose rule had sparked alarms over democratic freedoms and economic mismanagement. — AFP

amid demands for his resignation and threats of unrest, following antigovernment protests last year when police shot 19 people dead.

The former World Bank economist was re-elected with a sweeping majority in 2009 but was increasingly accused of wrecking the economy and autocratic crack downs on the media, protests and criticism of the state.

His feuds with donors and lenders such as the International Monetary Fund have hamstrung the aid-dependent economy, with massive shortfalls in the main foreign exchange earner tobacco pushing the country into crisis.

Last year, major backer Britain slashed its funds in a diplomatic showdown, after concerns over Mutharika’s leadership were leaked.

The international community also lauded the peaceful transition, saying Malawi had shown its commitment to democracy and welcomed Banda’s swearing in after uncertainty over the delays in announcing Mutharika’s death.

Thumbiko Msiska, who works for a NGO, said sorrow over Mutharika’s death was minimal and hoped Banda would be more willing to listen than her predecessor dubbed ‘Mr Know-ItAll’.

“We thought he was at the centre of the problems that we were encountering as a country. And him going, I think, paves way for some change,” he said at her swearing in.

“We take this as a divine intervention because there was a call for him to resign. It’s actually a divine resignation.” — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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

Racist past haunts Florida town where Trayvon died SANFORD: The year before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by becoming the first African American to play major league baseball, he fled the racist threats of townspeople in Sanford, Florida, where Trayvon Martin was shot 66 years later.

It was 1946 and Robinson arrived in this picturesque town in central Florida for spring training with a Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. He didn’t stay long. Robinson was forced to leave Sanford twice, according to Chris Lamb, a professor at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, who wrote a graphic account of Robinson’s brush with 100 angry locals in a 2004 book.

The house where Robinson slept during his brief and furtive stay in Sanford still stands, but there is no historical plaque to record his troubled visit before going on to become a baseball hero and an icon of the US civil rights movement. “A specter of Jackie Robinson” haunts the city of 53,000 people to this day, said Lamb.

“People want to forget it and it shouldn’t be forgotten.”

While those days of segregation are now relegated to history, racial tension persists in Sanford, rekindled of late by

the Feb. 26 shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, at the hands of a white Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman.

Calls for “Justice for Trayvon” have grown after prosecutors declined to charge Zimmerman, who says he acted in self defense. Protesters, led by prominent black civil rights activists, have demanded that Zimmerman be arrested.

“We’ve come from the plantation, from the outhouse to the White House. You can’t shoot our children no more,” the Rev. Al Sharpton told one recent protest rally in Miami. Lawyers for Zimmerman say the case should not be viewed through a racial lens.

“This case is not about racism, it’s a case of self-defense,” Craig Sonner, one of Zimmerman’s attorneys, told Reuters, adding that the public should not rush to judgment. “When all the evidence comes out it will be seen by all that this case is not racially motivated.”

Still, the case fueled resentment “that if you’re black and you’re shot, particularly by someone who’s not black, that it is not viewed as seriously,” said Sanford City Manager Norton

Bonaparte, who is black. “ That’s why some feel that Mr. Zimmerman was allowed to just go on his way while Mr. Martin went to a morgue. And certainly if it was reversed, and Zimmerman had been black, he would have been detained and arrested,” he added.

A special prosecutor appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott is investigating the case to decide if charges are warranted. The Justice Department’s civil rights division is also examining the killing for evidence of a possible hate crime.

As in many cities across America, black mistrust of the police and judicial officials in Sanford runs deep. Last month, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held two town hall meetings in Sanford where hundreds of black residents turned out to voice their concern over police conduct.

“They put these black boys in jail on all kinds of bogus charges,” one woman speaker, Lela King, told a packed church. “You can go from town to town, city to city, and you could pack churches like this with African Americans, explaining that this is just a part of their everyday life,” said anoth-

er speaker, landscaper Hannibal Duncan.

NAACP officials compiled details at those meetings of at least six incidents involving alleged police misconduct that they plan to turn over to the Justice Department for possible investigation, an NAACP spokesman said.

Sanford police said only two complaints about alleged misconduct or biased-based policing have been filed with the department since the start of 2010. A police spokesman said he is unaware of how both complaints were resolved.

“What took place (with Martin’s shooting) ... was not typical for Sanford ... Sanford is a good community, a welcoming community,” said Bonaparte. A guide for visitors to historic Sanford, “Florida’s Friendly City,” presents a warm and embracing city almost like something out of Disney World in nearby Orlando, but it does not totally ignore the less welcoming attitudes of the past.

Much of the town, which is about 30 percent black and 20 percent Hispanic, looks like Anywhere, USA, with its shopping mall district, Harley Davison dealership and ubiquitous fast-food chains. In the downtown

area, Victorian-era cottages and old brick office buildings sitting a wide and alligator-infested bulge in the St. Johns River, provide a glimpse of the past - but not all of it. There are no reminders of the lynch mobs and Ku Klux Klan members who once killed blacks with impunity in Sanford and elsewhere across Florida.

Florida was the site of more lynchings per capita than any other southern state, according to Ben Brotemarkle, executive director of the Florida Historical Society. Lynchings were common in the southern U.S. in the second half of 19th century and continued into the 20th century.

Prior to the Second Seminole Indian War of the 1830s runaway slaves from states north of Florida found sanctuary among the American Indian communities in central Florida, Brotemarkle said.

A once booming inland port and transportation hub with riverboat and railroad connections for south Florida, modern day Sanford was named for Henry Shelton Sanford, a Connecticut lawyer and diplomat who became a pioneering citrus grower in the 1870s.

Sanford tried using black laborers to work in his groves. — Reuters

Pope marks Easter with call for Syria violence end Appeals for peace in Iraq and in the Middle East

RIO DE JANEIRO: People march to mark the first-year anniversary of a school massacre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday. Gunman Wellington Menezes de Oliveira killed 12 students at the Tasso da Silveira elementary school on April 7, 2011. — AP

Dozens fight for life in Haiti after accident PORT-AU-PRINCE: At least 27 people died and scores more were hurt when a truck packed with small traders overturned on a highway in Haiti, hospital officials said. “By now, we have counted 27 dead,” Joel Charles, hospital director in the town of Petit-Goave, told AFP by phone.

“Seriously injured people have passed away, and we have other people in critical condition, he added.” Earlier reports put the death toll at 20, but it grew after some of the 40 injured succumbed to their wounds.

The accident occurred late Saturday afternoon when a truck carrying small retail traders, many of them women, tipped over on National Highway 2, near a community known as Morne Tapion, in the South of the country. In addition to passengers, the vehicle was overloaded with food and other merchandise. A local judge who witnessed the accident said the truck was climbing a steep incline when it overturned.

“This is a dangerous road where accidents occur frequently,” said the witness who preferred to withhold his name.

Four people were killed and a dozen injured in an accident in the same area just last week.

Seventeen people were confirmed dead at the scene on Saturday, according to Charles. Ten more succumbed to their injuries after ambulances of the Haitian Red Cross took them to hospital.

Overall about 40 people have been

hospitalized, many with serious injuries, the doctor said.

“Some of the injuries are critical, a lot of head trauma and broken bones. We need surgeons, other medical specialists and ambulances” Charles said. “The victims need to be transported to hospitals in Port-au-Prince.”

Petit-Goave has only one modest hospital. But the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders, which has been operating in the region since the 2010 earthquake, helped local authorities to evacuate many of the injured to other medical facilities. “ The city ’s capacities are overwhelmed by this accident, and we need medical staff,” a local radio reporter pleaded on air. The impoverished Caribbean nation’s infrastructure is in very poor shape after the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, which killed some 250,000 people, and left roads and buildings in and around the capital in ruins.

Over half a million Haitians still live in camps for the displaced, where they are threatened by flooding at the start of a rainy season that has already ravaged streets and roads. In January, at least 26 people were killed and 56 injured in a massive pile-up along a road on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

That accident took place on a road connecting the capital city with the nearby town of Delmas.Officials said about 10 cars, including some taxi cabs, were completely destroyed in the accident. — AFP

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI implored the Syrian regime yesterday to heed international demands to end the bloodshed and voiced hope that the joy of Easter would comfort Christians suffering because of their faith.

Benedict, struggling with hoarseness and looking tired, celebrated Mass on Christianity’s most joyous holy day on the flower-adorned steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, before a crowd of faithful that swelled to far over 100,000 by the end of the two-hour-long ceremony.

Only hours earlier the pontiff, who turns 85 on April 16, had led a long nighttime vigil service in the church. At the end of yesterday’s Mass, Benedict moved to the basilica’s central balcony to read his Easter message “to the entire world,” as he put it, delivering a ringing appeal for peace in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, and particularly in Africa, citing coup-struck Mali and Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims alike have been hit by terrorist attacks.

“May the risen Christ grant hope to the Middle East and enable all the ethnic, cultural and religious groups in that region to work together to advance the common good and respect for human rights,” the pope said.

“Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community,” Benedict said, making Syria the first of several strife-torn countries he mentioned in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (Latin for “to the city and to the world”) Easter speech.

The Syrian government yesterday appeared to be backing out of a cease-fire deal aimed at ending the country’s crisis, saying that it will not withdraw its troops from cities without written guarantees from armed groups that they also will lay down their weapons. UN estimates put the number of dead in that conflict at some 9,000 since it began in March 2011.

Benedict also lamented that many Syrians who have fled the conflict are enduring “dreadful sufferings” and urged humanitarian assistance and acceptance of them. Christians throughout the world on Easter celebrate their belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifix, and the day symbolizes hope. Benedict said that Christ is “hope and comfort in a particular way for those Christian communities suffering most for their faith on account of discrimination and persecution.”

Sectarian violence in Iraq, often aimed at Christians, has prompted an exodus over the last years of many from the sizeable Christian community there. Benedict also prayed that God sustain the Christian community in

Africa, where the Catholic church has been enjoying vibrant growth in recent years. “To Nigeria, which in recent times has experienced savage terrorist attacks, may the joy of Easter grant the strength needed to take up anew the building of a society which is peaceful and respectful of the religious freedom of its citizens.” Terrorism has hit both the Muslim and Christian community in Nigeria.

He prayed that Mali, wracked by a recent

Benedict encouraged Israelis and Palestinians to “courageously take up anew the peace process.”

Meanwhile, thousands of other Christians belonging to Eastern Orthodox churches, who celebrate Easter using a different calendar from their Catholic and Protestant brethren, marked Palm Sunday.

Several dozen Ethiopian Christians who also use the older calendar gathered in a

VATICAN: This handout picture taken yesterday and released by The Vatican press office shows Pope Benedict XVI delivering the “Urbi et Orbi” message and blessing to faithful from the central loggia of St Peter’s basilica after the Easter Holy Mass at The Vatican. — AFP coup, would see “peace and stability.” In Jerusalem, thousands of Christians gathered for Easter celebrations, crowding into one of Christianity’s holiest churches, worshipping, singing and praying. Catholics and Protestants took turns to hold ceremonies within the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried.

Italian Premier Mario Monti, in the church on a private visit, joined the masses of Christian faithful. He shook hands with pilgrims and spoke to monks in the Old City.

Thousands of Palestinian Catholics smashed boiled egg shells against each other, representing Jesus’ emerging from his tomb. They ate circular bread symbolizing his crown of thorns.

They greeted each other with the Arabic felicitation, “Christ has arisen,” prompting the response: “Verily he has arisen.” At the vatican,

niche of the Sepulcher church, wearing long white robes, decked in white, blue and black rimless hats. They sang in their ancient language, marking off beats with a silver instrument that made a rattling sound.

In the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, dozens of Greek Orthodox Palestinian Christians celebrated Palm Sunday. They gathered into their tiny stone-built church, painted sky-blue and decorated with icons of Jesus, his mother Mary and other saints. Four young men garbed in white and gold robes sung from prayer books, believers lit candles and chanted in Arabic, recording the journey made to Jerusalem, where his followers decked his path with palms and olive branches.

“Jesus went to Jerusalem to call people to peace,” said Jaber Abdullah Jindi, a Gazan Christian. “And just as he did, we hope that there will be peace in all the region, especially in Palestine.” Hadid contributed from Jerusalem. — AP

Chavez to undergo new round of radiotherapy

VIRGINIA BEACH: Authorities block the road into the Mayfair Mews apartment complex where an F/A-18D Hornet jet crashed Friday in Virginia Beach, Va., as the investigation continues, on Saturday. — AP

HAVANA: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was to undergo a third round of radiotherapy in the Cuban capital in the hope of beating his cancer diagnosed last year. The Venezuelan leader announced his trip to communist-ruled island in an upbeat Twitter message sent from the airport in Caracas early yesterday.

“Heading for Havana with faith in Resurrected Christ,” Chavez tweeted. “We’ll keep living and keep winning!” The new trip to Cuba comes after Chavez spent time with family members in his native state of Barinas in the west of the country.

Before his departure from Venezuela, the president met with members of his cabinet and announced an increase in the minimum wage. Chavez, 57, who is facing a tough re-elec-

tion fight this year, is expected to complete five weeks of radiation treatment in Havana, but return home for brief periods during that time.

He underwent the first two rounds of treatment in Havana, where he had surger y last month to remove a malignant tumor in the same area where another tumor was excised in June 2011. Officials in Caracas have never specified the type of cancer the president has, but insist it has not spread to other organs. Chavez made an emotional plea last week that put his health and political future in the spotlight, begging God not to take him at an Easter mass after months of brave faces and reassuring words.

Flanked by family members in his political home, Chavez, 57, attended Holy Thursday mass in his home state of

Barinas. Wearing a rosar y around his neck, and with his voice breaking, he asked God: “Please don’t take me yet.

“Give me your crown of thorns, Christ, I will bleed,” the president continued. “Give me your cross, 100 crosses-and I will carry them for you.

“But give me life, because I still have things to do for my people and my countr y.”

Chavez, who attended mass with his parents, children and other family members, explained later that emotions caused by the proximity of his loved ones had overwhelmed him and he could not hold back tears. “It was a spontaneous, sentimental thing,” Chavez said on Friday. “My father and mother stood next to me. And suddenly we took each other ’s hands. My mom gave me her hand with such tenderness, and

dad gave me his ... And because of this tears rolled down my face.”

His prior stay in Havana lasted exactly five days, allowing him to head off criticism that he had left Venezuela without permission from the National Assembly, which must authorize a president’s absence if it exceeds that length of time.

The cancer comes at an awkward time for Chavez, who is in the thick of what is expected to be a tough reelection campaign. He has ruled out the possibility of a replacement candidate. Chavez faces a stiff challenge from 39-year-old state governor Henrique Capriles, who was chosen to represent a unified opposition in primaries earlier this year.

Some 18 million Venezuelans will be eligible to vote in the October ballots. — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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

Myanmar’s Karen rebels meet with Aung San Suu Kyi YANGON: Leaders of Myanmar’s most enduring ethnic rebel group met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a day after meeting with the country’s president, the latest step in the group’s effort to open a dialogue to achieve greater autonomy.

The 2 1/2-hour meeting yesterday of leaders of the Karen National Union with Suu Kyi also followed an agreement the group reached Friday with the military-backed but elected government to firm up a cease-fire they made in January. “These meetings will definitely support our efforts to achieve national reconciliation, and these meetings will help bring about a genuine democratic nation,” Suu Kyi told reporters after Sunday’s meeting.

The meetings with President Thein Sein and Suu Kyi were virtually unprecedented for the KNU, which has mostly been engaged in an armed struggle for greater autonomy from Myanmar’s government since the country obtained independence from Britain in 1948.

The KNU has been the most durable of the

dozen or so major ethnic groups at odds with the government, and despite having much of its military force crippled by government offensives in the 1990s, remains the best known internationally.

Most of its leadership is based along the border with Thailand, and the group’s opportunities to engage with the rest of Myanmar have also been limited by its long-standing status as an illegal organization there.

The KNU’s peace mission began shortly after Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party completed its own journey out of the political wilderness by winning 43 parliamentary seats in April 1 by-elections, giving it a voice in parliament for the first time, albeit as a vastly outnumbered minority. It had won a 1990 general election but was denied power when the military refused to let parliament convene, sending the country into a twodecade political deadlock.

The NLD agreed to rejoin electoral politics when Thein Sein, prime minister under the for-

mer ruling junta, initiated a series of political reforms after taking office a year ago following a 2010 general election. Thein Sein is seeking cease-fires with the country’s ethnic rebel groups as part of the reforms.

Suu Kyi’s movement is loosely allied with most of the ethnic minority groups, who, like her party, also faced repression under the previous military regime. The KNU delegation met with Thein Sein for about half an hour Saturday in the capital, Naypyitaw, and reported a favorable impression, though it wouldn’t reveal details. “The president showed a lot of eagerness to bring peace to the country and is making all efforts to bring about peace,” said KNU’s general secretary, Naw Zipporah Sein.

She said the issue of the KNU being deemed an illegal organization was also raised.

Immigration Minister Khin Yi had said Friday that the KNU’s status as an unlawful association would be changed at an appropriate time, and that it had been imposed under different circumstances. —AP

YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) talks to the press after meeting with General Secretary of Karen National Union (KNU) Naw Si Pho Ra Sein (C) and delegates from the political and armed wings of the Karen National Union (KNU) at her residence in Yangon yesterday. — AFP

North Korean rocket installed on launch pad Japan deploys missiles in Tokyo

KABUL: US commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen (L) and Afghanistan Defence Minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak sign an agreement during a ceremony at the foreign ministry in Kabul yesterday. Afghanistan and the US signed a deal on special forces operations in the insurgency-wracked country with Kabul saying it will put Afghans in the lead on controversial night raids. — AFP

US gives Afghans control in deal on night raids KABUL: Afghanistan and the United States signed a deal on special forces operations in the insurgency-wracked country yesterday putting Afghans in charge of controversial night raids. Night operations by international special forces against insurgent hideouts have triggered popular anger and been a factor straining Washington and Kabul’s relationship, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai denouncing them as reckless.

But Western military commanders stress they are extremely useful in the bloody war against Taleban insurgents, who have been fighting Karzai and his Western allies for more than a decade. At a signature ceremony in Kabul, Afghan defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said: “The signing of this document is a fundamental step towards Afghan national sovereignty.”

“From today, the operations have been Afghanised or Afghan-led.” General John Allen, the US commander of NATO-led forces, described it as the “second important milestone in less than 30 days towards Afghan sovereignty”, after an agreement transferring control of detainees to Afghan authorities.

The document means “Afghan Special Operations units will lead the way”, US forces in Afghanistan said in a statement.

The deal is expected to pave the way for a strategic partnership pact between Washington and Kabul governing the future of US forces beyond 2014, when the bulk of the 130,000 NATO-led troops are due to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Karzai’s spokesman Aimal Faizi told AFP that the agreement went into effect immediately and “all night raids become Afghanled”. “The foreign forces, the US forces, will have a supporting role in the night raids, for instance intelligence sharing,” he said.

“There will be a joint body comprising Afghan and US/NATO forces. When there’s a need for a night raid this body will decide and the final decision will be made by Afghans,” said Faizi.

“When Afghans approve the operation, the operation will be executed and

Afghans will determine whether there is a need for the foreigners to take part. “If there’s a need, the foreigners will provide a supporting role like air support or other modern technology.” A warrant would also have to be issued by Afghan legal authorities, he said, and Afghan authorities would have control over captured prisoners.

Speaking before any written text of the agreement was released, Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analysts Network said it “looks like the Americans are making compromises” but warned the phrase “Afghan-led” was a “really vague term”.

She said the details of the agreement would be key, adding it was likely detainees could be held without trial.

Karzai’s anger over the raids was genuine, she added. “The palace gets delegations of very upset people” complaining about the operations, she said. “The issue of Afghan sovereignty is very important for him.”

US officials hope a strategic partnership agreement governing relations between Kabul and Washington after 2014 will be signed in time for a NATO summit in May in Chicago. Gavin Sundwall, spokesman for the US embassy in Kabul, said that with the earlier deal on detainees, the US hoped the latest agreement “prepares the way for finishing a strategic partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan.”

US military officers envisage a follow-on force of around 15,000 personnel in Afghanistan, focusing on air power, logistics, training, intelligence and counter-terrorism. Allen told the Senate Armed Services Committee last month that 2,200 night raids were carried out last year. In 90 percent of the operations, no shots were fired and civilian casualties rarely occurred, according to Allen.

Brigadier-General Carsten Jacobson, spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said last week that “every policeman in this world” would answer the same way if asked: “When do you want to arrest a dangerous criminal, at lunchtime on the marketplace or at night in bed?” — AFP

Hopes fade for 135 feared dead in Pakistan avalanche ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani military yesterday dug through snow, boulders and slush in an increasingly desperate search for 135 people buried in an avalanche, as hopes faded of finding any survivors.

Nearly 36 hours after a wall of snow crashed into a remote army camp high up in the mountains of Kashmir, rescuers were yet to recover any survivors or even bodies from the Siachen Glacier, where Pakistani and Indian troops face off.

The camp was engulfed between 5:00am and 6:00am on Saturday-perhaps when some were sleeping-by a mass of snow, stones, mud and slush more than 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) wide and 25 metres high, the military said in a statement. About 180 military personnel and 60 civilian rescuers were braving freezing temperatures at the inhospitable site close to the de facto border with India, in area known as the world’s highest battlefield, the military said. Experts familiar with the glacier said there was little hope of finding survivors-the military said overnight that 135

people were missing from the camp, including 124 soldiers from the 6th Northern Light Infantry battalion.

“There is no hope, there is no chance at all,” mountaineering expert Colonel Sher Khan told AFP. “You can survive only in the first 5-10 minutes,” said Khan. “The casualties in avalanches occur due to pressure of heavy weight, extreme cold and lack of oxygen.”

The powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani visited the epicentre of the disaster and “supervised rescue operations himself”, the military said. “Its a huge, huge avalanche,” a senior military officer told AFP, adding rescue work would take several days. Specially trained search-and-rescue teams of army engineers equipped with the latest locating gadgets and heavy machinery had arrived, the military statement said, joining rescue units aided by sniffer dogs and helicopters. “Adequate medical staff has been made available for the treatment of injured persons in forward field hospitals,” it added. —AFP

TONGCHANG-RI: North Korea’s long-range rocket is on its launch platform, AFP reporters said yesterday, as the secretive regime again insisted it was to send a peaceful satellite and not a missile. The North organised an unprecedented visit for foreign reporters to Tongchang-ri space centre in an effort to show that its Unha-3 rocket is not a disguised ballistic missile, as claimed by the United States and its allies.

Communist North Korea says it will launch the satellite for peaceful scientific research between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung. His birthday is on April 15.

But Washington, Japan and South Korea have all condemned the move, saying any missile would contravene United Nations sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s missile programme. China, the North’s major ally, has urged restraint.

“To say this is a missile test is really nonsense,” said Jang Myong-Jin, head of the space centre.

“This launch was planned long ago, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of (late) president Kim Il-Sung. We are not doing it for provocative purposes.”

For the first time, North Korea allowed some 50 foreign journalists to go to the new space centre built on the Cholsan peninsula, in the northwest of North Korea, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Chinese border.

The journalists were able to observe the rocket, painted in white with sky blue lettering, though there were no indications when it would blast off. It is 30 metres (100 feet) high and with a diameter of 2.5 metres.

North Korean officials said it would launch the Kwangmyongsong-3 (Shining Star) satellite to observe the earth and collect data on forests and natural resources in impoverished and usually highly secretive North Korea.

A successful mission would burnish the image of young Kim Jong-Un as he seeks to establish his credentials as a strong leader after taking over from his father and longtime ruler, Kim Jong-Il, who died last December.

There are also heightened fears that the novice administration of the young Kim could be readying for a third nuclear weapons test.

The North, which is believed to have enough plutonium for six to eight bombs, tested atomic weapons in October 2006 and May 2009. Both were held one to three months after missile tests. Preparations are under way in the northeastern town of Punggye-ri, where the North

SOHAE: North Korean soldiers stand in front of the country’s Unha-3 rocket, slated for liftoff between April 12-16, as they wait to give a security check to arriving journalists at Sohae Satellite Station in Tongchang-ri, North Korea yesterday. North Korean space officials have moved a long-range rocket into position for this week’s controversial satellite launch, vowing yesterday to push ahead with their plans in defiance of international warnings against violating a ban on missile activity. — AP carried out the two previous nuclear tests, a South Korean official in Seoul told AFP yesterday on condition of anonymity.

“Recent satellite images led us to conclude the North has been secretly digging a new underground tunnel in the nuclear test site... besides two others where the previous tests were conducted,” said the source. Construction of the new tunnel appears to be nearly complete, he said.

Pyongyang’s move to fire a rocket in the next week led the US to suspend a recent deal to offer food aid to the North in return for a freeze on some nuclear and missile activities, drawing an angry response from North Korea.

In response to the rocket, Japan has deployed missile batteries in central Tokyo and dispatched destroyers. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has given the green light to shoot down the rocket if it threatens Japan’s territory.

Patriot missiles were deployed Saturday at the defence ministry in downtown Tokyo and at two other bases in the region to protect the greater Tokyo area and its population of around 35 million.

The ministry also dispatched three Aegis destroyers carrying interceptor missiles, reportedly to the East China Sea, where it has already deployed Patriot missiles on the southern island chain of Okinawa, beneath the rocket’s forecast flight path.

Talks over North Korea’s nuclear programme are also at an impasse. The six-party discussions, which involve the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan, have been at a standstill since the last meeting in December 2008.

Pyongyang also in November 2010 disclosed to visiting US experts an apparently operational enriched uranium plant, which could potentially give the North another way to make atomic weapons. — AFP

Foes India, Pakistan talk peace over lunch NEW DELHI: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stood together in New Delhi yesterday, adding weight to peace efforts by the nuclear-armed foes with the first visit by a Pakistani head of state to India in seven years.

Relations have warmed since Pakistan promised its neighbour most favoured nation trade status last year, although a $10 million bounty offered by Washington for a Pakistani Islamist blamed for the 2008 attacks on Mumbai has stirred old grievances.

The leaders discussed Kashmir, theatre of two of three wars between India and Pakistan, as well as terrorism and trade during a 40-minute meeting on their own before sharing lunch, India’s Foreign Secretary Rajan Mathai told reporters.

“We would like to have better relations with India. We have spoken on all topics that we could have spoken about and we are hoping to meet on Pakistani soil very soon,” Zardari told a briefing as they emerged from Singh’s residence.

Singh said he hoped to make his first visit to Pakistan at a convenient date. “Relations between India and Pakistan should become normal. That’s our common desire,” he said. “We have a number of issues and we are willing to find tactical, pragmatic solutions to all those issues and that’s the message that president Zardari and I would wish to convey. Zardari then headed to the shrine in western India of a revered Sufi Muslim saint seen as a symbol of harmony between South Asia’s often competing religions. On his first visit to India as part of the 40-member delegation, Zardari’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, stood behind the leaders, in a sign of his growing role in politics.

Mathai said Singh offered Zardari India’s help in finding 124 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilians engulfed by an avalanche on Saturday near the 6,000-metre-high (18,500-foot) Siachen glacier in

NEW DELHI: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, left, talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their meeting at the latter’s residence in New Delhi, India, yesterday. — AP Kashmir - known as the world’s highest battlefield.

Zardari thanked Singh but did not immediately respond to the offer to help rescue teams, backed by helicopters and sniffer dogs combing an area one-km (half a mile) wide with snow up to 80 feet (25 metres) deep. Hundreds have died at Siachen over the years, mainly from the inhospitable conditions.

A foreign ministry source said the timing of any visit by Singh to Pakistan will depend on issues including a conflict over the oil-rich Sir Creek river estuary, one of their longest running disputes.

Singh told Zardari it was imperative to bring to justice the perpetrators of a 2008 attack on India’s

financial capital, Mumbai - a three-day gun and bomb rampage by 10 Pakistani militants that left 166 dead and derailed the peace process.

Talks only resumed last year. The Indian prime minister raised the continued freedom of Hafiz Saeed, the Islamist suspected of masterminding the attack. Saeed will be discussed again at a forthcoming meeting between home ministry officials, Mathai said. India is furious Pakistan has not detained Saeed, despite handing over evidence against him. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that anyone with concrete proof to prosecute Saeed should present it to the courts. —Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

NEWS

A peacock is seen in a park in the town of Batrun, north of Beirut on Saturday. — AFP

Los Angeles looks to revive mythic past with streetcars LOS ANGELES: Half a century after the last of the lost Pacific Electric Red Cars rumbled through Los Angeles, a move has begun to return streetcars to downtown LA. With a route chosen by the city and an environmental review begun, the proposed 6.5-km Broadway-to-Figueroa loop is a modest project compared to the region’s subway extensions and freeway expansions, but would provide a link between the key spots of the downtown renaissance and a symbolic link with the city’s mythologized past.

Los Angeles once had 1,600 km of streetcar tracks.

Along them ran the Yellow Car Line and the more famed Red Cars, and since they gave way to freeways in the early 1960s they’ve become a symbol of the city’s lost intimacy and identity, celebrated by politicians looking to restore transit glory and by films like “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” While the streetcars of memory are invoked often - the city’s soon-to-open Expo light rail line has Red Car tickets etched into the concrete at its final stop and city leaders on a recent test run shared memories of riding it - the proposed downtown project would be a far more direct restoration, starting with the route itself.

“Virtually every bit of this alignment is on streets that have historically had Red or Yellow car lines,” said Robin Blair, director of planning for the Metropolitan Transit Authority. While boosters are quick to point out that the new cars would be thoroughly modern, sleek and environmentally sound, nostalgia is their biggest emotional selling point.

“Everyone has a story about themselves or their parents or somebody riding these streetcars,” said City Councilman Jose Huizar, whose 2008 “Bringing Back Broadway” plan started the push.

Broadway was once the busiest and brightest street in the center of the city, then for decades became a symbol of downtown’s decay. Huizar’s $36.5-million plan has sought to revive the movie theaters and nightspots that have sat in disrepair. It appears to be working, and the streetcar line could make its restoration complete. “It’s a beautiful corridor,” Huizar said. “It’s located in a perfect spot.” The Ace Hotel, a hot hangout for the young and hip in Portland, Palm Springs and New York, shocked many city watchers in December when, for its LA location, it passed up more gentrified neighborhoods for a seedy stretch of Broadway. The hotel will make its home in the United Artists Theater and the office building above it.

The Ace will join other fashionable spots like the Los Angeles Brewery and Umamicatessen, where highbrow and lowbrow diners can get foie-gras doughnuts and french fries with pig brain aioli. “It’s one of the bright parts of the region where people are actually still building stuff,” Blair said. Similar streetcar systems can be found throughout Europe

and in US cities like Portland, Seattle and Pittsburgh, with a Washington, DC line set to open next year.

And thanks to Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando, they’re most associated with New Orleans and its “Streetcar Named Desire”.

Unlike the light rail more common in public transit, streetcars run low to the ground on shallow tracks with the regular flow of traffic. Because there are few barriers and they mix so intimately with cars, bikes and pedestrians, they sometimes bring safety worries, but supporters say they are no more dangerous than buses, and if anything safer because they have predictable paths and stop patterns.

Portland’s streetcar has become a model for LA, and a visit there helped sell Huizar on the idea. He was wary when he saw trains move so freely in traffic and come so close to the curb, but he was quickly won over when he stepped on and got a smooth ride in a packed car. “It’s like a sidewalk escalator ride,” the councilman said, “and there weren’t a whole lot of seats.”

The proposed route would head south from First Street down Broadway, then turn around and head north past Staples Center and a possible National Football League stadium that remains in the planning and policy stages, before ending near the Museum of Contemporary Art. “The idea when we set out on this was to connect every major destination point in downtown,” Huizar said. Despite covering a very short distance, the loop functions like a tour of every economic level of LA, from the RitzCarlton to Skid Row. “Some of that line is highly dense, highly trafficked, and some of the route needs a good incentive for investors to come in,” said Paul Habibi, a professor of business at UCLA, who is acting as the project’s director.

The current environmental review is expected to take about a year, with groundbreaking projected for 2014 and completion for 2016. The money, at a time when cities are fighting over every scrap, is the biggest potential stumbling block. Cost estimates have ranged from $110 million to $125 million. Ten million dollars has already been raised through city sources. Of the remaining cost, supporters expect to get federal grants for half, but they must first pass a local tax on property owners near the route. It would require approval from two-thirds of some 7,000 registered voters.

Streetcar organizers know they’ll need to work to prove to merchants and landlords that they’ll get a decent return on the investment, and they hope they’ll have a stronger economy when the issue comes up for a vote in 2013. “We’ve been doing our homework to talk to the property owners,” Huizar said. “The momentum’s there and we want to take advantage.” — AP

Islamists in US charm offensive Continued from Page 1 For decades, Washington maintained close relations with secular autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt and often turned a blind eye to the repression of their Islamist opponents, viewing such groups as a threat to regional stability. Islamist groups in turn were among the most vociferous critics of US and Israeli policies, particularly during the 2000 Palestinian uprising and the lead-up to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. “This mistrust is a wall that needs to come down,” Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, a Egyptian lawmaker from the once-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, who was part of the delegation, told the Washington Post. “But it can’t just be one side that brings it down. It has to be both sides.”

A dialogue has slowly begun in recent months as Islamist parties have swept democratic elections, and this week members of Egypt’s Brotherhood met with second-tier White House officials, something that would have been unthinkable during the reign of strongman Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled in Feb 2011. “I think it is known to everyone who has paid any attention to the post-revolution developments in Egypt that the Muslim Brotherhood will be a major player,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “We are engaging because that’s the appropriate and right thing to do. And we will

judge all of the political actors in Egypt by their actions, by their commitment to democracy and democratic processes and protection of civil rights,” he added.

The Islamist delegates - from Egypt, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia - faced similar questions at Carnegie, where they insisted they would defend women and minority rights, freedom of expression and elected multi-party systems. Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has called for the implementation of Islamic Law which was written into the constitution annulled by the ruling military after Mubarak’s ouster - but insists the idea is “misunderstood” in the West. Islamic law, or Sharia, “basically identifies what’s right and what’s wrong,” said Khaled AlQazzaz, the foreign relations coordinator for the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party. “This is not contradictory to universally accepted values like freedom, justice, democracy, rule of law, etc,” he added, comparing it to the Christian values espoused by some Western political parties.

Not everyone is reassured. Michael Wahid Hanna, a Middle East expert at the Century Foundation, said it’s still unclear what exactly the Muslim Brotherhood means when it speaks about Islamic law. “I think there is a disconnec t between the discourse by the Egyptian delegation and the state of affairs in Egypt,” he said. — AFP

Bahrain refuses to transfer hunger striker to Denmark DUBAI: Bahrain yesterday turned down a request to transfer to Denmark a jailed Shiite activist who has been on hunger strike for two months and also holds Danish nationality. “The handover of accused and convicted persons to foreign countries takes place under specific conditions... This does not apply in Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s case,” a Supreme Judiciary Council official said, quoted by state news agency BNA. Khawaja, who was condemned with other opposition activists to life in jail over an alleged plot to topple the Sunni monarchy during a month-long protest a year ago, began his hunger strike on the night of Feb 8-9.

BNA reported on Saturday that Bahrain was examining a request to transfer him to Denmark. “Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa received a written letter from Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal asking Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja be transferred to Denmark since he holds Danish citizenship,” it said. The request was referred to the head of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based non-governmental organisation, warned that Khawaja, who had shed 25 percent of his body weight, could now die in jail in the runup to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“They are choosing to ignore the shadow cast over the whole event by the critical condition of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja” said Front Line Defenders executive director Mary Lawlor in a statement. “The countdown has started to the celebrations linked to the Formula 1 Grand Prix - sadly a different countdown is under way for Abdulhadi whose life is in imminent danger.”

Bahrain’s largest opposition movement AlWefaq also condemned the decision not to allow the detainee to be transferred to Denmark, saying it amounted to having “signed his death” sentence.

Tensions have been running high in

MANAMA: Bahraini anti-government protesters protect their faces from tear gas during a protest Saturday in downtown Manama as they hold a sign in English and Arabic that reads “Free Abdulhadi AlKhawaja”, referring to a jailed opposition human rights activist. — AP Bahrain where an independent inquiry said in November that 35 people were killed in Shiite-led unrest between midFebruary and mid-March 2011. Former world champion Damon Hill has demanded a rethink over the contentious Bahrain Grand Prix which is due to take place later this month despite ongoing anti-government protests in the troubled Gulf state.

Last year’s event was cancelled because of the unrest.

Khawaja, 52, is a former Middle East and North Africa director of Frontline Defenders. He has also documented human rights abuses in Bahrain for international rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Having lived in exile in Denmark for

decades, he returned to Bahrain after the government announced a general amnesty in 2001. He was arrested last April during a government crackdown on dissent. Khawaja is one of seven opposition figures who were sentenced to life imprisonment in a special security court, which was set up after Bahrain imposed martial law last March to quell political unrest in the tiny, but strategically important nation. Hundreds of other Bahrainis, including protesters, activists, athletes and Shiite professionals such as doctors and nurses, have been tried in the court.

Dozens were jailed after being convicted of anti-state crimes, including medics who treated injured protesters during the unrest. — Agencies

Panel meets ex-foreign minister over ...

Continued from Page 1 In another development, the Cabinet said yesterday it was satisfied with preparations made by Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Mubarak Al-Sabah to refute allegations of a grilling during a scheduled debate tomorrow. The minister will be grilled by Shiite MP Hussein Al-Qallaf over allegations that the information ministry violated the law by taking legal action against local television station SCOPE after a live interview with Qallaf himself last month. Qallaf reportedly made insulting remarks against the leader of Kuwait’s largest bedouin tribe, the Awazem.

The minister is also facing charges that he failed to take action against a local television station allegedly implicated in money laundering. The Cabinet expressed full backing for the minister who was appointed in the Cabinet for the first time about two months ago.

In a related development, MP Mohammad AlJuwaihel announced yesterday that he has completed the draft of his planned grilling of Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah over the minister’s failure to deal with Kuwaitis holding dual citizenship in violation of the law. Juwaihel, a supporter of the former prime minister and close to the Shiite bloc, said he will submit the grilling next week and that he will include Minister of Public Works Fadhel Safar for shielding an official who is holding dual citizenship.

On the other hand, opposition Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, who threatened to grill the interior minister last week, said yesterday that the grilling is no longer necessary although the issues are important.

Tabtabaei was planning to grill the minister over the arrest of Kuwaiti activist Nahar Al-Hajeri for allegedly burning the Iranian flag at a rally. The interior ministry last week released Hajeri after a week in jail. The parliamentary majority meanwhile was to decide on a num-

ber of planned grillings late yesterday night, mainly against the ministers of awqaf, finance and interior.

In another business, four MPs from the Popular Action Bloc and MP Saifi Al-Saifi submitted a draft law that proposes a comprehensive solution for the problem of more than 106,000 stateless people or bedoons.

The bill essentially divides the bedoons into four categories with only two of them eligible for Kuwaiti citizenship - those who or their ancestors had lived in Kuwait before 1965 and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis. The other two groups are not entitled to Kuwaiti citizenship and they must produce their original citizenship and legalize their stay in Kuwait.

Kuwait’s lower court meanwhile acquitted yesterday 17 bedooon men from charges of taking part in illegal protests and assaulting policemen, one of their lawyers said. The court found no evidence to prove any of the accusations made against the men by the public prosecution which also charged them of illegal assembly with the intent to commit crimes, Khaled Al-Kafifa said in a statement. The men were the second group of stateless protesters to be acquitted after a similar court in February cleared 31 others.

Around 150 bedoon men are facing trial in groups after they were arrested for taking part in demonstrations over the past 14 months to demand citizenship and other basic rights. Kuwait launched a crackdown on the bedoons in 2000, depriving them of healthcare, education and jobs to force them to reveal their actual nationality. The stateless claim they are Kuwaiti citizens who have been denied nationality. The Kuwaiti government meanwhile insists that a large number of them hold nationalities of other countries. Kuwait, which has been criticised by international rights groups for the mistreatment of bedoons, has acknowledged that 34,000 of them deserve to be granted citizenship but others do not.

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Issues

Oman puts out welcome mat for tourists

By David Rosenberg ucked into a distant corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman doesn’t have the iconic monuments of Egypt, the glitz of Dubai or the proximity to the European market of Tunisia. But the sultanate hasn’t suffered political turmoil wracking much of the Middle East, and new hotels, airports and attractions are going up at a breakneck pace. And, the tourists are coming. While top Middle East tourism destinations, like Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, reported double-digit drops in arrivals last year, Oman enjoyed growth. Muscat International Airport, the country’s biggest, recorded a 14 percent increase in passengers last year to reach 2.4 million, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

A survey of room rates by Hotels.com found that prices in Oman rose by nearly a fifth to £217 ($345), which the travel website attributed to the growing number of visitors and the opening of high-end hotels. The sultanate was the most expensive destination on the list, it said. “Oman has an opportunity to position itself as a super luxury destination in the Middle East,” Diego J. Lofuedo, Hotel.com’s senior director market management for the Eastern Mediterranean, Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean, told The Media Line. “Many of the countries around Oman can feature the same levels of luxury and futuristic landscape however very few can compete with Oman when it gets to historic heritage.”

Oman saw some protests in the first few months of last year, but Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who has run the country since he expelled his father from the royal palace more than 40 years ago, bought calm with promises of reform and pay raises. The country has fewer energy assets than its neighbors, but Qaboos has invested in health and education over the years. Although Muscat, the country’s capital, has a long way to go to catch up with Dubai, it is making progress. The Royal Opera House Muscat, a massive edifice sporting inlaid marble, crystal chandeliers and hand-carved wood, officially opened last October with a production of Turandot. Next door, a new luxury shopping mall with 60 storeys and restaurants, The Opera Galleria, is going up. The Wave, Muscat Hills and Muriya, tourism complexes featuring hotels, apartments marina and golf courses, have been developed in recent years. In 2011, some 1,400 new hotel rooms were added to the country’s inventory, Euromonitor, a Londonbased market research firm, said in a March 9 report.

Muscat has been designated the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2012. The Lonely Planet travel guide named Muscat the second-best city on Earth to visit in 2012 after London (which is hosting this year’s Olympics). “This city historically hasn’t garnered much traveler attention but it has everything an active vacation calls for: markets, beaches, diving, turtle/dolphin watching, caving, kite surfing, trekking, desert safaris, rock climbing, all in one place,” Lonely Planet said about the Omani capital.

For 2012, another market researcher, Business Monitor International (BMI), forecasts an 8 percent increase in tourist arrivals to over 1.7 million people who spend $1.28 billion while they visit. “After 2012, we remain confident tourist arrivals can continue to show steady growth of around 6 percent per annum over the remainder of the forecast period. This means we would expect tourist arrivals to total just over two million by 2015,” it said in a report last month. The sultanate has even bigger plans going forward. Under a national development plan called Vision 2020, Oman plans to boost the number of tourist arrivals by four fold to 12 million annually. That would be close to number Egypt gets in a good year and a third more than the United Arab Emirates attracted in 2011.

To do that, Oman is investing in upgrading the Muscat and Salalah Airports and airports in Sohar and Duqm.

Omran, the government tourism-investment agency, says it has some $2 billion of tourism-related projects in the works, including more than 12 joint venture investments and nine properties under its management.

Among the projects set for completion this year are the three-star Duqm City Hotel and the four-star Duqm Crowne Plaza. But three- and four-stars aren’t going to be the norm for Oman, which is aiming for high-end tourist as well as the conventions business, according to Euromonitor. “Muscat has an array of super luxury hotels pretty new ... Even more luxury brands will soon disembark in the country so we expect more of the same to keep happening,” said Hotel.com’s Lofuedo. That could put it on a collision course with Dubai and other Gulf states like Abu Dhabi and Qatar addressing the same markets. —Media Line

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

World has few ways to punish N Korea launch

By Simon Martin he United States and its allies vow a tough response if North Korea goes ahead with its planned long-range rocket launch, but analysts say they will struggle to exert meaningful pressure on Pyongyang. “After various governments finish beating their chests, we have to find a way to talk to the North Koreans,” said Peter Beck, Seoul representative of the Asia Foundation. “The United States has no available options: there are no (further) meaningful sanctions that can be employed.” Pyongyang says it will launch a satellite for peaceful scientific research sometime in a five-day window from April 12, to mark the 100th anniversary on April 15 of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung.

Washington and other nations view the exercise as a flimsy excuse for a ballistic missile test, which would breach United Nations resolutions and a US-North Korean deal reached only in February. But experts say the nuclear-armed nation has compelling political reasons to shrug off the international outcry, at a time when its new young leader Kim Jong-Un is striving to bolster his authority with the military and the elite.

“The rocket launch will be used as an expensive firework to celebrate its becoming a ‘powerful and prosperous state’,” said Yun Duk-Min of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, referring to Pyongyang’s stated goal for 2012. “Kim Jong-Un... needs some feats to show off his leadership that may

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send shivers down the spine of enemies,” Yun told a Seoul forum last week. “It is highly likely that the North may follow it up with a nuclear test within one or two months.”

North Korea already faces a punishing array of UN or bilateral measures imposed by other countries including the United States, South Korea and Japan, mainly designed to curb its banned missile and nuclear programs. A UN resolution in June 2009 placed sanctions on North Korea’s arms sales, luxury goods trade and financial transactions linked to weapons programs. But while the rocket launch is likely to be raised at the UN Security Council, China may push back against any tough action which could destabilise its ally and neighbour.

“China does not want to see the North facing a serious domestic crisis due to international pressure,” Andrei Lankov of Seoul’s Kookmin University told the same forum. “For China, domestic stability in the North is more important than international concerns over its nuclear and missile programs.” Beck told AFP that China would not like the launch but can live with it. “It can live with any bad behaviour from the North short of starting a war.”

Even South Korea’s conservative government, Beck said, had no appetite for getting excessively tough. A Seoul-funded industrial estate in the North is thriving despite icy cross-border relations. Mere criticism from the Security Council could cause the North to bridle, as after it conducted long-range rocket tests in 2006

and 2009. Months later in both years it followed up with nuclear weapons tests. The North, which suffers severe food shortages, will likely lose 240,000 tonnes of promised US food aid if it goes ahead with the rocket launch.

But Beck said the main motivation “is to impress the elite and the military”. “I don’t think the general public will care much about the launch, it will not put food on the table. But the regime does not care about the average North Korean.” The blast-off “would be a declaration that the new leadership is in place” after the death of Jong-Un’s father and longtime leader Kim Jong-Il last December, Beck added. Under a deal announced on Feb 29, the North agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment plant and impose a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests in return for the US food. Pyongyang insists a satellite launch is not a missile test, and says the deal is still in force.

Sheila A Smith, a senior fellow with the US Council on Foreign Relations, told the Seoul forum she expected “very focused conversation” in the Security Council about sanctions, and probably also unilateral sanctions by the United States and Japan, and maybe South Korea. But China has its own strategic agenda.

Peter Brookes, of the US Heritage Foundation, said it “has concerns about its place in the future security environment in Asia, including post-unification” of the Korean peninsula. He said China sees the North as a strategic buffer to the United States, which bases 28,500 troops in South Korea. — AFP

N Korea launch draws more worry than Iran’s

By Eric Talmadge ust two months ago, amid celebrations of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an Iranian rocket roared off a military launch pad and placed a 110-pound Earth observation satellite into orbit. The US State Department grumbled about possible missile applications, but that was pretty much it. Now it’s North Korea’s turn. As it prepares to launch a rocket to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birthday of its founder, it too is telling the world that its goal is to get a satellite into orbit. It is even promising to give international observers front-row seats at its newly built launch facility - just like Iran did in February.

But the international condemnation is much louder over the satellite launch North Korea plans sometime between April 12 and 16. The US is promising to scrap a just-signed food aid deal if the rocket is launched. Tokyo and Seoul have vowed to shoot it down if it veers off course. Russia and China, which have long-standing ties with the North, have urged Pyongyang to rethink its plans. Though the international community is concerned about both countries’ satellite launches, which require technology also needed to launch missiles, Pyongyang’s efforts are seen as a greater threat, in part because it already is believed to be capable of producing nuclear weapons. Experts also are more skeptical of North Korea’s claim that its launch is a scientific mission. It has nothing to show for nearly 15 years of off-and-on efforts to launch a satellite, in contrast to Iran, which has successfully launched three. While the two countries, which have a long history of cooperating to develop long-range missiles, appear to be pulling pages out of the same playbook, experts say Pyongyang’s launch plans are particularly bold. “They are deliberately pushing the envelope,” said James Moltz, a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Moltz said the launches underscore how both countries, isolated from the international community, “are struggling to develop military capabilities that no one else wants them to get”.

For Iran, long-range missiles are seen as a key to keeping Israel at bay. North Korea wants a credible threat to counter the

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United States. Nothing could accomplish that better than raising the fear that it will put a nuclear weapon on the tip of an intercontinental ballistic missile, though North Korea is not yet believed to be capable of making weapons small enough.

Developing missiles is a tricky game for both countries. North Korea is under heavy UN sanctions to prevent it from conducting any ballistic missile tests. Iran is under sanctions preventing other nations from selling it missile-related technology.

Even so, conducting satellite launches helps both countries achieve military goals,

launches augment data for military programs and at the same time boost national pride, just as the US, Soviet and, more recently, Chinese space programs have done for their countries. Iran and North Korea claim their satellite launches are for strictly peaceful purposes, and say they have a sovereign right to space programs.

Recent satellite work by South Korea could complicate efforts to get North Korea to stop, said physicist David Wright of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“South Korea has developed a space launcher - interestingly, using Russian tech-

This file photo released on June 16, 2011 by the Iranian Defense Ministry shows the Safir (Ambassador) satellite launching rocket, which will carry Iran’s Rasad (Observation) satellite into earth’s orbit, at an undisclosed location. — AP though they have had different levels of success. North Korea first tried to launch a satellite back in 1998. It tried again in 2006 and 2009, but international observers say neither succeeded. Iran launched its first satellite aboard an Iranian-built rocket in 2009 and its second in June last year. In February, it successfully launched the Navid satellite into orbit with a missile launchvehicle called the Safir.

But playing the satellite card has two big pluses for North Korea and Iran. The

nology - and has been trying to place satellites in orbit,” Wright said. “South Korea is currently negotiating with the US to allow it to deploy missiles with longer range - the current range limit is 300-600 kilometers.

So North Korea is likely feeling a double standard, and probably does not want to be shown up by South Korea.” Cooperation between Iran and North Korea on missile technology goes back at least two decades.

Iran is believed to have begun cooperating with North Korea on the development of a

medium-range missile in the early 1990s.

The North Koreans also provided Sovietdesigned Scud short-range ballistic missiles and the industrial and technical infrastructure for Iran to produce the missiles domestically. “Iran is now considered more advanced than the North Koreans in missile technology - particularly in the category of solid-fueled missiles,” said Greg Thielmann, a former senior US intelligence official who is now at the Washington, DC-based Arms Control Association. “I think Iran no longer needs North Korean help to continue making advances in improving its ballistic missiles.” Thielmann said Iranian launches suggest it is making significant progress. “The second stage of the Safir-2 space launch vehicle exhibited technical features - gimbaled engines and higher-energy fuel - not previously seen in either Iran or North Korea,” he said. He also said Iran is developing a two-stage, solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile that is “superior to any the North Koreans possess”.

Iran’s claim to having ambitions beyond missile testing for its satellite program is also seen as more credible than North Korea’s. It has followed a rather predictable pattern of developing its space program with considerable foreign cooperation, which North Korea has shown little interest in. “In Iran, you can observe a rational, logical, slow but steady program that is aimed at space launches, with expected failures and impressive successes,” said Markus Schiller, an analyst with Schmucker Technologie in Germany and a leading expert on North Korean missiles. “In North Korea, you only see singular events now and then, with no clear line or rationale visible.” Schiller said military analysts will be watching closely to see how much the Unha-3 rocket North Korea plans to launch resembles the Iranian Safir. The upper stages of the rocket North Korea used in its 2009 launch bore several similarities to the Safir, which suggests ongoing collaboration between the two programs. “It is known that North Korean rocket experts were in Iran in the 1990s,” he said.

“Personally, I would expect a continuing cooperation between these countries on the missile-rocket sector, but it remains unclear to what degree they still cooperate.” — AP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

sp orts Ronaldinho penalty sparks furious Vasco protests RIO DE JANEIRO: Furious Vasco da Gama players hounded the referee off the field after Ronaldinho converted a stoppage time penalty to give Flamengo a 2-1 win over their arch-rivals on Saturday night.

The referee needed police protection as he was surrounded by ranting Vasco players following the final whistle and club president Roberto Dinamite joined the protests at the end of the game in Rio de Janeiro. Players scuffled with police and stewards who formed a ring around the referee, abandoning their protests after the beleaguered official had been led away. “We were robbed and it always happens against Flamengo,” said Vasco president Roberto, who was angry after Vasco had a penalty appeal turned down in the 78th minute.

Vasco coach Cristovao Borges said the official was to blame for the rowdy scenes. “Normally I don’t talk about the referee’s performance. But when he makes repeated mistakes, the players, no matter how balanced and experienced that they are, lose their patience,” he said. — Reuters

Ulster end Munster’s record

Hend wins in Singapore

PARIS: Ulster stunned two-time winners Munster yesterday, beating them 22-16 in their European Cup quarter-final-the hosts first home defeat in any quarter-final in all competitions.

Former Springbok international Ruan Pienaar contributed 15 points with his boot to give Ulster only their second win at Thomond Park in 20 years and a semi-final date in Dublin with another surprise winner from the quarter-finals Edinburgh, who beat Toulouse on Saturday.

The only previous time Ulster reached this stage they went on to win the trophy in 1999. “Our defence really did it for us,” said Ulster’s Irish international flanker Stephen Ferris, who was a major injury doubt before the match.

“We just kept on getting on top of them whenever they had the ball. We are making another step forward. “We feel we are going places. We wanted to make a statement to European rugby that we are a force to be reckoned with.”

Munster skipper Paul O’Connell said his side had given themselves too much to do. “We gave ourselves a massive hill to climb,” said the veteran Irish lock. “We had enough possession to climb it but we didn’t handle the ball well enough.” Champions Leinsterwho thrashed Cardiff on Saturday-will play the winners of the final quarter-final between Saracens and Clermont. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: Australia’s Scott Hend closed with a six-under-par 64 to win the weather-shortened ISPS Handa Singapore Classic yesterday, but admitted it had been a nerve-wracking experience.

The $400,000 full-field Asian Tour event was reduced to 54 holes after inclement weather caused almost 10 hours of play to be lost over the first three days.

Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera, Lu Weichih of Taiwan, Spain’s Javi Colomo and David Lipsky of the United States were bunched in tied second on matching 200s at Orchid Country Club. “It’s amazing, especially to have four weeks off and come back and win.

It’s great to see some of the hard work and practice that I’ve put in paying off,” Hend told the Asian Tour. But he had to wait for close to an hour before he knew he had secured his second Asian Tour title with a winning total of 11-under-par 199. As many as three players were still in contention for either a play-off or win after Hend had signed for his score. —AFP

Penguins down Flyers PITTSBURGH: Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin scored his 50th goal of the season and added an assist to lock up his second NHL scoring title as the Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on the closing day of the regular season Saturday.

Malkin finished with 109 points pre-playoffs and became the ninth player in Penguins history to reach the 50-goal mark when he scored with 12 seconds left in the second period to give Pittsburgh a two-goal lead. Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis also scored for the Penguins, who knocked off the Flyers for the first time at Consol Energy Center.

Brayden Schenn and Jaromir Jagr scored for the Flyers, who rested leading scorer Claude Giroux in preparation for their firstround playoffs matchup between the two teams next week.

Florida beat Carolina and clinch the first division title in franchise history.

Stephen Weiss scored to help the Panthers wrap up the Southeast crown with 94 points - just two ahead of Washington.

Mikael Samuelsson added an empty-netter for Forida, which clinched the No. 3 seed and will play sixth-seeded New Jersey in the opening round. Joni Pitkanen scored for Carolina.

Flames 5, Ducks 2 In Calgary, Nigerian-born Akim Aliu scored his first two NHL goals to lead Calgary to a season-ending win over Anaheim.

By winning their final two games, the Flames reached the 90-point mark for the eighth season in a row. However, since going to the Stanley Cup finals in 2004, they have been ousted from the playoffs in the first round four times followed by three years of not making the postseason.

Jay Bouwmeester, Anton Babchuk and Lee Stempniak also scored for Calgary.

Bobby Ryan scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season for Anaheim, which finished with its worst record since the 2003-04 season.

Blackhawks 3, Red Wings 2 In Detroit, Patrick Kane scored the only goal of the shootout to give Chicago the win over Detroit. Despite the loss, the Red Wings clinched the fifth seed in the Western Conference, while the Blackhawks finish as the sixth seed. Viktor Stalberg and Andrew Shaw scored in regulation for Chicago.

Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk - with 46 seconds left - scored for Detroit.

Capitals 3, Rangers 1 In New York, Washington cost New York its chance to clinch the President’s Trophy for the best regular-season record.

The Rangers finished with 109 points and gave up overall top spot to Vancouver, which clinched it with a win on the final day.

That will also give the Canucks home-ice advantage if they meet the Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals.

Washington, which set up the win with three first-period goals, claimed the No.7 seed in the Eastern Conference and will open the playoffs against Boston.

Alex Ovechkin, Mathieu Perreault and Nicklas Backstrom also scored for the Capitals, while third-string goaltender Braden Holtby made 35 saves. Brian Boyle scored for the Rangers, who will play Ottawa in the first round of playoffs.

Blues 3, Stars 2 In Dallas, Alex Steen and David Perron scored power-play goals as playoff-bound St. Louis beat Dallas. Kris Russell also scored while Jaroslav Halek stopped 33 shots for the Central Division-champion Blues, who snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak. St. Louis settled for the No. 2 seed in the West after Vancouver claimed the Presidents’ Trophy. The Blues open the playoffs against San Jose. Rookies Ryan Garbutt and Philip Larsen scored in the game’s final

PITTSBURGH: Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) collides with Philadelphia Flyers’ Claude Giroux (28) in the second period of an NHL hockey game. —AP 6 minutes for the Stars.

Devils 4, Senators 2 In Newark, New Jersey, Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice as New Jersey beat Ottawa for its sixth straight win. Stephen Gionta broke a third-period tie with his first NHL goal while Petr Sykora also scored for the Devils, who clinched the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face Florida in the opening playoff round.

Matt Gilroy and Jim O’Brien scored for Ottawa, which will face the Rangers in round one.

Predators 6, Avalanche 1 In Denver, backup goalie Anders Lindback stopped 34 shots before leaving early in the final period after a collision, helping Nashville to a big win over Colorado.

Patric Hornqvist scored his team-leading 27th goal while David Legwand, Craig Smith, Roman Josi, Brandon Yip and Matt Halischuk also had goals for Nashville, which clinched the No. 4 seed in the West and will open the playoffs next week by

hosting Detroit. Matt Duchene scored the sole goal for the Avalanche.

for the eighth seed and will face Vancouver in the opening round.

Bruins 4, Sabres 3 In Boston, Patrice Bergeron had three assists before scoring the winner in the shootout to lead defending Stanley Cup champion Boston into the playoffs with a win over Buffalo.

Tyler Seguin scored twice, and Brad Marchand also had a goal for the Bruins, who will be the No. 2 seed in the East. They open the playoffs next week against either Ottawa or Washington. Brad Boyes scored twice for the Sabres, had already been eliminated from the playoff race.

Canucks 3, Oilers 0 In Vancouver, the hosts took out the Presidents’ Trophy with victory over Edmonton. Henrik Sedin, Sammy Pahlsson and David Booth scored for the Canucks, who needed at least a point from this game to take the regular-season title. Vancouver will play Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs.

Sharks 3, Kings 2 In San Jose, Dan Boyle scored his second goal of the game late in overtime to give San Jose the win over Los Angeles.

Patrick Marleau had scored in the third period to tie the game for the Sharks, who clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will meet the St. Louis in the first round. Justin Williams and Mike Richards scored for the Kings, who settled

Coyotes 4, Wild 1 In Minneapolis, Phoenix clinched the first division championship in 33 years of franchise history by beating Minnesota.

Taylor Pyatt scored twice, Mike Smith made 23 saves, while Mikkel Boedker and Radim Vrbata also scored for the Coyotes, who won the final five games of the regular season to leapfrog Los Angeles and San Jose for the Pacific Division title.

The Coyotes will play Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. Dany Heatley scored for the Wild, who missed the postseason for a fourth straight season.

Panthers 4, Hurricanes 1 In Sunrise, Florida, Marcel Goc and John Madden scored first-period goals to help

Lightning 4, Jets 3 In Winnipeg, Steven Stamkos scored his 60th goal and Teddy Purcell had a hat trick including the overtime winner - to lift Tampa Bay over Winnipeg.

Fans gave Stamkos a standing ovation after his third-period goal, making him the second player since 1996 to net 60 in a season. Jets forward Jim Slater scored his second goal of the night with 53 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Nik Antropov also scored for Winnipeg.

Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 1 In Montreal, Tomas Plekanec scored a rare short-handed goal with Montreal down two players as Montreal beat Toronto.

Max Pacioretty, Erik Cole and Brad Staubitz also scored for Montreal, which finished last in the East. Staubitz’s empty-netter was his first point in 62 games this season. Dion Phaneuf scored for Toronto.

Blue Jackets 7, Islanders 3 In Columbus, Cam Atkinson scored two goals - giving him five in five periods - to lead Columbus over New York. Rick Nash opened the scoring in what could be his final game for the Blue Jackets. He has asked for a trade and management has said it will try to deal him this summer.

James Wisniewski and Vinny Prospal each added a goal and two assists, and R.J. Umberger and Jack Johnson also scored for the hosts.

Milan Jurcina and Michael Grabner each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, and Kyle Okposo also scored. —AP

NHL results/standings Boston 4, Buffalo 3 (SO); New Jersey 4, Ottawa 2; Washington 4, NY Rangers 1; Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 2; Chicago 3, Detroit 2 (SO); Calgary 5, Anaheim 2; Montreal 4, Toronto 1; Tampa Bay 4, Winnipeg 3 (OT); Columbus 7, NY Islanders 3; Florida 4, Carolina 1; Phoenix 4, Minnesota 1; St Louis 3, Dallas 2; Nashville 6, Colorado 1; Vancouver 3, Edmonton 0; San Jose 3, Los Angeles 2 (OT).

Five of the best Kuwaiti Football Freestylers advance to the final KUWAIT: Last week Al Kout Mall hosted the first round of the Worldwide Freestyle Soccer Contest “Red Bull Street Style”. 5 competitors managed to advance to the final that will be held at the Marina Crescent on April 20.

In the qualifying round, each player is given a one minute warm-up and three

minutes to show his skills, while in the finals two players will compete with one ball and three minutes only, in an attempt for each athlete to perform for 30 seconds. All rules are in for freestyle tricks, where each player should use the designated area of sevenmeters to display his talent before passing the ball to their competitor.

The 5 finalists are: Karam Humaidani, Abdulwahab Al Otaibi, Ali Khan, Seoud Al Failakawi, Arman Amlani Kurji.

Freestylers who wish to test their skills can join Red Bull Street Style on April 15 at GOAL Salmiya, April 16 at GOAL Al Jahra, April 17 at GOAL Arabian Gulf Street and April 18 at GOAL Shaab Park.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OT GF GA PTS X-NY Rangers51 23 7 225 183 109 Y-Pittsburgh 50 25 6 278 219 106 Y-Philadelphia47 25 9 262 228 103 Y-New Jersey 47 28 6 224 207 100 NT Islanders 34 36 11 200 248 79 Northeast Division X-Boston 48 29 4 265 199 100 41 30 10 247 236 92 Y-Ottawa Buffalo 39 32 10 215 226 88 Toronto 35 36 10 230 260 80 Montreal 30 35 16 208 225 76 Southeast Division X-Florida 37 26 18 199 226 92 Y-Washington41 32 8 218 229 90 Winnipeg 37 35 9 222 242 83 Tampa Bay 37 36 8 231 278 82 Carolina 33 32 16 212 239 82

Western Conference Central Division X-St Louis 48 22 11 207 163 107 Y-Nashville 47 26 8 231 209 102 Y-Detroit 48 28 5 246 200 101 Y-Chicago 44 26 11 245 236 99 Columbus 28 46 7 195 259 63 Northwest Division X-Vancouver 50 22 9 246 198 109 Colorado 41 34 6 207 214 88 Calgary 36 29 16 197 224 88 Minnesota 35 35 11 176 222 81 Edmonton 32 39 10 212 236 74 Pacific Division X-Phoenix 41 27 13 212 203 95 Y-San Jose 42 29 10 225 208 94 Y-Los Angeles40 27 14 192 176 94 Dallas 42 34 5 209 219 89 Anaheim 34 35 12 202 226 80 X—Won division title Y—Clinched playoff berth Note - overtime losses (OT) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

sp orts

Nationals roll over Cubs CHICAGO: Washington’s Adam LaRoche homered and matched a career high with four hits as the Nationals again rallied late with five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 on Saturday.

LaRoche drove a two-run shot in the fourth but the Cubs responded with three in the bottom half to go up 4-2.

But Washington sent up 11 batters in the eighth and hammered Kerry Wood (0-1) and Carlos Marmol again after they faltered in a 2-1 loss on Thursday. Ryan Mattheus (1-0) got the win.

DETROIT: Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera (right) is congratulated by Austin Jackson (14) after hitting a two-run home run to score the pair in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox . — AP

Fielder, Cabrera power Tigers over Red Sox DETROIT: Prince Fielder hit his first two home runs with the Detroit Tigers and Miguel Cabrera added a pair of his own in a 10-0 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Fielder signed a $214 million, nineyear deal with Detroit in the offseason, forming a powerful middle of the order with Cabrera that was on full display against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (01).

Cabrera opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run shot, and Fielder added a solo homer in the fourth. They then hit back-to-back solo homers in the fifth.

Duane Below (1-0) got the win in relief after Detroit starter Doug Fister left in the fourth with a strain in his left side.

Beckett (0-1) allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings, and the five homers he gave up equaled a career worst.

Royals 6, Angels 3 In Anaheim, Luke Hochevar was in command for six scoreless innings, guiding Kansas City past Los Angeles.

Hochevar (1-0) was charged with two runs over 6 1-3 innings in his season debut.

The Royals got solo homers from Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Albert Pujols got his first hit with Los Angeles, a double in the fourth, while starting pitcher Dan Haren (0-1) gave up five runs over 5 1-3 innings.

Blue Jays 7, Indians 4 In Cleveland, Rajai Davis hit a two-run double in the 12th inning as Toronto beat Cleveland in extra innings for the second straight game.

Davis’ hit off Tony Sipp (0-1) gave the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead and they held on to win another extra-inning game between the teams, who set a major league record by playing the longest opening-day game in history - a 16-inning marathon Thursday.

Kelly Johnson homered for the Blue Jays while Casey Janssen (1-0) pitched two innings for the win after starter Branden Morrow allowed only one run in seven innings.

White Sox 4, Rangers 3 In Arlington, Texas, Alex Rios led off the ninth inning with a home run, giving Chicago its first win under new manager Robin Ventura, beating the two-time

defending American League champion Texas.

Rios homered off new Rangers closer Joe Nathan (0-1). Paul Konerko drove in three runs for the White Sox in his 2,000th career game.

Chicago pitcher Matt Thornton (1-0) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, working back from a 3-0 count against Mike Napoli and getting him to ground out.

Rays 8, Yankees 6 In St. Petersburg, Florida, Luke Scott had three hits and drove in three runs in his debut as Tampa Bay’s designated hitter, helping the Rays beat New York.

The Yankees trimmed a six-run deficit to two in the ninth, but Fernando Rodney came out of the bullpen to retire Alex Rodriguez on a first-pitch grounder.

Rays starter David Price (1-0) allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings. Matt Joyce hit a solo homer off Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (0-1) and added a two-run single in the seventh.

Orioles 8, Twins 2 In Baltimore, Tommy Hunter pitched scoreless into the eighth inning, affording Baltimore a comfortable win over Minnesota. Nick Markakis went 3 for 4 with a homer while Adam Jones and Matt Wieters also homered for the Orioles. Baltimore went up 6-0 against Francisco Liriano (0-1) after four innings and coasted to the finish. Ronny Paulino got four hits and scored twice in his Baltimore debut and Robert Andino contributed two hits and two RBIs. Hunter (1-0) gave up no earned runs in sevenplus innings.

Mariners 8, Athletics 7 In Oakland, Chone Figgins finished a home run short of the cycle and every Mariners batter had a hit as Seattle edged Oakland. Figgins’ two-run double off Bartolo Colon (1-1) highlighted a sixrun fourth-inning - helped by a center fielder Yoenis Cespedes misplaying a ball - to give Seattle a 7-0 lead. Ichiro Suzuki also had two hits and an RBI. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez (1-0) was shaky but got the win, giving up six runs in 6 13 innings, striking out seven and walking one. Brandon League pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save this season.

Cespedes hit a three-run homer for the Athletics. — AP

Mets 4, Braves 2 In New York, Lucas Duda homered twice, becoming the first player to take advantage of the pulled-in fences at Citi Field, as New York beat Atlanta.

David Wright had a homer and two singles while Josh Thole lined a go-ahead single with two outs in the fifth inning off well-traveled Livan Hernandez. Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (1-0) kept the Braves off-balance for six innings.

Diamondbacks 5, Giants 4 In Phoenix, Aaron Hill hit two homers as Arizona edged San Francisco. Chris Young had a pair of run-scoring doubles for the Diamondbacks, who were comeback kings last season but this year have been fast starters, scoring second runs in the opening two frames of their two opening games.

Hill drove in three of those: A solo homer off Madison Bumgarner (0-1) in the first inning and a two-run shot in the second. Young also hit the first of his RBI doubles in the first, giving starter Daniel Hudson (1-0) just enough cushion to open with a victory. JJ Putz worked a perfect ninth for his second straight save.

Brewers 6, Cardinals 0 In Milwaukee, Corey Hart homered twice to lead Milwaukee past St. Louis. Rickie Weeks homered while Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Gomez added RBI doubles for the Brewers. Ryan Braun had a pair of doubles and drew a walk.

Brewers starter Zack Greinke (1-0) pitches seven scoreless innings without a single walk while striking out seven.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (0-1), who missed all of the 2011 season after having elbow surgery, went 5 2-3 innings, giving up three runs.

Pirates 2, Phillies 1 In Pittsburgh, Alex Presley singled with two outs in the bottom of the 10th to lift Pittsburgh over Philadelphia.

Rod Barajas, brought in by the Pirates to provide some power, doubled off Philadelphia reliever Joe Blanton (0-1) leading off the inning and pinch-runner Mike McKenry came home three batters later when Presley got an infield single. Pittsburgh reliever Juan Cruz (1-0), a nonroster invitee to spring training, took the win.

CHICAGO: Washington Nationals’ Adam LaRoche hits a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Saturday, April 7, 2012. —AP Astros 7, Rockies 3 to become the first Marlin to hit for the cycle, Infante In Houston, JD Martinez homered and drove in flied out in the ninth inning. Stanton, who went by three runs as Houston beat Colorado and its 49- the name Mike when he hit 34 homers last season, provided the go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer.

Jordan Schafer homered leading off for the single off Mat Latos (0-1). Miami starter Ricky Astros and Martinez’s two-run shot in the fourth Nolasco (1-0) gave up six hits in eight innings. made it 3-0. Moyer (0-1) become the oldest player to Dodgers 6, Padres 5 appear in a game since 1980, when 54-year-old In San Diego, Dee Gordon singled in the goMinnie Minoso played for the White Sox, according to statistics provided by the Rockies from the Elias ahead run with two outs in the 11th inning as Los Sports bureau. Moyer allowed three runs in five Angeles escaped with a win over San Diego, having innings. Houston starter Lucas Harrell (1-0) pitched blown a five-run lead. It was Dee’s third hit of the night. He also walked twice, stole three bases and seven scoreless innings for the win. scored twice. AJ Ellis, who homered in the fourth, started the winning rally with a leadoff single off Marlins 8, Reds 3 In Cincinnati, Giancarlo Stanton led Miami out of Anthony Bass (0-1) and was sacrificed by Justin its early slump, getting three hits and driving in Sellers. With two outs, Gordon singled down the three runs, and the Marlins beat Cincinnati for its right field line to bring in Ellis from second.

Todd Coffey (1-0) pitched the 10th for the win first victory of the season. Omar Infante, Hanley Ramirez and John Buck homered for the Marlins. and Javy Guerra pitched the 11th for his second save Infante also had a double and a triple. With a chance in as many chances. — AP

Britain take bragging rights home to London MELBOURNE: Olympic hosts Britain put themselves in the driving seat ahead of the London Games after trumping arch-rivals Australia in the battle for cycling supremacy at the track world championships.

The British team that reaped only two titles from the Apeldoorn championships a year ago, claimed six in Melbourne, including five of the 10 Olympic category events that will be contested at the London velodrome.

That haul eclipsed Australia’s three Olympic category titles, a telling psychological blow for a proud cycling nation that scooped six golds in Apeldoorn.

Britain’s impressive showing continued the resurgence marked by their dominant World Cup performance at the Olympic test event in February and showed their riders peaking at the right time.

“Everyone knows this is about the Olympics,” Team GB’s head coach Shane Sutton told Reuters at the Melbourne velodrome.

“There’s all these other events going on but ultimately for us and UK sport and our partners and our backers it’s always about the Olympics. “At best, we were looking at round about three (Olympic titles), I thought initially.

“We’re very satisfied going out of here. We know there’s a big job still to do and Australia are right

there in the mix. “But it’s who gets it right on the day isn’t it?”

Sutton oversaw Team GB’s stunning haul of seven track gold at the 2008 Beijing Games but cycling’s global governing body UCI has virtually ensured there will be no repeat in a much-criticised shakeup of the Olympic programme.

Only one berth will be available per team in the individual sprint and keirin events, regardless of riders’ international rankings.

The Olympic hosts will nonetheless be buoyed by a massive improvement in their endurance riders, with the men’s pursuit team humbling the formidable Australian lineup and unflappable teenager Laura Trott adding an omnium title to her women’s team pursuit gold.

Iron-willed Victoria Pendleton shrugged off a hostile crowd and a bruising crash to edge her bitter rival Anna Meares in their thrilling final to notch her sixth sprint title and install herself as favourite in her last Olympics. Four-times Olympic champion Chris Hoy brought the curtain down with a spectacular ride to clinch the keirin title.

“We stepped up big-time in the TP (team pursuit),” Sutton said. “Vicky stepped up to the plate in the women’s sprint so they were two medals that came as a little bit of a bonus.”

Silver medallist Jason Kenny showed he has the

speed and tactical nous to overhaul French champion Gregory Bauge, if not the discipline, after being relegated in the second round of the title decider, costing him a final shot at gold. The only blip for Britain was the continuing misadventures of the men’s sprint team.

Britain won gold in the team sprint at Beijing but have struggled to find a replacement for the retired Jamie Staff to slot into the men’s sprint team with Kenny and Hoy. German-born Philip Hindes had a nightmare debut at Melbourne and almost certainly cost the team a medal when he fell foul of technical officials for making an illegal changeover between riders in qualifying. The mistake led to Britain’s disqualification from the semi-finals.

Australia, for their part, have come a long way since exiting Beijing with red faces and a solitary silver medal. Their three Olympic category titles in Melbourne would have left the team disappointed even though the coaching staff tried to look on the bright side.

“The results that we achieved in terms of medals has been great, however, the personal bests and the times that have been hit by the athletes are marks that are exceeding what we had set for this championship,” Cycling Australia performance director Kevin Tabotta told reporters. —Reuters

Boonen claims record fourth Paris-Roubaix Photo from the awarding ceremony following Kuwait’s first rally in 1974

Kuwait Rally a testimony of 38 years of success KUWAIT: The 2012 Kuwait International Rally, the second round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, kicks off on Thursday in front of the Safir Hotel in Al-Fintas featuring 27 contestants from Kuwait and around the world.

On that regard, a top Kuwaiti motorsports official found this occasion an opportunity to talk about the history of motorsports in the Gulf state. “At 3:00 pm on May 24, 1974, the first rally in Kuwait’s history took place at a closed circuit inside Al-Qadsia Sports Club featuring fifty contestants”, said Eisa Hamza, Executive Director of the Kuwait International Motorsports Club (KT) which organizes the upcoming event jointly with the Kuwait Quarter Mile Motorsports Club.

He further indicated that the first rally made a “huge success” due to “tremen-

Eisa Hamza

dous efforts of the KT board exerted since its establishment in 1965”.

The 2012 Kuwait International Rally takes place at the Jlai’ah and Bnaidar areas south of the country, where contestants will race over a total of 709 kilometers distance in twelve periods divided to six periods a day.

ROUBAIX: A bold move with more than 50 kms to go earned Tom Boonen a brilliant, record-equalling fourth victory in the Paris-Roubaix yesterday.

Boonen pulled clear 57 kms from the finish of the Queen of the Classics and never looked back to emulate fellow-Belgian Roger de Vlaeminck, who won four times in the 1970s.

Frenchman Sebastien Turgot, who was on the attack all day, finished second, outsprinting Italian Alessandro Ballan on the Roubaix velodrome.

“When I was all by myself in front, I just went for it as I know there are often disagreements behind over who is going to do the work,” said Boonen, who showed four fingers as he crossed the line, his face a mixture of joy and pain. “It’s my greatest (ParisRoubaix) win. Claiming the fourth in such manner is just great.”

In the absence of Fabian Cancellara, who could not take part in the race after he broke his collarbone in last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, 2005 world champion Boonen was the hot favourite and he duly delivered in the Hell of the North.

With nobody in the early 12-man breakaway, BMC and Team Sky were forced to do all the work in front of the peloton while Boonen’s Omega Pharma Quick Step team, who had Guillaume Van Keirsbulck among the leaders, sat comfortably in the pack.

Italian Filippo Pozzato, second in Flanders last Sunday, was dropped after a massive crash split the main bunch in three with some 115 kms left. He fought his way back later.

Among those trapped was Frederic Guesdon, the last Frenchman to win Paris-Roubaix in 1997, who is

taking part in the race for a record-equalling 17th time despite sustaining a hip fracture earlier this year. At the beginning of the TrouÈe d’Arenberg, with hundreds of spectators on the right and mud on the left making it impossible to ride on the side of the road, Boonen and Thor Hushovd were among the firsts in the peloton to enter the feared cobbled section some two minutes behind the leaders.

Veteran George Hincapie, also in his 17th ParisRoubaix and a runner-up in 2005, could not follow the pace, but his BMC Racing team mate Alessandro Ballan, third in 2006 and 2008, was in a six-man counter-attacking group that also featured Spain’s Juan Antonio Flecha with less than 80 kms to go.

The Ballan group opened a 25-second lead but Boonen’s team mate Geert Steegmans reined them in 68 kms from the finish. After joining the breakaway group, Boonen and Pozzato accelerated with 57 kilometres left.

Pozzato, however, could not sustain the pace and Boonen was eventually accompanied by his Dutch team mate Niki Terpstra, who was dropped in the Auchy-les-Orchies cobbled section.

Pozzato then crashed and eventually dropped out of contention as Flecha counter-attacked 48 kms from the line.

He quickly built a 30-second gap despite Team Sky’s effort to catch him and the chasers’ chances were effectively over when Boonen’s lead reached the minute with some 20 kilometres remaining.

The Roubaix velodrome chanted Guesdon’s name when the FDJ-Bigmat rider entered the velodrome just as Boonen lifted his trophy. — Reuters

FRANCE: Belgium’s Tom Boonen of the Quickstep team holds the trophy aloft after winning the classic cycling race ParisRoubaix. —AP

17

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

SPORTS

Woods apologized, Sort of, behaved better, Sort of AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods apologized.

Sort of. He behaved better. Sort of.

None of it made much difference.

The peace of mind Woods used to know every time he stepped on a golf course is gone, if not for good, then certainly for the rest of this Masters. He will never get that back, at least not completely. It’s like Superman finding out kryptonite followed him to a new planet. Woods is never going to be worry free again.

Dozens of times, for more than two years running, Woods kept saying how close he is to putting it all together. He said it four more times in the span of four minutes after his round Saturday. A win at Bay Hill two weeks ago - his first in 30 months suggested Woods finally might be.

His play this week said the opposite.

His spoiled-child routine a day earlier - a kicked club, a few mock swings in anger, a handful of curses - suggested he knew that, too.

“Am I conscious of it? No. Certainly I’m frustrated at times,” Woods said after shooting even-par 72, three strokes better than his round Friday - with only one slammed club.

“I apologize if I offend anybody by that, but I’ve hit some bad shots. It’s certainly frustrating at times not to hit the ball where you need to hit it. I certainly heard that people didn’t like me kicking the club.

“But I didn’t like it, either,” he added. “I hit it right in the bunker.

Didn’t feel good on my toe, either.”

Ditto for his reputation.

Grace was never Woods’ strongest suit. Ambition was, and the gulf between what he wants and what he has to settle for has likely never been wider. When he returned to golf at the Masters in 2010, a few months after that fateful postThanksgiving slalom down the driveway of his Florida mansion, he vowed to respect the game. Back then, Woods had no idea it was going to be this hard.

“All this club dropping all the time, he seems disgusted,” said Hank Haney, his former coach, whose recent book “The Big Miss” has kicked up a stir.

“I’m not there watching his shots, and he did some of that when I had him. But it seems to me he’s doing it a lot more now. Still, the notion that

he should just go out and play, or have fun, or somehow just play like he used to, is nonsense. I hear people say it all the time, in things I read,

AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods waves after his putt on the ninth green during the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament. —AP or on TV, and it’s just total nonsense.

“He’s always been mechanical. He was always thinking about his swing, about his short game, about one

Spain, US to meet in Davis Cup semi-finals MADRID: Holders Spain set up a heavyweight Davis Cup semi-final clash against the United States when David Ferrer cruised to a 7-5 6-3 63 victory over Austria’s Juergen Melzer to give the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead yesterday.

All four ties were still open on the third day of the World Group quarter-finals and John Isner wrapped up victory for the US when he fought past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6 5-7 6-3 to inflict the first French home defeat in six years.

Czech Republic went through on the other side of the draw after Tomas Berdych edged Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 7-6 7-6 in Prague as the home side gained revenge for their last-four defeat to Serbia in 2010.

Their opponents in September’s semi-finals will be Argentina or Croatia, with hosts Argentina leading 2-1 heading into late yester-

MONACO: US player John Isner returns the ball to French tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, during their match, in the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup between France and US in Monaco. —AP day’s singles in Buenos Aires.

In a blustery Marina d’Or on the Spanish coast, the tenacious Ferrer was far more consistent than an error-prone Melzer and was rarely under pressure as he secured his second point of the best-of-five tie after thrashing Andreas Haider-Maurer on Friday.

“It was quite an uncomfortable match but David was very focused and very disciplined,” Spain captain Alex Corretja said in an interview with Spanish television after both players strug-

adjustment or another he was convinced would make a difference.

With a lot of touring pros, it’s a defensive mechanism. They can’t let

gled with swirling winds and uneven bounce.

“It’s great news that we are playing at home in front of our own fans in the semis,” Corretja added.

Spain missed a chance to wrap up the tie on Saturday when doubles pair Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez surrendered a one-set lead and were beaten by Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya.

Undefeated in 23 home ties, they remain favourites to win a fourth title in five years despite the absence of talismanic world number two Rafa Nadal.

The French Open champion has opted out of the competition this year citing the packed calendar in an Olympic year and is also nursing a knee injury aggravated in Miami last week.

However, with world number five Ferrer in the side - who has won all 14 of his Davis Cup singles matches on clay - and 12th-ranked Nicolas Almagro playing some of the best tennis of his career, the US face a tough task to beat the Spanish at home on their favoured red dirt in the September 14-16 tie.

Almagro beat Peya 7-5 7-5 to secure a 4-1 success for Spain. Against the French, the Americans shrugged off the absence of world number nine Mardy Fish and relied on an inform Isner to lead the charge at the glamorous Monte Carlo Country Club.

The towering 26-year-old, who humbled Gilles Simon on Friday before the Bryan brothers won Saturday’s doubles, has been in fine form this year as he has chalked up victories over Roger Federer and world number one Novak Djokovic.

Now ranked number 11, he was instrumental in putting his country through to the semifinals for the first time since 2008, serving 16 aces against Tsonga and losing his serve to the Frenchman just once.

“I like playing on clay,” said Isner, whose four wins in four matches on the surface this year suggest he could be a challenger for titles during the clay season, which moves into top gear at this month’s Monte Carlo Masters.

“I played three of my best matches this year, my best wins have come on clay,” he added.

“It’s a surface I enjoy playing on and a surface I feel I can do very well on.”

The 3-2 defeat for France signalled the end of Guy Forget’s stint as captain and he was gracious in defeat in Roquebrune.

“You have to congratulate him, John Isner was huge today,” said Forget, who won the Davis Cup as a player with France in 1991 and 1996.

“He played very well and he has a lot of talent,” Forget added. “(U.S. captain) Jim Courier is a great leader and he has a lot of class.”

At the Parque Roca in Buenos Aires, Juan Martin Del Potro can seal victory for the hosts when he plays Marin Cilic in late yesterday’s opening singles. —Reuters

too many doubts creep in. But there’s a big difference between a textbook swing and one you can take to the golf course.

“And for some reason, he can’t make that transfer. ... The strange thing is that before this tournament, he was on a run of pretty good results. He’s still going to win a lot of tournaments,” Haney said finally, “but probably not as many as he used to.”

Woods is at 3 over, 12 shots off the lead, farther behind than he’s ever been at the Masters. Late into the night Friday, using a spotlight provided by the club, Woods went to the practice range and pounded shot after shot into the darkness. His coach, Sean Foley, crouched alongside and tried to track the flight of the ball.

Despite the extra work, less than 24 hours later, Woods found himself another four strokes in arrears.

Asked whether another practice session was on his schedule, Woods replied, “I’m a little tired. Last night took a little bit out of me and certainly (so did) trying to put everything I possibly had into this round to get it back. I’m going to go back and go lift, work out and get ready for tomorrow.”

Someone asked Woods what he

Mickelson charges, McIlroy collapses AUGUSTA: Phil Mickelson stormed up the Masters leaderboard on Saturday to finish within a shot of surprise third round leader Peter Hanson and restore some sense of normality to the first major of the year.

Mickelson produced a dazzling display of shot-making and nerveless putting in a flawless sixunder-par 66 on a day when Rory McIlroy relived his worst nightmare and Tiger Woods faded out of contention.

The left-hander, already a three-time Masters champion, entered the clubhouse at eightunder for the tournament and breathing down the neck of Hanson, who birdied the last two holes for a 65, the best round of the tournament.

“I love it here and I love nothing more than being in the last group on Sunday at the Masters.

It’s the greatest thing in professional golf,” said Mickelson.

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, the runaway winner of the 2010 British Open, put himself in the frame for a second major with a 69 to be third at seven-under while American Bubba Watson was a further shot back after a 70.

Saturday is traditionally known as ‘Moving Day’ and, more than any other tournament, the intense pressure of the Masters brings out the best and worst in every golfer.

While the leaders were thriving in the pressure-cooker atmosphere, McIlroy and Woods both walked off the 18th dejected and frustrated.

McIlroy began the day in a tie for third but for the second consecutive year at Augusta National the Northern Irishman’s game collapsed and he tumbled down the leaderboard.

Eight different players, including Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar and Henrik Stenson, had a share of the lead at various stages dur-

ing the round, but McIlroy was never in the hunt.

After starting the day one shot behind overnight leaders Fred Couples and Jason Dufner, McIlroy shot a five-over-par 77, that included two doublebogeys, to end at one over.

He took 42 shots for the front nine, rekindling memories of last year when he held a four-shot lead at the start of the final day but closed with an 80. “Seems like every year I come here I throw a bad nine holes out there,” McIlroy

ers and was in danger of his worst finish at the Masters since he turned professional.

Needing to shoot a low score to get back into contention, the four-times champion could only manage an even-par 72 to remain at three over.

He made a bright start, with birdies at the third and fourth holes, as the crowd let out a mighty roar that echoed through the pine trees but failed to make another birdie all day as his emotions started to boil over.

The 25-year-old from the Czech Republic watched the opening semifinal and said she’ll have a plan to slow down Williams’ attack. After all, Safarova didn’t lose a game in her semi, something she joked about with Serena. “‘Yeah, I got you,’” Safarova told Williams when they saw each other after the match. If Williams matches her Saturday effort in the finals, Safarova will have her hands full. “It’s a great challenge. She’s a great player,” Safarova said, “and you see what she’s done today.”

Stosur, the 28-year-old ranked fifth, combines a powerful serve with the fitness to chase down about any shot.

She rallied on Friday to defeat Serena’s older sister, Venus, and was seeking to become just the eighth player to beat both Williams sisters in the same tournament.

Serena quickly made sure that didn’t happen. “She was way too good today,” Stosur said. “She was pretty happy with the way she played.”

The hole in Williams’ Hall-of-Fame resume is clearly on clay. She owns 13 Grand Slam titles, but just one coming at the French Open. Williams beat sister Venus in 2002 for the championship at Roland Garros. Serena reached the semifinals there the next year and has not made it past the quarterfinals in five appearances since.

Williams believes she’s sliding better than she has in recent years and excited about her prospects on the surface this year. “I’m trying to play like this at the end of the clay-court season,” she said. “So we’ll see.” —AP

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel also ended his chance of winning another green jacket after the South African shot a 75 to end the day at six over while England’s world number one Luke Donald was a further shot back after also signing for a 75.

Mickelson started the day at two-under. He parred the first nine holes before making his move on the back nine, which he covered in just 30 shots, featuring four birdies and an eagle.

Hanson bogeyed the opening

AUGUSTA: Francesco Molinari, of Italy, hits out of a bunker on the second hole during the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament. —AP said.

“I think if I can finish top 10 it would be a really good result. So if I can go out there tomorrow and shoot something in the mid 60s and walk away from here with a top 10, I’d be very pleased.”

A frustrated Woods failed to make up any ground on the lead-

On the 13th tee, he slammed his club into the ground after hooking his drive into the banks of Rae’s Creek. On the previous day, he kicked one of his irons after missing a green, but said he was sorry for his petulant behavior. “Certainly I’m frustrated at times and I apologise if I offended anybody by that,” Woods said.

Serena routs Stosur to reach Family Circle final CHARLESTON: Serena Williams even impressed herself with her powerful showing at the Family Circle Cup on Saturday, beating Sam Stosur 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the final.

Williams needed less than an hour to dispatch the second-seeded Australian - the woman who beat her in last year’s US Open final - and progress to the decider of this clay-court tournament.

“It was just one of those days that I could have done anything against anybody,” Williams said.

The 10th-ranked player was on her game from the start, winning the match’s first eight points and rarely letting Stosur catch a breath.

On Sunday, Williams will face Lucie Safarova, who had an even more lopsided victory, dispatching Polona Hercog 6-0, 6-0. Stosur held serve to cut Williams’ lead to 2-1, then lost the next nine games.

Williams hit a forehand winner to end the match moments later, and eliminated Stosur from a tournament for the second straight week. Williams beat Stosur 7-5, 6-3 last week at the Sony Ericsson Open, serving 20 aces tying per personal best - in the hard-court win.

Williams only had seven aces in this one, but was in command of nearly every shot she hit. “I have to say this is probably the best match I’ve played in my career, either in a long time or it’s up there in the top five,” Williams said.

Safarova has lost all four times she’s played Williams.

would need Sunday to get back into the tournament, recalling that just a few weeks ago, when the arrow on his game was pointing up, he shot a 62 in the final round of the Honda Classic to finish in a tie for second.

“That would be nice,” Woods replied, almost wistfully. “I don’t know. I don’t know what the score is going to be because it’s going to be dependent, obviously, on what these guys do today. If somebody shoots 4 or 5 under par and they’re up there in the lead, it’s going to be tough to go get ‘em. But anything can happen. That’s the thing.

“You can be 4, 5, 6 back going into the back nine and still win the golf tournament. Anything,” he said, “can happen.”

With that, Woods turned and headed for the parking lot, where he climbed behind the wheel of a black Mercedes SUV and headed for the exit. If he really believed he could still conjure up some of the old Masters magic, the mournful look on his face said otherwise, calling to mind a line from an old blues standard that goes, “I might be better, but I’ll never be well.” —AP

hole but did not make another mistake all day, reeling off eight birdies to lead a major for the first time. “It’s a new situation to me. I’ve been up on the leaderboard a few times, but I’ve never led in anything like this,” said the Swede. “I know it’s going to be a tough night ... I probably won’t be watching a lot of Golf Channel.” —Reuters

Third Qatar woman to compete in London Games

CHARLESTON: Lucie Safarova, of Czech Republic, celebrates her 6-0, 6-0 win against, Polona Hercog of Slovenia in a semifinal match at the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament. —AP

DOHA: Air rifle shooter Bahia Al-Hamad has been confirmed as the third woman in the Qatar team to compete at the London Olympics, the Qatar Olympic Committee said yesterday.

Al-Hamad, 19, will compete in the 10 metres competition after winning a silver medal in the team event at the Arab shooting championships last month. She was Qatar’s most successful athlete at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha with three gold medals and two silver. She joins swimmer Mohammed Wafa Arakji and 100 and 200 metres sprinter Noor Al-Malki in the Qatar team.

“We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure another place for one of our young female athletes at London 2012,” Qatar Olympic Committee general secretary Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said in a statement.

“We are grateful to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for their support in helping make this happen.” “Athletes like Bahia, Nada and Noor will also provide inspiration to the next generation of female Qatari sports.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Brunei have never before sent women athletes to an Olympics although the Saudis are in discussions with the IOC. Qatar is bidding to host the 2020 Games, along with Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul and Azerbaijan capital Baku. As part of its bid Qatar plans to build a high-performance training centre for female athletes in Doha. —Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

S P ORT S NBA results/standings Boston 86, Indiana 72; Atlanta 116, Charlotte 96; Memphis 94, Dallas 89; New Orleans 99, Minnesota 90; Orlando 88, Philadelphia 82; Milwaukee 116, Portland 94; Phoenix 125, LA Lakers 105; Denver 0, Golden State 0; LA Clippers 109, Sacramento 94.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Boston 31 24 .564 Philadelphia 29 26 .527 New York 28 27 .509 Toronto 20 36 .357 New Jersey 20 37 .351 Central Division X-Chicago 43 13 .768 Indiana 34 22 .607 Milwaukee 28 28 .500 Detroit 21 34 .382 Cleveland 18 35 .340 Southeast Division X-Miami 39 15 .722 Atlanta 34 23 .596 Orlando 33 23 .589 Washington 12 44 .214 Charlotte 7 47 .130 Western Conference Northwest Division Y-Oklahoma City 40 15 .727 Denver 30 25 .545 Utah 29 27 .518 Portland 27 30 .474 Minnesota 25 32 .439 Pacific Division LA Lakers 35 22 .614 LA Clippers 34 22 .607 Phoenix 29 27 .518 Golden State 21 33 .389 Sacramento 19 37 .339 Southwest Division San Antonio 39 14 .736 Memphis 32 23 .582 Houston 30 25 .545 Dallas 31 26 .544 New Orleans 15 41 .268 X—Clinched playoff berth Y—Won division title

GB 2 3 11.5 12 9 15 21.5 23.5 6.5 7 28 32 10 11.5 14 16 .5 5.5 12.5 15.5 8 10 10 25.5

Celtics pin down Pacers INDIANAPOLIS: The Boston Celtics held onto top spot in the NBA’s Atlantic Division with an impressive 86-72 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Paul Pierce scored 24 points while Ray Allen added 19 for the Celtics, who remained ahead of Philadelphia in the division.

Danny Granger scored 20 points for the Pacers, who had won four in a row and scored more than 100 points in five consecutive games, but were held in check by Boston.

Suns 125, Lakers 105 In Phoenix, the hosts recorded a comfortable win over a Los Angeles team missing Kobe Bryant for the first time in two seasons.

An injured shin ended Bryant’s string of 138 consecutive regular-season games played. The NBA’s leading scorer watched the Suns’ reserves dominate the second quarter, then Shannon Brown go off against his former team in the third, scoring 20 of his 24 points for the Suns.

Michael Redd scored 17 of his 20 points in the second quarter for Phoenix in its highest-scoring game of the season.

Pau Gasol had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who surrendered the most points they have allowed this season.

Grizzlies 94, Mavericks 89 In Memphis, the hosts built a big early lead and hung on to beat Dallas. Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Zach Randolph added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 17 points and eight rebounds. Memphis moved two games ahead of Dallas for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Magic 88, 76ers 82 In Philadelphia, Dwight Howard had 20 points and 22 rebounds as Orlando snapped its five-game losing streak and beat Philadelphia.

Glen Davis had 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Magic pushed aside the lingering rift between Howard and coach Stan Van Gundy.

Orlando outrebounded the Sixers 53-41. Howard had 13 defensive boards.

Thaddeus Young scored 20 points for the Sixers, who are in serious danger of missing a playoff spot after leading the Atlantic Division for most of the season.

Bucks 116, Trail Blazers 94 In Milwaukee, the hosts beat Portland to tighten the race for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Beno Udrih scored a season-high 21 points and Brandon Jennings added the same amount for the Bucks, who moved within half a game of idle New York with its fourth straight victory. The Bucks are .500 for the first time since game four of the season. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 21 points for Portland.

Clippers 109, Kings 94 In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin had 27 points and 14 rebounds as surging Los Angeles moved within half a game of the Pacific Division lead.

Randy Foye scored 25 points while hitting seven 3-pointers for the Clippers, who have won eight of nine and closed in on division and city rival, the Lakers.

Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins had 15 points and 20 rebounds after stoking a feud with pointedly critical comments about Griffin this week.

Warriors 112, Nuggets 97 In Oakland, Golden State got a big

lift from its reserves to put a dent in Denver’s playoff hopes. David Lee had 17 points and nine rebounds while reserves Brandon Rush added 20 points for the Warriors.

Denver could have moved into the sixth spot in the Western Conference with a win, but instead dropped into the No. 8 seed, half a game behind Houston and Dallas.

Ty Lawson had 21 points and six assists for the Nuggets, who were outrebounded and gave up 58 points in the paint.

Hawks 116, Bobcats 96 In Charlotte, Joe Johnson scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and eight Atlanta players scored in double digits in the win over Charlotte.

The Hawks broke open the game in the third quarter by shooting 17 of 23 from the field while scoring a seasonhigh 38 points. They won their third straight and remained in second place in the Southeast Division, ahead of struggling Orlando. Zaza Pachulia had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks.

Corey Higgins, the son of Charlotte president of basketball operations Rod Higgins, scored a career-high 22 points for the Bobcats, who’ve lost 11 straight.

Hornets 99, Timberwolves 90 In New Orleans, Jason Smith had a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, leading New Orleans past struggling Minnesota.

Smith, who had his third career double-double, made his first eight shots and finished 12 for 16. Chris Kaman added 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting for the Hornets. Kevin Love had 29 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its fifth in a row.—AP

NEW YORK: Knicks’ Iman Shumpert (21) works against Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose during the first half of an NBA basketball game.—AP

Windies make Aussies pay for missed opportunities

PUNE: Pune Warriors India players celebrate after the wicket of Kings XI Punjab batsman Paul Valthaty (left) during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Pune Warriors India and Kings XI Punjab.-AFP

Warriors down Kings XI, Royals beat Kolkata in IPL JAIPUR: Pune Warriors and Rajasthan Royals recorded their second successive victories in the IPL yesterday. The Warriors defeated Kings XI Punjab by 22 runs in front of about 40,000 boistrous home fans at the newly built Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, following on from their win over the star-studded Mumbai Indians.

West Indian batsman Marlon Samuels hit a brisk 46 in the Warriors’ total of 166-6 against the Adam Gilchrist-led Punjab, which managed 1448 in reply. At Jaipur, Australian batsman Brad Hodge smashed 44 off 29 balls as Royals posted 164-5 before fast bowler Amit Singh grabbed two early wickets in as many balls in a comfortable 22-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.

Royals beat Kings XI Punjab in the first Indian Premier League match. Samuels and Robin Uthappa (40) laid a solid platform by putting on 81 runs off 61 balls after captain Sourav Ganguly (20) and Jesse Ryder (8) both fell early.

Kings XI paid a heavy price when mediumfast bowler Harpeet Singh was pulled out of the attack for bowling two successive beamers at Manish Pandey in the 19th over. Left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma had to complete the over, conceding 19 runs as Steven Smith hit three sixes to propel the Warriors’ total.

Kings XI was never in the hunt as Paul Valthaty and Gilchrist were cheaply run out.

Sharma’s late charge gave him an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls but it never threatened the Warriors, which finished at the bottom of the table in the IPL last year.

Hodge was the biggest contributor to the Royals’ competitive total with Ashok Maneria adding an invaluable 40.

Manoj Tiwary fought a lone battle and scored

59 off 49 balls before he was the last man to go as the Knight Riders were dismissed for 142 in 20 overs. Knight Riders were forced to play a catchup game after Singh removed Jacques Kallis and captain Gautum Gambhir off successive deliveries and leftarm spinner Ankeet Chavan made it 8-3 by having Brendon McCullum plumb leg before wicket.

Knight Riders lost the second game in a row after Delhi Dare Devils won their rain-shortened match.

Hodge and Maneria rebuilt the Royals’ innings at a good pace after both openers - captain Rahul Dravid (26) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) were run out.

Yousuf Pathan was hammered for 28 runs in two overs with Hodge twice lifting the offspinner for big sixes in one over as the pair added 64 runs for the fourth wicket off 45 balls.

Royals’ West Indian signing Kevon Cooper, who took four wickets in his IPL debut match against Kings XI, chipped in with three wickets that included Brett Lee (25) and Sunil Narine off consecutive deliveries.

Scores: Rajasthan Royals 164-5 in 20 overs (Brad Hodge 44, Ashok Maneria 40; Brett Lee 2-29) def.

Kolkata Knight Riders 142 in 20 overs (Manoj Tiwary 59, Brett Lee 25; Kevon Cooper 3-28, Ankeet Chavan 2-23, Siddharth Trivedi 2-25, Amit Singh 2-30).

Pune Warriors 166-6 in 20 overs (Marlon Samuels 46, Robin Uthappa 40, Steven Smith 25; Harmeet Singh 3-24) def. Kings XI Punjab 144-8 in 20 overs (Bipul Sharma 35, Mandeep Singh 24, Abhishek Nayar 24; Rahul Sharma 2-34).—AP

BRIDGETOWN: A slow Kensington Oval pitch and a number of dropped catches helped the West Indies build a solid start against Australia on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday.

When rain curtailed the action, the home side were 179 for 3 with the backbone of the score being a century second wicket partnership between Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards. Having won the toss, the West Indies’ openers made a steady start and the initial breakthrough for Australia didn’t come until the 18th over.

For his second spell, Ryan Harris had replaced Nathan Lyon at the Malcolm Marshall end and came around the wicket to Adrian Barath.

His third ball was a bouncer outside off stump that Barath, who had made 22, hit high in the air for Peter Siddle to get under at fine-leg.

Edwards joined Brathwaite and he started slowly but the score was steadily building with Brathwaite being fortunate to survive two tough chances that he offered. His first slice of luck came during the morning session.

In his third over, Siddle had him playing too early and, as his hand came off the bat, the ball looped back to the bowler who, despite getting his left hand down to the dropping ball, couldn’t hold on to the chance.

Brathwaite moved on to 44 when Shane Watson induced an edge that went wide to Ricky Ponting’s right at second slip.

He did well to reach the ball but he couldn’t grasp it as the ball died on him. It was Watson, himself, who then gave Edwards a life. Siddle found the edge when the batsman had made 56 and the ball flew high above Watson’s head at fourth slip and, despite getting both hands to the ball, he couldn’t hang on.

It came at a time when Edwards had upped the tempo as he hit several boundaries and smashed Lyon over long-on for six. As Michael Clarke looked for options he turned to part-time legbreak bowler David Warner.

When Edwards had reached 61 he smashed a return catch back at Warner who took it smartly.It was his first international wicket and he was clearly delighted to have made a contribution with the ball breaking the 104-run second wicket partnership.

Siddle was probably the pick of a pace attack that had kept things tight all day and he was rewarded when Brathwaite played one loose shot too many.

He played at a ball slightly wide of the off stump and was caught behind for 57, an innings that had lasted over four hours and 199 balls.

It gave wicket-keeper Matthew Wade special cause for celebration as he had been presented with his baggy green before play by Ponting and it was his first Test dismissal.

Steady rain arrived with 17 overs left in the day and with the light getting worse the umpires called an early end. There had been plenty of discussion about the newly-found resilience of the West Indies team following good performances in Tests in India and in the recent shorter forms of the match against Australia. Now it was seen in a home Test for the first time in many years with the West Indies off to a good start as they aim for their first Test win against Australia for nine years and for their first series win over the visitors in 19 years.—AFP

BARBADOS: West Indies’ batsman Carlton Baugh (below left) reacts after being run out as Australia’s bowler Nathan Lyon (below right) wicket keeper Matthew Wade (above left) and captain Michael Clarke (above center) celebrate as Baugh’s batting partner Shivnarine Chanderpaul looks on during the second day of their first cricket Test match.—AP

Kuwait Open tennis tournament KUWAIT: Most of Kuwait’s Third Open Tennis Tournament competitions came to a close. 450 citizens and expatriates participated in various categories for both genders. The tournament also included an event for diplomats singles.

In the juniors under 17 singles, Nasser Ahmad Al-Obaidly took first place and Rasheed Adel Al-Bader was second. In the women singles Sarah Behbehani won the tournament while Sabella Van Tonder was second to her.

In the men’s doubles final first place was claimed by Ali Abdelredha Al-Ghareeb and Mohammas Khaliq Sadeeq as they defeated Mansour and Abdallah Bu Hamad .

In the pioneers singles Zoran was first while Jeerjolla was second. In the over 55 category Mohammad Ali Tonaih claimed first place followed by Majdi Al-Bitar.

In the mixed doubles Oscar and Fiorella were first while Ferzad Haidary and Lucy ended in second place.

Strauss confident about future

Ali Al-Ghareeb

COLOMBO: Andrew Strauss heads home from Asia confident his future as captain is secure after England ended a miserable run in Tests by beating Sri Lanka to draw the series and retain their numberone ranking.

The tourists eased to an eightwicket win in the second and final Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Saturday to make amends for the 75-run loss in the first Test in Galle, which was their fourth straight Test defeat this year.

England’s losses, including an embarrassing 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, had left them teetering on the brink of losing their top ranking.

The one blemish in the hardfought series against Sri Lanka was Strauss’s own batting form. He

made just 114 runs in four innings at an average of 28.50.

The left-hander appeared to have found his rhythm when he hit 61 in the first innings of the second Test, but he fell for a duck in the first over of the second innings as England chased a modest target of 94.

Strauss has not added to his 19 Test centuries in 25 innings and has just one three-figure knock in his past 50 innings, raising questions about his future in the side.

But the skipper said he had never doubted himself or his leadership role. “I never had any doubts about whether this was the time for me to go,” the 35-year-old veteran of 94 Tests said, adding he was focused on his side performing well.

“I am very determined and com-

mitted to seeing us improve as a side. It’s been an interesting week or two, but we as a side should not get carried away with whatever the issue of the day is.

“We have done that very well over the last couple of years, and obviously I needed to do it in this Test. We needed to do it as a team and I thought we did it well.”

Strauss admitted England had been under pressure after their four consecutive defeats but was delighted the hard work had eventually paid off.

“We had to make sure we learnt the lessons from our defeats over the last four Test matches,” he said.

“I saw a steely determination on everyone’s part to make sure we finished the winter on a high and it was fantastic to be able to do that.”

Off-spinner Graeme Swann’s

match haul of 10 wickets left England chasing just 94 to win, which they achieved easily despite slipping to 31-2 after the dismissals of Strauss and Jonathan Trott.

Alastair Cook remained unbeaten on 49 and Kevin Pietersen, who hit a century in the first innings, smashed 42 not out off just 28 balls, bringing up the win with a six off Tillakaratne Dilshan. “ They are horrible chases because everyone expects you to win,” said Strauss. “It’s almost like trying to sink a three-foot putt. You know it should go in but it doesn’t always.”

The number one ranking will remain on the line as England return to the comfort of home conditions for Tests against the West Indies and number-two ranked South Africa.—AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

S P ORT S

My greatest moment, says Celtic boss Lennon GLASGOW: Neil Lennon says he finally feels vindicated as Celtic manager after watching his side clinch their first Scottish Premier League title in four years following a 6-0 rout of Kilmarnock.

The Hoops needed just a point to clinch the championship but did it in style as four first half goals put the result beyond doubt before the break.

It is a first league title for Lennon in only his second full season in charge after taking over from Tony Mowbray in March 2010.

The former Celtic captain won five Scottish championships and reached a UEFA Cup final in seven years as a player for the Old Firm club and clinched last season’s Scottish Cup as manager.

But Lennon said his first league title as manager was the best moment of his career as it meant he could finally

emerge from the shadows of former Celtic managers.

“It’s the greatest moment of my professional life. It doesn’t get much better than this really,” Lennon said. “It’s not easy winning titles and we’ve done it emphatically. When you are a player you are part of a team. You had players like Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Stan Petrov, Paul Lambert, Alan Thompson and Johann Mjallby to lean on.

“But when you are a manager it’s a lonely job and you have to make the decisions. You get criticised for them, you get praised for them but you have to keep a level head.

“I’m only new in this job as well. It’s only my second season and it’s a huge job with huge expectations but I feel vindicated now.

“I felt as if I was on probation but now I feel like the Celtic manager. I was

Sheikh Abdallah shooting tourney concludes By: Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The late Sheikh Abdallah AlMubarak Tournament concluded on Saturday under the patronage and presence of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah, and President of the Asian and Kuwait Shooting Federations and Vice President of the ISSF Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.

President of the Arab Shooting Federation and Vice President of KSF Engr Duaij AlOtaibi, Secretary General of the Arab And Kuwait Shooting Federations Obaid AlOsaimi, KSF Treasurer Essa Bu Taiban, Asst, Secretary Mohammad Al-Ghurba, assistant treasurer Adnan Al-Ibrahim and board member Dr. Nidal Al-Sayed Omar were present at the closing ceremony.

Meanwhile Engr. Duaij Al-Otaibi thanked the family of the Late Sheikh Abdallah AlMubarak for their continued support of the sport of shooting through this annual tournament.

He said the tournament was held in a distinguished atmosphere and with the participation of several Olympian and local shooters, which is a good addition to Kuwait’s shooters preparations for the upcoming events in the world championships and in the Olympics. He said such events give the shooting club junior members good experience through the close contact with such established shooters in seven Olympic disciplines.

Al-Otaibi congratulated the winners of the tournaments especially the juniors who have shown strong presence and had significant scores during their participation. Al-Otaibi hoped that shooters from various countries continue to participate in the upcoming events which gives them a special flavor, as the Kuwait Shooting Sport Club remains a place where many shooters wish to hold their training camps during various times of the year, due to its outstanding facilities.

Bahrain’s delegation, which participated in the tournament, official Alia Mohammad said the event is an important one due to the benefits Bahrain’s shooters gained as the level of competition was high with the presence of outstanding shooters from different countries.

She said Bahrain’s shooters came to Kuwait to hold a training camp in preparations for the police championship to be held in UAE at the end of this month.

Alia Mohammad thanked all officials of KSSC for providing all necessary facilities for the Bahraini delegation which reflects their interest in strengthening of ties between GCC countries.

El Salvador’s Melissa Mikec wished Kuwait’s shooting all success during the coming years, adding that this is the first time she visited Kuwait, and found it wonderful. She said that hospitality is great, and competition is outstanding at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex, which is one of the best shooting places and is ideal for host-

Mubarak Al-Abdallah hands Usama AlFaihan the trophy. ing championships at all levels.

Meanwhile, Serbia’s Damir Mikec said he is keen on holding his training camps in Kuwait at various times. He said he has been in Kuwait for a month as he participated in HH the Amir Grand Prix and Sheikh Abdallah AlMubarak Tournament, while at the same time being in a training camp in preparation for the world cup and the London Olympics.

He said he will make sure to continue coming to Kuwait to participate in the Grand Prix due to the distinguished participation in it, as he thanked KSSC officials for the good hospitality and meeting all requirements during his stay in Kuwait.

Results of the tournament are as follows: Skeet- Men: Nasser Al-Daihani , Saud Habib and Abdelaziz Al-Saad Trap- Men: Abdelrahman Al-Faihan, Talal AlRashidi and Khalid Al-Mudhaf Double trap- Men: Jarrah Al-Shuwaier, Hamad Al-Afasi and Fuhaid Al-Daihani Trap- Women: Sarah Al-Hawal, Sarah Arti, Fatima Abdelmalek Skeet- Women: Afrah Abdelrahman, Iman AlShamma, Sheikha Al-Rashidi Double Trap - juniors: Usama Al-Faihan, Mohammad Al-Bughaili, Nasser Al-Daihani Skeet- Juniors: Abdelaziz Al-Saad, Nasser AlAzmi, Majid Al-Enezi Air Pistol- men: Damir Mikec, Khalid AlSubaie, Bader Al-Muhaini Air Rifle-Men: Raslan Ismailov, Khalid Sharee Al-Subaie, Mohammad Abelrahman Air Pistol- Women: Makhamdova Bakhtijol, Latifa Al-Najem, Huthama Al-Baghli Air Rifle -women: Melissa Mikec,Ayat AlDuwaikhi, Sabina Ismailov Air Rifle- junior women: Sabina Ismailov, Ayat Al-Duwaikhi, Duaa Al-Duwaikhi Air Rifle- Juniors: Mohammad Abdelrahman, Ali Al-Mutairi, Akbar Noor Yezbek.

Lorenzo wins Qatar MotoGP DOHA: Spain’s 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo, riding a Yamaha, won the seasonopening Qatar MotoGP under the Losail floodlights yesterday to record his first elite class victory at the desert venue.

Lorenzo finished ahead of Honda duo, Spain’s Dani Pedrosa and world champion Casey Stoner of Australia, after a roller-coaster of a race. The Spaniard had started from pole position but lost the lead after three laps to Stoner who looked on course for a fifth victory in the MotoGP class in Qatar.

Stoner maintained his lead until the closing stages of the 22-lap race, but his advantage began to be eaten into by the charging Spanish duo as the Australian’s decision not to test over a full race distance in the winter began to prove costly.

With just over three laps left, Lorenzo snatched the lead and kept his advantage to win by 0.832sec from Pedrosa with Stoner finishing almost three seconds off the pace. “I put everything I had into attack and I won,” said Lorenzo. Stoner said his pace slowed after he began to suffer from ‘arm pump’, a crippling condition caused by struggling to cope with braking pressure and which causes spasms in the forearm.

“We were by far the fastest out there but after four laps I was started to get real arm pump, my arms were shaking off the bars and I was holding on with two fingers,” said Stoner who had been two seconds ahead at one stage. “I couldn’t grip and I couldn’t use the brakes. Without that there was no problem to

QATAR: MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo of Spain and Yamaha Factory Racing, jumps on the podium after he won the Qatar MotoGP at Losail circuit. —AP win, we’re really happy with the speed of the bike. I’ve got two weeks to go away and train and we can come back again.”

He added: “I felt like a backmarker at the end, but I couldn’t hold onto the bike, I couldn’t do anything. But if we sort it out, we will be OK.” Lorenzo was the third Spanish winner of the night. Maverick Vinales, on a FTR Honda, won the Moto3 race ahead of Italy’s Romano Fenati, also on a FTR Honda, and Germany’s Sandro Cortese, on a KTM.—AFP

walking behind Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan, Wim Jansen, Billy McNeil, Davie Hay and Jock Stein and now I can step out from behind them and walk alongside them.

“I t is a fantastic feeling for me.

Ultimately you are judged on championships. Cups are not enough.”I came here in 2000 and we had a great time winning championships. When you look back on your career you probably never really appreciated it until you lost it and then you realised what a great achievement it was. “ To win a championship in your country is special. It’s that hard we hadn’t won it for three years. “ To win it today is a great day for the club and a great day for the supporters and a great day for the Lennon family as well.”

Doubles from Charlie Mulgrew and Gary Hooper as well as strikes from

Glenn Loovens and Joe Ledley saw Celtic cruise past Kilmarnock as they opened up a 21-point gap with five games remaining.

However, things looked very different at the beginning of November when Lennon’s side trailed Rangers, who were later docked 10 points for entering administration in February, by 15 points.

The Celtic manager said he even considered his own future when his side trailed Kilmarnock 3-0 at half-time in October before his side staged a second-half comeback to claim a 3-3 draw.

Lennon praised his players for the remarkable run they went on between November and March when they claimed 17 wins in a row that helped propel them back to the top of the league. “Football is a bit unpredictable and nothing surprises me. I always

believed in the team and always felt we would find a consistency,” Lennon said.

“We put on a fantastic run of 17 wins and that is pretty special at any level of football. To play today in the style and quality they did totally justifies and cements that they are worthy champions without any shadow of a doubt.

“I’m so happy for the players. They’re the ones who have done it. “They are babies in terms of football and have come in for unjustified criticism but they have proved beyond doubt they are the best team in the country.

“They will grow as they are not anywhere near their peak yet. Georgios Samaras is the oldest player in the team at 27 so that says a lot about their youth. “At times there is a naivety about them which I totally comprehend but to win the championship over 33 games is a fantastic achievement.”—AFP

Real lead cut after draw with Valencia MADRID: Leaders Real Madrid had their advantage over chasing Barcelona trimmed to four points when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to third-placed Valencia in La Liga yesterday.

Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was the hero for the visitors in a tense encounter at the Bernabeu as he produced superb saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema.

Ronaldo struck a fierce drive against the post in the eighth minute and was again denied by an upright with a deflected effort 11 minutes into the second half.

Valencia had their chances and a 25th-minute Ricardo Costa header and a powerful Tino Costa shot from long range in the 55th also struck the frame of the goal before Iker Casillas brilliantly denied Jordi Alba with just over five minutes left.

With seven matches remaining Real have 79 points. Barca, who host their arch rivals at the Nou Camp later this month, have 75 after Saturday’s 4-1 win at Real Zaragoza and Valencia have 49.

Meanwhile, Levante climbed above Malaga into fourth place in La Liga and a Champions League qualification slot after Valdo and Arouna Kone struck early in a 2-0 victory at home to Atletico Madrid yesterday.

The Valencia-based club, this season’s surprise package despite a meagre budget and ageing squad, have 48 points from 31 matches, level with their more glamourous city rivals Valencia, who play at leaders Real Madrid in the late kickoff.

Malaga have 47 ahead of their match at home to relegation-threatened Racing Santander today.

Atletico have enjoyed a revival since coach Diego Simeone took over at the turn of the year and are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

However, their domestic form has been erratic and they are six points behind Levante in seventh and in danger of missing their goal of a lucrative Champions League spot next season.

They had defender Miranda sent off late on when he earned a second yellow card and the Brazilian will be suspended for Atletico’s match at home to cross-town rivals Real on Wednesday.

Champions Barcelona, chasing a fourth straight title, trimmed the gap to Real to three points when they came from a goal down in a 4-1 win at struggling Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Lionel Messi struck twice as the Argentine World Player of the Year became the first man to

SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Marcelo Vieira from Brazil vies for the ball with Valencia’s Alberto ‘Tino’Costa from Argentina during a Spanish La Liga soccer match.—AP score 60 goals in a season in European top-flight soccer in almost 40 years.

The last to reach the milestone was former Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller who netted 67 in the 1972-73 season.

Jose Mourinho’s Real, who had a 10-point lead over Barca a few weeks ago before slipping to consecutive draws against Malaga and Villarreal, have 78 points from 30 of 38 games, with Barca on 75 from 31.—Reuters

Spanish League results/standings Levante 2 (Valdo 1, Kone 9) Atletico Madrid 0; Real Mallorca 0 Grenada 0; Athletic Bilbao 1 (Llorente 47) Sevilla 0; Real Madrid 0 Valencia 0 Spanish League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Real Madrid Barcelona Valencia Levante Malaga Osasuna Atletico Sevilla Espanyol Getafe

31 31 31 31 30 31 31 31 31 31

25 23 13 14 14 10 11 11 11 11

4 6 10 6 5 13 9 9 9 9

2 2 8 11 11 8 11 11 11 11

100 90 46 44 44 35 42 36 39 33

27 23 37 41 43 52 37 33 41 39

79 75 49 48 47 43 42 42 42 42

Bilbao Rayo Betis Mallorca Sociedad Granada Villarreal Zaragoza Racing Gijon

31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 31

10 12 11 9 10 10 7 7 4 6

11 4 5 10 7 5 11 7 13 7

10 15 15 12 14 16 13 17 13 18

45 48 38 32 38 28 31 28 23 29

42 53 44 40 47 46 45 56 45 58

41 40 38 37 37 35 32 28 25 25

Raul rekindles Schalke fire BERLIN: His side may have bowed out of the Europa League in midweek but Spanish veteran striker Raul encouraged Schalke’s ambitions of reaching next season’s Champions League with a brace in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Hanover.

Raul, a three-times European Cup winner with Real Madrid, struck early in both halves to see off Hanover — whose hopes of an improbable fifth-place finish suffered a setback.

Schalke, whose other goal came from Dutchman Jan-Klaas Huntelaar just after the hour mark, closed the gap on second-placed Bayern Muinich to six points with their win as the Ruhr-based side - neighburs of champions and leaders Dortmund - bounced back from their midweek Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao.

Raul scored in both legs of the tie against the Basque outfit but could not prevent a 6-4 aggregate loss. yesterday’s strikes, however, opened up a five-point lead over Borussia Monechengladbach, who stayed fourth after they could only draw at home to relegationhaunted Hertha Berlin.

Raul has now netted 14 league goals though Huntelaar is the club’s top scorer with 24, trailing the Bundesliga’s top marksman Mario Gomez of Bayern, who has one more to his credit.

In Sunday ’s late game, 1983 European champions Hamburg, just a point clear of the drop zone, are looking to ease their relegation fears by beating midtable Bayer Leverkusen.

On Saturday, Bayern thanked a Gomez brace - his opener after just 24 seconds - as they stayed in the title hunt with a 2-1 win over Augsburg, but the Bavarians still trail Dortmund by three points after the table-toppers won 3-1 at Wolfsburg. The victories spiced matters up with the top two set to clash on Wednesday in Dortmund.

Bayern, who served up their ninth straight win, are the record title winners with 22 crowns but reigning champions Dortmund are in pole position for an eighth title with 66 points from 29 games with just five rounds of action remaining.

Dortmund won with goals from two goals from Robert Lewandowski and another from

GERMANY: Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of the Netherlands (left) and Schalke’s Raul of Spain jumps for the ball during the German First Division Bundesliga soccer match against Hannover. —AP Ilkay Gundogan with Mario Mandzukic getting a consoltation for shock 2009 champions Wolfsburg.

Matches on TV Bayern’s veteran coach Jupp Heynckes and (Local Timings) Dortmund counterpart Juergen Klopp immediately turned their sights to Wednesday’s summit meeting.

English Premier League “We can now travel to Dortmund feeling Everton v Sunderland 17:00 optimistic and motivated, even if that game Abu Dhabi Sports HD itself won’t decide the title race,” said Newcastle v Bolton 17:00 Abu Dhabi Sports HD Heynckes.

Tottenham v Norwich 17:00 Klopp added: “We’re really looking forward Abu Dhabi Sports HD to the Bayern game - we want to offer a real Aston Villa v Stoke 19:30 spectacle for 80,000 fans, but (the game) won’t Abu Dhabi Sports HD decide anything.”

Fulham v Chelsea 22:00 Elsewhere, Stuttgart were among the goals Abu Dhabi Sports HD again as they hammered Mainz 4-1 to stay fifth. Kaiserslautern’s 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim Spanish League means they are all but down as the tailenders, Malaga v Real Racing 22:00 champions in 1991 and 1998, they are ten Aljazeera Sport 2 HD points from safety.—AFP

Lorenzo wins Qatar MotoGP

Warriors down Kings XI, Royals beat Kolkata in IPL

19

18

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Third Qatar woman to compete in London Games

Page 17

LONDON: Manchester United’s English forward Danny Welbeck (left) shoots past Queens Park Rangers English defender Clint Hill (center) and QPR English defender Nedum Onuoha (right) during the English Premier League football match. —AFP

United tighten grip on EPL title race Man United 2

QPR 0

MANCHESTER: Manchester United tightened their grip on the Premier League title race as goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man QPR at Old Trafford here yesterday.

The visitors endured a frustrating start when Shaun Derry was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ashley Young, with the United man offside and barely touched by the QPR captain, after just 13 minutes. Rooney thumped home the resulting penalty for his 30th goal of the season and his 12th in 12 matches.

Scholes scored from long-range for his third goal since coming out of

retirement as United coasted to an 11th win in 12 league matches.

It enabled the leaders and reigning champions to move eight points clear of local rivals Manchester City, who were playing at Arsenal later yesterday.

Since losing 3-0 at Newcastle on January 4, the only time United have dropped points was coming from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw at Chelsea. With just six games remaining, they are now strong favourites to win the English title for a 20th time but they were given a significant helping hand at Old Trafford. Despite this defeat, QPR remained above the relegation zone albeit on goal difference alone. Rooney had threatened with two free-kicks, seeing one deflected wide off the wall and another swatted away from the top corner as United established their dominance from the start. QPR had barely been able to get out of their own half with a Jamie Mackie effort from 30 yards their only early opportunity.

But United took full advantage of

Derry’s sending off to take the lead after 14 minutes. Rooney clipped a ball through for Young and the England winger went down under Derry’s challenge before referee Lee Mason awarded a penalty.

Replays showed that Young was offside and that there was only minimal contact but Mason also showed Derry a straight red card and Rooney found the corner of the net with his spot-kick.

Rangers’ containment plan was ruined but they almost earned a shock equaliser when Adel Taarabt’s longrange effort looped up off Michael Carrick and was tipped over the bar by David de Gea. From the ensuing Taarabt corner, Anton Ferdinand had a header deflected wide. But it was only a rare incursion into United territory as the champions penned the visitors into their own half.

Young glanced a header wide from a neat Rooney cross and Rooney was denied a second goal by a fine block from Clint Hill. Rooney hit another lofted effort that looked set for the top

corner only for Kenny to pull off another save before Scholes just missed with a thumping effort from distance.

Danny Welbeck had the ball in the net just after the restart only to be called back for offside and the England forward also clipped a shot wide after being played through by a neat flick from Rooney.

Just before the hour, Scholes spotted the run of Rafael and guided a pass through the Brazilian, whose shot was diverted onto the post by Kenny.

After Rooney swept a pass through, Kenny was alert once again to deny Kenny before blocking the United striker’s follow-up.

But midway through the second period, Scholes doubled United’s lead when he received a short pass from Rafael and hit a powerful shot into the corner from 25 yards.

As United searched for a third, Michael Carrick saw a 30-yard strike come back off the top of the post and Welbeck also fired just past the post from the edge of the area.—AFP

EPL results/standings Arsenal 1 (Arteta 87) Manchester City 0; Manchester United 2 (Rooney 15-pen, Scholes 68) QPR 0.

Played Saturday Bolton 0 Fulham 3 (Dempsey 30, 45, Diarra 80); Chelsea 2 (Ivanovic 62, Mata 90) Wigan 1 (Diame 82); Liverpool 1 (Suarez 82) Aston Villa 1 (Herd 10); Norwich 2 (Howson 39, Holt 76) Everton 2 (Jelavic 22, 61); Stoke 2 (Huth 37, Crouch 61) Wolves 1 (Kightly 26); Sunderland 0 Tottenham 0; West Brom 3 (Olsson 7-og, Fortune 69, Ridgewell 85) Blackburn 0.

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd

32

25

4

3 78 27

79

Stoke

32

11

8 13 31 44

41

Man City

32

22

5

5 75 26

71

Norwich

32

10 10 12 44 51

40

Arsenal

32

19

4

9 63 41

61

West Brom

32

11

6 15 39 43

39

Tottenham

32

17

8

7 56 36

59

Swansea

32

10

9 13 35 41

39

Chelsea

32

16

8

8 55 37

56

Aston Villa

31

7 13 11 34 43

34

Newcastle

32

16

8

8 48 42

56

Bolton

31

9

2 20 36 63

29

Everton

32

12

8 12 34 34

44

QPR

32

7

7 18 35 56

28

Liverpool

32

11 10 11 37 34

43

Blackburn

32

7

7 18 43 67

28

Sunderland

32

11

9 12 42 37

42

Wigan

32

6 10 16 30 57

28

Fulham

32

11

9 12 42 42

42

Wolves

32

5

22

7 20 34 70

Arteta dents City’s title hopes Arsenal 1

Man City 0

LONDON: Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli (right) challenges Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match.—AP

LONDON: Manchester City’s lingering title hopes all but disappeared after Mikel Arteta’s 87th minute strike secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium here yesterday that left Roberto Mancini’s side eight points adrift of leaders Manchester United with six games remaining.

Needing victory to match reigning Premier League champions United’s efforts in beating QPR earlier on Sunday, City were always second best and a miserable af ternoon was capped by the dismissal of Mario Balotelli.

The Italy forward was sent off in the 89th minute after collecting a second yellow card for a foul on Bacary Sagna although the player was fortunate to have avoided a straight red in the 20th minute for a horrible challenge on Alex Song. Mancini’s handling of compatriot Balotelli will figure prominently in the inquest into City’s failure to sustain their title challenge.

And the striker-the subject of fresh Sunday newspaper reports about his private life - provided more evidence for those who believe his temperament makes him a liability with a reckless performance.

Balotelli somehow escaped punishment for the challenge on Song but with referee Martin Atkinson having failed to spot the incident, the way is now open for the Football Association to take retrospective action.

That wasn’t the last time the striker attracted controversy in the first half and while he was eventually booked for a high challenge on Sagna, he could have been cautioned on at least two other occasions.

Balotelli’s behaviour summed up a painful match for Mancini, but for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger there was satisfaction as his side moved two points clear of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for third place. Arteta produced an exceptional rightfooted strike after dispossessing David Pizarro three minutes from time but the Gunners could have been well in control before then after striking the woodwork three times.

Arsenal repeatedly stretched City’s defence, particularly down the right hand side where Sagna and Theo Walcott tested their former team-mate Gael Clichy.

But despite controlling the early part of the game, the Gunners were unable to translate

their superiority into goals.

They came close in the 14th minute when Robin van Persie met Arteta’s corner with a powerful header that was heading into the goal before it struck the back of team-mate Thomas Vermaelen and deflected against the crossbar.

City had been disrupted by an early injury to key midfielder Yaya Toure, who was forced off after just 18 minutes with a knee problem sustained when he was fouled by Song.

Slowly, though, the visitors gained a foothold in the game and Balotelli should have done better when he fired a tame shot that was cleared to safety by Vermaelen.

In the second half Arsenal were in danger of running out of ideas although van Persie struck the woodwork with another header from Song’s floated ball.

And when the Dutch striker did finally beat City keeper Joe Hart in the 71st minute, his right-footed effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

Arsenal were by now in the ascendancy and they were again denied when Theo Walcott hit the post and Vermaelen and Tomas Rosicky were both unable to divert the rebound into the net from close range. But the Gunners dominance was finally rewarded when Arteta, from some 25 yards, beat England keeper Hart with a fine shot.—AFP

Abu Dhabi sells stake in electric carmaker Tesla Page 22

Crisis-hit professionals seek jobs in powerhouse Germany Page 23

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

KSE stocks up marginally, investors look for clue Page 24

Natural gas surplus means drilling boom must slow Page 25

KARACHI: A Pakistani laborer carrying a bag of grain at a market in the port city of Karachi. A bloody wave of violence sweeping Karachi has claimed hundreds of lives this year, and experts say it is also taking a punishing financial toll on the city that is Pakistan’s economic heartbeat. — AFP (See Page 22)

Iran’s official inflation climbs to 21.5% Ahmadinejad faces flak; rial free market rate hits import DUBAI: Iran’s official inflation rate has almost doubled over the past year as prices are driven up by budget reforms, a weak currency and international sanctions, according to new data which could add to criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Inflation in urban areas was 21.5 percent for the last Iranian year which ended on March 19, the central bank said in a statement yesterday. Prices of goods and services rose 12.4 percent during the preceding year, according to figures previously released by the bank. During the final month of last year, when consumer demand related to year-end celebrations added to upward pressure on inflation, prices jumped 3.4 percent from the previous month.

Ahmadinejad’s economic management

is being attacked by some lawmakers and last month he was summoned to parliament for an unprecedented interrogation on his policies. Many Iranians believe real inflation is much higher than the official rate, and some clerics and lawmakers have accused the government of providing incorrect figures. Inflation has been rising relentlessly from a low of 8.8 percent in August 2010. The main cause has been the government’s decision to begin phasing out subsidies on food and fuel in December 2010, in order to reduce wasteful consumption and cut state spending.

But prices have also been hit, indirectly, by a tightening of international sanctions over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

The sanctions, led by Washington and Europe, have frozen Iran out of much of

How low can US jobless rate fall?

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: Gary Feeman has been searching for a job for 16 months. He’s not ready to give up just yet, but the 60-year-old worries he is running out of options.

Feeman is among the more than 5 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months and who represent the heart of the crisis in the labor market.

Their plight also poses a warning that US unemployment may not drop back to its pre-recession levels and could be stuck higher than many policymakers expect.

Feeman, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has sent out as many as 100 resumes. But the former maintenance director at a small amusement park in the area, has had only one interview in person.

That was in January. “I have tried everything under the sun,” he said. “The frustrating thing to me is that when you apply for a job, employers do not respond either way.” One of the biggest challenges facing US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues is to understand whether people like Feeman will eventually find work once the economy gathers enough speed. Bernanke appears to think they will and he has suggested more stimulus by the Fed might be needed to kick-start demand, and job creation, into a higher gear.

But if he’s wrong, the central bank risks pumping too much money into the economy in an effort to help people who have become unemployable. Rather than bringing down the jobless rate, the Fed could

eventually fuel higher inflation.

“We’re living through a juncture in US policy history in which we’re making major decisions about what type of society we’re likely to be,” said Steven Davis, an economist at the University of Chicago. “Those decisions will affect things for a generation.” Some 40 percent of the nation’s unemployed have been out of work for more than six months. That’s over twice the rate of long-term unemployment just before the 2007-2009 recession.

Bernanke mostly pins long-term joblessness on weak demand from American consumers and companies. In late March, he pointed to data showing that, compared to before the recession, the shortterm unemployed also are taking much longer to find work.

This, he argued, justifies the Fed’s policy of keeping interest rates low to help the economy. Persistent long-term unemployment is a risk because it might someday make people unemployable, he said. “If progress in reducing unemployment is too slow, the long-term unemployed will see their skills and labor force attachment atrophy further, possibly converting a cyclical problem into a structural one,” Bernanke told a conference of economists. Longterm unemployment has other costs for the economy. A paper for the Brookings Institution, a Washington think-tank, finds that men who lose their job when the unemployment rate is above 8 percent forfeit twice as much in future earnings than if had they lost their job when the rate was below 6 percent.—Reuters

the global trading system in the last several months, forcing importers to use more expensive channels to obtain food and intermediate and consumer goods.

The sanctions have also pushed down Iran’s currency which has in turn added to inflationary pressure by making imports more expensive. In mid-March the government said it would let the rial trade freely among currency dealers, reversing a policy introduced just seven weeks early of requiring all rial trades to be done at an official rate of 12,260 against the US dollar. Many businessmen think the central bank will prevent any further free-fall of the rate; the rial was quoted at 19,050 to the dollar by the Association for Exchanges of Iran yesterday, barely changed from 18,890 just after the policy shift. Nevertheless, the rial’s free-market

rate has roughly halved against the dollar over the past year, adding to import costs.

Despite the misery caused by surging prices among ordinary Iranians, the economy is self-reliant compared to many other oil expor ters in the Gulf, and has demonstrated it can operate in a highinflation environment. Inflation hit levels of around 30 percent in 2008.

Late last month, the Iranian Labor News Agency reported the government was boosting the monthly cash payments it gives to citizens by over 50 percent to help them cope with inflation.

S o m e We s t e r n d i p l o m a t s h a ve expressed hope that economic pressure from sanctions might force Iran’s leaders to make concessions over its nuclear program but there is no indication so far that that has happened. — Reuters

Rigor for the rich hits lifeline to the poor: OECD Cut in development aid likely to continue PARIS: Rich countries applying budget austerity cut their aid to developing countries by 2.7 percent last year, the OECD says, and aid group Oxfam warns that this is putting lives at risk.

The cut in development aid, the first for 14 years, looks likely to continue at a time when poor countries are already suffering from a slowdown in global economic activity, trade and investment, the OECD said. Last year, the 34 OECD members gave $133.5 billion (102.1 billion euros) in official development assistance, or 0.31 per cent of their combined national incomes, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a report this week.

The drop-off “is a source of great concern, coming at a time when developing countries have been hit by the knock-on effect of the crisis and need it most,” OECD secretary general Angel Gurria said. “Aid is only a fraction of total flows to low-income countries, but these hard economic times also mean lower investment and lower exports. “I commend the countries that are keeping their commitments in spite of tough fiscal consolidation plans. They show that the crisis should not be used as an excuse to reduce development cooperation contributions.”

The largest donors in cash terms were the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Japan, the OECD report said. The OECD is a research body for advanced nations which it advises on policy in a wide range of activities.

Relative to the size of their economies, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden were the most generous, exceeding the United Nations’ aid target

of 0.7 percent of gross domestic product. The biggest cuts to aid were made by Austria, Belgium, Greece, Japan and Spain, the report said. Aid group Oxfam International said that the ability of some countries to meet their commitments and increase aid showed that cutting aid was “usually a political choice rather than an economic necessity”.

Oxfam’s executive director Jeremy Hobbs said: “This cut in aid is a global scandal.” He commented: “Rich countries are using the economic crisis as an excuse to turn their backs on the world’s poorest at a time when they need help. “Cutting aid is no way to balance the books. Even small cuts in aid cost lives as people are denied life-saving medicines and clean water. “Aid is such a tiny part of budgets that cutting it has no discernible impact on deficits-it is like cutting your hair to lose weight.” He added that countries including Spain, the Netherlands and Canada must reverse decisions they have made to cut back on future aid. “We also need rich countries like Italy, Japan and the US, who currently give only a tiny proportion of their incomes, to do more to help the poorest.”

Until 2011, worldwide aid had been steadily increasing for more than a decade and reached its peak in 2010, said the OECD report. It warned that recession in some donor countries “severely squeezed their aid budgets and pressure may mount on other donors in the years ahead”.

Looking ahead, the OECD said that global aid may rise somewhat this year, as money already in the pipeline is disbursed, before stagnating from next year onward as the full effects of the global downturn are felt. —AFP

Saudi drops as traders eye world markets MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s bourse made its largest one-day decline in eight months yesterday and most other regional markets also fell as investors sold off ahead of an expected drop in global markets today.

The kingdom’s index dropped 1.9 percent, its biggest daily decline since August 20. Shares worth 18 billion riyals ($4.80 billion) exchanged hands. The market is still up nearly 20 percent this year and analysts had warned it was over-bought.

US stock futures fell more than 1 percent on Friday after US payrolls grew by 120,000 in March, far below the expected gain of 203,000 jobs. World markets look poised to fall this week even as the focus shifts to the beginning of earnings season. “We can attribute this to American markets which are showing a big drop tomorrow,” said Mohammad Omran, an independent financial analyst based in Saudi Arabia. “We need a sign of recovery to stop the losses at this stage or this week will be the worst for Saudi since the start of the year. The downtrend is likely to continue for the next few days,” he added. Technical analysis suggests the index has support between 7,500 and 7,600 points. Petrochemical and banking shares fell, with these two the largest sectors on the kingdom’s bourse. Bellwether Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) slid 1.9 percent, Al Rajhi Bank declined 0.9 percent and telecoms operator Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) shed 2.2 percent. In Dubai, contractor Arabtec led declines as the index fell for a second session, down 1.1 percent.

Shares in the builder dropped 4.4 percent, down for a second session since Wednesday’s four-week high. The stock had surged after Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments doubled its stake in Arabtec. The emirate’s benchmark is moving within a tight range as it consolidates following sharp gains in the first quarter. It is up 23.3 percent in 2012. “Dubai will continue its flat movement between 1,640 and 1,720 points in the short-term,” said Mohabeldeen Agena, head of technical analysis at Cairo’s Beltone Financial. Investors are waiting for firstquarter earnings to give the market direction. Telecoms operator du slipped 2.3 percent, Deyaar Development shed 2.9 percent and Air Arabia lost 1.3 percent.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s index fell for a fourth consecutive session, down 0.5 percent, as it made its largest one-day decline in a month.

“Qatar lost some steam after its late-March rally, falling short of key resistance at 8,910, but the battle for higher ground isn’t over yet,” said Sleiman Aboulhosn, assistant fund manager at Al Masah Capital. “What we’re seeing now might be an interim dip ahead of earnings releases, which, if robust, can drive sentiment higher.”

Heavyweight Qatar National Bank slipped 0.4 percent, Islamic lender Masraf Al Rayan shed 0.7 percent and Commercial Bank of Qatar dipped 0.9 percent. Losers outnumbered gainers 14 to four.

Heavyweight stocks such as Industries Qatar (IQ) and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) are expected to report their quarterly earnings this week and valuations are still attractive, said Aboulhosn.—Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

BUSINESS

Malawians breathe sigh of relief, hope for better economy BLANTYRE: Chimwemwe Chinkango wanted to spend Easter Sunday with his children, but instead sold doughnuts on a sidewalk, hoping Malawi’s new president would heal the economy so one day he could take a day off.

“I should not be selling these doughnuts on Easter Sunday at this hour,” he said in the early morning light outside a Shoprite store, a South African general dealer. I should have been in church on Easter Sunday. But I need to survive and feed my family. I hope the new president will put the economy back on track,” the 24-year-old father of two said.

Many Malawians blame the late president Bingu wa Mutharika for their dire economy. The country is one of the world’s poorest, with a gross domestic product of $343 per person.

The government relies on foreign aid for up to half its budget, including key services like health care. But Mutharika picked fights with donors, who have suspended aid, and battled over fiscal policy with the International Monetary Fund, whose program is Malawi is stalled.

“Let his soul rest in peace, but Bingu messed up in all facets of our lives... from the economy, relations with donors and human rights and governance,” Chinkango told AFP. Mutharika died Thursday after a heart attack, but his government left the nation in the dark for two days as his inner circle sought in vain to keep his Vice President Joyce Banda from taking power. The two had a falling out that led Banda to form her own party, as she accused Mutharika of running the econ-

omy into the ground. It’s an ironic epitaph for a former World Bank economist, who seven years ago brought in hugely popular farm subsidies that ended one of the country’s worst famines in living memory. The program came at enormous expense to state coffers and donors, as Mutharika gave almost free supplies to small farmers to shore up their maize production, the staple crop.

Veronica Mayere, balancing a basket of bananas and avocado pears on her head, said she would fondly remember Mutharika for “ending hunger in Malawi”.

“But I will not shed a tear for him for not changing my life,” she said. “At my age of 50, for how long can I be pacing up and down the streets selling fruits?”

The subsidies proved a drain on the

Treasury, which took a double knock from the suspension of foreign aid and a drop in prices for the main export tobacco proved too much. That left Malawi without enough foreign currency to import all the fuel it needs, causing shortages that have hobbled the nation.

“Joyce Banda should go to the donors... to kneel down. They should bring forex here in Malawi,” said Alexander Mountain, 34, in the capital Lilongwe.

“We have hope that they will be back in Malawi,” added Abdallah Nkalawire, 29. “Because in Malawi right now, I can tell you, even sugar is a problem. Even money, everything you can say.”

Apart from the officially-ordered somber music played on state radio and flags flying at half staff, there is little pub-

lic emotion over Malawi’s late head of state.

Instead, the nation focused on the smooth transition of power to Malawi’s first female leader, despite the failed scheming by Mutharika’s ruling inner circle to instead install the president’s brother, Foreign Minister Peter Mutharika. A prominent Catholic priest, Joseph Kimu told his congregation that “God has shown it’s possible for Malawi to be run by a woman.”

In his Easter homily, broadcast live on the church’s Radio Mary, he said the usually peaceful country had “taught the world that we can change power without war.” “All African countries should come here to learn real democracy,” he added. He did not mention Mutharika once during the service. — AFP

Abu Dhabi sells stake in electric carmaker Tesla TAQA buys 50% interest in Kurdistan power plant

KARACHI: Pakistani tailors making garments at a small factory in the port city of Karachi. A bloody wave of violence sweeping Karachi has claimed hundreds of lives this year, and experts say it is also taking a punishing financial toll on the city that is Pakistan’s economic heartbeat. —AFP

Karachi violence takes huge economic toll KARACHI: A bloody wave of violence sweeping Karachi has claimed hundreds of lives this year, and experts say it is also taking a punishing financial toll on the city that is Pakistan’s economic heartbeat.

Pakistan’s biggest city has escaped the worst of the four-year Islamist bombing campaign that has plagued other parts of the country, but it is wracked with crime and political and ethnic bloodshed.

Last year nearly 1,800 lives were lost as drug, land, gun and extortion mafias linked to ethnically-based political parties threatened to plunge the city of 17 million people into urban anarchy.

More than 300 people have been killed in violence in Karachi in the last three months, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

With each political or sectarian killing, parts of the city go into lockdown as armed men take to the streets seeking reprisals, prompting residents to flee to safety and shops, markets and schools to close.

Ateeq Mir, the chairman of the Karachi Markets Alliance, said the city was closed for “six full days” last weekwhen at least 24 people were killed in violence and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the city’s main

political party, called a day of mourning for a slain activist. “Our traders have lost the business of more than 20 billion rupees ($220 million) while our industrialists lost at least 45 billion ($495 million),” he told AFP. Karachi is vital to Pakistan’s economy, contributing 42 percent of GDP, 70 percent of income tax revenue and 62 percent of sales tax revenue, but Mir compared the situation to the country’s insurgency-wracked northwest. “Karachi has become an urban Waziristan where the government has lost its writ,” he said. “The city is divided among several areas, each is governed by the dominant militant mafia.”

Economist AB Shahid said Karachi’s contribution to GDP amounted to around 16 billion rupees a day, and its daily tax revenues to two billion.

“Karachi is Pakistan’s economic engine, whenever it shuts, it affects the whole economy. Its taxes and industrial and services sectors feed the exchequer and its port being the gateway gives life to the rest of the country,” he told AFP. “If one wants to cripple Pakistan’s economy, one should do nothing but to get Karachi paralysed.”

Market analysts say disturbances in Karachi are affecting foreign investment as well.

“Most multinationals are based in Karachi, and it has a negative impact when their bosses watch pitched battles on their TV screens in the streets of Karachi,” said Mohammad Sohail, the head of Topline Securities brokerage.

He said foreign investment in Pakistan stood at $5.4 billion four years ago, which shrank to $1.6 billion last year and is expected to further reduce to a maximum of $1 billion in the financial year ending on June 30.

Officials admit growing security concerns and targeted killings tarnish Karachi’s attraction for foreign investors and risk driving business away.

The American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in the town of Abbottabad last May was another punishing blow to Pakistan’s depleted image, raising renewed questions about whether anyone in authority had colluded with Al-Qaeda. “Local industrialists, mainly textile businessmen, are shifting their investments to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia because of law and order and energy shortages,” said a government minister on condition of anonymity.

The authorities say they are doing their best to tackle the rampant unrest, but admit they have limited means at their disposal. — AFP

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi National Energy (TAQA) a state-owned oil explorer and power supplier, has sold its 7 percent stake in Tesla Motors Inc, cashing out from the US electric carmaker’s steady stock rally.

TAQA, which is 75-percent owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, said it made a profit of $113 million on the sale, which was effected through the stock market and at Tesla’s last closing price would have fetched $250 million.

Tesla, founded in 2003 by a group of Silicon Valley engineers, is best known for for the Tesla Roadster, a car launched in 2008 and now sold in 32 countries. Carmakers Daimler and Toyota also own stakes in the company, which expects to turn profitable in 2013 and sees revenues this year nearly tripling, spurred by deliveries of its premium electric sedan, the Model S, set to begin in July.

Tesla shares have risen 21 percent year-to-date and have doubled from its 2010 listing price of $17 on bullish investor sentiment towards the electric car industry at a time of

rising oil prices. TAQA said it had sold the 7.3 million shares transferred to it by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) in December 2010.

“While TAQA respects and has admiration for Tesla’s vision, technology and products, Tesla was a non-core investment for TAQA that was originally made by ADWEA and transferred to us. We hope to use the profit to pursue energy opportunities in the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region,” said a TAQA spokesman. Oil-rich Abu Dhabi, which accounts for more than half of the UAE’s economy, is reviewing its overseas investment portfolio as part of measures to instill more discipline in dealmaking among its investment firms.

The emirate is still the largest shareholder in Daimler through its sovereign wealth fund Aabar Investments. In a separate statement, TAQA said it bought a 50 percent interest in a Kurdistan power plant, which has been operating since 2009. The power plant has a capacity of 750 megawatts, with an

additional 250 megawatts under construction, TAQA said.

The company signed a joint venture agreement with Mass Global Investments Co Ltd for the purchase, it said. “There is a 15 year take or pay agreement (750 MW) in place with the Ministr y of Electricity, Kurdistan Region. The facility receives gas from an underground pipeline connecting the Khor Mor gas field to the plant,” said Virtanen.

Semi-autonomous since 1991, Kurdistan has enjoyed more security than the rest of Iraq and energy majors have flocked into the region with big investment plans.

Abu Dhabi-listed TAQA, which invests in oil and gas overseas, also runs power plants in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, India and the United States and plans to start oil and gas operations in north Africa.

TAQA is a major shareholder in the Netherlands’ Bergermeer gas storage facility with capacity of 4.1 billion cubic meters, and is also involved in an offshore gas production project in the Dutch North Sea. — Reuters

Spring and recovery in the air It’s easy to overlook the encouraging buds of a spring recovery with so many reports focused on problems in Clark County’s real estate market. But the signals are there for anyone who dares to compare this year’s green shoots with the beginning of 2011, when home sales were wilting, property sales drying up, and the construction dust seemed to have blown away for good.

Year-over-year home sales activity increased steadily in each of the past eight months and newhome construction started the year on a two-month strong note. The 53 permits issued in the first two months of the year represented a 39.5 percent increase over 38 permits handed out during the same period in 2011.

According to Mike Lamb, a broker with Windermere Real Estate Stellar Group in Vancouver, new sales activity is the best indication of market strength, reflected in 532 pending residential sales in February. Pending sales-which indicate a contract has been signed but not closed-were up 30.4 percent from 408 pending sales in February 2011.

Closed sales also improved in February, with 328 homes sold in Clark County, up from 274 sales in the same month last year. The number of mortgages in

foreclosure receded as well, dropping 65 percent to 134 houses in February, down for the 10th month in a row, according to RealtyTrac Inc. Still not convinced? I agree that it’s difficult to envision recovery when mortgages are underwater, the job market is still down, prices are rising, savings are dwindling and pay raises are still so darn rare.

What we’re talking about here are the signs of progress. Yes, Clark County residents and businesses are still facing tough times, but a handful of commercial real estate transactions and projects clearly signal new growth. Among the highlights: Empty industrial space is starting to sell and fill, driving the county’s vacancy rate to 13 percent, down from 15 percent at the end of 2011.

Recent sales included the $1.8 million Hambleton Bros. Lumber Co.’s former Washougal wood processing site and the $1.67 million former BMG Building Materials site.

With several more projects waiting in the wingsStephen’s Place, a $10 million Vancouver community planned for adults with developmental disabilities, and Fisher Investments’ third campus building in Camas-one can’t help but sense the start of recovery. —AP

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4390000 .3620000 .3010000 .2770000 .2850000 .0040000 .0020000 .0754310 .7349010 .3830000 .0720000 .7204380 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2778500 GB Pound/KD .4413930 Euro .3638720 Swiss francs .3029660 Canadian dollars .2785880 Danish Kroner .0488910 Swedish Kroner .0411550 Australian dlr .2865740 Hong Kong dlr .0357840 Singapore dlr .2204280 Japanese yen .0034030 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0756780 Bahraini dinars .7372960 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0741130 Omani riyals .7219700 Philippine Peso .0000000

.2815000 .4480000 .3700000 .3120000 .2860000 .2940000 .0070000 .0035000 .0761890 .7422870 .4000000 .0770000 .7276790 .0072000 .0500000 .2799500 .4447290 .3666230 .3052560 .2806940 .0492610 .0414660 .2887400 .0360540 .2220940 .0034290 .0055100 .0022320 .0031040 .0034370 .0762490 .7428690 .3959690 .0746730 .7274260 .0066030

US Dollar Pak Rupees

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

279.100 3.080

Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

5.470 2.220 3.409 6.555 76.065 74.555 741.700 46.187 448.500 3.190 1.550 371.200 285.600 3.510

Rate for Transfer

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

5.463 2.217 3.418 3.087 75.93 742.26 46.18 397.00 725.23 76.95 74.51

5.725 2.600 4.000 3.250 76.50 741.00 47.20 395.50 725.00 77.25 75.00

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

278.650 368.000 444.700 282.600 3.435 5.457 46.170 2.209 3.405 6.507 3.080 742.150 75.900 74.400

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY

SELL DRAFT SELL CASH

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka

291.97 284.31 309.35 368.81 446.29 3.50 3.407

294.00 284.50 308.50 369.00 447.50 3.70 3.650

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Selling Rate

278.900 281.160 444.435 367.515 305.395 738.565 75.910 76.555 74.335 392.590 46.189 2.224 5.460 3.095 3.411 6.521 684.130 4.385 9.070 5.875 3.505 92.285

Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Bahrain Exchange Company 10 Tola COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka

SELL CASH

291.100 742.260 3.630

283.700 548.200 45.500 50.100 167.800 47.410 369.700 36.660 5.770 0.032 0.159 0.238 3.520 395.530 0.189 93.180 45.400 4.290 232.300 1.808 49.500 724.970 3.180 6.850 77.210 74.520 222.830 39.150 2.659 446.900 42.400 308.300 4.200 9.390 198.263 76.100 279.500 1.340 GOLD 1,714.810

SELL DRAFT

289.600 742.260 3.408

Sterling Pound US Dollar

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 444.900 279.100

282.200

222.800 46.233 368.200 36.510 5.460 0.031

395.490 0.188 93.180 3.430 230.800 724.790 3.093 6.537 76.780 74.520 222.830 39.150 2.215 444.900 306.800 4.200 9.210 76.000 279.100

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

business

Will earnings spark further stock fall?

WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD NEW YORK: Since October, estimates for firstquarter earnings growth have tumbled while the S&P 500 has surged. With the earnings season starting this week, the outlook is not as sunny as in previous quarters.

Investors will assess whether slower growth is priced into the US stock market, or if the S&P 500’s retreat from its four-year high set on April 2 is the start of a larger drop - if results disappoint.

After the S&P 500’s rise of about 30 percent from its October low, there is concern that buying interest is not strong enough to drive further gains, particularly after soft March US employment figures were released on Friday. “It seems like we’re hitting resistance,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer of Harris Private Bank in Chicago. “I think the market will grind higher, but it will be at a much slower pace. Earnings and jobs aren’t helping.”

Friday’s nonfarm payrolls report was a disappointment, with just 120,000 jobs added in March, shor t of expec tations for a gain of 203,000 jobs. Stock futures fell 1 percent in a shortened session, with the cash market closed entirely. Fund managers will look for earnings to offer insight into how companies are faring amid mixed economic indicators and a resurgence of concerns about Europe. Strong results could extend the multi-month rally while weak ones could provide a catalyst for further declines.

“If management commentary indicates that business is holding up despite the apparent slowing of European economies, that would be very encouraging for stocks,” said John Carey, por tfolio manager at Pioneer Investment Management in Boston, who helps oversee about $260 billion.

“On the other hand, if orders are dropping or consumer spending doesn’t appear sustainable, that could lead to some downward pricing action and earnings revisions.”

The latest trends haven’t been encouraging.

Analysts have trimmed estimates, management teams have grown more cautious, and overall growth rates have fallen sharply. S&P 500 companies’ earnings are seen rising 3.2 percent in the first quarter, according to Thomson Reuters data, compared with growth of 9.2 percent in the fourth quarter and a jump of almost 19 percent in the first quarter of 2011 over the yearago period.

Analysts have been cutting estimates steadily in the last few months, but the ratio of cuts to increases leveled off in March, Bank of AmericaMerrill Lynch wrote in a recent note. That indicates “analysts are still cutting estimates, but at a decreasing rate.” Bank of America-Merrill Lynch also pointed out that corporate management teams were becoming more cautious relative to expec tations as well. O verall, data from StarMine, a unit of Thomson Reuters, shows most sectors with declining estimates, particularly materials and telecom stocks.

“We feel it is too early to switch to a positive short-term signal, given worrisome trends in guidance and sales revisions,” Bank of AmericaMerrill Lynch wrote to clients.

SanDisk Corp warned last week that weak demand would hurt its revenue and margins, an outlook that sparked a steep dive in the flashmemory maker’s stock and hurt chip makers.

On the positive side, Bed Bath & Beyond posted better-than- expec ted results af ter last Wednesday’s closing bell, driving its stock to an all-time high on Thursday.

Alcoa Inc will mark the start of the earnings season tomorrow with results after the bell.

Google Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co are all slated to report later in the week.

Over the last several weeks, growth estimates have dropped markedly even as economic data has generally shown improved US demand and the equity market has rallied.

On the first of October, first-quarter earnings were seen growing more than 10 percent. While estimates have dropped by more than twothirds since then, the S&P 500 has climbed 27 percent, raising the question of whether the slowing growth has been priced into the market.

Tobias Levkovich, chief US equity strategist at Citigroup, wrote that the season “may generate the next obstacle for investors,” saying they had become “too accustomed” to upside surprises.

The second quarter got off to a weak start.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ended the quarter’s first week with a loss of 0.7 percent - its worst weekly performance since December. That was in sharp contrast to the rally on Monday the quarter’s first trading day - when the S&P 500 ended at 1,418.90, its highest close since mid-May 2008.

At Thursday’s close, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 1.2 percent for the week, while the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 0.4 percent.

It is possible that analysts have become too pessimistic. Warnings have dominated the preearnings season. Of the 121 pre-announcements, 68 percent are negative ones, compared with 58 percent in the first quarter a year ago.

“The reduced expectations leave more room for upside surprises,” said Michael Mullaney, a portfolio manager who helps manage $9.5 billion at Fiduciary Trust Co in Boston.

However, there is still concern that the recent burst of economic growth will prove transitory and that demand will sag after a warmer-thanusual winter in the United States.

“Earnings are expected to be weak this quarter, and if you strip out Apple Inc, the picture is even worse. That could be a big headwind, especially at a time when the macro environment is less than friendly.” — Reuters

Crisis-hit professionals seek jobs in powerhouse Germany Many walk into ‘over-qualification’ trap in EU FRANKFURT: “I was at the top of my career, earning well, and now I’m back at the bottom,” says Elena Nunez-Arenas, one of thousands from debt-wracked euro-zone countries seeking work in Germany, Europe’s powerhouse.

The 44-year-old from Madrid is a fully qualified lawyer and jumped at the chance to leave crisis-mired Spain for the possibility of a new career in Frankfurt, Germany’s financial centre.

“Last November or December, my situation became so difficult in Spain that I decided on a whim to leave,” she told AFP with a sad smile. “I have a cousin who has lived in Frankfurt for years who kept telling me ‘you’ll find a job here’,” she said.

But Nunez-Arenas fell into what she describes as “the overqualification trap.”

She cannot secure a job as a lawyer in Germany without passing a tough German law exam, which is out of the question due to her limited language skills.

And even with her savings dwindling, the prospect of a “mini-job” in the kitchens at Frankfur t Airport at eight euros ($10.50) per hour does not exactly thrill her.

“I would not have been able to study on the side. I would have had to be available at all hours. And for those wages, I could have done the same thing in Spain,” she said. Nunez-Arenas

is one of nearly 17,000 people who came to Germany last year from countries in the south of Europe weighed down by debtSpain, Portugal, Greece and Italy.

According to data published this

seeking a new life in Germany.

Having resisted the euro-zone crisis better than most and enjoying low unemployment, Europe’s top economy is becoming an Eldorado for jobseekers.

not all the new arrivals come with a hard-luck story. Federica Sozzi does not regret for an instant leaving her Italian birthplace for Germany last year. “I got a permanent contract and I am

DUISBERG: A petrol station employee changes petrol prices at a petrol station in Duisburg, Germany. — AP week by Germany’s federal statistics agency Destatis, the number of new arrivals from these countries increased by 1.7 percent year-on-year in 2011, with 7,000 from Greece alone.

It’s not just hard-up Greeks

At the end of 2011, there were 6.93 million foreigners living in Germany, an increase of 177,275, or 2.6 percent, on the previous year.

This is the “biggest rise for 15 years,” Destatis commented. But

better paid for fewer hours,” raves the 33-year-old woman who translates video games for a living. “Where I came from, in Brescia (northern Italy), I worked 14 hours a day, but as a freelancer I was overwhelmed by tax-

es and earned around 1,000 euros per month on average,” she said.

Joao Vasco Lopes, a young Portuguese aeronautical engineering graduate, did not hesitate when he was offered a training contract in the western German city of Darmstadt, which soon became a full-time posting.

“I was lucky enough to get the job I wanted,” he said. “It would definitely not have been as interesting for me to stay in Portugal,” he said.

Now it would be “even harder” to return to his homeland, given budgetary cuts that have made life harder for scientists in Portugal, he explained. Germany, which actually suffers from a lack of skilled workers, is doing all it can to attract qualified workers from abroad, with the federal labor office last year setting up a unit for that purpose. With a low birth rate and rapidly shrinking population, Germany is crying out for engineers, technicians or healthcare professionals. “ We are getting signs that more and more qualified workers are arriving here,” said Marion Rang from the federal labor office. “And we have the impression that it is really beginning to take off.”

But not everyone’s German dream is coming true. “I’ll give it another month. If I don’t find anything I’ll go home,” says frustrated Spanish lawyer NunezArenas. — AFP

US housing on upswing NEW YORK: Foreclosed properties aren’t sold only at auctions on the courthouse steps. Some sell during home tours with a real estate agent. Such was the case with George Hill’s recent purchase. Hill, 29 and single, bought his first home on Nance Ford Road in Hartselle-as a foreclosure.

Lower-priced foreclosed homes are one reason the residential real estate market is on a slight upswing locally compared to a year ago. Realtors say still-low interest rates and lower home values locally and nationally also are reasons.

Coldwell Banker sales associate Chance Higdon said he has had a strong start to the year. “I’ve been selling a lot for the past three months, steadily busy,” he said. “I think people are buying because they’re not as scared as they used to be.”

Hill said he was looking for a house outside the city limits with a price between $80,000 and $100,000 when Higdon took him to a house in foreclosure. “I wanted a one-story brick home outside of town,” said Hill, who works in IT at Calhoun Community College. “I wasn’t particularly looking for one in foreclosure. I was just looking for a home.” An interest rate of 3.75 percent, like the one Hill got, also makes the market buyer-friendly. And optimism about the economy is helping sales, one real estate agent said.

Another indication that the economy may be improving is a decline in the number of foreclosures in Morgan and Lawrence counties.

The previous owner of Hill’s 2,800-

square-foot, three-bedroom house owed $118,000 on the home before it entered foreclosure. Hill got it for $92,900.

For the first quarter of this year, 216 homes were sold in Morgan County compared to 211 sales in 2011, according to the Alabama Center for Real Estate. But homes are staying on the market longer. The average number of days on the market ranged from 166 to 139 this year and from 112 to 137 last year. “If we were to use 2005 as a benchmark, which was the peak of the market, we’re nowhere close to that,” Coldwell Banker broker Bob McMillan said. “But if you look at the last two years, we’re starting to see some improvement.

We’re probably (up) between 10 and 15 percent in sales volume this year-todate compared to the first three months of last year.”

The makeup of home buyers is pretty much the same, but those who bought starter homes years ago are not upgrading in Morgan County. “We have first-time buyers, investors and transferees from other areas,” McMillan said.

“We’re not seeing a lot of folks who bought starter homes move up. It’s like, ‘I’m here and I can stay here.’ My personal opinion is that people whose employment is relatively stable are still worried about unemployment.

“We all knew people who lost jobs that we thought would never go away, and they haven’t been able to find employment at the same level. People are just being a lot more cautious.” The average house price is about $100,000, and McMillan said values have declined

in all areas of the county, including Decatur and Hartselle.

“There’s a good inventory that can be bought for under $100,000,” McMillan said.

For instance, McMillan said he knows of a home on the market that started out at $250,000 and has frequently been reduced until the asking price is now $177,000, only $7,000 more than what the owner paid for it.

Realtors have differing views about whether sales are up in Lawrence County, but foreclosure properties are in the mix there as well. Bruce Gordon of RE/MAX Valley Pros in Moulton said multiple listing service data show 157 home sales in Lawrence County last year, with an average selling price of $103,200.

The average selling price in the first quarter last year was $94,650 for 32 homes. The average through March this year was $85,000 for 21 sales. “The interesting thing is that of the sales so far this year, 10 of them were foreclosures,” Gordon said, adding that it isn’t far enough into the year to be representative of an overall trend for the year.

“Price wise, I think the market has probably not gone up any,” he said.

“We’re seeing more demand from buyers and we’ve got a lot of houses right now under contract, which is encouraging, but you’d still be surprised at the deals that fall through because of financing issues.”

Three years ago, underwriting guidelines for lending were “much too loose,” Gordon said, but now have become too restrictive, preventing more people from getting loans. —MCT

LINCOLNTON: Mark Bollinger sprays a finish on wooden footboards for beds at the Lincolnton Furniture Company in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Five generations of Cochranes had been furniture makers, but by the mid-1990s the trade was moving to China, land of cheap labor.

But earlier this year, Bruce Cochrane reopened with a work force of about 55, part of a small but growing trend called “reshoring.” —AP

Canon calibrates for vertical growth in large format printing market in Kuwait

KUWAIT: Canon Middle East has geared up for vertical growth in the large format printing (LFP) under the brand name of imagePROGRAF series with the solutions to suit the CAD, Corporate, Photographic and Production markets. The event held at Crowne Plaza Hotel saw over 50 channel partners experiencing interactive presentations of the key models and also gained insight into channel strategies for Canon’s LFP segment in the region.

In order to showcase the opportunities that Canon can offer the final customer, Canon focused on a big segment of Graphic Arts focusing on the distinctive markets where large format printer solutions focussing on attributes like• Uninterrupted Production - Production segment • Bring Inspirations to Life - Photography segment • Media Gallery - Media & advertising segment “Building on a heritage and expertise in digital color, Canon is committed to the LFP market in Kuwait. There is a

huge opportunity in the LFP market, especially in still untapped industries such as education, design and production where large format printing has become an essential tool in doing business. Through the reseller event, we can leverage our expertise and acknowledged leadership in imaging and business solutions to take advantage of this growth opportunity and create a viable business proposition for our strong network of channel partners,” said Venkatasubramium Hariharan, Sales Director, Canon Middle East.

The world leader in imaging solutions displayed two models, including the iPF6300 and iPF8300, which boasts a new ink system that increases the achievable color range by as much as 20%, sub-ink tank system, Gigabit Ethernet support and Accounting Manager feature, making it a premier solution for the production, fine art, photography and proofing markets.

“There was also a strong positive feedback from the

attendees on print quality, speed, easy cost monitoring which gives them greater confidence in the performance and reliability, in addition to the outstanding ‘solution bundling’ of the product,” said Nabil Iskandarani, General Manager, NMAS. Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East and North Africa and is based in Dubai, UAE. Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon’s tireless passion for the Power of Image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.

24

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

BUSINESS

KSE stocks up marginally, investors look for clue GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) closed on a mixed note due to lack of catalyst news after most of the companies announced their FY2011 results. A disappointing US jobs report showed Friday affected marginally on local investors. They are waiting for first-quarter earnings to give the market a direction.

The market benchmark KSE Price Index was up by 8.1 points (or 0.13 percent) and closed at 6,153.6. The market’s heavyweights performed poorly during the day as highlighted by a 0.06 percent drop in the market’s blue chips-rich index, Global Large Cap Index.

However, decliners topped advancers by a 43 to 29 margin, driving the Global General Index down by 0.03 percent, at 176.74. KSE Weighted Index too was down, reflecting the trend.

The index closed at 409.66, down by 0.11 points (or -0.03 percent).

Volume and value of shares traded on the exchange soared during the trading session as investors exchanged 323.61mn shares (+37.5 percent) at a total value of KD38.0mn (+13.64 percent). Services sector accounted for 28.64 percent of total volume traded during yesterday ‘s session. Real estate sector followed accounting for 24.16 percent of traded volume.

International Resorts Company was the volume leader for the

day. Investors exchanged 35.12mn of the company ’s shares. The scrip ended the day at KD0.064, up 6.67 percent.

Buying interest was witnessed on shares of National Ranges Company, which was the prominent gainer for the day adding 16.67 percent to close at KD0.0175. On the other hand, Manafae Investment Company was the biggest loser as it plunged by 8.93 percent to reach KD0.051.

Sector-wise During yesterday’s session, four out of the eight sectors

end the day on a negative note.

Food sector topped the loser’s list yesterday losing 1.23 percent, as the sector ’s heavyweight stock, Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana), shed 1.43 percent closing at KD1.380. Meanwhile Danah AlSafat Foodstuff Company ended the day down by 1.96 percent at KD0.100.

Industrial sector followed shedding 0.65 percent.

Amongst the sector’s losers were Metal & Recycling Company (-5.36 percent) and Kuwait Cement Company (-1.12 percent). On the same sector’s

front, National Industries Group (Holding) witnessed hefty trading, 2.32mn shares. The scrip ended the day at KD0.226, down 3.42 percent. On the other hand, Real Estate sector soared by 1.08 percent, as Mabanee Company closed at their highest level in 2012. The scrip closed at KD1.080.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $121.94pb on Wednesday, compared with $122.95 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Tycoon arrests blacken Hong Kong’s clean image HONG KONG: A corruption case against Hong Kong’s two richest property tycoons is a black mark on the city’s clean image and could fuel public anger over links between government and business, analysts said. The Asian financial hub has been gripped by the arrest of billionaire brothers Thomas and Raymond Kwok, cochairmen of the city’s largest property developer, as well as former senior government official Rafael Hui. The Kwoks have yet to be charged with any crime but anti-graft investigators are believed to be focusing on alleged malpractices involving the developers’ huge “land bank” of rural, undeveloped property, analysts said. The case has sent shockwaves through a city that has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most open and transparent markets, even as its growth has enriched a clique of tycoons who control everything from ports to telecoms. Lyncean Holdings managing director Francis Lun said the Kwok case “reinforces the perception that there is collusion between the big developers and the government”.

“This is a black eye for the civil service,” the financial adviser told AFP. The Kwoks are worth an estimated $18.3 billion and jointly chair the Sun Hung Kai Properties group, builder of many of the tallest landmarks in Hong Kong’s glittering skyline. The brothers insist they have done nothing wrong and the company has stood by them, but investors wiped almost $5 billion off Sun Hung Kai’s market value the day after the arrests were made on March 29.

“There is limited disclosure on the corruption investigation, which poses a level of uncertainty as to the impact on the company,” said ratings agency Moody’s, which like Standard & Poor’s has cut the firm’s outlook to negative.

The Kwoks’ Sun Hung Kai, Li Ka-shing’s Cheung Kong Holdings, Cheng Yu-tung’s New World Development and Lee Shau-kee’s Henderson Land Development are popularly dubbed the “Big Four” developers in the city of seven million people.

As their wealth from land sales and development grew in the 1970s and 1980s, they expanded into other sectors such as utilities, hotels, telecommunications, supermarkets and restaurant chains.

“They control just about every profitable business in Hong Kong. They collect ransom from the people of Hong Kong, basically,” Lun said.Chinese University of Hong Kong political scientist Ma Ngok said the tycoons “have their hands in almost every sector” and influenced government policy to protect their interests.

“They are so dominant that if you try to do something to the housing market it won’t be very meaningful,” he said, referring to property prices that are among the highest in the world.

The Kwok arrests came days after a leadership vote in which a textile tycoon’s son competed against a wealthy property consultant for the approval of a 1,200-member election committee packed with tycoons and their proxies. The winner, Leung Chun-ying, has vowed to make housing more affordable for the middle and working classes without affecting price “stability”. He will replace outgoing Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who last month apologized for accepting favors from his business friends in the form of trips on luxury yachts and private jets.

The bow-tie wearing career bureaucrat, whose term expires in June after seven years as the southern Chinese city’s chief, appeared to hold back tears as he defended the “system” against allegations of widespread collusion.

Like Sun Hung Kai, other major developers in Hong Kong also hold land banks of undeveloped property, and analysts said investors are jittery over whether the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will turn to them next. Critics have long complained that Hong Kong’s big developers hold onto undeveloped land leased from the government, waiting years or even decades for favourable conditions, while most of the public is priced out of the market. But analysts said that Hong Kong was served well by the fact that two of Asia’s richest tycoons have drawn the attention of the ICAC, which was established in 1974 under British rule to clean up rampant official graft. —AFP

Dinar stable against dollar KUWAIT: Exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar stabilized, standing at KD 0.278, where the euro dropped at KD 0. 364, compared to Thursday’s figures, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) yesterday.

Exchange rate of the Sterling pound stabilized at KD 0.442, and the Japanese yen remained unchanged, at KD 0.003. Meanwhile, the Swiss franc dropped to KD 0.303. —KUNA

25

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

business

QE or not QE? Dollar gains ground KUWAIT: The US dollar gained footing against most of its counterparts at the beginning of the week amid the release of the FOMC meeting minutes.

The minutes showed that policy makers are less eager to launch a third round of quantitative easing. The dollar momentum continued as Spanish yields rose, fuelling worries over the euro-zone debt crisis. On Friday, the greenback weakened dramatically against the Yen as figures from the labor market disappointed.

The euro opened the week at 1.3370 but quickly lost its grounds after the FOMC minutes. The single currency weakened further as worries over Spain’s high debt level pushed the euro towards the low of 1.3033. It closed the week at 1.3094.

Additionally, the euro dropped significantly against the Swiss franc to reach a low of 1.1998, below the SNB floor level, but it quickly recouped towards 1.2020 levels. The move prompted the Swiss National Bank to take action to curb the franc’s strength against the euro.

In parallel, the Sterling Pound opened the week at 1.6015. The pound gained some momentum amid a better than expected PMI manufacturing figure, which pushed it to a high of 1.6062. The currency lost most of its gains mid-week and dropped to a low of 1.5841.

The Japanese Yen was the only gainer against the US dollar last week. The Yen started the week at the 83.00 level. The currenc y surged against the greenback on Friday, after the release of the Nonfarm payrolls figure. The USDJPY reached a low of

Europe may be heading back into debt storm PARIS: A flood of easy money courtesy of the European Central Bank made for a calm start to 2012 but a poor Spanish bond sale last week signals it may only have been a lull before the debt storm breaks, analysts warn. The ECB injected roughly one trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) into euro-zone banks at auctions in December and February, helping to ease concerns banks would face a funding crunch.

Some of this cash ended up in the sovereign bond markets, helping reduce the rates countries need to pay to raise funds after a year of high tension over whether Italy and Spain-the euro-zone’s third- and fourth-largest economies-might also need to be bailed out after Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

“The first quarter was exceptional for euro-zone state borrowing,” said Jean-Francois Robin at France’s Natixis bank.The first three months of the year are important as countries often try to meet a huge chunk of their annual borrowing needs at the outset and they made the most of the early calm.

“Paris and Berlin borrowed at historically very favorable rates and Madrid got a long way towards covering its financing needs this year,” noted Robin.

Spain covered 43 percent of its annual mediumand long-term financing needs in the first quarter, taking advantage of rates of around 4.0 percent compared to near 7.0 percent at the height of the crisis late last year. But in the first week of April the calm on European debt markets abruptly ended.

Spain barely raised the amount it sought in a bond auction on Wednesday and had to pay investors sharply higher rates just after announcing a tough 2012 budget that aims to make a whopping 27 billion euros in savings. Madrid’s warning that its public debt will jump by 10 percentage points this year to nearly 80 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) clearly rattled investors who also faced the prospect of an economy slipping deeper into recession. While ECB liquidity measures helped shield Madrid from immediate danger, economist Raj Badiani at IHS Global Insight warned the risks are expected to intensify next year as Spain is battered by recession and high unemployment and bad real estate assets drag down banks.

This would make it difficult for Spain to achieve its target of reducing its public deficit to the EU ceiling of 3.0 percent of GDP by austerity measures alone, he said, and raised the possibility it would need some sort of help from its European partners.

“This could entail the ECB providing more protection than its current policy of making limited Spanish bond purchases in the secondary market,” he said.

However, ECB chief Mario Draghi made it clear on Wednesday that such a move was not on the cards, although the central banker would not rule out further action to support the region’s banks.

“Widespread hopes ... that the ECB would use the might of its theoretically unlimited balance sheet to fire a so-called ‘silver bullet’ into the heart of the broader euro-zone crisis by buying up or somehow guaranteeing large portions of the Italian and Spanish (debt) have all but evaporated,” said Jonathan Loynes at Capital Economics. Bond yields of weaker euro-zone states are moving higher as did the gap with those of German government bonds, the benchmark measure. The yield on Spanish 10-year bonds jumped to 5.735 percent from 5.332 percent at the end of March, with the spread with German bonds widening to over 4.0 from 3.54 percentage points.

The spread between German and Italian bonds widened to 3.67 from 3.31 percentage points.

France, which lost its coveted top triple-A rating from Standard & Poor’s rating agency earlier this year and faces concerns about the competitiveness of its economy, saw the spread on its bonds rise to 1.25 from 1.09 percentage points. — AFP

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT 81.29 and closed the week at 81.62.

FOMC curbs expectations Minutes of the Fed’s March meeting showed that policymakers appeared less eager to launch a fresh round of monetary stimulus as the economy gradually improves. The minutes also showed that officials acknowledged the recent signs of slightly stronger economic growth but remained cautious about a wide pick up in US activity, highly emphasizing on the still elevated jobless rate. However, the minutes indicated that the appetite for another dose of quantitative easing has diminished significantly.

Better-than-expected US manufacturing data boosted market sentiment, at the beginning of the week, fuelling rallies in global equity markets. The ISM manufacturing index rose to 53.4 from 52.4 in February, exceeding economists’ projections for a reading of 53.0. On the other hand, the services sector expanded less than expected in March as orders grew at the slowest pace in three months. The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index dropped to 56 from a one-year high of 57.3 in February.

US job report Employers in the US added fewer jobs than estimated in March, highlighting the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s concern that recent gains may not be sustainable without a pickup in growth. The Non Farm Payrolls showed that the economy

added 120,000 jobs in March, lower than the previously revised 240,000 gain in February and lower than the expected 207,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.2%, the lowest since January 2009, from 8.3%.

Earlier in the week, initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 357,000 from

time to see the full impact of the two previous LTROs it has used to boost liquidity. He also paid more attention to inflation risks while saying that talk of an exit strategy is “premature”.

Euro-zone unemployment rose to the highest in more than 14 years indicating that the economy probably

the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 363,000. Economists expected that claims would stand at the 360,000.

slipped into a recession in the first quarter. The jobless rate in the 17nation euro area rose to 10.8% in February from 10.7% a month earlier.

ECB interest rate The ECB kept its key lending rate at the record low of 1%, meeting markets expectations. In a press conference after the decision, the ECB President Mario Draghi dismissed talks for the bank to start planning a retreat from fighting the current crisis, but emphasized that they will continue to keep a close-eye on prices. He added that “downside risks to the economic outlook prevail” and the ECB would need

Retail sales disappoint Customers in the euro-zone reduced their spending in February as households faced stubborn inflation, rising unemployment across the public and private sector. Retail sales fell 0.1% month-on-month.

German factory orders increased less than expected in February as global demand barely offset a drop in European demand. Orders increased 0.3% from January, when they fell by a

revised 1.8%. Economists expected orders to increase by 1.2%.

UK manufacturing production unexpectedly declined for a second month in February. Factory output fell 1% from January, the most since April last year. Markets expected an increase by 0.1% in output. Meanwhile, the PMI manufacturing index indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in 10 months in March, fuelled by a pick-up in new orders. The PMI index rose to 52.1 from 51.5 in February.

Growth in the services sector unexpectedly accelerated in March, adding signs that the economy avoided a recession. The Services PMI index rose to 55.3 from 53.8 exceeding expectations of a drop to 53.5.

The Bank of England kept its key interest rate at an all-time low of 0.5% and refrained from pumping more money into the British economy. The bank has kept rates unchanged since March 2009. Additionally, policy makers decided not to increase its £325 billion asset-purchases program. The decisions come against a background of mixed economic data throughout the week.

The Reserve Bank of Australia kept its key lending rate unchanged at 4.25% as domestic growth weakens.

Additionally, the central bank signaled that it might cut rates as soon as next month if weaker growth slows inflation.

Kuwait Kuwaiti Dinar at 0.27840 The USDKWD opened at 0.27840 on Sunday morning.

Natural gas surplus means drilling boom must slow Glut benefits US businesses, homeowners NEW YORK: The US has drilled much natural gas that soon there may be nowhere left to put the country’s swelling surplus. After years of explosive growth, natural gas producers are retrenching. The underground salt caverns, depleted oil fields and aquifers that store natural gas are rapidly filling up after a balmy winter depressed demand for home heating.

The glut has benefited businesses and homeowners that use natural gas. But with natural gas prices at a 10-year low - and falling - companies that produce the fuel are becoming victims of their drilling successes.

Their stock prices are falling in anticipation of declining profits and scaled-back growth plans. Some of the biggest US natural gas producers, including Chesapeake Energy, ConocoPhillips and Encana Corp, have announced plans to slow down.

“They’ve gotten way ahead of themselves, and winter got way ahead of them too,” says Jen Snyder, head of North American gas for the research firm Wood Mackenzie. “There hasn’t been enough demand to use up all the supply being pushed into the market.” So far, efforts to limit production have barely made a dent.

Unless the pace of production declines sharply or demand picks up significantly this summer, analysts say the nation’s storage facilities could reach their limits by fall.

That would cause the price of natural gas, which has been halved over the past year, to nosedive.

Citigroup commodities analyst Anthony Yuen says the price of natural gas - now $2.08 per 1,000 cubic feet could briefly fall below $1. “There would be no floor,” he says.

Since October, the number of drilling rigs exploring for natural gas has fallen by 30 percent to 658, according to the energy services company Baker Hughes.

The workers and rigs aren’t just being sent home.

They are instead being put to work drilling for oil, whose price has averaged more than $100 a barrel for months. The oil rig count in the U.S is at a 25-year high.

This activity is adding to the natural gas glut because natural gas is almost always a byproduct of oil drilling.

Analysts say that before long companies could have to start slowing the gas flow from existing wells or even take the rare and expensive step of capping off some wells completely. “Something is going to have to give,” says Maria Sanchez, manager of energy analysis at Bentek Energy, a research firm.

US natural gas production has boomed in recent years as a result of new drilling techniques that allow companies to unlock fuel trapped in shale formations.

Last year, the US produced an average of 63 billion

cubic feet of natural gas per day, a 24 percent increase from 2006. But over that period consumption has grown half as fast.

The nation’s storage facilities could easily handle this extra supply until recently because cold winters pushed up demand for heating and hot summers led

to continue, Bentek estimates that storage facilities would be full on October 10. Storage capacity, which has grown by 15 percent over the past decade, cannot be built fast enough to address the rapidly expanding glut. And analysts note there is little financial incentive to build more anyway. The low price brought on by the

A natural gas well pad sits in front of the Roan Plateau near the Colorado mountain community of Rifle. The US natural gas market is bursting at the seams. So much natural gas is being produced that soon there may be nowhere left to put the country’s swelling surplus. — AP to higher demand for air conditioning. Just over half of US homes are heated with natural gas, and one-quarter of its electricity is produced by gas-fired power plants.

But this past winter was the fourth warmest in the last 117 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was the warmest March since 1950. Between November and March, daily natural gas demand fell 5 percent, on average, from a year earlier, according to Bentek Energy. Yet production grew 8 percent over the same period.

If current production and consumption trends were

glut has increased demand for natural gas among industrial users and utilities.

Makers of chemicals, plastics and fertilizers that use natural gas as a feedstock are expanding. Garbage trucks, buses and delivery vehicles are using more natural gas. Electric power producers are switching from coal to natural gas whenever possible.

This won’t add up to enough new demand quickly enough to relieve the pressure on storage facilities this summer. Scorching temperatures this summer would do the trick, but Mother Nature is not expected to cooperate. — AP

Contracts expire for many at AT&T; talks ongoing

SPRINGFIELD: The AT&T logo displayed on the side of a corporate office in Springfield, Illinois. Union contracts for thousands of AT&T workers in America expired at midnight but officials said yesterday that talks continue. — AP

NEW YORK: Union contracts for 40,000 AT&T workers expired at midnight, but a strike was averted with officials saying early yesterday that talks were continuing.

Though expiration of the deadline left the Communications Workers of America free to call a walkout, spokeswoman Candice Johnson said employees would report for work without a contract.

“Workers are keeping their option to strike open,” she said. AT&T spokesman Marty Richter also said talks were ongoing. He said earlier that the company has been planning for the possibility for a strike for two years, and managers and vendors will step in to keep service running if there is one.

At issue in the negotiations are job protection clauses and health care premiums and co-payments. AT&T says it wants employees to shoulder more of their grow-

ing health care costs and more leeway to downsize its shrinking landline operations. Some of its workers have contracts that guarantee them job offers at different parts of the company if they’re laid off.

Union organizers point to the overall financial health of the company, which posted a profit of $4 billion for last year. Four separate contracts in eastern, Midwestern and Western areas covering some 40,000 workers in total expired.

The workers are on the shrinking local-phone and long-haul data side of the business.Three years ago, the parties kept talking past the contract expiration, and reached agreements without a strike.

Dallas-based AT&T Inc. is the country’s largest employer of unionized workers. About 140,000 of its 256,000 employees are union members. — AP

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

business

Top Real Estate agent of UK Barratt Homes in Kuwait, Qatar KUWAIT: Mohammed Waleed AlQaddoumi, Manager, Real Estate Properties in Top Real Estate Group, announced that the Group entered into an exclusive agreement with UK based Barratt Homes Group for marketing its real estate projects in Kuwait and Qatar. Al-Qaddoumi added that Barratt Homes is one of the major real estate development companies in Britain as it was incorporated in 1958 and since then, it built more than 300 thousand residential units throughout Britain. The Company received several awards, importantly Largest & Best Real Estate Developer Award in Britain for three successful years in addition to the high quality of its projects that suit different society classes. Further, the company received Best Real Estate Developer Award in presale and postsale customer service.

“Being interested in offering best and most appropriate opportunities to its clients in the region, the Group emphasizes that its selection of proj-

ect developers is based on the developer’s seriousness, reliability, commitment and ability to fulfill its obligations and undertakings. We found these characteristics in Barratt Homes that we are proud of being its exclusive agent in Kuwait and Qatar,” AlQaddoumi added.

Al-Qaddoumi explained that the Group will soon offer a number of the company’s projects in Milton Keynes area. The projects are residential zones in several sites close to downtown, business and touristic areas in the city.

The units intended to be offered are residential apartments under lease for 122 years while houses and villas will be freehold acquisition. Al-Qaddoumi indicated that the apartment prices starts from £ 165 thousand while houses and villas ranges from £ 260 thousand to £ 450 thousand.

For the units, Al-Qaddoumi emphasized that there is a number of units ready for immediate handover and others are under construction and will

be completed by the end of this year or maximum during the first quarter of 2013. Concerning the payment terms, Al-Qaddoumi stated that the client would pay 10% of the unit value upon signing the contract and the remaining 90% upon receipt of the unit. AlQaddoumi revealed that the Group, through its relation network in the British market, could initially enter into agreement with a UK bank to provide finance to the buyers. Such agreement an its final terms will be announced in the next few days.

For Milton Keynes, Al-Qaddoumi stated that it is a promising real estate area in Britain. It is a relatively new city since 1960; located approximately 50 miles to the north of London and connected with it by a good transport network. The City is a target for large number of new projects that involve high and sustainable rentals. Prices in Milton Keynes start from £ 150 thousand. It has high and stable rental proceeds up to 6% sometimes. The City is

one of rapidly growing towns in Britain with about 280 thousand population.

Properties in the City are much cheap-

Mohammed Waleed Al-Qaddoumi er than properties in London and their returns are better when compared to the prices thereof.

On the other hand, Al-Qaddoumi indicated that Group will continue to provide property management service in Britain including all-inclusive management of residential properties owned by investors in Greater London area, Milton Keynes and Brighton. AlQaddoumi stated that the Group signed a number of agreements with property owners for managing their properties and also implemented a number of maintenance contracts for a number of owners whose properties required renovation and repairs.

In another connection, AlQaddoumi indicated that the Group is currently in the process of securing requirements of key investors looking for large and distinguished real estate opportunities. Al Qaddoumi unveiled that the Group has several channels enabling it to satisfy the investors’ expectations in different residential, commercial and touristic real estate segments in London and a number of key UK cities.

en.v and Zain announce the REUSE 5.0 creative exposition to promote eco-friendly living

IKEA bedroom campaign offers added comfort for breathtaking prices KUWAIT: IKEA Kuwait recently launched its new bedroom collection that offers visitors looking for style, functionality and quality and the opportunity to choose from a variety of bedroom furniture to suit every taste, need and budget.

The bedroom campaign that started on April 1, 2012, showcases an exciting collection of textiles, beds and wardrobes with appealing styles to ultimately promote the exquisite quality of relaxation at affordable prices. These include double/single beds, mattresses, wardrobes, chest of drawers, bedside tables and many more. Shoppers are gifted the option to choose from an array of colorful bed linens, quilts, curtains and blinds, lights, painting and deco, as well as cushions amongst many others.

The IKEA Wardrobe (PAX) collection comes with 10 years guarantee. While understanding that people have different sleeping patterns, IKEA mattresses range comes in a variety of shapes to suit all sizes and sleeping habits from soft, medium to firm mattresses. Customers can download the PAX wardrobe planner on ikea.com.kw/pax. The ultimate goal of the IKEA bedroom collection is to offer all customers a large variety of bedroom furniture and accessory styles, colors and functionalities to help them design their bedroom of choice.

IKEA Kuwait urges everyone to avail of this once in a year promotion to maximize on the stores distinct collection at premium quality for your bedroom .

Apple, a revolution!

By Hayder Tawfik ecently, Apple has become the news headline around the world. Also, it has captured the imagination of all kinds of people. Its fans have multiplied by millions around the world. Indeed, it has created its own culture, one which spread throughout the age spectrum like a house on fire. Apart from the talk about its products in particular the phones and iPods, most of the news was about its financial position and its market capitalization.

As we all know Apple has become the most valuable company in the world in terms of market capitalization.

It is worth about $590 billion and it has about $100 billion in cash. If the analysts forecast are right then it will have about $150bn in cash by the end of this year. It has only one major competitor named Samsung, which is healthy for the industry and for Apple itself.

However, the way I see it even Samsung will face difficulty going forward. This brings us to my main point of this writing.

What its fans and all commentators are missing is that Apple has created a revolution which could last at least 20 years. Let me take you back to the late seventies and early eighties when Sony invented the Sony Walkman. It was something out of this world but it did not last long as Sony failed to capitalize on it. The Walkman was bulky to carry around you with large headphones and the use of the old cassette was a bit cumbersome. Sony made it smaller and replaced the cassette with CDs. It was simple for its competitors to copy and finally this lead to its demise. Apple’s IPod was the best replacement for the Sony Walkman and indeed it replaced it immediately.

There is still big demand for all of Apple’s older products, which something Apple made sure that the Apple family will be cared for and never get abandoned something Sony failed to do.

R

As Steve Job said Apple markets its experience not its products. Its experience is simple and easy to understand and they happy to share it with people.

Its products are easy to use, beautiful, environmentally friendly, and technologically sophisticated. Apple has made sure that they are there to serve its fans and listen to them and share their concerns. Apple can afford to do all that and more. Last week it has become the No.1 brand name in Japan. This is something unheard of. Japan is a country of consumer electrical and electronics and no foreign brand has ever received such credit apart from some European luxury goods makers. This is what I call a revolution which has started 6 years ago. Apple’s products cycle is in its early days and because it has been so successful this cycle could last for years to come. We just have to wait and see what else is up its sleeves. To me nothing Apple comes up with will surprise me as it has created the culture and has educated us so we can only expect the best.

I will not be surprised if we see in the future the Apple Brand replacing laptops and smart phones. This is a great opportunity for Apple to stamp its quality and reliability on all smart phone and laptops sold around the world. Coming back to its financial power and market capitalization it is nothing out of the extraordinary at all.

Exxon Mobile has been the biggest company in the world for a long time even though there was a lot of concern in the market about how long it can maintain its position. Now it has been replaced by Apple and could last a long time to come. As for its valuation and the share price it’s beyond me to make any forecast but if my analysis is right and indeed we are experiencing a new revolution lead by Apple then we just have to enjoy the its products and the ride. Remember, Apple has been selling millions of its products at a time when the global economy has been very week and unemployment has been rising around the world, how much more it will sell when the global economy recovers?

Hayder Tawfik is the Executive Vice President of Asset Management, at Dimah Capital.

KUWAIT: The en.v Initiative (en.v), an organization dedicated to social responsibility in the Arab world, and Zain, the leading mobile telecommunications provider, announce the launch of the REUSE exposition in Kuwait. In its fifth year, REUSE 5.0 will be held on April 19 - 21st and Earth Day (22nd) from 5 to 9pm daily at the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK).

REUSE 5.0 will serve as an opportunity for non-profit organizations, companies, professionals and aspiring creative talents to showcase their accomplishments in the fields of social responsibility and sustainability via a range of artistic mediums and interactive activities for the general public.

This year’s exhibit will feature internationally recognized artist Hassan Hajjaj and critically acclaimed graphic designer Tarek Atrissi.

Zahed Sultan, the Managing Partner and CEO of en.v, has also written and released four songs as an EP (short album) to commemorate this year’s exhibit. The “Reuse Me - EP” is available for download on all major online music stores such as iTunes and Amazon.

“For each REUSE that we host, our greatest challenge is to find and secure dedicated individuals, groups, and organizations to feature within our space. Further, each REUSE is designed and constructed vastly different than its predecessor. This year’s exposition is going to raise the “creative” bar visually and experientially. On a personal note, I am excited to release my new collection of music in which I sing in English and Arabic for the first time!” exclaims Zahed Sultan.

REUSE’s organic growth over the recent years has led it to be positioned as Kuwait’s premier creative exposition for sustainable (ecofriendly) thought; Serving as an interactive means for dialogue and action amongst the private sector, public sector and civil society.

Zain is the Preferred Partner for this year’s REUSE exposition. Zain is an avid supporter of environmentally friendly efforts in Kuwait. Over the years, Zain has introduced a range of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and internal policies to generate awareness for the importance of waste management and adopting responsible lifestyles.

These include the ‘Don’t Throw It, Recycle It’ campaign, the ‘Environment Friends’ campaign and more recently the “Drive Safe” campaign.

Waleed Al-Khashti, Zain Kuwait Corporate Communications & Relations Department Manager, commented on the company’s commitment to recycling and taking a lead role in supporting REUSE 5.0 in 2012; “We are excited to sponsor RESUE for the fourth year in a row as it is part of Zain’s commitment to support environmental initiatives”

Zain’s Kuwait office is a strong supporter of recycling programs and has initiated a range of local projects to generate more awareness of the importance of waste management. These include recycling of company waste on a daily basis.

REUSE 5.0 is also supported by reputable companies such as Agility, MRC, Kharafi National, and UDC. Esteemed media partners for REUSE 5.0 also include Bazaar Studentalk, the Talk, and Ahlan magazine.

In accordance with The en.v Initiative’s ethos towards environmental responsibility, REUSE is devised, executed as a “Carbon Neutral” event. Accordingly, en.v ensures environmental concerns are addressed and documented during every phase of the exposition.

Upon completion of the exposition, en.v conducts an internal carbon footprint audit and offsets all emissions by investing in a “Climate Friendly” project.

Al-Tijari announces winners of daily draw with Najma Account KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al-Najma Account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

The winners of the Al-Najma daily draw Mohammed Ahmed Husain AbdelRaheem — KD 7000, Khalifa Khalil Ali Snaseeri — KD 7000, Mahmood Ahmad Ashfaq Ahmad — KD 7000, Ali Hashem Mohammad Bin Hussain— KD 7000, Hanouf Meqbel Baddah Al- Azmi — KD 7000.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily

prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on June 19 which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50. Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

Burgan Bank announces names of daily winners of Yawmi Account KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000. Winners names will also be announced through Marina FM on a daily basis during their prime shows.

The lucky winners for the five daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and they are: 1.

Ratna Maitra 2.

Bashayer Hejab Mohd Al-Hejab 3.

Ramadan Abdulla Hassan Akreem 4.

Aziz Ali Taher Albagli 5.

Kaid Fakhruddin Salim Cylewala The newly re-launched Yawmi Account is better, easier and faster than any day before.

With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account.

Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily

draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10.

The newly designed Yawmi account has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for ever yone.

Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products and services, or log on to Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further information.

NBK premium credit cardholders enjoy discounts with Etihad Airways KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), in partnership with Etihad Airways, offers Premium Credit Cardholders exclusive discounts on air travel. NBK Premium Credit Cardholders will NBK Assistant receive a 10% disGeneral Manager, count on Economy Consumer Banking Class and 15% disGroup, Ahmed count on Diamond Al-Khader First Class and Pearl Business Class when they book a flight to any Etihad Airways destination. The promotion is exclusively designed for NBK Premium Credit Cardholders using Visa Infinite, World MasterCard, Visa and MasterCard Platinum, Laki Titanium MasterCard and the New Titanium MasterCard. They can receive the discount when they purchase tickets online using Etihad Airways Kuwait website or via Etihad Airways office.

Ahmed Al Khader, NBK Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group, said: “Many of our Premium Credit Cardholders can now enjoy their holidays with Etihad Airways and its worldwide network of routes with this special offer.”

“NBK Premium Credit Cards offer holders a range of great offers and premium discounts,” added Al Khader. “We appreciate our customers and want to reward them with the best and most exclusive promotions to be found in Kuwait.” NBK Credit Cards are accepted worldwide and are among the most rewarding ways to pay for goods and services. NBK Credit Cards provide flexible payment options and are free for the first year. Moreover, NBK credit cards offer the best loyalty program in town, NBK Rewards. The NBK Rewards program provides the highest value point redemption and discount scheme in Kuwait.

27

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Turn your PC and TV into a gaming console system BERLIN: For hardcore gamers the choice between PC and console games is often no choice at all, what with consoles offering convenient gamepads, large screens and the ability to play from a sofa. But it doesn’t take much work to connect a PC and a television and set up a cozy gaming centre in one’s living room. “Most TVs can provide a good picture,” says Peter Knaak of Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer products testing agency.

Connections are easiest to make in small apartments, where the devices are in the same room. Or you might have to lay a cable across a room.

Of course, a giant computer tower might look out of place next to the TV. But, if that’s a problem, consider a compact home theatre PC, which can help blend the PC into a room. Some

manufacturers even sell small complete systems with specific designs.

But these present their own problems.

Daniel Visarius, an editor with German magazine Gamestar, notes the smaller housing might lead to problems. “It will make it hard to scale up in one or two years.” There are other potential pitfalls. Some devices don’t support an HDMI connection. In those cases, there’s the television’s VGA port as an alternative, says Knaak. “It often delivers astoundingly good quality.”

If the picture isn’t sharp enough, that’s usually because of the overscan function, a relic of cathode ray televisions that is unnecessary in modern LCD televisions. The effect can be turned off in the menu, though it is identified differently on various models. Eliminate white borders on text

and other contours by turning down image sharpness, says Knaak. It’s possible nowadays to easily control PC games with a gamepad. Just stick the controller into the USB port. Well-programmed games recognize the hardware and compensate for the new controls. Gamepads for the XBox 360 are even PC compatible. For true comfort, you will want cable-free controllers so you can play from the sofa.

If a game won’t support gamepads, try out the freeware program Xpadder, which transfers button and mouse functions to specific gamepad buttons. Specific profiles can be created to make it easier to switch between various pads and games. Theoretically, the software can also compensate for more exotic hardware, such as guitar controllers and steering wheels for

racing games. Of course, gamepads only help you within the game. To start the program, you will need Windows. And then you will need your mouse and keyboard again, warns Visarius. That could change with touchscreen-optimized systems such as Windows 8. But until those become widespread, he recommends wireless keyboards with built-in gamepads.

“They’re uncomfortable if you’re typing a lot, but they’re great for these kinds of purposes.”

They’re also good if the game occasionally requires keyboard commands, for example, when assigning a name to a character. All the work is definitely worth it, says Visarius, as intense graphics really come into their own on PCs. “With the right computing power, the same game looks a lot better on a

PC than on a console.” Whereas in the past PC versions of games were often troubled by bugs or problems with hardware support, the balance is now tilting. “The problem will always be there, but we haven’t seen any real catastrophes lately,” says Visarius. If you’re worried, check test reports or rankings from other players before buying.

If the switch is done properly, a computer can be a good substitute for a console. “You notice it right away in terms of resolution,” says Visarius. A PC can also depict gaming worlds in full HD (1,920 X 1,080 pixels). The Playstation 3 only achieves that with a few games and the XBox 360 not at all.

Graphic effects and texture details often come across better with faster computers. —dpa

Science, tech drove discovery of Titanic Game-changing technology led researchers to ship

LINCOLNTON: In this Friday, March 16, 2012 photo, Johnny Lail keeps an eye on the newest technology for furniture making, a router machine that uses a computer to cut, sand and work wood at the Lincolnton Furniture Company in Lincolnton, NC. This machine reduces the need for five or six workers per day. — AP

Test shows free virus scanners provide adequate protection BERLIN: Combined with the Windows 7 firewall, free virus scanners can provide adequate protection from internet threats, according to a study by German consumer goods tester Stiftung Warentest. The group tested 14 security packages and four free virus protection programs. Lower-power computers benefited the most from free scanners without prepackaged firewalls, since they use the same technology as pricier options to recognize viruses, but take up less memory and computing power.

The Windows 7 firewall works better than various firewalls in commercial programs, reports German magazine Test.

Among the freeware anti-virus programs, testers ranked Avira Free Antivirus the best, followed by Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012 and Microsoft Security Essentials. The best option among the commercial programs was G Data Internet-Security 2012, even though it consumes a lot of resources. Overall, Avira Internet Security 2012 received the highest marks. Third place went to

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012.

However, while other high scorers got grades of “good” for virus protection, it only received “adequate.”

Anyone opting for a commercial program should buy one in a store.

Download costs tend to be more expensive and contracts are automatically renewable. “There is no all-around worryfree package,” warn the testers. Since the winner only caught 96 per cent of viruses, users still need to be aware of some ground rules. It’s possible to pick up a virus with a single visit to a website, even a legitimate one where nothing is clicked. And malware can lurk in illegally downloaded movies and programs such as those for illegally creating license keys. Even photo printers in stores can carry viruses. It’s best to use a write-protected memory card or to at least scan a USB memory stick after use. Never open attachments in spam mail or from unknown sources. Even clicking on links in such mails is dangerous. The same applies for clicking links on social networks. — dpa

LOS ANGELES: This week Fitbit debuted the Wi-Fi-enabled Aria Smart Scale - a scale that lets users weigh themselves and then digitally send that information to a website where it can be made public for their friends and family and strangers to see. — MCT

Hackers claim attack on UK Home Office website LONDON: Britain’s Home Office said yesterday that its website was temporarily unavailable overnight, and hackers are claiming responsibility for shutting it down. The hackers also claim they attacked Britain’s Ministry of Justice website Saturday night and warned of further attacks every Saturday to come on UK government websites.

The alleged hackers — who claim ties to Anonymous, the hacker collective — said on Twitter that they launched Saturday’s denial-of-service attacks and brought down the websites to protest “proposed draconian surveillance measures,” Britain’s extradition policies and “derogation of civil

liberties.” The authenticity of their claims could not be verified. Denial-ofservice attacks — which flood websites with too much traffic — are relatively easy to pull off and generally do no lasting damage.

The Home Office confirmed that its site was temporarily inaccessible Saturday night, saying it is aware of reports that its website may have been the subject of “an online protest.” It added that it will be monitoring the situation closely and declined to provide more details on what caused the site to choke.

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice websites were both operating normally yesterday morning. — AP

PARIS: Today, anyone with a wad of cash and a sense of adventure can dive to the Titanic’s deep-sea grave, but behind these tourist jaunts lies a long and daunting tale of scientific endeavour. After the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, schemes proliferated for salvaging it-from packing the ship with pingpong balls or using magnets or balloons to bring it to the surface. But these wildfire schemes ran into the reality of locating the liner in the deep, dark depths of the North Atlantic.

The honours went to French and US researchers whose rigour, perseverance and game-changing technology led them to the grave of the greatest ship of its time. “You need good tools and a good historical study to know where to search,” Jean-Louis Michel, the engineer who was the first to see images of the wreck, told AFP. Michel was one of a team from the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea (Ifremer) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts.

On July 10, 1985, they set out aboard the French research ship Le Suroit on a quest to find the legendary wreck. “In terms of sonar we had the best in the world and ... the Americans had developed a vehicle with a highly sensitive camera-the best in the world,” he said.

“So by bringing together all these means and by sharing the cost of the research, it

seemed possible.” The scientists collated every scrap of evidence they could find: logbooks from ships that had been near the disaster area, witness testimonies, weather and current data and information from searches in 1977, 1980, 1981 and 1983.

They narrowed the search zone to about 400 square kilometres, nearly five times the area of Manhattan. The team cautiously lowered the new sonar and a magnetometer, a device that picks up magnetic anomalies caused by large metal objects. Day by day, Le Suroit ploughed backwards and forwards, towing the array at a depth of 15-20 metres above the seabed, scanning strips of floor a kilometre wide.

On August 25, with Le Suroit called to other duties, a WHOI vessel, the Knorr, took over under oceanographer Robert Ballard.

He deployed a remote-controlled, deep-sea vehicle called Argo, fitted with cameras-a huge and costly innovation at the time. On September 1, watching the screen aboard the Knorr, Michel became the first person in more than 73 years to see the Titanic. “The first thing I saw was anomalies on the sea bottom. The structure of the sea bottom was changing,” he recalls.

A few metres (yards) later, he spotted a “shining reflection” on the screen a sign of something metallic. As the camera inched forward, “there was more and more metal, and in the metal we recognised some pieces of railing ... it was pieces of ship.” Despite the

stunning find, they were not yet sure it was the Titanic. “Next step, we arrived on big pieces of metal ... and a few metres later we were on the biggest structure, four metres in diameter, eight metres high, in fact it was a boiler and I recognised it” from photos of the Titanic.

Reflecting on that “extraordinary” discovery, Michel said he felt achievement mixed with chilling solemnity. “All those victims dying in the cold water, I was thinking of that. Because we were exactly there where they died.” The wreck had finally been found, broken in two, 21.2 kilometres from the final SOS coordinates transmitted by the Titanic-an error by its crew that had derailed all previous searches.

Today’s sub-surface toolkit includes towed sleds, tethered remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), says the WHOI. Robots can peer into the ocean depths without the perils of extreme chill and crushing pressure.

Technical progress-and money-are helping to satisfy Man’s urge to see things for himself. Last month, James Cameron, director of the movie “Titanic”, plunged 11 km to the Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the world, aboard a specially designed submersible.

And British tycoon Richard Branson is building the “Virgin Oceanic,” which he intends to take this year to the Atlantic’s Puerto Rico Trench. — AFP

App aims to save whales from ships in Atlantic BOSTON: Even at a sturdy 70 tons, the North Atlantic right whale is no match for the huge ships that cross its path carrying cargo, passengers and the threat of lethal collisions. Now, a new app for the iPad or iPhone aims to help mariners avoid the rare whales so they don’t strike them.

The Whale Alert app takes information from underwater microphones to locate the whales in real time, which helps ships in New England waters avoid the species’ estimated 550 remaining whales. The app also uses the GPS feature on iPads or iPhones to alert mariners if they’re entering areas where right whales were spotted, or are known to frequent, along their migratory route from Florida to Maine. Those zones have mandatory or voluntary speed restrictions.

Preventing even one fatal ship strike can have a lasting effect on the right whale population. “Right whales are being run over by large ships and killed, but we can save them,” said Patrick Ramage of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which led the app’s development. The North Atlantic right whale was hunted to near extinction in the late 18th century and has struggled since. The animal, which can grow to 55 feet (16.7 meters) in length, is vulnerable to ship strikes because it can be difficult to see as it feeds on plankton slicks near the surface. It’s also oblivious to its surroundings while eating.

Since the 1970s, an average of two North Atlantic right whales have been killed annually by ship strikes, though there has been one death in each of the past two years, said Greg Silber, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Whale Alert aims to make it easier for navigators to be aware of the various whale restrictions.

Previously, ships often received that information via clunky tech-

on the app. “We are eavesdropping on the social network of whales.” The multimillion-dollar acoustic system has been in operation for several years. But

knows it exists,” said Dave Wiley of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, who worked on the app. Kathy Metcalf of the Chamber of Shipping of America,

CANADA: In this July 1, 1999 photo provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, a right whale swims at the surface in Canada’s Bay of Fundy as a tanker ship passes. The organization led the development of a new Whale Alert app for iPhones and iPads, which uses information from underwater microphones off the coast of New England to help mariners avoid striking the mammals. — AP nologies such as fax machines, VHF transmission, or not at all because their equipment was outdated. But vessels with the app are alerted when they enter areas with right whale restrictions (with a whale song sound effect).

For now, the app can only locate the whales’ real-time location off New England because it’s the only region where special acoustic buoys are installed.

“The whales now have a voice,” said Christopher Clark, a Cornell University scientist who led development of the acoustic monitoring system and worked

before the app, when Cornell researchers confirmed a right whale had been detected, they had let any liquefied natural gas tankers in the area know by phone, Clark said. Now, vessels from container ships to pleasure boats can know quickly through the app.

The app is free, but the cost for vessels is about $600 to $700 for the iPad and the equipment to receive the needed wireless signal. Some cruise lines and other vessels have committed to the app, but its effectiveness depends on broad use. “This is no good, unless the maritime community

a shipping industry group that wasn’t involved in the project, called the app fantastic, and said she “can’t imagine a reason” why any mariner or boat owner wouldn’t want it. The cost is “beans,” Metcalf said, and the benefits are substantial. By locating where whales are, and detailing any restrictions in effect to protect the animals, the app enhances a mariner’s general awareness of the situation at sea, she said. “If you don’t want that, you’ve got problems,” Metcalf said. “No one on a ship wants to hit anything in the water, whale or otherwise.” — AP

28

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

health & science

Scarcity of water spreading disease in waterfowl refuge Outbreak of avian cholera has killed over 10,000 birds TULELAKE: Dave Mauser walked the edge of a mudflat, peering underneath the dried brown rushes where one coot after another had gone to hide and then die. “Now the coots are getting the worst of it,” said Mauser, head biologist on the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, the nation’s first large marshland preserved for waterfowl habitat.

“Prior to that it was the snow geese and the white -fronted geese.”

Standing in line for scarce water behind both endangered fish and agriculture, Lower Klamath Lake has watched one marsh after another dry up in recent years. Now migrator y geese, ducks and other waterfowl that come here by the millions,

on the east side of the Cascade Range along the OregonCalifornia border, the shallow lakes and marshes of the Upper Klamath Basin were once known as the Everglades of the West, providing a place to rest and eat for untold millions of birds on the Pacific Flyway.

More than 260 species - ruddy ducks, cinnamon teal, white faced ibis, sandhill cranes, white pelicans, snowy egrets and bald eagles - pass through in the spring. Some stay the summer to breed, but most fly north to the Arctic to nest, returning here in the fall. Some spend the winter, and others continue south to California’s Central Valley and the Salton Sea. The historic refuge got its origins after wildlife pho-

to the loss of nesting habitat in the far north. But it still “may be the most important real estate for migrator y birds in Nor th America,’” said refuge manager Ron Cole.

The problem is that it is at the end of a long line for water, legally and literally. When it comes to water in the West, first in time is first in right. Three years earlier, in 1905, Congress created the Klamath Reclamation Project, which created a vast complex of pumps and canals that drained lakes and marshes and fed water to farmlands. The refuge started receiving water from the project in the 1940s, when a tunnel was cut to pump excess water out of Tule Lake, the end of the line for the water running through the

CALIFORNIA: In this March 30, 2012 photo, waterfowl take flight on the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge near Tulelake, Calif. —AP following the Pacific Flyway, are so closely packed together that an outbreak of avian cholera has killed more than 10,000 birds, mostly pintail ducks, Ross’ geese, snow geese and now coots.

First reported in the United States in the 1940s, the disease is not new to the refuge. Bald eagles that congregate here in winter depend on the deadly bacteria to provide them easy food. But what is different about this year is that only half the refuge’s 31,000 acres of marsh are flooded, creating perfect conditions for a broader kill off. Lying

tographer William L. Finley wrote a story for Atlantic Monthly about market hunters wiping out white egrets and grebes here for feathers to decorate ladies’ hats.

President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid bird hunter and amateur taxidermist in his youth, signed the executive order creating Lower Klamath in 1908. It was the second of 55 refuges he would create, but the first to offer a large area of land for habitat. In the 1950s the refuge would see 5 million to 7 million birds annually. Now numbers have dropped to about 2 million, primarily due

irrigation project.

Tule Lake remained the primary source of the refuge’s water until 2006, when farmers lost a subsidized electric rate that made it cheap to pump water.

Now most of the water for the refuge comes from the Klamath River, through the Ady Canal. No matter the source, the refuge does not get water until the fish and the farms are satisfied. The last full delivery was in 2006. “It worked well for decades,” said Cole, until more water had to be allocated to the river for endangered salmon, and to Upper

Klamath Lake for endangered suckers. Now it is the refuge that suffers from drought.

Small piles of white feathers and bones covered with dried red flesh dot the matted rushes and mudflats, all that is left after bald eagles and other predators fed on the goose carcasses. Some of the coots with their black heads and round slate-gray bodies were sprawled in the mud, unable to reach the shelter of the rushes before lying down to die.

Mauser picked up a few by their wings and laid them in the back of his pickup truck.

At the refuge maintenance yard, the smell of burned flesh and feathers hung in the air.

Mauser swung open the heavy door of an incinerator, placed the dead birds inside, then flipped a switch to ignite the gas. Research indicates the disease spreads bird-to-bird, and outbreaks occur in cold months when birds are packed close together. Volunteers in airboats have picked up 3,500 dead birds and brought them to the incinerator to limit the spread of the bacteria. But with so many of the birds managing to hide before they die, most will never be found. About half the infected birds survive to spread the bacteria. Birds can die so quickly they fall out of the sky.

Record rains in March allowed the US Bureau of Reclamation to start delivering all the water the refuge could take through the Ady Canal, but that will only be enough to flood 4,000 acres more before it runs out, said Cole.

Prospects for this summer are not looking good. Meanwhile, a deal that raises the refuge’s water priority on a par with farms, while laying out how water is divided in drought years, has been stymied in Congress. “Birds are hardwired to follow migratory routes they have followed since time immemorial,” said Bob Sallinger, conservation director for Portland Audubon, which has joined two dozen conservation groups demanding Interior Secretary Ken Salazar assure the refuge gets the water it needs. “They are going to return to these places. The question is, will they find something when they get there.” —AP

Laughter clubs catch on in stressed-out Hong Kong HONG KONG: Hypnotherapist Dick Yu has a mission that seems unthinkable to some Hong Kong people: he wants to make the Asian financial hub’s seven million residents laugh. “Hong Kong people don’t laugh because they are under constant pressure to make more money, to make life better,” says Yu, who has founded 11 Laughter Clubs in the southern Chinese city since 2007.

“People get worried easily because housing is so expensive, the cost of living is getting higher and people are concerned about whether they can keep their job.”

The 35-year-old trained hypnotherapist set up Hong Kong’s first laughter club in 2007, after he discovered the concept of laughter yoga-made popular as an exercise routine by Indian physician Madan Kataria in 1995. Since then hundreds of heavy-hearted Hong Kongers have signed up for the free classes, a sign, experts say, of the city’s underlying health and social problems.

“When you laugh, you’re happier, you become positive and everything else will become better,” Yu says after a onehour laughing session in a park. “Ho ho, ha ha ha,” the group of 30 students recite. They combine the exercise with deep yogic breathing, give each other high-fives, clap and waddle like penguins, all in the name of laughter.

The fake laughter very soon breaks into the real thing, demonstrating one of the core principles of laughter yoga: laughter has physiological benefits whether it is fake or real. As the adage “laughter is the best medicine” goes, researchers credit belly laughs as a recipe for a healthy heart. It helps expand blood vessel linings to increase blood flow, reduces stress hormones and boosts the immune system. A British study last year showed 15 minutes of laughter increased the level of pain tolerance by around 10 percent, as the action helps to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s naturally produced pain killers.

“It was a bit awkward in the beginning when we tried to fake the laughter with the ‘ho ho, ha ha ha’, but after a while you can tell the difference and you feel more relaxed,” said Kaman Wong at one of Yu’s classes. The 37-yearold student joined the laughter club

two years ago when he was a supervisor at a food processing firm. “The work was stressful. There was a lot of overtime work, I had to deal with many workers. If anything went wrong I was responsible, but I’ve learned how to laugh away all the stress,” he says. But on top of his work problems, he said the pressurecooker atmosphere of Hong Kong itself was getting him down. “Everyone is like a balloon that is about to explode in Hong Kong. If you smile at me, I wouldn’t know how to react to that. I think there are just a lot of barriers among Hong Kongers that we need to break,” he says.

Social scientists say the laughter club boom highlights the stress issue faced by many residents of a densely populated city which groans under extremes of inequality, soaring property prices and cramped living spaces. The number of people seeking psychiatric treatment at Hong Kong’s public hospitals leapt 20 percent between 2007 and 2011 to 184,087, according to the Hospital Authority. Hong Kong’s suicide rate rose from 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 1990 to 14.6 in 2009, World Health Organization figures show. That’s higher than in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, but lower than South Korea.

Paul Yip, director of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, says material success means more to many Hong Kongers than physical well being. “Hong Kong is a very fast-paced society. People walk fast... They have to work long hours not because it is their choice but because they have to survive,” he says.

Sky-high property prices fuelled by the entry of rich mainland Chinese tycoons into the local market mean families often have to squeeze into tiny apartments. “Even if you’re not happy, you have nowhere to go,” Yip says.

In other words, Hong Kong is fertile ground for laughing guru Yu, who hopes to set up branches of his club all over the city. “The laughter club should be like a convenience store, which you have in every community. If everyone is laughing, the society will be happier,” he says. “I hope there are more laughing ambassadors in Hong Kong to spread joy and laughter to everyone.” —AFP

ANCHORAGE: In this March 23, 2012 file photo, a moose crosses a road near Anchorage, Alaska. A spring snowfall has broken the nearly 60-year-old seasonal snow record of Alaska’s largest city. —AP

Global warming may be factor in extreme Alaska weather ANCHORAGE: A spring snowfall has broken the nearly 60-year-old seasonal snow record of Alaska’s largest city. Inundated with nearly double the snow they ’re used to, Anchorage residents have been expecting to see this season’s snowfall surpass the record of 132.6 inches set in the winter of 1954-55.

The 3.4 inches that fell by Saturday afternoon brings the total to 133.6 inches. National Weather Service meteorologist Shaun Baines said forecasters don’t expect more than an inch of additional accumulation.

Extreme weather has hit not only Alaska. It’s also struck the lower 48 US states, where the first three months of 2012 has seen twice the normal number of tornadoes and one of the warmest winters on record.

Two different weather phenomena - La Nina and its northern cousin the Arctic Oscillation - are mostly to blame, meteorologists say. Global warming could also be a factor because it is supposed to increase weather extremes, according to climate scientists.

Even by Alaska standards, Anchorage has been walloped by snow. City snow removal crews have worked around the clock to clear roadways and haul more than 2.5 million cubic yards of snow to the city’s six snow disposal sites, which are close to capacity.

That’s not even counting the loads disposed of by state crews.

At the height of the snow overload, many residential streets were rimmed by snow-walled canyons that towered over fences and shielded homes. Some roofs collapsed, mostly on older commercial buildings with flat roofs. The collapses caught the attention of many residents worried the same thing would happen to their roofs, a concern that turned into booming business for commercial snow removal outfits. —AP

FLORIDA: “You can’t eat any of the fish you catch out here, they’re loaded with mercury. There’s a list of the fish you can’t eat, but it’s pretty much everything out here,” said sports fisherman Bryan Windle of Pompano Beach, Florida. —MCT

In S Florida, many anglers ignore mercury warnings FORT LAUDERDALE: Every day, anglers across South Florida reel in swordfish, king mackerel, largemouth bass and other fish that contain high amounts of mercury. But many of those casting lines from boats, piers and bridges don’t know about the state’s detailed recommendations against eating too much of these species or don’t take them seriously.

Although Florida has one of the worst mercury problems in the United States, the Florida Department of Health lacks the money to distribute its consumption advisories, which set limits by species and body of water. The department posts the material online, where critics say it’s too hard to find and too complicated.

Many charter captains and other experienced anglers discount the warnings anyway, saying they never got sick, they don’t know anyone who got sick and no one eats a particular species frequently enough to receive a dangerous dose of mercury. “I was told you’d pretty much have to eat fish every day for a year to build up enough mercury in your system to hurt you,” said Capt. Jimbo Beran, of the drift fishing boat Helen S at the Hillsboro Inlet Marina. “That’s what I tell my customers when I clean fish for them, you have to eat it every day. I’ve never heard of anyone having a problem.”

Health authorities encourage people to eat more fish, not less, because it’s highly nutritious, can improve cardiac health and provides benefits to the developing fetus. And they say most South Florida species are safe to eat. But some species _ generally large predators _ need to be consumed with caution. At Lake Delevoe, a broad expanse of water just south of Sistrunk Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, the state recommends limiting consumption of five species. But Chester Jackson, 53, who was fishing from a pier Friday morning, said he’s never heard of the advisories. “When times were hard, you’d go out here and catch a meal,” he said. “I never got sick from anything I caught in this lake. We used to fish here in the ‘90s. No one got sick.”

Mercury, a metallic element discharged by coal-fired power plants, can build up in the human body over years, causing neurological problems, including memory loss and personality disorders. It presents the greatest danger to children, pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant because it can damage the nervous system of the developing child. The Florida Department of Health’s fish consumption guidelines run to 28 pages, organized by water body. If you look up Water Conservation Area 2 in the Everglades, for example, you will see that you should not eat largemouth bass of 14 inches or more, bowfin or gar, should limit consumption of redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, butterfly peacock and largemouth bass under 14 inches to one meal per month and limit consumption of warmouth and bluegill to one per week.

“We think it’s so difficult to communicate because it’s so complicated,” said Dr. Todd Sack, chairman of the Florida Medical Association’s Environment and Health Section. “Currently everything’s buried in web sites. It’s there, but you have to dig for it.” He said the state’s message should be simple: Eat more fish, but get it from the store. For recreational fishing, he said, people should stick to catch and release, especially inshore where mercury levels are highest. Ted Lange, a biologist who works on mercury issues for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, acknowledged the need for improvement and said the state was working on something more user-friendly.

“It’s very good information but it’s just too much, too arduous to dig through,” he said. “Next step, we’ve been working on a Safe Eating Guideline _ most commonly caught and eaten species. I don’t know if there will be the money to print it. It will be on the web.” Many fish caught in South Florida, of course, are perfectly safe to eat. They include brown bullhead, crappie, striped mullet, sheepshead, gulf flounder and many other species, according to the fish and wildlife commission.

Fish with the highest mercury levels are large predators, such as sharks and largemouth bass, which contain in their flesh

all the mercury from the fish they’ve eaten.

Fish bought at stores generally present less of a problem than fish from the mercury hot spot of South Florida, so long as you don’t overdo consumption. But even with store-bought fish, there has been extensive debate among the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups about the mercury risks versus the health benefits of seafood. Despite their debate, “a lot of people still fish to feed their families,” said Andre Eggelletion, a Lauderdale Lakes barber who has learned to fish lower on the food chain to avoid mercury. “As the economy continues to contract, I don’t see that slowing down. Poor people tell you, ‘I fish for support, not for sport.’”

But many anglers are highly conscious of the risks. While scouting locations for an upcoming bass tournament near Everglades Holiday Park early Thursday, Bryan Windle reeled in a small largemouth bass, which he threw back into the water. “You can’t eat any of the fish you catch out here; they’re loaded with mercury,” he said. “There’s a list of the fish you can’t eat, but it’s pretty much everything out here.” Florida reported 13 cases of mercury poisoning in 2010, all but one thought to be related to consumption of fish, according to a state report. But experts say many cases may go unreported because they are milder and the symptoms are never recognized as stemming from mercury.

Although home tests for mercury are sold, some experts question whether they can do the complex analysis performed by professional laboratories.

Kendra Goff, toxicologist for the Florida Department of Health, said the state does its best with limited funds and with the difficulty of getting across a mixed message: Eat more fish but be careful which fish you eat. “We try to educate people. But we can’t dictate what a person eats or what a person does,” she said. “ We encourage people to eat 8-12 ounces of fish per week. That’s two meals.” Capt Casey Hunt, of Pompano Beach, said the indisputable health benefits of eating fish outweigh any theoretical dangers from mercury. Fish caught fresh from the ocean, for example, clearly is better than beef from an industrialized farm. “Some of this cattle meat’s so full of hormones,” Hunt said. “And they’re worried about fish.”

MERCURY FACTS What it is: A metallic element discharged by coal-fired power plants and other combustion sources.

How does it get in fish: Settles in water, transforms into organic methylmercur y in bacteria and works its way up the food chain.

Some fish to strictly limit: Top predators such as shark, swordfish, tuna and large specimens of largemouth bass.

Fish considered safer: sunfish, brown bullhead, crappie, striped mullet, Florida pompano, sheepshead, common dolphin.

Effect on the unborn: Brain damage, mental retardation, lack of coordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak.

Effect on children: Problems in the kidneys, nervous system and digestive systems.

Effect on adults: Much less severe. Irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. It is considered a potential carcinogen. The phrase “mad as a hatter” comes from the shakes, irritability, slurred speech and other symptoms displayed by 19th century hat makers who used mercuric nitrate to make felt.

Warnings not working: A 2008 study of women of childbearing age in the Florida Panhandle found mercur y levels were higher among those who had consumed fish the previous month and among those unaware of the fish advisories. Less than a third knew about the warnings. —MCT

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

H E A LT H

Surgery for curvature of the spine no longer so devastating for teens Spinal fusion surgeries are ‘quite successful’ DETROIT: Kendall Huizenga’s spinal column curved so severely from scoliosis that it looked like a snake trying to crawl up a hill. For three years, Kendall wore a plastic brace almost 20 hours a day, hoping it would stop the curvature from getting worse and trying to prevent surgery. The only time she was allowed to remove the brace was to dance. “That was one of my favorite parts about dance,” said Kendall, 15, who lives in Waterford, Mich. “I was able to take off my brace.” Dance was her refuge, her passion. But the curvature in her spine continued to worsen, digressing from 24 degrees to more than 54 degrees. Finally, when Kendall was 13, a doctor said that she needed surgery because her spine had begun to compress her lungs. “If the scoliosis is left untreated for many years, the curve will continue to progress,” said Dr Ira Zaltz, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. “Kendall’s type of curve, in particular, ends up causing cardiac and pulmonary problems because of the mechanics of how the chest works. Therefore, everything inside does not work properly.”

But what about dance? Would she still be able to dance after the surgery? Kendall had danced since she was 4 - ballet, tap, jazz, modern and lyrical training 17 hours a week at the Dance Shoppe in Waterford, Mich. Sue Wilson, Kendall’s mother, was frustrated. She found several outdated websites about scoliosis surgery, but few offered a long-term prognosis for athletes or dancers. “There was an informational void,” Wilson said. She feared the worst: There was a chance that Kendall might never dance again after surgery; and if she did dance, she would never be the same. Wilson enrolled her daughter in voice lessons, so she would have another artistic avenue if she could no longer dance.

Of every 1,000 children, 3 to 5 develop spinal curves that are considered large enough to need treatment, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Kendall was told that she required spinal fusion surgery. Two metal rods would be put in her back to hold her spine straight, keeping it in place as the spinal column fused into a single, inflexible bone. “I

was extremely scared of the surgery,” Kendall said.

“Getting two rods in your back is pretty extreme.”

Years ago, children who had the operation would be kept in a cast for a year.

But patients recover faster now because of advancements in surgical technique and instruments, and because of the use of cadaver bones to spur the fusion. “We clearly know who to operate on and when to operate,” Zaltz said. “If Kendall had surgery 25 years ago, she would have had a longer fusion. More vertebrae would have been fused because that’s what we did. She would have had a stiffer back and might not have had the same results.” Zaltz, who has been in practice 17 years, has performed more than 1,000 spinal fusion surgeries,

DETROIT: Kendall Huizenga’s spine is shown before surgery. She suffered from severe scoliosis. — MCT

averaging 60 to 70 every year. Spinal fusion surgeries are “quite successful,” according to Dr Muwaffak M Abdulhak, a neurosurgeon at Henry Ford Health System. Abdulhak said the key to the surgery is the fused bone because the rods and other hardware eventually “fatigue and fail and break.” If the rods break, they have to be taken out, which requires another surgery. Kelly Lynn Vanderhave, a clinical associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Michigan Health System, said spinal fusion surgery “helps kids stand better. It helps kids go back and do what they did previously.” Kendall underwent a seven-hour spinal fusion operation in December 2009. During the seven-hour surgery, Zaltz fused Kendall’s spinal column from her second thoracic vertebrae to her first lumbar vertebrae, leaving a 22-inch scar.

Kendall was in intensive care for days and she lost 25 pounds. “The kid was in so much pain,” said Wilson, her mother. “Thank goodness she doesn’t remember.” Zaltz called Kendall’s recovery “remarkable,” giving credit to the work ethic she learned from dance. “She is an athlete, right?” Zaltz said.

“She is gung-ho and enthusiastic and dedicated to her activity. If every patient were like her, it would be great.” Kendall is convinced that being a dancer helped her recover. “I had the support of all my amazing teachers and students, and friends,” Kendall said. “Dance prepared me for my surgery. It gives me a strong body.” Two months after surgery, Kendall started dance training again.

Four months after surgery, Kendall returned to competition. A video of her first dance with rods in her back was posted on Youtube, as her mother said, to show everybody “what was possible” instead of hearing about “what was no longer possible.” It has been viewed 42,000 times. Fifteen months after the surgery, Kendall competed in a Dance Masters competition and won Miss Teen Dance of Michigan. “I never thought she would be as good as she has turned out to be,” Wilson said.

Kendall, now a sophomore at Clarkston High School, has become a mentor for several dancers who have gone through the same surgery. “It’s been

fulfilling for me,” Kendall said. “It’s nice to have all these young dancers talk to me about their fears or what they should expect after surgery. It’s nice to give them advice and answer their questions, that they can continue dancing and follow their passion.

“I tell them that it shouldn’t mean the end of dance for them.” Kendall calls the surgery “100 percent successful.”

“I have my limitations,” Kendall said. “I don’t have the most flexible back in the world, but I can turn real easy now because I’m so lined up.” Wilson estimates that Kendall can perform almost all of the dance moves that other dancers can do: “Yes, there are certain moves she will never be able to do.

But I think she can do 80 percent of it.” Kendall has had a few minor setbacks. “Sometimes, if I have a busy dance weekend, or do something at dance that I shouldn’t have done, I have pain sometimes,” Kendall said. “I come home, lay on ice, take some Advil and I’m good to go the next day.”

As far as that scar, sometimes she tells people a little fib: “Sometimes, I joke around with people and tell them I was attacked by a shark. I like to make people laugh about it because I like to laugh at myself.” Eventually, Kendall might have another operation if she ever has problems with the hardware in her back. “Time will tell,” Wilson said. “Right now, I think it was very successful.”

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS? Scoliosis is a rotation of the vertebrae of the spine that can be likened to that of a twisting, spiral staircase. The cause of this rotation is not known in most cases. Surgery is usually done to prevent the following problems: Decreased lung function Back pain Poor appearance The surgery itself has two parts: Straightening the spine with rigid rods.

Adding bone graft to the curved area of the spine to fuse it in the correct position previously created by the rods. —MCT

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W H AT ’ S O N

Announcements Open House for Indian Citizens The Ambassador of India will be holding an Open House for Indian citizens to address their problems/grievances on Wednesdays of the second and the fourth week of every month between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs at the embassy. In case Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day. To ensure timely action/follow-up by the Embassy, it is requested that, wherever possible, Indian citizens should exhaust the existing channels of interaction/grievance redressal and bring their problems/issues in writing with supporting documents.

It may be mentioned that Embassy of India’s Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizen on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the consular officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) could be contacted. Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances. Similarly, a labor wing Help Desk functions from 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs in the Labor Hall to address the labor related issue. There is also a 24X7 Help Line (Tel No. 25674163) to assist labors in distress. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned Attaches in the labor section and the head of the labor wing could be contacted.

Film Festival Back to calendar April 9, 2012 @ 7:00 pm - April 10, 2012 @ 10 pm At Cinescape Laila Gallery (Salem AlMubarak Street). First French Short Film Festival to be organized in Kuwait in partnership with Cinescape and Festival du court-mÈtrage de Clermont Ferrand.

During two nights, we will screen short movies from around the world selected and awarded by the international short film Festival of Clermont Ferrand (France).

Animated gems, documentaries, brilliant comedies, down-to-earth fictions, genre films or graduation shorts from some of the finest film schools out there will undoubtedly take you on a unique journey into young film creation.

Earth Day with Golden Era April 13, 2012 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Where: Rumaithiya, Block 2, Sate Alhusari Street, House 34, Next to AbuTammam Intermediate School for Boys Contact: Golden Era Club goldenera60@yahoo.com Amma Kuwait, PART to hold workshop Amma Kuwait and Progressive Art Realization Troop of Kuwait (PART) announce their maiden joint venture PRAKRUTI. The purpose of the workshop is to motivate children to explore art in nature by inspiring them to observe nature consciously. Prakruti is a 5 hour workshop from 9am to 3pm on 20 April 2012 on landscape painting for budding student artists in the age group ten to seventeen. This workshop which will take place in the Al Jawhara Al Ahlea School, Rigaae will be conducted by the professional artists of PART who will interact with the children and guide them on special effects and professional painting techniques. The medium of painting will be Acrylic/Water. Each participant will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the workshop. Participants will get to showcase their paintings of the day and one previous work at the Exhibition that follows this workshop! Last date for registration is 10 April 2012. So hurry and visit the website www.ammakuwaitprakruti2012.com to register yourself.

‘Chaine Des Rotisseurs’ celebrates 30th Anniversary

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n presence of Guenter Albert, member of the Conseil d’administration and Chair of Baillaige Creation and Development committee and the French, Italian, Brazilian, Canadian, British, Mexican, Spanish, Omani, Bangladeshi Ambassadors as well as Red Cross Representatives, hotel General Managers and other distinguished guests, the “Chaine des Rotisseurs” held its 30th Anniversary celebration at Arraya Ballroom, on the 24th of March 2012.

Guenter Albert welcomed the newly joined members and honored Mr Najia for his great work for the Kuwait chapter. Mr. Najia, Bailli Delegue, member of Conseil Magistral along with Mr Albert awarded all the Hotels and Restaurants who supported the activities of the Chaine des Rotisseurs over the years. The Chaine des Rotisseurs is represented in 70 countries worldwide with over 25,000 members.

A vibrant endowment of education at IES

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rincipal Mr T Premkumar and Head mistress Mrs Lalitha Premkumar believe that the teachers who groom young minds to enter the global community, and teach skills which are also evolving likewise have to be progressive with changing times. Continuous Professional Development, a mandatory process by which teachers reflect upon their competencies, maintain them up to date, and develop them further is the need of the hour.

Indian Educational School, Kuwait always believe that in the dynamic landscape of today’s world there is an urgent need for identifying new ways which teachers can adopt to train young students to cope more effectively with future challenges. IES has integrated technology into teaching and day to day learning activities by way of “The Digital Campus” and its component “Learning Management System-LMS”. As the school embarks on a journey into a new academic year with a calendar full of various curricular and co-curricular activities, teachers of the kindergarten wing have come together for a host of workshops proposing to enhance the process of further integrating the LMS into their conceptual curriculum. During the workshops that have been held over the last week from 27th March to 2nd April teachers demonstrated and deliberated over innovative methodologies of teaching languages, mathematics, environmental science, storytelling techniques et al....They shared materials to develop interactive and interesting methodologies in the classroom. Teachers further reinforced upon the need to make classrooms more child-centred and facilitate the child’s involvement to enhance learning. Famously said about what a kindergarten child feels can be put in a nutshell as “What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I learn.”

Keeping this tenet in mind the KG teachers of IES have geared up to begin a new academic year with a lot more passion and zeal. Kudos to the strong team of innovative trainers at Bhavans.

Future Eye Theatre anniversary Future Eye Theatre, Kuwait will celebrate its second anniversary on April 13, 2012 (6 pm to 9.30pm on Friday) at the Indian Central School auditorium, Abbassiya. The celebration entitled ‘Kaliyarangu’, will showcase a variety of theatre presentations. Manjulan, a well-known film and theatre personality from Kerala, will be the chief guest of the this year’s celebration.

Manjulan’s solo drama ‘Koonan’ will be a major attraction of the anniversary celebration. The highlight of the celebration will be the staging of the Malayalam version of Samuel Beckett’s most celebrated play ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Future Eye Theatre members. A theatre sketch on Bertolt Brecht’s popular play ‘Threepenny Opera’ will also be staged on the occasion. All theatre lovers are welcome. Entry is free.

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 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.

The Arabic Literature Club at AUK hosts Play

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 2-13 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. Contact Asad BaigDirector General KC on Mob 97158856 for further details.

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BEC exchange launches new promotion for online customers

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superb raffle is being launched by BEC exchange for its online customers. All online customers who send money using the BEC portal will be automatically entered into the draw.

The draw offers a high end Lenova laptop as the 1st prize and the latest sensation in the market, an iPad3, as the second prize. The competition will run for 3 months only, from the 4th of April 2012.

he Arabic Literature Club at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) hosted an autobiographical play on the famous poet Ahmad Fathi, who authored the poem ‘AlKarnak’. The evening included a Monodrama play (the art of one actor) on the poet’s life story, and a critical discussion on the theme of the play. The play was performed by Abelaziz Al-Haddad, a Kuwaiti actor and director.

The play revolved around the life story of the Karnak poet Ahmed Fathi, who was born in Egypt in 1913, and is the son of Sheikh Suleiman, one of many famous poets of Alexandria, and a political leader during the 1919 revolution. Fathi lived a life mixed with success and failure.

After he gained fame in the Egyptian literary community, he travelled to

Britain to work as an anchor. He married his colleague Josephine and they had a daughter together. When he decided to return to Egypt, his wife refused to go with him, so he returned to live alone. He began writing for his wife to come to Egypt and bring their daughter along, but she ignored his letters. After a long period of suffering and waiting, he finally received a letter from his wife to open it and discover that it is a court notification of divorce. Affected by the tragedy of the moment, he grabbed his pen and wrote his eternal poem ‘The Story of Yesterday’.

Ahmed Fathi died in 1961 after being immortalized by two his two major works, ‘Al-Karnak’ which was sung by the Arab musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab; and ‘The Story of Yesterday’, which was sung

by the renowned singer Umm Kulthum and composed by Riad AlSunbati.

The Arabic Literature Club at the American University in Kuwait, chaired by AUK student Mariam Fadel, is a student organization concerned with various aspects of Arabic language, culture ,poetry and literature. The main objective of the club is to promote the Arab identity and the Arabic language atAUK. Most of the activities of the club concentrate on the field of literature and poetry. The Arabic Literature Club aims to host more cultural events that will include Arabic music and seminars for Arabic language experts in the future. All events organized by the Arabic Literature Club are in collaboration with the Department of Arabic Language at AUK.

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W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

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.

Easter service

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he Easter service of Kuwait St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka, was held on Saturday evening at Marina Hall, Abbasiya. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, Metropolitan of Chennai Diocese was the Chief Celebrant. Very Rev. Bersleebi Ramban, Parish Vicar Fr. Jose Mathew, Associate Vicar Fr. George C. Varughese were the co-celebrants.

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 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 nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NEPAL The Embassy of Nepal will be moving from its current location to a new place in Jabriya, Block 8, St. 13, House No. 514, effective from Sunday, 15th April, 2012. Till the new telephone connections are installed, the Embassy may be contacted by email: info@nepembku.org nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY On the occasion of Easter Sunday, the South African Embassy will be closed from today and tomorrow The Embassy will resume its normal working hours on Tuesday, 10 April 2012, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the working hours will be from 8h00 to 16h00 & the Consular Section operation hours will from 8h30 to 12h30. nnnnnnn

Kannur KKMCC hosts reception

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he visiting Member of Kerala State Legislative Assembly, KM Shaji, was given warm welcome by the members of Kannur District Committee at the auditorium of “Gulf Institute” in Salmiya.

KM Shaji who was elected by enthusiastic supporters won from the Kannur district constituency of Kerala with about 55,000 votes. In his reply speech he thanked Kannur KKMCC committee for the warm reception, and said that he is aware of the committee’s activities especially in the humanitarian field by giving pension funds of more than Rupees 4.0 lakhs during 2010 and 2011 distributed for the less privileged and poor people in Kannur without differentiating the caste and religion.

Shaji said that he is proud to see Dr Sayyid Ghalib Thangal by heading the Kannur KKMCC, whose vision is known to everyone that he and his members are working for betterment of the community while preserving our motherland India’s secularist Identity in General. Shaji added that he is very

much pleased to see that Sayid Nasir AlMashoor Thangal, the son-in-law of Marhoom: Panakkad Sayyid Ali Shihab Thangal also hails from Kannur who is the chairman of National committee.

KKMCC Kannur committee’s recent honoring of 17 expatriates who has spent more than 20 years of their life in Kuwait is an exceptional idea by the committee. Shaji added that the people

who decorated with the “Excellence Awards” also loved their home country India and their second home Kuwait while abiding the laws of both friendly nations, which is considered as one of the mile stones of achievements for Kannur Committee. The People who received “Pride of Kannur Awards” will remember KKMCC for their life time, as the award winners felt that KKMCC is taking care of them while looking into their stay and welfare status, and he challenged that no associations in Kuwait has dared to honor such people who earned this award with their hard works and dedication. Shaji requested to continue awarding such individuals for the coming years also.

National committee members Sayyid Nasir Al-Mashoor, Sharafuddin kanneth, Basheer Batha, Nazeer Khan, Aziz Thikkodi, Haider, all participated in the function. Sabith Chembilod welcomed the Chief Guest K M Shaji and members .

The meeting was presided by Dr Sayyid Ghalib Thangal. Vote of thanks was expressed by Shihab Irikoor.

EMBASSY OF ROMANIA The Embassy of Romania to the State of Kuwait would like to inform that the Consular Section of the Embassy will be close for construction works beginning with 18 April 2012, till 10 May 2012. During this period of time the Consular Section will not issue any type of visas for Romania and will not issue any Romanian passports or travel documents. The Consular Section will only be able to assist with notary deeds. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Classifieds MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for one bachelor in Abbassiya, double bedroom flat, available on 1st May, Rent KD 40/- only.

Contact: 99162583.

(C 3938) 8-4-2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR ETH GFA UAE RAB ETD DHX FDB MSR QTR JZR KAC THY DHX FAH JZR KAC BAW JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR FDB ETD KAC GFA MEA JZR IRC RBG MSR JZR MSR GFA KAC FDB OMA KNE QTR SVA RJA KAC JZR KAC QTR SYR KAC JZR ETD RKM UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR BAB JZR ABY RBG ALK KAC KAC FDB KAC MSR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC FDB MEA QTR GFA UAE JZR ETD BBC ABY QTR DHX AIC GFA UAL TAR DLH THY KLM PIA

Arrival Flights on Monday 9/4/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 303 AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI 305 ABU DHABI 370 BAHRAIN 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 284 DHAKA 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 344 CHENNAI 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 6521 LAMERD 3553 ALEXANDRIA 618 ALEXANDRIA 561 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 472 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 341 DAMASCUS 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 303 ABU DHABI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 857 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 177 DUBAI 436 BAHRAIN 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 3557 SOHAG 227 COLOMBO 542 CAIRO 786 JEDDAH 63 DUBAI 104 LONDON 620 ASSIUT 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 742 DAMMAM 572 MUMBAI 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 372 BAHRAIN 975 CHENNAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 327 TUNIS 636 FRANKFURT 772 ISTANBUL 411 AMSTERDAM 239 SIALKOT

Departure Flights on Monday 9/4/2012 Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 1:45 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:30 2:55 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:10 4:35 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:45 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:15 11:25 12:25 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:55 16:00 16:00 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:55 18:00 18:15 18:40 18:45 18:45 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:15 20:25 20:35 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:40 23:40 23:45

Airlines

Flt

Route

Time

AIC

982

AHMEDABAD

0:05

UAL

981

WASHINGTON DC

0:25

DLH

637

FRANKFURT

0:30

PIA

206

PESHAWAR

1:10

THY

773

ISTANBUL

2:15

ETH

621

ADDIS ABABA

2:45

UAE

854

DUBAI

3:45

FDB

68

DUBAI

3:50

DHX

371

BAHRAIN

3:55

ETD

306

ABU DHABI

4:05 4:20

MSR

613

CAIRO

QTR

139

DOHA

4:50

RAB

303

KANDAHAR

5:00

QTR

149

DOHA

5:40

JZR

560

SOHAG

6:00

JZR

164

DUBAI

6:55

GFA

212

BAHRAIN

7:05

THY

771

ISTANBUL

7:10

KAC

545

ALEXANDRIA

8:10

BAW

156

LONDON

8:25

FDB

54

DUBAI

8:25

JZR

256

BEIRUT

9:00

ABY

126

SHARJAH

9:05 9:10

JZR

534

CAIRO

KAC

671

DUBAI

9:20

KAC

787

JEDDAH

9:35

UAE

856

DUBAI

9:40

QTR

133

DOHA

10:00

FDB

56

DUBAI

10:05

ETD

302

ABU DHABI

10:15

GFA

214

BAHRAIN

10:45

KAC

541

CAIRO

11:30

KAC

165

ROME

11:45

RBG

3558

SOHAG

11:55 11:55

MEA

405

BEIRUT

IRC

6522

LAMERD

12:10

JZR

776

JEDDAH

12:15

MSR

619

ASSIUT

12:25

KAC

103

LONDON

12:30

KAC

785

JEDDAH

13:10

JZR

176

DUBAI

13:20

Room available in Salmiya near City Center for decent bachelor. Rent KD 75/-.

Contact: 99959140.

(C 3934) 5-4-2012

MATRIMONIAL Kuwait Orthodox parents invite proposals for their son 29/172cm, M.Com PGDBA, B & B in Kuwait and employed in a reputed MNC in Kuwait since 2008 from parents of Orthodox/Jacobite/Martho ma/CSI girls B.Tech/MCA/MBA/M.Com or suitably qualified and employed in Kuwait.

Contact with details. Email: thekalloors@gmail.com (C 3931) 7-4-2012 RCSC parents of ancient family in Pala Dioceses invite proposal for their daughter 27 years, 157cm, BSc Nurse (Staff Nurse, MOH, Kuwait). Well placed boys with similar family background working in Kuwait. Preference to BTech, MBA, Mcom, BSc Nurse. Email: mathaimathai.1984@gmail.com (C 3929) I am an American male looking for a wife, any nationality, but I prefer a Kuwaiti woman, age 22-34, divorced no problem.

Email:

aliabdulmalik73@yahoo.com (C 3935) 5-4-2012 Matrimonial correspondence invited for an Orthodox Christian boy, B.Tech + MBA, 5’7”, 30 years, fair, employed as an Associate Manager in a reputed company near Ernakulam, from parents of qualified girls preferably in Kerala. Please contact with telephone number to: nithya_thomas@yahoo.com 4-4-2012 Kuwait Orthodox parents invite proposals for their son 29/172 cm, M.Com PGDBA, B & B in Kuwait and employed in a reputed MNC in Kuwait since 2008 from parents of Orthodox/ Jacobite/ Marthoma/ CSI girls B.Tech/ MCA/ MBA/ M.Com or suitably qualified and employed in Kuwait.

Contact with details. E-mail: thekalloors@gmail.com (C 3930) 3-4-2012

SITUATION WANTED With my determination of hard work & an experience of more than 10 years in the Fashion Warehouse, I am looking for a job as Warehouse Manager/ Assistant Warehouse Manager. Contact: 99796229 (C 3940)

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

GFA

220

BAHRAIN

14:20

Maternity Hospital

24843100

FDB

58

DUBAI

14:25

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

MSR

611

CAIRO

14:30

Chest Hospital

24849400

OMA

646

MUSCAT

15:00

KAC

673

DUBAI

15:05

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010 23940620

KNE

473

JEDDAH

15:15

Adan Hospital

SVA

501

JEDDAH

15:45

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

KAC

617

DOHA

15:45

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

RJA

641

AMMAN

15:50

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

QTR

135

DOHA

16:15

KAC

773

RIYADH

16:25

KAC

741

DAMMAM

16:30

SYR

342

DAMASCUS

16:55

ETD

304

ABU DHABI

Clinics Rabiya

24732263

17:20

Rawdha

22517733

JZR

538

CAIRO

17:40

Adailiya

22517144

QTR

141

DOHA

17:45

Khaldiya

24848075

UAE

858

DUBAI

18:05

Khaifan

24849807

RKM

311

RAS ALKHAIMAH

18:10

GFA

216

BAHRAIN

18:15

Shamiya

24848913

JZR

134

BAHRAIN

18:20

Shuwaikh

24814507

ABY

128

SHARJAH

18:25

Abdullah Salim

22549134

RBG

3554

ALEXANDRIA

18:35

Al-Nuzha

22526804

SVA

511

RIYADH

18:35

UAL

982

BAHRAIN

18:40

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

ALK

228

DUBAI

19:10

Al-Qadisiya

22515088

FDB

64

DUBAI

19:25

Dasmah

22532265 22531908

BAB

439

BAHRAIN

19:35

Bneid Al-Ghar

JZR

184

DUBAI

20:05

Al-Shaab

22518752

MSR

621

ALEXANDRIA

20:10

KAC

283

DHAKA

20:15

Al-Kibla

22459381

JAI

571

MUMBAI

20:35

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

FDB

62

DUBAI

20:40

Mirqab

22456536

KAC

331

TRIVANDRUM

20:50

Sharq

22465401

KAC

351

KOCHI

21:05

MEA

403

BEIRUT

21:15

Salmiya

25746401

KAC

543

CAIRO

21:30

Jabriya

25316254

GFA

222

BAHRAIN

21:35

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

DHX

171

BAHRAIN

21:50

ABY

120

SHARJAH

22:10

ETD

308

ABU DHABI

22:20

UAE

860

DUBAI

22:25

FAH

102

DUBAI

22:30

Sabah

24810221

QTR

137

DOHA

22:35

Jahra

24770319

KAC

301

MUMBAI

22:40

New Jahra

24575755

KAC

205

ISLAMABAD

22:45

JZR

554

ALEXANDRIA

23:00

West Jahra

24772608

DHX

373

BAHRAIN

23:00

South Jahra

24775066 24775992

BBC

44

DHAKA

23:05

North Jahra

QTR

147

DOHA

23:10

North Jleeb

24311795

GFA

218

BAHRAIN

23:30

KAC

411

BANGKOK

23:40

Ardiya

24884079

TAR

328

DUBAI

23:45

JZR

528

ASSIUT

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

23:50

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

SITUATION VACANT A family is looking to hire a cook for Arabian and Indian dishes. Contact: 99006777.

(C 3942) 9-4-2012 ICDL / ECDL trainer needed for home tuition. Must speak English. Contact: 97862486 (C 3941) 8-4-2012

CHANGE OF NAME Suresh Kumar Ramachandran holder of Indian passport No. G4510525 has converted to Islam with name of MOHAMMED SUREKH; and shall be known here forth.

(C 3939) 8-4-2012 I, Thiru Vinoth Kannan K., holder of Indian passport No. E3242761 has converted to Islam with name of Abdul Rahman K. on 6th May 2009.

(C 3933) 4-4-2012

TUITION 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 chemistr y 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.

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

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

112 Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

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

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Disneyland Paris, turning 20, touts fairytale careers

By Emma Charlton

B

ack in 1992, 21-year-old Mourad Adli won a pop-corn vendor job at the brand new Disney resor t near Paris. Now, as the theme park turns 20, the jovial Algerian runs all 60 of its restaurants - a poster boy for the firm’s equal opportunities mantra. Mickey Mouse met with fierce resistance when Disney first set sights on the land of Asterix, with one French intellectual decrying the planned theme park as a “Cultural Chernobyl” - a tag it took years to shake off.

Today Disneyland Paris is part of the landscape: the biggest single tourist draw in Europe, some 250 million people have passed through its fair ytale gates in its first two decades, which it marks on April 12. But the park, which sprang up on bare land east of the French capital, is an American island in France in more ways than one, not least its much-touted focus on searching out talent to promote from within.

“American companies don’t care if you have exactly the right profile for the job - we look first and foremost at potential,” Disneyland Paris’ chief executive Philippe Gas told AFP.

Which university a French person attended while young continues to matter all the way through their professional life, to an extent unheard of in the Anglo-American world, where job experience counts for more. Many of France’s top managers graduate from one of the country’s elite “grandes ecoles”, whose intake is overwhelmingly tipped in favour of the mainly white middle and upper classes.

At Disney’s Paris resort 80 percent of managers rose from within its ranks, a highly diverse workforce of 14,500 people, or “Cast Members” as they are known by Disney, of 100 nationalities speaking 20 languages. And the firm makes a point of being colour-blind in its hiring, in a countr y where black and Arab youths remain hard hit by unemployment, which can soar to 40 percent in the most deprived areas.

Born in a tiny village in Algeria’s mountainous Kabylie, 40-year-old Adli is a case study in social mobility, appointed director of the park’s restaurants in 1998. He hopes to move on to California, or Shanghai where work has just begun on a new resort. “Whatever my roots, my country or my postcode, here it doesn’t matter,” said Adli, who grew up in Montfermeil, one of

the towns where the French suburb riots first erupted in 2005 fuelled by anger at the lack of jobs. “That’s why I stayed,” said the father of two, who met his wife at Disney. ‘Because of where they come from they can’t get a job’.

Eighty of Disneyland Paris’ current staff came via one of three outreach schemes it backs in the region. The park’s chief executive sits on the board of one of them, which specialises in helping youths from tough areas, who often struggle to find a job despite four or five years of higher education. Gas mentors two young women in the company. “They spent four years sending out CVs without a single response,” he told AFP. “Because of where they come from they can’t get a job,” he said. “These are young people who have worked hard, often harder than others - but they just aren’t able to convince employers, even to get interviews.”

Since opening, Disneyland Paris has created 55,000 jobs directly and indirectly, generating an estimated 50 billion euros for the French economy, according to a government report released last month. Its early years were marred by lower-than-expected visitors, driving it deep into debt, but it now says it is on course to pay off its debt by 2024. Spurred by Disney ’s

impact, the nearby town of Bailly Romainvilliers has mushroomed from 600 inhabitants in 1990 to 6,000 today.

The town’s young mayor Arnaud de Belenet says the resort has been an “economic engine” but he is more nuanced on the job opportunities it offers. “It’s true they have these social ladder policies,” he told AFP. “But a lot of the jobs are barely above minimum wage, which is not at all what local people are looking for.” The French sociologist Sophie Bernard also cautions that big corporations can use internal promotion as a mirage “to keep workers motivated, when only a very small number actually stand to benefit.” And trade unionists at the firm complain of the irregular work hours at the park and its low average wages.

That said, the government admits France has a social mobility problem and set up a taskforce in January after research showed it was becoming ever harder for poor children to access higher education and top jobs. Research from the education ministry suggest the lifelong impact of a person’s social origin is twice as important in France than in Canada or Japan, with only 15 percent of working-class children obtaining a college degree. — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 Killer Jellyfish 02:35 Planet Earth 03:30 Bite Of The Living Dead 04:25 Wild France 05:20 Escape To Chimp Eden 05:45 In Too Deep 06:10 Animal Cops Philadelphia 07:00 Orangutan Island 07:25 Penguin Safari 08:15 The Really Wild Show 08:40 Cats Of Claw Hill 09:10 Dogs vs. Cats 10:05 Speed Of Life 11:00 Animal ER 11:55 Animal Cops Houston 12:50 Wild Animal Orphans 13:45 SSPCA: On The Wildside 14:10 Wildlife SOS 14:40 Speed Of Life 15:30 Animal Battlegrounds 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:00 Talk To The Animals 17:25 Dogs 101 18:20 Must Love Cats 19:15 Wildlife SOS 19:40 Going Ape 20:10 Orangutan Island 20:35 Animal Battlegrounds 21:05 Speed Of Life 22:00 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 22:55 Deep Into The Wild With Nick Baker 23:20 Baboons With Bill Bailey 23:50 Animal Cops Houston

00:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 01:00 Diy SOS 01:55 Holmes On Homes 02:40 What Not To Wear 04:25 Coleen’s Real Women 05:10 The Restaurant UK 07:00 New Scandinavian Cooking With Claus Meyer 07:25 MasterChef Australia 09:20 Bargain Hunt 10:05 Antiques Roadshow 10:55 Come Dine With Me 11:45 10 Years Younger 12:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 14:10 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 14:55 House Swap 15:40 Bargain Hunt 16:25 Antiques Roadshow 17:15 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 17:40 Cash In The Attic USA 18:00 New Scandinavian Cooking 18:25 New Scandinavian Cooking With Claus Meyer 18:50 Indian Food Made Easy 19:15 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 19:40 10 Years Younger 20:25 Gok’s Fashion Fix 22:05 Bargain Hunt 22:50 Antiques Roadshow 23:40 New Scandinavian Cooking

00:00 00:10 00:30 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:10 02:30 03:00 03:30 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

BBC World News World Features World Challenge Special BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Features BBC World News Newsday India Business Report Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News

09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

00:00 Mainsail 00:30 World Sport 01:00 World Report 03:00 The Best Of Backstory 03:30 Talk Asia 04:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 05:00 CNN Newsroom 06:00 Business Traveller 06:30 News Special 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Inside Africa 08:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 News Special 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 The Best Of Backstory 12:30 African Voices 13:00 World One 14:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 African Voices 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 23:00 Connect The World With Becky...

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

Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Fish Hooks Recess So Random Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Jessie Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure Phineas And Ferb Disney Princess Wizards Of Waverly Place A.N.T. Farm Disney Princess Aladdin & The King Of Thieves Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Have A Laugh Jessie Jessie A.N.T. Farm Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

22:05 Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure 23:35 Phineas And Ferb 23:45 Kim Possible

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

Kid vs Kat American Dragon Rekkit Rabbit Pokemon: Black And White Timon And Pumbaa Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Kickin It Pair Of Kings Kickin It Pair Of Kings Quad Cup Kickin It Pair Of Kings Kickin It Pair Of Kings Phineas And Ferb I’m In The Band Mr. Young Mr. Young Mr. Young Pokemon: Black And White Timon And Pumbaa Kickin It Phineas And Ferb I’m In The Band Mr. Young Mr. Young Mr. Young Kickin It Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Kid vs Kat Programmes Start At 6:00am

00:40 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 16:00 16:55 17:20 18:15 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Animal Armageddon Mythbusters Gold Rush Walking The Amazon How Do They Do It? Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Man Made Marvels Asia Overhaulin’ Wheeler Dealers Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Do They Do It? Border Security Auction Kings Cake Boss Gold Rush Bering Sea Gold Swamp Loggers

00:35 Cool Stuff & How It Works 01:25 The Tech Show 01:50 Bang Goes The Theory 06:10 Mean Green Machines 07:00 The Gadget Show 07:50 Building The Biggest 08:40 Robocar 09:35 Speed Junkie 10:25 Weird Connections 11:20 Ultimate Power Builders 12:15 Da Vinci’s Machines 13:05 Super Comet: After The Impact 13:55 The Gadget Show 14:50 Weird Connections 15:40 The Tech Show 16:05 Ultimate Power Builders 17:00 Building The Biggest 17:50 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 18:40 Mega World 19:30 Superships 20:20 The Gadget Show 20:45 The Gadget Show 21:10 Building The Future 22:00 Mega World 22:50 Superships 23:40 Building The Biggest

CHECKING OUT ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY

00:55 Style Star 01:25 E!es 02:20 15 Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Then And Now 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 THS 12:05 Kendra 13:05 Dirty Soap 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Bridalplasty 17:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 18:55 E!es 19:55 Khloe And Lamar 20:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:25 Ice Loves Coco 22:25 Scouted 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

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

Wrestling With Reality Ed’s Up Featured Summer Dew Tour 2011 Ride Guide Snow 2008 The Alli Show BMX Megatour Dr Danger Formula Drift 2011 Gotta Grudge Blood, Sweat And Gears World Combat League Dr Danger Formula Drift 2011 Formula Drift 2011 The Alli Show BMX Megatour Blood, Sweat And Gears Gotta Grudge Gotta Grudge Glutton For Punishment Glutton For Punishment World Combat League Enfusion Gotta Grudge

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Kid In A Candy Store 00:55 Restaurant: Impossible 01:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 03:25 Chopped 04:15 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 04:40 Good Eats 05:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 05:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:50 Food Network Challenge 06:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 07:00 Food Network Challenge 07:50 World Cafe Asia 08:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 08:40 Good Eats 09:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 09:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:55 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 10:20 Lidia’s Italy 10:45 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 11:10 Easter Sweets With Jacques Torres 12:00 Food Network Challenge 12:50 Aarti Party 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 14:30 Kid In A Candy Store 14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:20 Meat & Potatoes 15:45 Iron Chef America 16:35 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Aarti Party 18:15 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 18:40 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 19:05 Kid In A Candy Store 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Iron Chef America 21:10 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 21:35 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 22:00 Unwrapped 23:40 Meat & Potatoes

00:30 I Married A Mobster 00:55 I Was Murdered 01:20 Behind Mansion Walls 02:05 Kidnap And Rescue 02:55 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 03:45 I Married A Mobster 04:10 I Was Murdered 04:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn 05:20 Mystery Diagnosis 06:10 Disappeared 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 Murder Shift 08:40 Mystery ER 09:30 Real Emergency Calls 09:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

10:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 11:10 Disappeared 12:00 Street Patrol 12:50 Murder Shift 13:40 Mystery ER 14:30 Real Emergency Calls 14:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

15:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 16:10 Disappeared 17:00 Forensic Detectives 17:50 Murder Shift 18:40 Real Emergency Calls 19:05 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 19:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

20:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 21:10 Disappeared 22:00 I Married A Mobster

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

By Any Means Meet The Natives: USA Food School One Man & His Campervan Bondi Rescue Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Danger Men Naked Lentil

By Any Means Meet The Natives: USA Food School One Man & His Campervan Bondi Rescue Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Danger Men Naked Lentil

By Any Means Banged Up Abroad Departures Graham’s World Destination Extreme Perilous Journeys Which Way To City Chase Marrakech Banged Up Abroad Departures

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

Jackass 3.5-R Sanctum-18 D.E.B.S-18 The Craigslist Killer-PG15 The Karate Kid II-PG Dick Tracy-PG15 Law Abiding Citizen-18 The Karate Kid II-PG True Justice: Street Wars-PG15 Law Abiding Citizen-18 Tortured-18 The Godfather II-18

01:00 At Risk-PG15 03:00 Love N’ Dancing-PG15 04:45 Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-PG15 07:15 Africa United-PG15 09:00 Gasland-PG15 11:00 Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-PG15 13:30 Just Wright-PG15 15:15 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs.

Evil-PG 17:00 Gasland-PG15 19:00 Calvin Marshall-PG15 21:00 The American-18 23:00 Attack The Block-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Saturday Night Live Syndicated 02:30 Family Guy 03:00 Friends With Benefits 03:30 Friends With Benefits 04:00 The Simpsons 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 06:00 Weird Science 06:30 How I Met Your Mother 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 The Simpsons 08:30 Friends With Benefits 09:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 09:30 Raising Hope 10:00 Modern Family 10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Weird Science 12:30 The Simpsons 13:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 13:30 How I Met Your Mother 14:00 Friends With Benefits 14:30 Modern Family 15:00 Raising Hope 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Melissa And Joey 18:30 Mad Love 19:00 Raising Hope 19:30 Modern Family 20:00 Community 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 Entourage 22:30 How To Make It In America

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

Unforgettable Missing Top Gear (US) Body Of Proof Combat Hospital The View Live Good Morning America C.S.I. Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Unforgettable Body Of Proof Live Good Morning America C.S.I. The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Revenge Desperate Housewives Game Of Thrones The Closer

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

Bones Top Gear (US) Missing Unforgettable Body Of Proof Burn Notice Bones Emmerdale Coronation Street Franklin & Bash Top Gear (US) Unforgettable Missing Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Franklin & Bash Bones Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Franklin & Bash Revenge Desperate Housewives Game Of Thrones

CALVIN MARSHALL ON OSN CINEMA 07:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 08:00 ABC This Week With G Stephanopoulos 00:45 Windtalkers-PG15 09:00 ABC World News Now With 03:00 D.E.B.S-18 David Muir 05:00 The Speak-18 09:30 Live NBC Nightly News (Sat07:00 Fatal Secrets-PG15 Sun) 09:00 Rocky II-PG15 10:00 ABC World News Now 11:00 Inside Out-PG 10:30 Live ABC World News Now 13:00 Time Machine: Rise Of The 11:00 NBC Early Today Morlocks-PG15 11:30 ABC America This Morning 15:00 Rocky II-PG15 12:00 ABC America This Morning 17:00 Fighting-PG15 12:30 Live ABC America This 19:00 Legion-18 Morning 21:00 The Godfather II-18 13:30 MSNBC First Look 14:00 Live NBC Today Show 18:00 MSNBC News 19:00 MSNBC Now With Alex Wagner 20:00 MSNBC Andrea Mitchell 00:00 The Shape Of Things-PG15 Reports 02:00 Grown Ups-PG15 21:00 MSNBC Newsnation 04:00 Nanny McPhee And The Big 22:00 MSNBC Martin Bashir Bang-PG 23:00 MSNBC The Dylan Ratigan 06:00 Checking Out-PG15 Show 08:00 13 Going On 30-PG15 10:00 Flubber-PG 12:00 Kung Fu Dunk-PG15 14:00 My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend-PG15 16:00 5 Dollars A Day-PG15 01:45 The Other Guys-PG15 18:00 Whatever Works-PG15 04:00 Life In A Day-PG15 20:00 My Last Five Girlfriends-PG15 06:00 Uncorked-PG15 22:00 Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee-PG15 08:00 The Lightkeepers-PG15 10:00 The Girl In The Park-PG15 12:00 Uncorked-PG15 14:00 The Lightkeepers-PG15 16:00 The Girl In The Park-PG15 01:00 Babies-18 18:00 Nowhere Boy-PG15 03:00 Gigli-18 20:00 The Fighter-PG15 05:00 Return To Paradise-PG15 22:15 A Nightmare On Elm Street-18 07:00 Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale 09:00 Cinema Verite-PG15 11:00 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 13:00 Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale 01:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 14:45 Mary, Queen Of Scots-PG15 17:00 Desperate Hours: An Amber 02:00 WWE SmackDown 04:00 WWE Experience Alert-PG15 05:00 Super League 18:30 Passing Strange-PG15 07:00 Super Rugby 21:00 Gilles’ Wife-PG15 09:00 NRL Premiership 23:00 Jude-18 11:00 Trans World Sport 12:00 Live NRL Premiership 14:00 Super League 16:00 UFC 145 Prime Time 16:30 NRL Premiership 01:15 Triage-18 18:30 Live Super League 03:00 Bubble Boy-PG15 05:00 Princess Diaries 2: Royal 21:00 Super Rugby Highlights 22:00 Trans World Sport Engagement-FAM 23:00 Premier League Darts 07:00 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 09:00 Get Low-PG15 11:00 Romeo + Juliet-PG15 13:00 Catch That Kid-PG 01:30 Asian Tour Golf 15:00 Evan Almighty-PG15 06:00 Trans World Sport 17:00 Get Low-PG15 07:00 Scottsh Premier League 19:00 Takers-PG15 09:00 European Challenge Cup 21:00 The Social Network-PG15 11:00 Adventure Sports 23:00 Scream 4-18 13:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 15:30 Scottsh Premier League 17:30 Futbol Mundial 18:00 Golfing World 19:00 AFL Winners 00:00 Columbus III: The New World- 20:00 University Boat Race PG 21:00 SPL Highlights 02:00 Hua Mulan-PG 21:30 Scottsh Premier League 04:00 Marco Antonio-PG 23:30 Golfing World 06:00 Rango-FAM 08:00 Christmas In New York-PG 10:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 00:00 European Challenge Cup 12:00 Alex & Alexis-FAM 02:00 Super Rugby 14:00 Rango-FAM 04:00 Super Rugby 16:00 Scooby-Doo-PG 18:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage 06:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 06:30 Futbol Mundial Of The Dawn Treader-PG 07:00 Golfing World 20:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 08:00 Asian Tour Golf 22:00 Alex & Alexis-FAM 12:30 Golfing World 13:30 Premier League Darts 17:00 Adventure Sports 18:30 European Challenge Cup 20:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 00:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 01:00 ABC World News Now With 21:00 AFL Winners 22:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights David Muir 22:30 University Boat Race 01:30 Live NBC Nightly News (Sat23:30 Mobil 1 The Grid Sun) 02:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 02:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 03:00 Live NBC Sunday Today Show 04:00 ABC This Week With G Stephanopoulos 05:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 06:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 06:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 07:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir

01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 13:00

WWE Bottom Line V8 Supercars Highlights V8 Supercars Highlights UFC Unleashed UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience Prizefighter V8 Supercars Highlights WWE NXT

00:00 MysteryQuest 01:00 Mud Men 02:00 Pawn Stars 03:00 Lost Worlds 04:00 Jesus: The Lost 40 Days 06:00 MysteryQuest 07:00 Mud Men 08:00 Pawn Stars 09:00 Lost Worlds 10:00 Jesus: The Lost 40 Days 12:00 MysteryQuest 13:00 Mud Men 14:00 Pawn Stars 15:00 Lost Worlds 16:00 Jesus: The Lost 40 Days 18:00 MysteryQuest 19:00 Declassified 20:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads – The Andes 21:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads – The Andes 21:55 Mega Movers 23:00 Sliced

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

Jerseylicious Fashion Classics Open House Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Clean House Videofashion News Videofashion Daily Open House Fashion Classics How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Clean House Dress My Nest Mel B: It’s A Scary World How Do I Look?

Giuliana & Bill Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane The Amandas Wicked Fit Giuliana & Bill The Amandas How Do I Look?

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

Adventures Abroad SCI Expedition Safari Jim Zumbo Outdoors Adventures Abroad SCI Expedition Safari Jim Zumbo Outdoors Field & Stream Icons Randy Jones’ Strike Zone Field & Stream Icons Western Sport Fishing Salmon, Trout & Steelheader Speargun Hunter Familiar Waters Western Sport Fishing Salmon, Trout & Steelheader Speargun Hunter Familiar Waters Western Sport Fishing Salmon, Trout & Steelheader Speargun Hunter Familiar Waters Familiar Waters Field & Stream Icons Field & Stream Icons Field & Stream Icons Randy Jones’ Strike Zone Randy Jones’ Strike Zone

02:00 04:00 05:30 07:00 08:35 10:10 12:00 13:55 15:50 17:45 19:55 22:00 23:55

Never So Few-PG The Naked Spur-PG Rio Rita-FAM Julie-PG Manhattan Melodrama-PG White Heat-PG Ten Thousand Bedrooms-PG The V.I.P.S-FAM The Twenty-Fifth Hour-PG The Yearling-FAM The Hill-PG Get Carter-18 Kelly’s Heroes-PG

35

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 642

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Social involvement, dating and general pleasantries can be enjoyed all day. This is a great time to refurbish your own energies.

Take some time to get outside—weather permitting, of course. Fishing, bird watching, walking, working or playing in the yard or park, all lead to a more relaxed and focused you. Later this afternoon you will want to be with your loved ones. Feeling significant within the family group or being popular with your peers gives you a sense of belonging this afternoon. Perhaps some grilled hamburgers outside with continued conversations and reunions with neighbors would be fun this evening. This is a time you will enjoy being the center of attention as well as satisfying that craving to give and to be appreciated for your gifts.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be especially dynamic and assertive just now. Much energy and drive are available for whatever is to be achieved. This could involve a creative production involving others. People need your help today but you may have to pick and choose the people you help in order to not overwhelm yourself. Perhaps some of these requests can be carried over into next week. Careful— you could be interacting to a highly emotional person this afternoon. Remember to disassociate yourself from the emotions so that you can see the truth. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others and may decide on a career in some form of psychology. Your intuition is strong and your emotions are healthy. Expect a sense of goodwill.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A watery solution of sugars, salts, and minerals that circulates through the vascular system of a plant.

4. Remove the clip from.

10. Of southern Europe.

13. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

14. Type genus of the Viperidae.

15. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

16. Minute two-winged mosquito-like fly lacking biting mouthparts.

18. Type genus of the Anatidae.

19. Tag the base runner to get him out.

20. A state in southeastern India on the Bay of Bengal (south of Andhra Pradesh).

22. A member of a seafaring group of North American Indians who lived on the Pacific coast of British Columbia and southwestern Alaska.

24. (Old Testament) The eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the Covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac.

25. A high-crowned black cap (usually made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus.

28. A state in northwestern North America.

29. Wading birds of warm regions having long slender downcurved bills.

33. Lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part.

36. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

38. An informal term for a father.

39. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

41. German organist and contrapuntist (1685-1750).

43. Call upon in supplication.

44. A popular vacation spot in the Canadian Rockies.

46. Before noon.

47. Lower in esteem.

49. (prefix) Within.

51. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

52. A metallic element having four allotropic forms.

54. Sewing that repairs a worn or torn place in a garment.

60. Hungarian choreographer who developed Labanotation (1879-1958).

62. A nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue.

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

66. Suggestive of the supernatural.

68. A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn.

69. Seed of a pea plant.

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

71. By bad luck.

DOWN 1. Battle of World War II (1944).

2. A name that has been assumed temporarily.

3. A genus of Ploceidae.

4. The part of the eye that contains the iris and ciliary body and choroid.

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

6. An accountant certified by the state.

7. United States tennis player (born in Czechoslovakia) who won several singles championships.

8. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement.

9. A civil or military authority in Turkey or Egypt.

10. God of fire.

11. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

12. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells.

17. Brusque and surly and forbidding.

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

23. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

26. Jordan's port.

27. The 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

30. A small cake leavened with yeast.

31. In the Roman calendar.

32. Having wisdom that comes with age and experience.

34. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

35. An inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands of the skin.

37. A metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables.

40. More often or more frequently.

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

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

45. A federally chartered corporation that purchases mortgages.

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

50. In operation or operational.

53. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

54. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

55. Any of a group of Indic languages spoken in Kashmir and eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.

56. Someone who copies the words or behavior of another.

57. The food served and eaten at one time.

58. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

59. A river that rises in northeastern Turkey (near the source of the Euphrates) and flows generally eastward through Armenia to the Caspian Sea. 61. The cry made by sheep.

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

64. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

67. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your goals stand in stark contrast to the goals of others now.

Adjustments and compromises must be made in the interests of harmony. This may have you feeling like a caged lion; however, failure to take such steps can increase tensions between others—especially those closest to you. There are many things you want to accomplish and with patience, you will be able to return to what you want to do later today. This afternoon you are able to express appreciation for music, sensual pleasures and the finer things in life. This is aesthetic and artistic to be sure, but it is also practical and materialistic: you develop a keen appreciation for the value of things, including the money it takes to buy them. This evening could be a good time for imagination and creativity.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Communication with those around you, especially young people, may spur memories of your own youth. You may find yourself reflecting over some event in the past. These young people may need a listening ear: yours. This afternoon you may find that your high level of energy helps you become caught up in maintaining and caring for household items, cleaning, etc. Exercise, perhaps a bicycle ride or some outside movement will help to balance your energies this afternoon. There could be some wonderful opportunities later to enjoy nature. You have a need to be the center of attention tonight and may find yourself doing favors for others. There is a craving to give and to be appreciated for your gifts. This can be a creative and romantic time.

Leo (July 23-August 22) What is called for today is a better belief in yourself. Have confidence in your own ability to take on the problems and opportunities of life. Coming to grips with the past and getting in touch with the mystical and the spiritual are the things that give you a sense of satisfaction. Keep your plans for today’s social activities light and laidback. Negative things can happen today if you get too carried away with your plans. Someone has offered to help and you will be wise in letting them help. Creating a fun time this evening could be as simple as home-made hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream. You may find this get-together a great opportunity for relationships to heal, as well as to grow and mature. Someone might announce an engagement this evening.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You could be most persuasive with others and eloquent in speech and communication. You will find several situations become available for you to teach and motivate others with a desire to investigate, research and learn new subjects. You may find yourself dealing with difficult people this afternoon, but solving problems is easy for you at this time. Some people see life as a struggle, but you seem to see life as an adventure. Your inner resources and emotions are accented. Expect a sense of support and goodwill from those around you. Perhaps you feel this is really you—and how you feel. You and your loved one are in a fun loving and sociable mood this evening. You will find that any social plans you thought about today will become a reality.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Someone may really need your help now; just listening will have a most positive effect. You may quickly find a lost item which you or someone else has spent a great amount of time looking for lately. You are good at finding things. There is time today for just about any activity you might want to enjoy. Emotional security, a sense of belonging and nurturing are felt strongly now. A love of music and an appreciation for sensual pleasures are the signs of the cycle that has begun for you. This is an artistic time, to be sure, but it is also a practical and materialistic time. You develop a keen appreciation for the value of things, including the money it takes to buy them. You may enjoy some time shared with a loved one this evening, perhaps a massage.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Figuring things out and discovering the problem that others have spent so much time trying to discover, seems to be the thing that takes on special significance now. People call on you to be the mediator or the one that finds the right puzzle piece. Whatever the case, there is much mental busywork now. Your mind is quickened—making you receptive to all external stimuli. You are filled with self-assertiveness today. Working on a project could prove beneficial, especially if you elicit the aid of friends. Be judicious and diplomatic in your discussions with a loved one at this time. You are feeling festive and desirous of having fun times with family and friends. Communicating with long-distance associates is enhanced this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) If your personal popularity was absent before today, it is back now. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others; the lines of communication are open. The support you need is available. You like to shop when there are not so many other shoppers around you.

Early afternoon may be a good time to select furnishings, colors and so on—the finer things of life. Your taste in art and appreciation in general is sharp. Shop for the best buys, however, not just the quick fix. After shopping, you may want to share some time with friends or family members. Some outside activity with children or a trip to the park could bring you great satisfaction this afternoon. Practice initiating these times in your life more often.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Ask for help in housework so it can be put behind you quickly.

Steer away from arguments and possible hard feelings this morning—many things are not as they seem. Your thoughts may not be in sync with your feelings and this could result in a clash with someone. At this time, you may actively be concerned over the welfare of others. Try listening to their needs before deciding how best to help them. You enjoy being with loved ones whether you are at work or play. Engage in activities that are both carefree and pleasant. Do not pressure a loved one into doing something he or she really does not want to do. Fairness with and responsibility to the other people in your life is emphasized. A lover or child is generous or inspiring—return lots of positive feedback.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may find yourself waiting in line, riding a bus or surrounded by strangers. Whatever the case, you really enjoy the people that come across your path. Conversations are easy and new ideas about life and living may enter your reality. There is good luck in money matters today. Your powers of creativity are great. Some petty problems between you and a friend may come to your attention this afternoon. Do not try to force an issue—you could regret what is said.

This is a time of unexpected opportunities. Relations with friends of the opposite sex could be a big boon now. This is one of your best days for love and money. Make more time for love this evening. A volunteer organization that has interested you may be your next goal.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

If you are working on a project in your home, you could make some real progress today. This could be anything from new flower beds to repairs on the roof. Spring cleaning and preparing for the summer seem to be popular activities as well. You enjoy decorating and creating good smells throughout your living area. You also add a touch of class to any place you may decide to work. Consider working in public relations, retail, advertising arts, museums, etc., particularly since you excel, express and enjoy life most when you are in these surroundings. Someone may invite you to an art show this evening. Your personal expression is heightened at this time through your involvement with successful and interesting friends.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

lifestyle F e a t u r e s

Titanic

still captures imagination

100 years on

A handout picture shows Titanic Captain Edward Smith.

A handout picture shows the Titanic leaving Southampton on her ill-fated maiden voyage on April 10, 1912.

A

A Titanic postcard signed by survivors Eva Hart, Bertam and Millvina Dean and Beatrice Sandstrom.

Postcards of Titanic are shown on display at the Ulster Transport Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland on March 15, 2012.

Personal items from passengers recovered from the wreck of the Titanic.

century since the grandest liner ever built sank on its maiden voyage with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, the legend of the Titanic still captivates the imagination the world over. The story of the so-called unsinkable ship, which went down on April 15, 1912 after hitting an iceberg, remains a fascinating tale, laced with luxury, industrial achievement, disaster, heroism, bravery and unspeakable horror. The White Star Line ship was on her first crossing of the Atlantic from Southampton to New York when disaster struck.

As the icy water gradually flooded the ship over two hours and 40 minutes, the fate of those on board was decided: while 710 were saved in the lifeboats, 1,514 perished.

But when Titanic vanished below the waves it was not the end of the story but the beginning of a century of fascination at such an unimaginable tale. “The sinking of Titanic probably had the same effect in 1912 as 9/11 did in our time,” said Philip Littlejohn, whose grandfather Alexander Littlejohn was a firstclass steward on the ship and survived.

“There have been other ships which have sunk with far greater loss of life, but people are still fascinated by Titanic because it was a microcosm of society at that time,” he told AFP. “The rich and famous would never come into contact with a steerage passenger-the Titanic disaster was the end of that era. Two years later the whole world changed with the outbreak of World War I.” The centenary is being marked by the release of a new 3D version of James Cameron’s epic 1997 film, “Titanic”, as well as a British television drama sold to 86 countries and a flurry of new books and music.

Julian Fellowes, who wrote the four-part “Titanic” series being shown on Britain’s ITV, said the innocence of the victims was the essence of any spellbinding disaster tale.

“This happened. This was real. There really were men and women running around the decks, as our extras are, and a hell of a lot of them are going to die. That just can’t fail to move you,” he said.

“Titanic is a true disaster movie because it involves all sorts of people, all kinds, all ages, and they had done nothing to deserve it.

“The fact that it was a trailer for World War I obviously adds to its resonance.” Four composers have been moved to write music to mark the centenary. Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees has composed “The Titanic Requiem”, which has its premiere performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London on April 10. “The ship was built in an age when everyone was fully confident they’d conquered the elements... but everybody knows how the story ends,” Gibb told The Times newspaper.

Cities across Britain have been making the most of their Titanic heritage. In Belfast, where the ship was built, the world’s biggest Titanic visitor attraction has been built in the derelict Harland and Wolff shipyards. The shimmering building, shaped like four Titanic-sized prows, tells the story of the liner from its inception in Belfast’s industrial boom years through to its launch, its sinking and the aftermath. Meanwhile Southampton on the southern English coast wants to tell the largely forgotten story of the crew, threequarters of whom came from the port. Some 549 Southampton residents died in the disaster and the city’s new SeaCity museum focuses on the stokers and stewards that worked on the ship.

Events are also taking place in Cobh,

southern Ireland, Titanic’s last port of call.

The Canadian port of Halifax, where 150 victims were buried after they were picked up by rescue ships, will commemorate the anniversary with a sombre candlelight vigil.

Stephen Cameron, co-founder of the Belfast Titanic Society, said the resurgence in interest was striking. “There was very little interest in it worldwide before the wreck was discovered in 1985,” the author of “Titanic: Belfast’s Own” told AFP. “On our very first tours, I can remember going on a bus, for free, with two people on board. Last year, we had 1,200 people in two weeks. “It amazes me how it still captivates people after all these years.”—AFP

A handout picture received from Southampton City Council on April 4, 2012 shows Titanic Captain Edward Smith. —AFP photos

School children learn about the Titanic at an interactive display at the Ulster Transport Museum in Belfast.

A letter posted from Titanic at Queenstown.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

lifestyle F e a t u r e s

A general view of the Titanic Belfast visitor centre.

Bourds recovered from the Victoria shipyard office from Harland and Wolff ship builders are shown.

Stuart McAleese holds a small Titanic souvenir cup at Mr JD’s New Titanic Restaurant in Belfast.

Two children look at a projection showing images of the wreck of the Titanic on the seabed in the Titanic Belfast visitor centre.

A salvaged soup tureen from the wreck of the Titanic.

Postcards issued after the sinking of the Titanic.

In the media, at least, the Titanic

I

t was dubbed the unsinkable ship, but 100 years after it disappeared beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, the Titanic has resurfaced again in cinemas, bookshops and on television screens. The centenary of the disaster on April 15 will be marked around the world by the release of a new 3D version of James Cameron’s epic 1997 film, “Titanic”, as well as a TV drama sold to 86 coun-

A person looks at different posters featuring Titanic in the media at the Titanic visitors centre at Queen’s Island in Belfast, Northern Ireland on March 13, 2012. —AFP photos

In a file picture books are seen on display at National Geographic’s ‘Titanic: 100 Year Obsession’, on the first day it is opened to the public in Washington, DC.

tries and a flurry of books. “There’s something about disasters that happen to ordinary people who have done nothing to deserve it,” said Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning writer behind a new British TV drama set on the sinking ship.

Explaining the enduring appeal of the story last month at the series’ launch, he added: “There was a strange promise in Titanic, this very arrogant world of the British empire before the First (World) War, with the bristling moustaches and the women in their diamonds.

“Everything looking so impregnable-when, of course, it wasn’t.” Fellowes says he has always been drawn to the story of the Titanic, and if the mass of publications released in Britain for the 100th anniversary of the disaster is anything to go by, he is not alone.

“There’s a constant fascination,” said a sales assistant at Hatchard’s bookshop in London, surveying some of the new tomes dedicated to the story. For those who want to imagine being on board the luxury liner, there is John Blake’s “Titanic: A Passenger’s Guide”. It guides readers through the ship, from its unique covered promenade area to the Turkish baths, squash court and an exercise room complete with electric horse and electric camel.

The book has a wealth of detail, including how the swimming pool was open to men and women at different times, and how a first-

class ticket cost the equivalent today of £64,000 (77,000 euros, $102,000). The designers thought of everything to keep their passengers happy on the journey-except the one key thing that would prove absolutely vital. White Star Line, which built the ship, originally envisaged 64 lifeboats for the 2,200 passengers onboard, but company chairman Bruce Ismay reduced this to 16 plus four inflatables, to leave more space for leisure areas. Frances Wilson notes in her book, “How to Survive The Titanic, or The Sinking of J Bruce Ismay”, that 16 lifeboats was more than required by law. But Ismay, who

British actress Kate Winslet attends the world premiere of Titanic 3D in central London.

proves unsinkable

managed to find himself a seat on boat 14 and was rowed to safety, went down in history as the man responsible for the disaster.

The Frankfurter Zeitung newspaper summed up the public mood with its declaration at the time that as long as Ismay lived, “he will bear on his forehead the mark of Cain, the mark of the contempt of all men of honor”. When the Titanic sank, the 20 lifeboats could have transported 1,100 passengers to safety. But they were not filled for fear that they may overturn, and in the end they saved just 705 lives. The human stories of the Titanic were movingly imagined in James Cameron’s film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, which won 11 Oscars when it was released 15 years ago but is now reaching a new generation of audiences, this time in 3D. But in his recent book, historian Richard Davenport-Hines paints a more nuanced picture than the class struggles shown in the film, where working-class passengers were sacrificed for their rich shipmates. Among the stories recounted in “Titanic Lives” is that of billionaire Benjamin Guggenheim, who gave up his place on a lifeboat to a female passenger and who went to his death in his evening dress, a gentleman to the end.

Photographs are also key to understanding life on board, particularly those taken by a young candidate for the Jesuit priesthood, Frank Browne, which are recorded in the glossy “Titanic in Photographs”. An amateur snapper, Browne took shots of the boat and its passengers before having the good fortune-or good sense-to disembark with his negatives in Ireland, just days before the Titanic sank to a watery grave. —AFP

In a file picture US director James Cameron and his wife Suzie Amis attend the world premiere of Titanic 3D in central London.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Floriade

world

Tulip field

horticultural expo opens in Holland

T

he sun is shining, trees are budding, and flowers are unfurling their brilliant petals a bit earlier than planned, thanks to an early Dutch spring and the hundreds of gardeners putting finishing touches on Floriade, the once-a-decade world horticultural exposition. Organizers are reluctant to repeat the expo’s historic billing as “the greatest flower show on earth,” because, they say, horticulture encompasses the artistic, scientific and economic aspects of plant care rather than just gardening and looking at flowers.

Still, the flowers are bound to be a major draw, and there are a heck of a lot of them to see. In all, 1.8 million bulbs have been planted across the exposition’s 108-acre (44-hectare) grounds. That’s complementing 190,000 perennial flowering plants, 18,000 shrubs,

devoted to the latest national trends in plant care and display. It’s “a different experience than a theme park or a zoo,” says spokesman Mark Wijman. “It’s a very relaxing place, just to walk around and see beautiful things.”

Don’t worry about missing the plants or flowers in bloom, Wijman assures a group of reporters previewing the grounds in late March, even as hundreds of workmen struggle to complete structures that will house the plants that are still arriving by the truckload: When one field of bulbs has begun to fade, gardening SWAT teams will toil through the night to uproot and replace them. In addition, whole gardens of perennials have been planted in such a way that new blooms will unfold in different patterns and rippling colors as spring makes way for summer and fall.

The Indonesian area is seen during a preview for the media at Floriade, the once-in-adecade world horticultural exposition in Venlo, southern Netherlands. — MCT photos

Dutch agriculture pavilion.

15,000 hedge plants and 3,000 trees. One typically Dutch garden already in bloom flaunts two adjacent vistas: one patch of royal purple tulips, mixed with grape and cornflower blue hyacinths. Adjoining it is an eye-popping combination of red and yellow tulips with red, white and blue “baby breath” hyacinths, also known as grape hyacinths. Folding chairs that look like tulips when they snap shut offer a place to sit down and take it all in.

More than 100 participants, often countries or regions, are setting up displays showing off some of their best-known foliage.

Some, like China, have built whole pavilions

Floriade runs through Oct. 7 and is counting on upward of 2 million visitors from the Netherlands and Germany alone, plus gardening aficionados, flower fans, and businesspeople in smaller numbers from every corner of the world. Arriving visitors can get an overview of the massive scale of the grounds by taking a gondola ride over the treetops, looking down on the splashes of color and eccentric buildings far below.

While trying to get a handle on all there is to see at Floriade is daunting, there are five broad divisions. To the right of the entrance is the “Green Engine,” which includes “Villa Flora,”

the indoor part of the exhibition, showcasing “classic, modern, trendy and extreme” tastes.

Straight ahead of the entrance is “Environment,” which, among other things includes a competition on office gardens and some of the expo’s more commercial exhibits.

One is a rather practical idea: Admire a particular garden layout and think it might look good in your own backyard? Nearby shops are selling combination packages of bulbs or seeds to help you try to replicate it.

To the left of the entrance is the “World Show Stage” which contains many of the national displays, as well as live performances in the late afternoon, and into the night on weekends. It’s also one end of the aerial gondola. On the other end of the gondola, far right of the entrance, is the “Relax and Heal” zone, where the structures are white, the tea is mint and the cuisine is mostly Asian.

And farthest opposite the entrance is “Education and Innovation,” which has greenhouse displays including tropical plants from Asia and other equatorial regions, as well as the expo’s largest displays for children.

Individual contributors fund their own displays, often with the help of local businesses eager to show off their country’s best.

Germany’s neighboring province of North Rhine-Westphalia province has funded a wooden structure of sloping angles, reminiscent of recent Scandinavian architectural

A Buddha statue is seen at the Indonesian area.

alive and pure by aficionados, and are on display. In “World Show” there’s a stage for live performances near the end of the day, and some countries’ displays - for instance Italy’s are located on a promenade along a manmade lake where kiosks sell snacks and offer spots to relax in the sun or shade.

There’s a children’s program in which youngsters lead their parents on a hunt through the grounds, giving adults a chance to take in the displays as the kids seek information to win a prize. There are also playgrounds and buildings for children, notably the “House of Flavor,” where kids can play interactive games. One display involves a Jack-and-the-Beanstalk plant with a tube of water stretching high up in the sky: Kids can operate a pump, sending a bubble of air floating upward.

Elsewhere kids can help fry vegetables with the help of staff cooks; another room lets them sit in the driver seat of a tractor as footage of fields being plowed rolls by. One of the Innovation restaurants serves food featur-

The Indonesian contribution with architecture from Bali, Java and Sumatra is seen. designs, placed right near the expo’s entrance. Its highly crafted display conceals miniature manicured gardens, unexpected vistas, and beanbags for visitors to relax on.

Perhaps with a nod to Europe’s economic crisis, a Greek garden is simplicity itself: a grove of gnarled olive trees planted in rocky soil.

If you’ve heard of the Netherlands’ 17thcentury tulip bulb mania, you may enjoy seeing firsthand what all the excitement was about: Some of the strains have been kept

ing produce grown on the premises, including strawberries in at least a dozen varieties.

White asparagus, a regional specialty, is grown in a crypt-like structure with a wonderfully creepy text above the door (so far only in German and Dutch): “Here lies buried the white queen, yet she should not at all be mourned, for such is her life’s desire and end.” — AP See Page 39

Orchids are seen during a preview for the media at Floriade.

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

A photographer takes pictures of a flower field.

A photographer takes pictures of a blossoming tree.

An art work is seen.

A Spanish pavilion.

Blooming daffodils are seen in front of a building.

Circus evolves amid market, regulatory challenges N

icole and Alana Feld come from a long line of circus folk, so they are well aware of the challenge of bringing a centuryand-a-half old attraction to families with many entertainment choices. Like tightrope walkers, the Feld sisters seek to maintain a balance between innovation and tradition in producing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

After Ringling phased out the traditional threering format a few years ago so audiences could focus on one act at a time, there was some initial naysaying but the change came to be regarded as a success. But when they eliminated lions and tigers that same year in response to survey results showing that elephants were the top animal draw, fans weren’t happy - and Ringling quickly brought back the big cats.

“People expect to see animals, and they expect to see clowns,” Nicole Feld said. “We want to deliver on those expectations.” The circus is

Tatiana of the Cossack riders performs acrobat maneuvers.

the flagship product for Vienna, Virginia-based Feld Entertainment, a privately held family company that bought the circus in 1967. It’s unclear how profitable the show is. But the sisters said business remains steady, with the circus drawing more than 10 million people a year to its shows across the US. Still, the company remains under siege from animal-rights activists who accuse it of treating elephants and other animals cruelly. Last year, the US. Department of Agriculture imposed a $270,000 fine against Ringling - the largest ever assessed by the federal government against an animal exhibitor under the Animal Welfare Act for a variety of violations.

The issue is a sore point for Ringling, which agreed to pay the fine but admitted no wrongdoing. A company spokesman says the violations are a byproduct of heavy regulation - in one four-month period, one of the circus’ traveling units was inspected 82 times by 18 different agencies. By most measures, the circus has come a long way since P.T. Barnum assembled a traveling troupe of freaks, contortionists and Jumbo the Elephant into The Greatest Show on Earth.

In other ways, the circus maintains the traditions that have been there for nearly 150 years: exotic animals, acrobatics and an unwavering commitment to showmanship and pleasing audiences. The balancing act requires the Felds to keep the show contemporary in the face of increased competition for the entertainment dollar and evolving public tastes. At the same time, much of the circus’ appeal comes from its tradition, and the circus ignores those traditions at its peril.

It was Nicole and Alana’s grandfather, Irvin Feld - who sold snake oil at carnivals as a child during the Depression and established himself as one of the country’s top rock-and-roll concert promoters in the 1950s - who acquired the circus in 1967. Before buying it outright, though, the elder Feld made one of the biggest changes to revive the circus, which had folded in 1956. He did away with the Big Top - the fabled circus tent - and moved the show to the indoor arenas that he used to book his rock and roll shows.

The change enabled the circus to survive, continuing the traditions that dated back to “P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie,

File photo provided by Feld Entertainment, producers of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, shows big cat trainer Alexander Lacey presenting tigers during Ringling Bros.

“Dragons” show launched in Tampa, Fla. — AP photos Caravan and Circus” in 1870. Feld himself died in 1984. In modern times, the company has endured its share of difficulties. It owned the Siegfried and Roy show in Las Vegas, which closed in 2003 when Roy Horn was mauled by one of his tigers. The family endured an embarrassing lawsuit from Karen Feld, sister of Feld CEO Kenneth Feld, who claimed her brother’s bodyguards roughed her up at a family memorial service. Jurors dismissed the lawsuit.

And then there are the ongoing complaints from animal rights activists, which at least one performer takes issue with. Alexander Lacey, who performs with lions and tigers in Ringling’s “Dragons” show, said his rapport with his animals is built on mutual respect and rewarding animals for correct behavior. He says circus life for big cats is a better fate than critics suppose. “Look at the wild. That’s not necessarily a good place to be,” he said before a recent show in Richmond, Virginia. He cited the threats from disease and human encroachment on their habitat that threaten lions and tigers in the wild.

The circus’ big cats “have an opportunity to eat, sleep and reproduce in an environment that is stimulating for them,” said Lacey, one of a number of Ringling performers who come from multi-generational circus backgrounds. The key, he said, is to make sure that the lions and tigers’ days are interesting for the time they are awake they typically sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. With many days containing multiple performances, the big cats have active days.

The performers say that at its core, the circus isn’t much different than it was decades ago.

What’s changed, they say, is the presentation.

Bulky costumes have gone by the wayside. Music tends to be more contemporary. And technological improvements in lighting and staging help speed the pace of the show. Acts featuring children used to be common, but now are rare.

“It’s more theatrical now,” said George Caceres, leader of The Flying Caceres trapeze troupe. Caceres is a third-generation performer; his mother continues to work on the Ringling show as a costume designer.

The circus has always had to balance innovation and tradition, says David Carlyon, an author and academic from Larchmont, New York, who has studied 19th-century circuses and was himself a Ringling clown in the late 70s. A century ago, Carlyon said, the appeal of the circus was almost self-evident. No other entertainment of its kind was available. Performers demonstrated mastery and partnership with animals to a population that was used to working with horses and other farm animals. And there was a sex appeal as well - in a Victorian era, it was rare to see the human body so clearly on display.

As entertainment options have exploded in the modern era, the circus has worked to keep pace. Carlyon recalled a somewhat feeble effort

by Ringling in the 1980s to incorporate a Menudo-style boy band into its act. Despite the occasional missteps, Carlyon said, “the Felds, as near as I can tell, are doing a good job.”

Some of the biggest changes at Feld Entertainment have been outside the circus world altogether. While the circus remains Feld’s flagship operation, in 2008 and 2009, Feld acquired a variety of motor sports properties, including monster truck shows, motocross and the International Hot Rod Association. In 2010, it created a theatrical motorcycle stunt show called Nuclear Cowboyz.

Combined with long-running brands such as Disney on Ice, Feld’s shows draw annual attendance of more than 30 million, meaning that the circus accounts for roughly a third of the company’s business. The motorsports allow Feld to target young men and teens, a slightly different audience than the family with children ages 2 to 11 who make up the primary target audience for Ringling. Still, the Feld family is at heart a circus family. Nicole and Alana, as children, performed as clowns. “It’s an old circus saying - ‘You have sawdust in your veins,’” said Nicole, who joined the company in 2001 after spending a few years out of college in other jobs. “It wasn’t until I wasn’t able to be around it that I realized just how much I missed it.”—AP

Judge: 3,200-year-old mummy mask can stay in Missouri A

St Louis museum can keep hold of a 3,200-year-old mummy’s mask, a federal judge has ruled, saying the US government failed to prove that the Egyptian relic was ever stolen. Prosecutors said the funeral mask of Lady Ka-Nefer-Nefer went missing from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo about 40 years ago and that it should be returned to its country of origin. The St Louis Art Museum said it researched the provenance of the mask and legitimately purchased it in 1998 from a New York art dealer.

US District Judge Henry Autry in St Louis sided with the museum. The US government “does not provide a factual statement of theft, smuggling or clandestine importation,” Autry wrote in the March 31 ruling.”The Government can-

not simply rest on its laurels and believe that it can initiate a civil forfeiture proceeding on the basis of one bold assertion that because something went missing from one party in 1973 and turned up with another party in 1998, it was therefore stolen and/or imported or exported illegally,” the judge wrote.

A message left with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities was not returned.The 20-inch-long funeral mask of painted and gilded plastercoated linen over wood with inlaid glass eyes was excavated from one of the Saqqara pyramids, about 16 miles south of Cairo, in 1952. Ka-Nefer-Nefer was a noblewoman who lived from 1295 BC to 1186 BC. US government investigators sus-

pect the mask was stolen sometime between 1966, when it was shipped to Cairo for an exhibit, and 1973, when the Egyptian Museum discovered it was missing. The art museum bought the mask in 1998 for $499,000 from a New York art dealer, and it has been on display at the museum in Forest Park ever since. US Attorney Richard Callahan said a decision on whether to appeal has not been made.

“We’re just looking to make sure we haven’t missed the tiniest bit of circumstantial evidence,” Callahan said. “We’re back to the drawing board and studying it.” Museum officials have said they researched the mask’s ownership history before buying it and had no indication there were questions about how it arrived in the US. The museum’s

research showed the mask was part of the Kaloterna private collection during the 1960s, before a Croatian collector, Zuzi Jelinek, bought it in Switzerland and later sold it to Phoenix Ancient Art of New York in 1995. The art museum purchased the mask from Phoenix Ancient Art. St Louis Art Museum attorney David Linenbroker said the museum is confident the ruling will mean that the mask can remain permanently in St Louis.

“We don’t have any interest in possessing a stolen object,” Linenbroker said.

“We’ve been facing all this innuendo for years.” He said the legal process provided an opportunity for someone to prove the mask had been stolen, but no one did. “We’re confident we’re the rightful owner,” Linenbroker said. —AP

In this April 22, 2011 photo provided by the St Louis Art Museum, the funeral mask of Lady Ka-Nefer-Nefer is seen in an undated photograph.—AP

In the media, at least, the Titanic proves unsinkable

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

37

The Steven Tyler & Andy Hilfiger Fashion Show

Designer Andy Hilfiger, Steven Tyler and Chelsea Tyler walk the runway at the Steven Tyler & Andy Hilfiger Host Andrew Charles’ Fashion Show.

Models walk the runway at the Steven Tyler & Andy Hilfiger Host Andrew Charles’ Fashion Show at Macy’s Sherman Oaks on April 7, 2012 in Sherman Oaks, California. —AFP photos

Colombia’s tinted gold passes for precious stones A

ll that glitters is gold under a new thermo chemical process developed by Colombian engineers for color-tinting the precious metal to make it look like sapphires, rubies or emeralds.

The tinting can increase the value of gold by a factor of five, meaning the chemically-altered precious metal is likely to appear in jewelers’ display windows worldwide soon, according to University of Antioquia engineers. “It does not involve painting the gold or covering it with some material that disguises the traditional white, yellow or pink of the precious metal,” said Maria Eugenia Carmona, the principal researcher on the project.

“It involves subjecting it to an elaborate thermo- chemical process of eight to 10 hours, after which not only does its color become red, blue or green, among others, but also its market price increases significantly,” she said. Colombia extracted 56 tons of gold from its mines in 2011, representing a 4 percent increase over the previous year. Colombia’s gold exports were valued at $2.8 billion in 2011, a 31.4 percent increase, according to official figures. Colombia, Peru and Mexico are Latin America’s biggest gold producers. “We are sitting on a mine and it’s sad to see large companies take our gold as a raw material to other countries

where it is processed to return here at a high price,” Carmona said.

A better option, she suggested, is to give the gold added value that would allow Colombians to export a new product. Well-known Bogota jeweler Eladio Rey said the thermo-chemical transformation produced an outcome that is “wonderful, so innovative.”

“It is undoubtedly attractive to traders and buyers because of the diversity of colors, and much better if a high quality for the metal can be guaranteed,” Rey said. The only similar tinting process the University of Antioquia researchers could find was

done in Italy, where blue gold was produced. The University of Antioquia process involves mixing 24carat gold with reactive metals in a four-to-one ratio.

The mixture is then subjected to a thermal process in special ovens, which changes its color.

After cooling, the material has the appearance of precious stones, and can be coated with a protective resin and mounted in rings, brooches or pendants. Rey says he likes the coloring process, not only because it allows gold to be combined with other gemstones, but also because it allows the product to be labeled “made in Colombia.” — AFP