5th Feb

Kuwait Times

February 5, 2010

NO: 14631

FREE

INSIDE

Rethinking food waste PAGE 6

South Lebanon residents brace for new Israel war PAGE 11

MINA SALMAN: A picture released by the US Navy shows US navy sailors, assigned to the harbor patrol boat unit from Naval Security Force Bahrain, monitoring merchant ship traffic off the coast of Bahrain near the Mina Salman pier. US deployment of anti-missile defenses off Iran’s coast and in a number of its Gulf Arab neighbors is certain to fuel tensions in a strategic region that supplies a third of the world’s oil, analysts say. — AFP

US fighting ‘psychological war’ Giacometti sculpture smashes world record bid Page 55

Greening piles pressure on Pompey PAGE 64

Don’t squander money on US missiles, Iran tells Gulf TEHRAN: A senior Iranian military official told Gulf states yesterday not to squander money on US missiles, boasting that Iran can render them useless, the state news agency IRNA reported. Tehran yesterday slammed plans by the United States to beef up defenses in the Gulf against potential Iranian missile attacks, with the Islamic republic insisting it posed no threat to its neighbors. “Installing antimissile Patriot missiles is a new trick to empty the pockets of rich Arabian Gulf countries,” said General Hassan Firuzabadi, the joint chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces.

“Patriot missiles can be rendered ineffective by simple tactics, and I advise the regional countries, especially Islamic states, not to waste their money on these missiles which have not worked anywhere,” he said. US President Barack Obama’s administration is reportedly placing ships with missile-targeting capabilities off Iran’s coast, and anti-missile systems in at least four Gulf states-Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

US ally Bahrain acknowledged on

Wednesday that Gulf military defenses were being upgraded but urged Iran not to see them as plans for attack.

The moves come as Iran remains locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program, which many world powers believe is masking a weapons drive. Iran has vehemently denied this.

Iran has carried out frequent war games in the Gulf and paraded an array of home-grown missiles over the past years. It has threatened to hit Western targets if Iranian nuclear sites come under attack by the United States or Israel-its two arch-foes which have never ruled out the military option to thwart the atomic drive.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards official also said on Wednesday that Iran had developed anti-armor weapons which can combat US Apache helicopters and armored tanks. “The enemy should not think their Apache helicopters can have the same power that they have in Iraq and Afghanistan in Iran,” Naser Arab-beigi, who heads the self-sufficiency organization of the Revolutionary Guards, told Fars news agency. “We

will end Apache power by our measures. Their armored tanks will be met with the firm response of our weapons,” he said.

Iran yesterday accused US of launching a “psychological war” in the Gulf region by presenting Tehran as a threat to Gulf Arab states to convince them they needed US protection. US officials said on Sunday the United States had expanded land-and seabased missile defense systems in and around the Gulf-a waterway crucial for global oil supplies-to counter what it sees as Iran’s growing missile threat.

The US deployments include expanded land-based Patriot defensive missile installations in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. “They don’t want to see good and growing relations between Iran and its neighbors in the Arabian Gulf and thus started a psychological war,” Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, was quoted as saying on semiofficial news agency ILNA. Iran’s top military official also played down the threat to the Islamic

republic from Patriot missiles. “It is not new for us ... we were informed when they were installed, including about their exact locations ... Patriot missile could be easily deactivated by using simple tactics.” A foreign ministry official said earlier this week Washington was trying to stoke “Iran phobia” in the Middle East and said Tehran enjoyed friendly ties with neighboring states.

The United States is making the deployments at a time of tension in a long-running international row over Iran’s nuclear energy program, with Western powers calling for a fourth round of UN sanctions against Tehran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment. Analysts speculate that the United States or its ally Israel, could stage an attack on nuclear facilities they think could allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran says it is only interested in generating electricity. Gulf countries, which have extensive cooperation with the US military, could be targets for reprisals if their territories were perceived as involved in operations. — Agencies

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Friday, February 5, 2010

FrIday spotlIGHt

Hell after prison

By Muna Al-Fuzai

hoever commits a crime, he or she goes to jail. That is the rule for criminals around the world. But, giving them another type of punishment after leaving the prison is inconsiderate and inhumane.

If life in jail ensures food, a bed and a roof until a convict finishes his term, then why we as a society should prepare them to lead a normal life and integrate with society after their release from prison?

Why can’t we help them go back to the right track and mix again with the society. Only then and after giving them a second chance, we can re-evaluate their readiness to be returned to society!

Recently, I was following up a plea by some former prisoners and spouses of ex-cons through local media, asking for help. They don’t want people to give them money as a donation or charity. But they want to

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We should not punish people twice for a crime which they have already been punished for.

We should not appoint ourselves as judges and decide who should be or should not be welcomed back into the society.

prove to themselves, to their families and the world that they learnt their lesson and are ready to face life again, and provide support to their families. However, if ex-inmates fail to do so since they would be unable to find employment for at least five years after their release from prison!

Five years is a long period of time. A normal human being would find it difficult not to earn an income for two or three months, let alone someone who was forbidden from having a source of income for five long years. It is enough that they served their jail terms because of a crime they had committed. What more do you want from them?

We should not punish people twice for a crime which they had already been punished for. We should not appoint ourselves as judges and decide who should be or should not be welcomed back into society. Who are we to deprive a person from leading a normal life? I personally cannot see the wisdom behind such a ban against ex-cons. We should give them a helping hand, even more than before, to ensure that they will not return to their old ways back to prison. That is why some drug dealers go back to prison after leaving it. It is not only the pressure of being addicts, but they also fail to merge with and be accepted by society.

These cases suffer from the rejection they are met with by everyone after their release from prison so they simply find it more convenient to return to jail!

That appears to be the quick answer even though not the right one. The society should help its members correct their old mistakes and become, if not better persons, at least stay away from trouble. By denying that others have the right to be part of the society, we only try to further their punishment.

Eventually, we lose them by giving them hell after prison. muna@kuwai ttimes.net

IN My VIEW

By Fouad al-obaid iplomacy is the art of achieving various national foreign policy objectives without the use of violence. Thanks to various diplomatic efforts at different levels, our region has ensured that tension despite what many might observe is at best maintained at minimal levels.

Throughout modern contemporary Middle East history, it could be argued that diplomacy and real politics prevented much conflicts in our region, and though we came short on various different occasion, the Middle East being a powder keg, major violence has been contained.

One, perhaps, could direct the source of most conflict to two countries. However, overall, as a region we are perceived as unstable by the rest of the world and that is something that should be worrisome to us today as we are spearheading into the 21st Century.

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dIGEst uring the recent power outage that hit Jahra, several illegal activities took place on streets which saw crowds gathering to watch reckless driving demos, exploiting darkness to their side to attack security forces that responded to the scene to control the chaotic traffic situation, wrote Dr Fahad Al-Khannah in AlWatan.

Security officers in civilian uniform were present with their weapons in hand and started firing in the air in a bid to enforce some control. News reports stated that these officers followed troublemakers who fled to residential blocks, and continued to fire

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Intervention in the Gulf Regardless, to many, the Middle East is a region of strategic importance due to two main factors: hydrocarbon resources primarily, along with its central location as a growing international aviation crossroad between Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Middle East, has seen over the past century its fair share of conflict emanating from a more passionate cause that has inflamed many parts of the region. Arguably, even today, it is the prime cause of conflict — religion.

If we look at the reasons for conflict, and if we take note of the various parties involved in conflict, in contemporary Middle Eastern history religion has been intimately linked to most strives. One could document the various wars that were fought between the Muslim Arabs and the Jews in Israel for instance, just as much as the more numerous and shameful wars between Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims.

Alternatively, and more problematic, are the conflicts between extremist both Sunni and Shiite against state actors. Further, today it could be argued that one of the main causes of tensions in the region is between extremist ideologies that are causing tensions in many parts of the Middle

East and could trickle down to the streets of the Arab world.

When placed under historic perspective, religious wars are not new on the global stage. One could observe through the thick pages of history and see that Europe, during much of the dark ages, has been in various religious strives that have set Europe a blaze.

I dare question, if we in the Middle East, are heading towards such an era.

Will we be smart enough to not fall in the religious war trap, whereby keen leadership will steer the region away from extremism by opening up society and ensuring that we maintain our regional specificity, yet ensure that moderation beats extremism or else we will all be paying a heavy price!

As many foreign entities argue for various sorts of interventions in the Middle East region, the question that the countries of the region ask themselves is what viable alternatives could they come up with? Would it be possible to increase cooperation and intraregional trade through the creation of regional organizations that would ensure co-dependency and reduce the temptation for conflict? fouad@kuwaittimes.net

Chaos in the dark bullets in the process.

This is a serious and unprecedented security threat — youngsters out of control, poor response from officials and mishandling for the situation. Some security personnel took the conflict between homes, threatening residents with stray bullets.

However, these developments were not addressed either by the Ministry of Interior or the Cabinet, but also by the members of the Parliament. It’s well known that using arms in such cases can only be allowed in the situation in which people’s lives have come seriously under threat. Therefore, it’s certain that actions of dishdasha-clad officers

firing their weapons were irresponsible.

MPs ought to use their constitutional rights to ask the Interior Ministry about this issue, same when they asked them in regards to the road mishap that took place at the Doha junction. Although, it has been a very serious incident, it’s still limited when compared to the other issue that could have escalated to a point in which many people have fallen victims.

Hopefully, State officials will investigate into this incident, which shed light on the preparation of security officers in response to emergencies, and exposed the way they handle situations.

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Friday, February 5, 2010 HalluciNations

conspiracy tHeories

anatomy of depression

By Ahmad Saeid ecently I was assured that I’m not the only one who feels depressed by the year 2010. Many people are. Actually, everyone has a moment in their life when they feel depressed. It’s like a sickness or aging, something that can’t be defeated by simply ignoring it. The better we learn how to deal with depression the more effective our methods can be in confronting its causes... In order to know how to fight it we should first define it.

Depression is not just simply lacking happiness, it is lacking the interest to be happy. People who are depressed see no meaning for happiness at all and that’s the most dangerous part of it.

Depression is a disease that attacks the very desire to be cured and healthy.

Just like how HIV/AIDS attacks the immune system, depression is the AIDS of the human psyche.

For most people, however, depression doesn’t usually last for too long, especially if we don’t blow it out of proportion. Like any other psychological mechanism, depression has a purpose and its own set of triggers.

We become depressed when we hit the wall between our expectations of

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The larger the gap between our ideals, worldviews, principles, values, and vision of how life should be and how life really is, the more likely for depression to occur. the world and the realities of it. The larger the gap between our ideals, worldviews, principles, values, and vision of how life should be and how life really is, the more likely for depression to occur.

I guess the purpose of depression is to make us pull back, distance ourselves emotionally from the world around us and see it with dry and emotionless logic. Depression helps us reevaluate and adjust our worldview according to the new facts that we’ve discovered to come up with a new worldview.

However, for those who are not willing to go through depressive periods, there are a few things to be done.

First and foremost we need to reduce our expectations of life. Forget about the ‘happily ever after’ thing because it simply doesn’t exist. We’ll trap ourselves in pretty dangerous illusion if we expect to achieve a problemfree life. Problems, mistakes, conflicts, disappointments, betrayal and even fail-

ure are simply part of life. To be happy does not mean not facing these things in your life but rather learning how to deal with them.

Secondly, we have to address wanting. We will always want something.

There’s no single person in the world that does not want something... even the monks in the Tibet who resist any material desires are doing so because they WANT to reach some kind of spiritual purity. Wanting to have whatever we want is a very dangerous thing. We will never be happy if we assume that fulfilling all our wants and desires is the only way for us to be happy.

Happiness therefore, is acknowledging the unavoidability, and perhaps even the necessity, of having depressing lapses every once in a while.

According to this definition of the word I can say I’m pretty happy. I hope everyone else is having a very happy year as well. saeid@kuwaittim es.net

a few ‘calls’ of my own B y A bd ulla Aln o ur i ith all the ‘official calls’ being made these days by MPs, ministers, and other columnists, I thought it would only be fair for me to take a turn as well. I am sure you won’t mind giving my demands a chance to be heard amongst the recent tidal wave of certified declarations.

I officially call on all MPs and government representatives to stop calling for things, period. So many of these MPs use their positions and our newspapers like a social networking site where they get to post their half digested thoughts and knee-jerk reactions on any number of issues. Many have lost the ability to speak publically without immediately revealing their ulterior motives. I would be surprised if some of these MPs are even taken seriously when ordering food at a restaurant.

A most recent issue that comes to mind is the response of those MPs who latched onto the political opportunity offered by the death of several youths in the car racing accident in Doha.

Many of our representatives responded to the accident by immediately blaming the Ministry of Interior and looking for someone to point a finger at. A more proper and helpful response would have been to acknowledge that Kuwait has a serious problem and start proposing solutions.

MPs need to work with the ministry to find those individuals or procedures responsible for the delayed response.

Hands off our sports

By Badr ya Dar wish

IN MY VIEW

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Doing so would do much more to initiate real change and prevent future neglect than threatening the whole ministry in a desperate grab for attention.

I call on MPs to remember the saying ‘the shallowest brooks makes the most noise,’ because those who speak the most seem to have the least to say.

For instance, what was the point of some of our MPs demanding more Islamic influence in the recently passed development program? The Cabinet and Parliament were challenged with the task of turning Kuwait into a regional financial hub by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, not reinforcing the country’s Islamic identity. This reveals either an attempt by these MPs to cause sectarianism by creating a false argument between a ‘secular’ plan and an Islamic identity or their actions reveal that these MPs are unsure of where the boundaries are of their elected positions. MPs are elected to move the country forward, as a whole, while representing their constituents. Instigating sectarianism may earn some points with local voters but, in the end, is to no one’s benefit. If MPs were to realize this and act responsibly, as opposed to dramatically, then we would all be better off.

I call on the government to continue repealing the amendments to the audio-visual law. The government’s recent removal of the financial penalties added to the bill is certainly a step in the right direction. Kuwait has such a proud history of press freedom it

would be a shame to nip it in the bud that which has become central to our delicate democracy.

What a victory it would be, to have the proposed bill completely removed in honor of preserving democracy and for the people of Kuwait. A pause in the government’s trend of taking broad strokes to solve small problems would be a good thing. The government’s decision to close all restaurants and cafes at midnight as a response to the few places that were breaking the law is similar to the proposed audio-visual law. Punishing society for the actions of a few is inherently undemocratic, unsustainable, and divisive. It just further aggravates the public and encourages them to be unsatisfied with current lawmakers and their system.

I also call on you, reader, to realize that this kind of article, and a few that I share these pages with, would not be able to be printed without severe consequences if the audio-visual law were passed. I won’t go so far as to assume you like my article, or even think it is good, but I am sure you appreciate the opportunity to have a free public forum for sharing critical opinions.

Citizen or not, if you have something to say then you should contact your newspapers, columnists or representatives to share your perspective.

Why should we only listen to the calls and demands of those in office?

Opinions shared thoughtfully and respectfully can only benefit the country’s growth.

Abalnouri@hotmail.com

urprise! Surprise! I am going to talk about football or soccer, as the Americans prefer to call it. In all honesty, I dont know much about football. To be precise, I hear about it a lot from my three sons who are highly-dedicated Manchester United fans.

Even their jackets and clothes, since they were young, carry the badge of ManUnited. Today, however, I want to talk about the Egypt-Algeria match which took place in Angola last week.

Why the whole fuss surrounding the match? Why the big fuss around the Algeria-Egypt match? Football is meant to be a sport and this is the way it should be kept. All the news reported about the dispute which took place in the previous match between Algeria and Egypt played in Sudan less than a month ago. The threats between the two countries, pulling out ambassadors, beating each other and many incidents of violence from both sides took place. I want to ask if it was worth to have almost a war break out between two brotherly nations?

The national media from both countries are to be blamed for inflaming the crowds and the public, and creating hatred between the two nations, turning that beautiful sport into a political issue. I wonder how people could be easily affected by the media. I wonder how the media succeeded in creating animosity between two Arab nations.

In my opinion, it is a crime to politicize sports. If governments have issues between each other they shouldnt hold grudges and use football, or whatever sport, to justify their political inclinations. If governments have an agenda, please use other methods and leave football and sports for the sportspeople and their fans. Do not meddle in the game with your politics and agendas. For Gods sake, let people enjoy and celebrate the sports they love. Why turn it into one of misery and violence?

It was great to see the Egyptian community in Kuwait celebrate after winning the match against Algeria in the African Cup last week. Sweets were distributed everywhere even by low-income employees. I was touched when the harris (watchman) of the newspaper came out with a platter of kunafa (a well-known Arabic sweet) and distributed it to the whole staff. This scene, I am sure, took place in most of the companies in Kuwait. Why not? Nations should celebrate their win. They do this in the West, in the US and everywhere. They parade in the streets and Presidents come to greet the teams upon their return to the country. This is the way football should be played. http://www.badryadar wish.com

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SATIRE WIRE

Bombarded with ads

By Sawsan Kazak very moment in our day, we are bombarded with advertisement; some of it obvious and some subliminal.

Advertisements appear on TV, the radio, billboards, posters, in magazines and newspapers. We are so overwhelmed with ads that they have become second nature to us, integrated into our lives. But recently, I have been receiving a new form of ads that have been extremely intrusive, even by today’s standards.

I have been receiving text messages informing me that certain stores are having a big sale or others are giving 10 percent discount on their new collection. The weird thing about it is that these messages have been appearing with the name of the store as the contact. The problem however is that I have never been to most of these stores and have no idea where they are located or what they sell.

Who gave these retailers my number? And where did they get the idea that I want to know about their latest collections? What will be their next form of advertisement? Will they start calling me up at work to discuss with me their new discount card? Will they be waiting for me at my front door at night to give me their new flyer? Or maybe they will be hiding in the back seat of my car to talk to me about how I can save on my next purchase.

I understand that businesses need to advertise in order to maximize success, but this new text messaging craze has gone too far. Waking up to find seven messages from different stores telling me to visit their nearest location and ‘save big’ is unnecessary and extremely intrusive. Let’s keep the ads where they belong, on the billboards and in the commercials and out of my inbox. sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

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Ali Al-Edan is seen setting off on one of his health awareness ventures in Kuwait. Earlier in 2008 he climbed the Kuwait Towers.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Al-Edan is seen half way through the climb.

Sports aficionado promotes exercise, motion A journey across Kuwait focuses on health awareness

By Sa ha r Moussa li Al-Edan, 55, citizen and self-proclaimed sports professional, advises people to be more active. Armed with 25 certificates, a diploma in fitness and nutrition and with certification in yoga and Pilates, he says he also enjoys being a personal trainer.

Having graduated from North America, Al-Edan has a specialization in aroma and hydro therapy. He proudly asserts that he is the first person in the Arab world to specialize in this field.

Al-Edan is very passionate about exercise and healthy lifestyles. In his own words he likes challenging himself constantly and proving that age is not a boundary but an opportunity to seek knowledge and wisdom for a healthier life. With AlEdan’s philosophy and ability to consistently challenge himself he was the first Kuwaiti to climb the Kuwait Abraj Tower and journeyed through Kuwait on his bike. “My message from climbing the Abraj Tower was to encourage people to stay healthy because I believe when you are healthy you are good to yourself, family and country,” he said.

Al-Edan, a father of three girls and a boy, narrated the story of his Abraj climb. “My first goal was to encourage people to be more involved in sports. Since then this endeavor has become an annual tradition.”

The idea for the climb crossed his mind in 1998 when he was still studying in Canada. “I said to myself, ‘when I come back to Kuwait I have to accomplish something in sports, something that no one else has ever done before,’” he recalled. Every year since his return to Kuwait he has climbed the tower with a picture of one of Kuwait’s icons. Under the patronage of Sheikha Fadia and on each Liberation day he carries the images of icons such as, the late Amir

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Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah and the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Upon his return to Kuwait in 2004 he decided to host a tenminute daily sports brief on Kuwait television on the well-known program ‘Sabah Al-Khier Ya

Upon completion of the climb AlEdan is measuring the time.

Kuwait’(Good morning Kuwait). For three months he gave viewers information about Yoga, Pilates and other sports.

Sports in Kuw a it For Al-Edan, sports are not related to the weather. “I don’t like people who start blaming the weather or saying that they don’t have time for sports,” he said. In defence of his position he narrated a typical morning. “I wake up at 4:50 in the

morning, read the Quran until 5:15 then I pray at 5:30. I have four cars and, believe it or not, I wash them all. Then, I run for an hour, ride my bike for half an hour and come back to my basement where I do a 10-minute workout. I have been doing this routine since 2004,” he says.

Recently, AlEdan completed a journey that carried an i m p o r t a n t m e s s a g e : “Regardless of

age everyone can be active and do sports. On my bike I decided to roam Kuwait,” he said, and explained that he is on a mission to encourage people to be more active.

The first day of his journey started in Hawalli and he traveled to Mubarak Al- Kabeer. On the second day he rode his bike to Ahmadi. On the third day he rode back to Hawalli, to city center, and back to Hawalli. From there he took the road to Farwaniya, and then Jahra.

Finally, he ended up at the Public Authority for Youth and Sports. “I was happy that the whole journey got the media’s attention and was fully covered. I was delighted to see people’s encouragement on the streets,” he said.

Al-Edan has a mission to spread the message that sports is for everyone, and it’s important to stay healthy. “Instead of spending so much money on medicine and doctors why don’t we save the government’s money and focus on Kuwait’s infrastructure?” he argued.

He said that going around Kuwait was one of the greatest experiences of his life. “I felt great and I was in really good shape. I dedicate this accomplishment to HH the Amir, HH the Prime Minister and the Kuwaiti people.”

Having completed his Kuwait journey, Al-Edan is determined to promote sports awareness across the Middle East and beyond. “My next step is Cairo tower and the Eiffel tower in France. “I’m waiting to get the approval from the governor of Cairo, Sheikh Ali AlYazer,” he said.

“My message is for all - young or old, Kuwaiti or non Kuwaiti - to participate in sports and improve their health. Sports saves you from aging and keeps you away from doctors. It also keeps away the stress,” he said. sa har@kuw aittimes.net

In his own words he likes challenging himself constantly and proving that age is not a boundary but an opportunity to seek knowledge and wisdom for a healthier life.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

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By Caline Malek

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iddle Eastern lifestyles have always been one of the most demanding.

From luxurious cars to the hippest clothes and latest flashy technology, Arabs are determined to attain this indulgent and lavish standard of living they are so keen to lead at the expense of any sense of logic - social class and income take a back seat when it comes to materialism and extravagance. Naturally.

Following the economic slowdown in Kuwait, banks introduced a stringent scrutiny process for giving out loans. For instance, citizens in Kuwait would take out loans for luxury cars and massive shopping sprees, which led to an increasing issue concerning loan write-offs. Many indebted citizens are hoping the Kuwaiti parliament’s bill will be passed into law, hence forcing the government to buy all $23.3 billion of consumer loans in the country, according to The Financial Times, writing off the interest and rescheduling the payments.This procedure is not new for Kuwait - residents in debt were bailed out twice in the past, firstly after the 1982 stock market crash and secondly after the 1991 Iraqi occupation.

When asked about this issue, Khaled Hosni, a Kuwaiti financial analyst, claims: “Even though the crisis has impacted the dynamic in which banks lend money in Kuwait, they still do lend money, under more stringent terms, and some people take as much advantage as they can in order to finance their “lavish” lifestyles”.

According to Hosni, “the thought of forgiving people’s loans a third time has come up many times in Kuwait, it is highly unlikely to go through and it is even more unlikely to win over the full Kuwaiti population.

There are many Kuwaitis who do not have any debts at all, so why should the government forgive someone for a million dollars or dinars with state-owned funds and someone with no debt not to get anything in return?”

Before the crisis, many Kuwaiti citizens were able to put up stocks they held along with property as guarantee with no difficulty. In 2004, when the economic boom took place in Kuwait, nationals were able to fund their daily lifestyles alongside their paper-profits, or appreciation of their property.

After the crisis, if a Kuwaiti resident attempted to take out a loan, banks made it much harder to permit assets or stocks as collateral. As Hosni adds: “Something more logical that they have been discussing is to have a government entity purchase the loans of Kuwaitis from banks, and either refinance them or reschedule them”.

Hank Bass, a London-based energy analyst, depicts the Kuwaiti dilemma. “Kuwait derives almost 90 percent of its national income from oil exports.

With oil prices touching $147 a barrel back in July 2008, Kuwait saw strong GDP growth and with it, the associated growth in consumer spending.” He explains the reasoning for the grounds of the problem “following the economic downturn, oil prices and consumer incomes dropped significantly and yet, although

consumers had less money in their back pocket, their spending habits continued with the delta being funded by credit”.

All in all, it is quite evident that by bailing out its citizens from their loans, Kuwait seems to be sending out the wrong message in relation to consumer discipline and the way in which society should rightfully function.

As Bass concludes: “One can hardly describe luxury cars and shopping sprees as necessary expenditures. The oil will not last forever and consumer culture in Kuwait will have to adapt to this.

It is the government’s duty to install this change and although there may be another 100 years or so of reserves in Kuwait, it’s never too early to start”.

As we move on to another country, we realize that Kuwait represents one of many Middle Eastern countries finding themselves in a luxurious mess.

In this case, perhaps stereotypes of the Middle Eastern society are not so fictitious after all. “Kuwait is no different from the Arab mentality. While in the West, people like to play the “keeping up with the Jones” game, I feel as though in Kuwait, including many other Arab countries, it’s more of a matter of “being better than the Jones”“, says Hosni.

“When credit is easy, people will take advantage of that. It’s wired in us, we all like a good bargain”.

“Boasting” in a country such as Lebanon has become as common as reading the newspaper. Your main daily task is to outdo anyone that crosses your path at whatever cost.

Nowadays, Middle Eastern society revolves around money and looks. And if you do not have the latter, then the former will be of great use. Beauty was made possible when the First National Bank Lebanon instigated its custom-made plastic surgery loan in April 2007, the first loan of its kind worldwide. It is said that the loan is mainly for the Lebanese residents but foreigners are entitled to apply. Although a branch manager of the FNB claimed it was primarily for people who were in need of reconstructive surgeries due to accidents or following the war, it seems that in Lebanon, beauty is not “in the eye of the Beholder” as Shakespeare so “merely” stated, but it is in the hand of the money holder!

Maya, a Lebanese woman who proudly claims she has had to resort to a loan for her nose job, defends her point of view: “I was not for it at all in the beginning. My family convinced me - the first question people asked me here was “So when are you going to do your nose?” - so I did.” $2,800 - one-third of her yearly income - is the amount Maya paid for her first installment. “My friends and family say it looks great. I think it was worth every penny of the $65 I have to pay every month”.

Michael Karam, a Beirutbased British-Lebanese journalist and author of “Life’s like that!: Your Guide to the Lebanese” published in 2004, agrees that the Lebanese are obsessed with vanity. “Is there a socio-economic disconnect between the haves and the have-nots? Yes!”

Karam asserts: “There is a small percentage of the population that has a lot of the disposable income and much of Lebanon’s image that is projected to the outside world is based upon this particular demographic of wealthy people in the country.

The wealth usually comes from abroad or the main trading families in the country, and this tranche of the population consists of 10,000 people at the very most. Out of 4 million, that is one quarter of 1 per cent.” He added: “We’ve got a particular tiny demographic that’s come to

represent the modern image of Lebanon. We have to remember that a lot of high-net-worth Gulf Arabs enjoy coming to Lebanon so a lot of retail outlets, hotels and malls cater to them.” It is no longer about where your husband works, what religion you follow or how well you were brought up, it is now all about where you shop. Aishti in Beirut clearly being the “hot-spot”, showing off price tags reaching $800 for a brand A bag and $36,000 for a brand B coat. In a country where the gross national income per capita revolves around $6,800 and

the average legal minimum wage barely reaches $330, the gravity of the situation is well into alarming. When loans start to span to trivial and superficial purposes, it is safe to claim that the population is clearly image conscious. “I do believe that as a society, we haven’t got all our priorities in order”, says Karam.

“Is it due to the [civil] war? I just think we are a very shallow image-obsessed country.”

In regards to property prices, the journalist claims there is a discrepancy between what people are paid and what they can afford.

“Property is going through a roof as a matter of fact it was said to have gone up 20 to 30% in the past year. There lies the problem.

Soon enough, people won’t even be able to buy a home.”

In a society where appearances are put on a pedestal, it seems unrealistic and worrying to think of the Middle East’s new generations to come.

In a region where wars have, for the most part, dominated the past decades, ravaging territories and destroying people’s lives, one starts to wonder whether the Arab world will ever take a glance outside the bubble it has built around it, and realize the gravity of such lack of hope for a stable, civilized and simply “normal” way of life in the Middle East.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Rethinking food waste

By Hussain Al-Qatari

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t a wedding, a funeral, a reception or an election campaign, after the crowds go their separate ways, large quantities of leftover food remains. Massive quantities of food are usually prepared to feed the crowds during these occasions, but despite what one might think, not all people want to stand in line and fill their plates with food — and even if they do, not all the food is going to be eaten.

The amount of leftovers is huge, and comprises almost 40 percent of trash in Kuwait according to a study conducted by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) that was recently published in an Arabic daily.

When attending such occasions we seldom think of what will happen to all of these leftovers. Will they be taken back to the kitchen, put in a large freezer to be served again, another day? Will they be discarded in a big trash? Taken to a farm to feed animals? Or given to those who are hungry and are in need of food?

Umm Bader, an Egyptian expat in her forties says her family was on the verge of poverty, but were kept well-fed by other people’s leftovers.

In massive buffets, the amount of leftover food can feed a family of six very well. For eight months in 2008, Umm Bader and her family ate what remained untouched from the food prepared for such occasions. Now that her financial situation is much better after her husband finally found a job again, Umm Bader dedicates her free time after her day job to collect and distribute food to poor people, mainly laborers.

“I wish you could see with your eyes the joy in the faces of those in need when they receive food boxes. I wish you can try to do this on your own and see how after the day is over, you can think back to yourself and say ‘I have made

e tell them specifically where we took the food. We would like them to understand that charity truly begins at home; we can travel this distance and teach them this lesson.’

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someone’s day’. Believe me, it is like magic.”

Umm Bader has formed a small network, comprising of herself, a friend of hers and a few helping hands here and there who donate their time whenever they can. She believes that it is important for people not to underestimate what an extra loaf of bread can do. “There were days when me and my four kids had to share one loaf of bread together,” she says stressing that before discarding of any food, one should think of how this could feed a hungry person.

Umm Mohammad, a woman with a kind voice who only spoke to me over the phone very briefly, often brought food with her to work and packed some extra for Umm Bader.

“Whenever I went to any gathering where there was food, I asked whoever hosted the event if they would like me to give some of the food to people that are in need who I know.

Most of them gladly obliged, a lot of them even thanked me for suggesting this to them,” Umm Mohammad tells me.

The beginning It all started when Umm Bader’s colleague at work, a well-off Kuwaiti Umm Mohammad invited colleagues to her daughter’s reception.

When the guests began to leave, Umm Bader asked her colleague if she can take home some of the food with her to her family. “I was very hesitant and embarrassed to ask,” says Umm Bader, explaining that when she asked to pack some food and take it home. She pretended that the food tasted so good and she wanted her family to try it. In order not to sound very desperate, she also asked for the number of the catering company so that she could order from them the next time she had such an occasion.

“I think [she] knew that I was in need of the food. But she played along, In my heart, I prayed for her and her family,” says Umm Bader.

Foodaholic Nation The fact that Kuwait is a foodaholic nation makes it hard to believe that there are people who can’t actually find food in the country.

Almost all occasions and events feature food, either snack buffets or big banquets. At weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, food is always present. The number of restaurants in any street or shopping mall in itself is amazing.

Umm Mohammad believes that over 40 percent of the food in buffets is left untouched.

“People when attending such occasions with their full make up and their best clothes do not tend to eat a lot, they are there to socialize only,” says Umm Mohammad.

Whenever she has leftovers at home, Umm Mohammad lets her driver take the food to the laborers and workers in the co-op, located

right across the street from where she lives.

“These people work all day. Even though the companies they work for provide them with food and money, it is different when they feel kindness from other people. Even I love it when my kids come back home from a restaurant and bring me something nice with them,” she says.

The two women see that a lot of people are eager to contribute, but find it necessary to show them how it is very simple to give someone in need. On various occasions, when going to collect food from people, Umm Mohammad and Umm Bader give the food to laborers who work in the vicinity of where the donor lives. “We tell them specifically where we took the food. We would like them to understand that charity truly begins at home; we can travel this distance and teach them this lesson,” says Umm Mohammad.

With regard to how people can help, Umm Bader tells that they can phone them and let them know in advance about the quantity of food and from where it can be collected. “I don’t have a computer, so I can’t go on the Internet to interact with people. Honestly, I don’t think they should call me; they should do it on their own. I am sure that in their neighborhood they will find a laborer who would appreciate a free meal, an act of kindness.”

— hussain@kuwa ittimes.net

LOCAL

Friday, February 5, 2010

A delivery truck is commonly seen in Kuwait and for many, it is a partner in big business and success.

Page 7

Napenda Kuwait: A Kenyan look at Kuwaiti life

Delivery truck catapults Babu’s dream

By Sunil Cherian

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By Ben Garcia

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or Babu Islam, a Bangladeshi driver, the delivery truck has transported him into his real dream, his dream house and a happy family because, as he says, there will always be a time when people need ‘big help’.

This is the need which cannot be fulfilled by a big brother or even the closest friends and relatives. The type of service only a truck or a vehicle that is known to many in Kuwait as a half lorry (delivery truck) can provide.

Everyone in some point of life has depended on a delivery truck to help transport furniture purchased from the Friday Market, for example. Sometimes you need help to transport your satellite dish, your cooking gas range, your refrigerators or even carpets. These vehicles prove to be especially useful when people are caught up in the process of moving out into other flats. A delivery truck is commonly seen in Kuwait and for many, it is a partner in big business and success.

Most of the delivery trucks are stationed at Shuwaikh Industrial Area where all the heavy household tools and equipments are sold. Most are owned by individual hardware shop owners to help transport heavy objects. During spare time, drivers usually render transportation services to the public. Babu’s Kuwaiti sponsor

handed the delivery truck over to him. He works as a full-time delivery truck driver for six times a week and earns KD 15 to 20 per day. A half of this amount is paid to the Kuwaiti boss.

Getting customers is not difficult, Babu says. While driving from his place of residence in Murgab to Shuwaikh, he is sometimes approached by prospective customers. If they agree on the transportation fee amount, he accepts the work.

Most of the time, he waits for the right customer to approach, at his own terminal.

“I start my day at exactly 8 am. Most of the shops in Shuwaikh are already open during that time. I come and park my truck here as always,” said a visibly elated Babu who agreed to be interviewed for the Friday Times. He usually serves his first customer between 9 am and 11 am. “The lowest I charge is KD 5 for my service. The highest is KD 50 for an entire day,” he said.

Babu seeks help from friends when laborious tasks are involved, “If the object is enormous, of course I will not do it alone. So, I usually ask some of my friends to help me. So I charge them (customers) an extra amount to pay my helpers. That way, I also help my compatriots earn extra money,” he said.

The road to better future Babu has been doing substantially better by driving the

delivery truck when compared to the previous job he held in Sulaibiya. After working there for two years, he entered into a partnership with a Kuwaiti shop owner in Shuwaikh. “My present job is better. At least I am my own boss. If I want to rest, I can rest without having to heed to anybody’s opinion. I can do whatever I want to do,” he explained. Compared to his previous job where he earned a monthly income of KD 60, he now pockets KD 250 to 350 ever month. “I am lucky, yes. Thanks to this job, I was able to buy my own house in Dhaka. I have my own car too (in Dhaka). So I am really thankful to my boss for entrusting the vehicle with me. I have never cheated my boss and he has trusted me with this truck for many years now. My family and I have been surviving because of this truck,” he added.

Babu’s family lives in Dhaka.

He has a six-year old son and a six-month old daughter. If not for the chaotic political situation there, Babu says he wouldn’t have ended up in Kuwait. He reminds his arrival in Kuwait in 1992 saying, “I had a good job, working for politicians in Dhaka.

I was also earning well there, but because of some political experience there, my brother asked me to leave the city. I had never heard of Kuwait before.

But my relatives here helped me and I have been here since.”

hen Moses Kipchumba, a 30 something Kenyan from Jahra went to a barbershop in Kuwait City, he faced a problem: The barber didn’t know how to cut the curly hair of the man shrouded in a shawl. The barber conceded defeat and told Moses that he would do anything but cut his hair.

Moses shrugged, walked out of the shop and called a friend, ‘Do you know any barber who can cut my hair?’

‘Hakuna Matata’ (no problem) came the reply. Moses then ended up at a shop in Riggae. It is ‘the best place’ in Moses’ opinion ‘for someone like me.’ “These trivial incidents highlight my homesickness,” he laughs.

Moses, who hails from Kobujoy village, located around 400 kilometers from capital Nairobi, finds life in Kuwait a rewarding experience. “What I usually do on weekends is hire a taxi, take a trip around Kuwait, each time to a different place,” he said. He describes Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Indian taxi drivers as remarkable people. This is because ‘they are wellversed in different languages and know Kenyan cricketers.’ Smiling delightfully he adds, “They sometimes ask me some Kenyan cricketers’ names I haven’t even heard of.”

“On the other hand, I’ve met some people who haven’t even heard about Kenya,” said Moses. “At parties and gatherings I’m asked, ‘Where’s Kenya? Is it near Sudan?’ I remember as an elementary student in Nairobi, I had to learn about Kuwait in my geography class. Once I was pleasantly surprised at a question someone had asked at a party: Are you from the same village as Obama’s father?”

Moses, who grew up in Kobujoy village in the Rift Valley, also owns a house in Nairobi. The city receives 12 hours of sunlight all year round because of its proximity to the equator. He is startled at the overuse of water in Kuwait, especially at car service centers.

“As you know, water is very precious in Africa. Nairobi gets its name from a rare water stream. When the Maasai people saw it they called the place Enkare Nairobi, meaning cold water in Swahili.” Moses adds, “So, I enjoy the availability of water here, just as much as I like Kuwait’s cold climate. I can go to the Jahra desert without a jacket!” he quips. *Note: ‘Hak una Matata’ (literally, no concerns ex ist), the song from the mov ie Lion King is Swahili.

Napenda Kuwait means: I lov e Kuwait.

Moses Kipchumba, 30, and from Kenya, smiles as he narrates about his life in Kuwait.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

MOI warns motorists of bad weather conditions

A delegation of outstanding female Kuwaiti students during a visit to Lebanon. — KUNA

MoH set to initiate govt development plans Human investment in the health sector confab to be held KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) is set to carry out the government’s development strategy, within its planned timeframe, said a health official on Wednesday. At the opening of a conference on the uses of laser technology increased The ministry places emphasis on uses of advanced technology in its duties, and has expanded the numbers of staff receiving training on healing methods such as laser therapy.

Al-Falah noted the importance of the successful uses of laser therapy in surgical operations, along with its efficiency and smaller risks. The conference plans to exchange expertise between doctors on the issue of laser therapy.

in healing diseases of the skin, MoH Undersecretary for Planning Affairs and Standards Control, Walid Al-Falah said that healthcare provided to locals and expatriates is set to witness a significant leap in the time to come.

In another development, the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) said yesterday that Kuwait is scheduled to host a conference themed “human investment in the health sector” on March 1-3.

The conference is primarily designed to examine mechanisms designed to promote the health level of the society through investments of human resources, enhancing productivity of staff and boosting regional cooperation at this level, the ARADO statement said.

It is also aimed at shedding light on performance criterion, necessity of scientific research, improving health services, strategies of human investment in the back-up health sector, analyzing the labor market, vocational training and upgrading technology used in this sector. It also noted that the gathering would be an opportunity for personnel involved in this domain to coordinate for the promotion of the human resources in the support health services. — KUNA

Kuwait praised for its humanitarian efforts CAIRO: The Kuwaiti humanitarian efforts and welfare, supported by its leadership, reflect the goodness of the Kuwaiti people and their deep belief in social solidarity, especially among Muslims, undersecretary in the Ministry of Awqaf And Islamic Affairs Adel Al-Falah said yesterday.

He said on the sidelines of the 21st meeting of the founding committee of the World Islamic Council for Daawa and Relief (WICDR), that Kuwait played a distinguished role in the welfare and relief efforts at the Islamic and international levels.

Upon the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait is interested in the intellectual production, adapts moderation and neglects radicalism and terrorism, he noted.

Al-Falah said that Kuwait has established several centers to promote moderation of religion teachings, in countries like Azerbaijan and Chad, and organized intensive training courses in Russia, Chechnya and the Caucasus, while official bodies and civil societies are cooperating to train ‘Imams’ in Europe and America.

The meetings of WICDR focus on the achievements of the council in the fields of ‘Daawa’- Islamic

Rujaib warns senior officers against power abuse

Awqaf Ministry undersecretary Dr Adel AlFalah guidance-, relief, education, finance and investments, besides matters concerning the Islamic World, like the state of Jerusalem, women and children, and human rights, the official said. He hailed the cooperation between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf, and Dar Al Iftaa.

The two countries exchange official visits constantly, and Kuwait hosts many Egyptian religious men and intellectuals.

The Vice President of WICDR Yousef AlHajji said that Kuwait offers its humanitarian aid and relief to countries regardless of its people’s religion, race or gender. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior, Lieut. General, Ahmed Al-Rujaib strongly criticized a number of security directors for misusing their power by carrying out unauthorized activities. According to higher officials, he asserted that raiding brothels or suspected places ought to be done by criminal security forces.

Speaking during a meeting with senior security officers, Al-Rujaib said that violating legal procedures usually tamper with cases that are filed with the Public Prosecution Office. He narrated a case of a security director who, after receiving a complaint from an MP who stated that homosexuals were holding a party, raided a ceremonial hall only to learn that a birthday party was in progress. Al-Rujaib also spoke about a case where the Hawally Security Directorate raided an apartment owned by a journalist without producing a search warrant. “Standard procedure states that complainants should lodge a report with the concerned police station after which the security force is deployed to tackle the situation,” explained Al-Rujaib. He warned the concerned officers that both the birthday party organizers and the journalist intend to file a lawsuit for violating standard procedures. “You complain about security forces’ helplessness when in reality you are the ones forming teams that violate the law day and night,” Al-Rujaib blamed security personnel.

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior’s security media department yesterday issued an official warning to all motorist of weather conditions during the weekend. The warning stated that forecast wind speed would be over 60 kph accompanied by sand storms that affect visibility to less than 500 meters in outskirts.

‘Therefore, all motorists are advised to fully observe traffic regulations and drive carefully for their own and others’ safety’, said the statement noting that for any help the public could call MOI’s emergency operator at 112.

New British Council music project starts on Feb 8 KUWAIT: The British Council has developed a new music project which will bring together musicians from the UK and the Arabian Peninsula here in Kuwait on February 816 for a creative collaboration. In a press release issued yesterday, the British Council said that the project provides a unique opportunity for talented musicians from five countries to learn from each others’ cultures and musical traditions, and explore the potential to generate something new and thought-provoking.

Working in partnership with the Arabian Heritage Project at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyya, and Movenpick Hotel and Resorts Al-Bida, participants will meet together for the first time next week and spend five days together creating work for two performances in Kuwait on February 14 and 15.

According to the press release, the project focuses on conserving local music traditions from all participating countries, while also appealing to younger generations. In recent years, the UK has witnessed a success story in the folk sector with practitioners, artists, and all parts of the industry working together to celebrate the traditional music of the British Isles, while giving space to fresh interpretations and support to emerging talent.

Assistant Director of the British Council Kuwait, Denise Waddingham said, “The UK now enjoys a revitalized and vibrant folk scene through the engagement of younger artists embracing older musical forms in new and dynamic ways, and artists such as Bellowhead, Laura Marling, Jim Moray, and Tunng have been at the forefront of this. “We are delighted that Andy Mellon, trumpet player from Bellowhead, is our Musical Director for the project and he will be bringing four other members of Bellowhead to Kuwait for the collaboration. “Andy has facilitated the artist selection process, working with Dr. Amer Jaafar from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in Kuwait, who is the project’s regional music consultant.” Meanwhile, Director of the Arabian Heritage Project at AUK, Dr. Lisa Urkevich, added, “Uniting such different types of musicians through performance provides a wonderful opportunity for the community as well as our students to witness cultural collaboration at its finest. — KUNA

Health Minister hails recommendations KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Health Minister Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer hailed recommendations made in the closing statement of the 18th GCC Health Ministers Council session held at the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The minister said upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport, that the meeting highlighted a strong desire and continued commitment to exchange viewpoints and expertise on healthcare in the region. He

expressed gratitude to the UAE Health Ministry for their warm reception and their organization efforts.

Accomplishments made at the conference, he said, include better handling of GCC citizens in one another’s countries, easing travel for medical teams, formation of GCC doctors’ union, the formation of a drug inspection unit and plans for unified purchase of medicine and medical equipment, he noted. — KUNA

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Qurtuba University awards Al-Babtain for cultural contributions KUWAIT: Qurtuba University in Spain awarded the Chairman of the Foundation of Abdul Aziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity, poet Abdulaziz AlBabtain an award in recognition

of the Foundation’s remarkable scientific achievements. A press release stated that Al-Babtain was honored in a ceremony held at the university, in which he expressed his appreciation and gratitude.

The renowned Kuwaiti figure asserted that the concept of dialogue among civilizations should be boosted between people from various cultures. He pointed out that Kuwait cherishes

tolerance and welcomes such an approach.

Al-Babtain said that the King of Spain Juan Carlos who offered him Spain’s highest medal, the Civil Service Merit Cross,

Kuwait will not become launchpad for aggression: Khorafi Court delays Jassem vs PM case until March 4

By B Izzak KUWAIT: National Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said yesterday that Kuwait will not become a launchpad for launching attacks against others, insisting that Kuwait’s policy in this regard is very clear.

“Kuwait’s policy is very clear and it is not possible to allow attacks against others from our territory. We will not allow our territories to be used to launch attacks against anyone,” Khorafi told reporters.

The speaker’s comments came following reports in the past few days that the United States was deploying missile systems in four Gulf Arab nations including Kuwait to defend them against possible Iranian rocket attacks.

The other three Gulf countries are Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Bahrain said yesterday the US missiles will be defensive in nature and not for attacks.

The US reports came after Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani warned Gulf states during a visit to Kuwait last

week against allowing its lands to be used as launchpad for US attacks against the Islamic republic.

Kuwait has a defense agreement with Kuwait that runs until 2012 and also has a number of US-made antimissile Patriot systems.

In another development, Khorafi said that there is an agreement between the government and a number of MPs to amend the defaulters fund as a replacement for the debt relief law which the government has rejected and returned to the assembly.

The government-established defaulters fund has a capital of KD 500 million and the finance ministry insists it is capable of helping citizen defaulters.

The assembly however has passed the debt relief law which calls on the government to scrap around KD 1.8 billion of interest on the loans of all citizens and arrange the repayment of the principal loans on easy installments over a period of at least 10 years.

The government has rejected the law and returned to the National Assembly on Wednesday. The assembly can

Kuwaiti Consul in Vietnam meets Can Tho official KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuwaiti Consul General in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, Najeeb Al-Bader, met with the People’s Committee Chairman of the City of Can Tho Tran Thanh Man. In press remarks, Al-Bader said this visit aims at identifying a number of important cities that play an important role in the Vietnamese economy. The two sides discussed issues of common interest, and discussed means of enhancing ties between the two countries, especially in the fields of economy, commerce, and investments.

The Vietnamese official,

meanwhile, welcomed this first visit by a Kuwaiti official to the region. The Kuwaiti diplomat visited one of the prominent rice research institutions in Can Tho, and was briefed on the work process and technology in use.

He also visited the Director of Dragon institution of Can Tho University, which is a research institute for climate change, and sought cooperation between the two centers.

Mekong Delta province in southwestern Vietnam consists of 13 regions, and is considered one of the most important areas of agricultural production and rice export. —KUNA

override the government rejection if it passes the law with a two-third majority in a fresh vote, but supporters of the law do not have the 44 necessary votes for the process.

They can however wait until the next parliamentary term starting October and pass the law with a simple majority. The government is trying to convince more MPs that the best solution to the debt problem is through the defaulters fund.

In the meantime, the court of misdemeanors yesterday postponed until March 4 the case of the prime minister against writer Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem who is charged of slander against the prime minister.

The next hearing will be for final arguments before setting a final date for issuing the verdict.

The prime minister has complained that Jassem slandered him at a public rally in October. Jassem has denied the charge, saying he only criticized the performance of the prime minister.

Jassem was detained for 10 days over the case when he refused to pay a KD 1,000 bail in November.

‘Stop manipulating the naturalization file’ KUWAIT: Parliamentary officials called for refraining from the practice of introducing more errors to an already flawed naturalization list and defend officials’ mistakes. They urged the First Deputy Premier, Defense Minister and the Chairman of the Supreme Citizenship Committee, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah to take action to halt the manipulation of political situation, reported Al-Rai. “Kuwait is bigger than any name or post,” they said.

Officials also expressed surprise at the Interior

Minister, Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah’s decision to ask Citizenship and Passports Director, Sheikh Faisal Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah to re-examine the files of 35 applicants that the Thamer committee report had expressed reservations about.

Further, officials also reminded that another committee formed by MoI under Maj. General Yousif AlSoudi to investigate the issue. Twenty days into the probe, it was suddenly suspended without due reason.

supported the training courses of the Foundation organized at the University since 2004, on Arabic language. He said that the program served more than 637 people. — KUNA

Information Ministry official urges unified GCC media strategy RIYADH: Kuwait’s Ministry of Information Undersecretary Sheikh Faisal Khalifa Al-Malik Al-Sabah on Tuesday asserted the importance of reaching a unified Gulf media strategy. His comments were made in remarks to KUNA after having presided over the first permanent coordinative meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) information and media undersecretaries at the GCC General Secretariat headquarters in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The Kuwaiti ministry had presented a working paper at the meeting which will go on for another two weeks, said Sheikh Faisal. The paper focuses on the negative effects of some satellite stations on the establishment, and asked for regulations on satellite broadcasting. The Kuwaiti contribution was handed out to attendees for study and review, to be presented at the upcoming meeting. A recommendation proposed in the last meeting in Doha, was adopted by the participating companies, and highlights a media awareness policy on satellite channel material, along with the production of unified GCC youth awareness programs. — KUNA

European ENT specialists to conduct 40 ear surgeries KUWAIT: A team of European otolaryngologists will conduct 40 ear surgeries at the hospitals of Al-Adan, Al-Farwaniya and Zain next week, a Health Ministry official said on Wednesday.

The planned surgeries include six cochlea surgeries at Zain Hospital, Chairman of the ENT Division of Al-Adan Hospital Dr. Hassan AlShemmeri said.

“The European specialists will be visiting Kuwait to attend the fifth international conference on cholesteatoma and ear surgery which will open on Sunday,” Al-Shemmeri said.

“During their stay here, the team will deliver scientific lectures to local otolaryngologists on the latest achievements in this specialty,” he pointed out.

The international conference on cholesteatoma and ear surgery aims at sharing experience among participants on the ear problems and the progress made in solving them as well as the breakthrough in the

microscopic applications in this domain. “It also aims to build the capacity of local otolaryngologists at the public and private hospitals and brief them on the latest developments,” AlShemmeri added.

Meanwhile, Director of the Ministry’s Public Relations Dept. Faisal Al-Dosseri said a delegation of Canadian cancer specialists would start a visit to Kuwait yesterday.

“Kuwaiti Minister of Health Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer will hold a press conference tomorrow on this occasion,” AlDosseri said. “The visit, which comes under an invitation from the Ministry, will follow the memorandum of understanding, signed by Al-Sayer and the Toronto Health Connection during the minister’s visit to Canada in late January,” he pointed out. The Canadian guests plan to make a tour of Kuwait’s leading hospitals and health centers and meet with officials of the ministry, Al-Dosseri added. — KUNA

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INTERNATIONAL

Discussing Iran sanctions hinders diplomacy: China Analyst says China may abstain, not block resolution PARIS: China told other world powers yesterday that discussing sanctions against Iran was counterproductive, striking a blow to a Western push to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told a conference during a visit to France that Tehran’s negotiating position was evolving and he wanted to see more direct talks with Iran.

“To talk about sanctions at the moment will complicate the situation and might stand in the way of finding a diplomatic solution,” Yang said.

France is among Western powers pushing for the UN Security Council to approve a fourth round of sanctions against Iran by the end of March to try to force Tehran to freeze uranium enrichment, which can have peaceful or military purposes. Russia, like China, has extensive economic ties with Iran and has also expressed reservations at the Security Council over sanctions. But a Russian lawmaker said yesterday understanding between it and other powers on extra sanctions had increased.

Earlier this week Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country was ready to send its enriched uranium abroad in exchange for more highly enriched fuel to produce medical isotopes. Western diplomats said the shift could be a delaying tactic but Yang said it meant talks should continue. “So, the whole thing is still evolving, we think it is very important to concentrate on the diplomatic interaction and through dialogue and consultation we should seek every chance for an appropriate and mutually acceptable

solution to this issue, that is how to enrich uranium to a certain extent.”

Western governments fear Iran wants to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says its atomic program is purely for peaceful purposes, but is restricting inspections of its sites by the Vienna-based UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In October, the IAEA drafted a plan for Iran to ship most of its enriched uranium to Russia and France for conversion into fuel for a medical research reactor to ease fears the Islamic Republic is seeking nuclear weapons from enrichment.

“I don’t think the Iranians have totally shut the door on this proposal,” Yang said.

Diplomats in Vienna said yesterday Iran, which had rejected the draft fuel swap plan, had not communicated any change in its position to the IAEA, despite Ahmadinejad’s announcement on Tuesday. The IAEA declined comment. The so-called “P5+1” group-the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Chinahave been trying to engage with Iran for years over its nuclear project, but Western diplomats and analysts say they have made virtually no progress.

“Ahmadinejad’s statement earlier this week about accepting the swap deal gives China further reason for delay, even though Iran’s position is still unclear and very certainly does not go back to the original principles of the swap deal,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the London-based International Institute for

Strategic Studies. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Wednesday time was running out for a political solution to the standoff over its nuclear ambitions and Paris would press for “strong sanctions” against Iran at the United Nations.

In Moscow, Konstantin Kosachyov, the Kremlin-allied head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of parliament, said Russia’s position and that of other nations had moved closer on the issue of extra sanctions. “As regards a tougher conversation with Iran, the application of some additional sanctions of an economic character - on this question mutual understanding between Russia and its partners in the international arena has clearly increased,”, Kosachyov told state-owned Vesti-24 television.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a similar statement after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the West was pleased with the position of Russia, which together with China has been reluctant to pursue sanctions in the past.

Clinton said Washington was trying to persuade Beijing it was time to get tough with Iran on its nuclear program, even though Iran is a major oil supplier to China. Fitzpatrick said both China and Russia would seek to delay and water down any resolution on Iran, but he saw one emerging eventually. “China will not block a sanctions resolution. It may well abstain however,” he said. — Reuters

Australia blocks Iran shipments

SUEZ CITY: An Egyptian man inspects the guests quarters, part of the completed restoration works at the Monastery of St Antony yesterday. Egypt’s antiquities chief yesterday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world’s oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence. — AP

Gaza Strip blast jolts Red Cross procession GAZA: A roadside explosion in the Gaza Strip yesterday blew out the windows of a jeep travelling in a Red Cross convoy, but no one was injured in the blast, the organization said.

Residents living nearby told Reuters they believed the explosion was a roadside bomb.

A spokesman for the Hamas group which runs the Gaza Strip suggested the blast was caused by an unexploded Israeli shell.

“The convoy was on its way to the (Israeli-controlled) Erez crossing, when an explosion took place on the side of the road,” Eyad Naser, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, told Reuters. “As a result of

the powerful explosion the windows of one jeep were smashed, but the cars continued to Erez and they have left Gaza,” he added. The Red Cross convoy leaves the Gaza Strip regularly every Thursday via the Erez route.

Attacks on foreigners have become rare in Gaza in the past two years. But newly established radical Islamist groups who share the ideology of Al-Qaeda have mounted bombing attacks on places in Gaza such as Internet cafes and Christian schools and property. Such groups seek to defy Hamas rule in Gaza and criticize its leaders for not implementing strict Islamic law. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: Australia said it used an antiweapons of mass destruction law to block three shipments to Iran but calls for new sanctions against the Islamic state opened up a new international divide yesterday. Western countries who fear Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb also condemned a test rocket launch by Iran. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his country had blocked three shipments of unidentified cargo to Iran invoking a rarely used Weapons of Mass Destruction Act. Rudd did not give details of the cargo. But The Australian newspaper reported that at least one of the orders made in recent months blocked a shipment of pumps which could have been used to cool nuclear power plants.

“If you look at the threat to regional and global peace which Iran poses in its current nuclear weapons program, there is no alternative other than robust international action including in areas such as this,” Rudd told Australian television. The United States and France led condemnations of Iran for launching its Kavoshgar 3 (Explorer) rocketwhich Iran said carried a capsule containing a rat, turtle and worms and was an experiment in sending living creatures into space. Iran has denied it is trying to build a bomb. The US White House called the launch “provocative”.

France believes “this announcement can only reinforce the concerns of the international community as Iran in parallel develops a nuclear program that has no identifiable civil aims,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he would ask the United Nations to adopt a new resolution against Iran which would include “strong sanctions”. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a Congress committee that Iran faces the prospect of “severe sanctions” applied by the UN Security Council and by individual countries over its atomic activities. The Security Council has already passed three rounds of sanctions against Iran and the six nations seeking to limit Iran’s nuclear program are to meet soon to discuss new measures. —AFP

Friday, February 5, 2010

Iraq election panel seeks ruling on candidate ban BAGHDAD: Iraq’s ballot process was thrown back into uncertainty yesterday after election officials asked the nation’s highest judicial authority for a final ruling on whether to open next month’s balloting to hundreds of candidates banned because of suspected ties to Saddam Hussein’s regime. The request by the election commission could re-ignite feuds between Shiite-led authorities and Sunnis who claim they are being politically undermined before the March 7 parliamentary elections which US officials hope could be a milestone in reconciliation among Iraq’s rival groups.

Just a day earlier, Sunni leaders were celebrating an appeals court decision to set aside the election blacklist with more than 450 names for now and allow the candidates on the ballot. The ruling called for authorities to wait until after the voting to resume probes into possible ties to Saddam’s Sunnidominated regime. Shiite officials, including Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s political bloc, denounced the court ruling as a violation of Iraq’s drive to purge all highlevel posts of any ties to Saddam’s Baath party.

The election commission chief, Faraj Al-Haidari, said yesterday the Supreme Judicial Council is being asked whether the appeals court ruling is binding. There was no deadline for a decision, but there is pressure for a quick reply. The official campaign period opens Sunday. In the meantime, tensions are

expected to grow. Both sides of the Sunni-Shiite divide traded sharp words even before the announcement of the election commission action.

Government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said postponing the vetting of candidates until after the election was “illegal” by allowing possible Baath sympathizers into the political process.

The most prominent Sunni on the blacklist, Saleh AlMutlaq, said that any rejection of the appeals court decision would be considered interference by the government. “And this is illegal,” he countered.

“Turning back the appeal decision will escalate tensions and is unacceptable,” AlMutlaq said. Sunnis have viewed the blacklist as another attempt by the Shiite-led government to quash their political voice, even though the list includes Shiite figures as well.

The White House is deeply worried that the showdown could undercut the credibility of the election among all Iraqis. Last month, Vice President Joe Biden met with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad to try to find a compromise - and reportedly suggested a plan similar to the appeals court’s decision. This brought swift accusations of US strong-arm tactics. Ali Al-Lami, head of the vetting committee that drafted the blacklist, claimed the “US Embassy played an active role in pressuring for the return of the banned candidates.” Al-Lami, a Shiite, is also a candidate for parliament. —AP

KARBALA: Shiite Muslim women beat themselves during the festival of Arbaeen, one of the holiest days in their religious calendar at the Imam Abbas shrine in the holy city yesterday. — AP

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New Iraqi media regulations raise ghost of muzzled past Under new rules reporters may have to reveal sources BAGHDAD: Battling w hat it sa ys are broa dcasts that incite sectarian violence, Iraq wants to impose new restrictions on the media that critics sa y could bring back draconian censorship last seen under Sa ddam Hussein. The new rules from the Communications a nd Media Commission are being enforced ahea d of a March 7 pa rlia mentary election, in

LEBANON: Shiite Muslim Lebanese Hiyam Ibrahim Hashem prays over the tomb of her fallen brother Mahmud Ibrahim Hashem (right), who was killed during the Israeli offensive on Lebanon in summer 2006, at a cemetery. — AFP

South Lebanon residents brace for new Israel war AITA SHAAB: More than three years after the last war between Israel and Hezbollah, south Lebanon residents are bracing for new conflict amid Israeli warnings against both Hezbollah and its backer Syria. “If you come back, we’ll be waiting for you,” the Shiite militant group warns Israel on a billboard near the southern village of Aita Shaab. It was across the border from Aita Shaab that Hezbollah fighters captured two Israeli soldiers in a deadly crossborder raid in July 2006, provoking a devastating monthlong Israeli offensive against Hezbollah strongholds in south Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburub.

The war killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. “We are afraid, of course,” said Hayat, a resident of the southern village of Qana, which came under deadly bombardment in the 2006 war.

“Every day we hear news of a possible new war,” she tells AFP from her terrace which overlooks the village cemetery.

She said she feared any renewed fighting would see even the heart of the capital Beirut bombed. “Where will we hide?” she asked. Her neighbour Diba agreed that any new conflict risked being more devastating than 2006. “If war erupts, Syria and Iran will participate too. Next time it will not be limited to Hezbollah.” Israeli officials have warned repeatedly in recent weeks that any attack by Hezbollah will meet with a tough response.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accused Lebanon of allowing Hezbollah to develop its stockpile of weapons, which Israel estimates at some 40,000 rockets, a significant rise from the group’s 14,000 rockets in 2006. Last month, Yossi Peled, an Israeli minister without portfolio and a reserve army general, warned Israel was heading towards a new war with Hezbollah. “We are heading toward a new confrontation in the north but I don’t know when it

will happen, just as we did not know when the second Lebanon war would erupt,” Peled told Israeli radio.

In Aita Shaab, new houses and villas are under construction, visible to Israeli soldiers across the border. But a third of the homes in village remain in ruins after the 2006 war. Farmer Hassan Srour’s house was reduced to rubble. “We are rebuilding, and if war breaks out again, then we will rebuild again,” the 39-year-old said. “We have got used to occupation, war and destruction. Where are we expected to go? This is our land,” he said.

Unlike in northern Israel, villagers in Aita Shaab are not building bomb shelters as they reconstruct their homes. “What for?” said Srour. “In 2006, two of our neighbors were buried alive in their bomb shelters.” Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has voiced fear of another “Israeli intervention” and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the next war would “change the face of the region.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned Israel that war against his country would turn into a wider conflict. “Israelis, do not test the power of Syria since you know the war will move into your cities,” Muallem said on Wednesday.

His Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman retorted yesterday that any war would cost Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad his grip on power.

In the village of Yarin, Khaled and his wife Dima, who run a shop near the border, carry on with their daily lives amid the mounting war of words. “This time with the first explosion we’re packing our bags,” Dima said, adjusting her black veil. Akel Hammoud, from the nearby village of Beit Leef, said Hezbollah’s fighters were prepared for any Israeli move.

“Everything is ready,” he said.

“The weapons and equipment are there. All we need is antiaircraft defence.” — AFP

“CPJ’s conclusion is that the regulations represent a clear and transparent effort to control the media, undermine its independence, and allow the government to assert control over the information agenda,” Joel Simon of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in an email. The Iraqi constitution guarantees free speech and a free press, and CMC officials say the new regulations are only intended to bring a measure of order to a chaotic industry.

But their implications worry free speech advocates and international media organizations. It remains risky for Iraqis to be associated with foreign companies and Western media fear that handing over staff lists places them at risk from militia, insurgents like AlQaeda, or kidnap gangs. Many reporters working for foreign media do not tell their neighbors what they do.

The regulations provide no clear guidelines on what is meant by inciting sectarianism or violence. They could therefore be used to muzzle media that publish death tolls from bombings that the government wishes to downplay before the March vote. Reuters and

which Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki will be seeking reelection. Among the elements in the regula tions that concern critics a re stipula tions tha t a ll media a nd journalists seek permission to opera te in Ira q from the CMC, submit lists of a ll staff and equipment, a nd pledge not to incite secta rianism or violence.

other media are already routinely threatened by officials with lawsuits or expulsion because of disparities between the number of bomb victims reported by their police and interior ministry sources, and official death tolls. Nor do the new regulations spell out the conditions under which a media organizations might be refused permission to operate in Iraq. As such they provide no protection from arbitrary and politically motivated decisions, critics say.

Strict control replaced by free-for-all Saddam Hussein imposed draconian controls through his Information Ministry on the media. Since his fall in 2003, Iraqi newspapers, TV and radio stations have flourished. The degree of free speech in Iraq now is as unparalleled in most of the Middle East as is the country’s fragile democracy.

Many outlets are, however, funded by political factions with clear agendas and pay little regard to objectivity and truth. Some Arab networks champion Iraq’s once dominant Sunnis over the Shi’ite majority now in charge, and a few broadcast insurgent propaganda, like video of bomb attacks on US troops. Those are the types of media the new regulations are

aimed at suppressing, CMC officials say.

But it is not legally the CMC’s job to regulate journalists it was set up to run public broadcast frequencies. Foreign media are already registered with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, while the law says Iraqi print media should regulate themselves. “They are unfortunately trying to set up a system to police the media, rather than a commission to organize broadcasts and transmissions,” said Ziad AlAjili, head of the Iraqi free press lobby group The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory.

In meetings with foreign journalists, CMC officials said the CMC will establish a monitoring department that will watch not just for attempts to incite violence or sectarianism but also for perceived errors in news reports.

CMC officials indicated that reporters might not be able to keep their sources secret-a tenet of journalism worldwide- as they would have to reveal those sources in order to defend themselves against claims they published a mistake. “These regulations ... are reminiscent of media regulations that predominate in authoritarian countries,” said Simon of CPJ. — Reuters

Israeli FM warns Syria of consequences of war JERUSALEM: Israel’s firebrand foreign minister yesterday further fuelled a bitter battle of words with Syria, warning that its president would be toppled in any armed conflict between the two neighbors.

Avigdor Lieberman’s direct verbal punch at President Bashar Al-Assad capped several days of threats between Israel and Syria.

“When there is another war, you will not just lose it, but you and your family will lose power,” Lieberman said, a day after Syria cautioned that Israel would face a bloody regional conflict if it failed to follow the path of peace. His tone contrasted with more conciliatory comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel was prepared to consider resuming indirect peace feelers with Syria that came to a halt in late 2008.

And analysts warned against reading too much into the blunt language from the two sides. “All this is just posturing and things will calm down in two or three days since neither Israel nor Syria want to cause a war,” said Eyal Zisser, a specialist on relations with Syria at Tel Aviv University. The latest spat emerged after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Monday that if there is no peace agreement with Syria, “we might find ourselves in a forceful conflict that could lead to an all-out war.”

Syria reacted angrily to the comments, with Assad saying all signs are that Israel is “working towards a war” and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem telling Israel: “do not test the power of Syria since you know the war will move into your cities.” Zisser believes the Syrians misinterpreted Barak’s comments, which were meant as an argument in favor of renewed negotiations.

The previous government of Ehud Olmert held a series of Turkish-brokered peace feelers in 2008.

Netanyahu yesterday suggested relaunching the contacts which collapsed after Israel launched its devastating military offensive in the Gaza Strip in December 2008. “The prime minister has declared on numerous occasions he is willing to go anywhere to negotiate with Syria, without precondition,” his office said, lamenting what it said were obstacles put in the way by Syria.

But Lieberman’s warning to Assad overshadowed Netanyahu’s statement. “It should be clear that if he provokes us, it will end badly for him on the battlefield but also for his power. —AFP

LONDON: Protestors gather outside 10 Downing Street yesterday, for a demonstration to call on the British government to condemn executions they allege have been carried out by the Iranian regime. — AFP

16-yr-old girl buried alive in honor killing in Turkey ANKARA: A 16-year-old girl was buried alive by relatives in southeast Turkey in a gruesome honor killing just because she reportedly befriended boys, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Acting on a tip-off, police discovered Medine Memi’s body in a sitting position with her hands tied, in a two-meterdeep hole in a chicken pen outside her house in Kahta town, Adiyaman province, 40 days after she went missing, the agency said.

A subsequent post mortem revealed that she had a significant amount of soil in her lungs and stomach, meaning that she was buried alive, forensic experts told the agency. “The autopsy result is bloodcurdling. According to our findings, the girlwho had no bruises on her body and no sign

of narcotics or poison in her blood-was alive and fully conscious when she was buried,” one anonymous expert said.

Medine’s father and grandfather have been formally arrested and jailed pending trial over her killing, the agency said. The father is reported to have said in his testimony that the family was unhappy she had male friends. In honor killings, most prevalent in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, a so-called family council names a member to murder a female relative considered to have sullied the family honor, usually by engaging in an extra-marital affair. But the practice has gone so far as to kill rape victims or women who simply talked to strange men. — AFP

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Tymoshenko threatens to call people onto street over poll Risk of new Orange protests raises Ukraine tension KIEV: Prim e Minister Yulia Tym oshenko vow ed yesterda y to send her follow ers to the streets if her opponent steals this w eekend’s presidential vote in Uk ra ine, ra ising the threa t of indefinite politica l

turbulence in this former Soviet nation. “We w ill ra lly the people” a grim Tymoshenko told reporters, pledging to use “all mea ns” to ensure a fa ir election, including ma ss protests.

MOSCOW: Members of the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi protest against Ukrainian presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko outside the Ukrainian embassy yesterday. — AFP

Russia ratifies protocol to reform Strasbourg court MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed off yesterday on a law to ratify a key protocol on overhauling the European Court of Human Rights, giving the reform a green light after years of resistance from Moscow. “Today I have signed this law,” Medvedev said at a meeting on judicial matters, the RIANovosti and ITAR-TASS news agencies reported. Earlier this year the Russian parliament agreed to ratify Protocol 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, aimed at streamlining the work of the Strasbourg-based court and reducing its backlog of cases.

Russia was the last member of the 47-nation Council of Europe not to have ratified the protocol.

The Duma had rejected the protocol in 2006 amid complaints from some lawmakers that the Strasbourg court was anti-Russian.

Russia is the biggest source of pending cases at the court. Some 27,000 cases out of the 112,000 cases awaiting review by the court originated from Russia, according to the Russian foreign ministry.

Many of those cases have focused on conditions in Russian prisons and abuses committed by government forces in war-torn Chechnya. Russian officials said they dropped their opposition after the Council of Europe agreed to a provision stating that a Russian judge would participate in any decisions concerning Russia. At the meeting, Medvedev said Russia should improve the work of domestic courts to reduce the vast amount of people turning to international courts. “Our task is to establish quality justice which helps our citizens in the country,” Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. — AFP

Accusing opponent Viktor Yanukovych of preparing to steal Sunday’s election, she said: “Don’t let him rape democracy.” Yanukovych derided Tymoshenko’s threats to bring crowds onto the streets as a “sign of weakness.” “Few people will go. The only people who will go are those that enjoy the dishes that Tymoshenko feeds on - dirt, lies and slander,” he said.

In an apparent snub to his former ally, President Viktor Yushchenko signed a change to the law yesterday that Tymoshenko said will enable her opponent to commit large-scale fraud.

Five years ago, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians clogged the streets of Kiev for weeks to protest a rigged election and demand economic and political reform, in what came to be called the Orange Revolution. Yanukovych had been counted as winning that vote, but the Supreme Court ordered a rerun, which was won by Yushchenko. Yushchenko’s term was marked by squabbling with Tymoshenko and long power battles with the Yanukovych-led opposition.

Yushchenko got only about 5 percent of the vote in the Jan. 17 first round of presidential voting. Analysts say the chances for prolonged mass protests among the disillusioned population are slim. “A repeat of the 2004 events are impossible,” said Vladimir Fesenko, the head of Ukraine’s Penta Center for Applied Political Research. “The only people that will take part in street protests will be hired hands and a small number of supporters.” Meanwhile, Tymoshenko’s political position appears to be rapidly deteriorating as she skirmishes with her opponent for control of key institutions that could affect the outcome of the ballot.

On Wednesday, parliament passed a Yanukovychbacked amendment to the election law repealing a requirement that representatives of both candidates supervise vote counting at polling stations, a move that Tymoshenko said laid the groundwork for fraud.

Tymoshenko pleaded in vain yesterday for Yushchenko not to sign the amendment.

Yushchenko has called on his supporters to vote for “against all,” an option on the Ukrainian ballot.

Yanukovych’s Party of Regions insists that the law won’t limit the effectiveness of local election commissions.

Yanukovych had warned that Tymoshenko could try to disrupt the ballot-counting process by withdrawing her representatives from election boards and disrupt the ballot if she faces defeat Sunday.

“Tymoshenko’s hysterical statements about the amendment to the law on presidential elections, which protects voters’ rights, being undemocratic and that they undermine the fairness of the electoral process, are nothing but a blatant lie,” the Party of Regions said in a statement. Analysts suggest that Tymoshenko crying foul over possible election fraud may signal her fading political fortunes. “With every day that passes, Tymoshenko is letting the initiative slip out of her hands,” said Vadim Karasev, director of the Institute of Global Strategies.—AP

Friday, February 5, 2010

Foreign food aid trickles into Haiti’s black market PORT-AU-PRINCE: Blocks from where US and UN soldiers distribute sacks of rice to Haitian women in earthquake-shattered Port-au-Prince, street vendors are openly selling rice by the cup from bags stamped with US flags. In the early days after the Jan 12 earthquake that killed up to 200,000 people and left more than a million homeless, food handouts were often chaotic in the capital. On a couple of occasions, UN soldiers fired tear gas into hungry crowds jostling for a limited amount of goods.

To ensure a more orderly distribution where food gets to families who need it, international donors last weekend began a system where soldiers hand out 55pound (25-kg) bags of rice to women only in exchange for ration cards. Food handouts have become calmer, but the new policy has not stopped badly needed food aid from falling into the hands of black-market sellers.

In one Port-au-Prince neighborhood where 12,000 people live in tents made of bedsheets in a valley below their collapsed hillside slum, vendors at makeshift stands sell cups of rice from food-aid bags for about 22 gourdes (55 cents) each. Marcus Prior, a spokesman for the World Food Program, said it was inevitable some of the aid would end up being sold. “It is too early to say how much ends up on the black market. We never like to see it happen. The object of this scale-up is farreaching to help stabilize the food situation in the city,” Prior told Reuters.

Sel l i ng rati o n cards But some seeking food from the new distribution system do not know how to get it. “No food has come here. We know they are using the cards but we don’t know how to find the cards,” said Losin Fritz, a community leader for about 4,500 people living in threadbare tents made from sticks and ripped, clear plastic. “We will have to make the cards ourselves and take them over there,” Fritz said, pointing down the street where a military convoy had just handed out rice to hundreds of people with coupons.

For two weeks, the World Food Program will give out only rice, deciding later whether to add other other staples like beans, cooking oil and salt. International aid groups say they are learning from mistakes made in earlier food handouts when stronger men could push aside women and the elderly to grab the goods first.

Now the coupons are given only to women, and community leaders decide who will have priority. But some are taking advantage of cracks in the system.

A protest erupted on Wednesday after people complained some groups were selling the coupons for 50 gourdes each ($1.24). “Only (the leaders’) friends get the cards and we don’t have any money to buy the rice at the market,” said Peter Princius, an old man living in a sparse camp on the outskirts of the Cite Soleil slum, largely controlled by gangs before the earthquake. “And we are hungry.” — Reuters

Nigerian minister calls for ill prez to transfer powers LAGOS: A Nigerian minister has called on ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua to transfer power, a senior official said yesterday, in the first sign of a cabinet split over his prolonged absence from the country. Dora Akunyili, who as information minister doubles as the government’s spokeswoman, called on her cabinet colleagues to revoke a decision which said that Yar’Adua was healthy enough to rule. Nigerian newspapers reported she circulated a memorandum with the request to her ministerial colleagues at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Akunyili was not available for comment early yesterday, but a senior official who declined to be named told AFP: “What is reported in the press is correct.” The president has been receiving treatment for a serious heart condition in a Saudi Arabian

hospital since flying out of Nigeria on November 23. According to the reports, the memorandum asks the government to demand a letter from the president justifying his absence on medical grounds and allowing Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to act as “interim president”.

Jonathan has been filling in for Yar’Adua but does not possess full executive powers to act as head of state. The United States, Britain, France and the European Union last week waded into the row over the president’s health, lamenting the “uncertainty” caused by the 58-year-old’s lengthy absence from the helm of a major oil exporter.

The powers’ joint statement came after his hand-picked cabinet deemed him fit enough to remain in office, in response to a High Court demand that the executive body

decide on his ability to discharge his duties.

Opposition groups have argued that the president’s illness has made him incapable of ruling the country. The cabinet was reportedly deeply split on the issue, with proYar’Adua ministers saying Akunyili had breached cabinet protocol by submitting a document without a seven-day notice period and demanded she withdraw all copies of the memorandum distributed to ministers.

Newspapers reported that Akunyili outlined several reasons why Yar’Adua should step aside: government business had stalled, key civil service appointments were halted, and the militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta had ended a ceasefire because of the lack of progress in peace talks with the government in the president’s absence. —AFP

PORT AU PRINCE: US soldiers keep Haitians without tickets for food from entering a food distribution point yesterday. — AFP

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Obama nears end of Uighur Gitmo horror Switzerland offers to grant asylum WASHI NGTON: Sw itzerla nd’s decision to ta ke tw o Chinese Uighur inmates from Gua ntanamo Ba y opens the way for the United States to close the case on the men w hose long lega l limbo ha s confounded tw o administrations. President Ba rack Obama ’s a dministration is seen as ra cing to find homes for the five remaining men

HAVANA: A Cuban worker takes a break during his work hours on February 3, 2010. Cuban President Raul Castro has started a campaign against the “lazy” Cuban citizens that don’t work and those that prefer to earn their living off the black market instead, and relocate thousands of these to work in agriculture, construction or other urgent areas, in an effort to take out the country of the current economic crisis. — AFP

Intelligence official: US believes Mehsud is dead WASHINGTON: US counterterrorism officials believe Pakistani Taleban leader Hakimullah Mehsud is dead following a missile attack last month, a senior intelligence official said Wednesday in the strongest signal that Washington has offered about the militant’s fate. Neither Pakistan nor the US has officially confirmed the death of Mehsud, who commands an Al-Qaida-allied movement that is blamed for scores of suicide bombings and is suspected in a deadly attack on a CIA base in Afghanistan late last year.

Mehsud’s death would be the latest successful strike against suspected terrorists by the US and its allies. The US has recently stepped up attacks from unmanned aircraft in Pakistan, and a closer collaboration with Yemen has led to recent airstrikes there. President Barack Obama highlighted the increasing success of such attacks in his State of the Union address last week.

The US intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters, said the conclusion that Mehsud is dead represents the best collective information of US intelligence agencies. Since the attack, authorities have said they were growing increasingly confident Mehsud was dead. The official would not say what evidence the US had gathered. The statement came after days of posturing

by Pakistani Taleban officials, who first said they would prove their leader was alive and well, then reversed course and said they saw no need to prove it.

The attack by a US drone came after Mehsud appeared in a video alongside the Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at a remote base in Afghanistan. The bomber, Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal AlBalawi, said he carried out the attack in retribution for the death of former Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud in a US drone strike last August.

Baitullah Mehsud’s death gave leadership of the Pakistani Taleban to his deputy, Hakimullah Mehsud, a 28-year-old with a reputation as a particularly ruthless militant. He has taken responsibility for a wave of brazen strikes inside Pakistan, including the bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in the northwestern city of Peshawar last June and the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore earlier that year. There is a $590,000 bounty on his head.

US drones are piloted remotely and can be controlled from local bases or from the United States.

Though the program is officially a secret, the attacks are well publicized. They are Washington’s only known military response to AlQaeda and Taleban militants along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. — AP

“The government and people of Switzerland have made an extraordinary humanitarian gesture, which is even more remarkable in the face of unrelenting pressure from China,” said Rebiya Kadeer, the leader of Uighurs in exile. Twenty-two Uighurs, member of a mostly Muslim minority in northwestern China, had set up a camp in Afghanistan and were shipped to Guantanamo Bay after US-led forces overthrew the Taliban regime in 2001. US authorities cleared them of wrongdoing as early as 2004, coming to believe they were turned in by villagers seeking bounty money.

George W Bush’s administration refused China’s requests for them, fearing they would be tortured. It has kept them on Guantanamo Bay but with greater freedom than other prisoners, including a recreational space and library. Obama, who took office pledging to close down the camp, thought the Uighurs would be the easiest cases. But US lawmakers prevented efforts to free them in the United

in Guantanamo Ba y by Ma rch 23, w hen the Supreme Court will hear their ca se and could potentially order them freed on US soil. Sw itzerla nd sa id Wednesday it w ould grant asylum to tw o Uighurs from the controversia l prison ca mp in Cuba, becoming the first Western nation to do so and risking reprisal from China .

States and China has pressured other nations not to accept them. Uighur inmates earlier found homes in the disparate nations of Albania, Bermuda and Palau.

Palau, an archipelago in the Pacific, has accepted six of the inmates and offered to accept all who remain. But the prisoners have hesitated, preferring a location with a Uighur community. Nury Turkel, a Uighur-American lawyer and activist based in Washington, expected the Obama administration to try to free the remaining Uighurs before their case goes to the Supreme Court on March 23. “It is a long overdue step. This should have been done long ago,” he said of their release.

“I salute Switzerland for standing up and protecting the humanitarian principles that their country and culture cherish,” he said. A judge earlier ordered that the men be freed in the United States. But a higher court overturned the ruling, setting the stage for the upcoming Supreme Court case. The ninejudge highest court has the power to throw

Obama’s slow-moving Guantanamo closure plans into chaos. “This case is about judicial power in an area that the president and Congress regard as their domain, so the stakes are very high,” said Matthew Waxman, an associate professor at Columbia Law School.

“I think all three branches of governmentthe executive, the Congress and the courtshope a solution is found to resettle the Uighurs and avoid a constitutional showdown in this case,” he said. The case marks the first time that the Supreme Court has taken up policies of the “war on terror” launched by Bush. Obama pledged to shut down the Guantanamo prison camp within a year of taking office but missed the self-imposed deadline, with officials acknowledging that the task was more difficult than expected. The Obama administration now plans to continue to detain some men indefinitely without trial but move them from Guantanamo Bay to a top-security prison in the small town of Thomson, Illinois. — AFP

Costa Ricans get set to go to polls

NICE: A worker puts the final touches to a giant figure depicting US President Barack Obama, as preparations continue for the 126th Nice carnival parade yesterday. The 126th Nice Carnival runs from February 12 until February 28 and will celebrate the theme “King of the Blue Planet”. — AP

US to share anti-bomb technology with NATO ISTANBUL: The US is considering a plan that would give NATO allies access to some of the equipment and expertise used by American troops to deter roadside bombs.

Much of the US technology and know-how regarding “improvised explosive devices” - remotely detonated bombs that have plagued military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan - has been highly classified. But US officials attending

NATO meetings here this week said there is a bigger push now to share technology with allies, in part because NATO members are sending more of their troops to Afghanistan in coming months.

While the US has not said what equipment could be shared, it has relied heavily on armored Humvees and Mine Resistant Ambush Protective vehicles to protect its troops during patrols. — AP

SAN JOSE: Costa Ricans will go to the polls Sunday to elect one of nine candidates to succeed President Oscar Arias, capping a months-long campaign focused on security and the economy.

More than 2.8 million voters are expected to turn out and decide who their next leader will be, with Arias pick Laura Chinchilla, right-wing populist Otto Guevara and socialist Otton Solis leading the polls. Municipal council members also face a vote, along with 57 members of the Legislative Assembly. If no presidential candidate earns more than 40 percent of the vote, a second round will take place on April 4.

The race comes as Nobel laureate Arias ends his second non-consecutive term, during which he vowed to make the Central American nation one of the most prosperous in Latin America. Chinchilla, 50, is backed by the president’s National Liberation Party (PLN), a social democratic party that has been careening toward the center. In the midst of his third attempt to win the presidency, 49-year-old Guevara has made a surprise comeback, climbing to second place in the polls thanks to an aggressive campaign in which he charged the Arias government was tainted by “corruption.”

The lawyer has moderated the ultra-liberal message that characterized the Libertarian Movement Party (PML), which won six congressional seats in 2002 and in 2006. He also launched a debate over the dollarization of the Costa Rican economy. Solis, 55, is also in his third attempt to win the coveted prize of a presidential post. After initially trailing in the polls, the economist has soared in recent days, riding in part on barbs launched at Chinchilla, who Solis labeled an Arias “puppet.”

During the 2006 race, Arias barely squeaked by Solis, with a mere 18,000-vote lead. The polls give fourth place to Luis Fishman of the center-right Social Christian Unity Party, who calls himself the “least bad” candidate, a claim that has provided fodder to comics. But voters who cling less to party loyalty may face a challenge in choosing who should be their next president, as the candidates differ more in style than substance. —AFP

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Japan opposition vows to press ruling party kingpin Prosecutors charge Ozawa over fund scandal TOKYO: Japan’s main opposition party vowed yesterday to budget. Ruling Democratic Party Secretary-General Ichiro keep up pressure on the government over a funding Ozawa, whose campaign skills are seen as vital to his scandal ensnaring the ruling party’s top strategist, party’s victory in a key mid-year election, will stay in his suggesting it might stall parliamentary debate on the No 2 post for now, after avoiding indictment over the affair. his party post, his image as But the saga is likely to an old-style fixer could drag on, further denting further erode government government support ahead support rates, already of an upper house poll the languishing at or below 50 Democrats need to win to percent due to the scandal, avoid policy paralysis as and broaden doubts about Japan strives to keep a weak Hatoyama’s leadership. recovery on track without Parliament is now debating a inflating its huge public record $1 trillion budget for debt. Two former aides, the year from April 1, which including a member of the government wants to parliament, and one current pass on time to keep a aide were charged yesterday recovery from Japan’s worst for misreporting political recession since World War funds, but prosecutors Two on track. decided they lacked “We do not intend to stall sufficient evidence to lay (budget) deliberation from charges against Ozawa. the start,” Oshima said. “But “Whether Secretaryif we do not get an answer on General Ozawa will be issues we are pursuing and if charged is certainly a big the public feels that way too, political issue. But the then we, as an opposition fundamental issues in this party, have the duty to take affair are ... his political various measures until they morals and his responsibility give an answer.” The to supervise and to explain Democrats have a big aides’ actions),” (his majority in parliament’s Tadamori Oshima, LDP’s lower house and could force secretary-general, told the budget through despite Reuters in an interview. “He is responsible for clarifying TOKYO: Japan’s ruling democratic Party of an opposition boycott, but doubts ... We must seek to Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa they might be reluctant to do question him in parliament.” speaks to reporters at the party headquarters this for fear of public criticism for dodging debate Ozawa apologized to the yesterday. —AFP on the scandal. But the public for his aides’ Democrats to power last opposition would also be indictment, but Prime No 2 position.

Ozawa, long a pivotal year, ending more than 50 playing a risky game given Minister Yukio Hatoyama said he has no plan now to figure in Japanese politics, years of almost unbroken voters’ concerns about the propel the LDP rule. But if he stays in economy. —Reuters remove him from the party’s helped

North Korea fires Kim’s finances director SEOUL: The director of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s secret moneymaking “Room 39” bureau has been fired, a news report said yesterday.

Analysts said the move may be a way to get around international sanctions. Kim Dong Un, head of the infamous “Room 39” department said to control Kim’s family enterprises, was replaced by his deputy, Jon Il Chun, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unidentified source familiar with North Korean affairs.

The National Intelligence Service, Seoul’s top spy agency, said it could not confirm the report. North Korean state media did not mention the personnel change. Room 39 is described as the lynchpin of the North’s so-called “court economy” centered on the dynastic Kim family. The department is believed to finance his family and top party officials with business ventures - some legitimate and some not - that include counterfeiting and drug-smuggling.

The bureau oversees some 120 trading companies and mines, accounting for some 25 percent of North Korea’s total trade and employing up to 50,000 North Koreans, said Lim Soo-ho, a research fellow at the Samsung Economic Research Institute think tank. He said the reported move to fire the Room 39 chief may be part of attempts to get around stringent international sanctions imposed on North Korea. —AP

Afghanistan bans 6,000 election workers KABUL: Afghanistan’s election commission has banned 6,000 of the 165,000 workers who took part in last year’s presidential election from working on this year’s parliamentary vote, a spokesman said yesterday. Western countries and Afghan opposition groups want to see wholesale changes in the election commission after a UN-backed watchdog found massive fraud in last year’s presidential vote.

Last month, election authorities announced the postponement of the parliamentary poll to Sept 18 from May 22, easing a source of friction between President Hamid Karzai and his Western backers who wanted time for electoral reforms. The 6,000 banned staff will be prohibited from working on any future elections for failing to abide by the body’s “mechanisms and procedures”, said commission spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor.

“After the presidential election, for the improvement of the polling process, we have started a series of measures and one step was this one. We are trying to take more measures in this regard,” he said.

The commission will report for prosecution any of the banned staff proved to have been involved in fraud, Noor said. Opponents

blame the Karzai-appointed commission for failing to halt last year’s fraud, when the UN-backed watchdog threw out nearly a third of Karzai’s votes, lowering his total below the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off.

Karzai was declared the winner anyway when his main challenger pulled out of a planned second round. Donor nations provided security and more than $230 million dollars for the poll last year. The United Nations is holding tens of millions of dollars earmarked for this year’s vote, with diplomats saying they will not release the money without reforms. The presidential poll damaged Karzai’s standing among the Western countries with 114,000 troops in Afghanistan, even as US President Barack Obama re-evaluated his strategy and ultimately decided to commit 30,000 more American troops.

Karzai has consistently maintained that the extent of fraud was exaggerated by Western media. The parliamentary election could prove crucial this year, because the central government needs to demonstrate that its institutions are backed by the public. Parliamentarians, once seen as docile, caused Karzai headaches last month by twice vetoing most of his candidates for cabinet posts. —Reuters

SHIMLA: A Tibet Freedom Movement activist makes a portrait of US President Barack Obama with his blood as he thanks him for agreeing to meet the Dalai Lama yesterday. China on Wednesday again urged Obama not to hold a planned meeting with Dalai Lama, saying it would further hurt already strained bilateral relations.

According to Chhime R Chhoekyapa, the Dalai Lama’s secretary, the Dalai Lama will be in Washington on Feb 17-18. —AP

China imposes media ban over latest milk scandal HONG KONG: Chinese have banned officials independent reporting on the latest toxic food scandal involving melamine, a chemical blamed for the deaths of six babies in 2008, a press watchdog said yesterday. The International Federation of Journalists, citing local sources, said censors in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong had ordered that media outlets “must only use information formally released by the authorities”.

There was no immediate comment from authorities in Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong.

“The (IFJ) is appalled at the latest media order issued

by Guangdong Province Propaganda Department banning independent reporting on a new toxic melamine milk scandal,” the Brussels-based group said in a statement. IFJ general secretary Aidan White said the order “raises further concerns about prioritizing censorship over the wellbeing of citizens”. The watchdog warned in a report this week that China is intensifying its clampdown on local and foreign journalists.

White called on the government in central Beijing to “intervene immediately to ensure that all vital information regarding the health of citizens reaches the public”.

The melamine contamination in 2008 was blamed for killing at least six babies and sickening more than 300,000 people. The chemical was found to have been added to milk in China to give the appearance of a higher protein content.

Now, Chinese reports say that tainted products supposed to have been destroyed after the 2008 scandal have found their way back on to the market.

Police have arrested four people involved in the dairy industry in the northern city of Weinan, state media reported Wednesday. And in a sign of growing official concern, the government has rushed inspectors to 16 provinces to check for foodsafety problems, Xinhua news agency said Tuesday. A total of 21 people have reportedly been convicted over the 2008 scare. Two have been executed and others were given jail sentences ranging from two years to life. —AFP

No intent to ‘bribe’ Taleban: NATO chief ISTANBUL: NATO does not intend to bribe Taleban guerrillas to defect to the Afghan government side as a way to end the war, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday, dismissing concerns over the latest plan to end the country’s growing insurgency. Fogh Rasmussen’s comments came amid a renewed push to make peace with moderate Taleban insurgents and draw them into the political process.

The North Atlantic alliance has strongly backed an Afghan plan to bring the insurgents over to the government’s side.

On Wednesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Saudi Arabia, hoping the kingdom would help persuade Taleban militants to take part in a negotiated settlement to the war. Saudi Arabia has a unique relationship with the Taleban since it was one of the few countries to recognize its regime in Afghanistan before it was ousted in 2001. —AP

INTERNATIONAL

Friday, February 5, 2010

Page 15

India offers official talks with Pakistan US thinks better relations crucial in fight against Taleban

KANDY: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (right) hoists the national flag, as navy chief Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe looks on during the country’s 62nd Independence Day celebrations yesterday. — AP

Lanka chief says Tamils should work with govt KANDY: Sri Lanka’s president called yesterday for minority ethnic Tamils to work with the government to settle their differences but said there would be no selfrule for them, as the country celebrated its first Independence Day since the end of a 25-year civil war.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was reelected last month by a wide margin, largely because of support from the country’s Sinhalese majority, said Tamil leaders should not “misguide” people or harbor political ambitions based on ethnicity or region.

“Let’s solve our problems ourselves through discussions,” he said in the Tamil language. Sri Lanka received independence in 1948 - emerging from more than four centuries of colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and then British - and ethnic Tamils have since complained of systematic marginalization in governance, jobs and education.

Those grievances led to the birth of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, known as the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group that fought for decades for an independent state for Tamils in the north and east.

The war, which ended in May with the defeat of the rebels, left some 80,000 to 100,000 people dead and many Tamil

areas in ruins. There have since been calls for the government to reconcile with Tamils by offering them a degree of self-rule in provinces where they constitute a majority, but Rajapaksa rejected that yesterday. “Hereafter, we will not entertain narrow divisions based on race, religion, language and political ideology in terms of regions,” he said. “There is no one called a minority in this country, all those who love the country are children of mother Lanka.” He said he intends to give some power to all villages in the country to enable people to look after their own affairs. “Certainly everyone will get equal facilities. This is what you call equality, this is what you call equal rights,” he said.

The main celebration for Sri Lanka’s 62nd independence anniversary was held in central Kandy town, near the sacred Temple of the Tooth. The town was also the seat of the country’s last kingdom before it fell to the British in 1815. In contrast to previous years’ celebrations, yesterday’s military parades were lowkey - without the display of heavy guns and artillery - and the general public was allowed to attend. In the past, attendance required a special invitation by the government. — AP

NEW DELHI: India has offered to hold official-level talks with Pakistan, two Indian television stations said yesterday, resuming a bilateral dialogue suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. New Delhi blames the attacks, which killed 166 people, on Pakistan-based militants and wants Islamabad to act against them. The TV stations, quoting unnamed official sources, said the talks would be held at foreign-secretary level. They did not say when the meetings might to be held.

Pakistan welcomed the offer.

“There are now signals emanating from India that they are willing to talk bilaterally,” Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Reuters. “We welcome this ... if it leads to resumption of the composite dialogue.”

Washington sees better IndiaPakistan relations as crucial so that Islamabad, not having to worry about its eastern border, can focus on fighting the Taleban on its western border with Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been pushing for the resumption of fiveyear-long peace talks on a range of issues, including the disputed Kashmir region, broken off by India after the attacks. The NDTV station quoted government sources saying that India would go into the talks with “an open mind” and discuss “all issues on the table without judging the outcome of the discussions”.

The offer to resume talks comes ahead of a visit to Pakistan by India’s minister of internal security for a regional meeting this month.

Palaniappan Chidambaram’s Feb 26-27 trip is the first high-level visit since the attacks.

Indian foreign ministry officials said Chidambaram would meet his Pakistani counterpart, Rehman Malik, and other officials for talks that may have a narrow focus on what action Islamabad has taken in regard to the Mumbai attacks.

“Any dialogue now will focus on what progress Pakistan has made in dismantling the terrorist network on its soil that was used to attack Mumbai,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

“It could be a beginning that could help move things forward.” US pressure apart, India’s greater willingness for dialogue with Pakistan now could be aimed at boosting the credibility of the civilian government in Islamabad in the face of military hawks in the army and its military intelligence, Indian analysts say. —Reuters

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri protestors clash with police. — AFP

Kashmir tightens security over boy’s death SRINAGAR: Indian authorities deployed thousands of police and detained top separatists in Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar yesterday to halt protests over the death of a Muslim boy. The 14-year-old child was struck by a teargas shell fired by police on Sunday during a separatist demonstration.

His death has sparked days of angry protests against New Delhi’s rule over the Muslimmajority region. About 100 protesters and policemen have been injured in clashes.

Security forces yesterday enforced restrictions in most parts of Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital, to prevent further rallies. “This has been done to maintain law and order,” police officer Pervez Ahmed said. Residents said they were ordered to stay in their homes, though there was no formal curfew. Senior separatist leaders were either detained in police stations or confined to their homes. “I have been placed under house arrest,” leading

separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told AFP by telephone.

Farooq said if New Delhi continued to “kill people in Kashmir, then violent rebellion will return to the state”. Shops, businesses and most government offices in Srinagar were closed and public transport stayed off the roads for a fourth day yesterday. Despite the tight security, some Muslim protesters clashed with police in Srinagar, officials and witnesses said, before tear gas was used to disperse them. Kashmiri separatists have been holding regular rallies, which often turn violent, since 2008. More than 60 protesters have died in the protests since then, most of them during firing by the police. Also yesterday, Indian troops shot dead three Muslim rebels during a gunbattle in the mountainous district of Kishtwar, about 170 kilometres (100 miles) south of Srinagar, a police spokesman said. He said a soldier was also killed in the fighting. — AFP

Bomber rammed US soldiers’ car ISLAMABAD: The suicide bomber who killed three US soldiers in northwestern Pakistan rammed his car into their vehicle, raising questions about whether the attacker had inside information on the location of the troops, police said yesterday.

The attack, which occurred Wednesday in the former Pakistani Taleban stronghold of Lower Dir, came as US intelligence officials said they believe the militant group’s chief recently died from injuries sustained in a US drone strike in mid-January.

Police official Naeem Khan said Pakistani authorities are investigating whether the bomber knew the soldiers, who were training Pakistani forces to fight the Taleban and Al-Qaeda, would be passing through Shahi Koto town where the attack occurred and which vehicle to target out of the 5-car convoy. “We launched a massive search in the area yesterday, and now about 35 suspects are in our custody and we are questioning them in an effort to trace those

who orchestrated the suicide attack,” Khan told The Associated Press. “God willing, we will capture those responsible for this carnage.” The blast also killed three girls at a nearby school and a Pakistani paramilitary soldier traveling with the Americans. Two more US soldiers were wounded, along with about 100 other people, mostly students at the school. Several were left trapped, bloodied and screaming in the rubble.

US officials said Wednesday it did not appear the soldiers were specifically targeted in the attack, and initial reports indicated the blast was caused by a roadside bomb. The latest information raises the specter of a militant informant close to the training mission. The soldiers’ deaths were the first known US military fatalities in nearly three years in Pakistan’s Afghan border region, drawing attention to a training program officials rarely discuss because of opposition here to American boots on Pakistani soil. —AP

BUSINESS

Friday, February 5, 2010

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Zain accepts CEO’s resignation

KFH lifts Kuwait DUBAI: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) rose yesterday after ruling out a capital increase, lifting Kuwait’s index, and most Middle East markets advanced, despite some selling following a drop in global

markets. Doha rose for a fifth day in six helped by further oil-driven gains in Industries Qatar and Dubai made its fourth straight gain, but Abu Dhabi and Egypt fell.

TOKYO: In this Jan. 28, 2010 photo, shoppers check Sony products at a store in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese manufacturing icon, known for products like the PlayStation 3 game console, yesterday said its net profit for the October-December quarter jumped to 79.2 billion yen ($861 million) from 10.4 billion yen a year earlier. —AP

Sony quarterly profit surges to $861 million TOKYO: Sony expects a smaller annual loss after blockbuster movie releases, cost cuts and robust holiday gadget sales boosted quarterly earnings more than sevenfold.

The Japanese manufacturing icon, known for products like the PlayStation 3 game console, yesterday said its net profit for the OctoberDecember quarter jumped to 79.2 billion yen ($861 million) from 10.4 billion yen a year earlier.

Robust revenue from movies, personal computers and financial services lifted revenue by 4 percent to 2.24 trillion yen.

Sony said it benefited from strong worldwide theater releases such as “2012” and “Michael Jackson’s This is It,” as well as home DVD sales of titles like “Angels & Demons.” Since taking over in 2005, Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer has been trying to unite the company’s sprawling business, improve efficiency and rein in costs. The Tokyo-based company’s latest results suggest the Welsh-born CEO’s initiatives are paying off, pushing Sony toward a recovery next year with a helping hand from the global economic recovery.

“I don’t expect a very rapid recovery of the economy,” said Nobuyuki Oneda, Sony’s chief financial officer. “But it looks to have bottomed out, and I think we should be able to manage.” The maker of Bravia TVs and Cyber-shot cameras credited ongoing restructuring and better currency exchange rates for turning its consumer products and devices division profitable again.

The company has cut 20,000 jobs and aims to shave 330 billion yen in costs this year. It will have closed 12 factories by May. As a result, Sony swung to an operating profit, which some analysts see as the best indication of a company’s pure business performance, of 146.1 billion yen. The Tokyo-based company booked an

operating loss of 18 billion yen a year earlier.

The company’s PC business also did well, in large part due to higher sales of Vaio computers.

Gaming consoles declined mainly due to lower sales of the PlayStation 2 and PSP portable device.

But PlayStation 3 sales jumped more than 40 percent to 6.5 million units during the quarter, Sony said.

Sales of the PlayStation 3 surged to U.S. record in December after a 25 percent price cut ahead of the key holiday shopping season. Until the cut, the console lagged behind its rivals in large part because it came with a bigger price tag.

Sony trimmed its forecast of losses for the fiscal year ending March 2010.

It now expects a net loss of 70 billion yen, a 22 percent improvement from its previous loss forecast of 95 billion yen. It predicts an operating loss of 30 billion yen instead of a 60 billion yen loss it forecast in October. Stringer has said Sony aims to be profitable in gaming and flat-panel TVs in the year ending March 2011, and is pushing 3-D technology as a key strategy. Sony has new 3-D TVs in the works and is targeting sales of more than 1 trillion yen in 3-D products by the fiscal year through March 2013.

But the same rivals that Sony has struggled against in recent years, such as South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., are certain to make a similar push in 3-D and other technologies. This would only increase pressure on Stringer to deliver on his promise of “synergy” to fully exploit Sony’s strength in entertainment to boost profit for its core electronics business.

Sony is also hoping to jump into the tablet computer market, which Oneda described as a growth area now that Apple has introduced the iPad. —AP

KFH rose 3.8 percent to a two-week closing high after saying it was not considering a capital hike “for the time being”.

“The news KFH won’t be making a capital increase is positive because shareholders didn’t want to spend money on that,” said a Kuwait-based analyst who asked not to be identified.

“It’s surprising, because investors were expecting the bank to do so after it reported rising provisions - I hope the company isn’t being arrogant and ignoring the long-term benefits.”

Meanwhile, the board of Kuwait’s Zain, has accepted Saad al-Barrak’s resignation from his post as chief executive, a company official said.

“The resignation has been accepted,” a company official told Reuters yesterday.

A company statement was due to be issued later yesterday.

Around Gulf, Industries Qatar (IQ) climbed 2.7 percent to a twoweek high, lifting Doha’s index as bargain hunters took advantage of the petrochemical producer’s recent plunge.

“Industries Qatar is very similar to SABIC, but SABIC hugely outperformed IQ in January and there’s no reason for that to continue in the long term,” said a Qatar-based analyst who asked not to be identified. “So it looks like some investors have decided to push IQ to play catch up.”

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) rose 5.5 percent in January after reporting a 15-fold increase in quarterly profit, while IQ fell 9.1 percent over the same period. The latter is now up 6.5 percent this month, while oil has gained 4.7 percent in February.

[O/R] Crude was down yesterday, however, dropping 0.9 percent to $76.28 a barrel at 1202 GMT as rising crude inventories in the United States showed rebounding U.S. economic activity was not translating into higher demand.

Global markets also fell after a two-day rally on new concerns over the world economy.

Qatar Electricity and Water Co fell 2 percent despite reporting a 22 percent rise in fullyear profit.

“The company’s shares were highly sought after by international institutions as a good defensive stock in very testing times, but it’s now looking expensive,” said the Qatar analyst. “The results are okay, but not astounding and the company has to make more money to justify the stock price.”

Abu Dhabi’s index made its largest decline for more than a week as investors booked profits from recent bank gains. Aabar Investments rose 0.8 percent after Arabtec’s chief executive was quoted in a Dubai newspaper as saying the builder’s sale of a 70 percent stake to Aabar was still on course and that there was no truth to speculation the deal was off. Arabtec was flat. —Agencies

ATHENS: Lines of new cars are seen at a customs depot at the main port of Piraeus, near Athens, during a strike in the port of Piraeus, near Athens yesterday. Greek customs and tax officials have begun a 48-hour strike over government plans to reduce some of their bonuses. The cuts are part of an austerity program designed to lift Greece out of its worst debt crisis in decades. —AP

Dubai eyes $1.2 bn limitless loan rollover DUBAI: Dubai World will seek to roll over a $1.2 billion Islamic loan at its Limitless property unit due in March but it is unclear whether banks will agree in the absence of a standstill agreement, banking sources said yesterday.

The state-owned firm, which rattled global markets when it requested a delay on $26 billion of debt linked to its main property units Nakheel and Limitless World last November, has been negotiating with an unofficial bank coordinating committee. But it has yet to present a formal proposal on plans to repay some $22 billion in debt.

Limitless’s two-year Islamic facility does not have the option of an extension which would mean the company would need to reach a new agreement with lending banks, according to loan documentation.

“It won’t be a straightforward process,” said a Gulf-based lender. “You can’t say what the banks will do. Dubai World might approach and ask each and everyone to agree to a new agreement.”

“If there was a standstill agreement, this would not be an issue.” syndicated Limitless’s loan from 2008 was led by Emirates Bank-now part of Emirates NBD — Emirates Islamic Bank, Arab National Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

The Shariah-compliant facility included 18 banks from Asia and Europe as well as the Middle East.

The presence of a large number of local lenders may work in Dubai World’s favour, with those lenders more amenable to a delay. Dubai World declined to comment on the Limitless loan.

The group, which repaid a $4.1 billion Islamic loan linked to developer Nakheel in December after a lastminute bailout from Abu Dhabi, has yet to arrive at a formal standstill agreement with creditors but a de facto one has been in place since a December creditors meeting.

A lack of information about the company’s plans for the Limitless loan has prompted some lenders to organize a conference call to discuss their options. —Reuters

Qatar economy to fare better in 2010 DUBAI: Qatar’s economy will perform better this year than in 2009 and the Gulf country’s financial position is good, the state’s central bank chief was quoted as saying yesterday.

The world’s largest natural gas exporter is expected to outperform the oil region’s key players-Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates-this year due to massive expansion of its gas facilities.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani told an opening ceremony that he expected the 2010 financial year to be better than the one that just ended, according to the state news agency QNA. He also said that the country’s financial situation in terms of the size of assets and reserves was “good”, QNA reported, but did not give details.

Sheikh Abdullah said last week that Qatar’s economy could surge by around 16 percent in real terms in the fiscal 2010/11, up from 9 percent in the previous fiscal year, echoing previous government estimates. —Reuters

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Bernanke calls for Fed to stay independent WASHINGTON: Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke began a second term Wednesday calling for the central bank to retain its independence and urging reforms to ensure a major financial crisis “never again” occurs.

Bernanke took the oath of office for a new four-year term as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System after a bruising confirmation battle that ended with a 70-30 Senate vote last week approving his nomination.

The swearing-in was administered by Fed vice chairman Donald Kohn and attended by Anna Bernanke, the chairman’s wife, in the atrium of the central bank’s main building in Washington.

In his remarks, Bernanke said the central bank must work with Congress and others to reform the

financial system to avert a recurrence of the worst economic crisis in decades.

“We will continue to work with the Congress to develop an effective, comprehensive reform of financial regulation,” he said. “As we move forward, we must continue to do all that can be done to ensure that our economy is never again devastated by a financial collapse.”

Bernanke also cautioned against reforms that would weaken the central bank’s independence.

“The Federal Reserve has been granted, both in law and in political tradition, considerable independence and autonomy,” he stated.

“In the interest of maintaining public confidence and promoting economic and financial stability, we

must continue to protect our independence.”

Bernanke said he begins his second term “with considerable gratitude and not a little humility” and thanked President Barack Obama for renominating him.

“The past four years have been an extraordinary time,” said Bernanke, 56, a former Princeton University professor and scholar of the Great Depression who started the job as chairman on February 1, 2006. “In many respects, this period has shown this institution at its finest, as we moved rapidly, forcefully, and creatively to confront the deepest financial crisis since the Great Depression and help prevent a looming economic collapse.”

Bernanke said the resumption of growth after the deepest recession

in decades was “encouraging” but that “far too many people remain unemployed, foreclosures continue at record rates, and bank credit continues to contract.”

He argued that “we must continue to do all that we can to ensure that our policies are helping to guide the country’s return to prosperity in an environment of price stability.”

The crisis “revealed weaknesses and gaps in the regulation and supervision of financial institutions and financial markets” that the Fed would work to address with other partners in government, Bernanke said. Addressing criticism about the Fed’s secrecy, Bernanke said the Fed “is already one of the most transparent and accountable central banks in the world,” but that “we should be prepared to do even

more, to become even more transparent.”

Bernanke, who was named 2009 “Person of the Year” by Time magazine, won confirmation despite fierce attacks on his role before the crisis that resulted in a nearmeltdown of the global financial system.

Opposition to Bernanke-who drew a historic number of “no” votes-had led Obama and top aides to work the phones to court wavering senators gripped by election-year populist pressures fueled by the battered US economy.

His supporters said Bernanke had pulled the world’s richest economy back from the brink of a collapse like the Great Depression of the 1930s-though many also noted he had not done enough to prevent the crisis. — AFP

Toyota president reassures US on safety

US orders investigation of 2010 Prius brakes

FRANKFURT: Deutsche Bank CEO Josef Ackermann addresses results during a press conference for 2009 in Berlin yesterday, 2010. — AFP

Deutsche Bank makes Q4 profit as trading picks up FRANKFURT: Germany’s Deutsche Bank AG said yesterday that tax breaks in the US and stronger trading revenue helped lift its net earnings to 1.3 billion ($1.8 billion) in last year’s fourth quarter.

The quarterly profit, the bank’s fourth in a row, compared with a loss of 4.8 billion in the final three months of 2008.

Deutsche Bank, based in Frankfurt and Germany’s biggest by assets, was buoyed by a 554 million gain from tax benefits that arose from a decision to recognize deferred tax assets in the US of some 790 million.

Revenue rose to euro 5.5 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with a negative euro 853 million last year. For the full year, the bank earned euro 5 billion, reversing a loss of euro 3.9 billion in 2008, when earnings were hit hard by the global economic crisis.

Revenue nearly doubled to

euro 27.9 billion from euro 13.6 billion Despite the gain, the bank said that its loan losses edged higher to euro 560 million, pushing its bad loan provisions for 2009 to a total euro 2.6 billion.

The quarterly and annual results were bolstered by an increase in sales and trading revenues. They reached euro 1.3 billion in the fourth quarter and totaled euro 9.8 billion for the full year, compared with just euro 116 million in 2008.

Deutsche Bank joined banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in emerging from the global financial crisis with healthy profits, while other banks are still posting losses.

“Deutsche Bank achieved a great deal in 2009. We delivered very substantial profitability, while simultaneously reducing risk and balance sheet leverage,” Chief Executive Josef Ackermann said in a statement. — AP

WASHINGTON: US authorities yesterday ordered a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it formal investigation into reported braking problems in would “look into allegations of momentary loss of the 2010 Toyota Prius, in a fresh expansion of safety braking capability while traveling over an uneven road issues plaguing the Japanese auto giant worldwide. The surface, pothole or bump.”

NHTSA, part of the month and would soon announce steps for those Transportation Department, already on the road. said it had received 124 The glitch could hardly reports from consumers, have come at a worse time for “including four reports the Japanese giant. alleging that crashes Toyota is under fire in the occurred” involving the Prius, United States for its handling the world’s most popular of massive recalls affecting hybrid car. about eight million vehicles “Investigators have spoken worldwide-more than its with consumers and entire 2009 global sales of 7.8 conducted pre-investigatory million vehicles-due to field work,” the agency said in accelerator trouble. a statement.

The gasoline pedal “Safety is our top priority,” problems have been blamed said Transportation Secretary for several accidents, Ray LaHood in a statement. including a fatal crash in “That is why in recent weeks California in which four family NHTSA has also issued a members were killed when consumer advisory on the their Lexus sped up on a recall of several models of highway and crashed in a ball Toyota vehicles and the of flames.

Pontiac Vibe (manufactured The Prius, Toyota’s under a joint venture with TOKYO: In this photo taken on May 18, 2009, flagship green car, has created General Motors and Toyota) a global buzz and been Japan’s involving pedal entrapment Toyota Motor Corp.’s then Executive Vice top-selling car since June and sticky accelerator pedals. President Akio Toyoda walks behind new ahead of its main rival, We will continue to monitor Prius (called 2010 Prius in the US) during its Honda’s Insight. these issues closely.” Toyota unveiling in Tokyo.— AP Toyota had sold nearly 1.5 was facing growing pressure million Prius vehicles in 40 why Toyota’s Tacoma truckssafety at the top of the on safety relating to recalls in countries as of August 31 the United States and which have a different pedal company’s priorities,” the since the first version’s launch transportation department assembly than the 5.3 million elsewhere. in 1997, making it the world’s The Washington Post vehicles recalled-were also said in a statement. most popular hybrid car.

The news on Prius came reported yesterday that US experiencing problems with Toyota has led the way in after a rash of complaints sudden, unintended regulators uncovered pushing forward fuel-efficient about its braking system and evidence as early as 2007 that acceleration. followed a global recall of hybrid cars, which are Toyota’s top US official, some Toyota cars, including millions of cars over faults powered by both gasoline and some of the luxury Lexus Yoshimi Inaba, is set to testify linked to the accelerator electricity, amid growing vehicles, accelerated at a congressional hearing on pedals. concern about Toyota earlier public unexpectedly. But neither the February 10. yesterday had admitted a greenhouse gas emissions LaHood revealed meagovernment’s safety agency brake design flaw with its blamed for global warming. nor the automaker apparently nwhile that had spoken about Prius hybrid, in a major new Its success has been recognized at the time how the safety of Toyota cars and blow to the world’s top boosted by government broad the dangers would turn trucks in a talk with Akio automaker. The company said subsidy schemes in the United Toyoda, president of the it had redesigned the anti-lock States, Japan and elsewhere out to be, the daily said.

US lawmakers meanwhile Japanese automaker. braking system (ABS) — that aim to revive recessionToyoda “reassured him that designed to prevent skidding- battered auto sectors and signaled that they would be expanding their probe with a Toyota takes US safety for the latest version of its lower automotive carbonletter demanding answers on concerns seriously and puts Prius produced since last dioxide emissions. — AFP

BUSINESS

Friday, February 5, 2010

Page 19

Fury heats up after new AIG bonuses WASHINGTON: A new furor erupted Wednesday as AIG revealed plans to pay 100 million dollars in bonuses a year after similar payments by the bailed-out insurance giant ignited a political firestorm.

President Barack Obama was “frustrated and angry” about the hefty payouts, according to a spokesman, while the government’s pay czar in charge of compensation at bailed-out companies called the payments an “outrage” that were nonetheless legally binding.

AIG said it would make the payouts under a deal in which

employees agreed to accept less than they were owed in exchange for early payment.

Asked about the new bonuses, White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said: “Obviously, the president is frustrated and angry that Wall Street continues to have the sense that excessive compensation should reward some of the excessive risk taking we’ve seen over... the last couple years on Wall Street, things that brought us to the brink.”

Kenneth Feinberg, the pay czar designated under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), said the payments were part of legally

binding contracts that must be paid despite the outrageous nature of the bonuses.

“These are old grandfather contracts that have the legal force of law,” Feinberg said in an ABC television interview.

He said that the government was working to recoup part of the payments under agreements reached with AIG employees.

“We are making some progress,” he said. “I do not for a minute ignore the outrage out there which I share. But the fact of the matter is we’ve got to abide by the law, we’ve got to work as best we can to get as much of this money back as we can

and frankly we are doing a very, very good job, I think, in getting as much of this money as we can pursuant to the rule of law.”

US officials have argued that the government was unable to stop the legally binding payments to the employees at the troubled Financial Products division that nearly sank AIG after a meltdown in the US housing market.

Nonetheless, news of the latest bonuses triggered fresh anger, including criticism of the Obama administration.

Republican Senator Charles Grassley said of the latest bonuses, “AIG has taxpayers over a barrel.

The Obama administration has been outmaneuvered.”

American International Group said in a statement that about 97 percent of employees with its troubled Financial Products division “have volunteered to reduce their upcoming 2010 payment.”

The moves will help achieve the company’s “giveback target” of reduced bonus payments in an effort to stem the type of blistering criticism that erupted a year ago.

US officials say only about 19 million dollars has been returned from 2009 payments to AIG employees despite pledges to return 45 million dollars. —AFP

Trichet set for another Greek grilling

ECB, BoE leave rates unchanged FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1 percent yesterday and its president, Jean-Claude Trichet, will face questions anew about Greece’s deficit crisis. The

central bank to the 16 countries that use the euro has kept its benchmark rate unchanged since May 2009 to boost patchy growth in the wake of the global financial crisis.

FRANKFURT: European Central Bank (ECB) president Jean-Claude Trichet addresses a press conference in Frankfurt/Main, western Germany yesterday. —AFP

US to provide $1bn to small banks WASHINGTON: The Treasury Department said it will invest up to $1 billion in small banks that serve poor communities as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to spur more lending to small businesses. The money will come from the $700 billion bank bailout fund. About 210 banks, thrifts and credit unions that are certified by the Treasury Department as “Community Development Financial Institutions” will be eligible.

Banks and other financial institutions that target more than 60 percent of their small business lending to lowerincome rural and urban

communities can qualify as CDFIs. “These institutions operate in areas where unemployment is way above the national average,” said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. “This program ... is a very powerful way to make sure that we’re starting to open up the credit channels ... where it’s most needed.” The banks will pay only 2 percent interest on the investments, lower than the 5 percent that large banks were required to pay under the bank bailout or Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The initiative is the latest

in a series of proposals by the Obama administration to spur more lending to small businesses. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama promoted a separate effort to shift $30 billion in TARP funds to a small business lending program. And Obama’s budget also includes a proposed $5,000 tax credit for small businesses that hire new workers.

The administration has shifted its focus to the economy and jobs from health care reform in the wake of a surprising Republican victory last month in the race for a Massachusetts Senate seat. —AP

Trichet, who will explain the decision at a press conference with reporters, is not expected to alter his mantra that the recovery in the eurozone will be “uneven” and that growth would only be “moderate.” Earlier, the Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at the record low of 0.5 percent and said it would not ask the government for the authority to pump more newly created money into the barely recovering British economy.

The British central bank’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep its asset purchase program unchanged at 200 billion pounds ($317 billion) but that it will continue to monitor the scale of the program and could ask the government to make further purchases. Trichet is expected to find, for the second month running, that his monthly news conference will likely be dominated by questions about the crisis surrounding Greece’s huge budget deficit, and about fears of market contagion spreading to debt held by Portugal and Spain, two other euro members struggling with big deficits.

The government debt woes have undermined the euro currency, and raised speculation that EU members might have to fund a bailout, although Greek and EU officials say that won’t be needed.

Investors will be particularly interested to see whether Trichet sticks with his hard line toward Greece — three weeks ago he slammed talk of a Greek departure from the euro as an “absurd hypothesis” and dismissed any suggestions that the central bank would get involved in any financial rescue. —AP

BEIJING: In this May 20, 2009 file photo models display new Chinese-made Lenovo ThinkPads at the Lenovo stall during the International High Tech Expo in Beijing, China. Lenovo reported its second straight quarterly profit yesterday. —AP

Lenovo quarterly profit rebounds on strong sales BEIJING: Lenovo Group, the fourth-largest personal computer maker, reported its second straight quarterly profit yesterday as strong sales in China drove its recovery from an industrywide global downturn.

Profit for the three months ending Dec. 31 was $80 million, or 0.86 cents per share, compared with a $97 million loss for the same period of 2008, said Lenovo, based in Beijing and in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Global sales rose 33 percent to $4.8 billion, driven by a 45 percent increase in China, where Lenovo is the market leader.

Lenovo was hit hard by the global economic crisis, which prompted its core corporate customers to slash purchases. The company suffered three losing quarters before rebounding to earn $53 million in the three months ending Sept. 30.

The company, which acquired IBM Corp.’s PC unit in 2005, said its global market share expanded to 9 percent, its highest to date.

“Our growth was driven by gains in almost all regions of the world, particularly China and other emerging markets,” CEO Yang Yuanqing said in a conference call. Still, Yang cautioned that corporate spending was not expected to revive until at least the second half of 2010,

which could weigh on revenues. He said Lenovo also faces pressure from rising component costs. Yang said Lenovo plans to expand aggressively in mobile Internet after launching a netbook and a Web-enabled smart phone last month. The company paid $200 million in November to buy back mobile phone assets that it sold earlier to focus on PCs. “We believe Lenovo’s mobile Internet products have high potential,” Yang said. “We will continue to invest heavily in emerging markets and in consumer businesses — especially mobile Internet — to achieve sustainable growth.” Lenovo said its quarterly sales in China rose to $2.3 billion, accounting for 47 percent of the worldwide total. The company said its China market share rose 2.8 percentage points to 33.5 percent despite competition from industry leaders Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co., which are trying to expand sales to both prosperous cities and the poorer countryside.

In mature markets such as the United States and Western Europe, sales rose 13 percent from a year earlier to $1.7 billion, the company said. In India and other emerging markets, sales rose 52 percent to $857 million. —AP

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Talks to resolve Airbus plane spat resume in Berlin

France, Germany urge A400M funding deal PARIS/BERLIN: France and Germany called for an urgent solution yesterday to the funding crisis surrounding the A400M troop plane, Europe’s biggest military project,

as Airbus resumed talks with government buyers. The 20 billion euro project is four years late and 11.2 billion euros over budget, threatening up to 10,000 jobs.

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) speak next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a press conference, yesterday at the Elysee Palace in Paris, for a Franco-German summit. — AFP

Oil slips at $76 as demand lags economic recovery LONDON: Oil fell towards $76 a barrel yesterday as rising crude inventories in the United States signalled a rebound in US economic activity was failing to translate into higher demand.

US crude for March delivery declined 59 cents to $76.39 a barrel at 1022 GMT, while London ICE Brent shed 66 cents to $75.26.

A government report on Wednesday showed US crude stockpiles rose by more than expected as imports jumped and refineries kept operating at unusually low rates.

Although manufacturing has picked up, US demand for distillate fuel, including diesel, was more than 9 percent lower in January than last year, according to the US Department of Energy.

US oil refineries are now operating at just 77.7 percent of capacity, the lowest recorded level since 1990 barring hurricane disruptions.

“There was not much inspiring on the demand side, with total product demand down 2 percent from a year ago,” MF Global analyst Edward Meir said.

“We suspect that the bias in energy will be lower over the next two days, particularly if the dollar continues to regain its footing.”

The dollar rose to a seven-month high against the euro yesterday. Strength in the greenback often pressures dollar-priced commodities as they become more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Oil has rebounded by more than $4 this week from a six-week low of $72.43 on Jan. 29. But prices are still far from a 15month high close to $84 reached on Jan. 11 and well below the record peak close to $150 in July 2008.

Employment data out in the United

States today is expected to provide the next indication of the pace of economic recovery.

Non-farm payrolls are expected to have increased by 8,000 in January, the second monthly gain since the recession started in December 2007, according to 20 forecasters polled by Reuters.

Some energy analysts remain upbeat that industrial demand for oil will soon recover, including Barclays Capital’s Paul Horsnell, head of commodities research.

“The evidence of a recovery in manufacturing, better trucking indications and a slow turning of the manufacturing goods inventory cycle all still point to an improvement in diesel demand that will eventually percolate through to the data,” Horsnell said in an e-mailed note.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc posted a 75 percent fall in fourth-quarter profits to $1.18 billion yesterday, as the oil major was punished for falling ouput and its focus on the depressed refining and natural gas businesses.

Full year output from Europe’s second largest oil company was down 3 percent, while low refining margins hit the firm with a $1.76 billion loss at its oil processing arm.

Weak demand has seen the price of oil products like gasoline and diesel struggle to keep pace with relatively high crude prices. Crude has been supported during the global slowdown by expectations booming demand from emerging markets could outstrip supplies in the future.

State-owned Chinese oil firm CNPC expects China’s crude oil imports to increase 9.1 percent to 212 million tonnes in 2010, or 4.24 million barrels per day, a company report showed yesterday. — Reuters

EADS unit Airbus is appealing to a group of seven NATO nations for billions of euros in extra support to start full production of the plane, which first flew in December, but governments are reluctant to let taxpayers foot the whole bill.

“Everything must be done to reach a solution. It is a decisive project which must be resolved very quickly,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after a Franco-German summit.

“With regards to the A400M project, I think that the should be negotiations continued, and we agreed that this is a project of strategic significance, and that everything should be done to find a solution,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

The two leaders were speaking at a news conference after a regular summit but stopped short of issuing a formal statement.

Their comments came as Airbus resumed talks with European defence officials in Berlin in a frantic bid to prevent the runaway costs killing off Europe’s largest defence project.

The A400M has been held up by engine and other technical problems, sparking testy exchanges between Germany, its biggest projected buyer, and Toulouse-based Airbus. Other buyers are France, Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey.

Germany’s defence minister, who has taken a harder line than most over the crisis, warned Airbus not to overplay its hand.

“There is a contract and we have an interest in not allowing ourselves to be pressured unduly,” Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told reporters in Paris after the bilateral summit.

Guttenberg was speaking before heading off to Istanbul for a meeting of NATO defence ministers, part of a flurry of meetings being held across Europe that could determine the A400M’s fate. The NATO meeting will formally tackle deployments and training needs in Afghanistan but delegates did not exclude a side meeting of the seven A400M partners late today. The A400M is designed to put soldiers and heavy equipment in rugged combat zones like Afghanistan, filling a gap in aircraft capabilities between Boeing’s jet-powered C-17 Globemasters and Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules turboprops. Would-be customers, especially Britain, want it in service as soon as possible. — Reuters

THE HAGUE: Royal Dutch Shell’s Chief Executive Peter Voser is seen during the presentation of the fourth quarter results in The Hague, The Netherlands, yesterday. Royal Dutch Shell PLC yesterday reported a fourth quarter net profit of $1.96 billion. — AP

Shell cuts more jobs after profits plunge LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell plans to axe 1,000 more jobs and sell some of its assets owing to an “uncertain” outlook and after annual profits plunged, the British energy giant said yesterday.

But the group said it turned a profit in the fourth quarter in response to a major restructuring programme and a modest recovery in crude oil prices.

Fourth quarter net profit stood at 1.96 billion dollars after a heavy loss of 2.81 billion dollars in the same period in 2008 when the global downturn slashed worldwide energy demand.

For the year net profit tumbled 52 percent to 12.52 billion dollars (9.0 billion euros) compared with 26.28 billion dollars in 2008, Shell said in an earnings statement.

“For 2010, we are targeting a further underlying cost reduction of at least 1.0 billion dollars and a reduction of some 1,000 employees,” the group announced.

Shell said it had cut 5,000 jobs last year as part of a major restructuring that saved more than 2.0 billion dollars. The group’s final quarter of 2009, while

profitable, was nonetheless “impacted by the weak global economy,” Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser said in the earnings release.

“Oil prices have increased compared to a year ago but gas prices and refining margins have declined sharply because of weaker demand and high industry inventory levels.

“We are not assuming that there will be a quick recovery and the outlook for 2010 is uncertain,” he said.

Fierce rival BP on Tuesday said it too had returned to profit in the fourth quarter, with net earnings of 4.30 billion dollars thanks to higher oil prices and as it ramped up production and slashed costs.

Shell on Thursday said its adjusted net profit, which strips out exceptional items and changes to the value of its oil inventories, slumped 75 percent to 1.18 billion dollars in the fourth quarter.

Production slid two percent over the period to 3.33 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Voser said the group was positioning itself for “significant growth” in the years ahead. — AFP

SEOUL: South Korean models show Samsung Electronics Co’s Android smartphones during the product’s unveiling ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. — AP

Friday, February 5, 2010

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Page 21

US economy tries to gain momentum T

WASHINGTON: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies at a hearing on ‘Factors Affecting Efforts to Limit Payments to AIG Counterparties,’ on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC. — MCT

he Register’s monthly economic scorecard garnered three “thumbs up” in December, while five indicators still got “thumbs down.”

Thumbs up indicate significant growth or improvement in an indicator, while thumbs down signify a significant decline or only slight growth.

Country still grapples with aftereffects of recession

W

hile some areas of the economy are showing signs of life, others continue to flounder as the region, like the nation, still struggles with the aftereffects of a recession that is technically over but has lingering impacts. The Register’s monthly economic scorecard garnered three “thumbs up” in December, while five indicators still got “thumbs down.”

Thumbs up indicate significant growth or improvement in an indicator, while thumbs down signify a significant decline or only slight growth.

One positive aspect of the recession’s lingering effects is that area business owners have grown more accustomed to dealing with them, said Anthony Rescigno, president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

“They’re starting to make money,” because they have scaled back and cut corners, finding new ways to do business, Rescigno said. “They’re sort of reinventing themselves. They’re learning how to do more with less. That will pay off in the long run.” However, there is a downside to the trend among business owners, he said.

“They’re not interested in expanding at this time. Most of them are just sort of holding on, waiting to see what happens.”

Certain aspects of the economy improved in December, including a jump in the number of housing permits issued. While the number of permits issued in the New Haven area remained relatively small, at 45, it was much more than the 13 permits issued in December 2008.

Home prices, meanwhile, continued to fall. The median price for homes in the New Haven-Milford region in November-the most recent month for which data was available when the scorecard was compiled-was

Mark and Melissa Wolff, of Wylie, Texas, have made several adjustments in their finances since the recession has put a dent in their income. Melissa (left), a real estate agent, said her commissions are down so much that instead of sending the couple’s three-year-old daughter, Sydney Wolff, (right, sitting on Mark’s lap) to school full time, she only goes part time which saves the family more than $200. — MCT $220,000, down about 2 percent from $224,200 a year earlier.

“The good news is housing is becoming more affordable,” said Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist at DataCore Partners in New Haven, who compiles the monthly scorecard.

Higher home prices previously were a

detriment to the region’s economic competitiveness, he said.

“In a weak economy, you have fewer dollars chasing properties,” he said. For a rebound in home sales and prices to occur, Klepper-Smith said “any real strength in the housing market has to be tied to the labor

markets,” and the region’s employment picture remains bleak.

The labor force, which for months had been getting a “thumbs up” with its continuous growth, in December turned to a “thumbs down.” The labor force, which includes those working and those looking for work, was flat compared with a year ago.

The number of jobs in the region, meanwhile, continued to decline, dropping nearly 2 percent from a year ago. “If there’s a hallmark that will be left by this recession, it’s the loss of the jobs and the impact that has left on consumers’ psyches,” KlepperSmith said.

The state has shed about 94,500 since the recession began and is likely to lose a total of more than 100,000 before things improve, he said. The unemployment rate rose from 6.5 percent in December 2008 to 8.3 percent in December, and Klepper-Smith said “there’s every indication that we’re going to be moving higher.”

Greater New Haven’s concentration of health and education-related jobs has insulated it somewhat from the depths of recession other areas have seen, but the region has not been immune to the downturn, he said. Connecticut residents’ real disposable income fell again in the final quarter of 2009, dropping 5 percent from 2008’s fourth quarter.

But, on the positive side, inflation remains in check, with the US Consumer Price Index rising 2.2 percent in December compared with a year ago. Also, the most recent consumer confidence figures indicate that consumers are becoming less pessimistic about certain aspects of the economy. In December, confidence among New England consumers jumped about 73 percent from a year earlier. — MCT

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Don’t stress it

n this difficult economy, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges on the job. Both the stress we take with us when we go to work and the stress that awaits us on the job are on the rise - and employers, managers, and workers all feel the added pressure. Here are some stress management techniques to try:

I

Be clear on requirements One of the factors that contribute to job burnout is unclear requirements. If you don’t know exactly what’s expected of you, or if the requirements keep changing with little notice, you may find yourself much more stressed than necessary. If you find yourself falling into the trap of never knowing if what you’re doing is enough, it may help to have a talk with your supervisor and go over expectations, and strategies for meeting them. This can relieve stress for both of you!

Stay away from conflict Because interpersonal conflict takes a toll on your physical and emotional health, and because conflict among co-workers is so difficult to escape, it’s a good idea to avoid conflict at work as much as possible. That means don’t gossip, don’t share too many of your personal opinions about religion and politics, and try to steer clear of colorful office humor. Try to avoid those people at work who don’t work well with others. If conflict finds you anyway, try these conflict resolution strategies.

Stay organized Even if you’re a naturally disorganized person, planning ahead to stay organized can greatly decrease stress at work.

Being organized with your time means less rushing in the morning to avoid being late and rushing to get out at the end of the day. Keeping yourself

organized means avoiding the negative effects of clutter, and being more efficient with your work.

Be comfortable Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort. You may not notice the stress you experience when you’re in an uncomfortable chair for a few minutes. But if you practically live in that chair when you’re at work, you can have a sore back and be more reactive to stress because of it. Even small things like office noise can be distracting and cause low-grade frustration. Do what you can to ensure that you’re working from a quiet, comfortable and soothing workspace.

Forget multitasking Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day. Then people started realizing that when they had a phone in their ear and were

making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) suffered.

There is a certain kind of frazzled feeling that comes from splitting one’s focus that doesn’t work well for most people. Rather than multitasking, try a new strategy known as chunking.

Walk at lunch Many people are feeling ill effects from leading a sedentary lifestyle. One way you can combat that, and manage stress at work at the same time, is to get some exercise during your lunch break and perhaps take short exercise breaks throughout the day. This can help you blow off steam, lift your mood, and get into better shape.

Keep perfectionism in check Being a high achiever can help you feel good about yourself and excel at work.

Being a perfectionist, on the other hand,

can drive you and the people around you a little nuts.

Especially in busy, fast-paced jobs, you may not be able to do everything perfectly. But striving to just do your best and then congratulating yourself on the effort is a good strategy. Your results will actually be better (perfectionists tend to stress about little mistakes and sometimes drop the ball because they can’t do things well enough), and you’ll be much less stressed at work.

Listen to music on the drive home Listening to music brings many benefits, and can offer an effective way to relieve stress after work.

Combating the stress of a long day at work with your favorite music on the drive home can make you less stressed when you get home, and more prepared to interact with the people in your life. www.stress.about.com

Friday, February 5, 2010

technology

Page 23

Top 10 reasons why iPad could kill Kindle 1. The multi-functional capability: Buy a Kindle and you get a reader. Another dedicated device to carry. Buy an iPad, and you get a whole new companion that can do pretty much anything. Games, movies, browsing, documents, and more-all in one. And zillions of iPhone applications. It’s much more than a reader - it’s a wholelife device.

2. The screen: Full color, multi-touch screen, gestures, and more. It’s a pleasure to look at it - and we all can rely on Steve Jobs’ aesthetics to know that it’s a pleasure to hold as well.

3. Compatibility: iPad supports ePub out of the box, overcoming publishers’ resistance to having to support a proprietary format such as Kindle’s; and creating compatibility with books sold through a leading standard format through any channel.

4. The iBooks store: Apple has captured the magic of shopping once again. Amazon does well with the functional needs of buying a book but Apple goes beyond to create an experience.

5. The experience: The Kindle provides a good functional experience for readers-in a very Bezosian way, it meets all our needs. But Apple’s creation goes beyond, to make the experience fun and cool. You can swipe through pages on an iPad. On the Kindle, you have to dutifully click a button.

6. The economics: Publishers have been deeply concerned about price erosion with Amazon’s $9.99 pricing-and have been up in arms over Amazon’s 70% revenue share take. Though Amazon has reversed the revenue share (to match Apple’s reported offer at 30%), it would require publishers to cut prices and offer deep discounts. Considering the threat the publishing industry is under, the last thing that publishers want in a time of transition is to have their revenues crammed down further by Jeff Bezos.

7. The applications: In a digital age, a book is becoming more than just words on a page. But the Kindle has been slow to recognize this. With the iPad, out of the gate publishers can create whole experiences.

Want to create something unique in the market to draw consumers? Publishers can go beyond e-books, and create an app using one of the world’s most popular SDK platforms.

8. The marketplace: Apple’s iBook and App Store

marketplaces will instantly be a must-attend venue for publishers. The anticipated sales of the iPad will mean exposure to so many more consumers than Kindle; and Apple already has 125 million consumer store accounts with 12 billion products already downloaded. Amazon won’t even release the number of Kindles sold, because the number of consumers buying its device pales next to Apple’s reach.

9. The price: For $10 more than a Kindle DX, consumers get an incredible eBook reader, and so much more: a device that they can use for, well, pretty much anything. The options, consumer experience, and flexibility for that $10 are a no-brainer.

10. The Apple factor: Let’s face it, Apple is a brand people want to be affiliated with. It has a cool factor.

Even those of us who are smart enough to know better still fall in love with Apple products, and carry them with pride. Amazon just doesn’t have that. As Jason Kottke says, “the iPad makes the Kindle look like it’s from the 1980’s”.

Apple has upped the game for Amazon. Jeff Bezos and his team better start a clean sheet of design if they want Kindle to catch up again and play as a leader with consumers. It’s clear that Amazon is already scared: Witness their recent moves in the last few days running up to Apple’s announcement. Just this month, they’ve announced an app framework and a new royalty structure to be more attractive to publishers - and both moves are clearly defensive catch-up plays to respond to the threat of the iPad. Amazon is even trying to win love by giving away free Kindles to their best customers.

But the best plan for Amazon isn’t to try to buy customers or try to match Apple’s approach. Rather, they’ll need to re-think their consumer experience from start to finish. They’ve done a great job so far of digitizing books, but now if they want to compete with Steve Jobs’ inventiveness, they’ll have to step up to be a must-have device in consumers’ digital lives. Of course, they can also just surrender and continue to sell books through their existing iPhone application, which should be compatible with the iPad like all the other applications in the Apple Store. www.techcrunch.com

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Abdominoplasty: Types of procedures A

b d o m i n o p l a s t y, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a major surgical procedure for men and women generally in good shape and health but who have large fat deposits around their abdomen or have and excess of loose skin. Abdominoplasty can reduce protruding abdominal fat but it does leave a lengthy, permanent, sometimes visible scar that runs the length of the hipbones. Most people who undergo abdominoplasty are women who don’t intend to bear more children and whose previous pregnancies stretched their abdominal muscles or people suffering from obesity whose skin elasticity has diminished.

Depending upon the amount of excess fat and skin a patient has and the area of the excess, different types of abdominoplasty procedures can be performed.

Tummy tuck During a tummy tuck, an incision is made along the length between the hipbones and around the belly button, the skin is removed along the abdominal wall up to the ribs, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tightened and the flap of excess abdominal fat is

removed and the skin is pulled down, cut off and the remaining flap is sewn back into place along the initial incision.

Mini tummy tuck Mini-abdominoplasty, often paired with tumescent liposuction, is a more limited procedure, but still effective for many people, including those who have only lost muscle tone and skin elasticity in the lower region of the abdomen below the belly button. This surgery can be just as effective and the incision can be smaller and recover time is less. Thus this can be the solution for people with only a slight tummy problem.

Endoscopic tummy tuck Endoscopic tummy tuck is abdominoplasty aided by an endoscope, a tiny camera, and is best for people who have excess fat below the belly button alone but have not lost skin elasticity. Muscles can be tightened and fat can be removed through liposuction via tiny holes made above the pubis or through the belly button. This is a very popular procedure because it leaves little scarring unlike more traditional tummy tuck

procedures. However there is a risk of infection if the incision doesn’t drain properly.

Panniculectomy surgery Panniculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the large/long overlap of skin

on the lower abdominal area.

This usually occurs in morbidly obese individuals who have lost a substantial amount of weight. Without correcting this problem, there is a risk of developing chronic and persistent local skin conditions

such as intertrigo, intertriginous dermatitis, cellulites, ulcerations, necrosis, and inflammation of subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Panniculectomy is unlike abdominoplasty because it does not deal at all with

abdominal muscles.

Panniculectomy is simply the removal of excess fat and skin from the “apron” left hanging anywhere from just barely above the mons pubis down to the knees or beyond. www.ambafrance-do.org

Liposuction cost: Worth every penny A

lthough the national average cost for liposuction charged by surgeons is $2,224 most patients agree that their liposuction was worth the expense. The benefits of liposuction are that excess fat is removed from deposits in the body, so underlying muscle is revealed, and the incisions for liposuction are small and well concealed so they won’t be seen, in contrast to scars from procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) which extend the length between the two hipbones.

Liposuction is a good choice for people who are healthy, in good shape, are an appropriate weight for their age and height, but have areas of fat that don’t respond to diet, exercise or other weight loss methods. Liposuction is also ideally suited to younger people who still have good elasticity in their skin.

Skin elasticity allows the skin to shrink to the new size after fat is removed. Skin that has lost elasticity is more likely to remain baggy. In this case a tummy tuck would be a better solution for removal of areas of fat. However, liposuction can be the best solution for older people as well and you should consult

with a cosmetic surgeon to make the appropriate choice.

Prior to the operation, patients may be given general anesthesia, which is a common choice if a large amount of fat is being removed, or local anesthesia in addition to a sedative so he or she stays relaxed. Liposuction is done with a small cannula which breaks up and the suctions out the fat using a vacuum or a syringe.

The cannula is inserted into tiny incisions made in strategic places so that fat from a wide area can be removed, but the scars will be hidden by clothing or natural creases of the body.

There are different techniques involved in liposuction, many dealing with the loss of fluids that is liked to liposuction. Patients can either remain on IV fluids or have a liposuction process of fluid injection. Here, fluids (salt solution, lidocaine, and epinephrine) are injected into the region before the surgery so the fat can more easily be removed. Different types of fluid injection techniques include tumescent, super-wet, or ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty techniques. www.ambafrance-do.org

Friday, February 5, 2010

beauty

Page 25

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

Short hair style: Make it stylish, sexy, and chic

I

n all of its transformations and variations, the short hair style has always been numbered at the top of the list when it comes to versatility, style and manageability. No other style catches the eye quite like the short hair style and no other style makes the wearer look as professional, chic and sexy as the short hair style.

Short hair styles worn by women are a fairly new style trend when compared with women’s hair styles in general. In fact, cropped styles only came to the forefront of fashion a little more than 50 years ago. Since that time, the short hair style has given women the freedom to express themselves in numerous ways. From the funky and spiked to the soft and feminine, the short hair style can be worn by any woman of any personality, style and age.

Short hair no matter what the age It has long been a held belief that an older woman should wear a short hair style to make her appear younger. While there is some truth in the belief that long hair tends to make wrinkles and flaws more noticeable, short hair styles and long hair styles can both be worn by women of all ages if they choose the right style to compliment their particular face shape and bone structure.

A good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to choosing a short hair style to suit your age is to pay more attention to your overall appearance rather than focus too much on how old you are. For example: Trendy, spiked styles can emphasize flaws and sagging skin, but I have seen women in their 70s with exceptional bone structure wear these short hair styles and look amazing. On the other hand, I have also

seen younger women try to wear these same short hair styles and not be able to quite carry it off. So, if you want to wear a short hair style, pay close attention to your face shape, build and style of dress before deciding how to cut your hair.

Short hair to flatter your face I’ve heard it said many times by many people, “I always wanted to wear a short hair style, but I don’t look right with short hair” Ladies, this is nonsense. Granted, not every woman can wear every short hair style, but every woman can wear a short hair style that is tailor-made to compliment their face shape and beautiful features.

There are five basic face shapes: oval, heart, round, square and triangular. All of these shapes can be beautiful, but one is ideal: oval. No matter what shaped face you have, achieving the perfect look involves picking the right cut or short hair style that will make your face appear more oval.

To do this, you and your stylists can try different variations of popular short hair styles to compliment your individual features. For example: If you have a round face shape, you can still wear your favorite short hair style as long as you bring some hair forward on your cheekbones and wear a little height in the bang to give your face the illusion that it is oval.

The bottom line is that the short hair style is not for just a few who have been blessed with perfectly proportioned features. With the right short hair style, you too can sport trendy sexy cropped locks that will be guaranteed to turn a few heads. www.ambafrance-do.org

health

Page 26

Friday, February 5, 2010

Treating athlete’s foot What is athlete’s foot?

heel of your foot can become thick and crack. In bad cases, the toenails get infected and can thicken, crumble, and even fall out. Fungal infection in toenails needs separate treatment.

Vesicular infection usually begins with a sudden outbreak of large fluid-filled blisters under the skin.

The blisters are usually on the bottom of the foot. But they can appear anywhere on your foot. You also can get a bacterial infection with this type of athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot is a rash on the skin of the foot. It is the most common fungal skin infection.

There are three main types of athlete’s foot. Each type affects different parts of the foot and may look different.

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that grows on or in the top layer of skin. Fungi (plural of fungus) grow best in warm, wet places, such as the area between the toes.

Athlete’s foot spreads easily. You can get it by touching the toes or feet of a person who has it. But most often, people get it by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces near swimming pools or in locker rooms. The fungi then grow in your shoes, especially if your shoes are so tight that air cannot move around your feet.

If you touch something that has fungi on it, you can spread athlete’s foot to other people-even if you don’t get the infection yourself.

Some people are more likely than others to get athlete’s foot. Experts don’t know why this is. After you have had athlete’s foot, you are more likely to get it again.

How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?

Most of the time, a doctor can tell that you have athlete’s foot by looking at your feet. He or she will also ask about your symptoms and any past fungal infections you may have had. If your athlete’s foot looks unusual, or if treatment did not help you before, your doctor may take a skin or nail sample to test for fungi.

Not all skin problems on the foot are athlete’s foot. If you think you have athlete’s foot but have never had it before, it’s a good idea to have your doctor look at it.

How is it treated?

You can treat most cases of athlete’s foot at home with overthe-counter lotion, cream, or spray.

For bad cases, your doctor may give you a prescription for pills or for medicine you put on your skin. Use the medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to. This will help

What are the symptoms?

Athlete’s foot can make your feet and the skin between your toes burn and itch. The skin may peel and crack. Your symptoms can depend on the type of athlete’s foot you have. Toe web infection usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. Some people also may have an infection with bacteria. This can make the skin break down even more. Moccasin-type infection may start with a little soreness on your foot. Then the skin on the bottom or

Foot care Good foot care helps treat and prevent athlete’s foot.

• Keep your feet clean and dry.

• Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.

• Wear leather shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.

• When indoors, wear socks without shoes.

• Wear cotton socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks twice a day. (White socks do not prevent athlete’s foot, as some people believe.)

• Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.

• Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.

• Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers.

make sure that you get rid of the infection. You also need to keep your feet clean and dry. Fungi need wet, warm places to grow. You can do some things so you don’t get athlete’s foot again. Wear shower sandals in shared areas like locker rooms, and use talcum powder to help keep your feet dry. Wear sandals or roomy shoe made of materials that allow moisture to escape.

Home treatment You can usually treat athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) yourself at home by using nonprescription medicines and taking care of your feet. But if you have diabetes and develop athlete’s foot, or have persistent, severe, or recurrent infections, see your doctor.

Nonprescription medicines Nonprescription antifungals include terbinafine (Lamisil AT), miconazole (Micatin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), and tolnaftate (Tinactin). These medicines are creams, lotions, solutions, gels, sprays, ointments, swabs, or powders that are applied to the skin (topical medicine). Treatment will last from 1 to 6 weeks. If you have a vesicular (blister) infection, soak your foot in Burow’s solution several times a day for 3 or more days until the blister fluid is gone.

After the fluid is gone, use an antifungal cream as directed. You can also apply compresses using Burow’s solution. To prevent athlete’s foot from returning, use the full course of all medicine as directed, even after symptoms have gone away.

Avoid using hydrocortisone cream on a fungal infection, unless your doctor prescribes it. (w w w.w ebmd.com)

health

Friday, February 5, 2010

Page 27

Losing weight: What is the best way?

The first, and best, thing to do is to talk I

know I need to lose weight, but how do I figure out how much I should lose? There is no hard and fast answer to how much a person should weigh in order to be healthy. But, women need to be concerned about weight because it can and does affect overall health.

Obesity, or being overweight, can result in premature death and can contribute to many problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, breathing problems, arthritis, and problems with pregnancy, labor and delivery.

The first, and best, thing to do is to talk with your health care provider about your weight.

Together, you can talk about what a healthy weight is for you, based on your height, build (bone size, amount of muscle) and age. You can also use a tool called the Body Mass Index (BMI) to give you a pound range for a healthy weight. There is also a handy BMI calculator at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s web site .

What is the best way to lose weight?

There is no “best” way to lose weight. Don’t forget to talk with your doctor about setting up a weight loss plan.

Some general guidelines for losing weight safely are: Eat fewer calories. The best formula for losing weight is to decrease the number of calories you get while increasing your physical activity every day.

Depending on how active you are, you may need between 1,500 2,500 calories a day. A safe plan is to eat 300 to 500 fewer calories a day to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Lose weight slowly. It is best to aim for losing 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. By improving eating and exercise habits, you will develop a healthier lifestyle. And, this will help you to control your weight over time. You will also lower your chances of getting heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“Crash” diets may take off pounds faster, but can cause you to gain back even more pounds than you lost after you stop the diet.

Exercise. Get active for at least 30 minutes every day. You don’t have to train for a marathon to be active! Brisk walking, gardening, riding a bicycle, tennis and dancing all count as exercise. You can also break up the 30 minutes into three 10-minute periods. To get even more active every day, you can do things like park farther away from the mall in the parking lot and take the stairs instead of the elevator.

The idea is to use up more calories than you eat each day. This will keep the calories from being stored as fat in your body.

Eat less fat and sugar. This will help lower the number of calories you eat each day. Select foods whose labels say low, light or reduced to describe calories or fat, including milk products and cheese.

Eat lean types of meat, poultry, and fish. Eat less sugar and fewer sweets (don’t forget that soda and juice can have lots of sugar). Drink less or no alcohol.

with your health care provider about your weight. Together, you can talk about what a healthy weight is for you, based on your height, build and age

Eat a wide variety of foods, including starches and dairy products. This helps your body to get the nutrients and vitamins it needs to be healthy. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, grain products and whole grains each day. Don’t skip dairy products - there are many good tasting low, no, and reduced fat milks, yogurts, cheeses, ice creams, and other products to choose from.

Proper calcium intake is needed for all women to prevent bone loss.

Starch is an important source of energy that all bodies need, even

when a person is trying to lose weight. It is found in foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, beans, and some vegetables. Foods high in starch can become high in fat and calories when you eat them in large amounts, or when they are made with rich sauces, oils, or other highfat toppings like butter, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Stick to starchy foods that are high in fiber, like whole grains, beans, and peas.

Practice portion control. Eat smaller amounts of food at each meal. Let go of belonging to the

“clean plate club.” Don’t feel like you have to eat everything on your plate, even when eating out. You can also try eating more small meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals.

Get support. It can be hard to start a weight loss program, particularly if you are out of shape and not used to exercising. Ask your family and friends for support.

Try to find an exercise buddy. Make your activity fun and social - go on a walk or hike with a friend or learn a new sport like tennis or ice-skating.

Treat yourself (once in a while).

When trying to lose weight, we all feel tempted to “cheat” by eating a favorite, rich food like cake or cookies. But, sometimes it can be helpful to eat a small amount of a favorite food. This may keep you from craving it and overeating if you do “cheat.”

What are high protein/low carbohydrate diets?

Most of a person’s calories come from protein foods, like meat, eggs, and cheese when on a highprotein/low carbohydrate diet. This diet has fewer calories that come from carbohydrate foods, like breads, pasta, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. Two problems with this type of diet are it: 1) can lack key nutrients found only in carbohydrates that a person needs to be healthy; 2) allows foods high in fat, which can raise blood cholesterol levels, increasing a person’s risk for heart disease and some cancers.

These diets have become popular because people often loss weight quickly. But, most of the weight a person looses is water weight and lean muscle mass, not fat. Water is lost because the kidneys try to get rid of the excess waste products of protein and fat, called ketones, that the body makes.

These diets are not a healthy way to lose weight. They overwork your kidneys, can cause dehydration, headaches, and bad breath. You can also feel nauseous, tired, weak, and dizzy. Health problems, like kidney stones and gout (a painful swelling of the joints) can develop as a result of these diets. A reduced-calorie diet that has a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats is the safest and best way to lose weight. You will also be more likely to keep the weight off over time.

Is it safe to use diet pills or herbal supplements when trying to lose weight?

There are many types of diet pills and herbal, or natural, supplements that you can buy overthe-counter at a drug or discount store, or on-line. You can’t assume that a product that is called “natural” or “herbal” is safe. It may also hurt you if you are on other medications. It is best to always check with your doctor before using any herbal or natural weight-loss product.

Diet pills you can buy over-thecounter don’t make much of a difference in how much weight you lose, how fast you lose it, or how long you keep the weight off. Some diet pills can raise your blood pressure. Also, cough or cold medicines often have the same drug used in diet pills. If you take both products together, you may get too much of the same drug and have harmful side effects. For some people, diet pills prescribed by a doctor can be helpful. If you do use these, be sure to follow your doctor’s directions. (ww w.shapefit.com)

petS

page 28

Friday, February 5, 2010

When you have to take life’s toughest decision

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t is one of the hardest decisions that pet owners can make- when is the right time to put your dog (or other pet) to sleep. Because our dogs become part of the family, when they start to age and show signs of age, it can be very hard to decide when it is time to let them go. It is a very hard decision to make, especially since out dogs become part of the family. We play with them, exercise them, train them, feed them, and in many cases sleep with them. Face it, we spend a lot of time with our dogs, so when the time comes when you notice that you older dog just doesn’t have the same spunk as he used to, it may be time to start thinking about the one subject that no dog owner wants to touch until the last minute.

Thinking about putting your dog to sleep If you think about your dog’s wants and wellbeing, ask yourself what does he want? The answer is actually pretty simple. Your dog wants fun, love, attention, and good health... That means no pain or suffering... Which is pretty much what we want ourselves. When your dog’s quality of life suffers, then you should start thinking about what

you’re going to do.

There is no set time or limit or one-for-all decision that everyone can make as to when to put the dog to sleep. It is by individual situation and opinion as to when that time is. So nobody can tell you that today is the day that you put your 13-year-old dog to sleep just because he’s 13, especially if he still runs around and barks at

vet, or in many cases, the vet will be willing to come to your home to do it in your dog’s surroundings.

Most vets give the dog a shot of barbiturate, or another sedative, to relax the dog and put him unconscious, and then the vet or vet tech will give the dog another shot to actually put the dog to sleep and to stop his heart.

Not all dogs react the same.

Dealing with the grief of putting your dog to sleep When dealing with the grief of losing a pet, there are many different means of coping. A few tips can include the following: ● If you know that your older dog is going to need to be put to sleep in the near future, go ahead and get another puppy. This will help you with the emotional pain

Putting your sick dog to sleep is not only a difficult choice to make, but it also requires immense compassion and strength of mind. strangers and begs to be loved and cuddled. Now, that doesn’t sound like a dog that is ready to be put down. But, we all know when it is time. It is just something that we do not want to have to face.

How is it done?

Euthanasia is a very simple and pain-free process. You can opt to have your dog put to sleep at the

You will find that dogs with poor circulation may take a little long for the drugs to take into effect, and with some dogs, it may take a little longer for the muscle twitches to stop. In these cases, do not be alarmed or upset thinking that you have made the wrong choice. You dog is not fighting to stay alive, he is already fully unconscious.

when your older dog is gone. ● Go ahead and make plans, as to when you will put your dog to sleep (if you know that he is getting worse), where you will put your dog to sleep (the vet or at home), and what you will do with his body (leave at the vet, bury, cremation, etc). This will help with the coping process, having everything pre-planned

● Have someone go with you when you take the dog to the vet, or have someone with you when the vet comes to your home, so that you have someone that you can be with during and after the process. ● And, when the vet or vet tech is preparing your dog, just be with him. Hold him, stroke him, talk to him. This will help you and it will calm him.

Putting Your Dog Down Many people want to let God take over and decide when is the right time to let the dog pass on, but if you think about it, we have already done everything in our control to help matters. So is it fair to let out beloved pets live in possible pain and agony while we wait for God to take over?

As hard as it may be to come to terms with the truth, there is a point in every dog’s life when it is time to alleviate him from his pain suffering and let him go. You don’t want to keep the dog alive and in pain for your own benefit and selfishness. You want to think of what lifestyle your dog is currently having. If he is not happy, sick, and suffering, you need to ask yourself a question: Is your joy more important than his misery? www.hubpages.com

Friday, February 5, 2010

RELATIONSHIPS

Page 29

Greg Baddick, of Chicago, Illinois, uses Skype to have an after school talk with his 9-year-old daughter Isabella, who resides in Elgin with her mother. — MCT

Divorced parents use laptop conference as virtual visitation

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reg Baddick helped his 9-year-old daughter learn the state capitals of the Midwest.

Later, when he asked Isabella how her test went, she said she got an A-plus - though she almost forgot the answer for Nebraska.

“Congratulations,” Baddick said via an Internet video link, the same way he helped her study.

“I’m proud of you.”

Because Baddick, a senior manager for a pharmaceutical company, is divorced from Isabella’s mother, he helped his daughter study using their laptop computers and the Internet.

The virtual visits are a weekly date for the pair, in addition to the in-person weekly visits and twice monthly weekend stays. Isabella lives in Elgin, Illinois, Baddick in Chicago.

“It’s been, honestly, a godsend,” said Baddick, 39. “I feel like I’m there. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.” Language added to an Illinois law this month includes virtual visitation among the rights of noncustodial parents, making it enforceable by a judge.

According to the measure, parents are entitled to electronic visits unless the court believes that contact would be harmful to the child. The visits can be made by telephone, e-mail, instant messaging and video conferencing.

While some parents have long worked out such arrangements, the new language creates a legal right for cases when parents cannot agree.

“We really want parents to be invested in the daily lives of children and this gives them another venue,” said state Senator Pamela J

Althoff, R-McHenry, who carried the bill after it was introduced by a former colleague.

The law is similar to a handful passed in other states over the last six years, according to David Meyer, associate dean at the University of Illinois College of Law. Meyer said the extent of visitation rights is still for a judge to determine. “There’s been some who have been wary of these laws either on the grounds that they will provide an excuse to bar in-person visitation or that they will be used to promote contact where it would not be good for children,” Meyer said.

Larry Baum, 44, said texting has helped ease the stress of divorce for his 12-year-old daughter. Baum, a sales manager, lives just 15 minutes from his three children, so he sees them most evenings. Still, two years ago Baum began texting with his eldest, even though it’s not part of a formal settlement. “It helps a ton,” Baum said. Because of the constant contact with both parents, “the fact that she’s living in two houses is not stressful for her,” he said.

While Baum has not needed video conferencing yet to keep up with his kids, he took the idea into consideration when he bought a new laptop - just in case he ever needs to travel more for work. “I’m acutely aware of how stressful some situations might be for my kids. ... Being able to communicate instantly takes the stress out of it,” Baum added.

Chicago family law attorney Jeffery Leving, who said he helped write and lobby for the changes to the law, said he hopes the changes help noncustodial fathers and open up opportunities for children to be in contact with incarcerated fathers. “The electronic visitation - primarily the cell phone and now the computer - in my opinion, is a psychological lifeline for the child,” said Leving, whose firm specializes in fathers’ rights.

Bruce Boyer, director of the Loyola Civitas ChildLaw Clinic, said virtual visitation has been helpful in custody cases involving parents who are great distances from each other or in cases where a parent should not have physical proximity to his or her children but would still like to visit and have a relationship. But, he cautioned, virtual visits should not take the place of in-person interaction whenever safe and possible.

“It’s a lesser alternative to face-to-face contact,” Boyer said. “If you don’t have a better alternative, it can be a very good way of maintaining contact.” Baddick and Isabella’s mother divorced in 2003, and the father recalls the emptiness he felt when he first drove away from the family home. His daughter, he said, also remembers. “It was horrible. It took me a while to get over it,” he said. “I struggled for years and years.”

But then the father and daughter adjusted, and in recent years, they discovered virtual visitation. In the Baddicks’ case, the visits

aren’t part of an official custody agreement, but rather worked out informally between Isabella’s parents. Isabella likes the video phone. “It’s really cool that you get to talk to your dad and see him,” she said.

Baddick recently called his daughter on Skype, an application that allows people to talk and see each other at the same time, from his hotel room at the Hyatt Regency O’ Hare where he was preparing to begin a weeklong meeting. “How was school?” Baddick asked into the computer screen. After having trouble hearing his daughter, he put her on speaker from his cell phone but kept the video going so he could see her face.

Baddick asked her which friends were coming over that night. She told him. “You have to get your homework done first,” Baddick reminded. Isabella told him that she planned to join the soccer team. She promised to send her father a picture of her new horse, Gretta. (A photo quickly arrived over his cell phone.)

Then Isabella said that her best friend was moving away because of her parents’ divorce.

“Like with me and Mommy, sometimes divorce happens,” Baddick said. “It will be OK. You be strong.” Since Baddick remarried a Russian woman, Isabella and her father have a saying before they hang up: “Do svidaniia,” goodbye in Russian. On this particular evening, they both said it. They said they loved each other.

Then they hung up. — MCT

food

Page 30

friday, february 5, 2010

By Sawsan Kazak

S

trawberries are the perfect fruit. They are sweet, smell great, don’t need any peeling and their bright red color is always cheerful. They are great on their own or in a fruit salad, but they are even better when baking. The heat from the cooking intensifies their flavor and condenses their sweetness. Try the following recipes and maximize your next batch of strawberries.

Send suggestions to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

Strawberry facts

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hen looking for strawberry nutrition facts, you’ll find that nothing packs a bigger nutritional punch than this little berry.

Prized in ancient Rome for their medicinal uses, strawberries are recognized as having more vitamin C than some citrus fruits.

They are also high in fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidants, making them a natural means of reducing the chances of heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers.

With only 55 calories per one cup serving, and containing 140% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C for children, it makes sense to add this fruit to your daily menus.

The fact that strawberries are available year round, offers you the perfect opportunity to add great

taste and nutrition to your everyday meals. Research shows that 94% of Americans currently consume strawberries and it is strongly suggested that eating them more often will add to a person’s overall long term health.

Nutrition facts: Serving size: 1 cup fresh

strawberries (166 grams) Calories 50-55 Protein 1 gram Carbohydrates 11.65 grams Dietary Fiber 3.81 grams Calcium 23.24 mg Iron 0.63 mg Magnesium 16.60 mg Phosporus 31.54 mg Potassium 44.82 mg Selenium 1.16 mg Vitamin C 94.12 mg Folate 29.38 mcg Vitamin A 44.82 IU

Strawberry smoothie 6 large strawberries 1/2 cup of your favorite yogurt 1/2 cup of vanilla or strawberry ice cream 1/2 cup of whole milk Directions: First Blend strawberries and milk together until straberries are well blended, than add ice cream and yogurt and whip for just a little bit so smoothie remians thick.

Friday, February 5, 2010

FOOD

Page 31

Spinach and strawberry salad 2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces 4 cups sliced strawberries 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat.

Strawberry cheesecake 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen sweetened strawberries, thawed 1 tablespoon cornstarch 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 eggs 1 tablespoon water

Strawberry muffins 1/4 cup canola oil 1/2 cup milk 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup white sugar 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped strawberries Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oil an 8

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. In a blender or food processor, combine strawberries and cornstarch; cover and process until smooth.

Pour into a saucepan; bring to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes. Set aside 1/3 cup strawberry sauce; cool. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce for serving. In a

mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in milk. Add lemon juice; mix well. Add eggs, beat on low just until combined. Pour half of the cream cheese mixture over crust. Drop half of the reserved strawberry mixture by 1/2 teaspoonfuls onto cream cheese layer.

Carefully spoon remaining cream cheese mixture over sauce.

Drop remaining strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoonfuls on top.

With a knife, cut through top layer only to swirl strawberry sauce. Bake at 300 degrees F for 4550 minutes or until center is almost set.

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove side of pan. Thin chilled strawberry sauce with water if desired; serve with cheesecake. Store in the refrigerator.

cup muffin tin, or use paper liners.

In a small bowl, combine oil, milk, and egg. Beat lightly.

In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.

Toss in chopped strawberries and stir to coat with flour.

Pour in milk mixture and stir together.

Fill muffin cups. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 minutes, or until the tops bounce back from the touch. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans.

Chocolate covered strawberries 16 ounces milk chocolate chips 2 tablespoons shortening 1 pound fresh strawberries with stems Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring

occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

THEY ARE THE 99!

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

THE STORY SO FAR : When young Dayana Samsudin finds a mysterious gem, the resulting flood of information into her mind causes her to collapse. Two other gem-bearers -- Musawwira the Organizer and Batina the Hidden -- explain that Dayana has a Noor Stone, and that she is Mujiba the Responder. To prove it, they help Dayana read and interpret the information contained in a seemingly blank letter from her late mother…

The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2010, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.the99.org

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Twenty things to see and do while you’re in Cape Town Poised just at the tip of South Africa’s southwesterly coast, the entire Cape Peninsula encompassing Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the beaches of False Bay juts spectacularly into the hammering waves, where they collide at the intersection of the warm Indian Ocean and the ice-cold Atlantic.

The exquisite and luxurious Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, one of the many wine estates in the Cape Winelands, bespeaks of Dutch and French influences and houses Bosman’s, an absolutely luscious restaurant. —MCT

H

unkering down against the wind-whipped, cloudshrouded summit of Table Mountain, my first thought was that the bottom of Africa is pretty much the tops. The 360-degree vista of Cape Town was striking against a sky painted a rich lapis lazuli and from the pinnacle of the mountain the city quite literarily seems to unfold all the way to the ends of the earth. Indeed, the closest landmass to it other than Africa is Antarctica.

Poised just at the tip of South Africa’s southwesterly coast, the entire Cape Peninsula encompassing Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the beaches of False Bay juts spectacularly into the hammering waves, where they collide at the intersection of the warm Indian Ocean and the ice-cold Atlantic.

Hands down, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and all eyes will be on it from June 11 to July 11, when the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament and the bend-it-like-Beckham bunch come to South Africa. The games will be played in cities all over the country, among them Johannesburg, Durban, Nelspruit and Pretoria, with several matches including the quarter-finals and semi-finals set for Cape Town.

If you’ve managed to, um,

“score” tickets to the World Cup, here’s our Cape Town Twenty _ a must-do list of places to see and things to do while you’re in the city. ❍ Fly South African Airways from their U.S. gateways in Washington or New York. The best advice I ever heeded as a travel

writer was to fly a country’s flag carrier. The reasoning is simple.

Asking questions of the crew gives you an immediate advantage if you’ve never visited that place before. South African flight attendants and gate agents will happily offer advice on the best

restaurants, shops and nightspots, and can even give tips on places of which to steer clear. ❍ Visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

The stunning architecture of Cape Town, with the V&A as its centerpiece, clearly evokes an Old World ambiance. The

Sanbona is home to a free-roaming pride of white lions. Their blue eyes and nearly pure white fur captures the imagination and have earned them the nickname of “angel lions. —MCT

sun-drenched waterfront is a working harbor that basks underneath Table Mountain, and its old warehouses and docksides have been converted into a buzzing beehive of activity. Glittering hotels edge the V&A, including Victoria & Alfred, the Cape Grace, the Dock House, and the One & Only. ❍ Experience Robben Island.

Board the Robben Island Ferry on the V&A for a fascinating tour of the desolate island prison where Nelson Mandela spent nearly two decades of his life fighting the good fight against apartheid. Tours are led by former political prisoners who gladly share their life stories. ❍ Ride the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. The view from Table Mountain’s flat top _ the locals compare it to a tablecloth _ bedazzles and is perfect for watching the alchemy of the setting sun spin its rays to liquid gold across the Atlantic. ❍ Take in a Roots Africa Tour to understand apartheid and the African perspective. Roots Africa takes you on an extensive cultural tour of Langa and Khayelitsha Townships, the millions-strong shantytowns created by the South African government under apartheid. ❍ Take in the picturesque architecture of Bo-Kaap. With its

travel

Friday, February 5, 2010 cobblestone streets, vividly-colored homes and venerable mosques and minarets, Bo-Kaap’s influence is Malaysian, Indonesian and Indian.

Try a cooking “safari,” where you actually go into a Bo-Kaap home and learn to make traditional and utterly multicultural Cape Malay dishes seasoned with spices from around the world. ❍ Experience a Creative Cape Town walking tour. Focusing on any number of facets including events, attractions, or food and restaurants, hoofing it is the best way to see the city. ❍ Romp through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Set on the slopes of Table Mountain, the are breathtakingly gardens smothered with indigenous flora and fauna from South Africa. ❍ Ramble through the Cape Winelands for wine tastings. The storybook Cape Winelands with their intoxicatingly fresh breezes are the center of South Africa’s boutique wine industry. The sun shines 80 percent of the time here, so as you drift through the villages of Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch, which are the historic cradle of Afrikaans and their heavy Dutch influence, the bouquet from the vineyards is prevalent and sweet. A few premier wine estates include the Delaire, the Spier, Ernie Els (yes, the golfer), the Groot Constantia and the Moreson, my personal favorite with its signature “Miss Molly” wines. ❍ Experience the wine estates and country inns with an overnight stay. The exquisite Grande Roche in Paarl bespeaks of Dutch and French influences and houses Bosman’s, an absolutely luscious restaurant. The bright and sunny LeQuartier Francais in Franschhoek has

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The stunning architecture of Cape Town, with the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront as its centerpiece, is a sun-drenched working harbor that basks underneath Table Mountain. —MCT consistently been named among the top inns in the world, as has the Steenberg in Tokai. The Constantia, also in Tokai, is extravagant yet at the same time peaceful and tranquil. ❍ Take in the Big Five and visit Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. About three hours outside of Cape Town,

With its cobblestone streets, vividly colored homes, and venerable mosques and minarets, the neighborhood of Bo-Kaap is Malaysian, Indonesian, and Indian influenced. —MCT

Sanbona is home to a free-roaming pride of white lions. Their blue eyes and nearly pure white fur captures the imagination and have earned them the nickname of “angel lions.”

They are unlike any of the other big cats in the world. Accommodations at Sanbona include a well-appointed lodge and a luxurious tented camp, plus all the requisite elephant, cheetah, zebra and hippo are scattered about the reserve that’s the size of Singapore. ❍ Count the whales along on False Bay. From June until October, have a whale of a time sighting these sleek mammals as they rise and fall with thunderous glee. Drive or stroll through the False Bay villages of Fishhoek, Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, or better yet stay at accommodations like the St. James, a luxurious yet affordable boutique hotel, where you can watch the continuous action from the comfort of your own room. ❍ See the Cape of Good Hope.

On the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula is the Cape of Good Hope, once a stop on the spice routes of the early explorers as they went east to India or west to the New World. Antarctic winds and pounding surf have polished the beaches as fine as diamond dust.

Surrounded by a national park and nature reserve home to eland, zebra, ostrich and baboons, the Cape is a juxtaposition of towering mountains, rolling hills, and tranquil pastures that sweep down to the ocean’s edge. ❍ Walk among the penguins at Boulders Beach at Simons Town.

There’s just something too cute about the tuxedoed, diminutive African penguins waddling around Boulders Beach, a series of sea coves hidden among the boulders of the Cape Peninsula. ❍ Pick out the Southern Cross.

Get far enough away from the lights of Cape Town _ Sanbona is the perfect place _ and do nothing but stargaze under these wide open skies. The constellations are

This salmon dish at LeQuartier Francais is among the many freshly prepared dishes that have a distinct South African touch. —MCT different south of the Equator, with the Southern Cross really lighting up the sky with an ethereal glow. ❍ Have a sundowner. A sundowner is a drink at sundown, and it doesn’t get any easier than that. ❍ Eat your way across Cape Town. From springbok to warthog to line fish _ that’s any fish handcaught by line _ no place on the African continent has better dining than Cape Town. From past experiences and from asking virtually everyone I know who’s been to Cape Town, these are our top picks for restaurants: Salt at the Ambassador Hotel, OYO at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, The Quarter Gourmet Bunny Chow, the Foodbarn in Noordhoek, Maze at the One & Only Cape Town, Moyo at the Spier Estate near Stellenbosch, Catharina’s at the Steenberg Hotel in Tokai, Signal at Cape Grace on the waterfront, the Greenhouse Restaurant at the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel and the Harbour House in Kalk Bay. ❍ Shop, shop, shop. From the pedestrian malls on the V&A filled with upscale boutiques to roadside markets and souvenir stands, there

is no shortage of shopping for gifts and jewelry. Tanzanite is a good buy, and so are diamonds. ❍ South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation for good reason.

Officially there are 11 languages spoken in the country, with most everyone speaking English and Afrikaans, plus a mix of European, Arabic, and Asian tongues that keep conversations interesting.

Listening to the melange of languages along the V&A is a fascinating multicultural experience unto itself. ❍ With so much to do, don’t forget your tickets to the World Cup. —MCT

IF YOU GO: Visit Cape Town Tourism at www.capetown.travel For packages, contact Giltedge Travel in Cape Town at www.Gilt-Edge.com or Hylton Ross Tours at www.hyltonross.co.za Visit South African Airways at www.flysaa.com or call toll-free 1-800-722-9675.

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Ethical journalism

A book goes case by case

I

f you were a newspaper editor, would you run a picture of a young woman and toddler falling from a fire escape? Of a man plunging to his death from the World Trade Center on 9-11?

If you were a reporter witnessing heartbreaking scenes as you documented the lives of children sharing homes with drug addicts and alcoholics, what would it take to make you intervene?

If you were a reporter writing a blog, would you let your inner snark out to play? Journalism’s moral landscape is littered with tough questions, some as old as the manual typewriter, some as new as the Internet. In a new book, written as a text for journalism students, former Philadelphia Inquirer managing editor Gene Foreman draws on half a century of journalism experience to chart a path through the thicket.

Former Philadelphia Inquirer managing editor, and former Penn State journalism professor, Gene Foreman has just had a new textbook published, “The Ethical Journalist.”

—MCT

F

oreman’s book, “The Ethical Journalist: Making Responsible Decisions in the Pursuit of News” (Wiley-Blackwell, $59.95), is a practical guide to ethics for novice newsies and veterans alike, and for anyone interested in the media. Using case studies, anecdotes, and short essays, the book focuses on the real-life experiences of working journalists, both print and broadcast.

Foreman, who taught journalism at Pennsylvania State University until 2006 after retiring from The Inquirer in 1998, discovered during 16 semesters in the classroom that journalism ethics textbooks tended to rely on theory rather than example. “What a lot of the current books do is to say, ‘You figure it out,’” Foreman says. “I think (students) ought to know, ‘Here are the consensus guidelines in the profession.’ Here are all the experiences, good and bad, that practicing journalists have had.”

He opens with a dramatic account of the dilemma that journalists at the Portland Oregonian faced when they covered the assisted suicide, permitted

by Oregon law, of a 62-year-old woman who was dying of lung cancer.

The Oregonian staffers, Foreman writes, asked themselves whether their coverage would influence the woman’s actions: “Would she feel free to change her mind? After all the attention, would she feel obligated to go ahead and take the lethal dose?”

Sitting in the basement den of his home, Foreman, 74, white-haired, and soft-spoken, talked about the 24 case studies at the heart of the book.

(Others are on its Web site.) Each focuses on an ethical dilemma: How close to a source is too close? When is a photo or videotape too disturbing to run? When is it time to become a participant instead of an observer?

Case studies have caught on as a journalism teaching tool. “Today’s news

environment, with its unending deadlines, requires split-second judgments,” says Robert Schmuhl, director of the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy at the University of Notre Dame.

“Journalists need to develop strong ethical instincts as students, so they perform with moral sensitivity in their later work,” Schmuhl says. “Case studies help condition the mind and prepare future news people to make sound decisions under pressure.”

David Boeyink, associate professor of journalism at Indiana University, also favors using case studies — so strongly that he and a colleague also have written a textbook built around them, “Making Hard Choices in Journalism Ethics: Cases and Practice,” to be published in spring by Routledge.

Journalism ethics has spent “too much time focusing on top-down reasoning as a way of resolving ethical issues,” Boeyink says by phone.

Students need to learn how to make decisions “from the bottom up, focusing largely on the details of cases.” Such an approach doesn’t produce canned solutions. “Even when you talk something through, people have different opinions on what was the right thing to do,” says Fred Brown, retired political writer for the Denver Post and vice chairman of the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics committee. Case studies help students learn to ask the right questions, says Brown, lead editor for a journalism ethics book, with 50 case studies, that SPJ plans to publish next year.

Foreman says the primary ethical issue for journalism, as it has always been, “is getting the story right, putting it in the right context, being accurate, being fair.” One of the most important lessons, he says, is that journalists must recognize and set aside their

biases when covering news. “The book says that bias exists in journalism because it is a subjective art and there are innumerable steps in the process of reporting and editing the news that journalists’ biases can filter in,” he says.

“Early in my career, I personally detested Gov. Orval Faubus,” the segregationist governor of Arkansas, “but when I covered him, I treated him fairly.” Foreman winds up his book with a chapter on ethical challenges nobody could have imagined when he started out in Arkansas back in 1957.

One is the financial difficulties that plague newspapers these days.

Newspapers have a social responsibility to provide readers with the information they need to “make governing decisions as a citizen,” Foreman says.

“If we fail to do that, because of lack of resources, then we’ve failed an ethical obligation.” News organizations need to create a new business model to support journalism, Foreman says, but nobody has come up with one so far.

The Internet, with its “blink of the eye” immediacy, poses a special ethical challenge, he says. Because it’s a new medium, some journalists think the old rules don’t apply. The common practice of allowing newspaper staffers to write unedited blogs for online readers annoys him. “I detest that,” he says with understated vehemence that is as close as he comes to swearing. “I’ve read arguments written by intelligent people who say, ‘Let’s let the readers be our editors, that if we get something wrong, they call us, we check it out, and we put up a correction.’ Now, this is really, really bad because harm can be done by erroneous information getting online.” Online, on paper, on cable, on air, the ways of delivering news may change, Foreman says, but the ethical challenges endure.

— MCT

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The Jerusalembased crime writer picks novels that offer ‘a much more profound contact’ with this region than the news

Matt Rees’ M

att Rees was born in Newport, Wales in 1967, and has lived in Jerusalem since 1996. As a journalist, Rees covered the Middle East for over a decade for the Scotsman, then Newsweek and from 2000 until 2006 as Time magazine’s Jerusalem bureau chief.

His first book was a non-fiction account of Israeli and Palestinian society, Cain’s Field.

He published the first novel featuring Palestinian detective Omar Yussef, The Bethlehem Murders, in 2007, which won the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger award. The Saladin Murders and The Samaritan’s Secret followed in 2008 and 2009. The Bethlehem Murders won the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2008. The Fourth Assassin, published next month, follows Omar to visit his son in New York’s “Little Palestine” in Brooklyn.

The Fourth Assassin (Omar Yussef Mystery 4) by Matt Rees 272pp, Atlantic Books, £11.99 Buy The Fourth Assassin (Omar Yussef Mystery 4) at the Guardian bookshop “The Arab literary world and Western publishing don’t cross over much. The literature of the Arab world is largely unknown in the west, and even westerners who write about Arabs are sometimes seen as fringe, cult writers. That comes at a cost to the west, because literature could be such an important bridge between two cultures so much at odds. What we see of the Arab world comes from news reports of war and other madness. Literature would be a much more profound contact.

“I live in Jerusalem and write fiction about the Palestinians because it’s a better way to understand the reality of life in Palestine than journalism and non-fiction.

The books in this list, in their different ways, unveil elements of life across the Arab world that you won’t see in the newspaper or on TV.”

1. Wolf Dreams by Yasmina Khadra A young Algerian on the make becomes disillusioned with westernised morality and joins a violent Islamist group. In turn he sees through the corruption and bloodthirstiness of the group’s actions. A tormenting portrayal of the suffocating lack of options available to poor Arabs.

Khadra (the pen-name of a former Algerian military officer) lives in exile in France.

2. Let It Come Down by Paul Bowles Writers look for resonance. You might say Bowles has us with his title alone, which resonates with doom even before he writes his first sentence. It’s drawn from Macbeth. When the murderers come upon Banquo, he says that it looks like there’ll be rain. The murderer lifts his knife and says: “Let it come down.” Then he kills him. Such doom impends throughout this book, yet the main character seems barely to want to avoid it. He’s become fatalistic, as have so many of the Arabs around him in the face of political and social injustice.

Bowles wrote as he travelled through North Africa. Each day, he incorporated something into his writing that had actually happened during the previous day’s journey. I often use that technique, adding details from yesterday’s stroll through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem or a refugee camp in Bethlehem.

3. Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree

by Tariq Ali Spain 1499. A novel set in a disappeared Arab world. In the final days of the Muslim kingdom of Andalus, Ali’s characters feel overwhelmed by encroaching Christian intolerance. He seems to mark it as the moment when the flowering of medieval Islamic culture shifted onto the stultifying road that leads to bin Laden, and when the

novels set in the Arab world west began the imperialistic, racist expansion that would converge so devastatingly with that path in the last decade.

4. Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz The first of the Egyptian Nobel laureate’s Cairo Trilogy. Set amid the political unrest against British rule at the end of the first world war, it’s a marvellous evocation of the repressive, patriarchal nature of the traditional Arab family - and the secrets family members keep in order to have their fun or defy their father’s authority.

5. Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif Saudi Arabia stripped Munif of his citizenship for this critique of the social and psychological devastation wrought on Bedouin villagers by the arrival of the oil fields. With a PhD in oil economics, Munif had deep experience of the injustice that came with the new oil wealth. Anyone who’s travelled a desert road with a poor Arab will love this image: “The new trucks flew down the road like lighting, fast and huge. Akoub strained visibly to keep control of his truck in the windy wake when they passed him.”

6. The Yacoubian Building by Alaa alAswany A scathing portrayal of modern Egyptian history by a dissident journalist. The characters, rich and poor, seem to be competing to see who can be most abusive and harsh to those around them. Aswany hits at everything from the graft at the top of the political and business worlds to the rejection of homosexuals and the sexual oppression of women. The only way to be more shocked about things in Egypt is to actually spend some time in the dilapidated Cairo neighbourhood where the book is set.

7. The Secret Life of Saeed (The Pessoptimist) by Emile Habiby The only writer to win the highest awards for literature from both the PLO and the Israeli government. A Palestinian citizen of Israel, Habiby sat in the Knesset as a representative of the Israeli Communist Party. His greatest novel tells the story of a simple man who attempts to avoid politics, only to be sucked into terrorism and collaboration with Israel. Shows Palestinians in all their human frailty, rather than as idealised political stereotypes.

8. Mountolive by Lawrence Durrell The most political of the novels in The Alexandria Quartet. But because it’s Durrell, it also manages to be sexual and seedy. A British diplomat tells his career story, up to the Zionist gun-running going on while he conducts an affair with an Arab woman.

9. Prairies of Fever by Ibrahim Nasrallah A schoolteacher in a desert town is woken by the police who demand payment for having buried him. They’re unimpressed by his claim to be alive and not in need of a funeral. Nasrallah, a Jordanian Palestinian, makes existentialism deeply political and very disturbing.

10. The Rock: A Seventh Century Tale of Jerusalem by Kanaan Makiya Former Iraqi exile and architect Makiya writes of Muslim-Jewish relations during the first century of Islamic rule in Jerusalem, culminating with the building of the Dome of the Rock. This was recommended to me by Sari Nusseibeh, head of al-Quds University in Jerusalem, a leader of the first intifada and the man many wish could be the leader of the Palestinians. — Guardian

children

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Sudoku for Kids

Friday, February 5, 2010

Solution

Friday, February 5, 2010

children

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Buildup in the Gulf The Israelis want Iran’s nuclear program destroyed, but they do not want to be the ones to try to do it. Only the United States has the force needed to carry out the strike conventionally. But like the Bush administration, the Obama administration is not confident in its ability to remove the Iranian program surgically

By George Friedman

L

ast weekend’s newspapers were filled with stories about how the United States is providing ballistic missile defense (BMD) to four countries on the Arabian Peninsula. The New York Times carried a frontpage story on the United States providing antimissile defenses to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, as well as stationing BMD-capable, Aegis-equipped warships in the Arabian Gulf.

Meanwhile, the front page of The Washington Post carried a story saying that “the Obama administration is quietly working with Saudi Arabia and other Arabian Gulf allies to speed up arms sales and rapidly upgrade defenses for oil terminals and other key infrastructure in a bid to thwart future attacks by Iran, according to former and current US and Middle Eastern government officials.”

Obviously, the work is no longer “quiet”. In fact, Washington has been publicly engaged in upgrading defensive systems in the area for some time. Central Command head Gen. David Petraeus recently said the four countries named by the Times were receiving BMD-capable Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) batteries, and at the end of October the United States carried out its largest-ever military exercises with Israel, known as Juniper Cobra.

More interesting than the stories themselves was the Obama administration’s decision to launch a major public relations campaign this weekend regarding these moves. And the most intriguing question out of all this is why the administration decided to call everyone’s attention to these defensive measures while not mentioning any offensive options.

The Iranian Nuclear Question US President Barack Obama spent little time on foreign policy in his Jan 27 State of the Union message, though he did make a short, sharp reference to Iran. He promised a strong response to Tehran if it continued its present course; though this could have been pro forma, it seemed quite pointed. Early in his administration, Obama had said he would give the Iranians until the end of 2009 to change their policy on nuclear weapons development. But the end of 2009 came, and the Iranians continued their policy.

All along, Obama has focused on diplomacy on the Iran question. To be more precise, he has focused on bringing together a coalition prepared to impose “crippling sanctions” on the Iranians.

The most crippling sanction would be stopping Iran’s gasoline imports, as Tehran imports about 35 percent of its gasoline. Such sanctions are now unlikely, as China has made clear that it is not prepared to participate - and that was before the most recent round of US weapon sales to Taiwan. Similarly, while the Russians have indicated that their participation in sanctions is not completely out of the question, they also have made clear that time for sanctions is not near. We suspect that the Russian time frame for sanctions will keep getting pushed back.

Therefore, the diplomatic option appears to have dissolved. The Israelis have said they regard February as the decisive month for sanctions, which they have indicated is based on an agreement with the United States. While previous deadlines of various sorts regarding Iran have come and gone, there is really no room

after February. If no progress is made on sanctions and no action follows, then the decision has been made by default that a nucleararmed Iran is acceptable.

The Americans and the Israelis have somewhat different views of this based on different geopolitical realities. The Americans have seen a number of apparently extreme and dangerous countries develop nuclear weapons.

The most important example was Maoist China.

Mao Zedong had argued that a nuclear war was not particularly dangerous to China, as it could lose several hundred million people and still win the war. But once China developed nuclear weapons, the wild talk subsided and China behaved quite cautiously. From this experience, the United States developed a two-stage

strategy.

First, the United States believed that while the spread of nuclear weapons is a danger, countries tend to be circumspect after acquiring nuclear weapons. Therefore, overreaction by United States to the acquisition of nuclear weapons by other countries is unnecessary and unwise. Second, since the United States is a big country with widely dispersed population and a massive nuclear arsenal, a reckless country that launched some weapons at the United States would do minimal harm to the United States while the other country would face annihilation.

And the United States has emphasized BMD to further mitigate - if not eliminate - the threat of such a limited strike to the United States.

Israel’s geography forces it to see things

US Army Specialist Brandon Sapikowski, Launch Station Operator Maintainer, performs an operations check on a Patriot Missile Launch Station Feb 4, 2003 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. – MCT

differently. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Israel should be wiped off the face of the Earth while simultaneously working to attain nuclear weapons. While the Americans take comfort in the view that the acquisition of nuclear weapons has a sobering effect on a new nuclear power, the Israelis don’t think the Chinese case necessarily can be generalized. Moreover, the United States is outside the range of the Iranians’ current ballistic missile arsenal while Israel is not. And a nuclear strike would have a particularly devastating effect on Israel. Unlike the United States, Israel is small country with a highly concentrated population. A strike with just one or two weapons could destroy Israel.

Therefore, Israel has a very different threshold for risk as far as Iran is concerned. For Israel, a nuclear strike from Iran is improbable, but would be catastrophic if it happened. For the United States, the risk of an Iranian strike is far more remote, and would be painful but not catastrophic if it happened. The two countries thus approach the situation very differently.

How close the Iranians are to having a deliverable nuclear weapon is, of course, a significant consideration in all this. Iran has not yet achieved a testable nuclear device. Logic tells us they are quite far from a deliverable nuclear weapon. But the ability to trust logic varies as the risk grows. The United States (and this is true for both the Bush and Obama administrations) has been much more willing to play for time than Israel can afford to be. For Israel, all intelligence must be read in the context of worst-case scenarios.

Diverging Interests and Grand Strategy It is also important to remember that Israel is much less dependent on the United States than it was in 1973. Though US aid to Israel continues, it is now a much smaller percentage of Israeli gross domestic product. Moreover, the threat of sudden conventional attack by Israel’s immediate neighbors has disappeared. Egypt is at peace with Israel, and in any case, its military is too weak to mount an attack. Jordan is effectively an Israeli ally. Only Syria is hostile, but it presents no conventional military threat.

Israel previously has relied on guarantees that the United States would rush aid to Israel in the event of war. But it has been a generation since this has been a major consideration for Israel. In the minds of many, the Israeli-US relationship is stuck in the past. Israel is not critical to American interests the way it was during the Cold War. And Israel does not need the United States the way it did during the Cold War. While there is intelligence cooperation in the struggle against jihadists, even here American and Israeli interests diverge.

And this means that the United States no longer has Israeli national security as an overriding consideration - and that the United States cannot compel Israel to pursue policies Israel regards as dangerous. Given all of this, the Obama administration’s decision to launch a public relations campaign on defensive measures just before February makes perfect sense. If Iran develops a nuclear capability, a defensive capability might shift Iran’s calculus of the risks and rewards of the military option.

Assume, for example, that the Iranians decided to launch a nuclear missile at Israel or Iran’s Arab neighbors with which its relations are not the best. Iran would have only a handful

Friday, February 5, 2010

of missiles, and perhaps just one. Launching that one missile only to have it shot down would represent the worst-case scenario for Iran.

Tehran would have lost a valuable military asset, it would not have achieved its goal and it would have invited a devastating counterstrike.

Anything the United States can do to increase the likelihood of an Iranian failure therefore decreases the likelihood that Iran would strike until they have more delivery systems and more fissile material for manufacturing more weapons.

The U.S. announcement of the defensive measures therefore has three audiences: Iran, Israel and the American public. Israel and Iran obviously know all about American efforts, meaning the key audience is the American public. The administration is trying to deflect American concerns about Iran generated both by reality and Israel by showing that effective steps are being taken.

There are two key weapon systems being deployed, the PAC-3 and the Aegis/Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). The original Patriot, primarily an anti-aircraft system, had a poor record especially as a BMD system - during the first Gulf War. But that was almost 20 years ago. The new system is regarded as much more effective as a terminal-phase BMD system, such as the medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) developed by Iran, and performed much more impressively in this role during the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003.

In addition, Juniper Cobra served to further integrate a series of American and Israeli BMD interceptors and sensors, building a more redundant and layered system. This operation also included the SM-3, which is deployed aboard specially modified Aegis-equipped guided missile cruisers and destroyers. The SM-3 is one of the most successful BMD technologies currently in the field and successfully brought

oPinion

down a wayward U.S. spy satellite in 2008.

Nevertheless, a series of Iranian Shahab-3s is a different threat than a few Iraqi Scuds, and the PAC-3 and SM-3 have yet to be proven in combat against such MRBMs - something the Israelis are no doubt aware of. War planners must calculate the incalculable; that is what makes good generals pessimists.

The Obama administration does not want to mount an offensive action against Iran. Such an operation would not be a single strike like the 1981 Osirak attack in Iraq. Iran has multiple nuclear sites buried deep and surrounded by air defenses. And assessing the effectiveness of airstrikes would be a nightmare. Many days of combat at a minimum probably would be required, and like the effectiveness of defensive weapons systems, the quality of intelligence about which locations to hit cannot be known until after the battle.

A defensive posture therefore makes perfect sense for the United States. Washington can simply defend its allies, letting them absorb the risk and then the first strike before the United States counterstrikes rather than rely on its intelligence and offensive forces in a preemptive strike. This defensive posture on Iran fits American grand strategy, which is always to shift such risk to partners in exchange for technology and long-term guarantees.

The Arabian states can live with this, albeit nervously, since they are not the likely targets.

But Israel finds its assigned role in US grand strategy far more difficult to stomach. In the unlikely event that Iran actually does develop a weapon and does strike, Israel is the likely target. If the defensive measures do not convince Iran to abandon its program and if the Patriots allow a missile to leak through, Israel has a national catastrophe. It faces an unlikely event with unacceptable consequences.

Israel’s Options It has options, although a long-range conventional airstrike against Iran is really not one of them. Carrying out a multiday or even multiweek air campaign with Israel’s available force is too likely to be insufficient and too likely to fail. Israel’s most effective option for taking out Iran’s nuclear activities is itself nuclear.

Israel could strike Iran from submarines if it genuinely intended to stop Iran’s program.

The problem with this is that much of the Iranian nuclear program is sited near large cities, including Tehran. Depending on the nuclear weapons used and their precision, any Israeli strikes could thus turn into city-killers. Israel is not able to live in a region where nuclear weapons are used in counterpopulation strikes (regardless of the actual intent behind launching). Mounting such a strike could unravel the careful balance of power Israel has created and threaten relationships it needs. And while Israel may not be as dependent on the United States as it once was, it does not want the United States completely distancing itself from Israel, as Washington doubtless would after an Israeli nuclear strike.

The Israelis want Iran’s nuclear program destroyed, but they do not want to be the ones to try to do it. Only the United States has the force needed to carry out the strike conventionally.

But like the Bush administration, the Obama administration is not confident in its ability to remove the Iranian program surgically.

Washington is concerned that any air campaign would have an indeterminate outcome and would require extremely difficult ground operations to determine the strikes’ success or failure.

Perhaps even more complicated is the US ability to manage the consequences, such as a potential attempt by Iran to close the Strait of

Page 41

Hormuz and Iranian meddling in already extremely delicate situations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Iran does not threaten the United States, the United States therefore is in no hurry to initiate combat. And so the United States has launched a public relations campaign about defensive measures, hoping to affect Iranian calculations while remaining content to let the game play itself out.

Israel’s option is to respond to the United States with its intent to go nuclear, something Washington does not want in a region where US troops are fighting in countries on either side of Iran. Israel might calculate that its announcement would force the United States to pre-empt an Israeli nuclear strike with conventional strikes. But the American response to Israel cannot be predicted. It is therefore dangerous for a small regional power to try to corner a global power.

With the adoption of a defensive posture, we have now seen the US response to the February deadline. This response closes off no US options (the United States can always shift its strategy when intelligence indicates), it increases the Arabian Peninsula’s dependence on the United States, and it possibly causes Iran to recalculate its position. Israel, meanwhile, finds itself in a box, because the United States calculates that Israel will not chance a conventional strike and fears a nuclear strike on Iran as much as the United States does.

In the end, Obama has followed the Bush strategy on Iran - make vague threats, try to build a coalition, hold Israel off with vague promises, protect the Arabian Peninsula, and wait - to the letter. But along with this announcement, we would expect to begin to see a series of articles on the offensive deployment of US forces, as good defensive posture requires a strong offensive option. — Stratfor

Page 42

HOBBIES

Friday, February 5, 2010

To Judith Rickenbacher, a broken-down table isn’t trash. It’s potential.

A furniture whisperer Bringing life to inanimate objects Artist Judy Rickenbacher paints old furniture turning them into art pieces in Uniontown, Ohio.

— MCT photos

This chair has been titled “Tribute to the Big Three.’

R

ickenbacher is an artist whose canvas is furniture, a visionary who rescues old pieces and gives them new purpose. Using her artistic eye and sometimes a bit of whimsy, she turns tired and even ramshackle pieces into works of utilitarian art.

She calls herself a furniture whisperer. She’ll study a piece until it speaks to her, until she can envision what it will become.

The results are as varied in style as the furniture she starts with. An armoire might be painted with a traditional pastoral scene, while a chair gets a boldly colored automotive motif and an accent table is given a kicky treatment with geometric shapes.

“I just know what I like,” she said. “... I let the piece tell me what needs to be done.”

Rickenbacher, of Richfield, Ohio, started repainting and decorating furniture for her own home and turned it into a business to supplement the family income when her two children were young. It’s still a side venture; she also works full time as an outside sales representative for General Insulation Co. She finds her fodder at consignment shops and the occasional garage sale. Once in a while, she’ll pick up a castoff that’s been left at the curb, “if it’s irresistible,” she said. “And now and then, people leave things on my doorstep.”

Revitalizing those pieces draws on skills she’s amassed throughout her life. Her father dabbled in woodworking, she said, and from watching him she learned about furniture repair.

She later spent seven years with the Sherwin-

Williams Co., where she learned about paint technology.

In art, she is mostly self-taught, although she studied art and interior design for a year at Kent State University.

Rickenbacher’s typical approach is to repair a piece or take it apart and rebuild it. Then she sands it, primes it and applies a base coat of paint before she even gets to the artistic part.

Decorating a piece might involve applying layers of glaze or paint, a process that’s complicated by the fact that she uses acrylic latex paint that dries fast and doesn’t allow much time for blending.

She finishes each piece with water-based urethane for durability, although her pieces aren’t chip-proof, she said.

Even old furniture that’s beyond saving is deconstructed for reusable elements. The keys of an old piano, for example, were used to decorate three benches. A table leg became a support for a shelf attached to another bench.

She sticks with pieces that have no particular worth and won’t be devalued by her work, she said. If she paints an antique, she said, it’s one that has already lost its value.

Rickenbacher names each piece, often for a person she associates with it. She named a ‘60s side table Andrew, for example, because it reminded her of hanging out in her Uncle Andy and Aunt Faye’s rec room. A small bench with an eclectic flair was named for her friend Julie, a woman who Rickenbacher said is just as comfortable dressed elegantly and playing her

Friday, February 5, 2010 harp as she is wearing jeans and riding a horse.

As for Ella, a table with an elegant design around the edge, “I thought, Ella Fitzgerald,” Rickenbacher said. “I don’t know why.”

Most of the furniture is painted in subtle colors, but Rickenbacher said it’s not because she’s trying to appeal to the masses. Rather, it’s because she leans toward timeless design.

“It’s just my taste,” she said. “It’s what I’m comfortable with.”

Nevertheless, Joan Smith, whose Gallery 143 in Green, Ohio, sells Rickenbacher’s pieces, believes customers like that the furniture is painted in colors that fit with their decor.

“They’re not so far out that people can’t imagine putting them in the house,” she said.

The environmental aspect of reusing old things appeals to customers, too, said Smith, whose shop also carries jewelry Rickenbacher designs as well as smaller painted pieces such as silverware chests and knickknack shelves.

For Rickenbacher, recycling is an important part of her work. “I hate to see anything go to a landfill that could be used,” she said.

She points to a small accent table as an

HOBBIES

Page 43

example. The veneer on the tabletop was peeling away, so Rickenbacher filled the void with two-part epoxy. She glued and clamped the unstable parts, refinished the wood base and painted the top with a design of cowboys riding into the sunset.

The goal isn’t to make a piece look new.

Instead, she lets the imperfections give it character.

“The cracks are just wonderful,” she said, running her hand over the accent table’s fissured edge.

Her pieces sell for around $300 to $400 for a chair, $400 to $600 for a dresser or similar-size piece, and more for large pieces. Smaller items such as silverware chests sell for around $150.

Rickenbacher’s own home is filled with examples of her work, although she said they’re “the ones that are passing through” on their way to being sold.

And each one is special to her.

“The last piece I do is always my favorite piece. I don’t want to give it up,” she said. “But I do, because I know my next favorite piece is coming.” —MCT

TO LEARN MORE You can see examples of her furniture at http://www.judyrickenbacher.com.

Her studio in Richfield, Ohio, is open by appointment. Call 330-612-0460.

Rickenbacher also produces a wholesale line of Western-theme items, which she markets to stores in the West. Information on the Western Attitude line is at http://www.westernattitude.net.

A chair titled Deanna.

This groundhog puppet poking his head out is a fun craft project for kids on Groundhog Day.

Page 44

Friday, February 5, 2010 CROSSWORD 891

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS 1. Immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit of.

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

8. The seventh and last day of the week.

11. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters.

12. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

13. Gone by.

14. An important seaport on the Island of Cebu in the Philippines.

15. (computer science) A measure of how densely information is packed on a storage medium.

16. The compass point that is midway between north and northeast.

17. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

19. A genus of Platalea.

21. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

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

25. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

28. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

29. A software system that facilitates the creation and maintenance and use of an electronic database.

30. A French abbot.

32. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

33. United States conductor (born in Japan in 1935).

37. A sock with a separation for the big toe.

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

44. A city in the European part of Russia.

45. Vietnamese New Year.

46. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

48. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

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

50. (Greek mythology) Daughter of Zeus and Demeter.

DOWN 1. French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920).

2. Any of several tall tropical palms native to southeastern Asia having egg-shaped nuts.

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

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

5. A small cake leavened with yeast.

6. The upper side of the thighs of a seated person.

7. English essayist (1775-1834).

8. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

9. God of fire.

10. 100 toea equal 1 kina.

18. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

20. A son who has the same first name as his father.

22. A river of southwestern Africa that rises in central Angola and flows east and then north (forming part of the border between Angola and Congo) and continuing northwest through Congo to empty into the Congo River on the border between Congo and Republic of the Congo.

23. Extremely pleasing.

26. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

27. Very dark black.

31. The second larges of the four main islands of Japan.

34. An artificial language intended for international use as an auxiliary language.

35. A small adhesive disk of paste.

36. Jordan's port.

38. In bed.

39. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

40. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

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

43. A shape that sags.

47. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

Yesterday’s Solution

Page 45

Friday, February 5, 2010

COUNTRY CODES

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY A r i es ( M ar ch 21 - A pr i l 19 ) "Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories." So said the ancient Greek historian Polybius, and now I'm conveying the message to you. I hope it will serve as a spur in the wake of your recent triumph. Will you be content with merely basking in the glow, frittering away the provocative potentials? Or will you get down to business and use your new advantages to upgrade your destiny to what we might refer to as Aries 2.0?

Ta ur u s ( A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 20 ) "Whatever shines should be observed," said 19th-century astronomer William Herschel, discoverer of the planet Uranus.

He was referring to his specialty, heavenly bodies, but I'd like to expand the meaning for your use.

According to my analysis, it has become very important for you to notice, observe, and think about anything that shines. Doing so will tune you in to exactly what you need to know in order to make the best decisions in the coming weeks.

Gemini (May 21-J une 20) "One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time," wrote French author Andre Gide. I'm guessing that 2009 was a time when you embarked on such a search, Gemini -- a half-blind, groping exploration that asked you to leave the past behind without knowing where the future lay. By now, though, I suspect you have sighted the shore of your new frontier. If you haven't yet, it'll happen soon.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) I wonder if you can you handle this much healing intensity, Cancerian.

The possibilities for transforming difficult parts of your life are substantial. I'll name a few ways this could play out: 1. A confusing riddle may be partially solved through a semi-divine intervention. 2. A sore spot could be soothed thanks to the power of your curiosity. 3. An ignorance that has caused you pain may be illuminated, allowing you to suffer less. 4. If you can summon the capacity to generously tolerate uncertainty, you may find and rehabilitate an orphaned part of your life. I'm not saying for sure that any of this stuff will happen, but the odds are favorable that at least one will.

L e o ( Ju l y 2 3 - Au g u s t 2 2 ) What will it be, Leo? A time of rampaging ids and slamming doors and lost opportunities?

Of strange smells and sweeping views of other people's hells? Or will this be the week you finally slip into the magic sanctuary and track down the secret formula? Will this be the breakthrough moment when you outmaneuver the "dragon" with that non-violent "weapon" you've been saving for when it was absolutely necessary? It really is up to you. Either scenario could unfold. You have to decide which one you prefer, and then set your intention.

Virg o ( Au gu st 2 3 - Se pt em b er 22) I don't mean to alarm you, but I think you may be in a light hypnotic trance right now. It's possible that the thrumming hum of your routine has shut down some of your normal alertness, lowering your awareness of certain situations that you really need to tune in to. Let's do something about this! When I count to three, you will hereby snap out of your daze and become fully awake.

1 . . . 2 . . . 3. Now look around you and get yourself more closely in touch with your immediate environment. Make an effort to vividly see and hear and smell everything that's going on. This will have the effect of mobilizing your subconscious mind. Then, for a period of at least five days, you'll have a kind of X-ray vision.

Libra (September 23O ctober 22) You would stir up some good fortune for yourself if you brought meals to shut-ins or gave a little presentation at an old folks'

home or donated your old laptop to a lowincome family. Oddly enough, it's also an excellent time for you to scratch and claw for a bigger market share, or to get the upper hand on a competitor, or to bring your creative ideas to people in a position to help you. That's the odd thing about this week. Capitalist-style self-promotion and actualized compassion will not only coexist -- they'll have a symbiotic relationship.

S c or pi o ( Oc t obe r 23- N ove m ber 21) Last week was the anniversary of my very first weekly horoscope column, which appeared years ago in the Good Times, a newspaper in Santa Cruz, California. My initial effort was crude and a bit reckless compared to what I eventually learned to create. And yet it was imbued with a primal fervor and heartfelt adventurousness that had a certain charm, and many people seemed to find it useful. Today I bow down to that early effort, honoring it for the seed it sprouted and thanking it for the blessings it led to. I encourage you to do something similar to what I just described, Scorpio: Pay homage to the origins that made it possible for you to be who you have become.

Sagittarius (November 22D e c e m b e r 2 1 ) In the Choctaw language, there are two kinds of past tenses. In one, you speak about an event or experience that you personally know to be a fact. In the other, you deliver information that you have acquired second-hand and therefore can't definitely vouch for. In my perfect world, you Sagittarians would find a way to incorporate this perspective into all your communications during the coming week. In other words, you would consistently distinguish between the unimpeachable truth and the alleged truth. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this would give you great power to influence the rhythms of life to flow in your favor.

C a p r i c o r n ( D e c e m be r 2 2 January 19) "The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired," wrote music critic Ernest Newman, "but becomes inspired because he is working.

Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration." I think what Newman said applies to those working in any field where creativity is needed -- which is really just about every field. Given your current astrological omens, Capricorn, it's especially apropos for you now. This is an excellent time to increase your mastery of the kind of discipline that spurs inventive thought and surprising breakthroughs.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) got an email from an Aquarian reader complaining that the astrologers she consulted in early 2009, including me, were wrong about the year ahead. All of us said it would be a time of expansion and opening for your tribe, a phase of rapid growth and fresh energy. But according to this reader, 2009 turned out to be very different. Every Aquarius she knew had a tough ride. Here's my response: Expansion and opening did indeed occur, but their initial effects weren't what you expected. They shattered the old containers of your life in order to make it possible for you to create new, bigger containers that would be more suitable for the person you're becoming. And this year, 2010, is when you will work in earnest to create those new containers. Now's a good time to dig in.

Pisces (Februar y 19-March 20) I wish you could aim tachyon particles through an inverted positronic array while simultaneously modulating synaptical relays through an antimatter torque-buffer. This would bend the space-time continuum back to a point before your recent detour began. Then, armed with knowledge of the future, you'd be able to navigate your way more elegantly through the crazy mash of illusions and misunderstandings. But since the high-tech solution I described may not be possible, I suggest that instead you clear your head of theories about why people are doing what they're doing. Slow yourself down so completely that you can see the majestic flicker of eternity hidden in every moment. Be a flame of love, not a swamp of self-justification. And send humble notes and witty gifts to anyone whose links with you got tweaked.

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965

Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Majorca Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Namibia Nepal Netherlands (Holland) Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Nigar Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Ireland (UK) North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts Saint Lucia Saint Pierre Saint Vincent Samoa US Samoa West San Marino Sao Tone Saudi Arabia Scotland (UK) Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Toga Tonga Tokelau Trinidad Tunisia Turkey Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay

00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389 00261 0034 00265 0060 00960 00223 00356 00692 00596 00222 00230 00269 0052 00691 00373 00377 00976 001664 00212 00258 0095 00264 00977 0031 00599 00687 0064 00505 00227 00234 00683 00672 0044 00850 0047 00968 0092 00680 00507 00675 00595 0051 0063 0048 00351 001787 00974 0040 007 00250 00290 001869 001758 00508 001784 00684 00685 00378 00239 00966 0044 00221 00284 00232 0065 00421 00386 00677 00252 0027 0082 0034 0094 00249 00597 00268 0046 0041 00963 00886 00255 0066 00228 00676 00690 001868 00216 0090 00688 00256 00380 00976 0044 00598

WHAT’S ON

Page 46

Friday, February 5, 2010

Marriott Hotels host blood donation campaign

T

Cinemagic’s schedule

he JW Marriott Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Hotel and Arraya Ballroom held a blood donation campaign as part of the Marriott Hotels Corporate Social Responsibility. This initiative which portrays a renowned tradition of the Marriott hotels is known as “The Spirit to serve our Communities.”

This custom is a means of reflecting genuine motives and actions to make a

*Saturday, February 6th When Mariam Spoke, Lebanon 2001 Director: Asad Fouladkar Genre: Drama | 98 min | English Subtitle Rated: 15+ Ziyad and Maryam are a happy young couple in Lebanon, yet after three years of marriage they remain childless. Due to intense family pressure, they try everything they can but eventually learn that Maryam is infertile. Ziyad repeatedly reassures her of his undying love, but family and social pressure, particularly his evil, meddling mother, gradually poison their happy relationship until the love, enthusiasm and humour of their early days soon take a tragic turn.

■■■■■■■ *Thursday, February 11th Underground, Serbia 1994 Director: Emir Kusturica Genre: Comedy | 170 min | English Subtitle Rated: PG 15 This extraordinarily dramatic black tragi-comedy is an epic tale of love, friendship and betrayal set against the complex historical backdrop of the former Yugoslavia. The story follows two likeable crooks - Marko, a charmer who manipulates everyone within his reach, and the foolish but loveable Blacky - and Natalija, an actress of easy virtue with whom they are both in love.

The three become embroiled in a world of conflict, self-delusion and deceit but where there are also moments of

tenderness and love - in this visionary allegory of Balkan vitality, energy, humour and the will to survive.

■■■■■■■ *Saturday, February 13th SURPRISE FILM Contact via: screenings@cinemagics.com; or join our Facebook’s group “Cinemagic Kuwait.

■■■■■■■ *Saturday, February 20th Requiem For A Dream, USA 2000 Director: Darren Aronofsky Genre: Adventure | Mystery | 102 min | English Subtitle Rated: 18 Drugs. They consume mind, body and soul. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked. Four lives. Four addicts. Four failures. Doing their best to succeed in the world, but failing miserably, four people get hooked on various drugs.

Despite their aspirations of greatness, they succumb to their addictions.

Watching the addicts spiral out of control, we bear witness to the dirtiest, ugliest portions of the underworld addicts reside in. It is shocking and eye opening but demands to be seen by both addicts and non-addicts alike ■■■■■■■ *Thursday, February 25th Corpse Bride, USA 2005 Director: Tim Burton Genre: Animation | Drama | 80 min | English Subtitle

difference in the lives of others, and to give to the community and society, in which all Hotel associates take part in activities addressing social needs of their local requirements.

Being one of the main leading Hotels in the local hospitality industry, Marriott Hotels in Kuwait fulfilled its role as a Corporate Company, by hosting a blood donation drive in cooperation with the

Rated: PG 13 Set back in the late 1800s in a Victorian village, a man and woman by the names of Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot are betrothed because the Everglots need the money or else they’ll be living on the streets and the Van Dorts want to be hight in society.

But when things go wrong at the wedding rehearsal, Victor goes into the woods to practice his vows. Just as soon

Kuwait Central Blood Bank. Hotel Associates donated their blood to this valuable cause.

“The Blood Donation Campaign is a series of our ongoing efforts extended by the Hotel to contribute to social activities. We are extremely proud of our associates who volunteered and donated happily and were proud to take part in this campaign,” said George Aoun, General Manager.

as he gets them right, he finds himself married to Emily, the corpse bride.

While Victoria waits on the other side, there’s a rich newcomer that may take Victor’s place. So two brides, one groom, who will Victor pick?

■■■■■■■ *Saturday, February 27th Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, Germany 2005 Director: Mark Rothemund Genre: Drama | 127 min | English Subtitle Rated: 15+ The Final Days is the true story of Germany’s most famous anti-Nazi heroine brought to life. Sophie Scholl is the fearless activist of the underground student resistance group, The White Rose. Using historical records of her incarceration, the film re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl’s life: a journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence in 1943 Munich.

Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her comrades, her crossexamination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless .

Contact via: screenings@cinemagics.com; or join our Facebook’s group “Cinemagic Kuwait.

• Screenings will be canceled when confronted with very bad weather.

• Screenings will take place at our location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

WHAT’S ON

Friday, February 5, 2010

Announcements

MARCH 26 CRYcket 2010: the 13th annual crycket tournament is scheduled to be held on Friday, 26th March 2010 at the KOC Hockey Grounds, Ahmadi. This tournament is organized by FOCC (Friends of Cry Club). Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) is associated with CRY (Child Rights and You), India and its main objectives are to create awareness of the underprivileged Indian children, help restore their basic rights, strive to provide support in personal development of the Indian children in Kuwait and bring out the qualities of social commitment in them. FOCC has been organizing CRY awareness programmes for children through its two annual events CRYcket (Cricket match for children below 14 years organized annually since 1997) and CRY chess tournament (for children of all ages organized annually since 2005) - and ‘Brain Bang’ programme which is an ongoing biweekly Accelerated Learning activity. CRYcket will be played by 24 teams of children and about 500 spectators are expected for this special one-day event. The deadline to receive the registration forms is 18th March 2010, however registration may be close earlier if the available slots of 12 teams in each category are filled. A colourful souvenir will be released to mark the 13th year of FOCC’s activities in Kuwait. For details how to become a sponsor and/or to advertise in the Souvenir or to volunteer as a FOCC member, pls visit www.focckwt.org or email focckwt@yahoo.com April 16 Friends of Kannur holds drama competition: Friends of Kannur Expatriates Association (FOKE) is arranging a drama competition for their forthcoming fifth anniversary celebration. Competition will be held on April 16th at Daiya Auditorium.

Applications are invited from all art lovers in Kuwait to participate in this drama competition.

Drama should be in Malayalam language and should be less than 40 minutes duration. All those who wish to participate in this competition are requested to submit their application along with a copy of their script before February 15th 2010. For further details you may contact 65071434, 99860832.

(From left) Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Ajai Malhotra, KKK’s General Secretary Anil Prabhu, Treasurer R Hombali, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, KKK’s President Harsha Rao, and Vice-President Subhadra Surana.

D

uring the two-day visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to Kuwait (on February 3 and 4), the Executive Committee of Kuwait Kannada Koota had an opportunity to meet with him and brief him on the activities of the Koota in Kuwait. The Koota representatives also presented a memento in commemoration of his visit to

Kuwait. SM Krishna hails from Karnataka and served as Chief Minister of Karnataka state from 1999 to 2004. He is largely credited with transforming Bangalore to the IT capital of India (also referred to as Silicon Valley of India). He later served as Governor of Maharashtra state from 2004 to 2008. He is a Fulbright scholar and is known to have keen interest in playing tennis.

Kuwait Kannada Koota is a pioneer cultural association in Kuwait, currently in its 26th year of existence. The objective of the Koota is to create awareness of the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka among its members and specifically the Koota children through cultural programs, knowledge exchanges and interaction with visiting luminaries from India.

Malayalam playback singer Vidhu Pratap and his wife Deepthi Vidhu Pratap arrived at Kuwait International Airport. They were given a warm welcome by the committee members of AMICOS - Kuwait chapter led by President Jaison Varghese.

P

Table of Events February 5-11, 2010 Kids Marathon 5/2/2010 13:00 Souq Sharq Zain Family Marathon 6/2/2010 13:00 Souq Sharq Kites festival 6-11/2/2010 1-6 pm Messiela, besides Messiela Gas Station ‘My Achievements Festival’ for people with special needs 7-8/2/2010 5:00 pm Souq Sharq

Hamra Mall Complex 7-11/2/2010 5:00 pm Farwaniya ‘Show Us What’re You’re Made of’ festival 7-9/2/2010 4:00 pm Souq Sharq Circus Daily 3:30-6:00 pm Souq Sharq Marquee Daily 10:00 am- 10:00 pm Yard opposite Souq Sharq

PAWS 2010 dogs show

FEB 6 Animal Friends Yard Sale: Huge Yard Sale — antiques, collectibles, book worms treasure trove, gently used infant clothing and toys, gently used adult clothes and shoes, Indonesian teak furniture, home wares, gourmet kitchen gadgets, dishes, pots and pans and so much more. Come on over and rummage through the goods and you might find a treasure. All funds will go to support Animal Friends. When: Saturday 6 February, 2010, 10:00am to 3 pm Where: Call 6700 1622 or e-mail info@animalfriendskuwait.org for address.

Kuwait Kannada Koota meets with Indian External Affairs Minister

Hala February 2010

Today Annual day: Association of Mar Ivanios College Old Students is celebrating its 13th Annual Day at Indian Community School Kheitan on 5th February 2010 at 1830 Hrs. Indian Embassy First Secretary Mahajan, Indian School Secretary Mr. Rajan Daniel, Kheitan Indian School Principal Ms. Sreedevi Pradeep, Office bearers of other Alumni Associations are guests of honor for the evening. Celebrity playback singer Vidhu Prathap and his wife, the accomplished dancer and TV Anchor Mrs. Deepthi will be the Chief Guests. AMICOS members Dr. Mathew Lasarus, who is leaving Kuwait after his long service with the Ministry of Health and Poetess Ms. Blessy Kadavil will be honored during the function. The evening filled with entertainment programs will commence with “Rangapooja” by Mrs Deepthi Vidhu Prathap & culminate with the AMICOS Orchestra led by Vidhu Prathap & Dr. Jaison followed by dinner. All Mar Ivanios College Students who have not yet got their passes may contact amicoskuwait@gmail.com or Cell Phone 99046479 and collect their passes. The program is open only to AMICOS family and invited guests.

Page 47

AWS are happy to announce their first event of 2010 will be the 5th Annual Paws for the Cause Dog Show in the beautiful British Embassy Gardens on 5th March 2010. Registration is now open for entry into the Dog Show.

The gate will open at 11am and the show will close at 4pm.

This year will be bigger and better than ever with 9 categories in all including the new category best Rescue dog. Whether your dog is the most obedient, can do the best trick or just simply looks adorable or is getting on a bit then there will be a category for you.

There is even the most mysterious heritage category for those with a questionable pedigree! It’s a lot of fun and very light-hearted so why not see if your Mutt has a little bit of star quality.

Alternatively you may just want to come and show off your pampered pooch and watch the show. The choice is yours. As well as the Dog Competitions there will be a Military Dog Display and stalls offering refreshments including a BBQ and tea and cakes so you can enjoy a tasty lunch in the gardens.

Other stalls include pet products, a bookstall, Bric a Brac, bouncy castle, face

painting and many more.

Dog Classes are already filling so hurry and get your application in.

And remember You do not need a dog to come along and enjoy a fun-filled family day. This promises to be a great day out for the whole family so if you wish to attend then visit our website at www.paws-kuwait.org to download the application form.

Completed registration forms can then be left at The Cutting Edge Salon, Salmiya 25718001 or Soho Salon Fintas, 23902077. Please ensure your form, with correct admission fee, is placed in a sealed envelope at either salon.

Registration closes March 2nd.

There will unfortunately be no admittance to you or your pets to the British Embassy on the day without preregistration. No ‘walk-ins’ by unregistered guests can be permitted.

PAWS-Protecting Animal Welfare Society, Kuwait is affiliated to KEPS, Kuwait Environmental Protection Society, WSPA, World Society for the Protection of Animals, The RSPCA International and MENAW, Middle East Network for Animal Welfare E-mail at pawsq8@yahoo.com Tel: 99440089

Page 48

Friday, February 5, 2010

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

“IN CASE YOU ARE NOT TRAVELLING, YOUR PROPER CANCELLATION OF BOOKINGS WILL HELP OTHER PASSENGERS TO USE SEATS”.

Arrival Flights on Friday 05/02/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut Tunis Air 327 Tunis/Dubai Wataniya Airways 2011 Sharm El Sheikh Royal Jordanian 802 Amman Wataniya Airways 2103 Beirut Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Kuwait 544 Cairo Jazeera 0513 Sharm El Sheikh Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul DHL 370 Bahrain Jazeera 0241 Amman 853 Dubai Emirates Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Air France 6770 Paris Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Kuwait 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Jazeera 0529 Assiut Jazeera 0481 Sabiha British 0157 London Kuwait 206 Islamabad Kuwait 352 Cochin Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Kuwait 286 Chittagong Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 619 Lar Middle East 404 Beirut Yemenia 825 Sanaa Pakistan 239 Sialkot Egypt Air 610 Cairo Jazeera 0171 Dubai Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Kuwait 552 Damascus Kuwait 744 Dammam Jazeera 0457 Damascus Qatari 0134 Doha Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 546 Alexandria Royal Jordanian 800 Amman Jazeera 0173 Dubai Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Etihad 0303 Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabian A/L 510 Riyadh Jazeera 0239 Amman Arabia 0125 Sharjah Jazeera 0367 Deirezzor Wataniya Airways 2101 Beirut Jazeera 0497 Riyadh Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai United A/L 982 Washington Dc Dulles Jazeera 0427 Bahrain

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

Wataniya Airways DHL Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Indian Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Wataniya Airways Oman Air Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Gulf Air Kuwait Middle East Qatari Emirates Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Global Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Egypt Air Shaheen Air Lufthansa Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Pakistan

2003 473 1025 542 618 674 166 0177 614 774 575 102 562 512 1201 0647 506 0459 217 786 402 0136 859 502 0449 0429 081 0117 0185 612 606 441 636 2201 1029 1129 215

Cairo Baghdad Dubai Cairo Doha Dubai Paris/Rome Dubai Bahrain Riyadh Chennai/Goa New York/London Amman Mumbai Jeddah Muscat Jeddah Damascus Bahrain Jeddah Beirut Doha Dubai Beirut Doha Bahrain Baghdad Abu Dhabi Dubai Cairo Luxor Lahore/Karachi Frankfurt Amman Dubai Bahrain Karachi

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

Departure Flights on Friday 05/02/2010 Airlines Flt Route Time Egypt Air 607 Luxor 00:01 Jazeera 0528 Assiut 00:05 India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode 00:30 United A/L 981 Washington Dc Dulles 00:40 Tunis Air 328 Tunis 01:00 Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Chennai 01:05 Pakistan 206 Lahore 01:10 Bangladesh 044 Dhaka 01:15 Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt 01:20 Safi A/W 216 Kabul 02:30 Kuwait 283 Dhaka 02:55 DHL 371 Bahrain 03:15 Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul 03:15 Emirates 854 Dubai 03:50 Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi 04:10 Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa 04:15 Qatari 0139 Doha 05:00 Air France 6770 Dubai/Hong Kong 06:20 Jazeera 0164 Dubai 07:00 Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai 07:00 Royal Jordanian 803 Amman 07:05 Jazeera 0524 Alexandria 07:20 Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo 07:30 Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi 07:35 Jazeera 0446 Doha 07:40 Gulf Air 212 Bahrain 07:45 Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain 07:50 Jazeera 0422 Bahrain 07:55 Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus 08:10 Kuwait 545 Alexandria 08:30 Jazeera 0256 Beirut 08:35 British 0156 London 08:55 Jazeera 0170 Dubai 09:00

Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Arabia Emirates Kuwait Qatari Etihad Kuwait Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Iran Air Middle East Yemenia Pakistan Egypt Air Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Global Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Wataniya Airways Jet A/W Oman Air Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Gulf Air DHL Kuwait Middle East Jazeera Kuwait Qatari Kuwait Emirates Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Jazeera Kuwait

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

671 551 0456 0122 856 117 0133 0302 173 2002 214 743 541 0172 2100 0366 0238 103 618 405 825 240 611 1024 673 561 0496 0176 1200 0426 0458 617 785 501 773 613 801 0135 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 0184 0116 2200 082 0448 0428 2102 228 1028 361 343 1128 571 0648 331 507 218 171 675 403 0188 203 0137 301 860 0636 0526 613 0502 411

Dubai Damascus Damascus Sharjah Dubai New York Doha Abu Dhabi Frankfurt/Geneva Cairo Bahrain Dammam Cairo Dubai Beirut Deirezzor Amman London Lar Beirut Doha/Sanaa Sialkot Cairo Dubai Dubai Amman Riyadh Dubai Jeddah Bahrain Damascus Doha Jeddah Beirut Riyadh Bahrain Amman Doha Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Dubai Abu Dhabi Amman Baghdad Doha Bahrain Beirut Dubai/Colombo Dubai Colombo Chennai Bahrain Mumbai Muscat Trivandrum Jeddah Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Beirut Dubai Lahore Doha Mumbai Dubai Aleppo Alexandria Cairo Luxor Bangkok/Manila

09:00 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:20 10:20 11:30 11:40 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:35 13:40 13:55 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:10 15:25 15:30 15:35 15:45 16:10 16:10 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:55 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:50 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:30 20:20 20:50 21:00 21:10 21:20 21:25 21:55 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 23:10 23:20 23:25 23:45 23:50 23:55

CLASSIFIEDS

Friday, February 5, 2010

FOR SALE

ACCOMMODATION Spacious room with attached bath available for an executive bachelor/ spinster in Hawally close to Tunis street. Centrally located.

Contact: 97563283/ 66705749. (C 20276) 3-2-2010 Sharing accommodation available near Amiri hospital Sharq, couple or working ladies or bachelor.

Contact: 55941621. (C 20274) 2-2-2010 One self contained room, suitable for single person, preferably Goans. Rent KD 60. Contact: 25627593.

1-2-2010 One room to let in a three bedroom flat in Khaitan on the airport avenue. Suitable for a Westerner ,a young couple or a single male high flying executive.

Call 97850290 Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian bachelor at Salmiya near Edee store, rent KD 60.

Contact: 99838117, 25635450. (C 20264) Furnished single room accommodation available in a 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom flat for Muslim working lady in Farwaniya. Contact: 67056991. (C 20265) 31-1-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya. Only for Keralite couples and ladies bachelors. Contact: 97134824. (C 20258)

Page 49

Toyota Jeep Prado, model 2008, white color, V6 cylinder engine, alloy rim, CD, fog lamp, wooden interior, excellent condition, cash price KD 7,650 (installment possible).

Contact: 66507741. (C 20284) Toyota Camry XLI, 4 cylinders, model 2006, white color, done 47,000 km, excellent condition, price 3,150.

Contact: KD 97213518. (C 20281) 2007 Pajero, black, sunroof, full options, done 29,000 km, excellent condition, KD 5,500. Contact: 97454416. (C 20285) Mazda Zoom 3, 2008 model, silver color, 58,000 kms, single owner, dealer maintained, excellent condition, KD 2,850. Call: 97915262. (C 20280)

MATRIMONIAL Invited for Keralite RC boy, 30/170/BA/DME, working KRH Kuwait from professionally qualified girls.

Email: abilashdk@gmail.com / abilashkaranath@yahoo.co m (C 20238) 4-2-2010 Groom wanted for RC girl, 23, 5.4, from Ernakulam, MBA (HR & MKT), working as Assistant HR Manager in a reputed MNC, seeking alliance from Roman Catholic family, professionally qualified persons. Chavara matrimonial ID: er15509.

Contact: mail2bnj@gmail.com (C 20263)

SITUATION VACANT Part-time maid required for an Indian family in Farwaniya, near fire station. Time from 1:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Please call 66267690. (C 20279) Full-time English speaking maid with own residency.

Friday holiday. For English working adults with pets in Salwa. Tel: 97611015.

(C 20286) 4-2-2010

CHANGE OF NAME I, Manija Elizabeth Mathaikutty, holder of Indian Passport A8183425, hereby change

my name to Elizabeth Vinod.

Manija (C 20277)

I, Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab Shahida wife of Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab, born on 2nd September 1966, holding Indian Passport Number F8462504, shall henceforth be known as Shahida Abbas Hajji Ali Shahab Shahida. (C 20271) 1-2-2010

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 5622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 5752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 5321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 5739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 5757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 5732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 5732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz

4555050 Ext 510 5644660 5646478 5311996 5731988 2620166 5651426

General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi Dr. Yousef Al-Omar Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem Dr. Kathem Maarafi Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae

4555050 Ext 123 4719312 3926920 5730465 5655528 4577781 5333501

Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 2641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 2639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 2616660

Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 5313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

2547272 2617700 5625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar

3729596/3729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

2635047 2613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe Dr. Verginia s.Marin Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly Dr. Salem soso

3729596/3729581 572-6666 ext 8321 2655539 5343406 5739272 2618787

General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 5717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 2610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 5327148

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra Dr. Mobarak Aldoub Dr Nasser Behbehani

5728004 5355515 4726446 5654300/3

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed Dr. Zahra Qabazard Dr. Sohail Qamar Dr. Snaa Maaroof Dr. Pradip Gujare Dr. Zacharias Mathew

5340300 5710444 2621099 5713514 3713100 4334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada) 5655535 Dentists: Dr Anil Thomas Dr. Shamah Al-Matar Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

3729596/3729581 2641071/2 2562226 2561444 2619557 2525888 5653755 5620111

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada

2639939 2666300

Neurologists: Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 5633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 5345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman 2636464 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 5322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 2633135 Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 5339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 5658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 5329924 Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

5722291 2666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 5330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 5722290 Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 4555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 5339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555

Page 50

Friday, February 5, 2010

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

AMERICA PLUS Ashes to Ashes Life on Mars Knight Rider Dawsons Creek Life on Mars One Tree Hill No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Ashes to Ashes Without a Trace Ghost Whisperer Knight Rider Dawsons Creek No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency One Tree Hill Knight Rider Life on Mars Without a Trace Ghost Whisperer Ashes to Ashes Tess of the D’Urbervilles Without a Trace Inside the Actors Studio Inside the Actors Studio Rescue Me BBC ENTERTAINMENT The Mighty Boosh The Mighty Boosh Little Britain Coast Ancient Rome Massive Carrie & Barry The Mighty Boosh Coast Bargain Hunt Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Tommy Zoom Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Bargain Hunt Coast Ancient Rome The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Blackadder the Third Blackadder the Third The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Green Green Grass Green Green Grass Antiques Roadshow The Weakest Link Doctors Judge John Deed Hustle BBC LIFESTYLE The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Masterchef Goes Large Masterchef Goes Large Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Living In The Sun Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Boys’ Weekend The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Masterchef Goes Large Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Living In The Sun A Week Of Dressing Dangerously A Week Of Dressing Dangerously Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Living In The Sun Antiques Roadshow A Week Of Dressing Dangerously A Week Of Dressing Dangerously Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Daily Cooks Challenge Daily Cooks Challenge Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Antiques Roadshow A Week Of Dressing Dangerously A Week Of Dressing Dangerously Living In The Sun Daily Cooks Challenge Daily Cooks Challenge Masterchef Goes Large Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Living In The Sun What Not To Wear Boys’ Weekend CIN EMA CI TY

Downloading Nancy on Show Movies 1 Outside Ozona - 18 The Contender - 18 Nearing Grace - 18 Maradona: The Hand Of God - PG

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

Nicholas Nickleby - PG 15 I Love You, I Love You Not - PG 15 Stolen Summer - PG Class Action - PG 15 Limbo - PG 15 Return To Rajapur - PG 15 A Few Good Men - PG 15

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

DI SCOVERY HD Ultimate Survival Mythbusters GT Racer Street Customs American Chopper How Stuff’s Made Risk Takers Alaska’s Great Race Smash Lab Sunrise Earth International Fantastic Festivals Of The World Mythbusters How Stuff’s Made How Stuff’s Made Deadliest Catch Sci-Trek Globeriders Risk Takers Mythbusters How Stuff’s Made How Stuff’s Made Smash Lab Fantastic Festivals Of The World Sci-Trek Weird Connections Weird Connections American Chopper Globeriders Alaska’s Great Race Deadliest Catch Sci-Trek Time Warp

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:55 03:50 04:45 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:45 10:10

DI SCOVERY CHANNEL Untamed & Uncut Miami Ink Street Customs Berlin American Chopper Chop Shop Mythbusters How Stuff Works Ultimate Survival Extreme Engineering Chop Shop Street Customs Berlin How Do They Do It? Mythbusters

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

Ultimate Survival Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds How Do They Do It? How Stuff Works Fifth Gear American Chopper Miami Ink Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds Street Customs Berlin How Do They Do It? How Stuff Works Wheeler Dealers Wheeler Dealers American Chopper Street Customs

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

DI SCOVERY SCIENCE Mega World Human Body: Ultimate Machine The Future of...

Mission Implausible Beyond Tomorrow Ten Ways How Stuff’s Made Green Wheels One Step Beyond Human Body: Ultimate Machine Scrappy Races Ten Ways The Future of...

How Stuff’s Made Stunt Junkies Human Body: Ultimate Machine Green Wheels One Step Beyond Ten Ways The Future of...

Super Comet: After the Impact How Stuff’s Made Scrappy Races Brainiac Mega World Sci-Fi Science Sci-Fi Science Weird Connections Weird Connections How It’s Made How It’s Made Mythbusters Sci-Fi Science Sci-Fi Science Weird Connections

00:00 00:20 00:45

DISN EY CH ANN EL My Friends Tigger and Pooh Handy Manny Special Agent Oso

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

IMAGINATION MOVERS Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Brandy & Mr Whiskers Fairly Odd Parents Hannah Montana I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas & Ferb Higglytown Heroes My Friends Tigger and Pooh Handy Manny Special Agent Oso IMAGINATION MOVERS Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Brandy & Mr Whiskers Fairly Odd Parents Hannah Montana I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Replacements American Dragon Kim Possible Famous Five Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb Replacements I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana The Replacements Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life of Zack & Cody The Suite Life of Zack & Cody The Replacements Pixel Perfect Phineas & Ferb

E! ENTERTAINMENT 00:15 Streets Of Hollywood 00:40 THS 01:30 Extreme Hollywood 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 THS 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 Beauty Queens Gone Wrong 07:45 Fashion Police 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 09:50 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 10:15 THS 11:05 THS 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Perfect Catch 13:40 25 Most Sensational Hollywood Meltdowns 15:25 Behind The Scenes 15:50 Behind The Scenes 16:15 E!es 17:10 Leave It To Lamas 17:35 Leave It To Lamas 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Streets Of Hollywood 19:15 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 19:40 THS 20:30 THS 21:20 E!es 21:45 Kendra 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210 23:50 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05

FOOD NETWORK Chopped Throwdown With Bobby Flay Throwdown With Bobby Flay Food Network Challenge Iron Chef America Throwdown With Bobby Flay Throwdown With Bobby Flay Teleshopping Teleshopping Teleshopping Teleshopping Teleshopping Teleshopping Giada At Home Giada At Home Barefoot Contessa 30 Minute Meals 30 Minute Meals Rescue Chef with Danny Boome

10:30 11:00 11:30 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 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

Rescue Chef with Danny Boome Tyler’s Ultimate Tyler’s Ultimate Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Giada At Home Giada At Home 30 Minute Meals 30 Minute Meals Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Grill It! with Bobby Flay Grill It! with Bobby Flay Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Tyler’s Ultimate Tyler’s Ultimate Rescue Chef with Danny Boome Rescue Chef with Danny Boome Grill It! with Bobby Flay Grill It! with Bobby Flay Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Food Network Challenge Iron Chef America

01:35 03:35 05:10 06:35 08:10 10:20 11:55 13:35 15:05 16:45 18:35 20:15 22:00 23:30

MGM The Innocent Roadhouse 66 Miracle Mile Prime Target The Hawaiians A Green Journey Beach Party Fast Food Untamed Heart The Playboys Man in the Moon After the Fox Access Code Operation Lookout

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NAT GEO WILD HD Cheetah Blood Brothers Hunter Hunted World’s Deadliest Animals Hippo Hell Hunter Hunted World’s Deadliest Animals Cheetah Blood Brothers Hunter Hunted World’s Deadliest Animals Hippo Hell Hunter Hunted World’s Deadliest Animals Animal Extractors World’s Deadliest Animals Rhino Rescue Dangerous Encounters Relentless Enemies Rhino Rescue Dangerous Encounters Relentless Enemies Animal Extractors World’s Deadliest Animals

OSN COMEDY 00:00 Rita Rocks 00:30 New adventures of old Christine 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien 03:00 Family Guy 03:30 Entourage 04:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 05:00 Rita Rocks 05:30 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien 06:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 07:00 Home Improvement 07:30 The Simpsons 08:00 Coach 08:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 09:00 The Colbert Report 09:30 Drew Carey Show 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Frasier 11:00 All of us 11:30 Eight Simple Rules 12:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 New adventures of old Christine 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Home Improvement 14:30 Note from the underbelly 15:00 Coach 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 George Lopez 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 After You’ve Gone 18:30 Seinfeld 19:00 How I met you mother 19:30 Two and a half men 20:00 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Cougar Town 22:30 Entourage 23:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 00:30

OSN MOVIES HD House - PG

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Friday, February 5, 2010 01:15 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00

C.s.i. - PG 15 Charlie Wilson’s War - 18 Hot Rod - PG 15 Zoolander - PG 15 Beverly Hills Chihuahua - PG Definitely Maybe - PG 15 Mamma Mia - PG 15 Beverly Hills Chihuahua - PG Definitely Maybe - PG 15 House - PG C.s.i. - PG 15 Transporter 3 - 18 A Mighty Heart - 18

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

OSN VARI ETY What’s Good For You 10 Years Younger Look A Like The Ellen Degeneres Show The Monique Show Huey’s Cooking Adventure Fresh The Best of Jay Leno GMA LIVE GMA Health What’s the Buzz What’s Good For You Jimmy Kimmel The View The Ellen Degeneres Show Chef’s Table Fresh What’s Good For You GMA LIVE GMA Health What’s the Buzz Look A Like 10 Years Younger The View The Ellen Degeneres Show Jimmy Kimmel Jay Leno The Monique Show

08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 09:55 10:10 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:15 12:55 13:05 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:00 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:15 20:40 20:50 21:00

PLAYHOUSE DI SNEY Special Agent Oso Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Imagination Movers Chuggington Chuggington Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Imagination Movers My Friends Tigger and Pooh Chuggington Special Agent Oso Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jo Jo’s Circus Jo Jo’s Circus Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes My Friends Tigger and Pooh Chuggington Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Chuggington Chuggington Imagination Movers Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Handy Manny My Friends Tigger and Pooh End Of Programming

SHOW MOVIES 00:00 Quarantine - 18 02:00 Downloading Nancy - 18 04:00 This Christmas - PG 06:00 The Old Curiousity Shop - PG 08:00 The Forbidden Kingdom - PG 15 10:00 Dragonlance - PG 11:45 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix - PG 14:15 Bedtime Stories - FAM 16:00 The Forbidden Kingdom - PG 15 18:00 Speed Racer - PG 20:00 Body Of Lies - 18 22:30 Tropic Thunder - 18

12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Touch And Go - PG Griffin And Phoenix - PG 15 Blue State - PG 15 The Informant - PG -15 Will You Merry Me - PG 15 Barely Legal - 18 SHOW M OVIES KID S Barbie Fairytopia - FAM Pokemon 3 The Movie - FAM Last Mimzy - PG Leave It To Beaver - PG Barbie And The Magic Of Pegasus -

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

Tommy And The Cool Mule - PG Welcome Back Pinocchio - FAM

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SHOW S ERIES Bones Dollhouse Parkinson Sex and the City Sex and the City The Murdoch Mysteries Ally Mcbeal Emmerdale According to Jim Parkinson Eureka The Murdoch Mysteries Ally Mcbeal Hotel Babylon Emmerdale According to Jim Turn Back Your Body Clock Turn Back Your Body Clock Bones Dollhouse Eureka Eureka According to Jim According to Jim Hotel Babylon Burn Notice Burn Notice Breaking Bad Sex and the City Sex and the City

Last Mimzy - PG Welcome Back Pinocchio - FAM Pokemon 3 The Movie - FAM The Good Witch - FAM Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus -

04:00 Futbol Mundial Premier League 04:30 Barclays Highlights 05:30 Weber Cup Bowling 06:30 World Sport 07:00 Portugol 07:30 Goals Goals Goals 08:00 European Tour Weekly 08:30 Super League 10:30 World Sport 11:00 Weber Cup Bowling 12:00 European Tour Weekly 12:30 Live PGA European Tour 16:30 Futbol Mundial 17:00 World Hockey 17:30 World Sport 18:00 Live Dubai International Racing Carnival 22:00 PGA European Tour 01:00 03:00 05:00 07:15 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 13:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

S HOW SPORTS 4 NCAA Basketball UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live NCAA Basketball WWE ECW WWE Vintage Collection British Triathlon NFL Gameday NFL Pro Bowl NCAA Basketball British Triathlon WWE Vintage Collection NCAA Basketball UFC 109 Countdown WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC 109 Countdown SUPER MOVI ES

01:00 The Kingdom - 18 03:00 Park - PG 15 05:00 Lost Holiday: The Jim And Suzanne Shemwell Story - PG 07:00 Stan Lee: The Condor - PG 09:00 Madagascar 2 - PG 11:00 Mongol - PG 13:00 Last Mimzy - PG 15:00 Madagascar 2 - PG 17:00 Marley And Me - PG 15 19:00 High School Musical 3: Senior Year 21:00 Music And Lyrics - PG 23:00 Rendition - R TCM 00:40 The Screening Room 01:05 Elvis on Tour 02:40 The Asphalt Jungle 04:30 The Screening Room 05:00 Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams 06:35 Bad Day at Black Rock 08:00 The Bad and the Beautiful 09:55 Nicholas and Alexandra 13:05 Boys’ Night Out 15:00 Ride the High Country 16:30 Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? 18:00 The King And Four Queens 19:30 The File Of The Golden Goose 21:25 Elvis on Tour 23:00 X Y & Zee 00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:55

THE HISTORY CHANNEL Mega Movers First 48 The Cold Case Files Decoding the Past Deep Wreck Mysteries Cities Of The Underworld

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

Modern Marvels Mega Movers Little Ice Age: Big Chill Decoding the Past Deep Wreck Mysteries Cities Of The Underworld Modern Marvels Mega Movers Little Ice Age: Big Chill Decoding the Past Deep Wreck Mysteries Cities Of The Underworld Modern Marvels Mega Movers Little Ice Age: Big Chill Decoding the Past Conspiracy?

UFO Files The Universe THE S TYLE NETW ORK Clean House Peter Perfect Running In Heels How Do I Look?

Split Ends Dr 90210 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Area How Do I Look?

Style Star Style Her Famous My Celebrity Home Style Star Dress My Nest Peter Perfect Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Ruby Giuliana And Bill

SHO W SPORTS 1 01:30 Premier League World 02:00 Barclays Premier League Review 03:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 04:00 Premier League 06:00 Premier League Classics 06:30 Premier League Classics 07:00 Dubai International Racing Carnival 11:00 Premier League Classics 11:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 12:00 Premier League World 12:30 Premier League 14:30 Premier League 16:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 17:30 Futbrasil 18:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 18:30 Premier League 20:30 Goals Goals Goals 21:00 Premier League World 21:30 Live Barclays Premier League Preview 22:30 Dubai International Racing Carnival

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

SH OW MOVIES ACTION From A Place Of Darkness - PG 15 Conspiracy - 18 The Return - PG 15 Sasquatch Hunters - PG 15 Highlander: The Source - PG 15 Solstice - 18 Double Team - PG 15 Highlander: The Source - PG 15 Copperhead - 18 Hotel California - 18 Road Of No Return - PG 15 It’s Alive - R

SHO W SPORTS 2 03:00 Premier League World 03:30 World of Golf 04:00 Super League 06:00 Premier League World 06:30 European Tour Weekly 07:00 World Hockey 07:30 World Sport 08:00 Scottish Premier Highlights 08:30 Futbol Mundial 09:00 Barclays Premier Highlights 10:00 Portugol 10:30 Fut Brasil 11:00 European Tour Weekly 11:30 Live Twenty20 Cricket 15:00 Barclays Premier Highlights 16:00 Premier League World 16:30 Weber Cup Bowling 17:30 Premier League Classics 18:00 Twenty20 Cricket 21:30 Barclays Premier League Show 22:00 Premier League World 22:30 World Sport 23:00 Live Super League

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00

SHOW MOVIES COMEDY Blue State - PG 15 Fanboys - PG 15 Zoolander - PG 15 Bridal Fever - PG Heartbreakers - PG 15 Ping Pong Playa - PG 15

SHO W SPORTS 3 00:00 Futbol Mundial 00:30 Portugol 01:30 Scottish Premier League 01:30 Scottish Premier Highlights 03:30 World Sport

League League

League

Preview

League

High School Musical 3: Senior Year on Super Movies

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Barrymore to spend Valentine’s alone aty Perry is buying Russell Brand a luxury car. The ‘I Kissed a Girl’ singer has decided to splash out on the lilac Bentley Brooklands which is based on the same one The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon used to have - as a surprise Valentine’s Day gift for her British fiance. A source said: “Katy really thought about this.

She’s been talking to a specialist dealership in Newport Beach, California, for weeks now, and it’s all starting to come together.

“Originally she was planning to buy him an Aston Martin but changed her mind when he spotted an 007 number plate in West Hollywood. She said James Bond wannabes were tasteless.

“So she asked his friends if he’d like a Bentley and they all said yes.” However, 34-year-old Russell knows nothing about the plan and thinks they will not be buying gifts for each other. The source added to the Daily Star newspaper: “Katy has tricked him into thinking they’re not bothering with presents.” This is not the first time the couple who have been dating since

K

Perry to buy Brand a car

September 2009 - have surprised one another. Katy was stunned when Russell proposed to her on New Year’s Eve during a meticulously-planned romantic evening during their holiday to India. A source at the luxurious Taj Rambagh palace hotel, where the couple were staying, explained: “He had organized a special dining experience. We set a table in a garden with candles everywhere. They arrived in a horse and carriage with a glass of champagne and we served them dinner. “At midnight they enjoyed fireworks while sitting on an elephant, which Mr. Brand specially requested. Then they were taken to the Mughal Garden - which was decorated by flowers and candlelight.”

rew Barrymore won’t spend Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend. The 34-year-old actress - who is rumored to be engaged to actor Justin Long - tries to be a loving girlfriend every day and so doesn’t want to turn the romantic festival into a big occasion, opting to spend it with her single pals instead. She explained: “I don’t really think about it very much other than just to be with the people you love. I don’t think I’ve ever done that really conventional romantic thing. “I like being with my friends and having a fun time. I feel so bad when that holiday makes people feel really bad, it’s not fair.” The ‘Charlie’s Angels’ star - who recently made her directorial debut with ‘Whip It!’ also spoke about her love of filmmaking, saying the best part of being behind the cameras is finally feeling able to put across her true self. She told Self magazine: “Just being able to convey my own human heart into a cinematic venue. I just wanted to talk about family and life and love and friendship, and trying to find your way into empowerment in life in a way that’s also fun and funny. For me, it’s just really trying to express myself into a film.”

D

he burlesque dancer admits she gets carried away when it comes to buying clothes for her shows but says they are worth it as they look so stunning. She said: “I know how to spend extravagantly - I think nothing of spending $8,000 on a corset for my show. My accountant once said he couldn’t understand how I spent $70,000 on a single dress, but then he came to my show and saw how lavish it was and told me afterwards that now he understood.” Although she can be reckless with her cash when it comes to stage outfits, Dita, 37, is a lot more savvy with her credit cards as she has experienced debt before and always ensures she stays in control of her spending. She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I learned when I was 18 about not ruining your credit rating spending on cards. When I first had credit cards I let a large balance accrue. It took me a long time to shake off the debt and for a while I had a very low credit score and couldn’t get a car loan. “Now I really value my spotless record - I pay my balances off every month and that means I can buy whatever I want. And I don’t focus on what my card limits are - I have girlfriends who see they have a $10,000 limit and max it out as if it’s their natural born right.”

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Dita Von Teese once spent $70,000 on a dress

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Hilton devastated by home burglary

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is worried to ‘plump up’ ennifer Garner is worried she’s going to get fat once she stops breastfeeding. The ‘Valentine’s Day’ actress is currently nursing her 13-month-old daughter Seraphina and fears she may pile on the pounds once she gives up. Jennifer - who also has a four-year-old daughter, Violet, with husband Ben Affleck - said: “I’m nursing. As soon as I’m done I’ll puff right back up.” The 37-year-old beauty recently revealed she struggles to be a working mother and finds it hard to find the right balance between her career and looking after her children. She said: “There’s an internal battle. I need to work, I need to work, I need to work and I need to be home with my kids and the kids win. “It’s about getting the kids up and fed, getting one to school, getting the other down for a nap, going to the grocery store, picking one up from school, getting the other one down for another nap, cooking dinner... I live my life at these two extremes. I’m either a full-time stay-athome mom or a full-time actress.”

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aris Hilton didn’t notice she had been burgled for two months. The socialite was targeted by the ‘Bling Ring Gang’ - a group of teenagers, who targeted the homes of the rich and famous - who stole her house keys from under her doormat outside her Los Angeles property but didn’t realize until much later when the gang made a return raid, and making off with £1.2million worth of jewelry and valuables.

Nick Prugo - who has since been arrested for his involvement in robbing celebrities - said Paris had been their first target because they felt she was “dumb”. He said: “Like, who would leave a door unlocked? Who would leave a lot of money lying around?

Stupid.” He said they had got into the Hollywood Hills home, in a gated community, with a key they had found under a mat. He also claimed to have found five grams of cocaine in Paris’ house which he had also taken.

The ‘Bling Ring Gang’ made up of five teenagers and a man in his 20s - also

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stole from the homes of actor Orlando Bloom, actress Rachel Bilson and reality TV star Audrina Partridge; but were caught last November when CCTV footage of a break-in at Lindsay Lohan’s house was released. Police were tipped off about the identities of the gang, who were then arrested. They are said to have amassed a haul worth an estimated £2million in clothes, jewelry, art and cash.

Nick, 18, an aspiring actor who made a full confession when he was caught, said: “There was a definite thrill to it. “I don’t think any of us realized how severe it was until we actually got caught. It didn’t seem as bad as it was. “Now that I look back I realize how serious it was. Looking back, it scares me to death.” He faces up to six years in prison for each burglary. The alleged ringleader of the group, Rachel Lee, 18, has also been arrested, as have gang members Courtney Ames, 18; Alexis Neiers, 18, Diana Tamayo, 19, and Roy Lopez Jr, 27.

Lohan is a secret hoarder

Aniston’s haven home

Alba’s daughter is ‘a bully’

ennifer Aniston has turned her home into a single girl’s haven. The ‘Baster’ actress - who has remained largely single since she split from singer John Mayer in March last year - has spent two-and-a-half years renovating her lavish Beverly Hills property, removing the building’s masculine features and transforming the apartment into a home which is full of “love”. She said: “It’s like a big hug.

“It vibrates with the love that created it.” Jennifer even installed a girlie spa area, fluffy carpets and put in a giant TV into her luxurious home. Architectural Digest magazine reports: “The house originally had his-and-hers baths, but Jennifer has turned the ‘his’ into a spa bath with a soaking tub. Her master bedroom features a wool-and-silk shag carpet, and a platform bed with a TV at the foot. “ The 40-year-old actress’ favorite space in the house is her “glamorous” dining room, which features a 60s fruitwood Sauter piano, a walnut table which seats 24 people and a 20s Thai gong to summon diners to the room. She said: “I entertain for a living, and I entertain. The house has a rather glamorous, old-fashioned Hollywood quality. I can just imagine the Rat Pack stopping by; someone is playing the piano, and people are laughing in the next room.”

he ‘Valentine’s Day’ star - who has 19-month-old Honor Marie with husband Cash Warren - admits her girl was quite mean to her little friend during a recent holiday. Jessica said: “We realized on this trip that my daughter is a bully. She would steal her girlfriend’s toys and push her and pull her hair for a stroller or a baby doll or a purse.” Jessica, Cash and Honor went to Mexico over the festive period with a pal, who also has small children, and the stunning actress admits it was a real eyeopening experience. She said: “Now that you have kids it’s different going on vacation. You know, single people aren’t really trying to wake up early in the morning.

They don’t understand a meltdown, and a poopie diaper grosses them out.” However, Jessica admits she made one of her biggest motherhood errors when preparing for the holiday by forgetting to pack Honor’s toys. She told US TV talk show host Jay Leno: “I pulled the big amateur move of forgetting to pack Honor any toys. I’m trying to be a prepared mom and you have to pack 10,000 more bags when you have a kid.”

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he ‘Mean Girls’ actress has let her luxurious Los Angeles home fill up with expensive purchases she has bought over the years, with some rooms being so full they can’t be entered. She said: “It’s kind of a sore subject. I just need to get rid of stuff.

That’s personal stuff that I have to, you know, work on.” Video footage recorded

by US TV show ‘Clean House’ from inside her mansion shows rooms piled high with clothes, boxes of shoes stacked to the ceiling and discarded purchases lying unopened. The 23year-old star has even converted one bedroom into a closet for her shoes, with each box labeled with a photograph of their contents. Lindsay

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has previously spoken of her desire to make huge changes in her life. At the start of the year, she admitted she had a turbulent 2009 - which saw her split several times from on/off girlfriend Samantha Ronson, her film work dry up and a public feud with her estranged father Michael - and wanted to make sure 2010 is lot better by getting rid of the negativity which surrounds her. She tweeted: “To answer everybody’s question... My new year’s resolution is to stop letting the lucky few that have my heart, try2constantly tear me down. 2010 is about moving forward, not backwards.

Leaving the bad (people, habits, and negative energy behind) time to make changes-right!?!? (sic)” —Bang Showbiz

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Lifestyle

Japan’s John Lennon Museum to close he world’s only authorized John Lennon Museum, on the outskirts of Tokyo, will close its doors in September when a deal with his widow Yoko Ono ends, the operator said yesterday. The museum dedicated to the former Beatle opened in Saitama north of Tokyo in 2000 on the 60th anniversary of Lennon’s birth and displays about 130 items, including guitars, stage costumes and hand-written lyrics.

“After 10 years here, John’s spirit is now moving on-looking onward to the next journey,” said Ono in a statement. “Thanks to your love for the museum, what we’d thought would be five years became 10.” The number of visitors had declined to about 30,000 a year compared to 124,000 in the first year, said Koji Uzuhashi, spokesman for construction company Taisei Corp which runs the museum. “In total, the number of visitors reached 550,000 people as of January.” He added: “I have heard some scraps of information that there is a fresh plan to prepare a similar museum after the items are returned” to Ono. —AFP

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In a file picture, a Japanese woman places a flower at a shrine in front of a large portrait of John Lennon at the John Lennon Museum in Saitama city. —AFP

Men at Work ripped off ‘Kookaburra’ riff ustralian band Men at Work were found guilty yesterday of plagiarizing children’s ditty “Kookaburra” in their 1980s hit “Down Under” after a court battle involving two of the nation’s most iconic songs. Federal Court judge Peter Jacobson found a flute riff in “Down Under” bore an unmistakable resemblance to “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree,” a folk tune taught to Australian schoolchildren for 75 years.

Music company Larrikin, which in 1990 acquired the rights to “Kookaburra”-penned by teacher Marion Sinclair for a Girl Guides Jamboree in 1935 — stand to gain royalties and compensation for the worldwide hit. “I have come to the view that the flute riff in Down Under in the 1979 recording and 1981 recording infringes on the copyright of Kookaburra, because it replicates in material form a substantial part of Ms Sinclair’s 1935 work,” Jacobson ruled yesterday.

The judge said Larrikin was entitled to an as-yetundetermined amount of unpaid royalties and compensation from both Men at Work and music labels Sony BMG and EMI. “It’s a big win for the underdog,” Larrikin’s lawyer Adam Simpson told reporters outside court.

Simpson said Larrikin would be pushing for the labels and songwriters Colin Hay and Ron Strykert to hand over between 40 and 60 percent of their earnings from the song.

A costs hearing will begin on February 25. —AFP

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Members of ‘Men at Work’ pose with their Grammy for best new artist at the awards show in Los Angeles in this Feb 22, 1983 file photo. —AP

Polish banknote to mark Chopin anniversary oland’s central bank yesterday announced the release of a special banknote commemorating the bicentenary of the composer Frederic Chopin’s birth. The NBP bank is to print 100,000 of the 20-zloty (five euro) notes featuring a picture of Chopin and sell them online for between 25 and 50 zlotys, the bank said in a statement. Chopin was born near Warsaw in 1810 to a Polish mother and French father, and moved to France when he was 20. The sale on the NBP website will run from February 9 to 12. —AFP

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A woman looks at a photograph by Russian photographer Oleg Douin at the Art Rotterdam art fair on February 3, 2010 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The eleventh edition of the international fair began yesterday. —AFP

Images show the face and the reverse side of the new 20 Zloty currency note, produced to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin. —AFP

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Friday, February 5, 2010

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Lifestyle

Giacometti sculpture smashes auction world record sculpture by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti sold for a world record of over 100 million dollars, in an auction hailed as a new sign the art market is rebounding from the global slowdown. “L’homme qui marche I” had been expected to go for up to 29 million dollars at the sale

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A file photo shows a man walking past a sculpture

by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti entitled ‘L’Homme qui marche I’, (‘Walking Man I’) at Sotheby’s auction house, in London. —AFP Wednesday-but an anonymous telephone buyer paid almost four times that amount, at 65 million pounds (104.3 million dollars).

The life-size bronze statue of a man beat the previous record for a work at auction set by Spanish

artist Pablo Picasso’s painting “Garcon a la Pipe,” sold for 104.2 million dollars in New York in 2004, said the auction house. Bidders at the auction snapped up a string of other sought after art works, bringing in more than 235 million dollars and making it the highest value sale ever staged in London, according to Sotheby’s. The auction house hailed an “exceptional” result after a dramatic bidding battle forced up the price of Giacometti’s work.

“L’homme qui marche I” (“Walking Man I”) fetched exactly 104,327,006 dollars (65,001,250 pounds), which included the buyer’s premium, said the auctioneers. The 1961 metal figure, by the leading 20th century artist known for his stick-thin sculptures of the human form, was sold by German banking firm Commerzbank, said Sotheby’s.

The auction house said Wednesday’s sale opened at 12 million pounds, but after eight minutes of “fast and furious bidding” between at least 10

prospective purchasers, it went to the anonymous telephone bidder.

“The price is a reflection of the extraordinary importance of this exceptionally rare work,” said Helena Newman, of Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art department. Georgina Adam, editorat-large of The Art Newspaper, attended the auction and hailed the “astonishing” price paid for the “one in a lifetime opportunity”.

“There were so many bidders chasing to get it that even before it was put up for sale somebody had started bidding,” she told the BBC. Explaining the huge interest in the work, she said: “If something is a one in a lifetime opportunity, people will really step up to the plate and they will spend enormous amounts of money.” It is the latest example of a revival in art auction prices after they took a dive in 2008 as the global economic crisis devastated wealthy collectors. But it still lags behind works sold privately. One of the most expensive of all time is believed to

Pakistan’s eunuchs face life of begging, prostitution ohammed Zafar Iqbal used to cash in on his beautiful face and graceful moves, dancing bedecked in midnight blue veils and dresses for clients who sought his perceived closeness to God. But like most of Pakistan’s eunuch and transsexual communitymocked, pitied and shunned by society-his life has mostly been marred by hardship and suffering, peaking seven years ago when he was brutally attacked. A jealous admirer, furious at being spurned by a hijra, as eunuchs are know in Pakistan, threw acid in his face.

That man, Shabir, was once his best friend.

“I loved him like a brother.

But one day he told me he was in love with me. He wanted me for himself alone,” he said.

“Nobody respects you. For them, we’re just here for sex.

Men harass us more than they do girls,” he tells AFP in his reedy, androgynous voice.

Zafar, 22, says the only thing that relieves the anguish of his past is to dance. Dressed in a light brown tunic he pirouettes and sways to Indian music in a dormitory at the Acid Survivors’ Foundation in the capital Islamabad.

His long, straight, fine hair and a pair of sunglasses conceal his blind eyes and his skin is pulled tight across his disfigured face. A photo of a 15year-old Zafar is testimony to

M

Pakistani eunuch dancer Roomia, (35), dances during a wedding as the bride, Nazia (left) watches the performance. (Inset) Pakistani eunuch Shazia poses for a picture. —AFP his former good looks, showing the image of a beautiful woman wearing make-up and an embroidered dress with a deep blue veil.

In Zafar’s arms is a small boy, the son of a local policeman. He had been invited to dance at his birthday.

Hijras were historically castrated at birth and granted a favored status in the court of the Indian subcontinent’s Mughal empire, but now Pakistan’s eunuch community includes hermaphrodites, transsexuals, transvestites and homosexuals. Eunuchs were traditionally paid to help celebrate the birth of a son, or

to dance at weddings. Because of their perceived misfortune at having being born between two genders, the traditional belief in Pakistan is that God will be more inclined to listen to their prayers. But this leaves the eunuchs with little other choice but to beg on the streets for pennies, and many end up as prostitutes. In Muslim Pakistan, where sexual relations outside marriage are taboo and homosexuality is illegal, eunuchs are also treated as sex objects and often become the victims of violent assault.

“Every eunuch does prostitution”, said Reshma, 22,

who sells sex for 200 rupees (2.50 dollars) a time. “This is hard, but I earn more doing this than if I had a normal job,” he added, looking for clients on Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Avenue in a bright orange tunic at one in the morning. A prostitute since the age of eight, he says he is raped every day but as the only person in his family with an income he has no choice.

Now, in a move toward granting the country’s estimated 500,000 eunuchs rights, Pakistan’s top judge has ordered the government to recognize them as a distinct gender-although how it will be implemented remains to be seen. In neighboring India, eunuchs and transsexuals won a long-standing campaign last year to be listed as “others”distinct from males and females-on electoral rolls and voter identity cards. “It’s good for eunuchs because no one respects them,” said Almas Bobby, a spokesman for Pakistan’s eunuch community.

“Lots of bad guys go to eunuchs and rape them for satisfaction, for fun, they burn them with cigarettes,” he told AFP. The 45-year-old Bobby, celebrated in the city of Rawalpindi for the feminine grace of his dancing, has helped mobilize his fellow eunuchs in recent years to campaign for their rights. —AFP

be Austrian artist Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, which reportedly sold for 135 million dollars in 2006.

Klimt’s work also found favour at Wednesday’s sale when his “Kirche in Cassone” sold for 43.2 million dollars, a new auction record for a landscape by the artist. This painting, bought by an anonymous telephone bidder, was sold for well in excess of the top expected amount of 29 million dollars. After going missing in Vienna during the Nazi period, it resurfaced decades later. Works by Paul Cezanne, Egon Schiele and Henri Matisse were also snapped up at the auction.

“L’homme qui marche I” had formerly been part of the corporate collection of German bank Dresdner Bank AG, and passed into the collection of Commerzbank when the institution took over Dresdner last year. The bank will use some of the proceeds from the sale to provide funds to partner museums for restoration work and educational programs, said Sotheby’s. —AFP

Brazil scraps ban on Carnival religious signs udges in Brazil have scrapped a ban on religious symbols being displayed during Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnival due to start in two weeks’ time. The ruling overturned a 2007 decree issued by municipal authorities who thought the exhibition of crosses or statues of saints unseemly in a street parade where near-naked women are the norm. The Rio judges said the ban constituted a violation of freedom of expression and was a form of censorship.

The Independent League of Samba Schools, which organizes the annual parades during Carnival, which this year falls February 12-17, said it would nonetheless observe a national law prohibiting the public vilification of religious objects. Rio’s Carnival is one of the iconic images of Brazil. Thousands of tourists flock to the city to see the parades, which cost millions of dollars to put on and feature fantasy images mixed with the bare-breasted sensuality of dancing queens.

The event is embraced by 190-million strong population of Brazil, which is the biggest Catholic country on the planet. The church first started protesting in the 1980s, prompting one of the samba schools, Beija Flor, in 1989 to roll out a provocative float with a replica of the Christ statue overlooking Rio, covered with a black veil and the words “Even if it’s forbidden, look at me.”

Other schools around the same time, notably in Sao Paulo, also subverted classic Catholic imagery by, for example, showing Jesus Christ being nursed by an indigenous Mary. —AFP

J

A man works on a carnival parade float from the Viradouro samba school in Rio de Janeiro. —AP

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Fashion

Kate Moss’s smoking demands ate Moss has infuriated an upmarket department store with her demands for a designer smoking area. The 36year-old supermodel is launching her range of bags for Longchamp at Selfridges in London later this month and has reportedly astonished event organizers with her request as they fear she is more likely to use her promotional time socializing with her friends than trying to boost sales. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s Kate Moss she can ask for what she likes and they’ll probably bend over and give it to her.

“Longchamp are spending a fortune on the sponsorship deal to boost the label. But it’ll look more of a promotion for brand Moss.

K

Karachi Fashion Week Pakistani and Malaysian models presents creation by Nadia Mistry on the Karachi Fashion Week in Karachi. The fashion week organized by Pakistan Textiles and Commerce ministries aims to promote the South Asian Muslim nation’s textile industry. —AFP

Kate Moss

Shaiyanne Malik

“The outside area is a bit of a problem. Her people want couches, cushions, tables, heaters and candles to make it comfy for her to have a cigarette. “But she’s only due to be there for an hour. They don’t want to pay out lots for her to mingle with selected guests, only for her to hide in her VIP room drinking champagne with her pals.” Kate - who is dating The Kills rocker Jamie Hince - is famed for her love of smoking and it has previously been claimed that she makes her personal assistant leave a packet of her favorite Marlboro Lights on every table in her home before she goes to bed. A source said: “Kate has five coffee tables spread between her living room, kitchen, office and bedroom so that’s a lot of cigarettes. “She also has a special tennis ball with holes for cigarettes to stick out from so visitors can relax with a smoke.” —Bang Showbiz

Australian top model Elle Macpherson poses presenting her new lingerie collection in a booth at the Printemps Haussman department store in Paris. —AFP

Sharifah Kirana

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Fashion

Aïshti opens Beirut’s first Chloé flagship boutique n Saturday, December 19, 2009, to celebrate the opening of Chloé’s flagship boutique in the Beirut Souks, Aïshti and Chloé teamed up to organize a luxurious event complete with a dazzling fashion show featuring Chloé’s spring/summer 2010 collection and music by star DJ VV Brown. The event was hosted by Aïshti’s chairman and CEO, Tony Salamé, and by Chloé’s chairman and CEO, Ralph Toledano. High-profile guests included American ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison and former Lebanese first lady Mona Hraoui, as well as local and international press.

The evening started out with an elegant cocktail party held right in front of the new Chloé boutique, which covers 225 square meters, in the visually striking and just opened Beirut Souks in Downtown. Guests were then invited to another section of the Souks to view a catwalk show featuring Chloé’s latest spring/summer 2010 collection designed by artistic director Hannah MacGibbon. The trunk show was followed by a huge party as guests danced late into the night to the electrifying sounds of international DJ VV Brown.

The new boutique showcases the complete range of products designed

by Hannah MacGibbon, from ready-to-wear to bags, shoes and leather goods.

Upon entering Chloé, one is enthralled by the state-ofthe-art boutique.

Mannequins stand out as objets d’art, like sculptures in a museum. Adding prominence are the mirrors placed sparingly against the walls. After its Beirut opening, Chloé plans to further expand its presence in the Middle East with more boutiques in the region.

DJ VV Brown

O

Models present creations

by Hannah MacGibbon on the catwalk featuring Chloé’s latest spring/summer 2010 collection.

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Meticulous Manning leads Colts in another title quest

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher (right) goes up for a shot as Charlotte Bobcats center DeSagana Diop defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. —AP

MIAMI: Peyton Manning, who treats broken jaws as minor annoyances and videotapes of opponents as a treasure map to triumphs, has the Indianapolis Colts on the verge of a second Super Bowl crown in four seasons. The 33-year-old quarterback known for his uncanny versatility and work ethic guides the Colts against the New Orleans Saints in Sunday’s National Football League championship game having earned respect from teammates and foes alike.

“He’s one of the best of all time,” Saints safety Darren Sharper said. “He’s accurate and very intelligent. He has the strength for the long ball and the touch on his short passes.” Manning, a 12year veteran, threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns this season in sparking the Colts to a 14-0 start. His streak of consecutive starts stretched to 209 games but Indy lost twice when he was benched to avoid injury.

“He doesn’t leave anything to chance in terms of preparation,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said.

“Everything he does is well-thought out, calculated and time tested.” That includes analyzing opposing defensive tendencies to better understand how they will realign and react when he sets his offense. “Since film has been available, I have had a thirst for it,” Manning said. “We have a lot of routines that make us comfortable on game day. I’ve just been stuck in a routine that has been successful.” —AFP

Celtics cool off Heat; Suns end Nuggets’ hot home form DENVER: The Phoenix Suns matched a season-high fourth straight win with an impressive 109-97 victory at Denver on Wednesday, inflicting a rare home defeat on the NBA Northwest Division-leading Nuggets. Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 17 rebounds, and Jason Richardson added 20 for the Suns. Nene and JR Smith each scored 15 points for the Nuggets, who had won nine straight at home, but were finally made to pay for the absence of injured star Carmelo Anthony, who was sitting out a sixth straight game with a sprained ankle.

Lakers 99, Bobcats 97 In Los Angeles, the hosts narrowly beat Charlotte to give Phil Jackson the most wins ever by a Lakers coach. Jackson passed Pat Riley with his 534th win with the Lakers. The Hall of Famer also won 545 games and six titles in nine seasons with

Chicago before winning four more rings in his first nine seasons with the Lakers. Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Lamar Odom scored 19 for the Lakers, who returned from an eight-game trip to improve the NBA’s best home record to 24-3 with their eighth consecutive victory at Staples Center.

Stephen Jackson scored 30 points for the Bobcats, who played without injured All-Star Gerald Wallace in the finale of a six-game trip.

Celtics 107, Heat 102 In Boston, Rajon Rondo had 22 points and 14 assists for Boston in his second straight outstanding game against Miami. Rondo hit a 3-pointer to make it 60-58 early in the third quarter and the Celtics never trailed after that, although Miami stayed close. The previous time the teams met, Rondo’s layup a split-second before the buzzer sent the game into overtime.

Miami lost for the fifth time in six games despite 30 points and 13 assists from Dwyane Wade.

Jazz 118, Trail Blazers 105 In Salt Lake City, Utah made it seven straight wins with victory over Portland. Deron Williams had 13 points and 13 assists, and rookie Wesley Matthews had 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting for the Jazz. LaMarcus Aldrdige had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Blazers, playing their eighth straight game without scoring leader Brandon Roy.

Thunder 103, Hornets 99 In New Orleans, Kevin Durant scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma City over New Orleans. After the Hornets cut it to 101-99, Durant hit a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds left, finally putting away a New Orleans team playing without injured All-Star point guard Chris Paul. Russell Westbrook had 26 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City.

NBA results/standings WASHINGTON: Results and standings after Wednesday’s National Basketball Association games: Atlanta 103, La Clippers 97; Philadelphia 106, Chicago 103 (OT); Toronto 108, New Jersey 99; New York 107, Washington 85; Boston 107, Miami 102; Oklahoma City 103, New Orleans 99; Dallas 110, Golden State 101; Utah 118, Portland 105; San Antonio 115, Sacramento 113; Phoenix 109, Denver 97; La Lakers 99, Charlotte 97.

Boston Toronto NY Knicks Philadelphia New Jersey Cleveland Chicago Milwaukee Indiana Detroit Orlando Atlanta Charlotte Miami Washington

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT 31 16 .660 27 23 .540 19 29 .396 17 31 .354 4 44 .083 Central Division 39 11 .780 23 24 .489 21 26 .447 17 32 .347 16 31 .340 Southeast Division 33 16 .673 31 17 .646 24 24 .500 24 25 .490 16 32 .333

GB 5.5 12.5 14.5 27.5 14.5 16.5 21.5 21.5 1.5 8.5 9 16.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Denver 33 16 .673 Utah 30 18 .625 Oklahoma City 28 21 .571 Portland 29 22 .569 Minnesota 11 38 .224 Pacific Division LA Lakers 38 12 .760 Phoenix 30 21 .588 LA Clippers 21 28 .429 Sacramento 16 32 .333 Golden State 13 35 .271 Southwest Division Dallas 31 18 .633 San Antonio 28 19 .596 Houston 26 22 .542 Memphis 26 22 .542 New Orleans 26 23 .531

2.5 5 5 22 8.5 16.5 21 24 2 4.5 4.5 5

Marcus Thornton scored 22 points for New Orleans before leaving with a cut lower back after a hard fall in the fourth quarter.

Hawks 103, Clippers 97 In Atlanta, the hosts scored just nine points in the fourthquarter but still beat Los Angeles.

Joe Johnson scored 34 points and Jamal Crawford added 22 for the Hawks, who closed within 1-1/2 games of the Southeast Division lead. Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon each scored 17 points for the Clippers.

Mavericks 110, Warriors 101 In Dallas, the home team extended Golden State’s losing streak to seven games. Jason Terry had 21 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Mavericks.

Monta Ellis, who scored a careerhigh 46 points, drove for a layup to bring the Warriors to 95-92 with 5:11 left. Nowitzki scored the next

six points to stretch the lead back to nine.

winning streak was ended at five games.

Spurs 115, Kings 113 In Sacramento, California, George Hill had 23 points and nine assists as San Antonio pipped Sacramento. Tim Duncan added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who played their third straight game without injured point guard Tony Parker. Tyreke Evans had 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Kings.

Knicks 107, Wizards 85 In New York, the hosts won their first game in four, comfortably defeating Washington.

Nate Robinson scored 23 points and had eight assists and six rebounds, while David Lee had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Randy Foye and Nick Young each scored 15 points for the Wizards.

76ers 106, Bulls 103, OT In Philadelphia, Elton Brand scored 26 points to help Philadelphia to a comeback overtime win over Chicago.

Andre Iguodala had 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the 76ers, who won despite Allen Iverson skipping the game because of his child’s illness.

Derrick Rose scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for Chicago, whose road

Raptors 108, Nets 99 In Toronto, undermanned Toronto overcame hapless New Jersey to make it five wins in six games. Chris Bosh scored 20 points and Sonny Weems set career highs with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors. Yi Jianlian and Devin Harris each scored 15 points for New Jersey, which has lost four straight to drop to a miserable 4-44. They are 1-24 on the road. —AP

Saints’ Hartley keeps level head in limelight

MIAMI: With one swing of his leg, Garrett Hartley rose from relative anonymity to the toast of a city known for throwing the best party in America. Hartley’s 40-yard field goal in overtime lifted the New Orleans Saints to a 31-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game, giving the oncedowntrodden franchise its first Super Bowl berth. “I’ll be at a restaurant, and when I walk out I’ll get a standing ovation,” the 23-year-old told reporters as the Saints prepared to face the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl on Sunday. “It takes me a while to understand what’s going on. “The other day I’m leaving a restaurant and this guy, he must

have been 70 years old, busts out a harmonica and starts playing, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In.” Hartley, who sports spiked hair that makes him look more like a snowboarder than an NFL player, insists he never saw the kick go through the uprights. He didn’t need to. The Superdome, the scene of such despair during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, erupted in a way not seen since the Saints played their first game in 1967. “I saw it for a split second, it was going straight,” Hartley recalled. “I turned to Mark (holder Mark Brunell) and said, ‘We’re going to Miami.’ I remember that vividly.

I’ll always remember that.”

Bourbon Street, just blocks from the Superdome, exploded in a spontaneous celebration that in many ways rivaled the craziness of Mardi Gras. Despite being the city’s newest celebrity, Hartley is aware that “a kicker is only as good as your last kick.” “It tickles me to death, people and how they perceive me,” the Texas native said. “At the same time, how would people perceive me if things didn’t work out that way? That’s how I keep myself on an even playing field.” Hartley was not on any field at the beginning of the season, serving a four-game suspension for using an amphetamine he did not know was on the NFL’s banned substance list. —Reuters

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Senators notch 10th straight win, down Sabres NHL results/standings

BUFFALO: Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in the final minute to extend the Ottawa Senators’ franchise-best winning streak to 10 with a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL on Wednesday. Jason Spezza also scored two goals and added an assist, as the surging Senators closed to within three points of the firstplace Sabres in the Northeast Division. Spezza has scored in seven consecutive games, including five since returning from a right knee injury. Andrej Sekera and Tim Connolly scored 27 seconds apart to tie it in the third period for the Sabres, who lost their eighth in a row to Ottawa.

WASHINGTON: National Hockey League results and standings after Wednesday’s games: Ottawa 4, Buffalo 2; St Louis 3, Chicago 2; Calgary 4, Carolina 1; Edmonton 1, Philadelphia 0; Anaheim 3, Detroit 1.

Blues 3, Blackhawks 2 In Chicago, David Backes scored twice during a three-goal second period as St. Louis edged Chicago.

Chris Mason made 32 saves for the Blues, who scored three times in the final 8:26 of the second to spoil Chicago’s first game at home after a two-week, eight-game road trip. Jay McClement also had a goal for the Blues. Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa scored for Chicago.

Ducks 3, Red Wings 1 In Anaheim, the hosts’ run of home victories was extended to nine with a win over Detroit. Ryan Whitney and Kyle Chipchura scored first-period goals, and Bobby Ryan added the third as the Ducks moved within one win of its record home winning streak of 10. Pavel Datsyuk scored a power-play goal for the Red Wings.

Flames 4, Hurricanes 1 In Calgary, Curtis Glencross recorded his first NHL hat trick to lead Calgary over Carolina. New Flames forward Matt Stajan scored in the second period. Carolina captain Eric Staal scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes.

Oilers 1, Flyers 0 In Edmonton, Ryan Potulny scored the sole goal during a power play with 17 seconds left, lifting Edmonton over Philadelphia. The Oilers have won both of their games in February after going all of January without a victory. —AP

CALIFORNIA: Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Bodie (left) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, of Sweden, brawl in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim. —AP

Mayweather to fight Mosley LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather will take on Shane Mosley in a marquee welterweight matchup on May 1, with both fighers agreeing to “Olympic-style” drug testing - an issue that scuppered Mayweather’s fight with Manny Pacquiao. “This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately,” the unbeaten Mayweather said. “I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me.”

For his part, Mosley insisted he “will have no problem beating him.” Leonard Ellerbe, chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, said the fighter was especially pleased with the drug testing plans, saying Mayweather was “happy to set the precedent

for random blood testing in order to ensure fair and safe contests for all fighters.” Mayweather will bring a record of 40-0 with 25 knockout to the bout. Mayweather returned from a two-year absence with a victory of Juan Manuel Marquez last September.

That appeared to pave the way for a mega-fight with Filipino star Pacquiao, who had supplanted Mayweather as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world in the minds of many.

But that bout fell through over disagreement on pre-fight blood testing procedures, with Pacquaio unwilling to agree to the random tests demanded by Mayweather.

After weeks of wrangling and a failed attempt at mediation, the proposed Mayweather-Pacquiao bout, tentatively scheduled for March 13, was declared dead.

Pacquiao is now scheduled to face Ghana’s Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. —AFP

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS New Jersey 35 18 2 146 125 72 Pittsburgh 35 21 1 180 161 71 Philadelphia 28 24 3 163 150 59 NY Rangers 25 25 7 144 156 57 NY Islanders 23 25 8 143 172 54 Northeast Division Buffalo 32 16 7 155 136 71 Ottawa 32 21 4 161 159 68 26 25 6 146 154 58 Montreal Boston 23 22 9 131 140 55 Toronto 18 28 11 152 197 47 Southeast Division Washington 38 12 6 218 150 82 Tampa Bay 23 21 11 140 163 57 Florida 24 23 9 149 161 57 Atlanta 24 23 8 166 176 56 Carolina 19 30 7 148 184 45 Western Conference Central Division Chicago 37 15 4 182 132 78 Nashville 30 21 4 151 153 64 27 20 10 147 152 64 Detroit St. Louis 25 22 9 146 155 59 Columbus 22 27 9 150 193 53 Northwest Division Vancouver 34 19 2 180 135 70 Colorado 31 18 6 161 144 68 Calgary 28 21 8 147 146 64 Minnesota 27 25 4 155 167 58 Edmonton 18 31 6 142 186 42 Pacific Division San Jose 36 11 9 189 138 81 Phoenix 34 18 5 155 145 73 Los Angeles 34 19 3 168 152 71 Dallas 25 20 11 161 179 61 Anaheim 27 23 7 158 173 61 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Kuwaiti tennis player qualifies for semi finals

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: Mohammad Mubarak Abdel Redha, a tennis player for Kuwait’s national team and Kazema Club, has qualified for the quarter final singles and doubles round at the International Junior Tennis championship to be held in Oman.

Players from Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Canada, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Austria, India, Philippines, Turkmenistan, Vietnam in addition to the host country Oman will participate in the event.

Mohammad Mubarak defeated Oman’s Imran Al-Buloushi 2-0 in the first round and then defeated Egypt’s Zaqzouq Mahmoud 2-1 in the second round. In the doubles event, Mohammad Mubarak and his Syrian partner Ammar Atwa defeated Omani players Hamdi Al-Barwani and Fawaz Mishri 2-0 in the first round. They later went on to defeat the Indian pair 2-0 in the eighth round to qualify for the semi finals.

Kuwait Tennis Federation President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jabar Al-Sabah

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Mickelson gunning for 3rd straight title at Riviera LOS ANGELES: Phil Mickelson, already among an illustrious group of winners at Riviera Country Club, could become the first to win three straight US PGA Tour titles here in this week’s Northern Trust Open. Although Mickelson is a California native, he didn’t experience significant success at Riviera until he returned after a lengthy absence three years ago.

He lost to Charles Howell in a playoff, then won the next two years.

“I did not play well at Riviera early in my career,” Mickelson said of the course nestled in the hills of

Pacific Palisades west of downtown Los Angeles, famed as a favorite stomping ground of Ben Hogan. “I ended up missing this event for a number of years because of it, and when I came back three years ago I started playing great. “I almost won three years ago, and the last two years I ended up winning. I don’t have any good explanation for it,” Mickelson said. The Northern Trust Open is Mickelson’s second start of 2010, and comes with controversy simmering in the background.

Down the coast at Torrey Pines last week, Mickelson made

headlines with his use of a PingEye 2 wedge, a 20-year-old club that doesn’t conform to new US Golf Association rules for this

Golf season but which is approved for play in America because of a legal settlement between the manufacturer and the USGA. Despite the loophole, fellow pro Scott McCarron opined that use of the club was “cheating,” Mickelson snapping back that he had been “publicly slandered.” The two have

shaken hands and made up here, and the world number two said he wouldn’t carry the club this week.

Instead, he said, he needs to turn his attention to building on his strong finish to 2009, a season he capped with victories in the Tour Championship and the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. “I’m playing too well to get sidetracked here,” Mickelson said. “I’ve got a unique opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it without other distractions.” While world number one Tiger Woods remains on hiatus, Mickelson will be challenged by Padraig Harrington

Schwartzel off to storming start in Dubai DUBAI: Charl Schwartzel’s storming start to the season continued here yesterday as he set the early pace in a blustery first round of the 2.5 million dollars Dubai Desert Classic. The 25year-old South African won the opening European Tour tournaments of the season on home turf at the Africa Open and Johannesburg Open last month and he currently leads the Race to Dubai standings.

Starting from the 10th, Schwartzel birdied the 13th and 17th to reach the turn in two-under 35 and then picked up two more strokes at the first and third to get to four under. Six straight pars brought him home with a four-under 68, good enough for a share of the early clubhouse lead with Sweden’s Alexander Noren.

“Today is probably the toughest that I’ve seen the Emirates and I think I’ve been coming here since 2003,” he said.

“The wind was really blowing out there. Visibility was not much with the sand and the dust around. It was tough and you knew you had to hit the fairways on this course. “It’s definitely one of the better rounds I’ve played in a long time.”

Noren bounced back to form after two poor weeks in Abu Dhabi and Qatar with birdies at 12, 16, 18, 2 and 3.

The 27-year-old from Stockholm, who scored his debut pro tournament win at the European Masters last year, had a chance to take the outright lead at his closing hole, the ninth, but came up short with his approach, leading to a bogey.

“I like playing in this weather because you know it’s tough and you’ve got to hit better shots than normal,” he said.

Denmark’s Anders Hansen

had a three-under 69, while England’s Ross Fisher eagled the 13th to come in with a 70, the same mark as Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee. There was a good start also from in-form German Martin Kaymer who dealt superbly with the swirling wind that whipped up sand and dust over the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club.

The 2007 European Tour Rookie of the Year, looking to build on his win two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, fired four birdies against just one bogey to stand at three under with just one to play. But a double-bogey six at the last meant he had to settle for a one-under round of 71, the same as playing partner Richie Ramsay of Scotland. European No 1 and World No 4 Lee Westwood had a wobbly start with a level par 72 that inluded four birdies and four bogeys while playing partner Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the winner here in 2007, continued to struggle for form coming in with a four-over 76.

Defending champion and tournament favourite Rory McIlroy was among those going out in the afternoon in the company of Spanish pair Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Martin. The 20year-old Ulsterman is bidding to become the first player to defend the Dubai trophy since the tournament’s inception in 1989 and the youngest player to successfully defend a title in European Tour history. Last week’s winner in Doha, Robert Karlsson of Sweden, also had an afternoon tee-time alongside England’s Paul Casey and Ross McGowan as did US golfing great Tom Watson playing here for the first time in his career at the age of 60. — AFP

of Ireland and young American Anthony Kim - both making their 2010 US Tour debuts.

Harrington, the 2008 US Tour player of the year didn’t win a tournament in 2009, but he finished last year with a solid run of form and said he was pleased with his game coming into the new season. “Last year I came out at this stage and I wasn’t happy with the changes and what they resulted in, and I kept working on it,” Harrington said. “This year, I’m not in that mindset. I’m ready to go play golf, which is what I didn’t do last year.” — AFP

France stepping up 2018 Ryder Cup bid

DUBAI: Charl Schwartzel competes in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club yesterday. — AFP

Kiradech, Knutzon, Lee share lead in Thailand BANGKOK: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat battled to a four-under-par 68 yesterday to share the first round lead with American Jason Knutzon and Brazilian newcomer Lucas Lee at the season-opening Asian Tour International. The 20-year-old Kiradech, a former world junior champion, rolled in five birdies at the Suwan Golf and Country Club to join Knutzon, who played despite being ill, and Lee atop the leaderboard at the 300,000 dollar event.

Filipino Mars Pucay shot the season’s first hole in one en route to a 69 to trail in tied fourth place with Singaporean duo Quincy Quek and Lam Chih Bing, Sweden’s Richard Karlberg, Korea’s Kim Dae-hyun, Australian Rohan Blizard, Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur Atiwit Janewattananond and Hideto Tanihara, an eight-time winner in Japan. Entering the week, the burly Kiradech declared his intention of breaking through for a

first title in Asia and a round helped greatly by his big-hitting game pushed him to the forefront. “I’m very happy. I hit many wedges into the greens and got four birdies from close range. This is my chance to win. I’ll try to keep it up as it’s my goal to win on the Asian Tour,” said Kiradech, who finished 30th on the Order of Merit in his rookie season last year.

Knutzon rose from his sick bed to set the morning pace. The two-time Asian Tour winner has been down with fever for the past two days but he lived up to the adage “beware the sick golfer” by firing five birdies against a lone bogey.

“It’s pretty amazing when you have something else to think about,” said a weary Knutzon. “Luckily it was pretty cool this morning which helped but I was kind of gassing it in the last few holes.

Anytime you shoot under par, it should make you feel a bit better.” — AFP

DUBAI: France’s bid to stage the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2018 is gathering force with special landing rights for the two team planes and use of the Chateau de Versailles for official functions being proffered according to top French golfer Thomas Levet.

Speaking to the website www.golfzone.com, Levet said that clearance had already been given for the team planes to use the Villacoublay military airbase near Versailles where the biennial event would be held at Le Golf National. The government had also been favorable to the possible use of the Chateau for the official functions that mark the prestigious contest between the top golfers in Europe and the United States, he added.

Levet, who was speaking at the Qatar Masters, believes that it is this kind of government support that could swing the contest to host the 2018 event in France’s favor over stiff competition from Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.

“France has an excellent bid and now we have some additional arguments in case of another country coming forward with a better offer,” said Levet, who was the last French player to play in the Ryder Cup when Europe triumphed at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan in 2004.

“It’s supposed to be a secret, but I can tell you that using the Chateau de Versailles is a real possibility. “And it’s great that the government has been involved and authorized flights to land at the Villacoublay military airbase. “It is only 10 minutes away from Le Golf National and the fact that you can land there with big commercial planes is a big plus for us.” Levet also pointed out that Le Golf National course is widely regarded as technically one of the finest in Europe with excellent facilities for spectators and just a short drive from Paris.

Inaugurated in 1927, the Ryder Cup venue alternates every two years between Europe and the United States, but the only time to date it has been held outside of the British Isles was in 1997 when Europe won at Valderrama on Spain’s Costa del Sol. It will be held this year at the Celtic Manor course in south Wales and at Gleneagles in Scotland two years later.

Ryder Cup officials have said that for the 2018 edition a venue on continental Europe will be chosen.

The winning candidate is due to be announced by the Ryder Cup Committee in April 2011. — AFP

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Brandao’s double fires Marseille into Cup final PARIS: A double by Brazilian striker Brandao saw Marseille come from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1 after extra-time and move to within sight of their first silverware since 1993 as they reached the League Cup final on Wednesday. Brandao a six million euro signing from Ukraine’s UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2009 transfer window - struck with a header in the 85th minute.

He then delivered the killer blow in the 104th minute to cancel out France international Andre-Pierre Gignac’s opener for the hosts. Marseille coach Didier Deschamps - who captained the Marseille side that won their last trophy the 1993 Champions League - was pleased for the players, who also still entertain hopes for winning the French Cup but are well off the pace even for a Champions League place in the league.

“The most important thing is that we qualified,” said the 41-year-old World Cup and Euro winning captain, who is also the youngest captain (24) to lift the Champions League trophy. “We came here to achieve that. We needed to show character and the determination to come from behind and we displayed those characteristics. “I don’t know if we deserved to win. Our route to the final has not been a simple one but the fact of the matter is that we are going to the Stade de France. That gives me enormous satisfaction. A lot of the players have not played in a major final and I am happy for them.”

Both sides had played out a relatively cagey first-half with Brandao going down in the ninth minute with a head wound, which required him to go off and return some six minutes later with the cut bandaged. The hosts’ most effective player going forward in the first 45 minutes was their recent signing, England-born Turkish international Kazim Kazim, who had scored at the weekend after coming on as a substitute.

He made several incisive forays down the flank but his efforts were wasted on Gignac. However, Gignac was to make no mistake in the second-half when he got free of his marker to head home Albin Ebondo’s inch-perfect cross from the right.

Deschamps reacted immediately by replacing Mathieu Valbuena with Hatem Ben Arfa to give them more attacking edge in midfield. This paid off handsomely five minutes from time as Ben Arfa knocked in a great cross to the back post where Brandao was waiting gleefully to head home.

Brandao’s joy went into overdrive in the 104th minute when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he deftly touched the ball onto his left foot and shot home into the far corner. On Tuesday Bordeaux booked their place in the last four with a 10 win over second division strugglers Sedan, who had knocked out the French champions of the competition at the same stage in 2008. A second-half goal from Yoann Gouffran was enough to see Bordeaux - who showed 11 changes to their starting line-up from last Saturday’s 0-0 draw in the league with Boulogne-surmer - book a last four meeting with Lorient, a repeat of the 2002 final.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said that contrary to what the critics thought he and his side treated every trophy seriously.

“Last year people said that Bordeaux didn’t care about the domestic cups (though they did win the League Cup),” he said. “This year they can’t say that. Of course there is a price to pay for success and that is a heavier fixtures schedule, which will be the case this month,” said the 44-year-old, whose team are in the hunt for four trophies. Bordeaux are away to Lorient who last week stunned Lyon in their quarter-final - on February 17. — AFP

PSG’s situation ‘alarming’ PARIS: Paris St Germain must change their attitude to halt their alarming slide down the Ligue 1 table and stop their annoying habit of gifting goals to opponents, captain Claude Makelele said before they host Lorient tomorrow. PSG were aiming for at least a European berth at the start of the season but they have slipped to 14th in the 20-team table, 19 points

French League Preview

TOULOUSE: Toulouse’s midfielder Etienne Capoue (left) vies with Marseille’s forward Hatem Ben Arfa during the French league cup football match on February 3, 2010 at the stadium municipal in Toulouse. — AFP

behind leaders Girondins Bordeaux, after losing all three of their league games this year.

“The situation has become alarming,” Makelele told reporters. “We’re in a critical state. We keep allowing teams to bounce back while we should be bouncing back at their expense.” The former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder criticized his side’s lack of consistency.

PSG lost 2-1 at Olympique Lyon last weekend after conceding two late goals while being reduced to 10 men. They had suffered a 10 home defeat by Monaco through an own goal from goalkeeper Apoula Edel the week before.

“We’re not focused enough. It’s becoming annoying. We keep gifting things to other teams. It’s not acceptable,” Makelele said. “It can’t get worse than that. We need to react and to do that, we need to change our mental approach to games. We can’t keep saying it’s a pity that we lost. We need to be more solid at the back and more effective up front.” — Reuters

Frosty reception for Robben’s longjohns BERLIN: Bayern Munich striker Arjen Robben has been in sparkling form since the midseason break but his longjohns, rather than his nifty footwork, could be under the spotlight for tomorrow’s visit to champions VfL Wolfsburg. German media have been speculating whether Robben’s grey-colored underwear-which the Dutchman has been sporting to protect his muscles from the freezing winterconform to Bundesliga rules as the color differs from the team’s red kit. “The German federation want a single color,” sporting director Christian Nerlinger told the club’s website (www.bayern.thome.de). “We’ll either have to dye them or he’ll have to find another pair.” Robben, wearing his trademark longjohns, scored

two goals as Bayern won the first three games after the mid-winter break to lie two points adrift of leaders Bayer Leverkusen. “I’m an explosive player who must

PERFECT RECORD Leverkusen, the league’s only unbeaten team, travel to struggling VfL Bochum tomorrow and like Bayern attempt to

German League Preview warm up well,” he said. “They are not beautiful but they are functional.” Wolfsburg, beaten 3-0

by Bayern earlier in the season, have failed to win in their last eight Bundesliga outings and occupying 11th spot are now looking more to the relegation zone than the title race. Their miserable run has also seen them knocked out of the Champions League and cost coach Armin Veh his job.

maintain a 100 percent record since the break. Goalkeeper Rene Adler believes the leaders, who have 44 points from 20 games, are reaping the benefits of staying at home for the break rather than following the lead of their rivals and heading off to sunnier climes.

“We worked hard during the short winter break,” he told the league’s website (www.bundesliga.de). “We stayed here and got used to the difficult

winter conditions. “You’re never going to play attractive football on these pitches but our players have the technical skills to play a decent game even on those surfaces.

“Now we’re up against Bochum and it’s going to be a tough task because everyone is expecting us to destroy them,” said Adler. The keeper would not be drawn on their chances of winning a first title and finally shedding their unhappy ‘Neverkusen’ tag.

“I’ve been at the club for 10 years now and experienced quite a lot,” said Adler.

“We don’t want to get too carried away.” Third-placed Schalke 04 (41 points) can pounce on any slip-ups by the leading pair when they visit relegation-threatened Freiburg tomorrow. — Reuters

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Friday, February 5, 2010

The cup runneth over as Rangers make 5 in a row GLASGOW: Rangers strolled into the League Cup final with a comprehensive 2-0 semi-final win over St Johnstone at Hampden here on Wednesday to reach their fifth successive final since Walter Smith returned as manager in 2007.

Rangers will meet St Mirren in the final in March. Nacho Novo and Steven Davis had come close before the latter gave the Old Firm side the lead. Lee McCulloch fired a second from range in the first-half before substitute Steven Naismith had a penalty saved with 20 minutes left. Saints manager Derek McInnes couldn’t hide his disappointment after the game.

“There is no satisfaction or enjoyment in defeat, no matter how you play,” McInnes said. “The goals were very poor and

ultimately they cost us.”

Smith felt getting the first goal was vital. “It was a difficult match for us as I thought it would be. I was a little bit disappointed that in the latter stages of the game we didn’t add to our score but I am delighted to be in another final,” he said. St Johnstone, who were facing Rangers on cup duty for the fourth time in four seasons, gave a good account of themselves without giving the victors stand-in keeper Neil Alexander much to do.

Alexander was called into action early on when he raced out to clear the danger from a long ball as Cillian Sheridan closed in before Jody Morris fired over the bar from 25 yards out.

However, Rangers didn’t take long to find their feet and Novo

should have given them a fifth minute lead. The Spaniard collected a through ball from Davis and knocked it past Graeme Smith but Dave Mackay slid in to clear his soft side-footed effort off the line.

Good link up play between John Fleck and Davis saw the Northern

Scottish League Cup Irishman break into the box and round Smith but a last ditch challenge from Gary Irvine prevented him from slotting home.

Davis didn’t have to wait long to get on the score-sheet when he gave Rangers the lead in the 26th minute.

Novo’s cross found him in the box and although Smith saved his

initial shot the midfielder hooked the ball in from a difficult angle to score his third goal in three games.

St Johnstone continued to press forward and a Filipe Morais almost slipped through the fingers of Alexander before he watched as Liam Craig’s free-kick go inches wide of his post after taking a deflection off David Weir. Just as it looked like Saints might have found their way back into the game Rangers struck again through McCulloch.

The Scotland man struck a fierce drive from about 20 yards out that flew past a host of players in the box and under the legs of Smith in goal.

Saints replaced Morais at half-time with Steven Milne and their new 44-2 formation almost paid dividends straight away as Sheridan went

close with a snap-shot from just inside the box. Naismith replaced Novo and the Scotland international nearly scored with his first touch as he got in front of Smith to meet Steven Whittaker’s cross but flicked his shot over the bar.

St Johnstone kept up the pressure but without testing Alexander as both Craig and Davidson sent shots straight to the keeper. Rangers had the chance to put the game out of reach when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when Irvine barged into the back of Naismith as he attempted to connect with Whittaker’s cross. The striker picked himself up to take the spotkick but former Rangers keeper Smith saved his poorly struck effort low to his left. — AFP

Fabiano lifts Sevilla to Cup win over Getafe MADRID: Luis Fabiano’s looping header and a Mario Alvarez own goal gave Sevilla a 2-0 win over Getafe in their King’s Cup semi-final first-leg on Wednesday.

Getafe, who lost to Sevilla in the 2007 final, started the match brightly at a rain-lashed Sanchez Pizjuan. Striker Manu del Moral twice went close but was denied first by home goalkeeper Andres Palop and then by a well-timed challenge from Adriano Correia.

The visitors were finding it all too easy to control possession and Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez replaced striker Alvaro Negredo with midfielder Ndri Romaric just after the half hour.

Despite the complaints of the home fans, the change appeared to have the desired effect and Getafe keeper Oscar Ustari had to be at his best to keep out a closerange Fabiano volley in the 41st minute.

The Brazilian striker found the net in first-half added time, nodding over Ustari from Adriano’s cross, and sprinted to the bench where he donned a black sombrero in homage to club president Jose Maria del Nido. A mazy run from winger Jesus Navas led to a second for the home side with 10 minutes left. The Spain international burst into the penalty area and his low centre ricocheted into the net off the hapless Alvarez. — Reuters

SEVILLE: Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano from Brazil (second left) and Getafe’s Cata Diaz from Argentina (second right) fight for the ball during a semi-final first leg Copa del Rey soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville. — AP

Togo files complaint against CAF over attack Cruzeiro and Juan Aurich PARIS: Togo has filed a legal complaint against the African Football Confederation (CAF) for failing to protect its team from a deadly attack as it travelled to last month’s Africa Cup of Nations, legal sources said yesterday.

Togo’s national football team was forced to quit the tournament on January 10 after two members of their delegation were shot and killed during an ambush as their bus arrived in Angola’s restive enclave of Cabinda. As Togo grieved the deaths and amid unheeded calls for CAF to cancel the whole event, Togo government officials ordered the team back to the country.

That decision not to participate, however, ultimately led CAF president Issa Hayatou to ban Togo from the 2012 and 2014 editions of the tournament because of “governmental interference”.

The CAF’s decision was met with widespread astonishment in Luanda and elsewhere. The state of Togo and relatives of the two victims are now plaintiffs in a suit

in a French court targeting the CAF and one of the two rebel groups which claimed responsibility for the attack, whose leader is based in Paris.

Relatives of the two victims hold the CAF responsible for “failing to assure the safety of the team from injury or death,” a legal source said, although the French court must still determine whether it has the legal right to act upon the complaint.

The state of Togo also holds the FLEC-PM (Forces for the Liberation of the State of CabindaMilitary Position) responsible for “acts of terrorism”, “assassination and attempts to assassinate”.

In January French prosecutors said they may charge Angolan separatist Rodrigues Mingas, a French citizen who claims to be the head of the FLEC-PM, with “praising acts of terror”.

“This is going to continue, because the nation is at war,” Mingas said. “Weapons will continue to talk. This is our home, and it’s time Angola understood

that.” The attack occurred as the Togo convoy drove into Cabinda from Congo-Brazzaville, leaving players cowering under their seats during a 20-minute gunbattle with security forces. A Togo assistant coach and a team spokesman were killed and goalkeeper, Kodjovi Obilale, was among the injured.

Although the incident cast a pall over the tournament, CAF declared the show must go on. Togo were favored to reach the latter stages of the competition, and the decision to ban the team from the next two editions has apparently compounded their feelings of frustration.

Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays club football for Manchester City, called it an “outrageous decision” and called for Hayatou, a Cameroonian, to step down.

“Mr Hayatou has served Africa extensively, but now he must leave,” said Adebayor. “They do not care about the voice of the world... We were obliged to return, and there was nothing we could do.” — AFP

progress in Libertadores

MONTERREY: Brazil’s Cruzeiro hammered Bolivia’s Real Potosi 7-0 on Wednesday to storm into the group stages of the Copa Libertadores. Cruzeiro won the prelimiary stage tie 81 on aggregate, and were joined in the group stage by Peruvian club Juan Aurich, which won 2-1 away at Estudiantes Tecos of Mexico to record a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Cruzeiro’s seven goals came from seven different players: Wellington Paulista (28), Thiago (30), Kleber (38), Jonathan (45), Eliandro (87), Bernardo (88) and Joffre Guerron (90), who were all on target for the Belo Horizonte club. Potosi was already four goals down when Gerardo Yecerotte was sent off just after half time and the Bolivian club finished with nine men when Gonzalo Galindo was also red carded in the 74th minute. Juan Aurich went into the game with a 2-0 buffer from its home first leg, and extended that advantage with a crucial away goal from Luis Tejada, heading in a Reimond Albarracin cross, in the 44th minute.

That left Tecos needing four goals to progress, and what small encouragement they took from Juan Aurich’s Willy Rivas being sent off for stamping in the 66th minute was soon snuffed out as Ricardo Ciciliano scored in the 74th to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate. Fredy Bareiro headed in a consolation goal for the Mexican club in the 76th.

Paraguay’s Libertad won through to the group stage on Tuesday, and there are three more second-leg matches remaining in the preliminary round to decide the six teams that progress to the group stage of Latin America’s top club tournament. — AP

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Mourinho wants improvement ahead of Chelsea tie MILAN: Inter Milan must improve on recent performances to have any chance of beating Chelsea in the Champions League last 16, coach Jose Mourinho said.

Argentina striker Diego Milito gave the Serie A leaders a 1-0 advantage in their Italian Cup semi-final first leg against Fiorentina at the San Siro on Wednesday.

However, the perfectionist coach said they would have to buck up their ideas with the Champions League first knockout round first leg at home

Coach unhappy with Inter Milan display in Cup win to the London club looming on Feb 24. “Yes we can beat Chelsea.

Yes we can but not like this no,” Mourinho told Reuters having again clashed with temperamental forward Mario Balotelli during the Fiorentina game.

“There have been too many passes gone astray, not enough clarity in our play. It hasn’t pleased me that we haven’t had continuity in our performance.”

Inter’s league game at Parma last

weekend was postponed because of snow and in their previous match at home to Juventus in the Italian Cup quarter-final, Mourinho’s side had to come from behind to prevail 2-1 with a lastminute Balotelli strike. Despite inconsistencies in their displays, Inter keep on winning and are eight points clear in Serie A as they seek a fifth straight scudetto.

BIG TARGET The leaders entertain Cagliari

on Sunday but the Champions League remains the big target and after losing to Manchester United this time last year, Mourinho comes face to face with beloved former club Chelsea. Experiencing a first-leg encounter in the Italian Cup is good preparation for the European clash even if the second leg against Fiorentina does not take place until April 14. “It was good enough. We could play better but 1-0 is always a positive result

when you play in two legs. It’s a pity we have to wait two and a half months to play the second leg,” added the Portuguese coach.

“But in a semi-final I believe 10 is a good enough result to give us good hope and a good chance to be in the final.” Mourinho, who was close to Chelsea skipper John Terry while winning the 2005 and 2006 Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, opted not to answer a question about recent allegations over the England captain’s private life. —Reuters

Milito gives Inter slight advantage Italian Cup ROME: Diego Milito scored the only goal of the game to give Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Fiorentina and a slight advantage in their Coppa Italia semi-final after the first leg at the San Siro on Wednesday. However, they will have a long wait to see if they make the final or not as the second leg will not be played until April 14. Milito scored in the 34th minute after he was set up by Mario Balotelli, although Inter had chances to make the victory more emphatic.

In a competition often shown little respect by teams, Inter coach Jose Mourinho had said before the game that he wanted to make the final and that was demonstrated by his selection which was as good as his first choice XI, with only goalkeeper Julio Cesar rested. In a low key opening Inter created the only recognizable chances in the first half hour with shots from Maicon and Milito causing no problems for Sebastien Frey.

But in controversial circumstances the hosts went ahead as Balotelli got behind Cesare Natali with the Fiorentina defender stopping to protest but the teenage forward continued and laid the ball on a plate for Milito to fire Inter in front.

Fiorentina were angered by that and came out firing with Peru international winger Juan Vargas firing two efforts wide. But on the stroke of half-time Inter almost doubled their lead as Manuel Pasqual had to clear a Balotelli header off the line with Frey well beaten.

Veteran Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo had to be alert to deny Mario Santana early in the second period before Milito had the ball in the net a second time after Frey saved substitute Goran Pandev’s effort, but the Argentine’s strike was ruled out for offside. Fiorentina substitute Stevan Jovetic had a great chance to restore parity from Pasqual’s cross but he headed straight at Toldo.

Balotelli’s eventful game, in which he also bled from a kick to the head in the first half, came to an end midway through the second period as Mourinho replaced him with Thiago Motta.

And the impetuous youngster will likely find himself in hot water on Thursday after failing to hide his displeasure and storming off straight to the changing rooms. Inter came close again as Wesley Sneijder sent a free-kick from out wide just over the bar. — AFP

MILAN: Inter Milan’s Argentinian forward Diego Milito (No 22 in foreground) is tackled from behind by Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini during an Italian Cup semifinal first leg soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Wednesday, Feb 3, 2010. — AP

Stricken Pompey get 4th owner of this season LONDON: Hong Kong-based businessman Balram Chainrai became the fourth owner that Portsmouth have had this season, the struggling English Premier League club confirmed yesterday.

Chainrai’s company, Portpin, took a controlling interest in the financially-stricken club from Ali Al-Faraj after exercising provisions linked to a 17-million-pound loan it made to the former owner, a Saudi Arabian national based in the British Virgin Islands. Chainrai, who is of Nepalese origin but has a British passport, hopes to stabilize the club before selling it on to new owners in order to recoup his investment. Peter Storrie, the

current chief executive, will continue to run the club on a dayto-day basis.

In a statement, Chainrai added: “Portpin has made substantial loans to Portsmouth to try and ensure the club’s future. Portpin will continue to work for the best interests of the club.” The move makes Portsmouth the second Premier League club to be controlled from Hong Kong following Carson Yeung’s takeover of Birmingham in October.

Chainrai’s loans to Al-Faraj had been secured against the 90 percent stake that the Saudi acquired in October from previous owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who had only taken over in August when Sacha

Gaydamak sold his interest.

Portsmouth’s financial difficulties have been underlined by the club’s failure to pay staff and players on time on four occasions so far this season and there appears to be a strong chance that it will be forced into administration before the end of the campaign. Gaydamak claims he is still owned 28 million pounds by the club and Portsmouth are also being pursued by British authorities for 7.5 million pounds of allegedly unpaid VAT (value added tax). Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs served a winding-up petition on the club in December.

An appeal against the petition is due to be heard in England’s High Court

on February 10. Portsmouth are also struggling on the pitch. A 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Wednesday evening left them five points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League after 16 defeats in 23 matches.

Portsmouth’s chances of survival were further reduced during the January transfer window, when the parlous state of the club’s finances forced directors to sell Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, to Stoke, and key defender Younes Kaboul, who returned to Tottenham.

Those sales followed the departure of Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch at the start of the season and that of fellow England international Jermain Defoe in January 2009. The

fact that Portsmouth had so many established internationals on their books reflected the extent to which the medium-sized south coast club had over-reached itself in the transfer market. That approach paid off when Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup in 2008 but the price of that success was an unsustainable wage bill which is at the root of the current problems. Chainrai had expected to recoup a substantial portion of his loan last month when Portsmouth were due to receive seven million pounds of television revenues. Instead, the Premier League diverted the funds directly to other clubs still owed money by Portsmouth for players. — AFP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Greening piles pressure on Pompey Fulham 1

Portsmouth 0

LONDON: Cash-strapped Portsmouth remained rooted to the bottom of the English Premier League after Jonathan Greening scored the winner for Fulham in a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage here on Wednesday to end the hosts run of five successive league defeats. Portsmouth, as has been the case in recent matches, created several good chances but could not finish and they were made to pay the price when Greening scored his first goal for Fulham 16 minutes from time to nudge the visitors nearer relegation.

Now Pompey, who are battling off the field against a winding up order from British tax authorities and have paid their players late several times this season, travel to Old Trafford to play champions Manchester United on Saturday with the south coast side five points adrift at the foot of the table. “We played so good, we dominated the game and created a lot of chances, especially in the first half,” disappointed Portsmouth manager Avram Grant told Sky Sports. “And then, from one mistake, we lost the game. It was very frustrating because we are not playing the football you’d expect at the bottom of the league but football of a team who deserve to be higher up the table,” the Israeli added.

“But this is football, football is a game of results.

We need to learn to take our chances. The boys tried hard and created a lot of chances but we need to put the ball in the net.” Asked if Pompey’s financial problems were affecting players’ performances on the field, Grant replied: “When they come on the pitch they are trying to do their best. “Of course, it’s not easy but they try hard, they fight and play good football. Except the result, everything was good today (Wednesday).”

Grant’s own future at Fratton Park has been called into question by the cash crisis engulfing Portsmouth but he insisted: “I’m not the issue, the issue is the club, the issue is the fans. “You see the fans today, they are great. It is a city that belongs to the club, the club belongs to the city and this is the life of the fans. The future of the club is what is

important.” Kevin Prince Boateng got Pompey off to a bright start against Fulham, testing Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with an angled drive.

Frederic Piquionne then threatened and had a fine chance in the 12th minute only for Schwarzer to make the save. Prince Boateng then saw a shot from 20 yards fly just wide of Schwarzer’s right post.

But Pompey are not where they are for no reason and it needed a fine one-handed save from their England goalkeeper David James to prevent a header from Aaron Hughes crossing the line following a Fulham corner. Stefano Okaka missed a fine chance to score on his Fulham debut when the on-loan Italian somehow missed at the far post from Greening’s header back across goal.

In the second half, Pompey nearly took the lead when Ivory Coast international striker Aruna Dindane’s farpost header was turned away

by Schwarzer. Midfielder Greening, who made his name at Manchester United, finally ended the stalemate in the 74th minute when he turned in Damien Duff’s centre across the six-yard box after the winger had dispossessed Algerian international Nadir Belhadj. Pompey kept pushing forward but the 2008 FA Cup winners still suffered their 16th defeat in 23 league games so far this season. — AFP

Cash-strapped Portsmouth rooted to the bottom

LONDON: Fulham’s Stefano Okaka (left) and Portsmouth’s Tal Ben-Haim (right) fight for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Craven Cottage ground in London. — AP

Defoe treble ends Leeds’ FA Cup run LEEDS: Jermain Defoe spared his own blushes and those of Tottenham Hotspur with a hat-trick at Elland Road to overcome brave Leeds and book a place in the FA Cup fifth round at the second time of asking with a 3-1 win here on Wednesday. England striker Defoe missed a host of good chances but still managed to come up trumps for the Premier League side with strikes in the 37th and 73rd minutes before putting the result beyond all doubt in the fourth minute of stoppage time to take his tally for the season to 22 goals.

Luciano Becchio had equalized for Leeds on the stroke of half-time as Simon Grayson’s League One side threatened to pull off another shock in front of a partisan home crowd. But Defoe secured a trip for Tottenham to top-flight rivals Bolton in the last 16 and ended the Cup dreams of Leeds, who had knocked Manchester United at Old Trafford out of the competition in stunning style in the previous round. “That was a difficult game,” Defoe told ITV Sport.

“Away from home it was a great performance from the lads.”

David Bentley, who has struggled to nail down a place in Spurs’ starting line-up, orchestrated the visitors’ victory and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said: “He has come back and taken his opportunity.

LEEDS: Tottenham Hotspur’s Jermaine Defoe (centre) scores his side’s second goal of the game during the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match at Elland Road, Leeds. ñ AP “He has shown what a good player he is in the last couple of games and he needs to keep on doing that.” Meanwhile, Leeds boss Grayson was in upbeat mood despite the defeat. “We’ve just said to the players we’ve got to take a lot positives. We have given Tottenham two good games. “Our

main aim is to get promotion and play in front of 30,000 every week.”

Tottenham arrived at Elland Road in confident mood as well, having lost just one of their last 10 games in all competitions.

But Redknapp’s starting line-up proved just how much he respected Leeds after their 2-

2 draw at White Hart Lane despite 42 league places separating the two clubs. But it was Tottenham who dominated the first half and they would have been home and hosed before the interval had it not been for some woeful finishing from Defoe, who could have had a first half hat-trick.

Defoe pounced on a weak back header from Andrew Hughes in the first minute but fluffed his shot badly. He then seized on a clever chest down from Peter Crouch only to see his instant strike fly inches wide.

Worse was to follow from Defoe, who found himself clean through on goal thanks to Jermaine Jenas’s hopeful pass in the 24th minute but with just Casper Ankergren to beat he was unable to get the better of the Danish goalkeeper. Leeds’ luck ran out in the 37th minute when Defoe latched onto Bentley’s cross and turned sharply, only for his shot to slice luckily beyond Ankergren and into the top corner.

But Leeds, whose resilience was a feature of their Cup run, hauled themselves level when Heurelho Gomes could only palm Jermaine Beckford’s instant volley straight into the path of Becchio, who shot into an open goal. Defoe blazing just over the crossbar and fellow England forward Crouch wasted Niko Kranjcar’s cross when it seemed easier to score. —AFP