9th June

IPT IO N SC R SU B

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

RAJAB 19, 1433 AH

No: 15474

48Qaeda14 leader’s wife Bomb blast kills 19 in Pakistan

150 Fils

Greece hold co-hosts Poland to a 1-1 draw

eyes ‘Islamic Spring’ ‘Raise your kids in the cult of jihad’

DUBAI: The wife of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri praised Muslim women for their role in the Arab Spring uprisings and said the unrest would soon lead to an “Islamic Spring”, according to a rare message posted online yesterday.

The letter, signed by Omaima Hassan, singled out women beaten during Egypt’s unrest and lauded mothers for bringing up the revolutionaries who went on to topple four heads of state it described as “tyrant criminals”.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the undated message, posted on a website used by Islamist militants. Al-Qaeda was effectively sidelined by Arab Spring uprisings, launched mainly by middle class activists and intellectuals eager for economic and political reforms. But there have been signs that the militant network has since been trying to capitalize on the unrest.

“I congratulate all females of the world for these blessed revolutions and I salute every mother who sacrificed her loved ones in the revolutions. It is really an Arab Spring and will soon become an Islamic Spring,” read the message. “These revolutions toppled the tyrant criminals, and thanks to your efforts, patience and raising your sons in dignity,” it added.

The message urged Muslim women to keep wearing the veil.

“The veil is the Muslim woman’s identity and the West wants to remove this identity so she will be without an identity.”

It added: “I advise you to raise your children in the cult of jihad and martyrdom and to instill in them a love for religion and death,” she wrote. In doing so, “each woman would raise her child to be a new Saladin by telling him ‘it is you who will restore the grandeur of the Islamic nation and you will liberate Jerusalem.’” Saladin was a 12th century Kurdish general who became the first sultan of Egypt and whose forces defeated Crusader armies in a battle that led to the eventual fall of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The text also counseled women to continue to wear the veil and to encourage their husbands and sons to “free the prisoners wherever they are... such as the widows of our martyr Osama bin Laden, who are languishing with their children in a Pakistani prison.” A similar message was posted online in Omaima Hassan’s name in 2009. Yesterday’s posting came several months after an eight-minute video recording by Zawahri urging Syrians not to rely on Western or Arab governments to help their uprising to topple President Bashar Al-Assad.

Zawahri took command of the Islamist militant network after the group’s founder and leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in May last year.

Zawahri’s Libyan-born second-in-command, Abu Yahya Al Libi, was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan earlier this week. According to the message posted yesterday, Omaima Hassan said she hoped that the uprisings sparked by a Tunisian setting himself on fire would “liberate Jerusalem” and restore it to its days of glory.

“We will have a new Islamic state based on sharia (Islamic law) arbitration, and we will free Palestine and build a state of succession to the prophecy,” the message added. Israel captured Jerusalem along with the rest of the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians want the city, annexed by Israel unilaterally, to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. — Agencies

Max 47º Min 33º

FUJAIRAH: A ship docks at the refueling station in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

(Inset) Mohammed Saif Al-Afkham, head of Fujairah municipality points to an aerial photo of the Fujairah Emirate. — AP

UAE seeks alternative oil route amid threats Emirates readies oil export detour to avoid Hormuz FUJAIRAH: By night, the lights of dozens of ships anchored off this eastern Emirati port create the mirage of a far-off city at sea. The crowded anchorage reflects Fujairah’s rise as one of the world’s busiest maritime refueling stations. Soon it will also become a vital new exit route for Arabian crude oil destined for world markets.

The United Arab Emirates is nearing completion of a pipeline through the mountainous sheikdom that will allow it to reroute the bulk of its oil exports around the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf, the path for a fifth of the world’s oil supply. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strategically sensitive waterway, which is patrolled

by Iranian and US warships, in retaliation for ramped-up Western sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

That threat has raised worries among Gulf countries that conflicts could block the route to market for their most lucrative resource.

But only the UAE and Oman have coastlines on Indian Ocean side of the strait that would enable them to go around the chokepoint by land. Saudi Arabia also can avoid Hormuz by shipping its Gulf fields’ oil production out of

its Red Sea ports, but it would have to increase the capacity of those ports and of pipelines running across the breadth of the country to handle its total output.

With the Emirates’ new pipeline, oil from fields deep in the Abu Dhabi desert would travel 236 miles overland and across the barren Hajar mountains to this fast-growing port on edge of the Indian Ocean. At the moment, Emirati oil exports are loaded in the Gulf and must pass through Hormuz.

Once it’s running at full volume, the pipeline will let the UAE get two-thirds of its peak oil production to market even if the strait is shut. That’s about 10 percent of the total 17 million barrels of oil a day that currently goes through Hormuz.

The director general of Fujairah municipality, Mohammed Saif Al-Afkham said he expects the pipeline to be commissioned this month. “This will add a lot to the shipment of oil, and it will make it faster and easier instead of going to the Gulf,” he said.

Officials have not announced a firm starting date. But Al-Afkham’s comments and those of other Emirati officials suggest exports could begin soon. Energy Minister

Mohammed bin Dhaen Al-Hamli told a Paris conference last month the four-foot-wide pipeline is finished and is being tested.

It is designed to handle 1.5 million barrels of crude a day. Al-Hamli has said that figure could rise to 1.8 million barrels. AlHamli and the state-run International Petroleum Investment Co., which is building the pipeline, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment about the project. Neither did the China National Petroleum Corp, a subsidiary of which was contracted to construct the pipeline. The project is immensely important for the UAE, an important American ally. The seven state federation is OPEC’s third largest exporter of oil, after neighboring Saudi Arabia and Iran.

“If there are effective bypass routes, it makes it less likely that Iran would try to block it,” said Robin Mills, head of consulting at Manaar Energy Consulting & Project Management in Dubai. The Emirates’ Sunni leadership is wary of Tehran’s regional influence, especially in Shiite-led countries such as Iraq and Syria and Shiite-majority Bahrain in the Gulf. — AP

LOCAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

NA ignored letter of complaint from ruling family members KUWAIT: MP Abdul Hameed Dashti disclosed that a number of ruling family members had sent a letter of complaint to the parliament expressing their rejection of how some MPs dealt with some issues taking protection by their parliamentary immunity.

Dashti explained that the letter was to be listed on last Tuesday’s agenda but, for some reason, was not discussed. “Ruling family members described what happened in some parliamentary sessions as unconstitutional”, he added noting that he was one of a few MPs who read the letter and that the NA speaker’s office seemed keen on ignoring it.

Further, Dashti said that he would hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss the letter in which the angry family members addressed the Kuwaiti people in an attempt to express dissatisfaction with the injustice befallen on them. — Al-Rai

Security campaign to be tightened during summer Deportation within three days KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Maj Gen Sulaiman Al-Fahad recently instructed all ministry sectors to contribute in the ongoing security campaign that is due to continue through the summer, to arrest illegal residents and immediately deport them, said security sources noting that the campaign was organized during the summer when many expatriates usually leave, which makes it easier to pursue residency law violators.

In this regard, a special plan was set to raid suspected places with participation from various Interior sectors to raid bachelors spots such as the Amgharah scrap market, Mina Abdulah, Abadali

farms, Wafra and Fahaheel industrial area.

The sources added that the campaigns would be led by Maj Gen Mahmoud Al-Doussari and that they would follow certain tactics such as mobilizing the participating forces at the same time, holding all suspects in a suitable gathering site pending checking their legal status and deporting violators, changing the raids timing from dawn to noon and evening times, getting special forces assistance on raiding bachelorsí communities and deporting violators within a maximum of three days. Meanwhile, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Undersecretary

Mohammad Al-Kandari said that more than one site has been allocated to construct labor cities, compatible with international rules and regulations.

Pointing that Ministry of Public Works is about to complete construction of the first city, and those cities are one of the solutions to the problem of bachelors staying in residential aras. He added that UAE has a successful experience in this matter and ìwe have been informed about their experience and have handed a sample of those cities to the Ministry to Public Works to construct those cities similar to it and as per the specifications of the international law with respect to the areas in which each laborer will live.

NBK family celebrates 60th anniversary

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) hosted a special ceremony to celebrate with all its staff members NBK’s 60th Anniversary. The ceremony was attended by more than 2,000 NBK staff members NBK executive management praised the employees’ commitment, initiatives and unremitting efforts in serving the bank.

NBK celebrates this year its 60th anniversary as the first national bank and the first shareholding company in Kuwait and the Gulf.

Today, NBK has the largest local and overseas banking network encompassing more than 176 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries.

NBK has consistently been awarded the highest

credit ratings of all banks in the region by the major international rating agencies: Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings. In 2012, NBK moved up 14 positions to rank 33 among the 50 safest banks in the world. NBK is the only Arab bank to be listed among the world’s 50 safest banks five times in a row.

LOCAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

KUWAIT: The Indian ambassador Satish C Mehta inaugurating the Realty India 2012.

Realty India 2012 opens KUWAIT: Realty India 2012, the biggest Indian realty show in Kuwait, was opened yesterday by Satish C Mehta, the Indian ambassador, at Ramada hotel - Riggae. It was also attended by many dignitaries including Abdul Rahman H Al Ebrahim, Zia Sait, Dawood Bhai Saab, Wadhawan, Ashok Kalra and Ali Al Otaibi. It was sponsored by Times of India, India’s largest print media.

The exhibitions showcase properties from all top cities of India and will provide Non Resident Indians (NRIs) with a wide range of options to interact and invest in these properties. Zia Sait, Managing Director - Mindscpae Exhibitions, said, “Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the Middle East have always looked at the Indian Real Estate Market as an attractive investment avenue. The expo will serve as a good platform for the NRIs in the Kuwait to explore options in their home country” At the Realty show, the NRI buyers will have an opportunity to participate and interact with the real estate developers, contractors and real estate agents about residential projects, apartments, service apartments, offices, commercial properties and plots. Reputed builders from across India such as Jaypee Greens, Supertech, Paras Builders, Land Trades, Kolte Patil, Skyline Builders, Abad Builders, and many more reputed builders are showcasing their properties at this exhibitions.

News

in brief

Constitution rejects discrimination KUWAIT: In rejection of the bill to toughen the penalty of blaspheming the Almighty Allah, the Holy Quran, the Apostles, the prophet (PBUH) and his wives, HH the Amir said that the law was unconstitutional. HH explained that article 29 of the constitution states that, “All people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion,” whereas article 111 of the bill stated that, “Muslims accused of blasphemy would be executed.” An exception was made on condition two of the same article by reducing the penalty to 10 year imprisonment if the suspect was non-Muslim. HH the Amir added that the law discriminated between people according to their religion which, he added, is unconstitutional.

Exam leak rumors KUWAIT: Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education, Mohammad Al-Kandari, said that the Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Communication to expose the identity of those responsible for spreading rumors about exams being leaked in order to bring them to justice. He noted that the Ministry of Education will trace people further spreading the rumors using technology. He added that coordination with the Ministry of Communication will help to reveal the identity those responsible so that they can be taken to court.

KU’s discriminatory decisions KUWAIT: The Administrative Court has cancelled three decisions made by Kuwait University for rejecting three girls in the University when they applied to the medical college, despite achieving higher than the average scored by their male classmates, who were admitted to same college. The court ruled that it was sexist that the university had put different minimum scores for admission to the medical college. The minimum GPA for males was 2.80, while for females it was 3.20.

Tough time ahead for graduates KUWAIT: In just a few days, Kuwait’s high school students will graduate. The number of students is estimated at 35,000, who will seek higher education both inside Kuwait or abroad. Many graduates will have to face the consequences of the capacity reductions various educational institutes and Universities in Kuwait are going through. Due to increasing problems with over-capacity, Kuwait University will admit just 7090 students this summer for the academic year 2012/2013, which means that more than 3000 students will be rejected.

LOCAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Three-member gang robs expat in Shuwaikh area Asian woman raped in apartment KUWAIT: An expatriate reported to one of the capital police stations and stated that three men robbed him of KD 80 over the weekend while he was walking in Shuwaikh area. He told police that he was stopped by the trio who were in an American car, and one of them pulled a knife and threatened to stab him unless he hands him what he has.

So, he had to give him KD 80 which was with him. A case was registered.

Fintas rape case An Asian woman reported to Fintas police station and accused a Kuwaiti man of taking her to his apartment and raping her. The woman said that the Kuwaiti told her that he owns a company and wants to employ her as a secretary. He took her to the bogus company and as they entered, she discovered that the company was simply a fun apartment, and then he raped her. Police registered a case and accompanied the woman to the apartment, which was found to be leased for a number of youths, but nobody

was there at that time. Police is trying to find the man and arrest him.

Professors fight An argument started between two professors, one male and the other a female at higher institute for theater arts. The argument developed because of some differences between them in giving mark to one of their students. The female professor accused her colleague of writing some bad remarks in the answer paper of the student. An eyewitness said the male professor told the student that he had already failed and refused to admit him to the examination hall and the female professor intervened. She seemed to have promised the student of giving him a chance to write the examination, which was refused by her colleague and he considered that intervention in his work. An investigation was opened into the case.

Cousins in custody Nine citizen, all cousins, started a

fight at Al-Oyoun area in Jahra yesterday. The fight did not end there, but continued inside the investigation room at Jahra hospital when opposite sides exchanged blows.

Security sources said that they received a report of a fight inside Jahra hospital and when police arrived, they found nine citizens fighting. They were taken to police station.

Security raid In a new security raid at suspected apartments in Hawally and Salimiya, police arrested more than 20 men and women and all of them were sent to criminal investigation.

Most of the persons arrested earlier were released after signing an undertaking not to repeat the act. Those who were arrested for the second time were taken for criminal investigation and police said that such apartments will remain under observation and will be raided by police every now and then.

KUWAIT: Upon recommendations of the Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim, a special ceremony was recently held to honor Jahra cleaning supervisor and his team for their efforts in the cleaning campaigns launched over three weeks in Amgharah.

KUWAIT: The Secretary General of Kuwait Journalists Association Faisal Al-Qinae received in his office the Editor-in-Chief of Lebanese Future TV Channel News Muneer Adnan Al-Hafi, who was in Kuwait for an official visit over the weekend. Both parties discussed means of cooperation. It was agreed that Future TV will organize a visit of a Kuwaiti media delegation to Beirut to strengthen media cooperation between the two countries.

Palestinian perseverance taught Arab nations to demand rights GENEVA: Since the start of the Arab Spring movement, Arab nations have learned plenty from the Palestinians’ perseverance in demanding their rights, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki said at the annual International Labor Organization (ILO) meeting held here yesterday.

On the fringes of ILO meeting, President Marzouki chaired an international solidarity Forum for Arab and Palestinian workers which hosted many delegations from Arab countries including Kuwait.

Palestinian workers’ struggle has many implications. It showed that Arab nations wanted peace, not despair, for the Palestinians. He criticized those who did not support the Palestinian cause and stressed that “these nations should change the way they look at the Palestinian cause.” On his part, ILO’s Director-General Juan Somavia lauded the Tunisian President’s chairmanship of this event which was vital to set a clear political path for both his country and other Arab nations.

Director-General of Arab Labor Organization Ahmed Luqman pointed out that the chairmanship of Marzouki sent a revolutionary message for other nations to follow.

“The Tunisian revolution has encouraged the start of a new way of thinking amongst the Arab nations where they can freely speak up their minds and ask for their rightful demands,” He stressed. He said further that “this bold move has echoed through 82 countries around the world.” —KUNA

KFAED finances agricultural products cooling, packaging center in Lebanon BEIRUT: The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has launched a project to set up a center for cooling, packaging, storage and export of agricultural products in the town of Kefraya, northern Lebanon, at a cost of about $3 million.

Head of KFAED Bureau in Beirut Nawaf Al-Dabbous underlined the importance of project in supporting the agricultural sector in northern Lebanon.

He added that the center will also offer counseling and guidance for farmer to improve their production.

Al-Dabbous said KFAED will continue its support for develop-

ment in Lebanon in all economic, social, cultural, health, educational, agricultural sectors.

He pointed out that the agricultural sector has a significant role in Lebanese economy.

For his part, former Lebanese minister of environment Mohammed Rahal expressed gratitude for His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and KFAED’s support for Lebanon through financing diverse projects in various sectors and in all Lebanese areas.

Lebanese MP Jamal Jarrah also lauded Kuwait’s generosity which shows genuine love for the peo-

ple of Lebanon.

All Lebanese do not forget Kuwait’s supportive stance after the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006, he added.

Since 1966 the KFAED has granted Lebanon 19 loans totaling about $568 million to finance health, agricultural, transportation sectors and to rebuild districts destroyed by the Israeli war machine.

The KFAED also oversees the use of grants provided by the State of Kuwait to Lebanon, the latest of which a $300-million grant to rebuild south Lebanon and compensate victims of 2006 war. — KUNA

BEIRUT: Kuwaiti and Lebanese officials at the ceremony.

LOCAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Halting Al-Zour project may lead to power cuts in 2014 NA approves proposals KUWAIT: The parliament approved some proposals made in relation to the grilling motion of the former finance minister, Mustafa Al-Shamali including halting AlZour Northern power plant project.

In this regard, Minister of Electricity and Water Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim warned the parliament of the possible consequences of such a decision noting that giving away the 4000 megawatts the plant was planned to generate would surely lead to programmed power cuts in 2014.

Insult case Kuwait’s criminal court has sentenced the Kuwaiti blogger, Nasser Al-Ansari for five years with labor for insulting HH the Amir on his Twitter account.

Envoy underlines Arab-Albanian media cooperation SARAJEVO: Kuwaiti ambassador to Albania Najib Abdulrahman Al-Bader met yesterday with the visiting Kuwaiti scholar, Shaikh Nabil Al-Awadi, who heads a media delegation to produce a film about history, culture and social conditions of Albania.

Sheikh Nabil’s effort contributes in strengthening the cultural ArabAlbanian rapprochement and promotes relations between Kuwait and Albania,

ambassador Al-Bader said.

He pointed out importance of interaction and cooperation by building bridges of communication, media, and cultural exchanges with Albania and other countries as well as creation of cooperation between concerned institutions in the two countries. The meeting was attended by Kuwaiti Diplomatic Attache Faisal Al-Beker and Sheikh Nabil’s accompanying delegation. — KUNA

Kuwaiti official calls for end to atrocities in Syria ISTANBUL: Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry Khalid Al-Jarallah welcomed on Thursday the outcome of the meeting of the liaison committee set up by “the Friends of Syria” group of states.

“The meeting which gathered representatives of 14 countries, including Kuwait, here yesterday discussed critical issues related to the violence in Syria,” Al-Jarallah said.

“The conferees were unanimous on the need to put an immediate end to the atrocities being committed by the Syrian regime against its people “They agreed to form a coordination team to scale up support to the Syrian opposition and mount the international pressures on the regime,” he affirmed. “The planned team is mandated to contact the opposition forces, take part in the meeting, due here on June 15-16, and then fly to Cairo to attend the meeting of the Syrian opposition at the Arab League headquarter,” Al-Jarallah revealed.

He stressed the importance of uniting the stances of the Syrian opposition in order to be more able to draw international support to their struggle.

The Kuwaiti official expressed hope that Russia would be more understanding of the situation in Syria and work more constructively and positively with the international community to end the misery of the Syrian people. — KUNA

Kuwait adopts balanced foreign policy MANAMA: Kuwait’s foreign policy is based on establishing positive and balanced relations with all states and nations of the globe, the ambassador of the Gulf State to the Kingdom of Bahrain affirmed.

Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah, during a meeting with a visiting delegating of the Kuwaiti Public Relations Association, said PR associations contribute in boosting social communications among foundations and individuals. They also play a role in the diplomatic sector. The delegation is visiting Bahrain to take part in the Gulf forum for PR personnel, currently hosted by the Kingdom. The State of Kuwait has exerted fruitful efforts at this level, and such success is seen in rallying substantial international support for Kuwait’s stances, Sheikh Azzam said. — KUNA

National contract MP Abdullah AL-Turaiji inquired about terminating a contract with a certain company to carry out the national archive project after five years of signing it. He asked about the sums already paid and how far the project had gone.

Notably, the information ministry had contracted the company to repair, record, classify, categorize and edit video and movie tapes at KTV’s news and political programs archive. The project had an estimated budget of KD 3 million to be paid by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science in addition to KD 450,000 to be paid by the ministry.

FIFA classification Kuwait was ranked 87 in the world ranking done by the FIFA, while Spain remained on top of the list at a time when the Spanish national soccer team is getting ready to defend its European title in the Euro 2012 Finals due to be held in Poland and Ukraine. Notably, FIFA classification placed Uruguay in the second place, Germany third, Holland fourth, Brazil fifth, England sixth, Argentine seventh, Croatia eighth, Denmark ninth and Portugal tenth.

Algeria came first amongst Arabs and 32nd worldwide followed by Libya (42), Egypt (48), Morocco (70), Iraq (74, Jordan (80), Kuwait (87), Qatar (91) and KSA (92).

LOCAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Al-Babtain calls for world creative dialogue GAMMARTH, Tunisia: Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, head of AlBabtain Foundation Prize for Poetic Creativity, called here late Thursday for a world creative dialogue that would bring down the walls of ignorance amongst humans.

Speaking at the third conference for south-north Mediterranean dialogue, Al-Babtain stressed that his foundation would help contribute to the dialogue amongst humans to help spread understanding and overcome boundaries.

He also reiterated during the event, attended by several Arab and European officials, that going beyond religious and political obstacles, the Babtain foundation is eager to help spreading understanding via cultural input that would hopefully transcend differences amongst humans.

Al-Babtain warned during his speech from attempts by outside forces to create turmoil amongst people in the world, stressing that a united stance should be advent to face such intentions. The event is sponsored by the Tunisian government. — KUNA

Al-Saleh satisfied with X-Stream KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas AlSaleh voiced here Thursday much satisfaction with the positive results of the newly used X-Stream trading system.

Al-Saleh, who also doubles as head of the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) Committee, said following a committee meeting that his body was so happy at the new trading system which has been in effect since May 13.

He said the committee had approved all technical recommendations, including an increase in the maximum limit of future transactions from 100,000 shares to one million shares.

However, he admitted that some problems had marred the initial operation of the X-Stream system.

The new X-stream system, installed by Nasdaq OMX, involved the supply of new technology and will help improve transparency, market data and surveillance.

The system was launched on May 13 along with a new index for the largest 15 firms in terms of market value and the value of circulated liquidity.

Market leader National Bank of Kuwait, telecom giant Zain and Kuwait Finance House, the leading Islamic bank, are part of the new index. KSE, the oldest stock market in the Gulf, is the third largest in terms of capitalization in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia and Qatar. — KUNA

Kuwait expresses condolences to Lebanon on demise of Tueini KUWAIT: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of Kuwait News Agency Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah expressed regret and sadness over the death of a great writer and thinker and Dean of the Lebanese press Ghassan Tueini, who was one of the pillars of the Lebanese and Arab press.

Sheikh Mubarak said in a statement yesterday that the death of Tueini is a big loss for the Arab press as he was a pioneer who took, over long decades, the responsibility of the Arab press worthily and competently.

He added that the deceased was a high value and large stature for his solid pro-faith messages as well as his belief in the pressí fair message that does not deviate regardless of the risks or temptations or desires.

He stressed that Kuwait would not forget his outstanding positions during the Iraqi invasion in 1990 and his support of the Kuwaiti people as well as his strong opposition of the injustice the Kuwaiti people had suffered at the hands of occupation force. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta with the visiting General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi and other guests during the reception.

Indians seek Gandhi’s help in solving problems Ambassador hosts reception KUWAIT: Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Satish C Mehta hosted a reception to the visiting General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi and his accompanying delegation at India House. The reception was attended by a cross section of Indian community in Kuwait including businessmen, doctors, professionals and representatives of various organizations in Kuwait, media representatives, etc.

Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Kuwait held a number of high level meetings with the His Highness the Amir, HH the Prime Minister, Ministers and a large number of members of the Kuwait parliament. Gandhi also held a meeting with the Chairman of Kuwait University.

Ambassador Mehta welcomed Rahul Gandhi to the reception.

Representing the Indian community, S Wadhawan, Chairman of Indian Business Council, Dr Nampoory, Sageer Thrikkarippur, Chairman of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association spoke on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Wadhawan, shared his concern of the Indian community and bought the attention of Rahul Gandhi on the long pending demands of Indian community such as a land for constructing Indian community school and land for constructing an Indian cultural hall. He also appealed the attention of Gandhi for a place for religious prayer and burial ground for the deceased of the Indian Community.

Dr Nampoori, briefed about the services rendered by Indian doctors to the needy Indians in Kuwait. He also appraised the appreciation of many Kuwaiti nationals about Indian doctors’ service to this country. He brought the attention of Gandhi that

some of the Indian degrees are not recognized by the Kuwait authorities and appealed him to look into it.

Sageer Thrikkarippur, President of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association welcomed the guest of honor and briefed about the problems being faced by non-resident Indians in Kuwait and in Gulf. Sager also brought to his notice about the ongoing strike by Air India pilots and the problem faced by the expatriates

community during the summer vacation period where they plan their annual holidays to India.

Gandhi in his short speech appreciated the work being done by Indians living in Kuwait and said, he was glad to hear the appreciation from every Kuwaiti whom he met, about the great services of Indians in Kuwait. He assured that he would try to solve the issues brought to his attention by the community.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Veteran Lebanese politician, press baron dies

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Divisions stalk China-Russia unity

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UK’s Cameron to face media ethics inquiry

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WASHINGTON: Arab League Special Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan (left) speaks while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens at the Department of State yesterday in Washington, DC. Secretary Clinton and Annan briefly spoke to reporters on the situation in Syria before the start of their meeting. — AFP

UN monitors reach massacre scene in Syria Annan discusses fate of peace plan with Clinton BEIRUT: UN monitors yesterday entered the Syrian hamlet of Mazraat al-Qubeir where up to 78 people were reported killed in cold blood two days earlier and an eyewitness described a scene of shredded and burnt flesh, making clear a ìterrible crimeî had occurred. The alleged massacre on Wednesday has underlined how little outside powers, divided and pursuing their own interests in the Middle East, have been able to do to stop increasing carnage in the 15-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. A day after Syrian armed forces and villagers had turned them back, the UN team reached the farming settlement of Mazraat al-Qubeir and were confronted by an ìappallingî spectacle, a BBC correspondent accompanying the monitors said. ìIt is not hard to verify, as soon as you walk into the first house you are hit by the stench of burnt flesh,î the BBCís Paul Danahar said. ìYou can see that a terrible crime has taken place, everything has been burnt, houses have been gutted, there is an RPG (that has) blown a hole at the side of the house. ìThe most distressing scenes were at the house next

door. I walked in and saw pieces of brains lying on the floor. There was a tablecloth covered in blood and flesh and someone had tried to mop the blood up by pushing it into the corner, but seems they had given up because there was so much of it around,î he said. Danaharís Twitter report added: ìWhat we didnít find were any bodies of people.

What we did find were tracks on the tarmac (that) the UN said looked like armoured personnel carriers or tanks.î Many Syrian civilians are fleeing their homes to escape widening fighting between security forces and rebels, the Red Cross said, while the outside world seems unable to craft an alternative to envoy Kofi Annanís failing peace plan. ìSome say that the plan may be dead,î Annan said before meeting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. ìIs the problem the plan or the problem is implementation?î he asked. ìIf itís implementation, how do we get action on that? And if it is the plan, what other options do we have?î Activists say at least 78 people were shot, stabbed or burned alive in Mazraat al-

Qubeir, a Sunni Muslim hamlet, by forces loyal to Assad, whose minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiíite Islam, has dominated Syria for decades.

Syrian authorities have condemned the killings in Mazraat al-Qubeir and another massacre of civilians in Houla two weeks ago, blaming them on ìterroristsî. The conflict is becoming increasingly sectarian. Shabbiha militiamen from Assadís Shiíite-rooted Alawite sect appear to be off the leash, targeting Sunni civilians almost regardless of their part in the uprising. Opposition activists said those killed in Mazraat al-Qubeir had not previously been caught up in the conflict.

DEADLY VIOLENCE Some 300 UN observers are in Syria to monitor a truce between Assadís forces and rebels that Annan declared on April 12 but was never implemented.

Now reduced to observing the violence, they have already verified the massacre in Houla, a town where 108 men, women and children were slain on May 25.

The UN peacekeeping chief said Syrian troops and

pro-Assad militia were probably responsible. As more and more civilians flee their homes to escape fighting, sick or wounded people are finding it hard to reach medical services or buy food, said a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva. Protests and strife erupted across Syria yesterday.

A car bomb aimed at a bus carrying security men exploded in a Damascus suburb, killing at least two, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said. Another car bomb hit a police branch in the northwestern city of Idlib, killing at least five people, it said. Syrian forces shelled and then tried to storm the rebel-held district of Khalidiya in the central city of Homs, the heart of the revolt against Assad, the British-based Observatory said. Activists said 10 rockets a minute crashed into Khalidiya in one of the fierce bombardments to hit Homs. Videos posted on the Internet showed plumes of grey smoke rising from buildings. Activist footage of protests said to be in the northern city of Aleppo showed crowds fleeing from tear gas and gunfire. —Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Egyptians protest against ex-premier ahead of vote Activists angered by links to military, Mubarak era

BEIRUT: In this picture taken in April, 2008, Ghassan Tueni, a veteran Lebanese journalist and politician who headed one of the Arab world’s leading newspapers AnNahar for decades, arrives at the Lebanese parliament, in Beirut, Lebanon. Tueni’s family and newspaper said he died, aged 86, early yesterday at the American University of Beirut hospital where he spent his last weeks. — AP

Veteran Lebanese politician, press baron dies BEIRUT: Veteran Lebanese politician, diplomat, and press baron Ghassan Tueni died in hospital early yesterday aged 86, his newspaper An-Nahar announced. Known for his sharp intellect, elegance and wit, Tueni became a deputy at the tender age of 25 and subsequently held cabinet posts in several governments. He was Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations between 1977 and 1982, at the height of the country’s civil war. A fierce defender of Lebanon’s sovereignty, Tueni was instrumental in 1978 in pushing for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 425, which called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

He is remembered for having stood before a meeting of the Council and yelling “Let my people live!” Tueni was also a staunch defender of freedom of the press and was imprisoned several times for his writings. “One of the biggest champions of freedom of the press in Lebanon and the Arab world has disappeared,” said his former brother-in-law Marwan Hamade, a lawmaker. Tueni campaigned for human rights, the rights of Palestinians and tolerance in a country divided along ethnic and religious lines. He once wrote that he made it a point “never to forget to measure policy by the yardsticks of liberty, human rights, national self-determination, democracy, and international peace based on justice.”

At a personal level, Tueni’s life was marked by a series of family tragedies. His first wife Nadia Hamade, a famous Lebanese poet, died of cancer, as did his seven-year-old daughter Nayla. His son Makram died in a car accident. In December 2005, his other son Gebran Tueni, also a lawmaker and journalist, was assassinated at a time when several anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians and journalists were targeted following the killing of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Born in 1926 in Beirut to an Orthodox Christian family, Tueni headed the Arabic-language An-Nahar newspaper, which was founded by his father in 1933. “He turned AnNahar into a major independent newspaper in the Arab world at a time when no one dared outside Lebanon to write a word that did not glorify the leaders and autocrats of the region,” Hamade told AFP. Former information and culture minister Tarek Mitri praised Tueni for his moral strength and his ability to adeptly combine politics and culture. “He was a man of multiple identities,” Mitri told AFP. “Much will be said about him as a politician, diplomat, author and journalist.

“But what makes Ghassan Tueni unique is his ability to be fully immersed in every role he played, in every function he occupied, and every position he held.” Tueni studied at the American University of Beirut and earned a master’s degree in political science at Harvard University. He wrote several books, including one on Lebanon’s civil war. He is survived by his second wife Shadia al-Khazen and four grand-daughters. — AFP

CAIRO: Hundreds of activists gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday to demonstrate against presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik ahead of a run-off vote, saying they did not want to be ruled by another former military man.

Some of those in the square supported Shafik’s rival Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, which already controls parliament, but others were frustrated that they face a choice between two of Egypt’s most polarising politicians. Protesters have been angered by Shafik’s links to Egypt’s ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. Both men are former airforce commanders and Mubarak made Shafik prime minister shortly before being overthrown in a popular uprising 16 months ago.

The June 16-17 presidential run-off vote is the final step before the army, which took charge when Mubarak was driven out, formally hands over to a new president by July 1. That marks the end of a transition marred by protests, political bickering and sometimes bloodshed.

Mursi’s campaign ratcheted up its efforts yesterday, distributing flyers outside mosques after Friday prayers. The Brotherhood called on activists to join the demonstration in Tahrir, dubbed the “Friday of Perseverance”.

Many distrust the Brotherhood for reneging on an earlier pledge not to run for the presidency and say it has sought to hog power since it won the biggest bloc of seats in parliament, winning many more seats that it originally said it would seek. The latest round of daily

CAIRO: An Egyptian protester waves a national flag over a tree at Tahrir Square yesterday. Hundreds gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, to demonstrate against presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, ahead of a run-off vote. — AP protests in Tahrir was triggered by the verdict in a trial of Mubarak on June 2, which added to suspicions that former president’s old guard were still in charge. The court jailed Mubarak for life but acquitted six of his top security officials. Protesters demanded both a retrial and enforcement of a law passed by parliament but not implemented that Mubarak-era officials be banned from participating in politics. The constitutional court will rule on the law’s validity on June 14.

Scores of demonstrators chanting and carrying banners marched from Tahrir toward the nearby cabinet office, where dozens of activists were in the third day of a hunger strike. The hunger strikers were demanding that Shafik not be allowed to run for president, that thousands of prisoners held by the military be released and a retrial, activist Nawara Negm said. “We won’t stop until parliament responds,” said Nawara. She said 41 other activists had joined her in the strike. — Reuters

World powers push Iran on uranium enrichment BRUSSELS: World powers will insist on Iran curbing its production of high-grade uranium at the next round of nuclear talks in Moscow, a senior European Union negotiator told her counterpart in Tehran on Thursday. In a letter to Tehran, the European Union’s Helga Schmid said an offer by the six powers trying to resolve a standoff with Iran over its nuclear work, proposed at talks in Baghdad in May, was still on the table. The six countries - the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain - have asked Tehran to stop enriching uranium to 20 percent to address their concerns that the Iranian nuclear work aims to produce weapons.

But Schmid said more talks on the details of the proposal were needed.

“We would feel very encouraged if Iran were ready ... to enter into these discussions,” she wrote in a letter, seen by Reuters, to Iran’s deputy negotiator Ali Bagheri. EU diplomats negotiate with Iran on behalf of the six powers. “It remains the collective conviction of the (six powers) that this proposal continues to represent the most promising basis for moving our discussions towards achieving concrete results at an early stage,” she said.

Iran accused the world powers this week of reluctance to hold preparatory talks

ahead of the Moscow round of negotiations, and said their attitude had thrown doubt on the next meeting, scheduled for June 18 and 19. But Schmid said in her letter she was “somewhat surprised” by Tehran’s allegations. The world powers, she said, had expressed readiness to hold in-depth discussions over their proposal, which included a call on Tehran to close an underground enrichment facility and ship out its stockpile of high-grade uranium.

‘SUBSTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL’ Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to 20 percent represents a major technological advance on route to building nuclear weapons. “Unfortunately, in Baghdad Iran was not prepared to take up our suggestion to enter into discussions on the substance of the proposal,” she wrote. Iranian media reported that Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili has written twice to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, his counterpart, seeking preparatory meetings. Schmid is the senior official in Ashton’s negotiating team. On Thursday, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again accused the six powers of hampering talks.

“The Iranian nation is committed to

talks and negotiations but the arrogant powers are not interested in resolving Iran’s nuclear case,” he was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency during a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Beijing. In Washington, a senior administration official said the big powers were “ready and willing” to have preparatory discussions with Iran before the Moscow meeting as long as they focused on substantive issues. “Our interest is in producing concrete action that addresses the international community’s concerns about Iran nuclear program and we stand ready to engage if Iran is indeed willing,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Schmid, too, said she needed assurances from Tehran that any discussions would focus on the six powers’ core concerns. “Now there is a need to engage seriously on the issues of substance in order to agree on concrete confidence building steps which could be implemented swiftly,” she said. In the course of the 10-year standoff over Iran’s nuclear work, which Tehran says aims to produce electricity and isotopes for cancer patients, Iranian negotiators have often refused to discuss atom work or sought to side-step the issue during talks. —Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

2 caught with ancient gold wreath, armband THESSALONIKI: A retired policeman and a house painter have been arrested in northern Greece on suspicion of antiquities smuggling after an ancient gold wreath and armband were found in their car, police said yesterday. The suspects were stopped by highway police near the village of Asprovalta, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Thessaloniki late Thursday. Officers, who were working on a tip that the house painter might be trafficking in antiquities, found the 4th century B.C. artifacts in a shoebox under the passenger seat. The wreath was a rare and valuable find, said Nikos Dimitriadis, head of the Thessaloniki police antiquities theft section. “It is a product of an illegal excavation from a Macedonian grave, according to archaeologists (who examined it),” he said.

Antiquities in Greece are all state property by law. But smuggling is a major problem in the country, where relics of a rich ancient past often lie just inches beneath the surface.

Looting deprives archaeologists of valuable contextual information that would emerge from a proper excavation. Without such

clues, finds - however impressive - are little more than pretty artifacts with a high commercial value. The wreath, weighing in at nearly 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), is decorated with gold oak leaves and acorns. The gold armband is in the form of two knotted snakes studded with red semi-precious stones. Police said the 41-year-old house painter had been trying to sell the finds for several hundred thousand euros. They said he claimed to have received them from an acquaintance in his hometown of Komotini, nearly 300 kilometers (190 miles) east of Thessaloniki. The precise location where the wreath and armband were found was not immediately clear.

Several golden wreaths have been found in Macedonia and Thrace, with the most impressive coming from royal tombs in Vergina, west of Thessaloniki, that have been linked with the family of the 4th century B.C. warrior king Alexander the Great. An archaeologist who saw pictures of the wreath said it was a much plainer version than those from Vergina, and would likely have been buried with a rich Macedonian. — AP

4 killed in suicide bombing of Nigeria police station MAIDUGURI: A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into the entrance of the police headquarters of northeast Nigeria’s Borno state yesterday, killing four people, including a policeman, and wounding seven, the police commissioner said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Islamist sect Boko Haram has been blamed for hundreds of bomb and gun attacks on security forces and civilians over the past two years, mostly in Borno state. Borno police Commissioner Bala Hassan told Reuters by phone from the city of Maiduguri that one policeman and three civilians were killed, and seven police officers were wounded by the car bomber.

“He was driving a Toyota Camry, which he tried to drive right into the station. When he couldn’t do this, he detonated the bomb,” Hassan said. He declined to speculate on who was behind the attack. Witnesses said they suspected the death toll could be higher. “Many people, mostly members of the police, which includes men and women, were killed in the explosion,” witness Ali Alhaji said. Earlier, a police officer at the scene, splattered with blood, told Reuters five police vans had been loaded with the dead. He could not be named because he was not authorized to speak. Official police casualty tolls from insurgent attacks on them are frequently much lower than witness estimates.

Police stations are a favorite target for the insurgency, which flared up partly in response to police brutality against its members, including its founder Mohammed Yusuf, killed in police custody during a crackdown in 2009. A coordinated Boko Haram strike on multiple police stations in north Nigeria’s main city of Kano in January killed 186 people, most of them civilians. From being a reclusive clerical movement opposed to Western education last decade, Boko Haram has radicalized and mushroomed to become the main security threat facing Africa’s top energy producer, and has linked up with other Islamist groups in the region such as al Qaeda’s north African wing.

It is based far from oil producing facilities in the south, although its fighters have successfully targeted the capital Abuja, in the middle of the country, a handful of times. Nigerian forces shot dead 16 suspected militants in a fire fight with Islamist sect Boko Haram on Tuesday, the military said, the sort of move which sometimes provokes a retaliation from the Islamists. Earlier yesterday, a roadside bomb killed one person in downtown Maiduguri, Hassan said. — Reuters

ATHENS: A police officer displays the wreath of gold oak leaves and acorns, and the gold arm band with carved snake heads at the ends date from roughly the 4th Century B.C. in Thessaloniki yesterday. A 60-year-old retired policeman and a 41year-old painter were arrested late the previous night east of the city after the artifacts were found during a routine traffic check. — AP

Divisions stalk China-Russia unity Beijing, Moscow share uneasy, competitive history BEIJING: China and Russia are presenting a united front against the West to boost their firepower on issues from Syria to Iran, but analysts say their alliance belies deep divisions. The two countries’ leaders used a regional summit in Beijing this week to put on a very public display of solidarity over the Syrian conflict, which has placed them at loggerheads with Western powers, and Iran’s nuclear drive. But Beijing and Moscow have long had an uneasy relationship dating from when each jostled to dominate the communist world, and analysts say their closeness now marks a marriage of convenience as they look to counter Western influence.

“Both Beijing and Moscow are become increasingly negative about the United States and Europe,” said Jonathan Holslag, head of research of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies. “The West has elicited the increasing anger of Moscow on a number of issues, ranging from missile defence, the modernization of tactical nuclear weapons, to the intervention in Libya. “Beijing sees its interaction with the US souring on maritime security and trade.

It’s aversion to the West that drives them closer.” Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Beijing after pointedly cancelling a trip to the United States, told Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao this week their interests “align perfectly in a great many areas, including in cooperating on the world stage”.

Hu said a vow to bolster cooperation in the United Nations-where veto holders China and Russia face pressure to act against Syria-would allow them to “set the global political and economic order in a more fair and rational direction”. The United States has been a leading voice in pressuring Russia and China to do more on Syria-an ally of both states. “Both China and Russia want to send a message to other greater powers, particularly the United

MOSCOW: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, foreground right, speaks during a meeting in Moscow yesterday. Analysts said that despite the ties between Russia and China, there are deep divisions in their alliance. — AP States-’don’t push me too hard’,” said But China and Russia also have mutual susZheng Yongnian, politics professor at the picion-both are giants in the same region of National University of Singapore. China and the world, so they also see themselves as Russia declared they were “decisively long-term strategic competitors,” he told against” intervention or regime change in AFP. Jean-Pierre Cabestan, politics profesSyria-where a bloody uprising has lasted 15 sor at Hong Kong Baptist University, pointmonths-and opposed the use of force over ed out that the two countries displayed a Iran’s nuclear ambitions. common strategy “on issues that for them The display of unity also results from are quite easy”. unease over a US decision to focus more on “But there are lots of issues that divide the Asia-Pacific. Washington announced them... particularly oil and gas prices and last week that it would base 60 percent of the completion of pipelines,” he said. The its naval forces in the region by 2020. two sides, for instance, have for years failed “China and Russia seem to be coming to sign off on a huge natural gas deal that under a lot of pressure from the United could see Russia supply 70 billion cubic States, which is pulling out of Afghanistan meters of gas a year directly to China, due to and Iraq and putting more resources in the pricing disagreements. Lam said another Asia-Pacific,” said Willy Lam, professor at indication of their “mutual suspicion” was a the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “So marked fall in China’s purchases of Russian there is a need to display a common front... weapons over the years. —AFP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Ex-allies clash in northern Mali as ‘crisis turns tribal’ BAMAKO: Mali’s Tuareg rebels clashed overnight with their former Islamist allies, witnesses said yesterday, after the two groups fell out over forming a breakaway state in the northern desert region they control. The clash involving automatic weapons near the remote regional capital Kidal was the first armed confrontation between the rebel National Liberation Movement of Azawad (MNLA) and the Islamist Ansar Dine. The two groups are made up of Tuareg tribesmen from rival clans, and the fighting has raised fears of widening chaos in the vast northern swathe of the country, a desert region the size of France. African leaders on Thursday urged UN backing for military intervention in northern Mali to return the region to central control.

The rebel forces faced little resistance from the Malian army when they seized control of the north while a successful military coup was unfolding in the southern capital Bamako in March. The rival

groups-from the Taghat Melet and Idnane tribes for the MNLA and Ifora for Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith) — hold separate ideologies and objectives, observers say. “Divisions are appearing within the armed Tuareg rebel groups,” said Malian journalist Tiegoum Boubeye Maiga. “The crisis is becoming tribal.

After having fought the Malian army together ... the two groups are now fighting on a tribal basis. It’s very dangerous.”

Calm had returned by dawn yesterday, an official said, but he noted that several MNLA flags had been removed from around the city. The number of casualties was unknown.

The MNLA, calling itself “resolutely secular,” said last Friday it had rejected a deal with Ansar Dine to form a breakaway state in northern Mali called Azawad because of the other group’s insistence on implementing sharia, or radical Islamic law. An Ansar Dine fighter, Mohamed Ag Mamoud, said by satellite

in the

news

11-year-old charged MANAMA: A defense lawyer says a court hearing is planned next week for an 11-year-old boy detained for allegedly taking part in anti-government protests. The lawyer, Mohsen Al-Alawi, says the sixth-grade student is scheduled to appear in court on Monday on charges of joining an illegal gathering and other claims related to the ongoing protests by Bahrain’s majority Shiites. Al-Alawi said on Friday that the boy, Ali Hasan, was arrested last month and took his school exams behind bars. He is among the youngest suspects detained in crackdowns by the Gulf nation’s Sunni monarchy. More than 50 people have died in Bahrain’s unrest since 2011.

Algerian sets self ablaze ALGIERS: An Algerian man has died after setting himself ablaze in protest when a policeman took away his driver’s license in the Mascara region, the El Watan Week-end newspaper reported yesterday. The 36-year-old victim, named only by his initials AA, had third-degree burns when he was admitted Wednesday to hospital in the city of Oran, about 360 kilometers west of Algiers. He died the following day. The man doused himself in fuel and set himself on fire to express his anger at a policeman who confiscated his driver’s license on witnessing “dangerous driving”, El Watan said. Self-immolations have become regular in Algeria since January 2011 following protests at the cost of living which claimed five lives and left more than 800 people injured. One such case in neighboring Tunisia was the spark for the popular uprising that on January 14 last year toppled president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power after 23 years.

Militant strangled in jail MUMBAI: An Indian remand prisoner accused of involvement in three terror attacks was strangled to death by fellow inmates yesterday, police said. Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui was killed at Yerwada Jail in the western city of Pune where he had been moved ten days ago, the city’s police commissioner Meeran Borwankar said, without giving further details. He was among six suspected members of the Indian Mujahideen group who were detained by police in November over three attacks including a bombing in 2010 at the German Bakery restaurant in Pune that killed 17 people. The men were also alleged to have targeted the Chinnaswamy cricket stadium in the southern city of Bangalore-with two bombs injuring ten people-and the nation’s biggest mosque, the Jama Masjid, in New Delhi.

The Indian Mujahideen group has claimed responsibility for numerous bomb attacks in Indian cities in recent years, including a blast outside the Delhi High Court in September which left 15 dead.

phone late Thursday that the clash broke out because “the MNLA was manipulating civilians in Kidal to demonstrate” against Ansar Dine, which is believed to be backed by Al-Qaeda’s north African branch. “They encouraged women and children to demonstrate against us. Now we will show them our strength,” Mamoud said. Tuesday and Wednesday saw demonstrations by Kidal residents, mainly women and children, against the presence of Islamists and in support of the MNLA. The Tuesday protest was violently dispersed.

Moussa Salam of the MNLA, for his part, said: “We have been attacked, we will respond.” However an MNLA spokesman based in Paris, Mossa Ag Attaher, denied any fighting had taken place. “There were no clashes last night between the MNLA and Ansar Dine in Kidal. I spoke this morning with the MNLA executive committee ... which asserted that they were no exchanges of

fire.” He added however: “We know that Ansar Dine is regrouping around Kidal, where they want to set up their headquarters.” Meanwhile on Thursday residents of Timbuktu said they had launched an armed group to kick out the Islamists currently controlling the ancient city in the far north of Mali. The Patriots’ Resistance Movement for the Liberation of Timbuktu opposes the secession of northern Mali and “will engage in military action against the invaders until they leave,” said Hamidou Maiga, an ex-army lieutenant.

Timbuktu, home to priceless ancient Muslim scriptures and mosques, fell to the rebels after the coup. UN, AU and ECOWAS officials meeting in Abidjan also called Thursday for the immediate dissolution of the former junta which came to power following the March 22 coup. The putschists have officially ceded power to interim authorities but remain omnipresent. — AFP

UK’s Cameron to face media ethics inquiry Gordon Brown will also give testimony LONDON: British media ethics inquiry said yesterday that Prime Minister David Cameron will give evidence next week, amid questions over his ties to a number of suspects in the country’s tabloid phone hacking scandal. The judge-led inquiry, which Cameron set up to examine malpractice in the media and ties between politicians and the press, said it would also take testimony from ex-leaders Gordon Brown - who had an often troubled relationship with British newspapers - and John Major. It confirmed it would also take evidence from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Treasury chief George Osborne, Scottish leader Alex Salmond and main opposition Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, who has been a vocal critic of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire since the phone scandal erupted.

Cameron, who will give evidence in a day-long session on Thursday, has been stung by his links to key figures in Murdoch’s British newspaper operations.

His former communications chief Andy Coulson has been arrested and charged by police with perjury in a case connected to the scandal, while two of Cameron’s friends have also been charged over alleged attempts to hamper the inquiry into phone hacking. Ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie - a friend of Cameron since their school days - live close to the British leader’s home in southern England.

Both face allegations of perverting the course of justice. Coulson, who quit as Cameron’s top media aide in January 2011, and Brooks are both former editors of the News of The World tabloid, which was closed down by Murdoch last July amid a wave of public revulsion at revelations that staff routinely hacked the cellphone voice mail messages of those in the public eye.

Charlie Beckett, director of the POLIS media institute at the London School of Economics, said Cameron’s judgment is

BERLIN: Prime Minister David Cameron briefs the media prior to a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. He will give evidence next week amid questions over his ties to suspects in the country’s tabloid phone hacking scandal. — AP likely to come under scrutiny, but warned those who expect the leader to be humbled are likely to be disappointed. “It’s difficult to see what the killer questions are. As the politicians have given evidence the inquiry’s tone hasn’t had that same feel of a trial, as it did when journalists were being questioned,” he said. The inquiry, which opened in September, has seen reporters and editors intensely grilled on media practices. Opposition lawmakers, including Miliband, have insisted that Cameron’s decision to hire Coulson - and to keep friendly ties to Brooks - shows a failure of judgment. Cameron has long insisted that Coulson had deserved a “second chance” after he quit the News of the World in 2007 when a reporter and private investigator were jailed in what the company claimed at the time was an isolated case of phone hacking. The British leader will also face questioning over his decision to assign Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to make an

impartial decision on a takeover deal by Murdoch’s News Corp. Hunt was made responsible in December 2010 for a decision on whether News Corp. should be authorized to take full control of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting, in which it holds a 39 percent stake. Cameron turned to Hunt after Britain’s Business Secretary Vince Cable was taped by undercover reporters claiming he planned to “declare war on Murdoch,” and subsequently removed from making the decision on the grounds of bias. But the inquiry has already published a letter Hunt sent to Cameron before he was assigned to adjudicate on the takeover in which he warned that blocking the deal would damage Britain’s media industry. Giving his own evidence to the inquiry last week, Hunt said his cozy ties to the tycoon’s media empire were well known to the British leader, raising doubts over Cameron’s decision-making. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Pentagon halts free guns for police WASHINGTON: The Defense Department has stopped issuing weapons to thousands of law enforcement agencies until it is satisfied that state officials can account for all the surplus guns, aircraft, Humvees and armored personnel carriers it has given police under a $2.6 billion program, The Associated Press has learned.

The department’s Defense Logistics Agency ordered state-appointed coordinators in 49 states to certify the whereabouts of that equipment that has already been distributed through the long-running arrangement overseen by the agency’s Law Enforcement Support Office. The temporary halt on transferring weapons applies to all states, agency officials said Thursday.

The program provides police departments and other law enforcement agencies with military equipment ranging from guns and helicopters to computers and air conditioners and even toilet paper. The equipment is cheap or free for law enforcement agencies to acquire, but much of it comes with strict rules that prohibit it from being sold and dictate how it must be tracked. The military decided to conduct a “one-time, clean sweep” of all state inventories instead of reviewing them piecemeal, said Kenneth MacNevin, a spokesman for the federal agency. While some gear, including guns, has been stolen or otherwise gone missing over the years, MacNevin said the reporting requirements themselves aren’t new and that the review wasn’t prompted by anything specific.

“Leadership decided to make sure we have a good, full accounting for all of this,” he said. “We’re not doing this based on any thought there’s a problem. We’re doing it because accountability is accountability.”

However, MacNevin said a pair of news media reports and a weeks-long series of AP requests for records were factors in the decision to send letters to the states late last month ordering them to comply with program rules or face suspension from it. Only New Hampshire didn’t get a letter, for reasons that weren’t immediately clear. The Arizona Republic reported last month that the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has stockpiled millions of dollars’ worth of equipment through the program, distributing some of the gear to non-police agencies, and intended to sell other property, which would violate the program’s rules.

“I don’t have any info on if something triggered” the Defense Department’s recent order, Matt Van Camp, a police detective in Payson, Ariz., who coordinates that state’s program, told the AP in an email. “All I know is Arizona is 100 percent compliant on weapons inventory.” A report in March by California Watch, which was founded by the Center for Investigative Reporting, found that California police accumulated more equipment during 2011 than any other year in the program’s two-decade history. That follows the overall trend in the program, which last year doled out almost $500 million in gear, up by more than double from the year before.

Tim Hoyle, another spokesman for the Battle Creek, Mich.-based Defense Logistics Agency, said all weapons will be withheld until the accounting is completed. Easier said than done. Most of the state surplus program coordinators who have responded to records requests from the AP say they only keep paper records.

The few states that keep electronic records only recent-

ly made the switch from paper. The Illinois Department of Central Management Services, for instance, said it would take its staff members at least 500 hours merely to review the records requested by the AP. “There are over 800 Illinois law enforcement agencies that submit applications to the state under the LESO program,” agency employee Sunny Clark wrote. “CMS would need to go through each file individually in order to gather the records requested, which would be a difficult and time-consuming process.”

In a letter dated May 24, the military notified the state of Florida that it had failed to certify that a “complete (100 percent) physical inventory” of weapons, aircraft, Humvees and armored personnel carriers was completed in 2011. The agency said it intended to suspend Florida from participating in the Law Enforcement Support Office program if the certifications weren’t received by June 22. But a Florida official who supervises the state coordinator for the program said the letter was sent in error, because the state had, in fact, completed its required annual audit. “We should be receiving a letter from LESO in the coming days formally rescinding their earlier memo,” the official, Mike McClure, wrote in a June 1 email to several colleagues.

Hoyle said the letters were tailored to each state based on the information the agency is seeking. The surplus program has grown exponentially in recent years, with a record $498 million worth of property distributed in fiscal year 2011. That includes $191 million in aircraft alone and more than 15,000 weapons worth nearly $4.8 million. —AP

News groups seek change in Idaho execution policy PASADENA: Following a federal appeals court request, an Idaho prosecutor says he’ll try to reach state prison officials to see if they’ll change a policy that prevents full viewing access of an upcoming execution. Seventeen news organizations, including The Associated Press, pressed for the change in Idaho policy during a hearing Thursday before the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The three-judge panel heard arguments in a lawsuit that seeks to strike a portion of Idaho’s regulations that prevent witnesses - including reporters acting as representatives of the public - from watching executions until after catheters have been inserted into the veins of death row inmates.

No ruling was issued, but the judges noted the federal court had already ruled in a 2002 California

BOISE: This file photo shows the execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution as Warden Randy Blades, right, stands in the observation room. A legal challenge seeking full viewing access to Idaho executions went before a federal appeals court on Thursday. — AP

case that every aspect of an execution should be open to witnesses, from the moment the condemned enters the death chamber to the final heartbeat. The decade-old decision established what was expected of the nine Western states within the court’s jurisdiction. The court asked Idaho prosecutors to inquire whether the prison warden would allow full viewing access to the execution.

Idaho Deputy Attorney General Michael Gilmore said outside of court that he will try to reach the warden to see if a policy change could be made in time for next week’s execution of Richard Leavitt, who was convicted of the 1984 murder of Blackfoot resident Danette Elg. The news organizations filed their case last month after talks were unsuccessful with prison officials, who took the position that the 2002 ruling was based on facts unique to California, said Chuck Brown, an attorney for the news organizations, who cited letters from Idaho correction director Brent Reinke. The lawsuit comes as lethal injections have drawn greater scrutiny, from whether the drugs are effective to whether the execution personnel are properly trained. The news organizations also asked a federal judge in Idaho to prevent Leavitt’s execution from moving forward without the changes, but that request was denied Tuesday. In his decision, US District Judge Edward J. Lodge said that while the news organizations had presented a strong case in arguing that the execution limits run afoul of freedom of the press provisions, the timing of the claim fell too close to Leavitt’s execution date and could cause a delay.

Lodge didn’t rule on the merits of the lawsuit, only denying the request for a preliminary injunction. The media outlets want the 9th Circuit to reverse Lodge’s decision, arguing the process is unconstitutionally restrictive. Gilmore said one of the concerns leveled by Idaho prison officials was that the identities of the five-member execution team might be made public if the execution is viewed by witnesses from start to finish. “They have a very keen interest in their anonymity,” Gilmore said. —AP

BUENOS AIRES: A woman bangs pot lids during a ‘cacerolazo’ (a form of civilian protest where pots are used to make noise) at the Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires Thursday. — AFP

Argentines bang pots and pans to protest government Pot-banging protests potent symbol of 2001/02 crisis BUENOS AIRES: Several thousand Argentines protested against the government of President Cristina Fernandez by banging pots and pans in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires late on Thursday. Pot-banging protests are highly symbolic in Argentina, stirring memories of the street demonstrations staged by angry savers, housewives and students during a devastating economic and political crisis of 2001/02. The protesters, who gathered in the downtown Plazo de Mayo square after receiving messages on social networks, complained about double-digit inflation, a virtual ban on purchases of foreign currency by savers and crime.

“We’re fed up of the corruption and crime,” said Joaquin Cuneo, 21. “Some of things they do are okay, but they’re getting a lot wrong.” High inflation, capital flight and slowing economic

growth are prompting Fernandez to pursue increasingly off-beat economic policies. Less than a year since she won easy re-election, polls have shown a decline in her approval ratings in recent months despite broad support for the renationalization of the country’s biggest energy company, YPF. She has dismissed anger over the restrictions on dollar purchases, saying only a few Argentines are affected and urging them to save in the local peso currency instead.

Several smaller pot-banging protests also took place in middle-class neighborhoods on Thursday, local television said. The last time socalled “cacerolazos” were staged against Fernandez’s government was during a bitter conflict in 2008 that saw Buenos Aires residents take to the streets in sympathy for farmer protests against a tax increase on soy exports. - Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Security leaks must end: US lawmakers WASHINGTON: The top US lawmakers overseeing intelligence stood united Thursday in demanding an end to a “cascade” of national security leaks, as they scrambled to draw up legislation to rein in breaches that they say jeopardize lives.

Several members of Congress have fumed this week over a series of news reports, some quoting anonymous administration officials, that reveal details of covert US operations.

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chair Dianne Feinstein said she wants Congress to swiftly enact legislation tightening rules to prevent unauthorized data breaches, and welcomed an investigation launched by the FBI into leaks that have infuriated lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

But she held back on calling for a special prosecutor to look into the leaks, which some Republicans, notably Senator John McCain, say were done in order to give President Barack Obama the image of a tough commander-in-chief in an election year. “A special prosecutor can take years,” Feinstein told reporters, with committee ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss and the two leaders of the House intelligence committee at her side. “We don’t have years. We need to legislate, we need to get some solutions before us very quickly.”

“This has to stop,” she said of the leaks. “It puts lives at risk.”

The bipartisan quartet-Feinstein, Chambliss, Republican congressman Mike Rogers and ranking Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger-were briefed Thursday by the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, who Chambliss said was “extremely upset” about the developments. The group later met with FBI chief Robert Mueller, whose agency has launched an official investigation. “All of us are extremely upset about the fact that not only have leaks occurred but there’s been just a cascade of leaks coming out of the intelligence community over the last several weeks and months,” Chambliss said.

Several explosive stories have emerged recently, including Obama’s push for cyber attacks on computers that run Iran’s nuclear facilities; an apparent “kill list” of counterterrorism targets against whom Obama has authorized lethal action; and a secret drone campaign against terrorists in Yemen. The New York Times reported that sources for their articles on the covert programs included former or current administration officials. Rogers said it was too early to determine whether the leaks had a political bent, although he said the overall problem “seems to be a pattern that is growing worse and more frequent,” and he was critical of the administration’s apparent “inability to keep a secret.”

“To have all four of us come forward today and talk about the severity of these leaks I hope sends a very clear message about how dangerous this has become,” Rogers said. “There is a clear need for a formal investigation,” he said. The White House, which clashed with McCain by calling his accusations that the leaks were for political gain “grossly irresponsible,” said Obama would not agree to an independent counsel to probe the breaches. The administration is taking “all appropriate and necessary steps to prevent leaks of classified information or sensitive information that could risk our counterterrorism operations,” Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One. “Any suggestion that the White House has leaked sensitive information for political purposes has no basis in fact.”

But Obama’s Republican White House rival, Mitt Romney, believes the president should take greater charge in order to stop the leaks in their tracks. “Leadership starts at the top. It’s his sincere hope that the president is using all means at his disposal to put an end to this harmful practice,” Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg told AFP. McCain, who lost the 2008 presidential race to Obama and is now a key Romney supporter, reportedly stood by his accusation on Thursday, and received backing from Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “It has to be for reelection,” King told Politico magazine about the leaks.

“They can deny it all they want. But it would require a suspension of belief to believe it’s not being done for political purposes.” Feinstein gave no details of what tools she would seek to insert into legislation in order to prevent future leaks.

And she downplayed any fallout of a major investigation ahead of November’s election, saying a probe should not be seen as a political ploy against the president. “This is not finger pointing at anybody,” she said. — AFP

Obama campaign raises more questions about Romney’s wealth ‘Romney should meet tougher federal standards’ WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is not doing enough to ensure his political actions are not influenced by his multimillion-dollar fortune, officials with President Barack Obama’s campaign said on Thursday. The Obama campaign questioned why Romney has kept his extensive investments in a blind trust administered by his longtime lawyer, rather than setting up a trust that meets more rigorous federal conflict-of-interest standards. Obama officials periodically invoke Romney’s fortune, worth as much as $250 million, to try to make the case that he is out of touch with the concerns of most Americans.

“It raises a host of questions of why it is that he will not abide by more rigorous standards,” Obama general counsel Robert Bauer said on a conference call. The Romney campaign dismissed the questions as an effort by the Obama campaign to change the subject after a string of bad news in recent days. Romney has pulled virtually even with Obama in several polls, raised more campaign cash than the president’s team did in May, and has new hope of a strong showing in Wisconsin, where Republican Governor Scott Walker survived a recall election on Tuesday.

“Another day, another tired distraction by the Obama campaign, which is frantic to avoid discussing the continued rejection of President Obama’s agenda by the electorate and by members of his own party,” Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said. “As has been reported for years, Governor and Mrs. Romney’s assets are managed on a blind basis,” Saul added.

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama returns to the White House after a trip to the West Coast, Thursday. Officials with President Barack Obama’s campaign said on Thursday that Mitt Romney is not doing enough to ensure his political actions. — AP “They do not control the investment of these assets, which are under the control and overall management of a trustee.”

WON’T MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS Since he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Romney’s finances have been handled in a blind trust by longtime personal attorney Brad Malt, who also served as the primary outside lawyer to Romney’s former private equity firm, Bain Capital. That arrangement would not comply with stricter federal standards for independence, said Stephen Potts, a former head of the US Office of Government Ethics. Romney officials have said they would set up a blind trust that meets federal standards if he were elected

president. That means Romney, and the public, wouldn’t know details of his holdings, Potts said.

Obama officials say Romney should have set up the federal trust when he first ran for president in 2007. Critics question whether Malt has handled Romney’s finances in a truly independent manner, pointing to a $1 million investment in Solamere Capital LLC, a hedge fund run in part by Romney’s son Tagg. According to the Wall Street Journal, Malt sold off holdings in Chinese companies after Mitt Romney began sharply criticizing Chinese trade and currency policies last year. Malt also has said he tries to manage the fund in a way that reflects Romney’s political beliefs. — Reuters

CIUDAD JUAREZ: People hold letter signs to form the word “Justice” at the US-Mexico border, during the second anniversary of the killing of Mexican Sergio Adrian Hernandez, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Thursady. Sergio Adrian Hernandez was killed while attempting to cross the Mexico-US border, under the “Santa Fe International Cross” gate. — AFP

Fourteen bodies found in northeast Mexico NUEVO LAREDO: Fourteen dismembered bodies were found Thursday in an abandoned cargo vehicle in northeastern Mexico, an area prone to drug violence, prosecutors told AFP. A police officer discovered the bodies of 11 men and three women at midday in the vehicle, which was illegally parked near city hall in Ciudad Mante, they said. Ciudad Mante, which has a population of 10,000, is located in the Tamaulipas state, some 370 kilometers (230 miles) north of Mexico City. In mid-April, police found 10 bodies in the town, some of them decapitated. Police also found a blanket on the site with a message from the killers, but officials declined to give further details.

According to local media, a man parked the vehicle in broad daylight and then walked away down one of the town’s busiest streets.

Police and soldiers blocked off the area after the bodies were discovered and conducted a raid nearby. The bodies were then taken

to the morgue. The Tamaulipas state-along the US-Mexico borderhas been the site of fierce turf wars between the Gulf drug cartel and the Zetas. The original Zetas were anti-drug commandos who deserted and went to work for the Gulf cartel in the mid-1990s as hired guns. They later split to form their own cartel.

More than 50,000 people have been killed since President Felipe Calderon launched a tough military crackdown on criminal groups in December 2006, most in battles between rival cartels. On May 4, 14 mutilated bodies were discovered in the Tamaulipas city of Nuevo Laredo, on the border with Laredo, Texas. Earlier that day nine bodies were found hanging from an overpass in Nuevo Laredo. Nuevo Laredo and the roads leading to the border town are key smuggling routes, as 40 percent of all cargo crossing northbound into the United States from Mexico goes through the city. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Myanmar good example for North Korea: US envoy TOKYO: The US point man on human rights in North Korea said yesterday Pyongyang should take a leaf out of Myanmar’s book and reform, while ruling out any immediate resumption of food aid to the isolated nation. Special envoy Robert King said the global response to Yangon over the last year demonstrated that there was a benefit to one-time pariah states if they reengaged with the world. “I would hope that North Koreans would see what’s happened in Burma and recognise that as something that’s positive,” King told reporters in Tokyo, using the country’s former name.

Myanmar was a longtime global outcast but has been gradually accepted back into the international fold in tandem with reforms that have seen a qua-

si-civilian government coming to power and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi elected to parliament. Myanmar, which maintained close ties with Pyongyang for decades, has promised to refrain from military cooperation with the nuclear-armed North. “The changes have certainly produced very positive results, in terms of lifting of sanctions, in terms of the acceptance in the international community,” King said.

“It would seem to me that if the leadership in North Korea made the moves in the directions that Burma has made, the United States and the rest of the world community would respond the same way they responded to the changes taking place in Burma,” he said.

“North Koreans have expressed concerns about sanctions. If the North

Koreans move in directions that are positive (and) result in opportunities for the (International Atomic Energy Agency) to monitor nuclear issues, I think there will be positive movement in other directions as there has been in Burma.”

Asked about a resumption of food aid to North Korea, King said it was something that could be considered in the future, but was not on the table at present. The US had offered 240,000 tonnes of assistance to the North, which struggles to feed itself, but withdrew the pledge after Pyongyang said it was going ahead with what it claimed was a satellite launch. Washington and its allies said the launch was a disguised missile test. Pyongyang declared the April launch a failure after its rocket disintegrated shortly after liftoff. — AFP

TOKYO: Police officers hand out wanted leaflets of Katsuya Takahashi, the last fugitive of the Aum Shinrikyo cult wanted as a murder suspect in the 1995 sarin nerve gas attack on Tokyo subways, to people at a railway station yesterday. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Several Taleban escape prison in Afghan north MAZAR-E-SHARIF: At least 20 prisoners, most of them Taleban, escaped from a jail in northern Afghanistan after the insurgents destroyed a part of the building with an improvised explosive device, the provincial governor said yesterday. The jail break occurred on Thursday night in Sar-e-Pul province, and four prisoners were killed and 28 wounded in the gunbattle that erupted with prison guards soon after the blast, governor Abdul Jabar Haqbeen said.

“The enemies of the people of Afghanistan brought IEDs and exploded them. We are investigating how they managed to bring them here,” he said.

The Taleban have repeatedly attempted to free their comrades from jails around the country and last April sprang 500 of them from the main prison in their southern stronghold of Kandahar. Haqbeen said there were 160 inmates in the small prison, most of them suspected criminals. The Taleban

claimed responsibility, saying in a statement that several of those who had escaped were military commanders and district governors. Afghan forces are gradually taking over control of security across the nation ahead of the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops in 2014. Earlier this year, local authorities took formal control of the US-run Bagram prison where hundreds of suspected Taleban are being held. — Reuters

NATO apologizes for deaths in Afghan airstrike PATROL BASE PUL-I-ALAM: The commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan apologized yesterday for civilian deaths in a coalition airstrike earlier this week - the first confirmation by NATO forces that civilians were killed in the operation. Marine Gen. John Allen flew to Logar province to personally deliver his regrets to villagers and provincial officials for the deaths of women, children and village elders in Wednesday’s pre-dawn raid to capture a Taleban operative. Afghan officials have said the airstrike called in by NATO troops killed 18 civilians.

“I know that no apology can bring back the lives of the children or the people who perished in this tragedy and this accident, but I want you to know that you have my apology and we will do the right thing by the families,” Allen told the group of about two dozen Afghans gathered at a base at the provincial capital of Pul-i-Alam.

Nighttime raids on militants taking cover in villages have been a repeated source of strain between the Afghan government, which says the raids put civilians in the crossfire, and its international allies, who say such operations are key to rooting out insurgent leaders.

A deal signed in April was supposed to resolve the issue by putting the Afghan government in charge of such operations, and the troops involved in Wednesday’s raid included Afghan soldiers. But Afghan President Hamid Karzai has put the blame for this week’s deaths squarely on the international coalition, condemning their actions and calling for them to give a fuller account of how small children were among the dead. NATO and Afghan officials have said the troops were on an operation to capture a Taleban leader who had holed up in the house in Baraki Barak district’s Sajawand village. As they tried to breach the compound, they came under fire and fought back, eventually calling in an airstrike.

Villagers have said there was a wed-

ding at the house the evening before and that it was full of families visiting for the celebration. The morning after the bombing, they piled the bodies of the dead into vans and drove them to the provincial capital to protest the airstrike. An Afghan doctor who examined the bodies and interviewed two women injured in the airstrike said a group of Taleban fighters decided to spend the night in the house because they thought the wedding would provide them cover. When NATO and Afghan troops started advancing on the house in the middle of the night, they called out for any civilians to come out, but the insurgents didn’t allow them to leave, said Wali Wakil.

“The Taleban stopped them from getting out of the house,” Wakil said. He said the 18 dead civilians including four women, two old men, three teenage boys and nine young children. Six Taleban fighters were also killed, Wakil said, citing the witnesses. Police had said previously that the district Taleban commander was killed.

Allen said that the troops did not know that there were civilians inside the house when they called in the airstrike. “They were taken under fire. A hand grenade was thrown. Three of our people were wounded. We called for the people who were shooting to come out, and then the situation became more grave and innocent people were killed,” he told The Associated Press after talking with the group gathered in Logar.

“Our weapons killed these people,” Allen said. He declined to confirm the exact death toll or provide more details on the operation, citing the ongoing investigation. In Logar, Allen met with the governor before taking his message to the assembled group of Baraki Barak residents and local officials. He invoked his own family, saying that he kept seeing the faces of his own children as he thought about the children who had been killed. Associated Press writer Heidi Vogt contributed to this report from Kabul. — AP

LOGAR PROVINCE: The commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, US Marine Lt. General John Allen, center, meets with the Governor of Logar Province, Allhaj Mohammad Tahir Sabari, left, south of Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Lt. General Allen apologized yesterday for civilian deaths in a coalition airstrike earlier this week, the first confirmation by NATO forces that civilians were killed in the operation. — AP

PESHAWAR: Pakistani policemen stand by the wreckage of a bus that exploded when a bomb planted in it went off on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, yesterday. — AP

Bomb blast kills 19 on Pakistan bus: Police Busy carrying government employees targetted PESHAWAR: A bomb blast ripped through a Pakistani bus yesterday, killing 19 people, including seven women and a child, on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. More than 40 others were wounded in the attack on a bus rented by the government to take staff home after work in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was the deadliest attack in months on Peshawar, which has long been a flashpoint for a local Taleban insurgency targeting government officials, security forces and ordinary civilians.

The city runs into the semi-autonomous tribal belt that US officials consider a safe haven for Al-Qaeda and insurgents fighting both in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan.

The explosion went off in the Daudzai area, killing government employees and other private passengers riding the same bus, officials said. “The bomb was planted under the bus,” provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told reporters. Police official Tahir Ayub told AFP 19 people were killed and more than 40 wounded. The dead included 12 government employees and others were private passengers, he said.

Another police official, Shafiullah Khan, said seven women and a girl, aged seven, were among the dead.

The explosion destroyed the back end of the bus.

Bloodied pieces of human flesh littered the seats, along with blood-stained clothes on the road lined with juniper trees, an AFP reporter said.

Muhammad Ullah, 48, a police official on the bus, said there was a deafening blast. “The explosion triggered massive smoke inside the bus but even then we could feel soft and bloody pieces of human flesh hitting our bodies,” Ullah told AFP while being treated for head and shoulder injuries. Arsalan, a junior clerk in the

provincial auditor general’s office, said he remembered asking the driver to stop at a mosque on the road for main Friday prayers just before the explosion took place. “I don’t remember what happened next because I fainted and (found myself) in a hospital bed,” the 28year-old, also with head and neck injuries, told AFP. The attack came one day after a remote-controlled bomb killed at least 15 people outside a madrassa in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta.

The country of 180 million sits on the frontline of the US-led war on Al-Qaeda and since July 2007 has been gripped by a local Taleban-led insurgency, concentrated largely in the northwest. In the last five years, attacks blamed on Islamist bombers have killed more than 5,000 people according to an AFP tally. Pakistan’s relations with the United States are in disarray and for the last six months, since US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the border, it has imposed a blockade on NATO supplies crossing overland into Afghanistan. On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Pakistan that the United States was running out of patience over Islamabad’s refusal to do more to eliminate safe havens for insurgents who attack US troops fighting a 10-year war against the Taleban in Afghanistan.

Panetta made the strong remarks after talks with Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak on the latest leg of an Asian tour that took him to Pakistan’s arch-rival India, but not Islamabad in a sign of dire USPakistan relations. He singled out the Haqqani network, a Taleban and Al-Qaeda-linked faction that has bases in Pakistan’s lawless tribal district of North Waziristan and which has been blamed for some of the deadliest attacks of the 10-year war in Afghanistan. — AFP

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China cuts rates, fuel price in stimulus move

Spain to request EU bank aid

Business

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Greece rushes for loans to avert energy meltdown

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Samsung introduces GALAXY S III in Kuwait

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PARIS: A picture taken yesterday shows a figurine and words cut from newspapers to illustrate recession, crisis and financial situation in Europe. — AFP

Oil market copes with Iran exit Saudi boosts output to highest level in decades KUALA LUMPUR: The global oil market is well supplied and can cope with the loss of Iranian crude to Western sanctions, oil officials and executives, including the heads of Total and Royal Dutch Shell, said this week. An increase in global crude supplies and falling crude prices have helped cushion the impact of sanctions targeting Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. “The market is well supplied. There is no shortage,” the head of French oil firm Total said at a conference in Malaysia when asked if he was concerned about the loss of Iranian supply on the oil market.

Total’s Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie added that Brent crude prices had seen “a very important decrease.” Brent crude was trading just under $99 per barrel yesterday after dropping to a 16-month low below $96 a barrel earlier this week. Troubles in the euro zone have overshadowed the tensions between the West and Iran, OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, after Brent prices hit a record high of $128 a barrel in March.

Speaking at the same conference, Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser said oil prices will weaken further in the second half of this year as demand

reacts to a slowing global economy, while international political tensions were fading. “Global demand is softening, we have got recessionary elements in Europe, a small slowdown in Asia Pacific,” Voser told Reuters in an interview earlier this week.

“At the same time, some of the geopolitical elements of price volatility over the past few months have kind of receded, and therefore we see a softening of prices which I expect to go well into the second half of this year.”

More supply Ahead of a meeting of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) next week, Algerian Oil Minister Youcef Yousfi also said the market could cope with a drop in Iranian supply. “Yes, there is enough oil in the market,” the minister said when asked whether there is sufficient crude to offset the impact of Western sanctions on Iranian exports.

An increase in global crude supplies and falling prices put the market in a better position, said Daniel Yergin, IHS CERA chairman and author

of the Pulitzer winning work “The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, & Power”. “This is a very powerful flotilla of sanctions that are heading towards Iran, it’s never been this powerful,” he said.

“What makes a big difference is that there is alternative oil in the market. There is a very concerted effort to ensure that alternative supply that will come into the market to enable the sanctions to work.” Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has boosted output to the highest level in decades to cool global oil prices and cover any supply disruption.

Increased US supplies have made more oil available to the world’s top consumer, cutting its import needs, and more supply was also coming from Iraq as international oil companies develop giant fields there and from Libya as the country recovers from civil war, he added.

Asia cuts Iran imports China, Japan, India and South Korea have already cut their imports by about a fifth from the 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) they were buy-

ing a year ago as they prepare for the US financial sanctions to come into effect. The United States will announce a new list of countries that will receive exceptions from sanctions as soon as early next week, a government official had said, although it may withhold waivers for China and Singapore.

Time is running out for Asian buyers to come up with ways to keep imports flowing without falling foul of the toughest Western sanctions to date against Tehran’s oil trade. Solutions have proved elusive so far. Malaysia’s Petronas, one of the smaller Iranian crude buyers, is buying alternative grades from West Africa and other Gulf suppliers. “We’ve got our sources. As long as we can get the right quality, the right type of oil for our refineries we’re okay,” said Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, Petronas’s chief operating officer and executive vice president of downstream.

Petronas stopped importing some 50,000-60,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude for its Malacca refinery and the majority-owned Engen refinery in South Africa in April, company officials had said. — Reuters

business

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Relcon Group in Kuwait to promote real estate KUWAIT: A team from Relcon Properties Kerala is in Kuwait to promote their project and their latest projects on sale are given below: “Dezira Pazhampilly Heritage” Kochi is a 16-storied super luxury water view apartments with 72 units varying from 1,435 sqft to 1,850 sqft with all the amenities like party hall, home theater, swimming pool, library, health club and with many other facilities on Marine Drive Extn. Dezira Pazhampilly Heritage (DPH) Project stands by the side of proposed 100 feet wide ring road. The price is starting from Rs.67 lakhs to Rs.85 lakhs and is due for completion by April 2014, “Dezira Pazhampilly Heritage” by

Relcon is a perfect investment.

Relcon Travencore Heights - Thiruvalla is a 16-storied building situated next to Travencore Club and Pushpagiri Medicity on M.C. Road and there are 56 numbers of 3 BHK of 2,000 sqft each.

The price is Rs.70 lakhs and the project is due for completion in December 2012. There are also 12 studio apartments adjacent to this project (450 sqft fully furnished) and the price is about Rs.20 lakhs. Relcon Castle, Thampuranmukku, Trivandrum is a 11-storied building with 27 apartments varying from 1,353 sqft to 2,020 sqft near General Hospital (soon this will be a Medical College) in the heart of the

Trivandrum city. The price ranges from Rs.60 lakhs to Rs.90 lakhs and due for completion in December 2012.Relcon Ashiyana Villas at

T.K. Alexander Vaidian

Kochi is a gated colony near Kalamassery and only two more units are available for sale which are ready to occupy, and the price is Rs.65 lakhs.

When we analyze the world economy today, Indian Economy is doing very well with all its failures and success and are still able to maintain a growth rate of about 9 percent.

Already there is a shortage of about 25 million residential units and this is going to increase to about 35 million within the next 5 years.

Therefore investment in housing sector is a sure bet to hedge against the inflation or for actual Residential purpose.

Relcon Properties (P) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Kerala Real

Estate conglomerate Relcon Group is a quality construction and exceptional post-sales service organisation.

Being part of Relcon Group, a vertically integrated realestate developer, Relcon Properties promises a commitment to using quality material and excellence in construction at every stage of project implementation.

“With a builder who believes and allows every single customer to get more out of their investments through providing innovative suggestions in quality living, don’t you think you have reached your dream home?” T. K. Alexander Vaidian, CMD and Suresh Vaidian, director asked.

China cuts rates, fuel price in stimulus move Economic slump raises unemployment risk BEIJING: China cut state-set gasoline and diesel prices for the second time in a month yesterday amid mounting government efforts to reverse a sharp slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. The reduction in fuel prices followed an interest rate cut on Thursday, which was the first in almost four years, and a small but significant step toward letting the market set rates paid on bank deposits. The fuel price cut will reduce retail costs of the mostly commonly used grade of gasoline by over 5 percent. Diesel prices will be cut by a similar amount, effective today.

The central bank’s rate cut was the first since 2008 and came as Chinese leaders are reversing course after tightening controls for two years to cool an overheated economy. Beijing also announced that it will for the first time allow banks to pay deposit rates higher than the state-mandated level. That might help to shift money to households and boost consumer spending.

The slowdown in the world’s secondlargest economy raises the risk of job losses and unrest, making it politically dangerous for the ruling Communist Party.

It is trying to enforce calm ahead of a once-a-decade handover of power to younger leaders. Analysts suggested authorities were spurred to greater urgency by May trade and industrial data due out this weekend that might be even weaker than pessimistic forecasts expected. “Markets are bracing for a potentially bad set of May economic data,” said Moody’s Analytics economist Alaistair Chan in a report.

Beijing is unveiling new measures almost daily to shore up growth that slowed to 8.1 percent in the first quarter and is expected to decline further. It plans to pump money into the economy through more spending on construction of airports and other public works and to encourage corporate investment. The central bank cut the rate on a one-year

loan by a quarter percentage point to 6.31 percent effective yesterday. It was the first rate cut since November 2008.

“The rate cut could help to alleviate the financial burdens of firms and boost demand for loans,” said Goldman Sachs economist Yu Song in a report. The government has also approved a multibillion-dollar wave of major investments by state companies. However, communist leaders are moving cautiously after their huge stimulus in response to the 2008 financial crisis fuelled inflation and a wasteful building boom.

The price of the most commonly used grade of gasoline will be cut by 0.43 yuan (7 US cents) per litre, according to the country’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. That would be a reduction of just over 5 percent in Beijing, which has some of China’s highest prices, to 7.64 yuan ($1.21) per liter. Other areas with lower pump prices would get a bigger cut in percentage terms.

The looser controls on deposit rates might prompt banks to raise rates to the official cap as they compete to attract and keep depositors, analysts said. “This too should help stimulus

efforts,” said Qinwei Wang and Mark Williams of Capital Economics. The controls have given Chinese banks a margin between lending and deposit rates of more than 3 percent - among the world’s largest - and guaranteed them fat profits.

Profits for China’s banks are equal to more than 3 percent of gross domestic product, the highest rate for any major economy and well above Japan’s 0.6 percent and Australia’s 2.7 percent, according to Citigroup analyst Simon Ho. This week’s change should narrow banks’ interest rate margin by 0.19 percentage point, according to Deutschebank’s Jun Ma. Also Thursday, the central bank expanded flexibility for banks in rates they can charge borrowers. The minimum rate for commercial loans was lowered to 0.8 times the benchmark from the previous level of 0.9 percent.

More than 70 percent of bank loans already are charged at rates above the benchmark, according to J.P. Morgan.

That could help to cushion the impact of easing controls on deposit rates because banks effectively already have wider margins on those loans. — AP

HUAIBEI: A clerk counts Chinese banknotes at a bank yesterday. — AP

MADRID: Protesters stand with a banner reading ‘Bankia is ours’ inside a branch of a Caja de Madrid/Bankia bank yesterday. — AP

Spain to request EU bank aid MADRID/BERLIN: Spain is expected to ask Europe for help at the weekend with recapitalising its stricken banks, EU and German sources said on Friday, becoming the fourth country to seek assistance since the euro zone’s debt crisis began. Five officials in Brussels and Berlin said finance ministers of the single currency area would hold a conference call on Saturday morning to discuss a Spanish request for aid, although no figure on the assistance has yet been set. The Eurogroup will issue a statement after the call, which is scheduled to take place before midday European time, the sources said.

“The announcement is expected for Saturday afternoon,” one of the EU officials said. The dramatic move comes after Fitch Ratings cut Madrid’s sovereign credit rating by three notches to BBB from A on Thursday, highlighting the Spanish banking sector’s exposure to bad property loans and to contagion from Greece’s debt crisis. “The government of Spain has realised the seriousness of their problem,” a senior German official said.

He added that an agreement had to be reached before a Greek general election on June 17 which could cause market panic and increase the possibility of Athens leaving the euro zone if parties opposed to the terms of an EU/IMF bailout win.

The EU and German sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. A spokesman for the European Commission said Spain had made no request for aid and would not confirm that a conference call was planned. But added that if Spain did make a request, the euro zone had instruments ready to provide help.

“If such a request were to be made, the instruments are there, ready to be used, in agreement with the guidelines agreed in the past, in 2011,” Amadeu Altafaj told reporters. “We are not at that point.” In Madrid, where the Spanish cabinet was holding its weekly meeting, a government spokeswoman said she was not aware of any pending announcement on a bank rescue. She recalled that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Thursday he would await the outcome of two external audits later this month before talking with Europe about how to recapitalise troubled lenders. — Reuters

business

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

New French bill aims to prevent factory closures Government, unions fear wave of layoffs

ROME: Italian Prime minister Mario Monti gestures during a press conference yesterday. Monti won pledges of support yesterday from the country’s powerful business lobby and the main centre-left party, restoring confidence in his mandate to reform the ailing economy after he complained he lacked backing. — AP

Bundesbank optimistic even as economic gloom deepens FRANKFURT: The Bundesbank upgraded its forecast for growth of the German economy this year, even as new data showed Europe’s top economy is increasingly feeling the pain from the euro-zone debt crisis. In its latest monthly report, the German central bank raised its forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year to 1.0 percent from 0.6 percent previously.

But it pared back its 2013 forecast to 1.6 percent from 1.8 percent.

“Following a temporary phase of weakness, the German economy has regained momentum,” the Bundesbank wrote in its latest monthly report. “The adjustment recession in some euro-zone countries and the loss in confidence resulting from the sovereign debt crisis have left their mark. But the German economy’s structural soundness and the robustness of the global economy have retained the upper hand,” it said.

The German economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2011, but managed to skirt a recession by clocking up growth of 0.5 percent in the first three months of this year. Activity is being driven by robust exports and consumer demand, even if the pace of growth looks set to slow, analysts say.

The Bundesbank acknowledged the current “difficult environment” and noted that demand for German-made goods from a number of euro-zone member states was suffering. “At the same time, the global economy has regained its footing and that means demand for German exports from countries outside Europe is on the rise,” it argued. In addition, the domestic labour market was in good shape and the current low level of interest rates was also favourable.

“Our assumption is that expansive forces will retain the upper hand as long the euro area debt crisis does not escalate,” said Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann. “All in all, the economic picture in Germany is a great deal more favourable than in most other European countries,” he said. Nevertheless, Weidmann’s optimism does not appear to be shared by others. The economy ministry, in its latest monthly report, warned that the euro crisis and slowing output worldwide posed growing risks for Germany. “In the course of the second quarter, the risks for the economic recovery have come more into focus. Both the indicators for the real economy and survey forecasts have worsened,” the ministry wrote. — AFP

PARIS: France’s new left-wing government will soon propose legislation that seeks to prevent profitable businesses being closed down or transferred abroad by their owners when a buyer is willing to keep the affair going in France, a minister said yesterday. Draft legislation, following up on election campaign pledges by President Francois Hollande to combat industrial decline and a haemorrhage of activity to low-cost countries, will be ready in the coming weeks, he said. The announcement was made by Arnaud Montebourg, a lawyer and member of parliament who has made himself a name as a strident critic of globalisation and landed a job as industry minister in Hollande’s cabinet, a post now rebranded minister of industrial revival.

“The bill will establish a judicial framework for passing on the baton when there’s a buyer for a profitable business instead of closing things down and letting big corporations shift their production out to low-cost countries,” Montebourg, a 49-year-old lawyer, told BFM TV. Hollande, elected on May 6, appointed an interim cabinet in mid-May that is set to become permanent if his Socialist Party and allies win control of the lower house of parliament in an election taking place on June 10 and 17, as polls predict.

The Senate upper house of parliament is already con-

trolled by the Left and an election victory would guarantee Hollande the majority he needs in the lower house, the National Assembly, to secure safe passage of legislation to implement his programme. One case that has inspired the planned law is the plight of two blast furnaces steel giant ArcelorMittal idled in eastern France last year.

Workers have lobbied hard to highlight what they fear will be the permanent shutdown of a viable and high-performance plant as Arcelor tries to sit out a lull in demand without surrendering the factory to a potential rival. The CGT trade union, one of France’s largest, has told the government as many as 45,000 jobs risk being lost imminently in the euro zone’s second-largest economy, where the jobless rate hit 10 percent in the first quarter of this year.

Business leaders and some economists are concerned that more state intervention in the economy to halt layoffs will only discourage investment and weigh on growth.

In another move to discourage layoffs, the government is also planning legislation that would making firing people more expensive for companies by raising the cost of redundancy payments. The government’s push to clamp down on layoffs and factory shutdowns contrasts with reforms under way in euro zone countries such as Italy and Spain where governments are easing regulation. — Reuters

Bernanke signals no steps to aid economy WASHINGTON: Slumping job growth has alarmed some economists who fear the US economy is in trouble. Ben Bernanke doesn’t appear to be one of them. The Federal Reserve chief sketched a hopeful outlook in testimony to a congressional panel Thursday and sent no signals that the Fed will take further steps soon to aid the economy. Bernanke acknowledged that Europe’s debt crisis poses risks to the US financial markets. He also noted that US unemployment remains high at 8.2 percent. And he said the Fed is prepared to take steps to boost the US economy if it weakens.

But he said Fed officials still need to study the most recent economic trends, including job growth. For now, Bernanke said he foresees moderate growth this year. He said he’s mindful that all that could change, if Europe’s crisis quickly worsened or US job growth stalled. “As always, the Federal Reserve remains prepared to take action as needed to protect the US financial system and economy in the event that financial stresses escalate,” he told the Joint Economic Committee.

The Fed could buy more bonds to try to further reduce long-term interest rates, which might encourage more borrowing and spending. Or it could extend its plan to keep shortterm rates near zero beyond late 2014 until an even later date. But most economists don’t expect a major announcement at the Fed’s next policy meeting June 19-20, despite signals this week from some other Fed members in favor of considering further action. For one thing, long-term US interest rates have already touched record lows. Even if rates dropped further, analysts say they might provide

little benefit for the economy. They say it’s unlikely that many businesses and consumers who aren’t borrowing now at super-low rates would do so if rates declined a bit more.

And Bernanke could face pressure not to pursue further stimulus before the November election because such steps could be perceived as helping President Barack Obama win re-election. “The Fed simulative effects have really run their course,” Obama’s Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, argued in a television interview last week. John Ryding and Conrad DeQuadros, economists at RDQ Economics, said there was nothing in the testimony to “tip Bernanke’s hand” before the June meeting of the Fed’s policy committee.

“Yes, the Fed chairman said the Fed stands ready to act if Europe poses a threat to the US financial system or the economy,” they wrote in a note to clients. “However, he gave no specifics.” An early rally on Wall Street faded after Bernanke signalled no immediate further steps from the Fed to help the economy. The Dow Jones industrial average had been up as much as 140 points. It closed up about 46 points, or 0.3 percent. Many analysts are worried that the US economy is suffering a midyear slump just as in 2010 and 2011. They’re concerned in particular about the job market. From December through February, the economy added an average 252,000 jobs a month. But since then, job growth has slowed to a lackluster 96,000 a month. In May, US employers added just 69,000 jobs - the fewest in a year. Bernanke said the Fed is still assessing the most recent employment data. Like many economists, Bernanke suggested that a warm winter might have prompted some hiring

that normally would have occurred later. That could have weakened hiring temporarily in the spring. If that’s true, hiring might bounce back.

Still, Bernanke said some of the winter hiring might have made up for excessive job cuts during the recession. If so, and if those companies have completed such “catch-up” hiring, then stronger economic growth might be needed to boost hiring, Bernanke said. “That is the essential question we will have to look at,” he told the panel. The government said last week that the economy grew at a sluggish annual rate of 1.9 percent in the first three months of 2012. Paul Edelstein, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said he thought Bernanke didn’t seem alarmed by the weak hiring in May. “His view is that it isn’t a sign that the economy is falling apart,” Edelstein said.

Bernanke’s message to financial markets, Edelstein said, was, “Don’t expect anything drastic from the Fed at the June meeting.” That said, if the Fed does announce some new action at its meeting later this month, Edelstein said the most likely step would be to extend a program, known as Operation Twist, that will expire at the end of June.

Under Operation Twist, the Fed sells shorter-term securities and buys longer-term bonds. As with other Fed bond purchases, the idea has been to drive down long-term rates so that mortgages, auto loans and other consumer and business loans become more attractive.

The Fed’s policy committee has been split between those who favor doing everything possible to strengthen the economy and reduce unemployment, and those more concerned about inflation risks. — AP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Greece rushes for loans to avert energy meltdown Greek gas firm DEPA in talks with Greek banks ATHENS: Greek energy companies are seeking emergency bank loans to pay suppliers and avert widespread power and gas cuts during the vital tourist season, industry sources told Reuters on Friday. A vicious cycle of shrinking power demand, bad debts and flawed regulation has created a 350 million euro hole in the finances of Greece’s energy system, which depends heavily on imported electricity and gas. The looming energy crisis is compounding the country’s debt problems before a general election on June 17 that may decide its future in the euro zone. It also threatens to cause blackouts during the power-hungry summer holiday season, one of the few foreign exchange earners for the uncompetitive Greek economy.

Faced with disruptions, Greek power authorities and energy companies are about to seek the emergency bank loans until more permanent measures are taken later to fix structural flaws in the creaking system. State-owned gas provider DEPA is talking to domestic banks to secure the cash it needs to pay for about 120 million euros of imports later this month, a company official said on Friday.

Greece imports all its natural gas from abroad. About 80 percent comes via pipeline from Russia. According to industry sources, DEPA faces a June 22 deadline to settle obligations to Russian gas giant Gazprom. The loan that is being arranged with a string of Greek

private and public-sector banks would help to keep the gas flowing for several weeks, a DEPA official told Reuters.

“DEPA is in negotiations with a consortium of Greek banks for a loan that will allow it to service its obligations for at least a month, until early July,” said the official, who asked not to be named.

Energy regulator RAE said on June 1 it would call an emergency meeting with industry players this week to resolve the impasse. The talks will probably be postponed until next week after a DEPA board meeting scheduled for Monday, a RAE official told Reuters.

Chain reaction At the heart of the energy system’s cash crunch is a 350 million euro hole in the accounts of power grid operator LAGHE, out of which the privately-run utilities are reimbursed. LAGHE has run up the deficit because its revenues have not matched the big subsidies it pays to renewable energy producers, as part of Greece’s efforts to become Europe’s solar powerhouse.

The deficit has deteriorated in recent months due to Greece’s debt crisis. Two private electricity retailers went bankrupt without honouring their obligations to LAGHE. Unpaid electricity invoices have also soared after many consumers refused to pay an unpopular property tax charged on the bills of state-run electricity company PPC. LAGHE has now taken preliminary steps to apply for an emergency loan from

the Loans and Consignment Fund, a small public sector lender. “LAGHE has sought information on how the loan would work but it has not yet made a formal application,” an official involved in the talks told Reuters. “The Loan and Consignments Fund is inclined to give the loan, if it receives an official request,” the official added.

PPC, Greece’s biggest power company, is also in talks with banks to roll over debt falling due by the end of this month. State-controlled PPC covers about 70 percent of Greece’s power demand, most by burning its own coal and hydro power supplies, and has a retail market share of almost 100 percent. But despite its towering position in the electricity system, the crisis has struck hard. Cash reserves have shrunk to about 230 million euros, falling short of the 525 million euros it needs to roll over bank loans due this month.

With unemployment at record levels, 300,000 customers have applied for special lower tariffs. Electricity theft and looting of copper wire has rocketed, often leading to deaths as people clamber up electricity poles to tap power lines. Standard & Poor’s lowered on Thursday PPC’s credit rating to ‘CC’ from ‘CCC’. “We believe the company has exhausted its liquidity sources and that its ability to honor its large financial obligations in 2012 mostly depends on external factors in the currently highly uncertain environment in Greece,” the ratings agency said. —Reuters

Olympus to cut jobs TOKYO: Scandal-hit Japanese camera and medical equipment maker Olympus said yesterday it will cut about seven percent of its workforce-and book a profit this year-as it tries to recover from a loss cover-up scandal. The firm’s balance sheet deteriorated, with a loss of 48.99 billion yen ($618 million) in the fiscal year through March, after its British former chief executive blew the whistle last year over $1.7 billion worth of losses that the company had moved off its balance sheet. Olympus’s reputation, and Japan’s corporate governance, were badly damaged after the revelations by Briton Michael Woodford, which triggered international criminal investigations and lawsuits from investors.

Olympus yesterday said it would earn a 7.0 billion yen net profit in the current business year, while cutting 2,700 job cuts by 2014. The firm has almost 40,000 employees worldwide.

“We created the slogan for our five-year business plan as ‘Back to Basics’, that is, to make efforts at creating the world’s number one product in order to restore trust among stakeholders,” Olympus President Hiroyuki Sasa told a press briefing in Tokyo.

Olympus also said it would consolidate its global manufacturing base, while aiming to book a net profit of 40 billion yen and 85 billion yen in the 2014 and 2016 fiscal years, respectively.

Among the changes, four Japanese plants will be consolidated into one facility while a microscope plant will be moved to China, Sasa said.

TOKYO: President of Olympus Corporation, Hiroyuki Sasa announces the company’s medium-term vision for the next five years during a press conference yesterday. — AFP The loss in Olympus’ latest fiscal year, which reversed a small profit of 3.87 billion yen a year earlier, was largely attributed to costs related to the cover-up as sales in the period rose slightly at 848.55 billion yen.

The company is best known for its cameras, but it is also a world leader in medical imaging equipment and has reportedly been in talks over a possible capital injection from Japanese electronics giants Panasonic and Sony.

However Sasa yesterday said only that “it’s true that we’ve been offered (the chance) of a financial tie-up from more than one company.” The firm also said yesterday its board has approved a settlement with Woodford over an unfair dismissal claim filed in Britain, with the payout set at 10 million pounds ($15 million). Woodford, the first nonJapanese person to lead the company, was fired in October after questioning the firm’s accounting.

In April, during an emergency general meeting of shareholders in Tokyo, Woodford demanded to know why he was sacked shortly before exposing a scheme that saw huge losses moved off the firm’s balance sheet. Olympus had initially denied allegations it had used past acquisitions and outsized consultant fees to hide huge losses dating back to the 1990s, but eventually admitted wrongdoing.

In March, the company and three former senior executives-including expresident Tsuyoshi Kikukawa-were charged over their role in the scandal.

Olympus shares closed 3.64 percent lower yesterday at 1,297 yen, with its business forecast released shortly after the Tokyo market closed. The beleaguered stock had dived to 424 yen at one point in the wake of the scandal, from 2,482 yen the day before Woodford was ousted. — AFP

TOKYO: A businessman uses his mobile phone before a share prices board yesterday. — AFP

Japan data point to fragile recovery TOKYO: Japan’s economy grew faster than first thought between January and March, official data showed yesterday, but analysts warned of a slowdown caused by a strong yen, Europe’s debt woes and weakness in China. The Cabinet Office said gross domestic product grew by a revised 1.2 percent in the first quarter from the previous three months, up from a preliminary figure of 1.0 percent expansion. On an annualised basis, the revised figure was 4.7 percent in the quarter, higher than a preliminary 4.1 percent rise, according to the data.

The figures are good news for an economy pounded by last year’s quake-tsunami disaster, reflecting an upward trend with domestic demand and auto exports on the rise. However, the recovery has been largely driven by government reconstruction spending and analysts said weak demand in Europe and worries about growth in China could have an impact down the line.

That point was underscored by a finance ministry official yesterday who warned that strong yen and the financial crisis in Europe-a major market for Japanese goods-were serious threats to Japan’s export-oriented economy. “As far as the short-term outlook for the export sector is concerned, the state of European economies and foreign exchange are sources of concern,” the official told reporters.

Exports took a hit as the yen struck record highs against the dollar late last year-and the unit remains strong-hurting manufacturers whose products become more expensive overseas on a strong currency. Data yesterday showed Japan’s April current account, the broadest measure of trade with the rest of the world, tumbled 21.2 percent on-year to a surplus of 333.8 billion yen ($4.2 billion), well below economists expectations for a 455.6 billion yen surplus.

But the measure remained in positive territory by a wide margin, aided by Japanese investment abroad and higher auto exports despite the nation’s soaring post-tsunami fuel costs. “The latest data confirms that the current account surplus is on a gradually declining trend, even though the fall isn’t so precipitous as to make us worry about a fall into the red this year or next,” said Junko Nishioka, chief economist at RBS Securities Japan.

As Japanese companies shift production overseas due to the relatively strong yen, income has become a key factor in Japan’s current account surplus. April exports rose, particularly in the auto sector, after year-earlier drops following the March 2011 disasters but imports also rose due to increasing costs of gas and other fossil fuels.

Japan has switched off its nuclear reactors following last year’s quake-tsunami induced atomic crisis, forcing the resource-poor nation to turn to pricey fossil-fuel alternatives.

The economy was also hit by severe flooding in Thailand in late 2011, disrupting global supply chains and the production capability of Japanese manufacturers, particularly electronics and automakers. — AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Qantas shares plunge S&P downgrades Qantas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis walk to mark World Anti-counterfeiting day yesterday. The World Customs Organisation (WCO) were presented with an award by the Global AntiCounterfeiting Group (GACG) network in the international public body category; the awards for 2012 were announced at a ceremony in Paris, France. — AFP

Hungary’s neighbours cool towards crisis plan PRAGUE: In an echo of four years ago in the run-up to the global economic crisis, the European Union’s strongest eastern members are ignoring calls for a joint approach on banking from weaker peer Hungary to address the threats of deleveraging and a credit crunch. In response to a Hungarian proposal to shield the region’s banks from the effects of the euro zone debt crisis, Polish, Czech and Slovak policymakers are instead touting the defences they have built up since 2008.

But even though their banking sectors are considerably more stable than Hungary’s, their “differentiation” approach had little success at the height of the crisis in warding off a region-wide selloff, steep economic contractions and a retreat by western banks that continues to depress lending. Now Greece’s possible exit from the euro zone after a June 17 election and a late scramble by the currency bloc’s policymakers to save Spain’s banks pose new risks. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he prepared a plan, to be presented at a late June meeting of EU prime ministers, on behalf of the Visegrad Four countries Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. But the plan, including access to foreign currency swap lines from the European Central Bank - key to countering a liquidity crunch if foreign lending lines are cut - stopping capital flows from central European banks to their parent banks, and making the reverse VAT collection system in the EU more flexible, has met with a distinctly cool response.

Slovakia’s Finance Ministry said it had never heard of it.

Poland stressed its own measures, including its securing a flexible credit line from the International Monetary Fund and pension reform that should help reduce the budget deficit. “Over recent years we have prepared ourselves for black scenarios,” a Polish Finance Ministry spokesman said. Czech officials said the strength of their banking sector rendered such a plan unnecessary. That stance is consistent with Prague’s opposition to any steps that would infringe on its central bank’s regulatory abilities, one that also applies to its rejection of a potential proposal for an EU banking union that would centralise those duties and create a fund to cover lenders across the bloc. “As far as the proposals from Hungary’s prime minister go... we see them, in view of the good condition of the Czech banking sector and the current economic situation, as uneccessary,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said this week.

Hungarian risk Economists say there are three main channels of contagion from the euro crisis: markets, trade and banks. By way of the first, the crisis knocked currencies up to a third lower against the euro in the nine months after the fall of Lehman Brothers and cut stock indices in half. Through the trade channel, weaker demand in the region’s main western European markets pushed usually robust exports into the red, causing deep contractions in every country save Poland. But the main headache for policymakers has been a financial sector that is 60 to 90 percent owned by euro zone lenders from Austria, Italy, France and other countries who are now retrenching to boost capital in their home market units. Hungary has been hit particularly hard. With Europe’s highest banking tax and a foreign currency loan burden that has grown due to weakness in the forint, among other issues, the country has seen lenders cut exposure faster than elsewhere. —Reuters

SYDNEY: Shares in flagship Australian airline Qantas dropped below Aus$1 (98.5 US cents) yesterday for the first time since the carrier’s float in 1995 after it was put on credit watch by Standard & Poor’s. The embattled airline’s stock plunged as low as 96.2 cents-a fall of more than nine percent-after S&P put its BBB/A-2 investment-grade rating on credit watch negative following warnings this week of a huge profit slump. It closed down 8.5 percent at 97 cents on a broadly weaker market. It is the first time Qantas shares have dropped below the Aus$1 mark since the formerly stateowned airline was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1995 for $1.90.

The carrier was trading at a peak of around Aus$6 just five years ago, before its shares were battered by the global financial crisis in late 2007, almost halving in value. S&P said it had put the “Flying Kangaroo” on credit watch “with negative implications” after warnings this week that its full-year profit could dive by up to 90 percent on the back of steep losses in its international arm.

The ratings giant said the downgraded earnings projections were “below our expectations” and Qantas’ BBB/A-2 grade was on watch pending a full review of the airline in the next 90 days.

“In our view, the magnitude of the losses from (the) Qantas international business underscores the difficulty in turning around the segment (mainly European and Asian routes),” S&P said in a research update.

“We therefore consider that the

SYDNEY: A file photo shows Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Airways, sitting at the flight deck of Qantas’ newest aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, at Sydney International Airport. — AFP group’s business risk profile would weaken if the airline’s international market position and earnings do not recover within a reasonable timeframe,” it added. Fellow ratings major Moody’s downgraded the airline’s long-term senior unsecured rating to Baa3 from Baa2 with a stable outlook back in January, citing high fuel prices, strong competition and difficult operating conditions.

The troubled airline, hit by not only

high fuel bills but industrial unrest that culminated in the grounding of its entire fleet for nearly two days in October, warned of a huge profit slump in the year to June 30. Qantas expects underlying profit before tax of Aus$50-100 million ($49-99 million) compared with Aus$552 million in the previous year, due to soaring fuel costs and worsening global conditions driven by the European debt crisis. — AFP

Goldman CEO testifies at ex-board member’s trial NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein testified that he routinely shared confidential profit-and-loss figures with the banking giant’s board members valuable information that prosecutors allege one board member used in an insider trading scheme.

Blankfein said Thursday that profitand-loss numbers were kept under wraps until formal announcements of quarterly results because it was potentially “market moving information.” “I would always give them an estimate of where the P&L was at the time and a projection of where it was trending,” Blankein said in federal court in Manhattan, where he is the star witness against former Goldman board member Rajat Gupta.

Some of the allegations against the Indian-born Gupta stem from an October 2008 Goldman board meeting where members were told that the investment bank was facing a quarterly loss for the first time since it had gone public in 1999.

Prosecutors allege that Gupta called his friend and Sri Lanka born hedge

fund titan Raj Rajaratnam moments after the meeting ended, causing Rajaratnam to sell his entire position in Goldman the next morning and save millions of dollars.

Assistant US Attorney Reed Brodsky asked Blankfein if he had ever authorized Gupta to discuss confidential information with “an outsider.”

“No,” Blankfein said. It was Blankfein’s second day on the witness stand at the closely-watched white collar trial. On Monday, he testified that he was forcing Gupta off the board because of a conflict of interest when the economic crisis caused him to ask him to stay on during a time the government claims he divulged secrets illegally.

Blankfein told the jury that a press release had been prepared to announce Gupta’s departure from the board when “events intervened” - an understated reference to the collapse of the financial markets in September 2008.

“As a result of that, I asked Rajat at that point to withdraw his resignation and stay on the board,”

Blankfein said.

Gupta, 63, was leaving the board reluctantly only because Blankfein concluded it would be a conflict of interest for him to remain with Goldman since he was planning to begin advising a large private equity firm, Blankfein testified. Blankfein said he changed his mind because he did not believe either company would be pulling off the kind of deals that would create a conflict in the middle of an economic crisis and because he thought it would be misunderstood in the marketplace if a board member were to leave during such dire times.

Prosecutors say Blankfein’s decision to keep Gupta on the board left him in place to disclose both the 2008 losses and another major announcement that earned Rajaratnam nearly $1 million in illegal profits: a $5 billion investment from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Rajaratnam was convicted last year at trial and is serving an 11-year prison sentence. Blankfein was to return to court on Friday for cross-examination. — AP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Samsung introduces GALAXY S III in Kuwait Samsung GALAXY S III reveals new concept of smartphone KUWAIT: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced the official launch of the third generation GALAXY S, the GALAXY S III in Kuwait. Designed for humans and inspired by nature, the GALAXY S III is a smartphone that recognizes your voice, understands your intention, and lets you share a moment instantly and easily. This sleek and innovative smartphone has the enhanced intelligence to make everyday life easier. With Samsung GALAXY S III, you can view the content like never before on the device’s 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display. An 8MP camera and a 1.9MP front camera offer users a variety of intelligent camera features and face recognition related options that ensure all moments are captured easily and instantly.

Samsung GALAXY S III is powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, with greatly enhanced usability and practicality to make life easier. Packed with intuitive technology, the GALAXY S III delivers a uniquely personalized mobile experience that refuses to be compromised.

“The Samsung GALAXY S III is the best in class smartphone that provides an enhanced smartphone experience to its users. It incorporates superior hardware, intuitive and interactive features in a nature inspired design making the device truly effortlessly smart and intuitively simple,” said Ashraf Fawakherji, General Manager of Telecommunication Group at Samsung Gulf Electronics. “We’ve received an overwhelming response from our consumers for the device and we are positive that with this launch we will further cement our leadership position.”

Introducing natural interaction The GALAXY S III enhances the interaction experience between the device and user. Smart enough to detect your face, voice and motions, the GALAXY S III adapts to the individual user to provide a more convenient and natural experience. With the innovative ‘Smart stay’ feature, the GALAXY S III recognizes how you are using your phone reading an e-book or browsing the web for instance - by having the front camera identify your eyes; the phone maintains a bright display for continued viewing pleasure.

In addition to recognizing your face, the GALAXY S III understands your motions to offer maximized usability. If you are messaging someone but decide to call them instead, simply lift your phone to your ear and ‘Direct call’ will dial their number. With ‘Smart alert,’ the GALAXY S III will also save you from trouble by catching any missed messages or calls; your phone will vibrate to notify missed statuses when picked up after being idle.

The GALAXY S III features ‘S Voice,’ the advanced natural language user interface, to listen and respond to your words. In addition to allowing information search and basic device-user communication, S Voice presents powerful functions in regards to device control and commands.

When your phone alarm goes off but you need a little extra rest, just tell the GALAXY S III “snooze.” You can also use S Voice to play your favorite songs, turn the volume up or down, send text messages and emails, organize your schedules, or automatically launch the camera and capture a photo.

Human-centric design The GALAXY S III not only presents features with enhanced usability, but also provides an ergonomic and comfortable experience through its human-centric design.

Its comfortable grip, gentle curves, and organic form deliver a rich human-centric feel and design. Inspired by nature, its design concept is the flow and movement of nature. The elements of wind, water and light are all evoked in the physical construct of the GALAXY S III. In its essence, the minimal organic design identity is reflected in the smooth

KUWAIT: Samsung officials are pictured at the launch. and non-linear lines of the device. Available in Pebble Blue and Marble White at launch, Samsung will introduce a variety of additional colour options.

With a 4.8” HD Super AMOLED display, the GALAXY S III offers a large and vivid viewing experience. Samsung Mobile’s heritage Super AMOLED display even enhances to HD and 16:9 wider viewing angles. To ensure faster content sharing and connectivity, the GALAXY S III offers Wi-Fi Channel Bonding which doubles the Wi-Fi bandwidth.

The GALAXY S III also sports a range of additional features that boost performance and the overall user experience in entirely new ways. Its 8MP camera features a zerolag shutter speed that lets you capture moving objects easily without delay - the image you see is the picture you take. It introduces the ‘Burst shot’ feature that will instantly capture twenty continuous shots with zero-lag shutter speed. This feature is extremely useful for capturing movement in images. Additionally, the ‘Best photo’ feature will allow you to take eight continuous shots and the phone will immediately select the best one based on the image’s lighting, contrast, and composition. The best photo selected can then be shared with all your friends via SMS. The GALAXY S III ensures users a more enhanced and memorable camera experience. HD video can be recorded even with the 1.9MP front-facing camera, which you can use to capture a video of yourself. Improved backside illumination further helps to eliminate blur in photos that result from shaking, even under low lights. The ‘Pop up play’ feature will also allow you to play a video anywhere on your screen while simultaneously running other tasks, eliminating the need to close and restart videos when checking new emails or surfing the Web Easy and instant sharing The Samsung GALAXY S III is more than a personal device that can be enjoyed by one user - it wants you to share and experience smartphone benefits with family and friends, regardless of where you are. With the new ‘S Beam,’ the GALAXY S III expands upon Android Beam, allowing a 1GB movie file to be shared within three minutes and a 10MB music file within two seconds by simply touching another GALAXY S III phone. The ‘Buddy photo share’ function also allows photos to be easily and simultaneously shared with all your friends pictured in an image directly from the camera or the photo gallery.

With ‘AllShare Cast’, users can wirelessly connect their GALAXY S III to their television to immediately transfer smartphone content onto a larger display. ‘AllShare Play’ can be also used to instantly share any forms of files between GALAXY S III and your tablet, PC, and televisions regardless of the distance between the devices. Under AllShare Play is also the ‘Group Cast’ feature that allows you to share your screen among multiple friends on the same Wi-Fi network; you can make comments and draw changes at the same time with your co-workers, witnessing real-time sharing on your individual device. Mobile payment is also accessible with the device through advanced Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The gaming experience is enhanced through ‘Game Hub,’ providing access to numerous social games.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Years

Ex-Fleetwood Mac member Welch dead Page 25

New film questions India’s ‘Shanghai’ envy Page 26

Australian Renae Ayris acknowledges the applause after been crowned Miss Universe Australia 2012 in Melbourne yesterday. Thirty-three finalists competed for the crown with winner Ayris going on to represent Australia in the final. —AFP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Brand has invited Sheen to join yoga class T

he 37-year-old comic - who has previously battled addictions to drugs - has befriended the ‘Anger Management’ actor, but pals are said to be worried about their bond because they don’t want the British star to be led astray. A source said: “Russell and Charlie have been spending an increased amount of time together as they’ve been named by [TV network] FX as the stars for their summer schedule so have done a lot of promotional work together. “Russell has invited Charlie to join him at his yoga classes. “But Hollywood is a small place and everyone is worried Charlie might lead Russell astray. “Russell is a strong guy, he won’t just fall off the wagon, but he’s single after his split from Katy Perry and on the look-out for women - and Charlie’s legendary parties are always packed full of beautiful women.” Despite warnings from his friends,

Russell is always happy to hang out with Charlie - who was sacked from sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men’ last year because of his erratic behaviour and wild partying - as he knows what it is like to go “off the rails”. The source added to the Daily Star newspaper: “Russell’s friends are panicking as Charlie keeps calling him, chasing him to meet up. “Russell is too kind to say no, he thinks Charlie just needs a friend, someone who’ll look out for him. Russell was once in the same situation, off the rails and lonely. “But Charlie is a notorious bad boy and will definitely be a bad influence on him.”

T

he Australian pop star - who appears in Leos Carax’s new movie ‘Holy Motors’ - knows it is difficult for people to think of her away from her music career but her latest role has given her the confidence to take on further big screen projects in the future. She said: “I’ve got a lot of work to do before people stop thinking: ‘Oh, what’s Kylie Minogue doing in a film?’ “But this has made me feel it’s possible to do something beautiful and challenging, and to be believable as someone else.” The 44-year-old star - who first shot to fame appearing in Australian soap ‘Neighbors’ in 1986 and has appeared in movies including ‘The Delinquents’ and ‘Moulin Rouge! - has a “deep longing” to do more acting but admits some of her previous work has not been very successful. She explained to The Guardian newspaper: “I’d definitely love to do more acting. My heart cries out for it; it’s such a deep longing. For years I’ve been waiting to get back into it and it just hasn’t happened. “Or, it has happened and it was so disastrous that I thought: ‘Oh, it’s just not for me.’”

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he ‘Twilight Saga’ star revealed he was at a party when he said “the most ridiculous thing” ever to the ‘Someone Like You’ hitmaker, advising her to reach for her goals, and woke up the next morning regretting his words. Speaking on Canada’s ‘George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight’, he explained: “Actually I had this argument with Adele, which is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever said. I was saying, ‘You know, you can really just like reach for it,’ and she was like, ‘You do realise I am like the biggest-selling female artist ever?’ “And I just for some reason just decided to get into an argument with her. “I woke up the next day really regretting the whole thing.” Robert - who is dating his ‘Twilight Saga’ co-star Kristen Stewart - also claimed his vast fame hasn’t stopped him from meeting new people because he isn’t very sociable anyway. He said: “I’ve always been like this. I’m one of those people who is dying to go to the party and then when I get there I just hang out in the corner with the people I came with, not talking to anybody else anyway.

“I have this fantasy that if I wasn’t famous I’d be out meeting random people on the street but that’s not true. Most of the time you try to avoid random people on the street whether you’re famous or not.”

T

he ‘One That Got Away’ hitmaker briefly dated the Florence + the Machine guitarist after meeting at Coachella Music Festival in April and although they split last month, the pair were spotted having a romantic meal together at a London pub on Wednesday. Onlookers who saw them at The Dove in Hackney, east London, told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Katy didn’t seem to care that they weren’t in a fancy, expensive restaurant. “She was giggly and happy with Rob and some friends, and she even sneakily held his hand under the table. “She was saying she was excited to be back in London. She was saying how much she loves it here.” On Thursday, the pair enjoyed another date after Rob accompanied Katy to ITV studios where she was filming the Graham Norton’s talk show. They left the studios together to go to Wilton’s Bar in east London and then to the Market CafÈ in Hackney for some food. Katy previously told friends that Rob had made her feel “sexy and alive” again following her split from husband

wife taken out of the lawsuit

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he ‘Pulp Fiction’ actor is thought to have been hiding out at a vacation home in the Bahamas since being accused of sexual misconduct from a number of male masseurs but he put on a brave face Thursday night to honor actress Shirley MacLaine as she received the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award. Taking to the stage in a black tuxedo, John appeared calm and composed as he made a speech in front of guests including Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Katherine Heigl and Meryl Streep.

He said: “Several years ago, Warren Beatty was talking about a young actress. And I said to him, ‘What was she like?’ And he said, ‘She filled the room with presence like I’ve never seen before.’ And I said, ‘You know your sister, Shirley? She fills the room with presence’. She fills the world with presence like no one I’ve ever seen before. And that’s my Shirley. And I love you. “Shirley MacLaine is first a dancer, and when you move from Broadway to film to television to writing to directing, you have to move to these things with the grace of a dancer. To train and push harder than you ever thought you could.” John was among a number of stars, including Jack Nicholson, her brother Warren Beatty, and Morgan Freeman, in paying tribute to Shirley, 78. The ‘Grease!’ star reportedly jetted off to a vacation home in the Bahamas with wife Kelly Preston and children Ella, 12, and 18-month-old Benjamin to ride out the sex scandal, although new claims have emerged in the past few days that he enjoyed a six-year gay affair with a male pilot.

Brian Austin Green wants

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

T

he former ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ actor allegedly punched paparazzo Delbert Shaw after he was “egged on” by his spouse as they holidayed in Hawaii in December 2010 and the couple were both named in legal papers which were filed in March this year. Shaw claims Brian hit him in the face and tackled him to the ground as he took pictures of the couple after Megan said to her husband: “Are you going to let him get away with that?” However, Brian - who is also accused of throwing Shaw’s iPhone into the ocean - and his lawyer claim just because Megan yelled something it does not mean she committed conspiracy and want her removed from the lawsuit. The papers also claim Shaw is “physically imposing and notoriously reputed to be a hyper aggressive and physically combative paparazzo”. The couple - who are expecting their first child together - “categorically” deny the allegations saying Brian was merely defending himself from Shaw. Although the alleged incident happened in December 2010, the lawsuit wasn’t filed until 15 months later and the couple’s lawyers claim the statue of limitation is up. A hearing on the matter is set for August 9.

Russell Brand in December after 14 months of marriage. A source said: “Rob was the first guy Katy had been with since splitting from Russell. “She was still extremely fragile but had told pals their two weekends at Coachella together made her feel ‘sexy and alive’ again. “Even when Rob left to continue touring America with Florence they would speak on the phone up to three times a day and she’d be constantly texting him.” Katy’s divorce from Russell is set to be finalised in — Bang Showbiz

July.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Grammys

add changes to jazz, Latin, R&B fields

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year after the Grammy Awards cut 31 categories, sparking protests and a lawsuit by Latin jazz musicians, the music organization has made more changes by adding three awards, including the reinstatement of best Latin jazz album.

The Recording Academy announced yesterday in a statement to The Associated Press that the upcoming Grammys will feature 81 categories. It reduced the number from 109 to 78 last year.

New entries include awards for best urban contemporary album - to honor R&B albums that may include elements of pop and rock - and best classical compendium to highlight albums “involving a mixture of classical subgenres.” The Academy shook up the music industry when it announced in April 2011 that it would downsize its categories to make the awards more competitive. That meant eliminating categories by sex, so men and women compete in the same vocal categories.

But it also eliminated other niche fields and created broader ones. Some artists protested the change and others - including Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon and Bill Cosby - complained. The group that filed a lawsuit, which was dismissed in April, was led by Bobby Sanabria, the Grammy-nominated Latin jazz musician who accused the Academy of not following the proper procedures to implement the changes. Part of the class-action lawsuit called for the reinstatement of the best Latin jazz album award.

That award was consolidated, making Latin jazz musicians compete against a larger group of artists in the best jazz instrumental category at the 54th Grammys, which were held in February.

“Every year we want to look at these objectively and make a good musical decision and not be influenced by politics and pressure,” Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Recording Academy, said in an interview. “I will say it’s incredibly unfortunate that a very small group chose to voice their discontent with a lawsuit that had no basis.”

The new decisions were made at the Academy’s annual Board of Trustees meeting last month. Other changes include splitting up the best Latin pop, rock or urban album honor into two awards, now known as best Latin pop album and best Latin rock, urban or alternative album.

However, the best Banda or Norteno album and best regional Mexican or Tejan album have been combined into one award: best regional Mexican music album.

Portnow says a number of proposals were filed, noting that “the volume was definitely up” this year compared to past ones. “I don’t hold anything against the Latin jazz community for the passion that they have for their music,” he said. “The (Latin jazz) community put a good proposal together this year, and we see the results of that.” The 55th Grammy Awards will air on CBS on Feb. 10. — AP

Corn poppy blossoms are photographed in a field near Ried im Innkreis, Upper Austria yesterday. The forecast predicts sunny weather and temperatures up to 32 degrees (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of the US. —AP

Jackson wanted normal

childhood for kids: Daughter This undated image released

by Harpo, Inc. shows host Oprah Winfrey posing with Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson in Los Angeles. Winfrey interviewed Jackson for “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” airing tomorrow at 9:00 am EST on OWN. —AP

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ichael Jackson made his children wear masks so they would not be recognized without him, and could have some kind of a normal childhood unlike his own, the late star’s daughter Paris said. In only her second public interview, the 13-year-old said she didn’t understand why she and her siblings Prince and Blanket were being forced to cover their faces when they were young.

“I was really confused. I didn’t get why I was wearing a mask. But I understand it now-why my dad would want our faces to be covered,” she told talk show host Oprah Winfrey, in an interview to air tomorrow. “When we went out without him we wouldn’t be recognized,” she added, saying the ploy enabled them to enjoy trips to places like Chuck E. Cheese and Toys R Us without attracting attention, when their father was not with them.

She continued: “He told us that when he was younger he didn’t really have a childhood. He would always be stuck in the studio

singing while the kids were out playing. He wanted us to have that.” “Our dad was a really normal father when he was with us. We would get grounded if we did something bad,” she said.

Paris, who was 11 when Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, is making her acting debut in a live action/animated film called “Lundon’s Bridge and the Three Keys,” based on a famous book series for teenagers. Last October she appeared on stage with older brother Prince Michael, now 15, and Blanket, now 10, at a tribute concert for their father in Cardiff, Wales.

Jackson’s ex doctor, Conrad Murray, was jailed for four years in November after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death from an overdose of powerful sedatives, prescribed to help him fight chronic insomnia. Paris famously cried at her father’s funeral, but managed to speak through her sobs: “Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father... you could ever imagine.... And I just wanted to say I love him... so much.” — AFP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Ex-Fleetwood Mac member Welch dead

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ob Welch, an early member of rock band Fleetwood Mac who enjoyed a successful solo career with hits such as “Ebony Eyes,” died on Thursday of an apparent suicide at home in Nashville.

He was 66. Police said Welch’s body was found by his wife Wendy with a single gunshot wound to the chest,

Ex-Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch

and he had left a suicide note. Welch suffered from health problems, but police did not disclose what those issues were.

Mick Fleetwood, one of the founding members of Fleetwood Mac and Welch’s manager during his solo career, had remained in close contact with his former band mate over the years and told Reuters that Welch’s suicide was “incredibly out of character.” “He was a very, very profoundly intelligent human being and always in good humor, which is why this is so unbelievably shocking,” he said.

“He was a huge part of our history which sometimes gets forgotten ... mostly his legacy would be his songwriting abilities that he brought to Fleetwood Mac, which will survive all of us,” Fleetwood said. “If you look into our musical history, you’ll see a huge period that was completely ensconced in Bob’s work.”

Welch is the second member of Fleetwood Mac to die this year. In January, another former guitarist for the band, Bob Weston, died in London from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, at the age of 64.

Welch was born on Aug. 31, 1945 in Los Angeles to movie producer father Robert L. Welch and actress mother Templeton Fox. He moved to Paris to study French at the Sorbonne, then returned to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. He was invited to join Fleetwood Mac after the departure of founding members Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. He played guitar and was a vocalist with the band from 1971 to 1974, working on five of their early albums including 1971’s “Future Games,” 1972’s “Bare Trees” and 1973’s “Mystery to Me.”

It was after Welch’s departure from the band in 1975 that Fleetwood Mac went on to find its largest measure of fame on albums such as 1977’s “Rumours” with the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the band’s lineup. Nicks released a statement, calling Welch’s death “devastating.” “He was an amazing guitar player - he was funny, sweet - and he was smart - I’m so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac - so, so sad,” Nicks said.

Welch fell out with his former band mates after suing the group in 1994 for unpaid royalties, which led to his exclusion from the group’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998. The singer and guitarist formed a hard rock group called Paris in 1975, releasing two albums, “Paris” and “Hunt Sales,” before disbanding the group a few years later and embarking on a solo career.

His debut solo record, the pop-driven “French Kiss” in 1977, went platinum and produced the hits “Sentimental Lady,” “Ebony Eyes” and “Hot Love, Cold World.” Welch followed up with 1979’s “Three Hearts,” and four more albums throughout the early 1980s, none of which emulated the same success as “French Kiss.” He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1987 and formed a short-lived group called Avenue M, before moving to Nashville in the late 1990s, working on a songwriting career and releasing a tribute to bebop music, “Bob Welch Looks At Bop,” in 1999. His most recent albums, 2003’s “His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond” and 2006’s “His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond 2,” had previously unreleased material as well as new compositions. — Reuters

Home town funeral for Bee Gees star Robin Gibb A

horse-drawn carriage will carry the coffin of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb to a church in his home town of Thame, central England, later yesterday, in a private service for the disco star. Gibb, singer with one of the biggest-selling groups of all time and a key figure in the breakthrough of disco, died on May 20 aged 62, having lost his battle against cancer.

The service will take place from 1:30 pm (1230 GMT) at St Mary’s Church in Thame, Oxfordshire. A glass-sided carriage drawn by four horses will carry his coffin to the church from his home of many years, with fans expected to line the streets as it passes. His son Robin-John has said that the Bee Gees’ hit

A horse drawn carriage takes the coffin of Bee Gee Robin Gibb through the High Street in Thame in central England yesterday. A horse-drawn carriage took the coffin of Bee Gee Robin Gibb to a church in his home town of Thame in England yesterday for his funeral, through crowds lined up to pay their respects. —AFP

“I Started A Joke” will be played at the funeral, as will the track “Don’t Cry Alone”, from his Titanic Requiem, which premiered weeks before his death. His family said that it was Gibb’s wish to “say a final goodbye to fans and his home town of Thame”.

Although yesterday’s ceremony is a private service for close family and friends, a memorial service will be held later this year. The Bee Gees-brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibbhelped turn disco into a global phenomenon in the 1970s with hits such as “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Night Fever”.

Although originally from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, they grew up in Manchester and Australia and were singing

publicly from childhood. Born on December 22, 1949, Robin was 17 when he sang lead vocals on the Bee Gees’ first British number one, “Massachusetts”, in 1967, before they switched styles to disco in the 1970s. The trio’s sharp songwriting and immaculate harmonies helped them notch up record sales of more than 200 million. — AFP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

New film questions India’s ‘Shanghai’ envy

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Hindi political thriller called “Shanghai” hits cinemas yesterday, raising awkward questions about India’s development with a fictional town trying to emulate fellow giant China’s shiny financial capital.

The film, an Indian version of 1966 Greek novel “Z”, is set in a small unnamed town being pumped with funds to become a major economic hub, “the next Shanghai”-a vision that is a common promise among Indian politicians.

Director Dibakar Banerjee says the film looks at the gulf between the dream of “Shanghai” and the reality for hundreds of millions of Indians every day-and questions whether one model can fit every country. “Shanghai has become kind of a touchstone for much of the political debate around development that goes around in India,” he told online magazine BollySpice.

The film, unusually for a Bollywood plotline, delves into a murky world of crime and politics, the gaping richpoor divide in India and the thorny issue of the less well-off being thrown off their land for urban development.

Banerjee, known for small-budget hits such as the 2006 movie “Khosla Ka Ghosla” (Khosla’s Nest), is among a growing band of Indian filmmakers whose works deviate from the popular but generic escapist blockbusters.

His latest offering has already raised hackles ahead of its release yesterday, with a Hindu nationalist group filing a court case seeking a ban over a song that refers to India as a land of diseases and cow dung. Indians are conflicted in their feelings about China, whom they

compete with for investment from the West, say observers. There’s mistrust over a military defeat in 1962, contempt over its lack of freedom and democracy and, latterly, a great envy for its economic progress.

Former ambassador Neelam Deo, a director of Gateway House, an Indian foreign policy think-tank, says there is no doubt about the covetous glances cast towards the north by middle-class Indians and businessmen. “All the Indians who visit Shanghai are just blown over. They’re really impressed by the new construction, the shininess, as well as the efficiency,” Deo told AFP. “It seems to me a kind of mixture: a bit of envy, a bit of resentment that they’re that much ahead, quite a lot of

frustration that nothing moves here,” she said. The most obvious comparisons are drawn with India’s own seaside financial capital, Mumbai, with its poor roads, creaking infrastructure and sprawling slums where half of its population lives.

Mustansir Dalvi, a professor of architecture in Mumbai, said it would require “a great deal of organisation” for Mumbai to be more like Shanghai, pointing to the lack of coordination on transport infrastructure projects. He spoke of the divergent histories of the two cities, with Shanghai developed from the top down as opposed to Mumbai’s development by local entrepreneurs. In Mumbai, “the state has handed all of the development work to

Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin (L) poses with actor Abhay Deol after arriving at the green carpet to attend the premier of their new movie ‘Shanghai’ during the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards event, in Singapore yesterday. —AFP

Mark Duplass picks five favorite time-travel movies

MacLaine earns AFI honor for her many lives

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t’s not just a single life that gets toted up when Shirley MacLaine receives a career award. It’s all her lives - past, present and future. MacLaine earned the American Film Institute’s life-achievement award Thursday night with friends and colleagues praising her accomplishments in this life - and cracking jokes about the reincarnation believer’s other lives.

Co-stars Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Jack Black, Sally Field, Meryl Streep and others contributed to the loving roast of MacLaine, along with such friends, co-workers and admirers as Katherine Heigl, Don Rickles, Morgan Freeman and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.

“Tonight we’re here to honor a person I have known, a person I have loved my whole life,” said MacLaine’s younger brother, Warren Beatty, the 2008 recipient of the AFI honor. Some stars lovingly ribbed MacLaine for her belief that she has lived many past lives. Black, MacLaine’s costar in her current comic drama “Bernie,” presented a hilarious reel of himself congratulating the actress at career honors from prehistoric times to the Elizabethan era to US colonial days.

“This is not the first lifetime-achievement award she’s won over the ages,” Black said.

Carrie Fisher, who wrote the 1990 comic drama “Postcards from the Edge” that starred MacLaine and Streep, joked that MacLaine “is actually some future person’s past life. Can you imagine that lucky bastard?”

private parties,” he said. “It’s all about profit-making rather than providing for the end user.”

While Indo-Chinese diplomatic relations remain prickly-a legacy of the 1962 war, border disputes and competing interests around the world-in public leaders stress that trade is booming and the world is big enough for both nations. “We should not fear competition from China. There is no reason to envy China. If at all, we should try to emulate China,” India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram told a business summit earlier this year.

But while Indians closely watch advances in their more developed authoritarian neighbour, the subject of regular hostile news reports in the Indian media, the interest is often not reciprocated. A dismissive editorial in China’s Global Times last month said most Chinese people’s knowledge of India came only from “a few movies, some news reporting and backpackers’ anecdotes”. “These bits and pieces are not enough to promote India to China’s mainstream society, let alone the notion of a competition,” it said. In any case, some say India’s admiration is misplaced.

In a column entitled “No need to envy China” in the Indian Express in February, Minxin Pei, a professor of government based in the United States, said China was paying a diplomatic and economic price for its oneparty regime. “As for India, the beneficiaries of the democratic bonus are also its people, even though most of them may not feel the effects,” he wrote. — AFP

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Actress Meryl Streep and honoree Shirley MacLaine speak onstage at the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine held at Sony Pictures Studios on Thursday in Culver City, California. —AFP

Nicholson, MacLaine’s fellow Academy Award winner from 1983’s “Terms of Endearment,” said MacLaine loves her audiences and “is the only person outside of the clergy promising them eternal life.” The 40th recipient of the annual AFI honor, MacLaine received the best-actress Oscar for “Terms of Endearment” and was nominated four other times for such films as 1958’s “Some Came Running,” 1960’s “The Apartment” and 1977’s “The Turning Point.” —AP

f it seems like Mark Duplass is everywhere these days, it’s probably because he is. And he doesn’t even need a time machine to accomplish this feat. This week, he stars in “Safety Not Guaranteed” as a loner who takes out a mysterious classified ad seeking a partner to travel with him back in time. Next week, he stars in “Your Sister’s Sister” as a guy who gets emotionally entangled with his best friend (Emily Blunt) and her lesbian sister (Rosemarie DeWitt) at a remote lake house. Behind the camera, Duplass and his brother, Jay, recently wrote and directed the comedy “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” and next month they have “The Do-Deca-Pentathlon.” And of course, he’s also part of the talented ensemble cast of the FX fantasy football comedy series “The League,” a fourth season of which is set to begin in the fall.

So, yeah, he’s a busy guy. But he was nice enough to take a few moments to select five of his favorite time-travel movies. Here they are, in no particular order, in his own words: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004): This is one of my favorite films of all time. I call it “lo-fi sci-fi” ‘cos it’s really more about the relationships than the science fiction elements themselves. In a lot

of ways, “Safety Not Guaranteed” feels like this film ... i.e., science fiction as a prism to observe matters of the heart in a funny, human way.

“Somewhere in Time” (1980): Yes. It’s SUPER melodramatic. Cheezy. Over the top. But, watch this movie when you are sick or feeling a little vulnerable, and you will cry your eyes out. Guaranteed. A man time travels out of sheer force of will and, well, love. And, the score ... good God. “Timecrimes” (2008): You gotta see this little Spanish gem from Nacho Vigalondo.

It was at Sundance the year I had “Baghead” there. A man travels back in time ... but only about an hour. Really fun.

And a little scary.

“Primer” (2004): This may be the cheapest science fiction time-travel film ever made. Shot for a reported $7,000, this intensely creative mood piece won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2004. Very smart use of a plain old garage and average storage space.

“Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989): The ultimate! How can you go wrong when the time machine is a phone booth and George Carlin is your mentor?

See Keanu Reeves play the role he was born to play. This movie is a (expletive) blast. — AP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

US artist Patty Smith performs a song from her latest album “Banga” during a presentation and a mini-concert at bookstore chain Barnes & Noble in New York. Banga, Patti Smith’s eleventh studio album, and her first in eight years, contains a dozen new tracks recorded with her longtime group of Lenny Kaye, Tony Shanahan, and Jay Dee Daugherty, along with guests Tom Verlaine, her children Jesse and Jackson, and Jack Petruzzelli. — AFP

Rising rapper Kendrick Lamar lights up Bonnaroo W

ith a hard-as-nails flow and a socially conscious message, rising rap star Kendrick Lamar has proven he fits in anywhere. Crowned the next big thing by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, he also moves comfortably in the tie dyed world he encountered Thursday on his first visit to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee. “I think it just comes from me being myself and not

Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs at the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tenn., Thursday. —AP

being scared of being myself,” Lamar said of his appeal. “When I talk about certain things, it’s something that I want to do and I want to talk about. So when I talk about the streets or I talk about the system or I talk about life in general, all that stuff makes up me. And it comes across in how people here. They feel it because they know it’s organic, you know?”

Lamar spoke with The Associated Press in his dressing room minutes before his highly anticipated set that capped what amounted to a new faces of rap segment at Bonnaroo. Detroit’s Danny Brown started the run, followed by Alabama’s Yelawolf, who paid tribute to The Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch, who died of cancer last month, with a medley of hits, including “Brass Monkey” and “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).”

Brown returned to the stage to join Lamar for an encore at the end of the night.

That run of some of hip-hop’s most hyped newcomers fit with Lamar’s message of acceptance, one he’s been spreading since the start and perfected with his last album, “Section.80.” “It definitely is a goal to have as many people listen to the music as possible, not just my own backyard cause I’m from Compton,” the gritty city southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Lamar said. “I want to have people over in Amsterdam to be able to relate to where I come from. I want the world to be listening to this music because I feel like it’s the best music has to offer in the business. As much people as possible. When I say ‘(expletive) your ethnicity’ in the intro to ‘Section.80,’ I really mean that. I don’t care where you from, your creed or your color, you’re going to enjoy this music and you’re going to relate to it.”

That was the case at Bonnaroo, where the crowd finished Lamar’s verses on most songs. A musky smoke cloud billowed into the air as he performed his latest single, “The Recipe,” and ode to the best things about Los Angeles that features Dr. Dre. The song’s chorus of “women, weed and weather” fit the night’s vibe perfectly as girls in bikini tops waved joints in the air to DJ MixedbyAli’s

beats during unseasonably cool weather than never got out of the 80s.

With Lamar’s set out of the way, he can now return his attention to his much-discussed new album, “Good Kid in a Mad City.” He doesn’t have a release date yet but said he’s been staying tight with his Black Hippy collective of friends despite his move to a major label. —AP

Screams, tears as Japan fans choose pop group leader

C

heers, tears and screams marked the crowning of a new leader of Japanese girl pop group AKB48, who was chosen by fans in a nationwide “election” that dominated the media for weeks. In a three-hour show broadcast live from Tokyo’s hallowed Budokan, 23year-old Yuko Oshima was selected as leader and face of the group, which has been recognized by Guinness as the world’s biggest girl pop group.

“The 48 group has high aspirations, and because of that we can go far,” said the teary Oshima, after the results were announced late on Wednesday. AKB48, founded in 2005, is known for its perky routines and high “kawaii,” or cuteness, quotient. All of its members are in their teens or early 20s. Every year, fans vote to determine 64 of the most popular girls out of a 237-member pool who are then rotated in and out of four main troupes and several affiliated groups according to their

popularity. The top vote winner becomes leader and gets to stand center of the group in live concerts, as well as lead dance performances. The media attention she receives usually means more endorsements and advertising. Votes are cast by fans who fill out a ballot to determine the most popular members of the group. In a stroke of marketing brilliance, the ballots are obtained by buying a copy of the group’s latest single - this time with the title “Manatsu no Sounds Good,” which mingles Japanese and English and roughly translates into “It Sounds Good in Full Summer.” Some hard-core fans will buy hundreds of CDs to give their favorite a boost. They then proceed to an internet site where they input a number contained in the CD, and cast their vote. The song, which retailed at 1,600 yen ($20), sold more than a million copies in its first day.

The group’s CDs regularly top domestic charts. —Reuters

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Ex casts more doubts on singer’s war injury claims

T

imothy Michael Poe won over the crowd and the judges of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” even before he began to sing, with his moving story of blocking a grenade blast in 2009 to save his buddies in Afghanistan - an act of heroism he said broke his back and left him with a brain injury. When a judge remarked during the episode broadcast Monday on the disappearance of Poe’s stutter during his cover of a Garth Brooks song, he spun another tale: He discovered his talent only after his speech therapist suggested he sing in the shower to help with the stutter.

The truth, according to an ex-wife, was that Poe not only was never hurt on the battlefield, he had been singing “pretty much his whole life” and spent four years fronting an alternative rock and cover band in Rochester, Minn. A MySpace page last updated in February 2009 for the Rochester band Crawl Space lists Poe as vocalist. Singing was the least of Poe’s fictions, according to the Minnesota Army National Guard, which has issued statements contradicting Poe’s account on the television show, igniting a firestorm online, especially among veterans and on military blogs, over Poe allegedly claiming glory and sympathy to which he’s not entitled.

The Guard says its records show Poe never was injured in combat in Afghanistan or Iraq. “It’s embarrassing for me and it’s embarrassing for his children and it’s embarrassing for the military,” said Shannon Conroy, who was married to Poe from November 2005 until this April. In the “America’s Got Talent” episode that aired Monday, Poe told judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern and Sharon Osbourne that he spent 14 years in the military that included being attacked in Afghanistan.

“I had volunteered for a team to go

out and clear buildings and help out with the wounded,” Poe said during a taped interview on the show. “There was a guy who comes up with a rocketpropelled grenade. I saw it coming down, and by the time I turned and went to jump on top of my guys, I yelled ‘grenade’ and the blast had hit me.”

Poe has declined multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press. Military records show he served with the Guard from December 2002 through May 2011, as a supply specialist. They show he was deployed in Kosovo from October 2007 to July 2008, and then served in Afghanistan for about a month in mid-2009. The sergeant was honorably discharged in 2011 because of a medical disability.

“His voice, and the fact that he was in the military, the true part, should’ve been enough to get him by,” Conroy said. “His singing alone is amazing, and I will never doubt that, but he goes a little too far.”

The 35-year-old San Antonio, Texas, man claimed when he spoke to WFAATV of Dallas last month that he was also wounded in Iraq in 2005, when his truck was hit by a roadside bomb. In a detailed rebuttal Thursday, Lt. Col Kevin Olson, a spokesman for the Minnesota Army National Guard, wrote that none of the military records that Poe’s fiancÈe, Carrie Morris, provided to reporters back up his claims that he was ever injured in combat. However, he said, other documents indicate Poe suffered the injury that led to his medical retirement while training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana in mid-July 2009 before he deployed to Afghanistan. He also said there were no official records showing that he ever deployed to Iraq or was injured there. He said Poe reported to Camp Shelby in Mississippi “for pre-mobilization training on Sept.

21, 2005, but ultimately did not

deploy” to Iraq.

Conroy told the AP that Poe broke his back in November 2005 in Mississippi, and was treated at Fort Benning in Georgia until March 2006, when he returned to Minnesota for back surgery.

She said Poe was in Afghanistan for a short time in 2009, then went to Germany for medical treatment.

The ex-wife said she got “very conflicting stories” from him and people in his unit about what he was treated for. She says Poe told her a rocket-propelled grenade had gone off near his convoy, while people in his unit told her Poe was never hurt in battle and instead had been injured during a training exercise before he went to Afghanistan and then experienced symptoms of the same problem while deployed.

In another discrepancy, it was confirmed Thursday that Poe gave “America’s Got Talent” and WFAA a photograph of another soldier and passed it off as himself. The caption of the original picture on the official military website Defense.gov says it shows Staff Sgt. Norman Bone serving in Afghanistan in 2006. Morris said Poe accidentally submitted the photo because he was in a hurry and didn’t take the time to look at which picture he was sending.

“It was a complete accident,” Morris said. Morris said Poe “feels like America is turning their back on him” and that it’s hard for her to listen to all the attacks. “It’s hard. I’m about to marry this man,” Morris said. “He is a good father. He is a good man. He is a good friend.” Poe is being savaged by veterans and on military blogs and in social media. Nick Colgin, a medic who

Timothy Michael Poe earned a Bronze Star for valor during his 15-month deployment in Afghanistan, said fabricated tales of heroism dishonor other veterans whose service goes unnoticed.

“There’s 2.4 million veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq and for someone to go on national TV and bring disrespect to them and their service - it’s inexcusable,” said Colgin, who came home in 2008 with a brain injury after a rocket-propelled grenade hit the side of his Humvee. John Kriesel served in Iraq until a roadside bomb hit his Humvee, killing two of his buddies and costing him both of his legs.

“He was a veteran. He has nothing to make up. Being a veteran is honorable,” Kriesel said. “Why lie about what you’ve done?” It’s unclear whether Poe could face any legal action. While the federal Stolen Valor Act allows prosecution when people make false claims about receiving medals, Poe didn’t say anything about medals in passages that have aired. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule within a few weeks on whether the law is constitutional. —AP

Reunited, The Mavericks ready to run at CMA Fest F

This June 5, 2012 photo shows the musical group the Mavericks, clockwise from top left, Paul Deakin, Raul Malo, Jerry Dale O’Connell, Robert Reynolds and Eddie Perez in Nashville, Tenn. The group will perform at the CMA Music Fest tomorrow. —AP

or years, people have been approaching Raul Malo with an annoyingly frequent question: When are The Mavericks getting back together? “I always thought it was funny - people holding on to a certain part of their lives they didn’t want to let go,” Malo said. “And I always dismissed it: ‘Oh, get on with your life. You’ll be better off without us anyway.’”

Then he started to hear from people with the money to back a reunion tour. “It just kept brewing and brewing,” Malo said. When finally the idea of an album was tossed out, the group that once turned country music on its ear with a galloping run of unexpected successes was back together. And with the changing face of country music finally catching up with the band’s all-over-themap vibe, who knows where this might end up?

The Mavericks take the largest step in its return Sunday during CMA Music Fest, when the band will play in front of more than 60,000 in Nashville. The quartet (original members Malo, bassist Robert Reynolds and drummer Paul Deakin with guitarist Eddie Perez) have a new single, “Born To Be Blue,” a five-song EP called “Suited Up and Ready” and the new untitled album on the way in

September. Some will remember the band’s run of hits like “What a Crying Shame,” “There Goes My Heart” and “Here Comes the Rain” and their renowned live shows from their heyday in the 1990s. Others will experience it for the first time. The band is excited to have an opportunity to blow some minds.

“If we’d continued together we would’ve just been a band,” Reynolds said. “Maybe we would’ve eventually bored everybody to death, right? But the break gives us a chance to be something relevant again - and irreverent at the same time.” Irreverent might be the perfect word to describe The Mavericks. Born of the very non-country music scene in Miami, where they were more likely to play for fans of Marilyn Manson than Garth Brooks, the band never fit the cowboy hat mold popular in Nashville.

With music flavored by Latin rhythms and rock, punctuated by Malo’s soaring, romantic tenor and accentuated with orange suits and a very South Florida flamboyance, The Mavericks nonetheless elbowed their way into Nashville. Scott Borchetta was at MCA when the band released its first major label album in 1992 and now hosts the band at his Big Machine Label Group. —AP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Rod Usher, singer of Horrorpunk band ‘The Other’, holds up a comic book by graphic artist Schwarwel that was inspired by his band at the comic exposition ‘International Comic Salon’ in Erlangen, southern Germany yesterday. The most important forum for graphic novels and comic art runs until tomorrow. —AFP

Hemingway haunt in Madrid threatened with closure O

nce a haunt of the greats from Ernest Hemingway to Salvador Dali and Hollywood beauty Eva Gardner, Madrid’s famous Cafe Gijon may be nearing the end of its 120-year history. Shaded under the tall trees of the Spanish capital’s Paseo de Recoletos boulevard, the cafe’s outside tables have lured artists, writers and actors since 1888. But after surviving the Spanish Civil War and dictatorship, the Cafe Gijon may finally fall victim to Madrid’s cash-strapped City Hall, which owns the terrace and has received richer offers for the concession.

Without the terrace, the cafe may not survive. “The financial heart of the business is in the terrace, 60-70 percent of profits come from the terrace,” said Jose Barcena, waiter and spokesman for the Cafe Gijon. “The management has done its sums and if we lose the terrace the idea is to sell up,” he added. “But who would buy a business without its main asset?”

The threat to the cafe, which employs 42 people, has provoked an uproar among intellectuals who still sit at the marble tables.

Before them, the rollcall of customers included Spanish writer Federico Garcia Lorca and filmmaker Luis Bunuel, Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, and American author Truman Capote.

“Dali used to swat flies on the terrace,” recalls 56-year-old Barcena, who has worked in the cafe for 38 years. Only twice has the venerable cafe closed: during the Civil War from 1936-1939 when it became a canteen for Republican militia and then in the 1980s for

renovation work, during which the terrace stayed open.

Intellectuals still debate in its august ambiance, with deep red velvet curtains drawn over plate glass windows, wood-panelled walls and a terrace with wrought iron chairs and tables. ‘Not everything is about business’- “The

time we writers, actors and musicians spent here is part of the story of Spanish culture, European culture, and Latin American culture when it comes to Madrid,” said writer Juan Jose Armas Marcelo, sitting with three colleagues around a sun-splashed table on the terrace.

“How are they going to kill off this place,

A waiter serves drinks at the terrace of the Cafe Gijon on May 30, 2012 in Madrid. Once a haunt of the greats from Ernest Hemingway to Salvador Dali and Hollywood beauty Eva Gardner, Madrid’s famous Cafe Gijon may be nearing the end of its 120-year history. —AFP

which is like an academy?” he asked on a spring afternoon. “I know we need money to eat and many other things but, come on, not everything is about business. Not everything has to be about competitiveness and who pays the most,” he said, promising to stop any attempt to replace the cafe with “a bank or a Chinese restaurant”. Sitting next to him, Jose Esteban, co-author of “The Book of the Cafe Gijon”, confessed: “I grew up here, among poets, among writers. I learned a lot more here than I did at university.”

According to Barcena, the cultural history of the cafe has in the past weighed more heavily than cash when it came to renewing the lease.

But this time, they are still waiting for a decision. “It is in the evaluation process,” said a spokesman for the Madrid City Hall, without giving any figures for bids received and noting that a decision had been due at the end of May. “The terrace does not belong to the Cafe Gijon, which only manages it,” he added. With a debt of more than six billion euros ($7.5 billion) and in the midst of a recession, the largest of Spain’s town halls may well be tempted to accept the highest offer.

The Socialist-led opposition in the Madrid regional parliament has called for the cafe to be designated a cultural heritage asset. But even if the regional government agrees, it would not protect the terrace. “It is the only literary cafe in Madrid,” said Jose Esteban, admitting he could not believe the cafe could disappear. “It would be a catastrophe, a tragedy for Madrid and for Spanish culture.”— AFP

TECHNOLOGY

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Ray Bradbury remembered by game developers at E3 LOS ANGELES: If there’s one place where Ray Bradbury’s legacy is tangibly omnipresent, it’s the Electronic Entertainment Expo. While he denounced video games as “a waste of time for men with nothing else to do,” it’s impossible not to glimpse at the flashing flatscreens, ubiquitous cameras and people wearing extraterrestrial costumes inside the Los Angeles Convention Centre this week and not be reminded of Bradbury’s high-tech foreshadowing and otherworldly visions, detailed in literary classics like “Fahrenheit 451,” “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and “The Martian Chronicles.” “I definitely read his books when I was a kid,” said Peter Molyneux, creator of the role-playing “Fable” series and studio head at developer 22 Cans. “I think with those worlds that he created, he inspired all

of us. There are games and scenes in this very hall which have probably been influenced by him - both consciously and unconsciously.”

Bradbury, who died Tuesday night at age 91, foretold of much of the technology powering the gaming industry’s annual trade show and inspired many of the games’ storylines being hyped at E3: cutthroat capitalism, interactive TVs, intergalactic affairs, handheld doodads and clandestine conspiracy theories, just to name a few. The Martian Chronicles was just “mind-blowing at the time,” said Adrian Chmielarz - creative director at “Gears of War: Judgment” developer People Can Fly - of Bradbury’s short story collection about telepathic aliens.

“The way (game developers’) brains work, we read everything - anime, comic books, everything - and hope

that someday our work will result in similar greatness.”

Corey May, writer of Ubisoft Entertainment’s “Assassin’s Creed” series, cited Bradbury as one of the inspirations for the time-bending, stealthy series. The third instalment of the franchise is set amid the American Revolution. “His influence his undeniable,” said May. “I would credit him with getting me interested in a dystopian future and the idea that you could project ideas forward and play with them in writing.

Obviously, it’s something we’ve been doing a little bit of with what we’re working on with ‘Assassin’s Creed III.” While some designers in attendance at E3 were not fans of Bradbury or familiar with his work, those that were seemed certain he indirectly affected the entire gaming industry. — AP

Ubisoft plays hard at E3 videogame summit Ubisoft plans to release eight Wii U games

ZERMATT: In this file picture, the Google Street View Snow Mobile takes pictures of ski slopes for Google’s Street View in front of the Matterhorn mountain in Switzerland. — AP

Google wins partial repeal of Swiss privacy ruling GENEVA: Switzerland’s supreme court has ruled that Google doesn’t need to be perfect when it comes to privacy. The Internet giant has won a partial repeal of a lower court decision that required the company to guarantee absolute anonymity for people pictured in its popular Street View service. “It must be accepted that up to a maximum of 1 percent of the images uploaded are insufficiently anonymized,” the Swiss Federal Tribunal said in a statement yesterday. The court said Google still has to make it easy for people to have their images manually blurred, and must ensure total anonymity in sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals, women’s shelters and courts, where skin color and clothing must also be obscured. The Lausanne-based tribunal additionally upheld part of the Federal Administrative Court’s ruling last year that Google must stop automatically publishing pictures of private gardens and courtyards taken with cameras positioned higher than 2 meters (6 1/2 feet). Google welcomed the supreme court verdict but left open whether it would now withdraw its previous threat to remove all pictures of Switzerland from Street View.

“We will now look at the ruling closely, discuss it with the federal data protection commissioner and examine what options are available,” said Daniel Schoenberger, Google’s legal chief for Switzerland. Switzerland’s privacy watchdog had wanted an absolute guarantee of anonymity in Street View, an online service that allows users to take virtual tours of cities and towns in dozens of countries around the world.

During a court hearing last year the data protection commissioner Hanspeter Thuer used a live version of Street View to demonstrate examples where the software failed to obscure faces of adults and children in public - including outside the court itself and even peered into private homes. While data protection laws in Switzerland are particularly strict, Google has faced privacy concerns in many of the countries where Street View is available. In Germany, residents can request that entire buildings be blurred to protect their privacy.—AP

LOS ANGELES: Ubisoft flexed its muscles, embracing new trends in digital play while rolling out blockbuster titles for consoles and handheld gadgets at the E3 industry extravaganza that ended here Thursday. The Francebased videogame titan’s creations took centre stage before the big three console makers-Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. Ubisoft’s booth on the show floor was perpetually packed with press and industry insiders eager to try upcoming games, including “Watch Dogs,” in which players can hack the networks that control a futuristic “smart city.”

“Not only do you play in an open city, but for the first time the city becomes your weapon,” said Ubisoft’s Montreal studio creative director Jonathan Morin. “You will experiment with the power of control, with every citizen’s darkest secrets at your fingertips.” “Watch Dogs” was one of the rare, daring new videogames at an E3 conference rich with captivating sequels to winning franchises and updated revivals of beloved titles from years gone by. Ubisoft also had a starring role in Nintendo’s campaign to build excitement for the next-generation Wii U console, to be available worldwide in time for the year-end holiday shopping season.

Ubisoft plans to release eight Wii U games in the eight months after the consoles hit the market. Ubisoft’s Wii U lineup includes eagerly-awaited action videogame “Assassin’s Creed III” along with dance, fitness, adventure and sports titles.

A “ZombiU” zombie killing game geared for mature audiences was lauded as perhaps the most ambitious approach to using the GamePad tablet controller that is a key feature of the Wii U. Ubisoft designers turned the GamePad into a “survival kit” for players in the horror-action game. “Part of the strategy at Ubisoft is to be first on each new console,” said Xavier Poix, manager of the global game company’s studios in France. “We have a long history with Nintendo.”

Games being tailored to take advantage of the touch-screen controller in Wii U included the company’s iconic “Rayman” and the slapstick “rabbids.” “Our goal with Wii U is to provide new and engrossing game experiences for every type of player,” said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

“Perhaps none has adopted the somethingfor-everyone approach more than Ubisoft.”

Ubisoft has aggressively extended its offer-

LOS ANGELES: In this image, guests play Rayman Legends at the Ubisoft booth. — AP ings to handheld gaming devices, smart- star. Ubisoft has seen success with “Just Dance” videogames that tap into motionphones, tablets, and online communities.

“We are getting out of the only-console sensing capabilities of consoles to challenge experience and will be able to connect players to keep in step with on-screen choregames to more and more devices,” Ubisoft ography set to high-energy music. “Ubisoft is chief executive Yves Guillemot said while dis- a trailblazer in developing innovative, unique cussing game play trends. “This evolution is content for new platforms,” said Guillemot. coming.” Instead of opening its E3 press Ubisoft pushed another kind of boundary in event with the usual theatrical movie screen its riveting action sequel “Far Cry 3,” with the trailers of new titles, Ubisoft got pulses introduction of a topless native woman who pounding with women in tight-fitting gym helps the hero become a warrior on an outfits dancing on-stage with a popular rap “island of insanity.” —AFP

App allows tracking of NY police ‘stop-and-frisk’ NEW YORK: Determined to keep tabs on New York City police officers’ “stop-and-frisk” campaign? There’s an app for that. A new smartphone app created by the New York Civil Liberties Union, “Stop and Frisk Watch,” allows witnesses of the controversial New York City Police Department tactic to video and report incidents. The NYCLU app has three main functions: “Record,” which allows bystanders to video an incident and send the video to the group with a shake of their phones; “Listen,” which alerts users

when searches are being conducted near them; and “Report,” which allows users to send the NYCLU information about searches that were not filmed.

The app is intended for use by people witnessing a police encounter, not by individuals who are the subject of a police stop, the NYCLU said. More than 200,000 searches were conducted by the New York police in the first three months of 2012, a 10 percent increase from 2011. More than threequarters of those searched are black or Latino.—AFP

TECHNOLOGY

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Oracle unveils ‘cloud computing’ services SAN FRANCISCO: Business software maker Oracle is finally adapting to a shift in computing that is threatening to turn the company into relic. The 35-year-old company hailed its technological transition Wednesday at its Redwood Shores, Calif. headquarters, where hyperbolic CEO Larry Ellison announced plans to distribute more than 100 business software applications over the Internet instead of selling them as products that have to be installed on individual office computers.

The concept of leasing software applications reachable on any Internet-connected device is known as “cloud computing.” It’s an idea that Ellison has frequently mocked as a passing fancy, but his comments Wednesday made it clear that he realized some time ago that the trend had become a serious business. Ellison said it took thousands of Oracle engineers the past seven years to develop the company’s suite of cloud computing services.

The work was code-named “Fusion,” but Ellison acknowledged it became so disjointed that he understood why it was skewered as “Project Confusion.”

Despite all the manpower and money that Oracle poured into its cloud computing expansion, the company still couldn’t build everything on its own. To fill the gaps, Oracle has spent more than $3.5 billion buying some of the early pioneers in cloud computing, including RightNow Technologies and Taleo.

“This was as difficult a thing that we have ever done at Oracle,” Ellison conceded Wednesday during a presentation that The Associated Press watched on a webcast. He said he now believes Oracle has “the most comprehensive cloud on planet earth.” All boasting aside, Oracle will have to prove that it can adjust to the changes triggered by cloud computing. All this while still trying to profit from the old model of installing and maintaining software on the premises of its corporate and government customers.

Ellison acknowledged it won’t be easy, saying “very few technology companies cross the chasm from one generation to the next.” Oracle Corp. is in no danger of fading away anytime soon. The company remains of the of the world’s most successful software makers, with annual revenue of about $37 billon and a market value of $137 billion. But the 67-year-old Ellison, an elder statesman among Silicon Valley’s CEOs, doesn’t want to risk becoming obsolescent. He is trying to stay a step ahead of longtime rival SAP as it also embraces cloud computing while Oracle tries to catch up to one of Ellison’s former proteges, Marc Benioff, who is now CEO of Salesforce.com Inc. Not long after leaving Oracle to start Salesforce, Benioff emerged as cloud computing’s more persuasive evangelist. Salesforce.com is expected to generate $3 billion in annual revenue this year and has a market value of $19 billion. Ellison, who has an estimated fortune of $36 billion, was one of Salesforce’s earliest investors. He also owns a 46 percent stake in a Salesforce rival, NetSuite Inc., run by another former Oracle executive, Zach Nelson.

Oracle’s expansion into cloud computing also puts Ellison on a collision course with an old antagonist, software entrepreneur David Duffield. Ellison bought Duffield’s former company, PeopleSoft, for $11.1 billion in 2005 after a bitter takeover battle that lasted 18 months. Duffield has since started a cloud-computing service called Workday that sells human resources management tools.

Ellison predicted Oracle eventually will trump Salesforce and Workday by offering a wider and more secure range of services that will fulfil all the cloud computing needs of big companies and government agencies. Oracle’s new services include “”social relationship management” tools to analyze what people are saying on Facebook’s social network and other online forums such as Twitter. In an apparent effort to underscore his commitment to Oracle’s new focus, Ellison sent his first tweet shortly after leaving the stage Wednesday. His message promoted Oracle’s new cloud computing applications while still saving enough space to throw a jab at SAP. — AP

Apple facing $2.22m fine over Australian ‘4G’ iPad ‘False advertising’ misleads consumers SYDNEY: Apple agreed yesterday to a Aus$2.25 million ($2.22 million) fine for misleading Australian customers about the local 4G capability of its next-generation iPad, in a case brought by regulators. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) told the Federal Court that the US tech giant had agreed to the penalty for implying in advertising that the 4G function on its latest iPad worked in Australia. Apple offered in March to refund Australian customers who felt they had been misled by the “iPad with WiFi + 4G” promotion and publish a clarification about the popular tablet’s capabilities after the ACCC took it to court.

Though the iPad’s 4G function only works on networks in the United States and Canada it had been widely promoted as one of the tablet’s features globally, which the ACCC said amounted to false advertising. It is now advertised outside North America as “WiFi + Cellular”-a change that came into effect on May 12 — with a clear caveat on its Australian site that “it is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE and WiMax networks.” The matter was due to go to a full trial this week but ACCC lawyer Colin Golvan said Apple had agreed to pay the Aus$2.25 million fine and the commission’s legal costs as part of an out-of-court settlement.

It is half the maximum Aus$4.4 million fine open to the ACCC in the case. Apple described it as “more than adequate having regard to the conduct and all the other circumstances” and stressed that

the concessions made in the case were only applicable in Australia.

The “iPad + 4G” promotion was in place for two months worldwide including major technology-mad cities in Asia.

Golvan said the “substantial” penalty would send a strong message to the booming smartphone and tablet industry that “such conduct will not be condoned”, according to a report of the hearing in The Australian newspaper. But judge Mordecai Bromberg refused to make an official court order until he had the details of how many iPads had been sold and were returned under the refund offer and further information on Apple’s financial position.

“The parties put forward proposed settlement and consent orders, however His Honour requested further information to be provided for the consideration of the court, which will happen next week,” an ACCC spokesman told AFP. Apple agreed to provide a confidential brief to the judge by June 13, with a final decision on the penalty and settlement of the case to be handed down at a later date.

The iPad was the world’s best-selling tablet in the first three months of 2012, outgunning its Android-powered rivals, with sales more than doubling from a year earlier to send Apple’s profits soaring. The US giant said the iPad was especially popular in Asia, particularly in China where demand was described as “mind-boggling” with revenues of US$7.9 billion in the first quarter alone. — AFP

NEW YORK: The Apple l, the first Apple computer made by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, is seen on display at Sotheby’s yesterday. The computer was an integral component to the personal computing revolution; it is set to be auctioned on June 15, 2012 and is expected to earn between $120,000 and $180,000. — AFP

Facebook rolls out central location for apps NEW YORK: There’s more to Facebook apps than “Angry Birds” and Pinterest, but many users wouldn’t know that because there hasn’t been a good, central way to find them. Facebook Inc. is trying to change that.

On Thursday, Facebook is beginning to roll out its App Center to its nearly 1 billion users, so they can find games and other applications with social components more easily. The App Center, available on Facebook’s website and on Apple and Android mobile devices, will recommend apps to users based on their interests, the types of apps their friends like, or the apps they have liked in the past.

Many people are introduced to Facebook apps in the form of sometimesannoying requests from their friends for poker partners, Scrabble buddies or neighbors on virtual farms. Those requests haven’t necessarily matched a user’s specific interests. The new App Center will initially

feature about 600 Facebook apps, mostly games, reviewed by the company to meet its quality standards. Games, such as Zynga’s “CityVille” and Electronic Arts’ “The Sims,” are the most popular types of apps on Facebook.

But the company is betting that by personalizing recommendations to users, people will find new types of applications beyond games, along with games that are more interesting to them. There are all sorts of social apps that use Facebook, from music-listening services such as Spotify to what-you-just-ate tools such as Foodspotting.

“We spend all day, every day building a platform (so that) great social games and apps can exist,” said Matt Wyndowe, product manager for apps and games at Facebook. But a common question has long been where to find them. “Up until now, we haven’t had a great answer to

that question.” Facebook said that on mobile devices, the App Center won’t compete with other app stores, such as Apple’s or Google’s. Rather, the App Center will send users to those other stores to download the programs. People can also get mobile apps from their regular computers by using a feature called “send to mobile.”

Among the roughly 600 applications included in the App Center at launch will be the Nike Plus GPS running app, which lets users track their runs and broadcast it to their Facebook feed. Ricky Engelberg, whose title at Nike is experience director at digital sport, said having a place where apps are showcased will “let more people be part of the Nike Plus community.”

The App Center, which Facebook announced last month, will be rolled out to US users beginning Thursday night and to everyone else over the coming weeks. — AP

TV listings

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

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

Untamed & Uncut Human Prey Bite Of The Living Dead I Was Bitten The Animals’ Guide To Survival Shamwari: A Wild Life Animal Battlegrounds E-Vets: The Interns E-Vets: The Interns Escape To Chimp Eden Crocodile Hunter The Planet’s Funniest Animals Jeff Corwin Unleashed Jeff Corwin Unleashed Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Project Puppy Dogs 101 Wildlife SOS Safari Vet School Safari Vet School Must Love Cats The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Wildest Africa Lions Of Crocodile River Great Ocean Adventures Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Great Animal Escapes Great Animal Escapes Whale Wars: Viking Shores Animal Cops South Africa

00:20 Come Dine With Me 01:10 Indian Food Made Easy 01:35 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 02:00 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 02:30 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 03:00 MasterChef 03:25 Living In The Sun 04:10 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 04:35 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 05:05 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey 06:00 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 06:30 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 07:00 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 07:25 Indian Food Made Easy 07:55 Come Dine With Me 11:15 Come Dine With Me 11:40 Come Dine With Me 12:05 Celebrity MasterChef 12:35 Celebrity MasterChef 13:30 Come Dine With Me 14:20 Cash In The Attic USA 14:40 Cash In The Attic USA 15:05 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 15:50 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 16:40 Antiques Roadshow 17:30 Antiques Roadshow 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 19:20 Antiques Roadshow 20:10 Antiques Roadshow 21:00 Cash In The Attic 21:30 Cash In The Attic 22:00 Bargain Hunt 22:45 Bargain Hunt 23:30 Cash In The Attic USA 23:55 Cash In The Attic USA

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00 05:25 05:50 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:40 10:05

Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics Wacky Races Pink Panther And Pals Dexter’s Laboratory Bananas In Pyjamas Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Ha Ha Hairies The Garfield Show The Looney Tunes Show What’s New Scooby-Doo? Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

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

Desert Car Kings X-Machines Surviving The Cut How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Gold Rush How It’s Made Built From Disaster Mega Builders Extreme Engineering Heart Of The Machine Man, Woman, Wild Dual Survival Ultimate Survival Ultimate Survival World’s Toughest Jobs Coal When Fish Attack Hillbilly Handfishin’ Storm Chasers River Monsters Gold Rush Bear Grylls’ Wild Weekend Hillbilly Handfishin’ When Fish Attack River Monsters: Special

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

Mega World The Colony Powering The Future The Gadget Show Prototype This How The Universe Works Mega World Sci-Trek Powering The Future Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger How Does That Work?

How Does That Work?

Engineered Sport Science Sport Science Sport Science Sport Science Sport Science Prophets Of Science Fiction Patent Bending Patent Bending Future Weapons Sci-Fi Saved My Life Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Scrapheap Challenge Mega World Brave New World Weird Or What?

Dark Matters Brave New World Prophets Of Science Fiction

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:40 Cody 07:05 07:30 07:40 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:35 10:00 10:25 11:30 11:40 12:05 12:30 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:35 15:50 16:15

Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Suite Life Of Zack And

THE RECRUIT ON OSN ACTION HD 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:30 11:50 12:10 12:35 13:00 13:50 14:40 15:05 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:15 18:05 18:30 20:10 20:30 20:55 21:25 21:50 22:15 22:35 23:00 23:20 23:45

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Wacky Races The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Garfield Show The Flintstones Dastardly And Muttley Looney Tunes Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Tom & Jerry Top Cat Top Cat Pink Panther & Pals The Garfield Show The Looney Tunes Show The Good, The Bad And...

Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries What’s New Scooby-Doo? The Garfield Show The Flintstones Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Popeye Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-Doo Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show

00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 00:55 Bakugan: New Vestroia 01:20 Powerpuff Girls 02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:55 Angelo Rules

06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:25 Casper’s Scare School 07:00 The Powerpuff Girls 07:15 Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi 07:40 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:05 Adventure Time 08:55 Regular Show 09:20 Evil Con Carne 09:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 10:05 Thundercats 10:35 Hero 108 11:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 11:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 11:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 12:15 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 12:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 13:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 13:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 13:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 14:20 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 14:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 15:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 15:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 16:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 16:25 Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens 17:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 20:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 21:00 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 21:25 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu 21:50 Cow And Chicken 22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:50 Ben 10 23:15 Ben 10 23:40 Chowder

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00

Amanpour World Sport Piers Morgan Tonight World Report Anderson Cooper 360

04:00 05:00 05:45 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:15 08:30 09:00 09:15 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:15 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30

Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business CNN Marketplace Africa The Situation Room World Sport Inside The Middle East World Report CNN Marketplace Africa Backstory World Report CNN Marketplace Middle East Eco Solutions World Sport Living Golf The Best Of The Situation Room World Report Backstory The Brief Inside Africa World Report Cnngo Talk Asia Business Traveller World’s Untold Stories Backstory International Desk African Voices CNN Marketplace Europe CNN Marketplace Africa The Brief World Sport Mainsail International Desk Inside Africa International Desk Inside The Middle East The Best Of The Situation Room World Report World’s Untold Stories

00:15 Worst-Case Scenario 00:40 Surviving The Cut 01:35 American Chopper: Senior vs

So Random Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jessie A.N.T. Farm Austin & Ally The Return Of Jafar Have A Laugh So Random Suite Life On Deck Austin & Ally Austin & Ally Austin & Ally Austin & Ally Jessie Wizards Of Waverly Place So Random Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie

16:40 17:00 18:20 18:45 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:55 22:05 22:30 22:55 Cody 23:20 Cody 23:45

Wizards Of Waverly Place Jump In! A.N.T. Farm Austin & Ally Austin & Ally Jessie The Return Of Jafar Have A Laugh So Random Fish Hooks The Suite Life Of Zack And The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 20 Hottest Women Of The Web 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Bridalplasty 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 11:10 Giuliana & Bill 12:05 E! News 13:05 Scouted 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Khloe And Lamar 15:30 Khloe And Lamar 15:55 Khloe And Lamar 16:25 Khloe And Lamar 16:55 Ice Loves Coco 17:25 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 19:25 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 19:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 20:55 Style Star 21:25 Fashion Police 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

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

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

True Crime With Aphrodite

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00

Departures Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy Adventure Wanted Meet The Natives Keeping Up With The Joneses Keeping Up With The Joneses Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy Adventure Wanted Meet The Natives Danger Men Deadliest Journeys

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

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

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Ghost Lab The Haunted A Haunting

TV listings

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012 09:30 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:00 On The Camino De Santiago 11:30 On The Camino De Santiago 12:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 12:30 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 13:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 14:00 Adventure Wanted 15:00 Meet The Natives 16:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 16:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 17:00 Treks In A Wild World 18:00 Departures 19:00 Pressure Cook 19:30 Pressure Cook 20:00 Which Way To 21:00 Bluelist Australia 21:30 Bluelist Australia 22:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 23:00 A World Apart

00:00 Departures 01:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 02:00 Adventure Wanted 03:00 Meet The Natives 04:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 04:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 05:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 06:00 Adventure Wanted 07:00 Meet The Natives 08:00 Danger Men 09:00 Deadliest Journeys 09:30 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:00 On The Camino De Santiago 11:30 On The Camino De Santiago 12:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 12:30 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 13:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 14:00 Adventure Wanted 15:00 Meet The Natives 16:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses 16:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses 17:00 Treks In A Wild World 18:00 Departures 19:00 Pressure Cook 19:30 Pressure Cook 20:00 Which Way To 21:00 Bluelist Australia 21:30 Bluelist Australia 22:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 23:00 A World Apart

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

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:10 04:40 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 09:40 10:10 11:05 12:00

13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Wild Chronicles Wild Chronicles World Wild Web World Wild Web Expedition Wild Wildlife Rescue Africa Hunter Hunted Snake Underworld Expedition Wild Wildlife Rescue Africa Hunter Hunted Snake Underworld Built For The Kill

00:00 Storm Warning-18 01:30 Carlito’s Way-18 04:00 4.3.2.1.-18 06:00 True Justice: Dark Vengeance18 08:00 Rocky II-PG15 10:00 Star Trek: First Contact-PG 12:00 Little Big Soldier-PG15 14:00 Rocky II-PG15 16:00 Wild Bill-PG15 18:00 Little Big Soldier-PG15 20:00 Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown-18 22:00 The Recruit-PG15

01:00 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 03:00 16 To Life-PG15 05:00 Happy Ever Afters-PG15 07:00 Freakonomics-PG15 09:00 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 11:00 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG 13:00 Prom-PG15 15:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15 17:00 St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold-PG15 19:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 21:00 Attack The Block-PG15 23:00 A Single Man-R

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 Allen Gregory 02:30 The Big C 03:00 New Girl 03:30 Melissa & Joey 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Dharma And Greg 06:30 10 Items Or Less 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 New Girl 09:00 Seinfeld 09:30 30 Rock 10:00 Modern Family 10:30 10 Items Or Less 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Dharma And Greg 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 10 Items Or Less 14:00 Melissa & Joey 14:30 Modern Family 15:00 30 Rock 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Parks And Recreation 18:30 Bent 19:00 The Office 19:30 Breaking In 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:00 The Big C 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00

Aftermath Taboo Megastructures Caught In The Act Hunter Hunted The Known Universe Cruise Ship Diaries Somewhere In China Aftermath Taboo Megastructures Fight Science Hunter Hunted The Known Universe Cruise Ship Diaries Somewhere In China Trapped Taboo Megastructures World’s Deadliest Animals Shark Men Banged Up Abroad Light At The Edge of The World Departures

Triumph of Life Planet Carnivore Hollywood Bear Tragedy Animal Fugitives World Wild Wed 2 World Wild Wed 2 Expedition Wild Cameramen Who Dare Monster Fish Swamp Men Grizzly Cauldron Camera Trap Camera Trap Zambezi Africa’s Deadliest Built For The Kill

Jane By Design Smash The Bachelor Fairly Legal Rescue Me Good Morning America The Practice Castle The Martha Stewart Show The View Jane By Design Fairly Legal Castle Live Good Morning America The Practice Emmerdale Coronation Street C.S.I. Criminal Minds C.S.I. New York Law & Order: Criminal Intent Rescue Me

Psych The Bachelor Love Bites Jane By Design Smash Fairly Legal Psych The Bachelor Castle The Chicago Code Jane By Design Fairly Legal Emmerdale Coronation Street Castle Psych Emmerdale Coronation Street Charlie’s Angels C.S.I.

20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Criminal Minds C.S.I. New York Law & Order: Criminal Intent Treme

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Child’s Play 2-18 The Rig-18 Storm Warning-18 StreetDance-PG15 Age Of The Dragons-PG15 Ip Man-PG15 Game Of Death-PG15 Age Of The Dragons-PG15 Fatal Secrets-PG15 Malibu Shark Attack-18 The Recruit-PG15 Julia’s Eyes-18

00:00 Mallrats-18 02:00 Griff The Invisible-PG15 04:00 Like Mike-PG 06:00 Josie And The Pussycats-PG15 08:00 Cool Runnings-PG15 10:00 Snow Dogs-PG 12:00 I’ll Be Home For Christmas-PG 14:00 Paper Man-PG15 16:00 Snow Dogs-PG 18:00 Mystery Men-PG15 20:00 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story-PG15 22:00 Youth In Revolt-18

01:30 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:30 13:00 15:00 16:30 19:15 21:00 23:00

PVC-1-PG15 Shampoo-18 Le Dernier Pour LA Route-PG15 Oceans - Into The Deep-PG Cinema Verite-PG15 Coach Carter-PG15 Le Code A Change-PG15 Cinema Verite-PG15 The Horse Whisperer-PG15 On Broadway-PG15 Made In Dagenham-PG15 Henry & June-R

00:45 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Company Men-PG15 Ways To Live Forever-PG15 Alabama Moon-PG15 Who Is Clark Rockefeller-PG Just Wright-PG15 The Last Airbender-PG My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend-PG15 The Conspirator-PG15 Just Wright-PG15 127 Hours-PG15 Never Let Me Go-PG15 Bad Teacher-18

00:00 The Wind In The Willows-PG 02:00 Cher Ami-PG 04:00 Spy Kids: All The Time In The World-PG 06:00 Despicable Me-FAM 08:00 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 10:00 Garfield-PG 12:00 Bat Cat And Bitsy-FAM 14:00 Spy Kids: All The Time In The World-PG 16:00 Christopher Columbus-PG 18:00 Garfield-PG 20:00 Paws-PG 22:00 Bat Cat And Bitsy-FAM

A SINGLE MAN ON OSN CINEMA

00:00 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews 01:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 02:00 Live NBC Nightly News 02:30 ABC World News W/ Diane Sawyer 03:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 04:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 06:00 NBC Nightly News 06:35 ABC Nightline 07:00 ABC World News W/ Diane Sawyer 07:30 Live NBC Nightly News 08:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 09:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 10:00 MSNBC Morning Joe 13:00 MSNBC Documystery 14:00 Live NBC Saturday Today Show 16:00 MSNBC Up With Chris Hayes Saturday

17:57 Live MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews 18:38 Live MSNBC The Ed Show 19:19 Live MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 20:00 Live ABC 20/20 21:00 MSNBC Documystery

00:30 Inhale-PG15 02:00 Oranges And Sunshine-PG15 04:00 Kung Fu Magoo-FAM 06:00 Legendary-PG15 08:00 Our Family Wedding-PG15 10:00 The Help-PG15 12:30 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 14:30 Winnie The Pooh-FAM 16:00 Our Family Wedding-PG15 18:00 Unstoppable-PG15 20:00 Mr. Nobody-PG15 22:30 The Rite-18

00:00 01:00 03:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 12:30 13:00 15:00 15:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 20:00 20:30 21:00

WWE Bottom Line WWE SmackDown PGA European Tour Super League Super Rugby Highlights Rugby Match Day Live International Rugby Union Rugby Match Day Live International Rugby Union Rugby Match Day Live Volvo Ocean Race Futbol Mundial Rugby Match Day Live International Rugby Union Rugby Match Day Futbol Mundial Live Darts

01:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 13:00 21:00 21:30 23:30

Live UFC Prelims Live UFC Trans World Sport WWE SmackDown Darts Live Test Cricket Rugby Match Day International Rugby Union Rugby Match Day

01:45 Live Rugby Union Nations Cup 04:00 Total Rugby 04:30 Top 14 Highlights 05:00 IRB Junior World Championship 07:00 Live AFL Premiership 10:00 Super League 12:00 NRL Full Time 12:30 Live NRL Premiership 14:30 Live PGA European Tour 18:30 Live Top 14 21:45 Live International Rugby Union 23:45 Top 14

00:00 01:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 19:00 22:00

WWE Bottom Line Live UFC Prelims Live UFC UFC Unleashed WWE Smackdown WWE Bottom Line WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection Live AFL Premiership Live UK Open Darts UFC Prelims UFC

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 10:00 13:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

Pawn Stars Ax Men How Nero Saved Rome Queen And Country Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Ax Men Tales Of The Gun America: The Story Of The U.S. Tales Of The Gun How Nero Saved Rome Queen And Country UFO Files Mud Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars No County For Old Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Deep Wreck Mysteries

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

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

MARRS Spell Bee International

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n an explicitly special assembly organized to celebrate the World Environment Day, Bhavans honoured their gifted enthusiasts who excelled in the Spell Bee International 2012. Out of 1131 students who appeared for the competition in Kuwait, 584 were from Indian Educational School, and 11 spelling wizards among them came out in flying colours defeating their counterparts in other schools. Arun George of Class 11 got the first position, Ankur Das of class 10 bagged the second and Arjun Prabhu of Class 10 got the fifth position in category 5. Aishwarya Shaji and Elizabeth Jiji of class 6, and Siddarth Sridhar of class 7 won the first, second and the fourth positions respectively in category 3. In categories 2 and 1 too there are Bhavanites who could prove their mettle. When Karthik Sudheer and Joshua Daniel John of class 4 bagged the first and fourth positions respectively in cate-

gory 2, it was Saumeya Kethavarajan and Divya Mariam John of class 1 who made us proud by winning the third and fourth positions in category 1.

Principal Premkumar in his words of felicitation stressed upon the importance of learning the spelling of words we use in our day to day life. English is such a language which follows a pattern where spelling of a word has nothing to do with its pronunciation. This unique feature of this language makes the responsibility of learning the spelling more important. He also appreciated the great social responsibility of motivating children to take the initiative in learning the spelling and pronunciation of this international link language. Ramachandran Menon, Chairman-Bhavan Group of Schools in the Middle East gave away the medals and certificates of merits to all the winners.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.uae.gc.ca. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus would like to inform the public that from 3rd June 2012 the Consulate section located at the premises of the Embassy has started issuing Visas. Address: Salwa-Block 3, AlMutanabbi Street Building No. 35, Tel : (965)25620350, Fax: (965)25620470, Email : info@cyprus-embassy.org.kw Working hours 9:00am till 12:00pm everyday except Friday & Saturday Hence, The Honorary Consulate of Cyprus in Kuwait city will stop issuing Visas from the same date. 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: Saturday to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA

Venalthanima 2012 Kicks-off

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enalthanima 2012, a three days students personality development and leadership training workshop in the auspices of Thanima, kicked off on Friday morning at Indian Central School, Abbassiya. Adv. John Thomas inaugurated the workshop. Pancily Varkey, Dr. T.A. Ramesh and B.P. Nasser spoke on the occasion. In his introductory speech, Babuji Bathery (Camp designer) elaborated the camp activities & its vision. Mary John welcomed the gathering and Shaji Varghese proposed a vote of thanks. The participants, parents, dignitaries and the organizers lined on the stage and sung national anthems of Kuwait and India to conclude the inaugural ceremony. This was followed by different training sessions on various topics. The participants were divided into 3 groups based on their age. This is the 7th consecutive year Thanima conducts ‘Venalthanima’. Unlike in the previous years, this year 120 students are participating in the full day Workshop, which will conclude on Sunday.

The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy.

We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area Block 6 - Street 9 - Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF MEXICO The Embassy of Mexico is pleased to inform that it is located in CLIFFS Complex, Villa 6, Salmiya, block 9, Baghdad street, Jadda Lane 7. The working hours for consular issues are from 9:00 to 12:00 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 14:00 to 15:00 hours for lunch break. The Embassy of Mexico kindly requests all Mexicans citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the e-mail: embkuwait@sre.gob.mx in order to register or update contact information. Other consultations or/and appointments could be done by telephone or fax: (+965) 2573 1952

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Announcements

Bhavans sparkles with the Icon of success in Iken Scientifica

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he Iken Scientifica organized by Mexus Education aims at enhancing the Scientific Talent of the students . 150 Bhavanites who participated in the Iken Scientifica were exposed to the written round and Project analysis with substantiate explanation on queries related to the concept. Readily answering the most intricate questionnaire with unsurpassed eminence, 46 indomitable Bhavanites emerged successful.

• SAM EBEY SAMUEL, ARJUN SADANAND , PRATHIK PRATHEESH and DEVANGSHU MAZUMDER who ranked in the Top Ten. • URVISH PARAG CHOKSHI, VYSHNAV KATTIKOLOTH , NAYAMA ELSA CHRISTY and DEEPU GEORGE who ranked in the Top Twenty.

Joel Joseph John of Grade 10 is one of the 6 toppers at the national level (Kuwait) in the IKEN Scientifica contest held in 3 levels. He will now represent us at the All India Level in June 2012. We congratulate Joel Joseph who makes us jubilant and wish him all the very best at the All India Level.

Chairman N K Ramachandran Menon and Principal T Premkumar extolled the indomitable spirit and successful resolve of the students who brought laurels to their alma mater and honoured the virtuous Bhavanites in a special assembly organized on the World Environment Day. Bhavans dreams higher and Bhavanites not just dream, they turn their dreams into reality with a lot of determination, self-discipline and effort.

Open House for Indian citizens Open House for Indian citizens by the ambassador which is being held every alternate Wednesday has been found useful by the Indian community and the embassy. It will now be held on every Wednesday from June 2012 between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs. in the embassy. During the month of June, 2012 the dates for the open house fall today, 13th, 20th, and 27th of the month. 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 Indiaís Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizens on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the Consular Officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall.

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 labour wing Help Desk functions from 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs in the Labour Hall to address the labour related issues. There is also a 24x7 Help Line (Tel No. 25674163) to assist labourers in distress. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attaches in the labour section and the head of the labour wing could be contacted.

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

Kera Abbassiya unit election We are glad to inform you that the adhock committee has decided to carry out KERA’s unit general body elections for the year 2012-2013. As part of this,the unit general body elections for Abbassiya unit shall be conducted on Friday15th June 2012 at 5:30PM at successline hall(1st floor/Tandem Building,back side of United Indian school) abbassiya. The election procedures shall be followed strictly & fully subjected to the draft bye-law formed by the adhock committee, all members from the abbassiya area are requested to attend and make the election grand and successful.

KEFAK football season 2012

K

EFAK - Kerala expats football association Kuwait - kicked off the football season 2012 colorfully. KEFAK unites all Kerala football clubs and fans under a single roof with the slogan of ‘’Football for Friendship and Fraternity’. Inaugural event was graced by the presence of Most expensive Player in India - Mohammad RafiChurchil brothers player and Abdul Aziz Al Duwaij - TIES center director, Ramesh Country head Gulf mart, Manu Chandrashekar - COO UFM 98.4 and many other dignitaries from the business community and other Keralite organizations.

KEFAK home ground at Sabahiya was populated with football aficionados from the inception. All 14 members club players entered the stadium holding placard reflecting each team names accompanied by electrifying music and amid cheers of vibrant club supporters. Ceremony was inaugurated by Abdul Aziz Al Duwaij. League kick off was officially done by Mohammad Rafi in the presence of all lined up teams, officials, aficionados and dignitaries that sunk the

stadium in noisy cheers of aficionados .

Dignitaries were introduced to each team.

Further delight of fans, exhibition matches were conducted and Mohammad Rafi played for two selected teams that were cheered by all. He showed his ball skills, positional sense and shooting accuracy that was real football feast to all.

KEFAK treasurer and senior member O.K Razaq took the oath for each team captains.

Manu Chadrashekar - COO- UFM 98.4 offered felicitation speech. Memento for chief guest Mohammad Rafi was presented

by Manu Chandrasekhar and Memento for another chief guest from Kuwait- Abdul Aziz Al Duwaij was presented by Shabeer Mohammad - President KEFAK. Ceremony was chaired by KEFAK President. Executive committee member Mubarak Yusuf offered welcome speech and Vinayan offered vote of thanks. VS Najeeb compered the event in an excellent fashion. Ceremony was attended by KEFAK vice president Abdulla Qadri, CO John, Acting secretary Pradeep Kumar, Shabeer Mandolli and Robert. Different

functions were headed by Mansoor Ali Refreshments, Shyam Kumar - Purchase, Shabhul Hameed and Ramesh - volunteers and George - sound system.

Participating teams were Soccer Kerala, Malappuram bros,Kerala challengers , Kerala Strikers, Fahaheel Bros A, Fahaheel Bros B, Winners international, Big boys, Youth India Kuwait, Rowda Challengers, CFC Salmiya, Silver Stars and KKS Surra. Ex players of professional teams like Viva Kerala, F.C Cochin, Sesa Goa, SBT, Titanium, Central Excise and Customs, National youth team and Kerala state team are playing for various participating teams. Indian football referee association (IFRA) officials officiated all matches and IFRA will be officiating all KEFAK league matches.

League will start rolling from June 8th Friday evening 6 PM to 10 PM and everyday four league matches will be played. KEFAK has made necessary arrangements for fans to enjoy pulsating games with families. For more information please contact 99708812 / 99591156/97327238.

Art Sawa hosts exhibition An exhibition called Sense & Sensibilities will be held from May 30 till June 19 at Art Sawa by Hend Al-Falafly explores through her most recent and intimate works” Senses and Sensibilities” the different emotions expressed by the women, usually which are part of her daily life. She strongly uses body language to understand the meaningful silence carried over their experiences and different stories. Hend reflects all its semantic in the facial expressions and movements of the hands, the feet, the look, the clothes, and reveals then the tension, and the emotions repressed. “The pencils are my instruments, my tools, simply to express the intimate relationships of my social circle and, my work is mixed with strong realism which contains symbolism with very expressive meaning in the same time” she says. A different realism inspires her and has great impact in her works, which breaths from an inherent activity revealed through an incredible movement and light. No secret can be kept hidden, all is revealed. info@artsawa.com

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

HEALTH

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

HYDERABAD: A member of the Bathini Goud family administers ‘fish medicine’ to a patient at the Katedan stadium in Hyderabad yesterday. The medicine, which has been offered by the family of the southern Indian city to patients for the last 161 years as a cure to asthma and other breathing disorders, is placed in the mouth of a live murrel fish and then slipped into the mouth of the patient. — AFP

HYDERABAD: Indian believers wait to collect their tokens prior to receiving ‘fish medicine’ at the Katedan stadium in Hyderabad yesterday. The medicine is administered on the auspicious day of ‘Mrigasira Karti’ which falls in June with the onset of the annual monsoon. The treatment, which is based on a secret herb formula, draws thousands of people from all over the country. —- AFP

Fish medicine for asthma patients HYDERABAD: A stampede took place in Hyderabad at the venue of annual ‘fish medicine’ event yesterday. One person died and over 20 others including women were injured in the stampede as thousands of people rushed for fish ‘prasadam’ (fish medicine for asthma patients) at the annual distribution at Katedan stadium.

A 70-year-old man died of a heart attack as scores of people had queued up to collect the medicine-that is believed to cure asthma. The stampede occurred when the venue’s gates were

Pneumonia, diarrhea ‘top killers of kids’ UNITED NATIONS: Pneumonia and diarrhea are among the top causes of childhood deaths around the world, particularly among the poor, said a report out Friday by the UN Children’s Fund.

UNICEF said that while these two diseases kill more than two million children each year, making up 29 percent of child deaths under age five worldwide, some simple interventions could save lots of lives in the coming years.

The report urges the 75 countries with the highest mortality rates to aim to treat poor children with diarrhea and pneumonia the same way they do those from the top 20 percent of households, a so-called “equity approach.”

Key interventions include vaccinating against the major causes of pneumonia and diarrhea, encouraging infant breastfeeding, improving access to clean water and sanitation, offering antibiotics for pneumonia and rehydration solutions for diarrhea.

“Modeled estimates suggest that by 2015 more than two million child deaths due to pneumonia and diarrhea could be averted across the 75 countries with the highest mortality burden,” said the report.

“If national coverage of key pneumonia and diarrhea interventions were raised to the level in the richest 20 percent of households in each country,” it added.

About half of childhood deaths in the world due to diarrhea or pneumonia take place in five countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and Ethiopia, said the report. There has been some progress in offering vaccines against Hemophilus influenza type b, as well as pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and rotavirus vaccines in the poorest countries, but more effort is needed, it said.—Reuters

opened to the public. Over two lakh persons from different parts of the country were already administered the medicine at the event, which is organised by the Bathini Mrigasira Trust that provides the free medicine claimed to cure asthma, an official said.

The stampede occurred as thousands of people rushed for fish medicine for asthma patients at the annual distribution at Katedan stadium.

“Additional counters have been opened and things are now

put in order with queue being maintained,” the official said.

However, several persons complained that no proper arrangements were made at the distribution site. The distribution that began yesterday morning would go on non-stop for 48 hours even as district authorities had arranged for 60,000 fingerlings for the event. The venue of the fish ‘prasadam’ event was organised at Nampally exihibition grounds every year, but was shifted to Katedan this year.

Japanese create human liver from stem cells Bridge between basic research, clinical application TOKYO: Japanese researchers have created a functioning human liver from stemcells, a report said yesterday, raising hopes for the manufacture of artificial organs for those in need of transplants. A team of scientists transplanted induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the body of a mouse, where it grew into a small, but working, human liver, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.

Stemcells are frequently harvested from embryos, which are then discarded, a practice some people find morally objectionable. But iPS cells-which have the potential to develop into any body tissue-can be taken from adults.

A team led by professor Hideki Taniguchi at Yokohama City University developed human iPS cells into “precursor cells”, which they then transplanted into a mouse’s head to take advantage of increased blood flow.

The cells grew into a human liver 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) in size that was capable of generating human proteins and breaking down drugs, the Yomiuri reported.

The breakthrough opens the door to the artificial creation of human organs, a key battleground for doctors who constantly face a shortage of transplant donors.

Taniguchi’s research could be “an important bridge between basic research and clinical application” but faces various challenges before it can be put into medical practice, the Yomiuri said.

An abstract of Taniguchi’s research was delivered to regenerative medicine researchers ahead of an academic conference next week, but Taniguchi declined to

comment to AFP before the meeting.

Two separate teams, one from the United States and one from Japan, discovered iPS cells in 2006. —- AFP

More US Hispanics die waiting for heart transplants BOSTON: Hispanic patients in need of a heart transplant are 50 percent more likely to die before they get one that white patients, according to a US study.

Previous studies found that black patients fared poorly after transplants compared to whites, but less was known about how different racial groups do while they are waiting for a donor organ.

“The knowledge of disparity is usually the first step in ultimately getting rid of it,” said Tajinder Singh from Boston Children’s Hospital, who led the study that appeared in the journal Circulation.

Singh and his team gathered data from the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which maintains the wait list for patients needing an organ.

More than 10,000 people were added to the list to receive a heart between July 2006 and September 2010.

Singh’s group found that 10.5 percent of white patients who were listed died during the study period or were taken off the list because they were too sick to receive a donor heart.

In comparison, 11.6 percent of black patients and 13.4 percent of Hispanic patients died or were removed from the list.

“All of us have recognized that ethnicity and race play a role in outcomes,” said Ashish Shah, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study, adding that it was not clear what caused the disparities.—Reuters

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

HEALTH

CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:13 11:47 15:22 18:48 20:19

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation for 2 months in Salmiya, block-3, for male bachelors, preferred Indian, vegetarians. Contact: 50181570. (C 4036) 7-6-2012 Sharing accommodation available for bachelor in two bedroom flat at Khaitan, near Kuwait Finance House.

Contact: 66141908. (C 4034)

FOR SALE Furniture and accessories including wardrobe, computer table with bookshelf, IKEA double bed with mattress, servicing table, gas burner, chairs etc. for sale. Please contact: 99546733 / 90032678. (C 4037) 9-8-2012 Mitsubishi Galant 1998 model, doctor used, registered up

to November 29, 2012, in good condition, for sale.

Please call: 99544724.

6-6-2012

SITUATION VACANT

NOTICE Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Mr. Abdul Kalam Azad Noorbasha, son of Mr. Noorbasha, resident of 284, TNHB, Phase V, Rangapuram, Sathuvachari, Vellore 632009, Tamil Nadu and Miss Anumol Joseph daughter of Mr. Joseph, resident of Mullayil House, Thidanad Post Erattupetta via Kottayam Kerala 686123, both Indian nationals, presently residing in Kuwait, have given notice of intended marriage between them under the Foreign Marriage Act 1969. If anyone has any objection to the proposed marriage, he/she may file the same with the undersigned according to the procedure laid down under the Act/Rule within thirty days from the date of publication of this notice.

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

(Mahesh Chand) Attache (Consular) and Marriage Officer Embassy of India, Kuwait.

Tel: 00965-22533125 Fax : 00965-22573910 E-mail: sscons@indembkwt.org

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

May 16, 2012 A lady maid is needed to work for two days a week, Thursday and Saturday for a single American/Arabic man in a house located in Salimya.

Contact: 66417504. (C 4032) 3-6-2012 CHANGE OF NAME Gnanasegaran Rajendiran, son of Rajendiran and Rajendiran Jothi bearing an Indian passport No. G7703114 having an address 23, N.No. 18, Asanampattu Bethlegam, I street MU College RD Reddy THOP, Ambur Vellore 635 802, Tamilnadu had embraced Islam and changed the name as Muhammed Abdullah. (C 4038) 9-6-2012

information SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

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

Arrival Flights on Saturday 9/6/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 239 SIALKOT 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 370 BAHRAIN 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 416 JAKARTA 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 344 CHENNAI 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 408 BEIRUT 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 5066 MASHAD 201 DAMASCUS 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 472 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 325 NAJAF 640 AMMAN 476 JEDDAH 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 4161 MASHAD 6791 MASHAD 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 176 GENEVA 502 BEIRUT 144 DOHA 542 CAIRO 125 BAHRAIN 438 BAHRAIN

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

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

786 63 104 6130 620 618 674 572 175 774 607 393 647 402 146 460 790 221 474 229 341 415 859 135 43 129 136 372 513 614 61 975 217 981 239 636 51 614 772 574

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

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

Departure Flights on Saturday 9/6/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 573 MUMBAI 413 AMSTERDAM 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 240 SIALKOT 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 643 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 200 DAMASCUS 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 56 DUBAI 409 BEIRUT

18:40 18:45 18:45 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:25 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:40 23:50 Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 0:50 0:55 2:15 2:30 2:45 3:20 3:45 3:50 3:55 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:50 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:10 8:25 8:25 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:10

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

302 437 356 214 324 541 165 501 776 619 785 176 5065 220 58 611 673 473 174 124 617 641 461 512 789 505 135 773 4162 6796 304 238 538 141 858 216 134 128 982 511 266 613 145 64 439 283 184 621 6131 153 571 604 331 351 648 403 477 543 222 475 171 230 342 415 120 381 860 102 137 301 205 554 62 373 44 147 394 218 411

ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MASHHAD BAHRAIN AL NAJAF CAIRO ROME BEIRUT JEDDAH ASSIUT JEDDAH DUBAI MASHHAD BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO DUBAI JEDDAH DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA AMMAN JEDDAH SHARM EL SHEIKH MADINAH JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH MASHHAD MASHHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN CAIRO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN DHAKA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DOHA ISTANBUL MUMBAI ISFAHAN TRIVANDRUM KOCHI MUSCAT BEIRUT JEDDAH CAIRO BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN COLOMBO DAMASCUS DAMMAM SHARJAH DELHI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BAHRAIN CHITTAGONG DOHA KOCHI BAHRAIN BANGKOK

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

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

C R O S S W O R D

7 0 0

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday始s Solution

ACROSS 1. The site of an archeological exploration.

4. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

10. A master's degree in library science.

13. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

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

15. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

16. (informal) Roused to anger.

17. Type genus of the Aceraceae.

18. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

19. A genus of Ploceidae.

21. A student enrolled in (or graduated from) Eton College.

23. Minute blackish gregarious flies destructive to mushrooms and seedlings.

25. A ridge of sand created by the wind.

26. East Indian tree bearing a profusion of intense vermilion velvet-textured blooms and yielding a yellow dye.

27. A unit of energy equal to the work done by an electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt.

28. A city in northern India.

32. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

35. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

37. Port city of Denmark in eastern Jutland.

39. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

40. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

41. (Babylonian) The sky god.

44. A person who hates.

46. 100 aurar equal 1 krona.

50. Having a gradual increase in width.

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

56. (of securities) Not quoted on a stock exchange.

57. Foul with waste matter.

61. An ugly evil-looking old woman.

62. A metal-bearing mineral valuable enough to be mined.

63. A republic in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean.

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

65. Any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue.

66. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

67. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

DOWN 1. (informal) "in the dumps".

2. (Old Testament) The second patriarch.

3. A cushion on a throne for a prince in India.

4. A historical region of southwestern India on the west coast.

5. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

6. The cry made by sheep.

7. Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion.

8. A republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea. 9. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

10. A member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia.

11. A Russian river.

12. The act of scanning.

20. An informal term for a father.

22. Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances.

24. Jordan's port.

29. Stairway in India leading down to a landing on the water.

30. Any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages.

31. An ancient Assyrian city on the River Tigris and traditional capital of Assyria.

33. A public promotion of some product or service.

34. Informal terms for a mother.

36. An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect.

38. A dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain.

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

43. Manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere.

45. An associate degree in applied science.

47. (used of opinions and actions) Far beyond the norm.

48. Someone who drives racing cars at high speeds.

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

50. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

51. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

53. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

54. A small cake leavened with yeast.

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

58. An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others.

59. Nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus.

60. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.53. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

54. A small cake leavened with yeast.

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

58. An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others.

59. Nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus.

60. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

Yesterday始s Solution

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

AL Roundup

Red Sox rout Orioles 7-0 BOSTON: Clay Buchholz pitched a four-hitter for his third career shutout - all against Baltimore - leading the Boston Red Sox over the Orioles 7-0 Thursday. Buchholz (6-2) struck out six and walked one. His other complete games were a five-hitter in an 11-0 win on June 4, 2010, and a no-hitter on Sept 1, 2007, his second big league start and appearance. Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and two RBIs as Boston stopped a three-game losing streak. The Orioles had been 5-0 at Fenway Park this year.

RAYS 7, YANKEES 3 At New York, David Price struck out eight over five scrappy innings to become the American League leader in wins as Tampa Bay averted a three-game series sweep to New York. Price (8-3) finished his night by retiring two of the Yankees’ most dangerous hitters with the bases loaded. Alex Rodriguez struck out after an 11-pitch at bat and Robinson Cano grounded out in six more, ending New York’s best threat to cut into a four-run lead. CC

Sabathia (7-3) struck out 12 and matched a season high with 121 pitches for the Yankees, who lost for the fourth time in their last 14 games. Russell Martin homered in the ninth.

WHITE SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 3 At Chicago, Orlando Hudson singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting Chicago over Toronto.Dayan Viciedo sparked the winning rally with a one-out single against Francisco Cordero (1 3). He advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Hudson’s hit.

Alex Rios hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs for the White Sox. TIGERS 7, INDIANS 5 At Detroit, Miguel Cabrera homered, Brennan Boesch broke out of a slump with a pair of hits and Casey Crosby earned his first major league win as Detroit edged Cleveland. Cleveland nearly rallied from a 7-1 deficit but,

with the Tigers leading by two, the Indians left the bases loaded in the seventh and two on in the eighth. Detroit avoided a three-game sweep and beat the Indians for the first time in six meetings this year. Crosby (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings in his second career start. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

ATHLETICS 7, RANGERS 1 At Oakland, California, Coco Crisp hit a solo homer and a bases-loaded triple to match his season total for extra-base hits as Oakland won a series for the first time since May 4-6 against Tampa Bay. The Athletics outscored the Rangers 24-8 in winning three of the four games. Brandon McCarthy (5-3) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to improve to 5-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his past six starts. Yu Darvish (7-4) gave up six runs, six hits and six walks in 5 1-3 innings as Texas lost for the seventh time in nine games. — AP NL Roundup

Dodgers complete four-game sweep PHILADELPHIA: Aaron Harang got his 100th career victory as Los Angeles overcame a two-run, sixth-inning deficit, as the Dodgers won 8-3 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep at the Philadelphia Phillies in 66 years. Harang (53) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, improving to 100-97 in 11 big league seasons. The Dodgers had not swept a four-game series at Philadelphia since Brooklyn accomplished the feat from May 24-26, 1946, according to STATS LLC. Cole Hamels (8-3) wasted a 3-0 lead, giving up four runs - three earned - and six hits in six innings. Philadelphia has lost a seasonhigh six straight and has the NL’s worst home record at 12-19.

PIRATES 5, REDS 4, 10 INNINGS At Cincinnati, Michael McKenry drove in the first earned run allowed by Aroldis Chapman with an RBI double in the 10th inning, rallying Pittsburgh past Cincinnati.

McKenry’s sacrifice fly put Pittsburgh up 4-3 in the seventh, but closer Joel Hanrahan (30) blew a save for only the second time this season, giving up a leadoff homer to Ryan Ludwick in the ninth. Chapman (4-1) hadn’t allowed an earned run in a club-record 24 appearances covering 29 innings. Clint Barmes opened the 10th with a double and came around on McKenry’s double to right field. Ludwick and Jay Bruce also had solo shots off Kevin Correia.

BRAVES 8, MARLINS 2 At Miami, Jason Heyward hit two solo homers to center and Atlanta completed a three-game sweep of Florida. Martin Prado put Atlanta ahead to stay with a two-run homer, and Michael Bourn added a threerun homer in the ninth. Mike Minor (3-4) needed 103 pitches to get through five innings but allowed only one run, and four relievers completed a nine-hitter. Giancarlo Stanton hit his 14th homer and Jose Reyes hit his first for the Marlins, but they went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. They totaled 16 hits in the series while being outscored 21-3, and were swept in their new ballpark for the first time.

METS 3, NATIONALS 1 At Washington, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (9-1) tossed four-hit ball for 7 1-3 scoreless innings and extended the longest shutout streak of his career to 24 2-3 innings - a span that began against Pittsburgh and continued against San Diego, St Louis and the Nats. Dickey became the first pitcher in the majors to reach nine wins this season. Lucas Duda backed Dickey with his fifth homer in eight games, a two-run shot in the fifth against Chien-Ming Wang (1-2).

BREWERS 4, CUBS 3 At Milwaukee, Norichika Aoki homered twice, including a drive off Casey Coleman (0-1) leading off the 10th inning as Milwaukee edged Chicago. The former Japanese batting champion entered the game with one homer, an inside-the-park homer on April 20. Corey Hart hit a gametying RBI double in the eighth for the Brewers, who took two out of three games from their NL Central rivals. John Axford (12) earned the win.

GIANTS 8, PADRES 3 At San Diego, Matt Cain (7-2) struck out nine in seven innings, allowing three runs none earned - and seven hits to win his sixth straight start. Buster Posey, Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco homered. Ryan Theriot had four hits for the Giants, who committed four errors but won for the ninth time in 11 games. San Diego (19-39) has the worst record in the big leagues. Jason Marquis (0-1) allowed four runs - two earned - and nine hits in six innings in his Padres’ debut.

CARDINALS 14, ASTROS 2 At Houston, David Freese hit a grand slam and a two-run homer as St Louis rookie Lance Lynn struck out a career-high 11 in earning his ninth win. Freese’s slam in the seventh inning was the third homer of the game for St Louis. He added a two-run shots in the ninth as the Cardinals scored a season-high. Carlos Beltran connected on his National League-leading 16th homer in the fifth and Shane Robinson added a two-run shot in the seventh for the Cardinals. Lynn’s nine victories are equal with R A Dickey of the Mets for most in the NL. — AP

HOUSTON: Jed Lowrie 4 of the Houston Astros takes the throw to force out Rafael Furcal #15 of the St Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. — AP

MLB results/standings Detroit 7, Cleveland 5; NY Mets 3, Washington 1; LA Dodgers 8, Philadelphia 3; Milwaukee 4, Chicago Cubs 3 (10 innings); Oakland 7, Texas 1; San Francisco 8, San Diego 3; Tampa Bay 7, NY Yankees 3; Boston 7, Baltimore 0; Atlanta 8, Miami 2; Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 4 (10 innings); St. Louis 14, Houston 2; Chicago White Sox 4, Toronto 3.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT Tampa Bay 32 25 .561 Baltimore 32 25 .561 NY Yankees 31 25 .554 Toronto 30 27 .526 Boston 29 28 .509 Central Division Chicago WSox 32 25 .561 Cleveland 30 26 .536 Detroit 26 31 .456 Kansas City 24 31 .436 Minnesota 22 34 .393 Western Division Texas 33 25 .569 LA Angels 29 29 .500 Oakland 26 32 .448 Seattle 26 33 .441

GB .5 2 3 1.5 6 7 9.5 4 7 7.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 32 23 .582 Atlanta 32 25 .561 NY Mets 32 26 .552 Miami 31 26 .544 Philadelphia 28 31 .475 Central Division Cincinnati 31 25 .554 Pittsburgh 29 27 .518 St Louis 30 28 .517 Milwaukee 26 31 .456 Houston 24 33 .421 Chicago Cubs 19 38 .333 Western Division LA Dodgers 37 21 .638 San Francisco 33 25 .569 Arizona 27 30 .474 Colorado 24 32 .429 San Diego 19 39 .328

1 1.5 2 6 2 2 5.5 7.5 12.5 4 9.5 12 18

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

S Africa’s Comrades Marathon, the ultra-distance race DURBAN: South Africa’s Comrades Marathon, a 90-kilometre race in the country’s eastern hills, is as old as the first trek on Mount Everest and likewise requires a passion for extreme effort. The ultra-distance race, since its inception in 1921 has also been exceptional for its offtrack ambiance that compares to the cycling Tour de France. Unlike other marathons, the runners who finish within the cut-off time of 12 hours, even the last one, receive just as much attention as that accorded to the winner-a medal, a bouquet of flowers and media interviews.

Every year, thousands of athletes take part in the race between Pietermaritzburg and the eastern port city of Durban which was started by World War I veterans in a show of solidarity and physical prowess. More than 19,500 runners, among them 1,168 foreigners, registered for the latest 87th edition of the race held in early June. “This is not about speed, but about the human spirit and to see if you can conquer this thing,” said Michael Haines, 43, an American aid worker who flew in for last Sunday’s race from Afghanistan where he trained on a treadmill. As the world’s oldest ultramarathon, the race is shrouded in myths and traditions.

Anecdotes abound: the race has its own museum and stories of runners finishing on all fours or on stretchers would take as long to relate as this year’s winning time of 5:31:03 hours by South African Ludwick Mamabolo, 35, breaking a seven-year jinx on home athletes. One famous story is of Arthur Newton, a farmer and perennial winner of five titles from 1922, who one year humbly surrendered his trophy to the runner-up in a show of moral support and spirit of camaradie. His view was that everyone who took part in the race was important and deserved to win, according to a museum curator. Then there is South African Bruce Fordyce, a nine-times title winner, who threw the crowd into a frenzy in the 1980s by sprinting from behind in the final lap, shaking hands with the leading athlete and overtaking him to the finishing line.

The marathon not only attracts runners, but huge crowds of clapping, chanting and dancing spectators who organize barbecues and picnics along the race route. And since it is held in South Africa the steepest hills along the marathon route have the moniker “Big Five”-just like the five most-viewed big game are referred to in an African safari. The race is run in a different direction each year as the start line alternates between the two cities. This year’s route descended from hilly Pietermaritzburg to coastal Durban. For

DURBAN: South Africa long-distance runner Ludwick Mamabolo crosses the finish line to win the 89km Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. — AFP Fordyce, 56, the descending course is “a bit easier, but it hurts more.”

Cock crow, cannon fire, and they’re off-The starting rituals are unchangeable. It has to begin at 5:30 am (0330 GMT) when it is pitch dark and chilly. Emotions among athletes are mixed-anxiety, worry, excitement and focus. This year’s oldest runner was 83. As a recorded cock crows and a cannon is fired, athletes take off screaming their mothers’ names in front of live television cameras. The goal is to cross the finish line at the Sahara Stadium in Durban. On average athletes undergo at least six months training prior to the race, but to qualify all runners must have taken part in at least one recent qualifying marathon.

International athletics legend and South Africa’s barefoot Olympic runner Zola Budd was among this year’s participants, and she admitted being intimidated about running her first Comrades Marathon at age 46. “The toughest race of my life but the finest,” said Budd after finishing in 8:06:09 hours. The women’s race has been dominated for a decade by the Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva. This year Elena took her seventh consecutive win, finishing in 6:07:12 hours. The Comrades Marathon was officially opened to blacks and women in 1975. Until the end of apartheid in 1994, the race served as a substitute for South Africa being excluded from international sporting events. — AFP

Wilkinson eager for Top 14 glory PARIS: Former England star Jonny Wilkinson will aim to lead Toulon to their first French league title since 1992 in today’s Top 14 final against Toulouse at the Stade de France. For Wilkinson - who had been off color with his kicking in recent matches it is a chance to add yet another memorable moment to his 2003 World Cup final heroics, when his drop goal in the last minute of extra-time delivered the trophy to England.

“I am astonished to be going back to the Stade de France for the final, it is somewhere I haven’t been for a while!” joked the 33-yearold, who retired from international rugby after last year’s World Cup. “It’s going to be an extraordinary experience. I can’t wait for it,” he added. The ex-England fly-half was instrumental in his side’s nail-biting 15-12 victory over Clermont in the semi-final, kicking five penalties to account for all of Toulon’s points.

Toulon, who have won the French championship three times in 1931, 1987 and 1989, will be up against a Toulouse side, captained by French flanker and national team captain Thierry Dusautoir, that is hunting for an unrivalled 19th title. Dusautoir, the 2011 International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year, will be ably assisted by inside centre Luke McAlister as well as several French internationals such as Vincent Clerc, Clement Poitrenaud

and Yoann Maestri, but their coach Guy Noves insisted there was “no favourite” ahead of today’s showpiece.

“We will need to prepare differently for this match against Toulon. We will need to adapt strategically. We expect a complicated match. For me, there is no favorite,” Noves said. While it may be a battle for French supremacy there is an interesting England versus France sub-plot given that Toulon are considerably bolstered by three Englishmen in their ranks. Aside from Wilkinson, the club backed by comic book billionaire Mourad Boudjellal, also features Top 14 player of the season Steffon Armitage and 38-year-old veteran lock Simon Shaw.

The teams split their two meetings this season with Toulouse easily winning the first encounter 33-12 at the Stade Ernest Wallon in December. Toulon then gained their revenge with a close-fought 25-22 victory at the Stade Mayol on May 5. “Toulouse have a very experienced and powerful set of players and it will be another big challenge,” explained Wilkinson.

“Now we are in the final and we have to do everything we can to get the result that we want. “Getting to the final is good, but if we win it, it would be phenomenal,” added Wilkinson, who also won the English Premiership title with Newcastle Falcons in 1998.— AFP

Springboks leap into the unknown against England DURBAN: Whether South Africa can hit the ground running after a limited build up is the big unknown ahead of the first test against England in Durban today. The Springboks will be playing their first match under new coach Heyneke Meyer and after just four training sessions together, they meet an England team who surprised in finishing second in this year’s Six Nations. Some of South Africa’s lack of preparation will be off-set by a series of training camps Meyer conducted with the country’s Super Rugby franchises in recent weeks and new captain Jean De Villiers was quick to play down any suggestions his team would be underprepared. “The mood in the camp is good,” De Villiers told a news conference yesterday. “We have had a really good week of preparation. “The camps that Heyneke had during the year with the franchises have really worked and we are reaping the rewards now.” Much has been made of the time the Springboks have been together before the series with most of the players involved with their franchises last weekend.

But England were not buying any perception South Africa could be caught short.

“They have had a couple of preparation

camps and they have a coaching team that has worked together a lot,” England forwards coach Graham Rowntree said. “Will their limited game time together be an advantage for us? I’m not so sure. They have a lot of players who have played together for a long time.”

England and South Africa find themselves in similar positions ahead of the series. While Meyer will make his debut as South Africa’s coach, his England opposite Stuart Lancaster is almost as raw with just five matches behind him and his captain, Chris Robshaw, is set to play in only his seventh international.

Both teams will be blooding players with openside flanker Marcell Coetzee and locks Juandre Kruger and Eben Etzebeth winning their first caps for South Africa, while England hand debuts to loosehead prop Joe Marler and flanker Tom Johnson. The hosts are a vastly experienced group with a starting line-up that boasts 458 test caps compared to England’s 187, not that De Villiers was taking much notice.

“There are definitely a lot of similarities between the two teams in that they have a relatively new coach and captain as well,” the 31year-old said.—Reuters

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

‘Streaking’ down the rowing course DORNEY: The blue-blazered officials in the start tower above barked out instructions, the stake boat jockey had a firm grip on our stern, my heart was beating wildly already as the light went green and we heaved our first stroke through the water. We were off and racing in a heat for crews of eight on the Olympic rowing lake near the southern English village of Dorney in one of the last regattas on the proper 2,000-metre course before the real athletes turn up to fight for gold at the summer Games in London.

We were up against five mostly university crews in our category today, including the boys from Clare College at Cambridge University, whose gleaming new boat contained a former blue and a reserve crewmember from this year’s Boat Race. This was going to hurt. Our crew from the Champion of the Thames Rowing club in Cambridge and another crew from Twickenham Rowing club were the only “town” clubs in the heat, with the men in our boat ranging in age from 55 to 28 and of varying heights. I’m 48 and in the “engine room” in the middle of the boat at the five seat.

We’ve been training all year to get here. Along the way we picked up a national championship last month as a veteran or “masters” crew, came seventh in the annual Cambridge winter league and spent a lot of time in the cold rain bashing up and down the Cam river alongside all the university college crews. Metropolitan Regatta, which has been handing out the silverware to the cream of British school, university and club rowing crews since at least 1866, holds its modern annual regatta here at the Eton College Rowing Centre, created for the elite British school attended by princes William and Harry.

The purpose-built lake surrounded by the green and rolling countryside of southern England about 25 miles west of London is beautifully laid out. It has an enormous rowing complex at the finish, sleek floating docks to boat from and a separate lake beside the race course just for rowing up to the start. But the bucolic surroundings have been scarred with fresh earthworks.

Green security fencing hems the complex in against the countryside, giant steel grandstands facing the lake have begun to sprout from the ground, scaffolding covers most of the works and enormous squares of blue plastic are dotted around the lake. At the moment, those observations are just a blur following a horrendous start where the other crews disappear ahead, leaving us in dead last at the 300 metre mark as the lactic acid starts to make itself felt in my legs.

Despite the excitement of rowing on the course where the Canadian, British and German national eights are the hot favorites for medals this summer, I am trying to concentrate on the sequence of the stroke, having to think through each phase of a movement that is second nature to Olympic muscles. Blade into the water and push on the legs with every ounce of strength until knees down, lean back, pull arms in, tap hands down to extract blade...”We’re settling at 33 (strokes per minute) shouts our 17-year-old cox Cathy Rule and my lungs are already burning.

I wonder how much more it might hurt to be settling at an Olympic pace of around 35-38 strokes per minute before an image of an entire crew with their eyes rolling back in their heads comes to mind as the 500 meter sign flashes by.

“I’ll never keep this up for another 1,500 meters,” I think and then the stern of the boat to our right appears out of the corner of my eye. It’s the other town club Twickenham.

Rule urges us to push up on them and we go for it. We move through Twickenham and put them to our stern but although I can see Southampton University crew out of the corner of my eye, we just can’t reel them in. We finish half a boat length behind them, but then they are 25 years younger and we are fifth out six boats. I’m gasping and I want to retch.

Later, after taking the boat apart and stowing it on the trailer for the long, inglorious ride back to Cambridge, we discuss the humbling experience of coming fourth to last out of the 17 crews in the regatta’s lowest event for eights and some two minutes slower than the Olympic medallists will do down the same course in a few weeks. I look out admiringly at the sea of lycra-clad rowers: Leander crew in their distinctive pink livery, Molesey in piratical black and white, Oxford blue, Cambridge blue, crews in skin-tight scoop-necked to the thighs all-in-one unisuits of every colour under the sun from lurid lavender to cherry red.—Reuters

James red-hot as Heat even series BOSTON: With the Miami Heat facing elimination from the NBA playoffs, LeBron James unleashed one of his greatest performances to force a one-game showdown today for an NBA Finals berth.

James scored 45 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to power the Miami Heat over Boston 98-79 on Thursday and even the best-ofseven Eastern Conference final at 3-3, routing the host Celtics when they had a chance to advance with a victory. “It was a matter of too much LeBron,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He was sensational.

He made every shot, set the tone. I thought he gave them comfort.”

The Heat forced a deciding game on Saturday in Miami with the winner booking a spot against the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals starting Tuesday. “We had to win this game,” James said. “It’s a good win for us. It’s a one-game series now and it’s in our building. We’re looking forward to the challenge.” NBA Most Valuable Player James kept alive his hopes of capturing his first NBA title, his main goal when he departed the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to join fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

The Heat reached last year’s NBA Finals in the first season for James in Miami, but lost to the Dallas Mavericks. Wade, who added 17 points, said James produced the best game he has played since joining the Heat. “He played amazingly,” Wade said. “He was locked in from the beginning of the game like I have never seen him

before. Some of the shots he made were incredible. It really was an MVP performance. “We just gave him the ball and got out of the way.” James scored 30 first-half points on 12-of-14 shooting to lead Miami to a 55-42 half-time lead.

“I just wanted to try to lead my team the best way I could,” James said. “I was aggressive from the opening tip and the guys continued to find me. It is a great feeling to be in. You feel like everything you put up is going to go in.” The Celtics made runs at the Heat in the third and fourth quarters but could not produce nearly enough points to threaten the visitors, in part because of the hammering James gave them in the first half. “We didn’t play like us. Each guy wanted to win the game for us,” Rivers said. “When a guy comes and throws a barrage at you like that, it takes some energy out of you.

“He made some fantastic shots. I didn’t think we played him with a lot of force. He made great shots but we can play better defense. I thought he brought it to us but we never gave it back.” James was proud of the way the team bounced back after losing game five in Miami on Tuesday to put themselves on the brink of elimination. “I was happy we were able to put together a complete game for the first time in this series,” James said. “I’m happy I was able to make some plays to help us win. This was a gut-check for us. It’s good we were able to bounce back.”—AFP

BOSTON: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat drives in the second half against Brandon Bass #30 of the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden in Boston. — AFP

Pacquiao aims to silence doubters LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao has more at stake than his World Boxing Organization welterweight title when he takes on unbeaten American Timothy Bradley on Saturday-he has his reputation on the line.

Pacquaio trainer Freddie Roach didn’t mince words when he said the Filipino ring icon would be fighting to regain some luster after his controversial majority decision over Juan Manuel Marquez last November.

“Manny’s motivation is his last fight. We had the first bad fight we had in 11 years,” Roach said. “He wants to prove to the world he’s not washed up.”

Pacquiao has won world titles in eight weight divisions, building a record of 54-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts. Along the way he has become a hero in his home country, where he is also a congressman, and a star around the world. But the 33year-old southpaw was unconvincing against Marquez, leading many to wonder if

he has passed the peak of his powers. Roach said that Pacquiao is so determined to prove himself, Roach said, that he believes the fighter is thinking knockout.

“I do feel he has a knockout on his mind,” Roach said. Both Pacquiao and Roach know that the 28-year-old Bradley, who brings a record of 28-0 to the bout with 12 knockouts, will be eager to make an impression in the biggest fight of his career. “He’s a tough young guy coming up, but I think he’ll get eaten up as he comes,” said Roach, who believes Bradley is too slow and lacking in power to beat Pacquiao. Bradley has said he will try to avoid a toe-to-toe battle with Pacquiao, whose quickness, power and ability to punch from many angles have seen him win 15 fights in a row since 2005.

Roach said he believes that Bradley will bring the fight to Pacquiao, which will suit the champion perfectly. “I think they are trying to mix us up a little,” Roach said. “I think

we can count on him coming to us.” Even if he doesn’t, Roach said, Pacquiao will be ready, having sparred with partners who were aggressive and with those who weren’t. “If he does try not to engage, we’ll take the fight to him,” Roach said. Bradley, who won the WBO light welterweight title by beating Britain’s Junior Witter in England in 2008, will be fighting for just the second time at 147 pounds.

The pre-fight hype-including a reality television series following both fighters and numerous publicity stops to promote the pay-per-view program-is more than Bradley has encountered before, but he has shown himself adept. He is relaxed and engaging in his interviews, explaining his vegan diet and the financially lean years of his early pro career. He got a laugh out of Pacquiao at the pre-fight press conference by unveiling a giant “ticket” for a re-match to follow his victory. —AFP

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Olympic test for US open hopefuls LAS VEGAS: Tiger Woods expects the Olympic Club to provide “one heck of a test” when the 112th US Open tees off next Thursday on the San Francisco course that has provided plenty of surprises in the US national championship. In four prior editions of the US Open at Olympic, only four players have finished under par. While no obvious monster lurks on Olympic’s 7,170-yard Lake Course, which will play to a par of 70 for the championship, a plethora of doglegs, elevation changes, hilly lies and small, sloping greens offer plenty of challenges.

“It’s just one of those courses,” said American Steve Stricker.

“There’s not a lot of trouble as in water. There is no water. “But it’s just slight little doglegs all the time.

The fairways slope ... you’ve got to

work the ball back against the hill sometimes.” It’s the kind of challenge that US Golf Association executive director Mike Davis considers perfect for the tournament that the USGA likes call the most rigorous test in golf. “We are incredibly bullish on how good a test we think this is going to be,” Davis said, noting that “eight of the 14 holes with approach shots, you’re playing from an uphill, downhill, side-hill lie. “And even for the world’s best, that tests you more.”

Just who will be up to the challenge remains to be seen. While Woods delighted fans with his Memorial triumph, he has endured an up-and-down year. After his win at Bay Hill to end a 17-month victory drought, Woods was a non-factor at the Masters. Three consecutive

missed cuts had McIlroy teeing it up in Memphis the week before the Open in hopes of sorting out his game. He opened there with an encouraging 68 on Thursday.

England’s Luke Donald, who has battled with McIlroy this year for the world number one ranking, has regained the top spot and will again be seeking a first major title to go with it.

Bubba Watson, who broke through for a first major at Augusta National, has opted out of two tournaments since then preferring to spend time with his wife and new baby son. Jason Dufner, who won his first US tour title in his 163rd try on April 29 in New Orleans, won again at the Byron Nelson Classic and then just missed out on a third victory as he finished runner-up to Zach

Maggert, Merrick stand out from St Jude crowd McIlroy rebounds to join the hunt MEMPHIS: John Merrick bogeyed the 18th hole to fall into a tie with fellow American Jeff Maggert for the lead after Thursday’s opening round of the St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Merrick and 2006 tournament winner Maggert registered fourunder-par 66s on a day that grew increasingly windy and featured a crowded leaderboard with 15 players within two strokes of the leaders. Alone atop the leaderboard at five-under, late finisher Merrick hit his tee shot at the last hole into the water on his way to a bogey.

Tied for third at 67 were Americans Jeff Overton and JJ Henry, along with India’s Arjun Atwal and Noh Seungyul of South Korea. US Open champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, trying to make the cut for the first time in four tournaments, was among 11 players bunched at 68. Others posting two-under-par rounds included US Davis Cup captain Davis Love III and his fellow former major winners Lee Janzen, Padraig Harrington and Yang Yong-eun.

John Daly, a former resident at the Southwind course and another former major winner, also posted a 68 but stood out from the crowd with a bright orange shirt and wildly patterned brown pants.

McIlroy, just back from having a practice turn at Olympic in San Francisco where he will be defending his US Open crown next week, was pleased with his round.

“I felt like that was about the best round of golf I played in a while,” the Briton said.

“It could have been a lot better. McIlroy stumbled when he was on three-under at the third hole, his 12th, when his approach shot found the water fronting the green and he went on to two-putt from seven feet for bogey. Otherwise, he was satisfied. “Off to a decent start, definitely. Lot of good signs out there,” he added.

“I’m getting the club in a better position. From there you have a little bit of freedom. “You’re not trying to protect against a bad shot. You’re trying to hit the shot you can see.”

Maggert said he took advantage of his early tee time when he encountered calm conditions. “I knew the golf course was going to be a little bit easier the first couple hours this morning being first off, so I was able to take advantage of that and just played really solid on my first nine holes,” he said. Regaining his form after undergoing shoulder surgery, Maggert ran off four birdies in five holes from the 12th, his third hole of the day. After the

turn, Maggert eagled the par-five third hole by reaching it in two and sinking a seven-foot putt. “I had shoulder surgery last year and missed about four, five months,” the 48-year-old American said. “But the surgery was fantastic and I feel like I’m a hundred percent now.” — Reuters

MEMPHIS: Jeff Maggert lines up a putt on the ninth green during the first round of the St Jude Classic golf tournament in Memphis, Tenn. —AP

Johnson at Colonial. As to whether that makes him a US Open favorite, Dufner says: “I’m not too worried about any of that. “It’s just golf.”

Olympic has a history of producing unexpected US Open champions. In 1955, Jack Fleck defeated four-time Open champion Ben Hogan in a playoff after both finished regulation at seven-over par. In 1966, Billy Casper won his second US Open in a playoff with Arnold Palmer. Casper trailed by seven strokes with nine holes to play in the final round, but rallied to match Palmer at twounder-par 278. In 1987, Scott Simpson birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes of the final round to overtake Tom Watson with a three-under total of 277. Watson finished second one shot back, the only other player under par. — AFP

Unheralded trio share LPGA lead NEW YORK: An unheralded trio shared the lead after the first round of the LPGA Championship on Thursday as Spain’s Beatriz Recari, Giulia Sergas of Italy and American Ryann O’Toole posted three-under-par 69s in the first round of the major championship. With one career victory among them, they upstaged more familiar names in the field at the Locust Hill Country Club, including last year’s winner and world number one Yani Tseng, who struggled to a four-over-par 76.

Tseng, who felt tightness in her left wrist and forearm and received some massage treatment before her round, won last year’s championship in Pittsford, New York by 10 strokes but found herself seven back after the opening round. Recari, who recorded a victory in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2010, posted her score among the early starters and saw it hold up with only fellow 25-yearold O’Toole and 32-year-old Sergas matching it.

By contrast with the other two, Sergas had a rollercoaster of a round, balancing three bogeys with three birdies through her first 14 holes before finishing strongly with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th holes to join them at three under par. “They were silly bogeys,” said the Italian said, who teed off in the last group of the day. “Like one bogey I was in the middle of the fairway 100 yards to the pin. So I was thinking, I was hoping, birdie and I ended up having a bogey. “And another one, it was just a missed chip from the high rough around the green. So they were silly. They could have been par really.”

Seven players were tied for fourth place just one shot back, including 2010 champion Cristie Kerr of the United States who won at Locust Hill by a massive 12 strokes. Kerr said the heavy rough grown was a factor in keeping the scores modest.

She and Tseng both posted totals of 19 under par in their victories here the last two years. “I think it is going to play tougher,” Kerr said. “The rough is measurably worse than the year that I won. It’s just a lot thicker.”

“It was very long that year, but it wasn’t like really dense. I mean even with sand wedges out, it’s a lot tougher. “It’s just gobbling up the golf balls this year.”

Joining Kerr at two-under-par 70 were American Paula Creamer, South Korean world number two Choi Na-yeon and her compatriots Pak Se-ri and Jang Jeong, as well as Japanese Ai Miyazato and Mika Miyazato. Six more players were another shot back at 71, two off the pace, including former winner Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

The 34-year-old Pak, who injured her shoulder in a freak fall earlier this year, was surprised to be in the hunt after only two weeks playing with her full swing. “I never expect that’s going to be solid round today,” three-time LPGA Championship winner Pak said. “The last two days in practice were so-so. “Low expectations help a lot.” —Reuters

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

The opposites attract as Sharapova, Errani meet PARIS: Twenty four centimeters in height, $17 million in prize money and a universe of celebrity status separate Maria Sharapova from Sara Errani, but these two worlds will collide in the French Open final after both swept aside their opponents. The tall and elegant Sharapova purred like a Rolls Royce as she trampled Petra Kvitova 63 6-3 to exact a modicum of payback after the Czech had beaten her in the Wimbledon final last year.

Waiting for her there is the petite Sara Errani, who despite her slender frame, masterminded semi-final success over the heavy-hitting Sam Stosur with a gameplan forged of guile and guts. Whether or not a cerebral approach, which resulted in a 7-5 1-6 6-3 victory, will be enough to upset the last remaining superstar in the women’s game remains to be seen.

With the Williams sisters on the wane, Justine Henin retired and Kim Clijsters set to follow after the US Open, Sharapova is the big box-office attraction on the tour.

Her victory over Kvitova underlined her status by returning her to the pin-

nacle of the rankings, whilst in the process heightening the sense that Sharapova and Errani come from opposite ends of the tennis spectrum.

Sharapova received an ornate glass vase for recovering the number one spot she last held in 2008; Errani will be hoping to prove she has not reached her glass ceiling by reaching the final.

While they are both 25 years old, Sharapova is looking to complete her set of grand slam trophies with the French Open, the only one missing from her gilded collection.

It is a very different story for Errani, who is currently ranked 24 in the world, has won only five tour titles to Sharapova’s 26. “At the end of the day it’s another match, and we have to go out there and compete and perform well,” was Sharapova’s nonchalant take on the occasion. While a tearful Errani dragged herself up off the red dust and explained: “I have no words, it is incredible.”

SWIRLING WINDS Their semi-final matches were equally contrasting as Sharapova blast-

ed a leaden-footed Kvitova off court with the Czech capitulating in an errorsoaked performance. Swirling winds made it difficult for both players but it was the Russian’s game that held up while Kvitova’s forehand and serve went to pieces. She was broken twice in the first set and after an exchange of breaks in the second, Sharapova struck the decisive blow in the eighth game to effectively finish it off.

Stosur had been the strong favorite to meet Sharapova in the final, but the sixth-seed was out-foxed by the nimble-footed Errani. The US Open champion had caused such trouble to her quarter-final opponent Dominika Cibulkova with her high-kicking serve and heavy topspin forehands, that few gave Errani much hope of pulling off a shock. The Australian had not dropped a set in her previous matches in the tournament and had a 5-0 record against Errani coming into the match.

But she fell into the 21st seed’s intelligently contrived plan to force her out of her comfort zone and nullify her principle weapons. She stepped inside the baseline to attack the Stosur serve

Ruthless Nadal hurtles into seventh Paris final Djokovic eases past Federer to set up Nadal final PARIS: It seems no man or machine will be able to halt the unstoppable force that is Rafa Nadal after the red-hot Spaniard scorched his friend David Ferrer 6-2 6-2 6-1 to hurtle into a record seventh French Open final yesterday. Nadal now needs to win just three more sets to become the first man to hold aloft the Musketeers Cup seven times and after pulverizing a claycourt specialist such as Ferrer for the loss of just five games, he is once again proving to be unbeatable on red dirt.

A merciless Nadal teased Ferrer in the opening set, tortured him during the second before sucking the life out of the sixth seed in the third to wrap up victory with a forehand winner. “You cannot expect to win this semi-final in this way against one of the best players in the world - it was my best match at Roland Garros this year,” Nadal said after ending Ferrer’s ordeal in an hour and 46 minutes. ìDavid deserved to be in the final too and is one of my best friends on the tour. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”

Being Nadal’s friend is turning out to be dangerous business at Roland Garros this year. He allowed his ‘good friend’ and ‘one of the best players in the worldî Juan Monaco a measly two games in the last 16, he stifled his ‘buen amigo’ and ‘one of the best players in the world’ Nicolas Almagro in straight sets in the quarter-finals and there was a feeling of deja vu for Ferrer yesterday.

PROMISING START Ferrer, who had already declared that ‘winning a match against Rafa is almost impossible’ started off promisingly enough in front of half-empty stands on Philippe Chatrier Court when he caught

Nadal on the hop to earn two break points in the fifth game. The Mallorcan saved the first with an ace but Ferrer was left to rue a missed chance when he slapped a forehand into the net on the next. Still it looked like he had the right ideas, dragging his baseline-loving opponent into the net at every opportunity.

But it was not long before John McEnroeís prediction that Ferrer was a ìmiddleweight playing against a heavyweightî became apparent as nothing gets Nadal more fired up than when he is under attack. He broke Ferrer to love in the next game, and then again two games later before wrapping up the set when the sixth seed dragged a backhand wide. Ferrer opted to swap his white shirt at the end of the first set for an even brighter version of the hot-pink one being modeled by Nadal. But if Spainís second-best claycourter thought wearing similar gear would help him to match Nadal’s game, he was sorely mistaken.

Nadal summed up his iron will to win every point on offer during an extraordinary 34-shot exchange at 1-1 30-30 on Ferrer’s serve in the second set.

SHELL-SHOCKED FERRER Chasing after a Ferrer backhand, Nadal fell to his bottom but still managed to hit a backhand dropshot, bounced back on his feet to hit a lob and then pumped his fist after watching his opponent smack the ball into the net. It was no wonder a shell-shocked Ferrer looked crushed. He lost the next point to drop his serve and a 55-minute rain break two games later only served to prolong his ordeal. As if winning a point while perched on his bottom was not enough, Nadal performed a soaring 360-degree pirouette to hit a winning volley with his back turned to the

net to win another dazzling exchange.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic swept aside third seed Roger Federer 6-4 7-5 6-3 with a ruthless display of consistent hitting to reach his first French Open final yesterday. The number one seed capitalized on series of Federer errors to clinch the first set, before the Swiss fought back in the second. The 16-times grand slam winner went up a double break before Djokovic began to expose Federer’s fragile serve to peg back his opponent and then strike decisively in the 12th game of the second set. — Agencies

PARIS: Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to compatriot David Ferrer during their semifinal match in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium yesterday. — AP

early and looked to keep her on the back foot with heavy, penetrating hits.

“She is a smart player,” was how an exasperated Stosur sought to explain away her on-court impotence. She had her chances, especially after shifting the momentum of the match in her favor by romping to the second set, but when the pressure cooker atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier reached boiling point she tightened up.

You would not have thought from Stosur’s diffident display that she was playing her third semi-final at Roland Garros and Errani her first. The Italian, however, revealed a glimmer of her ice cool temperament when she explained that during the afternoon downpour that delayed the start of play, she slept on the sofa of the locker room. But having a cool head will probably not be enough to beat Sharapova who has the hard currency of six grand slam finals behind her. According to the Russian: “Experience is priceless. It teaches you so many things. “Winning, losing, situations, circumstances that you go through.” — Reuters

Bhupathi, Mirza win French Open mixed PARIS: India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles title at the French Open on Thursday, defeating Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Klaudia JansIgnacik of Poland 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in the final. Bhupathi, one of the most successful men’s doubles and mixed doubles players ever, won the title in style on his 38th birthday.

“Now I don’t have to think of a gift to give him,” Mirza said after their victory which was broadcast live in India, where the pair, playing as seventh seeds, are national sporting heroes.

Bhupathi, who is married to Indian actress and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta, dedicated the trophy to their four-month-old daughter Saira, his first child. “This one’s for her and I’m really happy,” he said, after winning his eighth mixed doubles majors crown-he has now won each mixed title twice. Bhupathi first won the mixed doubles title at Roland Garros in 1997, when he teamed up with Japan’s Rika Hiraki to become the first player from India to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

He completed a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles in 2006. Bhupathi also has four men’s doubles majors, including two in Paris. It was the third time that Mirza and Bhupathi had reached a Grand Slam final together. They won the 2009 Australian Open after being runners-up at the same tournament in 2008. “We play a dangerous kind of tennis. When we’re playing well, it’s kind of hard to beat us,” Bhupathi told a news conference. Mirza, who did not play singles at Roland Garros following a rankings slump, added: “Every time you enter a tournament you want to win it. That’s something that you enter hoping.

“You know, we were happy that we could keep the level up over two weeks and come out playing well on the important points. I think that’s what really matters in mixed with the deuce and super tiebreaks.” Mirza said she felt they were destined to win the final, which was played in the late evening and in the aftermath of the women’s singles semi-finals, and was watched by just a handful of fans inside the Philippe Chatrier court “It’s happened the second time on his birthday. Funnily enough, he said it the first time when we were playing the first round.

He said, ‘Oh, last time I won on my birthday in Paris. I won my first slam’,” she explained. “So he said, ‘Maybe it’s destiny’. We were still in the first round. We kept winning and we didn’t want to jinx it, so we didn’t mention it again.” Gonzalez and Jans-Ignacik had prevented the final becoming a virtually all-Indian affair when they defeated Leander Paes and his Russian partner Elena Vesnina in the semi-finals. — AFP

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

Group B heavyweights seek knockout punch KIEV: With Germany, Netherlands and Portugal all legitimate title contenders and Denmark dreaming of repeating their surprise success of 20 years ago, every Group B match at Euro 2012 promises intrigue.

Germany, who last won the European Championship in 1996, and Netherlands are among the tournament favorites, but with Cristiano Ronaldo in seemingly unstoppable form for Real Madrid last season, Portugal cannot be discounted.

Then there is Denmark, who beat Portugal to the top of their qualifying group leaving Paulo Bento’s side to battle through a playoff with Bosnia. What the Danes lack in big names, they make up for in effort.

Despite being four attack-minded sides, none will want to drop points, and it may be the most prudent and pragmatic of the quartet that prospers in what is undoubtedly the toughest group at the finals being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Joachim Loew of Germany and Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk can call on squads full of household names playing in the top European leagues and the Champions League. The backbone of Loew’s team is

Villa-less Spain to rub salt into Italy wounds GDANSK: Neither Italy nor Spain believe the absence of hotshot David Villa will make a significant difference when the European giants open their European Championship Group C campaign here tomorrow. Spain may be missing their alltime record goal scorer but it is a small blow in comparison to the Italians, who have had the worst possible lead-in on and off the pitch with another domestic matchfixing scandal and a 3-0 hammering by Russia in last Friday’s friendly.

Villa - Spain’s all-time record goalscorer - was Spain’s main hero two years ago when they lifted the World Cup but misses this tournament as he is still recovering from a broken leg.

But even without their star forward, winger Pedro believes they will not want for goals. “David Villa is a very important player due to the goals he scores, he’s a very dangerous forward. “But in the squad there are players just behind who are good finishers like (David) Silva, (Andres) Iniesta, (Juan) Mata or (Jesus) Navas. “We’ll have to make up for all the goals David scores amongst the rest of us to go as far as possible in the Euros.” Spain are not just missing Villa as centre-back Carles Puyol is also out of the tournament with injury. But Italy midfielder Thiago Motta says those who will come in to replace them are just as good. “They won’t be weaker, they’re in a very good moment and over the last four years they’ve won everything,” said the Brazlian-born Paris St Germain player. “They’re missing players like Villa and Puyol but others can come in and play at the same level. “We need to concentrate on ourselves because they haven’t changed much in those four years. “The important thing is that we do ourselves justice on the pitch and play with the desire we’ve shown from the beginning to win this game.”

Four years ago Spain were still the nearly men, the great under-achievers who despite generation after generation of great players, never managed to win anything. That all changed when they finally landed the Euro title in Vienna four years ago. —AFP

Today’s matches on TV

UEFA European Championship Netherlands v Denmark ................................... 19:00 Al-jazeera Sport 1 HD Al-jazeera Sport +9 Al-jazeera Sport +10 Al-jazeera Sport - Euro Germany v Portugal .......................................... 21:45 Al-jazeera Sport +9 Al-jazeera Sport +10 Al-jazeera Sport 2 HD Al-jazeera Sport - Euro

made up of Bayern Munich players who suffered defeat in the Champions League last month in a most un-German manner, losing to Chelsea on penalties.

OLD RIVALRY For Loew, success will hinge on helping the likes of Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez to get over the disappointment and atone for that failure by winning the Euros instead. Group B also revitalizes the age-old rivalry between the Dutch and the Germans, with one of these two soccer superpowers likely to end up winning the group. Van Marwijk’s Netherlands, beaten by Spain in the 2010 World Cup final, appear to no longer be the flamboyant side of old.

The coach often deploys midfield enforcers Mark van Bommel and Nigel De Jong to stop others playing the kind of beautiful passing football the Dutch were once famous for. That is not to say they have become a kick-and-rush side. With the mercurial Arjen Robben on the wing and striker Robin Van Persie in the form of his life, the Dutch will be a dangerous proposition. The

only team in the group never to win the tournament, Portugal’s status as dark horses has been confirmed by some puzzling results in recent friendlies, including a 3-1 home defeat by Turkey last Saturday.

RONALDO THREAT Despite abundant riches in attack and a tough defense, Bento’s team have yet to register a win in 2012. But it would be foolish to discount any side containing the irrepressible Ronaldo, who hit 46 goals for Real in La Liga last season. Ronaldo scored against Denmark in both Euro 2012 qualifiers and the job of marking him in their clash in Lviv next Wednesday should fall to Michael Silberbauer. Though they might worry about individuals like Ronaldo, the Danes do not fear any team in the group. Even if a repeat of Denmark’s 1992 heroics is unlikely, they still hold the key to success in the group - any side dropping points to them will be doing serious damage to their chances of making the knockout stage. In opening Group B matches, Netherlands face Denmark in Kharkiv today before Germany take on Portugal in Lviv. — Reuters

Germany want steel helmets for Ronaldo Mertesacker fit after brief injury scare GDANSK: Germany’s players will need steel helmets for protection when Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo lines up to take free kicks in their Euro 2012 Group B match in Lviv today, Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick said. Ronaldo packs a powerful strike from dead-ball situations and the Germans have been told to minimize the risk of committing fouls outside the box in one-on-one situations. “I think just steel helmets and to make themselves big,” Flick told reporters on Friday when asked how the Germans planned to deal with any potential free kicks from the Portuguese forward. “At 20, 25 or even 30 meters we need to be clever in the one-on-one situations. Ronaldo has an exceptional free kick quality.” Germany also play Netherlands and Denmark in their group.

Meanwhile, Germany central defender Per Mertesacker is fit for their Euro 2012 Group B opener against Portugal today after a brief injury scare, assistant Coach Hansi Flick said yesterday. Mertesacker, who had been out since February after ankle surgery and returned to action only a few weeks ago, collided with Jerome Boateng in training on Thursday. “There was a bit a of a doubt about him yesterday after he collided with Jerome Boateng during a corner. He was lying on the ground but it turned out to be less dramatic,” Flick told reporters just before the team’s flight to Lviv, Ukraine. “We now have all players fit and ready to play in our match tomorrow,” he added. Mertesacker is likely to feature in a central defensive partnership with Holger Badstuber, while Captain Philipp Lahm has been switched from right back to left back.

It is not yet clear who will play in Lahm’s usual position with Boateng and Lars Bender battling for that starting spot.

FINAL DECISION “The final decision on that will be taken after this evening’s final training in Lviv,” said Flick. He said coach Joachim Loew won’t announce the starting team to the

LVIV: Germany’s national football team players attend a training session yesterday at the Arena stadium in Lviv. — AFP players until a few hours before the game to keep them on edge. “We have our lineup in our heads. There is some uncertainty (among the players) whether they will play or not. That is good because it keeps the concentration high right until the end.”

Among those waiting to find out if they will start are forwards Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez, with the former looking to have the edge despite the Bayern

Munich forward’s prolific season as second-top scorer in the Bundesliga with 26 goals. “Both are top quality strikers and each has their own personal strengths,” said Flick. “The last two years Mario has had an impressive goal quota.” “It is a tight race and Miro has not had a lot of matches (due to a five-week injury break) but he has shown us here that he is ready,” Flick said. — Agencies

SPORTS

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

England relying on Liverpool’s players KRAKOW: No club is better represented in England’s European Championship squad than Liverpool, yet few players here have experienced a more disappointing domestic league season than those at English football’s fallen giant. After being part of their team’s worst Premier League finish since 1994, England’s six Liverpool players are hoping for more success on the international stage. And it’s Andy Carroll who Roy Hodgson could be relying on for goals in Monday’s opening match against France in Group D, with first-choice striker Wayne Rooney suspended.

English football’s most expensive player, who was signed by Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011 for 35 million pounds (then $65 million),

managed just four league goals last season as his side finished eighth. “A lot was written about Andy throughout the season. Some of it was a bit harsh, to be honest,” Liverpool and England teammate Stewart Downing said. “They’ve paid a lot of money for him, but that’s not Andy’s fault. He didn’t play as many games as he’d have liked ... towards the end he really came into form, last six or seven games.”

Even the Scottish manager of Liverpool’s fierce rival Everton seems to think the 1.93-meter Carroll can terrorize defenses at Euro 2012. “Until Wayne Rooney is available for the final group match against Ukraine, the lead role in Hodgson’s attack looks likely to be taken by Andy Carroll and tournament football might just suit England’s

latest No 9,” David Moyes said. “In international games players can open your eyes. Carroll scored four Premier League goals last season and might seem a throwback but some big strikers who don’t fit the look of an international player have ended up being key men for their countries ... he will be a worry to any team at set plays and, if England get the ball up and around the opposition box, in positions from where they can deliver crosses.”

It didn’t work very often for Liverpool, though, with the 18-time English champions finishing way out of the lucrative Champions League places. A League Cup success and reaching the FA Cup final wasn’t enough to save the job of manager Kenny Dalglish, who returned for a sec-

ond stint after winning eight league titles as a player and coach from 197791. “I just think that as a whole group we were not clinical enough,” Downing said. “We were a bit unlucky and I do feel sorry for the manager leaving as he could see that we were building ... at Anfield we battered every team but didn’t score enough goals.”

Also with Downing in the England squad from Anfield are midfielders Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson, and defenders Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly. “If there were eight Manchester United players in the team and they didn’t win the league, would people be asking why they are here?” Downing asked reporters in Krakow. — AP

Racism rears its ugly head again

WARSAW: A Netherlands football fan plays football with Ukrainian boy in the Euro 2012 fan zone in Kiev yesterday. — AFP

Dutch and Danes face most important game KRAKOW: Wily Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk believes Denmark know his side too well but is not about to fiddle with his tried and tested formula for a Euro 2012 Group B opener which he has labelled “the most important game”.

Germany and Portugal also await in the fiendishly difficult-looking Group B and World Cup runners-up Netherlands want a fast start against the modest Danes in Kharkiv today to get points on the board before the trickier encounters ahead.

Van Marwijk is aware however that 1992 winners Denmark are dangerous on their day and Morten Olsen’s men have all the information they could ever need on their orange-clad foes. “We have no secrets. A lot of their players play in Holland and also in other

European leagues, their style of play is a little bit the same, both teams respect each other,” Van Marwijk told reporters.

“For me it is the most important game.”

The two sides met in the 2010 World Cup group stage with the Dutch winning 2-0. Centre back Joris Mathijsen is almost certainly out of the Kharkiv match because of a hamstring problem so Ron Vlaar or Wilfred Bouma are likely to step in.

Otherwise Netherlands will unleash their armory of potent weapons including Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, whose silky skills have been wowing the vast crowds at their training sessions in Krakow and helped destroy Northern Ireland 6-0 in their last friendly. The Danes believe they offer enough of a threat themselves to stun the Dutch,

especially with their defense looking shaky given Mathijsen’s injury and left back Jetro Willems in line to pick up only his second cap. “There are a lot of players who can take charge in midfield, and provide both goals and assists,” said Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, who has six goals in his last eight internationals.

“It’s looking good, we’ve been practicing well and intensely. We just need the last technical and tactical details and we’ll be on our way.” Christian Eriksen, of Dutch champions Ajax, will pull the strings for the Scandinavians in midfield as he looks to fulfill his promise and become one of Europe’s most talked about players. “I’ve known I’d be under pressure from the beginning. —Reuters

KRAKOW: Fears over Euro 2012 being overshadowed by racism returned yesterday, after UEFA confirmed that there was racist chanting at the Netherlands’ public training session this week in the Polish city of Krakow. European football’s governing body, though, stopped short of launching a formal investigation, saying it had not received a formal complaint from the Dutch football federation (KNVB).

The revelations, which follow comments published yesterday from team captain Mark van Bommel in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, could not have come at a worse time for Euro 2012 organizers, as the tournament kicked off yesterday evening. Co-hosts Poland and Ukraine have already been forced to reject claims that racist violence is rife at their football grounds, which has led to governments of some participating nations to warn travelling fans to be on their guard.

Van Bommel, who led the Oranje on a solemn tour of the former German Nazi death camp at Auschwitz near their Krakow base earlier this week, was quoted as saying by the daily: “We all heard the monkey chants. We can’t accept that.

“We reacted well (coach Bert van Marwijk took them to the other side of the pitch) and the situation was sorted.” But he warned: “If any of us is targeted by monkey chants during our matches we won’t accept it. If we hear anything like that during a game, I’ll immediately go to the referee to ask him to intervene.”

He also hit out at anyone who chooses to ignore racist chants. “You need to open your ears. If you hear them but don’t want to hear them, that’s worse,” he said. A senior UEFA official had said on Thursday that a small group of protesters targeted the Dutch team’s training ground in Krakow on Wednesday and were unhappy at Krakow not being one of the four Polish host cities chosen for the tournament. But they had contacted the Dutch team and were initially told that the protests were not racist in nature.

Van Marwijk, who is van Bommel’s father-in-law, even said afterwards that there was an “extraordinary atmosphere” at the training venue. “UEFA has now been made aware that there were some isolated incidents of racist chanting that occurred at the open training sessions of the Dutch team (on Wednesday) in Krakow,” it said in a statement yesterday.

“UEFA has not yet received any formal complaint from the KNVB.” The Netherlands play their opening match in Group B against Denmark today in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Last month, BBC television aired a documentary suggesting that far-right gangs used football matches in both host nations as recruiting grounds and showed footage of fans making Nazi salutes and monkey noises at black players. The British government, among others, issued a travel warning to fans about the risk of racist violence, prompting the families of two black England players to say they would stay at home. Former England captain Sol Campbell, who is black, publicly advised black and ethnic minority fans not to travel while Italy’s Mario Balotelli even said he would walk off the pitch if he were subject to racial taunts. Poland, Ukraine and UEFA president Michel Platini have said that racism was a social problem across Europe and not confined to the host countries. — AFP

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012 WARSAW: Polish football fans cheers their team in the Warsaw Fanzone yesterday. About 110,000 football fans came to the fanzone in the center of Warsaw to watch the first match of the EURO2012 football tournament between Poland and Greece. (Inset) Greek defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos controls the ball during the Euro 2012 football championships match Poland vs Greece yesterday. — AFP

Russia thrash Czech Republic Co-host Poland held by Greece in Euro openers WARSAW: Russia thrashed the Czech Republic 4-1 while co-hosts Poland drew 1-1 with Greece, as the first European championship in Eastern Europe got under way yesterday after a rocky build-up hit by racism concerns. Russia’s tournament got off to a flier in Wroclaw, western Poland, as Alan Dzagoev put them in front on 15 minutes, blasting in from the edge of the box after Aleksandr Kerzhakov saw a close-range header rebound off the post.

A neat finish from Roman Shirokov nine minutes later doubled the lead, despite the Czechs looking the livelier in the opening exchanges.

The Czechs pulled one back seven minutes after the restart when Vaclav Pilar beat the offside trap, sidestepped the goalkeeper and slid the ball home following a through ball

from Jaroslav Plasil. But Dzagoev made it 3-1 in netting a fine rightfooted strike after being played in by substitute and former Tottenham star Roman Pavlyuchenko, who promptly smacked in a magnificent fourth for the 2008 semi-finalists with eight minutes remaining.

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland earlier got their campaign off to a dream start, when Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski headed them in front in the 17th minute before a partisan 50,000 capacity crowd in the capital Warsaw. Franciszek Smuda’s men were given an advantage of an extra player, as Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before half-time.

But the Poles could not make it count and Dimitris Salpingidis lev-

elled just after the break. Poland then saw their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny sent off for bringing down Salpingidis in the box but this time Greece failed to seize the opportunity, as substitute Przemyslaw Tyton kept out Giorgos Karagounis’ spot kick. The scoreline dampened the mood for the 50,000 home fans and the tens of thousands more outside, with Warsaw a sea of Polish red and white for the arrival of the showpiece event behind the former Iron Curtain for the first time.

Holders and world champions Spain are favorites to retain the title in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on July 1, although perennial challengers Germany are out to avenge their final defeat from four years ago. Russia’s emphatic win put them top of Group A, with Dick Advocaat’s men taking

on the hosts in Warsaw and the Czechs playing Greece in Wroclaw, both on Tuesday. The final countdown to the start of Euro 2012, though, was overshadowed by claims that fans racially abused the Netherlands team with monkey chants during a training session on Wednesday.

Dutch skipper Mark van Bommel said in an interview published in De Telegraaf newspaper that the Oranje were forced to train away from the 25,000 fans who had turned up to watch in Krakow, southern Poland.

“We all heard the monkey chants,” he was quoted as saying. “We can’t accept that. We reacted well and the situation was sorted. “During the tournament, if any one of us is confronted with such a thing, we’ll immediately go to the referee to ask

him to intervene,” added van Bommel, who faces Denmark with his team-mates in Kharkiv, Ukraine today.

Van Bommel’s comments come despite a senior UEFA official previously denying there had been any racist chants and an angry response to a BBC program last month which claimed far-right gangs were rife in Polish and Ukrainian football. Poland, Ukraine and UEFA president Michel Platini have all tried to play down fears of racist incidents, which prompted the families of two black England players to say they would not be travelling to watch the tournament. His organization said yesterday that it was now aware of racist incidents, although it had not received any formal complaint from the Dutch football federation. — AFP