pt Io n RI BS c Su THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF
40 PAGES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
RABI ALAWAL 4, 1431 AH
Lady Gaga in Brit awards triple, pays tribute to McQueen
DNA unravels some mystery on King Tut PAGE 15
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NO: 14644
150 FILS
Astronauts unveil phenomenal new window on world
Sheikh Ahmad elected head of IPSF
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Kuwait inks gas deal with Shell to boost production KUWAIT: State-run Kuwait Oil Company has signed a five-year service contract with Royal Dutch Shell to develop pure gas fields in the country’s north, a Kuwait official and Shell said yesterday. Gas demand in the Gulf Arab state has outstripped supply, forcing the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter to import liquefied natural gas (LNG). Tight supply has been exacerbated by OPEC-member Kuwait’s adherence to the producer group’s oil output restrictions since late
2008. Most of Kuwait’s gas is a by-product of oil production, so when it pumps less crude it pumps less gas. The deal with Shell is to boost output from gas fields not associated with oil output, Kuwait oil sector spokesman Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah told Reuters yesterday. That would help decrease the exposure of domestic gas supply to OPEC output agreements on oil. Kuwait plans to increase output from the gas fields to 1 billion cubic feet per day (cfd) from around
140 million cfd, state news agency KUNA reported yesterday. Shell would provide the expertise and technology needed to produce from the difficult fields, Sheikh Talal told KUNA. “The project is one of the most complex and challenging in terms of technology in any place in the world,” KUNA reported Sheikh Talal as saying. Kuwait had hoped to bring production up to 175 million cfd by now, but has had problems with its plans to increase output from the fields
alone. “This project is both complicated and challenging, due to unconventional geological formations, difficult reservoir conditions and complex gas compositions,” Shell said in a statement. Both Talal and a Shell spokeswoman declined to give details on the value of the deal. The two have been negotiating a gas service deal for years. Kuwait has struggled with plans to boost capacity in its energy sector, as politics have caused delays or cancellation to contracts.
Kuwait, like its Gulf Arab neighbours, has seen gas demand for power generation and industry rise on a petrodollar-fuelled boom. The country ditched contracts to build a new refinery that would have produced clean fuel for burning at its power plants. More gas output from pure fields would help meet demand for clean energy for power generation, oil industry operations and petrochemical plants, Sheikh Talal told KUNA. Kuwait has also been negotiating a service agreement with
Exxon Mobil to boost heavy oil output for several years, but has yet to agree a final deal. In March 2006, Kuwait announced the discovery of one trillion cubic metres (35 trillion cu ft) of non-associated natural gas and immediately began work on the field. Kuwait is also producing around one billion cubic feet per year of associated natural gas - alongside its oil output - which is used wholly to operate power and water desalination plants. — Agencies
Iraq sees ‘package deal’ with Kuwait All outstanding issues to be addressed after polls
KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (second right) attends a luncheon held by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Higher Council for the Environment Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (left) at the Sabah Al-Ahmad Wild Life Natural Reserve in Sabiya yesterday. The luncheon was also attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (second left) and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah (right) and other officials. — KUNA (See Pages 6 & 7)
in the news Saudis nab Qaeda militant RIYADH: A Saudi militant suspected of links to Al-Qaeda has been arrested in one of Saudi Arabia’s major oil centres, a government spokesman said yesterday. Ahmad al-Hadhli was arrested on Friday in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, Mansour al-Turki, the Interior Ministry spokesman for security affairs, said. Hadhli, 36, was on a wanted list of 85 people issued by the Saudi authorities last year. Of those, 74 are still on the run and most are believed to be outside the kingdom, the world’s top oil exporter. A security source said Hadhli had been monitoring oil and industrial facilities at Yanbu, site of a large oil refinery, an oil terminal and petrochemical plants.
Lashes for Saudi policeman RIYADH: A Saudi court has sentenced an employee of the kingdom’s religious police to 120 lashes for marrying six women. The man said he was not educated enough to know that Islam does not allow men to marry more than four women at any one time, said an official at Ahad Al-Massarha court in the southern province of Jazan. “The judge did not believe him. Nobody believed him. I honestly did not,” the official told Reuters. The court banned the man from standing as a preacher and leading prayers, ordered him not to travel abroad for a five-year period and to memorise two chapters from the Holy Quran. The accused, in his fifties, is not a member of the Saudi Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice’s morals squad but holds an administrative position there, the official said.
‘Royal’ quizzed over death LONDON: British police were given more time yesterday to question a man claiming to be a member of the Saudi royal family over the murder of a compatriot in a top London hotel, officials said. The 33-year-old man was arrested on Monday after the body of a 32-year-old man was discovered at the prestigious Landmark Hotel in the Marylebone area of the British capital, police said. Officers were called to the hotel just before 5:00 pm (1700 GMT) after the Saudi man was found in a third-floor room. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Several hours later the suspect was arrested and he remains in police custody. Media reports said the dead man was a member of his staff.
Mossad in hot seat over Dubai bungle JERUSALEM: Israel’s foreign minister said yesterday there was no reason to assume the Mossad assassinated a Hamas military commander in Dubai, even as suspicions mounted that the country’s vaunted spy agency made the hit using the identities of Israelis with European passports. While few people are privy to the cloak-and-dagger operations of the Mossad, senior Israeli security officials not directly involved with the affair said they were convinced it was a Mossad operation because of the motive and the use of Israeli identities.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a government order not to discuss the case, characterized it as a significant Mossad bungle. The suspicions ratcheted up pressure on Israel to be more forthcoming over the killing of Mahmoud AlMabhouh, a man it claims supplied Gaza’s Hamas rulers with the most dangerous weapons it possesses. Israeli critics pointed the finger at Mossad, accusing it of sloppiness and endangering Israeli citizens. Continued on Page 15
UNITED NATIONS: Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Hamid Al-Bayati on Tuesday predicted that “a package deal” will be reached with Kuwait about “everything” after the Iraqi elections scheduled for March 7. Al-Bayati told KUNA following a Security Council meeting on the situation in Iraq that “a package deal about everything will be reached after the elections”. He did not elaborate. He later told reporters that there are three outstanding issues with Kuwait - missing persons and property, the compensation fund and the border. He recalled that Iraq has paid more than $27 billion in compensation to those affected by the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and is expected to pay $25 billion more. “This issue will not be closed until all the compensations are paid in full, “ he stressed. “We are working to resolve all these outstanding issues. There are now good relations with the brotherly state of Kuwait. But this needs time and efforts, as there are newly discovered mass graves, and hopefully, we will find in them the remains of some Kuwaiti missing persons,” he said. As for the sanctions regime, he said Iraq is no longer a threat to international peace and security and does not possess Continued on Page 15
KUWAIT: Singapore’s Peter Teh (right) and Mohd Kamil warm up for the 50 m rifle shooting event during the First International Police Shooting Championship in Sulaibiya, yesterday. The championship started on Feb 16 under the auspices of HH the Crown Prince. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Barrak insists information minister’s grilling ‘certain’ Campaign against Chamber resumes By B Izzak KUWAIT: Opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak stressed yesterday that the planned grilling against Information Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah is “certain” and will be filed shortly. Barrak’s statements came following a meeting he held in the Assembly yester-
day with MPs Jamaan Al-Harbash and Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, and after reports that MPs planning the grilling have failed to reach a consensus on the issue. “Submitting the grilling is inevitable. We are only discussing mechanisms and steps of submitting the grilling,” Barrak told reporters after the meeting. Continued on Page 15
Emirati tycoon denies he’s a wanted man DUBAI: The Emirati host of an “Apprentice”-style reality show and former owner of cash-strapped Premier League team Portsmouth said yesterday he plans to cut short an overseas trip to clear his name amid reports he is wanted in Dubai over an unresolved property dispute. In an interview with AP, Sulaiman Al-Fahim said he is in Moscow
representing the United Arab Emirates chess federation but plans to return home by week’s end. “Just to clear the rumors, I’m going to go back to Dubai,” Al-Fahim said by phone. Abu Dhabi’s The National newspaper carried a prominent front-page story yesterday saying a Dubai court had issued a warrant for Al-
Fahim’s arrest because of an unpaid debt stemming from a real estate deal gone sour. AlFahim dismissed the report as “nonsense”. He said he is not worried he might be arrested upon his return to the Emirates. “This is my home country,” he said, adding that if authorities had wanted to find him abroad, they knew where he was given his
involvement with the Russian chess event. “I am here on an official trip,” he said. The National reported that a warrant was issued for the arrest of the self-styled property tycoon last week. AlFahim was wanted because he had failed to pay a debt of more than $2.2 million to an Azerbaijani investor involved Continued on Page 15
Rare Arabic plaque found in Jerusalem NEW DELHI: An NGO’s protest note and anti-corruption tool the zero-rupee note – is seen. — AFP
Zero-rupee note tackles India corruption culture NEW DELHI: An Indian lobby group has launched a novel anti-corruption tool: the zero-rupee note that can be handed over to any crooked bureaucrat who seeks a little extra payment. The protest note - literally worth only the paper it is printed on - is being promoted by 5th Pillar, a group that campaigns on behalf of ordinary Indians
who are forced to grease the palms of millions of civil servants. Vijay Anand, head of 5th Pillar, said the bill, which looks similar to a real 50-rupee note, was first distributed to students in the southern state of Tamil Nadu to encourage them to reject India’s “baksheesh” culture. Continued on Page 15
JERUSALEM: A home renovation in Jerusalem’s Old City has yielded a rare Arabic inscription offering insight into the city’s history under Muslim rule, Israeli archaeologists said yesterday. The fragment of a 1,100-year-old plaque is thought to have been made by an army veteran to express his thanks for a land grant from the Caliph AlMuqtadir, whom the inscription calls “Emir of the Faithful”. Dating from a time when Jerusalem was ruled from Baghdad by the Abbasid empire, the plaque shows how rulers rewarded their troops and ensured their loyalty,
archaeologists said. The Abbasids conquered Jerusalem after numerous wars with the Fatimid empire in Egypt. The Abbasid caliphs valued Jerusalem as an Islamic holy site. “The caliph probably granted estates as part of his effort to strengthen his hold over the territories within his control, including Jerusalem, just as other rulers did in different periods,” said excavation director Annette Nagar. The white marble plaque measures 10 by 10 cm and was found approximately 1.5 m beneath the floor of a home Continued on Page 15
JERUSALEM: An Israel Antiquities Authority worker holds a fragment of a marble plaque with an Arabic inscription dated to 910 CE yesterday. — AFP
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NATIONAL
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Kuwait celebrates fourth anniversary of appointment
Crown prince ‘a man of quality and efficiency’ KUWAIT: Kuwait will celebrate on Saturday the fourth anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah’s taking of constitutional oath as the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait. Sheikh Nawaf took the oath at the National Assembly, in the presence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Feb 20,
KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and other dignitaries seeing off King Letsie III of Lesotho on conclusion of his state visit to Kuwait Tuesday evening. — KUNA
Schools celebrate national days KUWAIT: The Education Ministry’s schools are holding special activities and shows to celebrate the National Day and the Liberation Day. Acting director of Hawally educational area Nawal Al-Khudairi said yesterday that the celebrations began on Jan 29 with the hoisting of Kuwait’s flag with the participation of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Schools were decorated with flags and celebrations were organized, she added. She pointed out that the people of the area, cooperative societies, and Hawally governorate’s private and public bodies will be taking part in the celebrations. Acting director of Al-Asma educational area Ruqaia Ghloum said that celebrations will focus on stressing educational values and the love of Kuwait. — KUNA
Sheikh Nawaf said after being sworn in that although Kuwait was small in size, it had succeeded in overcoming many ordeals and hardships with God’s will, the solidarity of the people and their support for their leaders. Sheikh Nawaf also expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir for the confidence and trust he had bestowed with being nominated as the country’s second statesman, and thanked the MPs for their support. The Amir issued an Amiri Order on Feb 7, 2006, nominating Sheikh Nawaf as the Crown Prince, hailing him as a man of quality and efficiency. The decree was based on provisions of the law of the succession of rule. This occasion, the fourth anniversary, is one that calls for recognition of a top leader who has served the homeland with great devotion and faithfulness. On March 7, 2006, the Crown Prince toured the northern region of the country, where he praised the great role of the security personnel, the police and the army for maintaining the security of the homeland. And on May 21, 2006, Sheikh Nawaf sponsored the graduation ceremony at Kuwait University’s sports stadium in Shuwaikh. In a speech on this occasion, he called on the youth to renounce extremism, seek scientific knowledge and master modern technology. Meanwhile, the ‘Egyptian society for the new accounting thoughts’ honored Sheikh Nawaf in September 2006 at a conference for the financial engineering organizations, held in Cairo. Sheikh Nawaf began the year 2007 with a Gulf tour that took him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE
2006, and all MPs pledged allegiance to the man that would one day be the leader of Kuwait. During the session, the MPs praised His Highness the Amir for naming Sheikh Nawaf as the Heir Apparent, and Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi noted the paramount role that the Crown Prince played in the service of his country and its people.
and Bahrain between Jan 27 and 31. During the tour, he affirmed that his mission was designed to boost brotherly interaction on various issues and discuss major regional and international affairs. On April 15, 2007, Sheikh Nawaf honored the graduates of the National Union of Kuwait Students (Egypt Branch), calling on them to do their best to serve Kuwait. Later the same month, His Highness attended the graduation ceremony of 2005/2006 Kuwait University graduates. From July 17 to 20 of the same year, Sheikh Nawaf went on an official tour to Egypt, Syria and Jordan where he held talks with leaders on different issues such as achieving joint interests and supporting peace in the Middle East. Also in July 2007, Sheikh Nawaf emphasized in statements to the press the importance of cooperation between Kuwait’s executive and legislative branches of the authorities and the significance of placing the country’s interests before all else. On Sept 9, 2007, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attended and sponsored the launch of AlWatan TV. And on Nov 26 and 27, he visited Chief of the National Guard, His Highness Sheikh Salem AlAli Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who was undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, on behalf of His Highness the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attended the inauguration of the national conference to develop education on Feb 17, 2008. Moreover, Sheikh Nawaf represented His Highness the Amir at the 5th Eurasian Meeting on Heterocyclic Chemistry that was held by
Kuwait University’s Chemistry Department and Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences on March 2, 2008. On April 9, 2008, he attended a ceremony to honor the winners of His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah’s Seventh Informatics Award. And on May 6, he sponsored and attended the ceremony to honor Kuwait University’s 2006/2007 graduates, and in September he sponsored the 10th photography exhibition of Kuwait Sports Sea Club. On Nov 11, 2008, he attended the inauguration of the ‘Arab economic integration from the private sector’s perspective’ forum that was held by Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture for Arab Countries. During the same month, on Nov 22, he represented His Highness the Amir at the inauguration of the Islamic Art Museum in Doha. Later, in his speech to Kuwaiti students studying in the United States at a conference held in Washington on Nov 28, Sheikh Nawaf stressed on the importance of the freedom of expression. Moving on to 2009, Sheikh Nawaf kicked off the year’s activities with the inauguration of the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Terminal at Kuwait International Airport on March 10. The next day, March 11, he attended the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Asian Olympic Council in Salmiya. Meanwhile on March 17, His Highness the Crown Prince attended the national operetta held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Ahmadi City. — KUNA
Bedoon applicants contacted KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education has summoned bedoon (stateless) teachers who have applied for jobs to ministry-affiliated schools. The ministry has already contacted those teachers that have met the eligibility criteria. Among the conditions set for bedoon teachers, only chil-
dren of Kuwaiti women who are in possession of documents that date back to the 1965 census or children of servicemen will be considered, Al-Watan newspaper reported yesterday. In addition, applicants should have been born in Kuwait, studied in local schools, and have a clear crim-
inal record, as well as possess a valid identification card. The candidates’ files were referred to the ministry’s Coordination Department so that they can take part in job interviews before being officially recruited. At least 100 teachers who have specialized in different fields have been contacted so far.
NATIONAL
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Mideast situation deteriorating
Time running out for Iran on nuclear issues: Expert By Ben Garcia
GAZA: Kuwaiti MP Mubarak Al-Khurainj with Prime Minister of Hamas govt in Gaza Ismail Haniyah yesterday. — KUNA
Devastation of Gaza beyond description: Kuwaiti MP GAZA: The devastation left by last year’s Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip cannot be adequately described in words and exceeds what the media have portrayed, said Kuwaiti MP Mubarak AlKhurainj, the head of the Kuwaiti parliamentary team within the Arab delegation currently visiting Gaza, yesterday. Al-Khurainj told KUNA that the scene exceeds anything that an individual can explain in words and the suffering of the Gazans is beyond description. The Israeli army had ensured that vital infrastructure and facilities within the Gaza Strip, including hospitals and universities, were targeted by the Israeli military using the excuse that
Palestinian activists were using them as shelter, said Al-Khurainj. He said that the lifting of the continuing siege could be achieved through spreading the word about what had taken place there at regional and international levels in order to end the massive pain which the embattled enclave is still experiencing. Palestinian groups should unite, leaving their differences behind them because the Palestinian people are the only ones who will suffer from continuing this dispute amongst the different political factions, said the Kuwaiti MP, voicing hope that reconciliation could be achieved amongst the different groups. — KUNA
Kuwait ‘swine flu free’ KUWAIT: “Kuwait is swine flu free,” said a senior Ministry of Health (MoH) official on Tuesday, revealing that the data for January indicated that no new cases of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus had been detected. MoH Undersecretary Dr. Ibrahim AlAbdulhadi stressed that the ministry is committed to continuing its preventive plan to guard against any reappearance of the disease. The third wave of the disease is due to end by the end of this week, Dr. Al-Abdulhadi revealed, with no new infections being found among either citizens or residents. The undersecretary made his announcement following a meeting with the Higher Committee for Combating Swine Flu, during which discussion focused on the plans to deal with the third wave of the disease and any potential cases of infection. The committee will remain committed to honoring the contracts which it signed with pharmaceutical firms regarding the purchase of medication to
treat the disease, he added. On another issue, the undersecretary revealed that the health ministry has requested a meeting with Civil Service Commission (CSC) officials to find solutions to the problems surrounding the introduction of the fingerprint staff attendance system. This follows reports that nursing staff have been starting their shifts late due to having to queue up to use the system rather than being able to simply clock in and out as they did previously, reported Al-Qabas. Dr. Al-Abdulhadi revealed that among the potential solutions presented to date is a recommendation to excuse nurses from using the system, allowing them to use a different one instead. Another proposal is to provide additional fingerprint attendance recording equipment. The undersecretary said that a decision on which solution will be introduced is expected from the CSC shortly, since it is responsible for the implementation of the system in all public sector departments.
local spotlight
The ‘government’ mall By Muna Al-Fuzai
D
o you know where the ‘government mall’ in Kuwait is situated? Have you ever been to the place? Last week, I had to get some paper work from the Ministry of Justice processed. There are three official places from where necessary documents for legal registration and authorization can be processed. You can either authorize someone to act on your behalf or complete the task yourself. You can either go to the courts in Riqqae, the ministries complex, or the government mall- where I ended up. The official department that passes these documents in Kuwait is the Ministry of Justice. It was not really my first visit to this department, but it had been years since I actually carried out a similar task. So, when my son and I went to the Courts Complex in Riqqae, we saw cars randomly parked everywhere, and in different directions, as if the area was hit by a tornado. Ironically, after all these years, courts in Kuwait are still lodged in a rented complex, unable to relocate to buildings of their own! What happens if the landlord decides to ‘evict’ courts out of his building? I cannot think of a plausible reason why courts in Kuwait, until today, cannot enjoy their independence! As usual, there was a long ‘waiting’ queue. It so happened that the computer network was dysfunctional. At least, the employees behind the desk told us so. I was surprised that some people, around twenty men and women were actually sitting around, waiting for about two hours. The government mall was our second choice. Surprisingly, there was a small parking lot next to the main building for visitors to the compound. It was brimming with people. Do they expect people to come by foot or did the architect who designed the place disregard the fact that visitors use cars and not camels. In Kuwait, most people rely heavily on cars as the means of transportation. These are parked outside at designated places called parking lots. The building looks huge and fancy from outside. However, only the ground floor is spacious. I went to the first floor in which the Ministry of Justice’s office is located. I was shocked to learn that although there were about six separate counters set up for six employees, but only two were on duty. I wondered where the other employees who reported to work on the day were. They were probably hiding indoors and eating as usual! What about their supervisors? They were, perhaps, indulging in the same activity because during the hour that I spent there, those ladies and their bosses did not appear even once, not even to check why there was the serpentine queue. Finally, after some time, (I was lucky that it only took 60 minutes) the only male employee called us. He was like a whiff of fresh air. It took him a mere five minutes to perform the work. We actually wasted 60 minutes waiting for it! He apologized for the delay and said that the situation was beyond his control. The lazy, indifferent staff members and their supervisors who don’t value people’s time are the ones who should apologize and should be punished for their terrible performance! They are the worst examples of government employees who shout and fight for more payment - the money they make without putting in any effort. This is exactly the reason why there is so much corruption and wasta in this country. Government mall, e-government, whatever the descriptive terms, are an experience you’d rather not go through in Kuwait. It is a nightmare. muna@kuwaittimes.net
KUWAIT: “The time is running out [for Iran] and we are coming closer to the moment of truth,” said a senior international strategic advisory official yesterday. Speaking to reporters about the Iranian nuclear issue on the sidelines of the seventh ‘Global Strategy Conference,’ which began yesterday and ends later today, Claude Smadja, the President of Smaja & The conference, being held in coordination with the Jusoor Arabiya Leadership and Consultancy Center, is a global strategy conference focusing on the Arab world and attempting to define the region’s identity and balance its domestic and external relations with the political and economic implications for the states in the region. During the conference, the Smaja Group, which is in Kuwait especially for the annual event, is focusing on discussing the issues and challenges facing the region. “The situation is...fast deteriorating between the west and Iran and is quite alarming,” he said, adding, “We want to know how this situation will evolve, especially [in its effects on] the stability in the region.” The Obama administration has attempted to implement a policy of extending the hand of friendship towards this region, he stressed. “In the next two or three months, I think something will happen; either there will be another set
KUWAIT: Claude Smadja addressing the meeting. — Photo by Joseph Shagra of sanctions, or Tehran will abide by the requirement to change their strategy on nuclear programs,” Smaja continued. “The problem with the Iranian regime is that their actions are completely different from what they are telling us.” Smaja noted that the timing of this year’s conference is very important as it is taking place after
the completion of President Obama’s first year in office. “Remember that Arab world has huge expectation about Obama administration with respect to relations between the US and the Islamic world,” he stressed. “The Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian issues are at the forefront, but unfortunately this expectation did not
materialize. The question for many in the Arab world now is, ‘Should we expect more or should we readjust instead?’ Even on this issue, time is running out,” he added ominously. Besides the Iranian nuclear issue, the conference agenda includes discussion of the Middle East after the global financial storm, the prospects for Iraq after US combat troops leave the country and the forthcoming election there, along with stabilization and normalization, new oil production opportunities and predictions for Iraq’s future three to five years from now. “This is timely as well to assess how Iraq is turning the page after the American presence,” said Smaja. “This year is very important in Iraq as they are two important issues that they need to face this year. One is about the US combat troops’ departure and the election period. This year as well, we want to discuss how Iraqis are building governance and structure there.” On the global financial crisis and
its impact on the Middle East, Smaja noted that although some countries in the region as coping well following the crisis, this year will still be a very difficult period for the Middle East. “The impact of the global crisis is still being felt very hard in the region. Banks are still suffering up to now and many international companies are very careful on their prospective investments,” he stated, asserting that the consequence of this caution is “less investment, less development. The oil price is still high and so, overall, this year will still be difficult for many countries in the region.” Dr Shafiq Al-Ghabra, the President of Jusoor Arabia emphasized that this year’s conference is taking place under exceptional circumstances. “Iran and the USA, Iraq, Palestinian, Yemen and the challenges of economic transition have had a remarkable impact on the participation of many global experts,” he said.
kuwait digest
Privatization needs safeguards to succeed
I
believe that the idea of private universities in Kuwait has failed, writes columnist Dr Tariq Al-Alawi in AlQabas. Years after the establishment of several private universities in Kuwait, we find that they have still not helped to improve the country’s educational standards. “A rush to embrace privatization seems to be our approach in dealing with all aspects of life. While studying in the United States, I observed that country’s example of privatization, which was, crucially importantly, based on firstly
Saudi Shiite cleric urges end to regional tensions KUWAIT: The current tensions in the Gulf region should be settled through the creation of a mutually cooperative Islamic project that can achieve unity among Muslims, according to a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric. The cleric, Sheikh Hassan AlSaffar, also expressed his antipathy towards the recent conflict between Saudi officials and Yemeni ‘Houthi’ rebels, stressing his opposition to any form of aggression being displayed against any Gulf state. The prominent religious figure said that he based his viewpoint on these issues on his perspective as a citizen rather than on his religious position. Speaking in an interview broadcast on Al-Watan TV, AlSaffar addressed several important issues on the Arabic and Gulf political scene, including the polit-
Associates, Strategic Advisory, warned that the situation in the Middle East is deteriorating rapidly and the crisis is worsening. “The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating fast. For the past 12 months, the situation has been deteriorating. This is worrisome indeed. The US and EU governments feels that their approach has failed. Iran has been ignoring their proposals to solve this crisis and the crisis is moving ahead faster and faster,” he said.
ical tensions and their effect on the relationship between Sunnis and Shiites in the region. He also talked about the situation of Saudi Arabia’s Shiite population, emphasizing that they can practice their religious rituals freely. Speaking further on the subject of the Saudi-Houthi conflict, Al-Saffar said that all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, should oppose any form of aggression aimed at their country. He accused external “influences” of attempting to turn the conflict into a Sunni-Shiite one, accusing the same unnamed powers of having done the same thing in Iraq and Lebanon previously. The leading cleric strongly denied the existence of any such sectarian conflict, asserting that such clashes take place due to conflicts in interests rather than because of religious issues.
establishing an impartial, independent body to set out standards and objectives for private facilities in each field, assess private facilities, maintain observation of them and monitor the quality of the services offered. Furthermore, such bodies’ findings are regularly issued in report form and made available to the public. This is the reason behind the high levels of development in US universities, hospitals, etc. “Here, however, we have reached a stage in which our schools and universities have become more like ‘educa-
tional shops,’ while our hospitals have become similar to hotels. This comes at a time when MPs are proposing the establishment of private telecommunication companies and banks, with the privatization of the Kuwait Airways Corporation as well as the country’s education, health, information, housing, and other public sector services continuing apace. “I don’t oppose the concept of privatization per se. However, enforcing it without first establishing an independent and impartial monitoring body that
can set standards, will result in a form of privatization that can only result on more money being put in the merchants’ pockets with no accompanying rise in standards, enabling these entrepreneurs to further strengthen their monopoly on the country’s economic policy. “The government must, therefore, create a quality control center, that can ensure that state entities cannot be turned into private companies whose sole purpose is to make money, while giving nothing of any value in return.”
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NATIONAL
Landmine victim waiting treatment abroad decision KUWAIT: Khalid Waleed Musa, a Kuwaiti youth, fell victim to a landmine explosion while picnicking with friends in AlMutla’a. The accident left him with several physical injuries as well as severe psychological trauma, reported Al-Watan. His father, Waleed Musa, explained that his son received treatment at the psychiatric hospital as soon as his physical procedures had completed. He and his school psychiatrist described Khalid as being in bad shape psychologically. The incident occurred last March when Khalid found a sphere-shaped object. Despite the fact that the explosion took place three meters away from him, Khalid suffered severe injuries to his leg and abdomen areas. Khalid was transferred to Jahra Hospital where he stayed in the intensive care unit for
seven days before he was taken to Babtain Hospital. He spent four months recovering. Khalid was able to leave the hospital in a wheel chair, which he eventually left behind as his condition stabilized. During one of his checkups a visiting doctor recommended that he be sent abroad for an operation on his leg that is not offered in Kuwait. The father explained that he requested his son receive treatment aboard specifically for his psychological ailments. However, officials at Babtain Hospital refused his proposal on the grounds that the treatment he needs exists in Kuwait. Khalid is also waiting for another operation on his foot in order to fix the abnormality of his movement. Khalid’s father added that the family filed for government assistance in addition to appealing for further treatment abroad.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Baqer, 11/11 discuss bedoon children By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: The ‘11/11 Power,’ a Kuwaiti pressure group that advances the rights of bedoons (stateless) has met with former Minister of Justice Ahmad Baqer on Tuesday to discuss what is now known as the issue of Kuwaiti bedoon children. According to a statement issued by the 11/11 Public Relations Officer Fayez Al-Nashwan, the ex-minister discussed with group officials and some parents on how to find a permanent solution for what it has called a ‘dreadful situation.’
Interior Ministry facing record number of hoax calls KUWAIT: Bomb threats at various facilities across the country have become such a trend that it is now happening on almost a daily basis. The Interior Ministry’s inability to find suspects responsible for these calls has given criminals an opportunity to continue this approach. Police departments have found themselves in need of a drastic solution after receiving five bomb threats in 72 hours, reported Al-Qabas. These calls have increased rapidly despite the fact that equipment is supposed to be available with the application of e-government projects that would allow authorities to track prank callers. Unfortunately though, several departments of the Interior Ministry lack even the simplest form of caller ID. Meanwhile, alarming statistics have emerged. The number of bomb threats has reached 461 incidents in the past two years. This exposes an obvious flaw at the ministry’s handling of this type of security threat. The efforts of security officers, bomb squads, rescue teams and paramedics continue to be wasted. Statistics further reveal that the ‘targets’ of these bomb threats include various locations such as malls, schools, embassies and several other places.
In a statement released to the press, Al-Nashwan said, “It is important for us at the 11/11 group to fight for the rights of these children. They have been robbed of the rights that the government grants all Kuwaiti children. They are mistreated every single day, despite the fact that they should be given full rights just like all other Kuwait children. Among many things, these children are denied medical care, free education, and are growing up without being officially registered with the civil registry. They have no names, no income, no future. It is indeed shameful
Domestic violence A citizen lodged a complaint with the Adan police station against his wife. He accused her of beating their child severely and causing him injuries which required hospital treatment. A case was opened and the mother was summoned for investigations. Foam sellers Ahmadi police arrested four mobile kiosks owners for selling foam spray in Subahiya and Riqqa. They were found with 25 boxes of the substance in their possession. They were taken to the proper authorities. Dowry stolen A dowry for a soon-to-be bride of jewelry and KD 1,800 in cash was stolen from a relative’s car in Waha. The man with whom the dowry was trusted to discovered the incident and informed police. Barber attacked A Jordanian barber was attacked in his shop by five Syrians. Police and paramedics responded to the emergency and the barber was taken to a nearby hospital. He said that the group attacked him to “settle some unfinished business”. A case was opened and police arrested the barber’s assailants. Fugitive nabbed Farwaniya police arrested a Bangladeshi fugitive wanted for forgery and other felony charges for which he was sentenced to four years in prison. Police arrested the man when he tried to escape after they asked him to provide identification. He was taken to the proper authorities.
is rather appalling. “Parliament members should question this minister. The fact that he has no clue about what goes on in his ministry really tells you how corrupt this government is,” wrote one blogger. Ex-minister Ahmad Baqer has lauded the efforts of the 11/11 group, wondering why human rights associations have been silent on this issue all this time. During his meeting with parents and 11/11 officials, Baqer denied accusations of his involvement with this law which was allegedly passed during the time he was in office. The law has been
called by numerous papers and writers as the ‘Baqer Law.’ Baqer explained that this issue is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior, not any other ministry and that it should be resolved there. “Families and children especially should not be dragged into this dispute; they should not pay the price. NGOs, MPs and government officials should work jointly to resolve this matter before it escalates any further,” he said. The issue is still being debated by officials, and is expected to be discussed in Parliament soon.
Police Shooting Championship begins KUWAIT: The Minister of Interior Lt Gen Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah (rtd.) yesterday praised the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of the First International Police Shooting Championship currently being held in Kuwait. Sheikh Jaber attended the competition’s inauguration on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah Olympic shooting ranges complex. He said that HH the Crown Prince’s patronage of the tournament came after a heightened significance of one of the most important police sports events in the world. Sheikh Jaber expressed pride in having represented HH the Crown Prince in the international sports’ gathering which coincides with two days of local festivity; National and Liberation Day. He also said he hoped the competition would achieve its aims of presenting top quality police shooting standards. For his part, Brig Khaled bin Hamad Al-Atiyya, the President of the Arab and Qatari police sports’ federations and Deputy President of the International Police Sports Federation (USIP), said that the tournament hosts an unprecedented number of internationally-renowned police shooting champions. In a speech he delivered on behalf of the current USIP President Abdulhamid Hajji, Al-Atiyya described the event as gigantic and as the pride
KD 600,000 worth of jewelry stolen KUWAIT: Hawally police were informed that a jewelry shop in Salmiya was robbed of KD 600,000 worth of jewelry. The robbery was discovered by the store’s manager as soon as he opened the shop that morning. Police searched the area for suspects.
that the parliamentarians and government officials have not taken any action to stop this.” Press reports say that the Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled AlSabah expressed his shock towards the current situation and asked ministry officials to take necessary measures to solve this dilemma. According to the report, the minister “had no idea” that this was taking place. Bloggers and commentators on the cyber space have criticized this, saying that the fact that the minister does not know what goes on inside his ministry
Citizen cheated A citizen was swindled by a Jordanian woman who tricked him into giving her KD 14,000 to start a joint business. He discovered a few days later that she went back to her home country with the amount of money. He informed police about the incident. Work mishap An Asian man was killed when a gas cylinder exploded in a factory in Ahmadi. The body was taken to the coroner by criminal investigators who were summoned to the scene after the worker was pronounced dead. Gang arrested Ahmadi police arrested three citizens and one Asian responsible for carrying out several thefts. The gang followed individuals who used to withdraw cash from an ATM and then steal the cash out of their victims’ unattended vehicles. The thieves would then spend the money on drugs and suspicious parties. The arrest occurred after authorities investigated a crime where KD 120 thousand was stolen from a car. Their investigations eventually led them to one of the gang members who confessed to the crime and led authorities to his accomplices. Police discovered that all the men have criminal records and one of them was found in possession of an amount of heroin. Forged passport Security officers at Kuwait International Airport arrested an Asian man trying to enter the country with a forged passport carrying a valid residency. The arrest occurred after officials noticed that the passport’s expiry date had been altered. After being confronted, the man confessed to forging the passport. He explained that he was unable to renew it in his home country because he is wanted for a criminal case there. He was taken to the proper authorities.
KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday chairman and members of the higher organizing committee for the First International Police Shooting Competition, currently being held in Kuwait. Sheikh Nawaf lauded the efforts of the organizers, and hoped that the participating delegations would have an enjoyable time in their second country, Kuwait. The organizers presented commemorative gifts to Sheikh Nawaf on this occasion. — KUNA of the USIP, not only the Kuwait Police Sports Federation. He also praised the patronage of HH the Crown Prince for his complete support of the tournament since day one. In a similar word, Ministry of Interior Undersecretary and Head of the Higher Organizing Committee Lieutenant-General Ahmad Al-Rujaib noted that the huge attendance of 690 shooters
from 45 nations represented a clear sign of the reputation of Kuwait on the international and regional scales. The competition, which will be accompanied by a USIP Executive Committee meeting to elect a new president, was described by Al-Rujaib as a unique addition to the system of internationally hosted shooting tournaments. Al-Rujaib expressed gratitude
to media representatives attending the tournament, whom he said would contribute positively to its success. The opening ceremony included a documentary presentation on the history of shooting since the early beginnings of the sport. The presentation also included displays of the sport when it first started in the form of the bow and arrow up until the
introduction of firepower. The event was attended by senior Kuwaiti and international interior ministry officials and representatives, as well as shooters. The tournament groups 17 categories including 10 for men and seven for women, all of which are to be administered by 42 international judges, along with 84 judges from Kuwait. — KUNA
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Increase in number of runaway maids
Manila denies suspension of domestic workers’ recruitment to Kuwait By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The Philippine government has denied suspending the recruitment of household service workers (domestic helpers) to Kuwait. Speaking to the Kuwait Times in a telephonic interview from Manila, Jennifer Manalili, Head of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) denied receiving any Yesterday, Filipino Ambassador Ricardo Endaya allegedly suspended the processing (of contracts for domestic workers) in Kuwait until the Philippine Overseas Labor Office repatriates around 220 runaway housemaids sheltered there. Labor Attache Josephus Jimenez, in a telephone interview to the newspaper, clarified that the increase in the number of runaway housemaids cannot be blamed entirely on recruitment agencies. He asserted that the number has been fluctuating for the last few months. “While I fully agree that some agencies should be punished and suspended for
displaying a lack of cooperation, but we cannot entirely blame the agencies for that. They (housemaids) are running away because their rights are violated by employers, and it’s not the recruitment agencies to be blamed,” he pointed out. He said that there are many factors that prompt housemaids to runaway and seek the embassy’s assistance. “First, in the last few months, rumors of amnesty have been doing the rounds. So many are running away. Second, there are actual violations of their rights by employers. So, housemaids seek our help,” he explained.
directive from the Filipino government. However, he noted a suspension order issued by the ambassador should be passed in coordination with proper channels when there are issues to be resolved. “I don’t really know the issue that led to the ambassador issuing a suspension order as you have mentioned. So, I cannot comment further on that, but as of now, the Filipino government has not suspended any recruitment of our housemaids to Kuwait,” Manalili added. In an SMS message that was sent to Manalili, which Jimenez also re-directed to the Kuwait Times, he explained that the ambassador has suspended authentication of contracts that emanate from about 20 foreign recruitment agencies and about 15 Filipino recruitment agencies in order to pressure them (agencies) to produce passports and tickets for runaway housemaids. He explained that it was not imposed on all the recruitment agencies in Kuwait. “We are processing contracts as usual, provided they not originate from the 35 recruitment agencies which we
have previously suspended. Please clarify that we did not suspend the agency, we only suspend the processing of contracts to recruit housemaids. In fact, just now I signed dozens of contracts. We only deny recruitment agencies which are included in the suspension order and not all the recruitment agencies,” he clarified. He said that as per the Ambassador Endaya’s directive, even if two runaway housemaids are present at the embassy’s shelter it will halt the processing of (recruitment agency) contracts. “That was the issue and we hope the matter is crystal clear now,” he concluded.
KD 2 million money laundering trial adjourned till March
in the news Pay cuts for civil servants KUWAIT: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has modified the salary structure of civil servants working in government departments and state-owned oil companies, said Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah AlSabah, the Minister of Oil and of Information, yesterday. Responding to a question from MP Hussein Al-Huraiti, the minister said that the monthly salaries of Kuwaiti employees in posts between Grades 1 and 20 had accordingly been reduced by between KD 10 and KD 120, reported Al-Jarida. The wage reductions were introduced by the CSC, which is legally authorized to initiate such amendments, explained Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah, with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries adjusting the salaries of staff accordingly.
Sectarianism on the rise
KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ho Jong, hosted a reception at his residence to commemorate birth anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday evening. Higher officials and media persons attended the function. — Photos by Joseph Shagra
KUWAIT: Sixty-eight percent of respondents in a survey carried out by local daily Al-Watan expressed pessimism about the sectarian developments in the country, saying that Kuwait is likely to become more sectarian in the future. Only 28 percent of the respondents disagreed, with experts suggesting that the results indicate that the issue must be addressed promptly and effectively. One political
insider said that the results are a reflection of the increasing sectarian tensions seen in the country in recent times.
the sea as the way to access the rest of the world.”
European fascination with Kuwait
KUWAIT: Kuwait and Japan signed yesterday the final five-year agreement for avoiding double taxation and preventing financial evasion, in relation to income taxes in the two countries. The Finance Ministry, in a statement, said that the agreement was signed by Kuwait’s Finance Undersecretary Khalifa Hamada and Japan’s Ambassador Masatoshi Muto. It noted that negotiations over the agreement began in 1993, and the first round involved a lot of meetings and talks. The agreement aims to reduce tax burdens on Kuwaiti investors abroad, as well as on foreign investors in Kuwait, thereby encouraging the exchange of capital and investments. As stipulated by this agreement, the investor will be subjected to single taxation on activities and profits, such as to avoid being taxed twice for share profit and interests. This agreement will also serve to remove financial obstacles that may limit the movement of capital and commercial exchange between Kuwait and Japan. It is one of the most important agreements that Kuwait signs because of the tax exemptions and reductions on investments and commercial businesses in Kuwait and in Japan.
Kuwait, Japan sign agreement BRUSSELS: A Dutch historian’s books on Kuwait and the Gulf inspired the Kuwaiti Embassy here to host a dinner event on Tuesday night for European decision makers and members of the public to highlight the significance of Kuwaiti-European ties. “The inspiration for this event came with longtime fascination with the work of Dr Slot,” Kuwait’s Ambassador to Belgium and the EU Dr. Nabila Al-Mulla told the large audience. “His book, ‘The Origins of Kuwait’ is highly valued as a reference work in intellectual and political circles,” she explained, with European, Arab and Asian ambassadors, diplomats, officials and academics among those turning to it for information. “The inspiration for this function also came with the assumption of Kuwait to the Presidency of the GCC for the year 2010 and with Belgium set to assume the Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2010,” she added. “The inspiration came with the realization that Kuwait City shares with Brussels the common factor that they started as fortified towns on waterways,” the ambassador continued. “Its location made Kuwait accessible to the rest of the world and offered Kuwaitis
KUWAIT: The Criminal Court has postponed the trial of a Jordanian expatriate and his wife who, along with a number of accomplices, including two police detectives, stand accused of involvement in a KD 2 million money laundering scam, until March. The trial was adjourned after the accused man gave his evidence, reported Al-Qabas. Seven suspects in total, including the married couple, face charges in relation to the case, with the two police detectives and three owners of major local shopping centers also being tried. The defendants are charged with laundering a total of KD 2 million through the shopping centers, reported Al-Qabas. Although the Jordanian defendant initially accused the detectives and shopping center owners of defrauding him, an investigation into the case found that he was involved in mediating in a dispute between the shopping center owners and the detectives and handled the money willingly, said the head of the Criminal Investigation Department Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah.
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HH the Amir tours the reserve with HH the Crown Prince and dignitaries.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
KUWAIT: HH the Amir and his grandson sit in a tent at the reserve along with HH the Crown Prince, some of Al-Sabah family members and key figures. —Photos by KUNA
HH the Crown Prince HH the Prime Minister and First Deputy Premier during the tour.
First deputy premier hosts luncheon at Sabah Al-Ahmad Wild Life Reserve KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah attended yesterday a luncheon held by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Higher Council for the Environment Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the Sabah Al-Ahmad Wild Life Natural Reserve in Sabiya, about 50 kilometers north of Kuwait City. The luncheon was also attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, senior state officials and a big number of citizens. Some members of the AlSabah family, cabinet ministers, certain members of Parliament, as well as key figures, high-ranking military and Interior Ministry officials, and members of the press and some diplomats accompanied HH the Amir during the tour. HH the Amir was received at the reserve entrance by Head of the Voluntary Work Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah and members of the center. HH the Amir made an inspection tour inside the reserve, inaugurating a water recycling fountain. He also released a number of
Sheikha Fariha Al-Sabah tours the reserve with officials.
A panoramic picture of the natural reserve with fountain. gazelles into the natural reserve. During this audience, a number of the guests of HH the Amir talked about their feelings when seeing HH the Amir and visiting the reserve. Businessman Nasser AlSayer said that “the reserve is very picturesque and we pray God, the Almighty, to prolong the life of our Amir and ward him off the eyes of enviers.” As for Dr. Saleh Al-Ujairi, he said that “this is a good and happy opportunity given to us through this host offered by HH the Amir, and we pray to God to protect and guide him to everything that HH wishes for the interest of our country and to endow HH with the best reward for this.”
As for MP Hussein Al-Huraiti, he said that “this reserve protected the natural resources of Kuwait as we saw plants, gazelles and valleys in it and I hope for this big picturesque reserve that was established thanks to HH the Amir and I hope also to see more of such reserves on islands and in sea.” The former minister Ahmad Baqer said that “it was a splendid gathering that helped us see this beautiful natural reserve with its scenery, gazelles, wild and plant life and I hope for the state to expand in constructing such natural reserves.” Former lawmaker Ali AlKhalaf Al-Said said that “watching
the picturesque scenery of such reserve delighted us as the watching of scenery in any world country is the best thing and we had the pleasure of receiving this generous invitation from HH the Amir.” The former minister Abdullah Al-Matouq said “this is a reserve that delights souls as it reminds us of the spring time in our childhood and there is decidedly serious efforts exerted for protecting the environment, and I hope for these efforts to be concerted ones to expand this reserve that we saw in it today all plants of the past as well as some animals that did not die out.”
Head of the Kuwait Journalists Association Ahmed Behebahani said that “this is a reserve that we as Kuwaitis take pride in and it is something that pleases and delights us.” As for businessman Jawad Bokhamsein, he said that “it is a reserve that best features Kuwait’s past and present and I hope its future, God willing, as well, as it is a natural site that embodies the pristine environment of Kuwait and this comes a time when HH the Amir epitomizes the best Kuwaiti customs of the old on making trips to the wilderness and this gathering comes in fulfillment of the desire of HH for protecting the land environment through such reserves.” The reserve was inaugurated by HH the Amir, when he was the prime minister in Feb. 2004. It is located on the Sabiya Road about 50 kilometers north of Kuwait City. The reserve is a national and touristic resource that allows birds and animals to enjoy their freedom while being protected in a safe environment. The main reason behind the establishment of the Sabah AlAhmad Natural Reserve is the increasing destruction of natural resources that has been taking place in recent years. The Sabah Al-Ahmad Reserve is divided into five sectors, including Jal Al-Zoor, Um Al-Remam and Shajrat Talha. —Agencies
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Technical advice on workers’ salaries
WB urges Kuwait to invest more in human resources KUWAIT: The World Bank Office in Kuwait said its role is based on just giving technical help and advice to the country, relying upon the data and statistics of its analytical studies to come up with scientific findings. The Country Manager of the World Bank Office in Kuwait, Dr Radwan Shaban, said the World Bank’s report, that was prepared by the mission that have just concluded its visit to Kuwait upon completion of its report on salaries and benefits, has been a significant analytical but policy-oriented report examining the salary and benefits structure and trends in the broader context of the labor market and development model of Kuwait. In response to queries on the nature of recommendations by the World Bank, Head of the World Bank team said: “The World Bank did not focus on what the right level of salaries or benefits is, the civil service should be; instead, through a 600-page long empirical report, it examined the implications of the civil service pay and recruitment policies upon productivity, the outcomes of the broader labor market (including the semi-government sector and the private
sector) and human capital development.” The findings suggest that in conjunction with the current immigration policies, the current pay and benefit determination system in Kuwait results in low productivity, both in the public sector and in the private sector, higher unemployment and under-enrollment and under performance in education, he said. The report’s findings suggest that of
all the effects of the current system the most challenging but also the most rewarding is to address the adverse incentives for investing in human capital development, he added. “Unless this is done quickly, its effects can last for many generations ahead. The report provides examples from international experience, that the government and other stakeholders can now review and determine which ones are most appropriate for Kuwait,” he
added. The Government of Kuwait asked for the Bank’s assistance to the CSC to assess different ways to revise the structure of salary and benefits offered to government employees. The reports covers 10 chapters and a summary of the main findings of the statistical analysis as well as its main implications on Kuwait’s labor market trends, on one hand, and on the country’s longer term development prospects, on the other. — KUNA
Kuwait dieters lose 1,221kg with GHK By Rawan Khalid
KUWAIT: Saleh Al-Ghazali Head of Kuwait Transparency Society, Dr Essa Al-Ansari, Sara Al-Duwaisan, Dr Thekra Al-Rashidi address the meeting (top). Picture above shows children dancing. — Photos by Joseph Shagra
Al-Zahra Centre celebrates National, Liberation Days By Rawan Khalid KUWAIT: Al-Zahra Development Center hosted a ceremony yesterday to mark Kuwait’s forthcoming National and Liberation Days on February 25 and 26 respectively. The event was held under the patronage of the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s Social Development Department Ahmed Al-Sawagh. Yesterday’s celebrations at the center, which were held under the theme, ‘Yes We Love Kuwait,’ included a Kuwaiti handicraft exhibition in collaboration with the Heritage Village entitled ‘Youm Al-Bahar.’ Another of the attractions at the event was a mini-seminar on the subject of ‘National Unity,’ with prominent speakers including the head of the Kuwait Transparency Society Saleh Al-Ghazali, along with Dr. Thekra Al-
Rashidi and Sara Al-Duwaisan. The ‘Yes We Love Kuwait’ celebrations began with a reading of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the singing of the Kuwait National Anthem and a dance routine performed by the children of the ‘Alam Al-Tefel’ Kindergarten. Speaking to the Kuwait Times, Dr. Al-Rashidi said, “I was invited by Al-Zahra Social Development Centre today, and it’s a celebration of loving Kuwait through celebrating the country’s National and Libration days.” In her address at the event, she explained that she would be talking about “some of the rules mentioned in the Kuwaiti constitution, which concern supporting the family, society and the country.” At the end of the festivities, the center honored all those who took part in the event by presenting them with gifts and certificates of appreciation for their participation.
KUWAIT: Gethealthykuwait.com announced yesterday that Kuwait’s dieters have lost a total of 1,221 kilograms of body fat since the organization began its healthy living campaign in June 2009. The group, also known as GHK, announced the campaign’s impressive results at a press conference held yesterday morning at Le Meridien Hotel. The inspiring results mean that Kuwait’s dieters have jointly lost around 51 kilograms per week or 7.3 kg per day. According to the World Health Organization, over a quarter of Kuwait’s residents, both citizens and expatriates, suffer from diabetes or related complications, while other studies suggest that over 80% of Kuwaitis are overweight. Gethealthykuwait.com is a community-based initiative that helps people get healthy through real, one-on-one help. GHK’s Chief Nutritionist and Dietary Care Operations Manager Sami Al-Bader said, “We are very excited to announce these results following six months of non-stop outreach initiatives to people across Kuwait. However, our work does not stop here. We will continue to reach out to people and guide them to a healthier way of life.”
KUWAIT: GHK Chief Nutritionist and Diet Care Operations Manager Sami Al-Bader (left), Nutritionist Farah Al-Rifai (2nd left), winner Nawaf AlThabian (2nd right), GHK Head of Testing and Chief Operating Officer at Taiba Hospital, Rashed Al-Fadalah (right). — Photo by Joseph Shagra The first place champion in Stage 2 of the campaign was Nawaf Al-Thabian, who managed to lose 8.6% of his body weight after following GHK’s 28-day program. Al-Thabian suffered from weight problems before the program, which led to both sleep problems and difficulties with kneeling during prayer. Today, he said, he enjoys a healthier and faster-paced lifestyle. Speaking at yesterday’s event, Al-Thabian, who wins a trip to Bali for his impressive efforts, said, “I had
serious weight issues, but I wasn’t aware of them until I realized my scale at home didn’t go far enough to read my weight. When I visited a pharmacy, I was stunned by my weight. The number was 173 kilograms, and it was then that I had a moment of realization that I was headed towards a very dangerous point in my life. I decided to take immediate action and started dieting on my own. I tried all sorts of methods to cut down on my food, but all of my techniques failed. It was
not until I joined gethealthykuwait.com that I really started losing calories the healthy way. I lost eight kilograms the first week, and have been losing weight on a weekly basis since then. In 28 days, I lost 25 kilograms, and I’ve continued to follow gethealthykuwait.com’s program and have today - in a little over than three months - lost 40 kilograms. My nutritionists Farah Al-Rifai helped me accomplish this and turned my experience into a complete lifestyle
Fantasy Cinema
The Flying Dragon Ride
Entertainment City to celebrate national holidays KUWAIT: As part of the programs that the Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) has prepared to celebrate national holidays, the Entertainment City will hold special activities for five days, starting from February 25 to March 1. The announcement was made by the Head of the City’s Operations Department, Anwar Al-Nisf. Several artistic and Kuwaiti cultural shows, in addition to children and magic shows, will be staged. Furthermore, the Entertainment City continues to offer visitors special discounts for the month of February. They can still enjoy a 50 percent discount on rides in the City, in addition to three rides that are free of charge. Al-Nisf also said that a free entrance ticket will be offered for every two tickets bought. Anwar Al-Nisf Fireworks will be used on February 25 and 26, in addition to other activities and competitions. During occasions, the Entertainment City will remain open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Bumper Boats
The Giant Slide
The ‘lightning’ Ride
The Whirlpool Ride
Grand Prix
change.” GHK’s Head of Testing and Chief Operating Officer at Taiba Hospital Rashed Al-Fadalah said, “We have doubled our success during Stage Two of gethealthykuwait.com and were able to register obvious positive health results from the individuals who participated in the campaign. These participants were empowered to take the first steps towards bettering their living and health. Gethealthykuwait.com’s goal is to spread obesity awareness in the community and is a tool that arms individuals with the necessities to change their eating habits. We are very proud of the results gethealthykuwait.com participants have achieved so far, and especially proud of Nawaf Al-Thabian, the person with the highest percentage of weight loss since the launch of the campaign in June 2009.” To date, gethealthykuwait.com has reached out to a total of 3,084 individuals by visiting high traffic locations and corporate offices, including Marina Mall, the National Bank of Kuwait, PIC, KGL, Gulf Investment Corporation, KNPC and Burgan Bank. During its first stage, it also visited public schools in Kuwait and the government sector, including Kuwait’s Audit Bureau.
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Obama names first envoy to Damascus in five years US seeks to engage Syria in Mideast peace push WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first US ambassador to Syria in five years, as he seeks to engage Damascus as part of a wider Middle East peace push. If confirmed by the Senate, Ford would be the first US ambassador to Damascus since Washington recalled its envoy after Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafiq Hariri was killed in February 2005 in a bombing blamed on Syria. The White House announcement came on the eve of a visit to Syria by William Burns, a top State Department official, which the administration says will further dialogue with Damascus on “all aspects” of a strained relationship. Obama has seen his efforts to open dialogue with Iran and broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians founder in his first year in office, and the overture to Syria may be aimed at easing the deadlock. But analysts say it seems unlikely that the Syrian government of President Bashar AlAssad, with a first priority of ensuring its own survival, will be keen to sever links with Iran or make immediate concessions to Israel. US officials may be keen to increase intelligence cooperation with Syria, though its stakeholding in Lebanon via Hezbollah, the Shiite political and militant movement, will likely prove a long-
term impediment to better ties. The Obama administration announced earlier this month that it picked a new ambassador, and passed Ford’s name, as per diplomatic protocol, to Damascus for approval before it was publicly announced. Ford, currently deputy chief of mission in the US embassy in Baghdad, was previously ambassador to Algeria, and has also had postings in Izmir and Cairo in a 25-year career in the US Foreign Service. Obama apparently paved the way for the announcement on Friday, calling Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to tell him that he strongly supports the effort to bring the killers of his late father to justice. The previous administration of president George W. Bush recalled the US ambassador from Damascus and put relations with Syria on hold in 2005, following Rafiq Hariri’s killing. His death in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront in February of that year was widely blamed on Syria although Damascus has denied any involvement. An international tribunal based in The Hague was set up by a UN Security Council resolution in 2007 to try suspects in the murder. A UN commission of inquiry initially said it had found evidence to implicate Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services but there are no suspects in custody. — AFP
BEIRUT: Lebanese Hezbollah militants gesture and shout slogans during a ceremony commemorating the second assassination anniversary of Hezbollah commander Imad Mughnieh at Beirut’s southern suburb. — AFP
Hezbollah threatens to hit Israel infrastructure Fourth Christian killed ‘If you attack Beirut we will attack Tel Aviv’
MOSUL: A Christian student was found dead in the main northern Iraqi city of Mosul yesterday, the fourth in as many days, amid warnings of rising violence against the minority ahead of March 7 polls. The bullet-riddled body of Wissam George, a 20-yearold Assyrian Christian, was recovered on a street in the south Mosul residential neighborhood of Wadi Al-Ain at around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT). “George went missing this morning on his way to his institute, he was studying to be a teacher,” said a police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. George is the fourth Christian since Sunday to be killed in the city, which has a Christian population of between 2,000 and 3,000. “What can we say?” said Bishop Shlemon Warduni, the second-most-senior Chaldean bishop in Iraq. “We are very sad. The government is looking at what is
going on, it is speaking, but doing nothing,” he said. On Tuesday, a gunman killed 21year-old engineering student Zia Toma and wounded 22year-old pharmacy student Ramsin Shmael, both Assyrian Christians. Greengrocer Fatukhi Munir was gunned down inside his shop in a drive-by shooting late on Monday, and armed assailants killed Rayan Salem Elias, a Chaldean, outside his home on Sunday. “We don’t want elections, we don’t want representatives, we don’t want our rights, we just want to be alive,” Baasil Abdul Noor, a priest at Mar Behnam church, said on Tuesday. “It has become a nightmare. The security forces should not be standing by and watching. We hold them responsible, because they are supposed to be protecting us, and protecting all Iraqis.” Others have expressed concern that Christians could be targeted
ahead of the elections, seen as a key test of reconciliation in Iraq, which has been wracked by sectarian violence since the US-led invasion of 2003. “The Christian minority has become an issue in the elections, as it always is before elections,” said Hazem Girgis, a deacon at a Syrian Orthodox church in the city centre. “We are terrified... and the security forces are not able to offer us any security,” said Girgis. Attacks occur frequently in Mosul and surrounding Nineveh province. Human Rights Watch warned in November that minorities in the north including Christians were the collateral victims of a conflict between Arabs and Kurds over who controls Iraq’s disputed northern provinces. In late 2008, a systematic campaign of killings and targeted violence killed 40 Christians and saw more than 12,000 flee Mosul. — AFP
Iraq’s Hakim backs oil deals, Saddamist ban BAGHDAD: A Shiite party highly likely to be part of Iraq’s next government after a March 7 vote plans to honor recently signed oil deals, part of a campaign that differs radically from the one it used in local polls last year. Ammar Al-Hakim, head of the powerful Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI), also warned of plots by sympathisers of Saddam Hussein’s outlawed Baath party to return to power, and backed a controversial ban of supposed Saddamist poll candidates. “We will work with them positively, and we consider them a step in the right direction,” Hakim told Reuters in an interview yesterday, referring to the series of multibillion-dollar oil deals signed by Iraq after two contract auctions last year. There are fears the deals may fall victim to political horse trading after the March 7 vote. ISCI is a major Shiite force in Iraq and quite likely to end up as a partner in whatever government is formed after the parliamentary election. Iraq hopes the service contracts to tap its vast oil reserves-the world’s third largest-with firms including Royal Dutch Shell and BP Plc, will vault it to among the world’s top three producers from 11th place now, and bring in the cash needed to rebuild after years of war. In recent weeks, a Shiite Muslim-controlled panel issued a decree banning from the March election more than 400 candidates for alleged links to the Sunni Muslim-dominated Baath party. Although the ban affected more Shiites, prominent Sunnis and Shiites seeking cross-sectarian alliances were hit hard, fanning accusations of sectarianism. Iraq has only just emerged from years of sectarian slaughter since the 2003 US invasion. Hakim said he backed the ban, and warned of unspecified plots to return the Baath party to power, a move that may play
to Shiite and Kurdish voters. The Baath party brutally oppressed Shiites, Iraq’s majority Muslim sect, and Kurds. “The basic ideology of the Baath party is conspiracy. — Reuters We can’t rule out any dangers so long as the Baath party, and whoever among the Saddamists has these ideas, are active in the land and are found here and there,” he said. BREAK WITH THE PAST? ISCI heads the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), an election coalition that includes followers of influential cleric Moqtada AlSadr. The alliance is the main contender with Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s State of Law list for the Shiite vote. In local polls last year, ISCI lost out to State of Law in key Shiite provinces, which analysts said was a result of ISCI’s use of religious slogans and public weariness of sectarian violence and the poor performance of Islamist leaders. State services, such as electricity and rubbish collection, are deplorable seven years after Saddam’s fall, prompting some Iraqis to question whether to vote at all. In a statement, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani yesterday urged Iraqis to vote regardless. In a departure from ISCI’s campaign in the 2009 local elections, it is relying this time on relatively unknown candidates, which it says signifies a break with past leadership. It is also toning down the religious rhetoric. “We don’t have a program of slogans. We have a practical program that depends on a clear foundation and has practical solutions to many of the problems faced by the people,” Hakim said. ISCI’s past campaign featured Hakim’s late father Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, like his son also a cleric, on most campaign material. This time they are not promoting a symbolic campaign
figurehead, unlike State of Law, which uses Maliki’s image on many posters. “There are two points of view when it comes to administration. There is the view of the strong man, or the strong institution that creates strong men ... We depend on the latter,” Hakim said. — Reuters
BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to unleash his guerilla group’s military might on Israel’s infrastructure, including Tel Aviv airport, should the Jewish state attack Lebanon. “I say to the Israelis: if you attack Beirut’s Rafiq Hariri airport we will attack Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv,” he said in comments transmitted via video link to thousands of supporters massed in Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs. He added that should Israel bomb Lebanon’s refineries, factories or power plants, his militant party would retaliate with all its might. He did not specify what kind of weapons would be used. “I declare to you today that I accept this challenge,” Nasrallah said in a defiant speech commemorating the assassinations of three Hezbollah leaders. “If you destroy one building in the southern suburbs we will destroy several of yours,” he added. His comments came amid an escalating war of words between Israel and Hezbollah that has raised concerns of a renewed conflict in the region that could draw in Syria and Iran, the two main supporters of the Shiite militant group. Nasrallah, whose party fought a devastating war with the Jewish state in 2006 and is labelled a terrorist organization by Washington, accused Israel of engaging in a “psychological war” aimed at sowing fear among the Lebanese. “Israel needs no excuse to attack this country and it can
make one up at any time,” he said. He added that his party was not seeking a new conflict but stood ready to respond to any Israeli attack. “The only language Israel understands is that of threats,” he said. “Israel today is caught in a double bind,” he added. “It cannot impose peace and yet it is unable to wage war. “The Israeli army and the Israeli people cannot afford a new defeat,” he said. “The beginning of the end for them started in 2006 and continued with the war on Gaza.” His speech on Tuesday was in commemoration of the killing of his predecessor Abbas Moussawi, who died in an Israeli air raid in 1992, as well as Ragheb Harb, another Hezbollah leader assassinated by Israel in 1984, and top commander Imad Mughnieh, who died in a car bombing in Damascus in 2008. Nasrallah vowed to avenge Mughnieh’s killing with an attack befitting his rank as a top Hezbollah commander. “In the last two years, we had at our disposal many small targets but we held back because what we aim for is revenge befitting his rank,” he said. Israeli officials have warned repeatedly that any attack by Hezbollah will spark a tough response on Lebanon as a whole and have been locked in a war of words with Syrian leaders as well. Hezbollah in recent years has intensified training of its militants and reportedly stockpiled 40,000 rockets, more than double the figure prior to the 2006 war. — AFP
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Argentina escalates row with Britain over Falklands BUENOS AIRES: Argentina escalated a row with Britain over oil drilling in the Falklands by ordering all ships heading to the disputed islands through its waters to seek permission from Buenos Aires first. Argentine President Cristina Kirchner signed the decree, ratcheting up tensions between Argentina and Britain over Las Malvinas, the Spanish name for the islands they warred over in 1982 at the cost of almost 1,000 lives. “All ships that wish to move between ports in continental Argentina and ports in the Malvinas islands, or that wish to cross Argentine territorial waters as they head to the islands” require prior permission, it said. Kirchner’s chief of staff Anibal Fernandez left no
doubt the move was intended to clamp down on shipping that might be helping Britain as it launches operations to explore the region’s oil and mineral reserves. The decree seeks to achieve “not only a defense of Argentine sovereignty but also of all the resources” in the area, Fernandez explained, adding that a high-level permanent committee would be set up to monitor the shipping. Anger in Argentina over the Falklands, which has bubbled below the surface for much of the last three decades, has threatened to boil over in recent months as Britain prepares to launch drilling operations. Argentina has lodged a protest with London about
drilling in the seabed around the windswept islands, which contains up to 60 billion barrels of oil, according to geological studies quoted in the British media. A tug boat hauling a British exploration rig will arrive any day to start oil prospecting and the issue already came to a head earlier this month when Buenos Aires blocked a shipment of pipes it said was bound for the Falklands. Argentine authorities boarded the foreign flagged “Thor Leader” in the southern port of Campana after learning it was about to take on a cargo of pipes used in the oil industry and apparently destined for the Falklands. Buenos Aires is furious that London continues to skirt UN resolutions calling on
both governments to renew a dialogue on the sovereignty of the Falklands. “We wish to reaffirm the obligation to resolve the differences between Britain and us in the framework of international law and United Nations resolutions,” Kirchner said on Tuesday. Britain in January rejected Argentina’s latest claim to the islands, which it has held and occupied since 1833. The Foreign Office in London sought to play down Argentina’s latest move in the row by issuing a bland statement, pointing out the obvious about the legal position. “Regulations governing Argentine territorial waters are a matter for the Argentine authorities. This does not affect
Falkland Islands territorial waters which are controlled by the island authorities,” a statement said. It said Argentina and Britain were “important partners” and pledged to “cooperate” on issues in the South Atlantic, where the Falklands are located. Buenos Aires has urged a solution along the lines of what Britain agreed for the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. Britain and Argentina’s rival claims of ownership over the Falklands exploded into war in 1982 after Argentine military rulers seized the islands, only to be defeated and expelled by a British naval force. The conflict lasted 74 days and cost the lives of 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 from Britain. — AFP
Moscow delays delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran 2 Russians, French, Japanese detained in Iran MOSCOW: A top Russian defense official said yesterday that S-300 air defense missiles will be delivered to Iran once unspecified technical problems are resolved, the Interfax news agency reported. However, the agency later quoted
one of the missile’s chief designers, Vladimir Kasparyants, as saying “there are no technical questions. It’s a political issue.” The missiles would significantly boost Iran’s defense capacity and the contract has caused great concern in Israel.
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at a press conference in Tehran. Ahmadinejad warned that world powers would regret any moves to slap new sanctions on Iran. —AFP
Independent Somalia? A state that never was NAIROBI: When Virginio Bresolin passed away recently in Merka, a coastal Somali city run by Al-Qaeda-inspired rebels, so did the last of a generation of Italians who emigrated under Mussolini. He worked as a blacksmith, spoke fluent Somali and rusty Italian, and few people noticed when he died. Fifty years after independence, indifference characterizes how most feel about the former colonial ruler of Somalia, a country where 60 percent of the population is under 18 and 80 percent has known nothing but conflict. Abdullahi Halane Mohamoud, a 62-year-old Merka resident, hardly takes issue with the Italians invading in the first place but only seems to regret that there wasn’t more in it for Somalis. “Italian colonization only used people as servants and never provided proper education opportunities. Most people who lived during that time were left illiterate,” he said. Somalia’s independence started comparatively well and in 1967 even produced the first post-colonial African leader to step down gracefully. Adan Abdulle Osman accepted his electoral defeat, transferred power to Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and retired to his farm near Merka, where he died in 2007, aged 99. The handover ceremony took place in the garden of Villa Somalia, the former residence of Italian colonial governors and now the fortified redoubt from which the country’s Islamist president is battling even more Islamist rebels. Somalia has been mired in violence for three decades and is now best known to the outside world for being the place that inspired the Hollywood war movie “Black Hawk Down”
and the reason the term “failed state” had to be coined. Like any colonization, Italy’s left scars in Somalia too. One instance of colonial oppression vividly remembered by many older Somalis is the construction of a canal still known as Asayle - a Somali world for a mourning veil-in reference to the men decimated by forced labour there. “My uncle worked there and has told me harrowing tales. He used to say that officers would trample on their backs when crossing the water channel to avoid the mud,” said Mohamed Abdi Elmi, 56. But Somalia’s case was very different from most others on the continent, as evidenced notably by the nation’s “three
independences”. In November 1949, Somalia was granted independence by the United Nations but placed under an Italian-led trusteeship. On 26 June 1960, the northern protectorate of Somaliland acquired independence from Britain. Five days later, Italian Somalia became fully independent and merged with Somaliland. But the lack of a founding liberation struggle left the country without an experienced political class. President Sharmarke-whose son is the current prime minister was assassinated in 1969, then Mohamed Siad Barre seized power and thrust his country into the cold war, choosing to side with the Soviet Union. More than
a by-product of colonial times, the deadly chaos that erupted with Barre’s ouster two decades ago is often blamed on a double vacuum. The cold war ended and with it a system that had propped up Barre’s regime. Simultaneously, Italy’s political order was turned upside down by the Tangentopoli crisis, a nationwide police probe into political corruption. “The country best equipped to steer Somalia at the time was not able do so. The Italian political class was floundering,” one observer explained. Italy couldn’t make its voice heard when the world’s new American masters-puffed up with their doctrine of humanitarian imperialism-led the 1992 UN invasion of Somalia.—AFP
MOGADISHU: Recently trained Hizb Al-Islam fighters form a file during a training session in southern Mogadishu. — AFP
Russia and Iran reached agreement on the contract in 2007. Some observers suggest Russia is holding back delivery to pressure Iran to cooperate with the international community in the dispute over its nuclear program. Interfax quoted Alexander Fomin, deputy head of the Federal MilitaryTechnical Cooperation Service, as saying “the delay is taking place because of technical problems. The delivery will take place when they have been resolved.” Meanwhile, five foreigners, including a French national, a Japanese reporter and two Russians, were detained during the Feb 11 rallies marking the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, a prosecutor said yesterday. Three of them were later released, but the case of one of the Russians and that of a detained Afghan national had been handed over to the judiciary, prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told the ISNA news agency. He did not give any names. Iran has accused its Western enemies of stoking street unrest that erupted after the Islamic Republic’s disputed election in June, which plunged the country into its deepest internal crisis since the revolution three decades ago. Jafari Dolatabadi said the five were detained during the rallies, without making clear if they were all held in Tehran. “(The case of) one Afghan was handed over to the judiciary because of taking part in an illegal gathering (in western Tehran) ... on the sideline of the main rallies,” he said, apparently referring to an opposition rally. “A Russian national, who was arrested for illegally entering the country, was handed over to the judiciary and the Revolutionary Court is studying the case,” the prosecutor added. On Thursday, Iranian state television said “tens of millions of people” rallied to support the revolution across the country of 70 million. An opposition website said security forces fired teargas at opposition supporters staging a Tehran counter-rally. Russia is among six world powers involved in efforts to find a diplomatic solution to a long-running international dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Tehran denies the charge. The Kremlin said on Tuesday Iran could face sanctions if it failed to allay international fears over its nuclear program. A French teaching assistant, Clotilde Reiss, was arrested in Tehran after the election on accusations of taking part in a Western plot to destabilize the Iranian government. She has been out of jail on bail and is staying at embassy of France, which is also one of the six world powers. —Agencies
CAMPANA: The Thor Leader is seen docked with its cargo deck open at Campana harbor, some 70 kms north-east of Buenos Aires. Tensions between Argentina and Britain rose after Buenos Aires blocked a shipment of pipes it said was bound for the Falklands, a south Atlantic archipelago that the two countries went to war over in 1982. — AFP
Nigeria’s Jonathan could win backing as candidate Action on Niger Delta, power, election reform key ABUJA: Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan could win support as a candidate for the presidency in 2011 if he delivers in coming months, said a former minister with a reputation as a key reformer. Jonathan has not said he might stand for the presidency and the place on the ruling party ticket has been widely expected to go to someone from ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Muslim north rather than Jonathan’s more heavily Christian south. But Nasir El-Rufai, a northerner from a group of younger Nigerian politicians pushing for more rapid liberal reforms, became one of the first to openly suggest the possibility of support for a Jonathan candidacy. “Yar’Adua is from the North but did nothing for the region, just like many before him,” he told Reuters in response to emailed questions. “If Goodluck shows real leadership over the next few months, many of us will campaign for him to be our president. And I think Nigeria and the West African sub-region will be the better for it,” said Rufai, who has been tipped in local media for a possible position in Jonathan’s administration. Jonathan, the vice president, assumed executive powers last week, over two months after Yar’Adua left for a Saudi hospital. El-Rufai was one of the most senior members of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s team, serving as minister for the capital Abuja and heading the pri-
vatization agency, and was tipped as a potential candidate for the 2007 election. But he lost out to Yar’Adua, who was seen as less radical and won the presidential race. After denouncing high level corruption, ElRufai was himself accused of wrong-doing during his time in government. Dismissing the accusations as politically motivated, he left the country and has remained critical of Yar’Adua. El-Rufai said that even with limited time, Jonathan could make a start on priorities such as the amnesty for rebels in the oil-producing Niger delta, fixing power supplies and roads as well as reforms to ensure clean elections. “A lot can be done in these areas to give people hope that in time, the problems will be solved,” said El-Rufai. If Jonathan were to stand for election, at least for the ruling party, he would need the backing of northern politicians because of an unwritten commitment to rotate power between Nigeria’s regions. Since Yar’Adua appears likely to serve only one term, instead of the two allowed under the constitution, many northerners believe his successor should be from the north too. Local media have suggested that if Yar’Adua’s return became impossible, making Jonathan president, El-Rufai could be a candidate for the vice-presidency and therefore potentially for the presidency itself. “I want to assure you I am not in any race to be that person,” El-Rufai said. — Reuters
Moscow defends arms sales to Latin America MEXICO CITY: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has defended his country’s sale of weapons in Latin America, saying that the sales had increased in recent years but still trailed US sales in the region. “The delivery deals have risen in a serious manner” in a number of Latin American countries, he said during a joint press conference Tuesday in Mexico City with his Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinosa. “But we are still behind the United States,” added Lavrov. Latin America is the biggest new market for Russian weapons exports, according to the London-based Institute for International Strategic Studies (IISS). Russian arms sales to Latin American countries “are a question purely of economics, and not politics,” Lavrov said. He noted that Mexico is interested in acquiring helicopters for coastal surveillance to assist the country’s
ongoing battle against drug traffickers. Russia is seeking to sign security-related deals with various Latin American countries and has already secured concrete projects with Cuba, Nicaragua and Colombia, he added. “We want to develop this cooperation and to work with Mexico,” he said. The top Russian diplomat said his country approached the region with “pragmatism,” rather than an ideological bent. Russia, the secondbiggest arms vendor in the world in 2008, has signed deals with Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia and is in discussions with Bolivia, Uruguay and Ecuador, the IISS said in early February. In recent years, Venezuela has purchased 4.0 billion dollars worth of military equipment from Russia. Mexico was Lavrov’s final stop in a Latin America tour that included visits to Cuba, Nicaragua and Guatemala. — AFP
Tajik opposition warns of tension ahead of poll DUSHANBE: If a Tajik parliamentary election later this month is rigged, as has happened in previous ballots, simmering tensions could boil over in the nation bordering Afghanistan, an opposition leader said yesterday. Stability in Tajikistan is key to Western efforts to prevent militancy from spreading into Central Asia from Afghanistan but insurgent attacks have been on the rise. The country also lies on a new supply route for NATO forces fighting the Taleban. It holds a parliamentary election on Feb 28 in which allies of President Imomali Rakhmon are certain to win most seats in the lower house, analysts say. After two decades of independence from Soviet rule, the impoverished, predominantly Muslim but secular nation has never held an election judged democratic by Western monitors. Mukhiddin Kabiri, leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), the main opposition force and only official Islamist party in Central Asia, told Reuters the election was a chance
for people to express protest against the existing rule, but he feared a repeat of past electoral fraud. “If it (vote) leads to a bigger role for the opposition in legislative affairs everything will be fine,” he said in an interview. “Otherwise this cauldron may explode.” More than 10 years after a bloody civil war, Tajikistan is home to a potentially explosive mixture of social and religious tensions, its economy increasingly reliant on remittances sent by Tajiks working as laborers abroad. Rocked by a series of clashes with militants last year, the nation was described by the International Crisis Group think tank as a country on the road to becoming a failed state. NO CRITICISM ALLOWED Discontent has been growing among ordinary Tajiks in past months, prompted by a deepening economic crisis, but their frustration remains muted in a country where public criticism of Rakhmon’s government is not tolerated. The country appeared
calm ahead of the poll, with almost no public campaigning or debates to remind voters of the looming ballot. Some streets in the capital Dushanbe were festooned with banners promoting the main proRakhmon party. The authorities have promised to hold a democratic vote and give all political forces an equal chance. Kabiri said his party, which holds two out of 63 seats in the lower house and is the only opposition party there, was under increasing state pressure ahead of the vote. On Tuesday, a group of activists was detained after they drove through Dushanbe in a car adorned with opposition posters, he said. The authorities could not be reached for comment. The IRP is a reformed wing of the oncepowerful United Tajik Opposition which fought Rakhmon’s government in a 1992-1997 civil war. More than 100,000 people died in that war. About one million Tajiks in a country of seven million work abroad to feed their families, unable to find jobs at home.—Reuters
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For rent: Montreal police Police launch promotional campaign to boost revenues MONTREAL: If your company fears a terror attack or industrial espionage, the Montreal police will now come to your aid, evaluating the risks and offering security advice-but for a fee. The Montreal police has launched a massive promotional campaign to boost commercial revenues as well as its profile, going as far as asking all of its members to search out new business opportunities. “Police for rent,” said a recent Journal de Montreal front page headline. But if it’s closer to home, gumshoe work you’re after, fearing that your spouse may be cheating, then the Montreal police officer is not the man for you. “Your wife can sleep soundly,” quipped Gino Dube, head of the force’s commercial unit, when asked how far it was prepared to go into snapping up the security work traditionally offered by private eyes. Some private firms however are keeping a wary eye on this new competition. The international security firm Garda, based in Montreal, has expressed concerns about its new rival. “It’s a real danger for Montreal residents,” said Garda’s vice president Guy Cote. “Montreal police face important challenges, and by selling their services, they are diluting their capacity to fill their main role, which
FLORIDA: Sarah Palin greets fans during a book signing at a book store in a mall in Daytona Beach, Fla. — AP
Who will pay for the anger in US politics? WASHINGTON: American voters, stalked by high unemployment and disgusted by a fetid political mood in Washington, are in the mood for vengeance as the political world braces for November’s mid-term polls. A tide of popular anger has been building for months over the logjammed US Congress, the lingering pain of the worst economic crisis in generations, and the endless political bickering that rages no matter how bad things get. It is not just voters who have had enough. Prominent Democrat Evan Bayh, once seen as a possible future president, decided on Monday he could take it no more and shelved his bid for a third term as a senator from Indiana. Bayh’s goodbye came with a withering critique of Washington politics, which has reduced President Barack Obama’s once-soaring agenda to a crawl. “Ultimately, the American people ourselves need to decide that we care more about practical solutions and progress than we do about brain-dead ideology and partisan wrangling,” Bayh told CNN on Tuesday. Bayh is not alone in his despair: many retiring lawmakers from both parties, have expressed sim-
ilar sentiments. Polls meanwhile show that the public is even more revolted by the petty politicking in Congress. Anger at Washington is a recurrent theme in US politics, and Congress is rarely popular, but a recent CBS/New York Times survey revealed that only 19 percent of voters approved of the job Congress was doing. While majority Democrats are slightly less unpopular than Republicans in most polls-the prevailing sentiment is a plague on both their houses. A new CNN/Opinion Research poll on Tuesday found that only a third of US voters think most members of Congress should be reelected this year-the lowest level ever recorded in the survey. So much for Obama’s vow to change the political culture of bickering and gridlock in Washington when he took office in a wave of optimism a year ago. But who will pay the price for the voters rage: Obama, his Democratic allies in Congress, or the Republicans who have perfected the game of obstruction? “There is a general rage against incumbents... I can’t recall a time when it was quite as widespread and as bipartisan a sentiment as it is now,” said Bruce Buchanan, an elections expert at the University of Texas. — AFP
is to protect the population and uphold the law.” But the force has even longerterm dreams. “My ultimate vision is to make the police service selffinancing,” police director Mario Gisondi told the French-language Journal de Montreal. “We’ve got a budget of 600 million Canadian dollars (565 million US). If we could raise 600 million dollars through our commercial unit, Montreal residents would no longer have to pay for policing,” he said. Of course, this is more of an “ideal” than a practical objective. The force’s commercial work last year amounted to a mere four
million dollars, Dube said. It is rare that individuals turn to the police to deal with private security issues and in each case, they begin with an “ethical analysis,” he explained. If a matter concerns public safety, for example, a person who fears being the victim of racketeering, the police would deal with it in the usual fashion, without demanding compensation from the victim. The work is carried out only by off-duty or retired officers who volunteer for it, he added. For the most part, the Montreal police contracts with municipalities or corporations to offer security services, such as
Montreal’s international airport. Much of the work involves professional training, routine security, or advice, for example, on what guns to buy for a small town police force or how to respond to a hostage-taking or a “crazy gunman.” They may also provide security for a concert or on a movie set, or even help a large business evaluate its security. Dube tried to put it in perspective. “I don’t give our officers an objective. I just say to them, ‘if someone asks you for a service that is not part of your normal duties, let them know that our commercial unit may offer the service,” he said. — AFP
Which party will win US Congress in November? WASHINGTON: Could an angry electorate in November strip Democrats of their large US Senate or House of Representatives majority, handing control back to Republicans? Some pundits are mulling that outcome as the number of Democrats deciding not to seek re-election this year grows and polls show deep dissatisfaction with Congress. Republican victories in some recent elections for state governors and US Congress also have cheered the minority party. Nobody knows for sure what the political landscape will look like more than eight months from now. But here are the main questions to mull now: WHAT IS THE MIDTERM CURSE? The congressional elections that occur two years after a president takes office, or midway through his term, almost always result in the president’s party suffering losses. President Barack Obama’s fellow Democrats in the House are bracing for a tough election night. Some experts think they could lose up to 35 seats or so.
But House Democrats “start with a pretty good cushion,” notes Stephen Hess, senior fellow emeritus at the Brookings Institution think tank. Right now, Democrats hold a 77-seat advantage over Republicans with two previously held Democratic seats vacant in the 435-member House. In the Senate, there are currently 57 Democrats, two independents that often side with the Democrats and 41 Republicans. “The odds are that the Democrats will hold on” to their majorities, Hess said. For Republicans to take over, virtually every close election would have to go in their favor, he said. Of the Democrats retiring from Congress, some provide an opening for Republican gains, while others may not. Jennifer Lawless, an American University professor of government, advises: “There are two different types of retirements.” Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, for example, most likely will be replaced by Democrats. Others, like
Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, represent states that are more likely to vote Republican. She thinks that unlike the 2006 and 2008 congressional elections, local, not national issues will dominate and with neither party enjoying huge popularity, there won’t be a political wave to change control of Congress. CAN OBAMA SAVE HIS FELLOW DEMOCRATS? Obama “is still remarkably popular for a president with 10 percent unemployment” vexing the country, Hess said, adding, “We shouldn’t overlook that.” As the election nears, Obama likely will be traveling the country more and more, either campaigning on behalf of fellow Democrats or holding “town meetings” to talk about his administration’s attempts to create jobs. “His own operation is gearing up to be more aggressive, more combative,” Hess said, after a solid year of tough opposition from Republicans on nearly every issue. IS IT ALL ABOUT THE ECONOMY? Just about. While the coun-
try appears to be slowly climbing out of the worst economic slump in decades, the jobless rate is still near a staggering 10 percent and many Americans are facing foreclosures on their mortgages. Unless Democrats can convince voters that better times are around the corner, Republican prospects could brighten. There’s just one problem: So far, voters are not convinced Republicans would do a better job than Democrats at managing the economy that sank under Republican President George W. Bush’s watch. Some signs point to companies being on the verge of creating new jobs. If there is a solid economic turnaround, Democrats are hoping the public notices by midyear, before voter preferences solidify. “It’s got to be far enough in advance that people are starting to feel better,” Hess said. WILL TERRORISM FEARS PLAY A ROLE? If the United States were to suffer an attack under Obama’s watch, terrorism could be the
“sleeper issue” of the 2010 elections, Hess warned. But Lawless said that the public mostly holds the president accountable and an attack “doesn’t automatically confer an advantage” for Republicans unless it could be “linked specifically to legislation in Congress that weakened national security.” COULD MAJOR LEGISLATION HELP DEMOCRATS?
If Democrats were to pass major healthcare reform or a new jobs bill, could that save them from the wrath of voters? That likely would require some help from Republicans who were “not very willing to compromise last year when Democrats were in the driver’s seat. Why would they compromise now when the trend is in their favor,” Hess said. That means Congress is more likely to pass only modest bills in the run-up to the election; maybe a small jobs bill that would fail to grab voters’ attention, he added. — Reuters
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Malaysian women caned for extramarital sex KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said yesterday that three women have been caned under Islamic law for having extramarital sex, in a first for the Muslim-majority country. The case will fuel a debate over rising “Islamisation” in Malaysia, where religious courts have been clamping down on moral offences as well as a ban on Muslims consuming alcohol that had been rarely enforced. Officials said the three women were caned on February 9 at a women’s prison outside the capital Kuala Lumpur after being convicted of “khalwat” or illicit contact with the opposite sex.
“I hope this will not be misunderstood so much that it defiles the purity of Islam,” Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said according to state media. “The punishment is to teach and give a chance to those who have fallen off the path to return and build a better life in future,” he said, adding that none of the three sustained any injuries. Islamic scholars have said previously that the punishment would be carried out when the woman was fully clothed and with a cane that is smaller and lighter then the heavy length of rattan used in the civil justice system. Hishammuddin said the three women
and four men were caned following a December decision in the religious courtswhich operate in parallel to the civil system in Malaysia. He said one woman was released from prison on Sunday while another would be freed in several days and the third released in June. Islamic authorities triggered uproar last year when they sentenced mother-oftwo Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno to six strokes of the cane after she was caught drinking beer in a hotel nightclub. Her case, which was to have been the first time a woman was caned under Islamic law in Malaysia, is under review and human
rights groups have urged religious authorities to drop the sentence. Kartika’s sentence has been given wide media coverage but the case of the three women convicted of extramarital sex came as a surprise. Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan said it was worrying that the punishment had gone ahead even as the caning issue was being hotly debated by Muslim scholars, religious groups and human rights activists. “The impression was that Kartika’s case would be the first so I’ve got no idea what has happened,” he said. “It’s not as if this is the Middle East... it’s not a good signal that
they’re sending out.” “We are against any form of corporal punishment, for men or women,” he added. “The fact is that any form of whipping is barbaric.” Kartika, a part-time model, stared down religious authorities after being convicted, saying she was ready to be caned, refusing to lodge an appeal, and challenging them to cane her in public. Alcohol is widely available in Malaysia but is forbidden for Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the population. They can be fined, caned, or jailed for up to three years but prosecutions are extremely rare. Kartika’s case has raised concerns that
Islamic law is on the rise in Malaysia and that the nation’s secular status is under threat, eroding the rights of minority ethnic Chinese and Indians. Observers say that the dynamic of “political Islam” has escalated since 2008 elections that saw the long-serving Barisan Nasional coalition lose unprecedented ground to the three-member opposition alliance. After minority voters deserted the coalition, its lead party the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) it is now vying with the conservative Islamic party PAS, an opposition member, for the votes of Malays. — AFP
US aircraft carrier in Hong Kong amid China tensions USS Nimitz accompanied by four warships
HONG KONG: Carrying some 5,000 sailors, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and four other ships dock for a port call in Hong Kong water yesterday. — AP
Kim Jong-Il only sister wielding more power UN opens high-level dialogue with North Korea SEOUL: Kim Jong-Il’s only sister appears to be wielding more power in North Korea after making a comeback to the frontline of the regime last year, South Korea said yesterday. Kim Kyong-Hui, 64, was newly added to a diagram of the North’s power structure released by the South’s unification ministry after returning to the public spotlight for the first time in nearly six years. The annually updated diagram, which offers a glimpse into changes in the North’s elite power system, showed her heading an organ which oversees light industries under the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. “Since her comeback, the sister has frequently accompanied Kim Jong-Il in his field inspections,” ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo said. Intelligence officials say Kim Jong-Il, who turned 68 Tuesday, has increasingly relied on his family to exercise his power after reportedly suffering a stroke in 2008, the Yonhap news agency reported. The sister’s comeback also reflects Pyongyang’s resolve to revive its economy and pave the way for a family power succession, it added. Her husband Jang Song-Thaek has strengthened his image as the leader’s right-hand man amid speculation he will play the role of regent as the leader grooms his youngest son Jong-Un to take over. Kim Jong-Il has three sons from two marriages, according to analysts. Information is scant about Jong-Un, the second son of Kim Jong-Il’s third wife Ko Yong-
Hee. No adult photo of him is publicly available. Some reports say Jong-Un, born in 1983, attended an international school in the Swiss city of Berne under a pseudonym. Kenji Fujimoto, a former personal chef to Kim Jong-Il, has described the son as “a chip off the old block” who closely resembles his father physically and in terms of personality. Meanwhile, the UN political chief, who just returned from North Korea, said Tuesday the United Nations has opened a high-level dialogue with the reclusive communist nation for the first time in six years and plans further discussions in the next few months. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe, the highest-ranking UN official to visit North Korea since 2004, did not disclose details about plans for future talks but said senior officials from one or two UN agencies planned visits to Pyongyang. Pascoe said he had no confirmation of reports that top North Korean nuclear envoy Kim Kye Gwan was planning to come to the United States. But he said the UN would be “delighted” to welcome any official from the North to UN headquarters in New York. On his visit, Pascoe met with North Korea’s No 2 official Kim Yong Nam and the foreign minister on UN assistance programs and stalled six-party talks on the North’s nuclear program as well as relations with South Korea and other neighbors. “There are few places in the world that are more dangerous than the Korean peninsula and
we’d like to be as helpful as we can in resolving this important peace and security issue for the world,” Pascoe told a news conference. After a six-year hiatus and 11/2 years of trying to arrange a visit, Pascoe said his goal was to improve relations between the UN and North Korea. “What we were trying to do was open a high-level dialogue that would go back and forth and talk about these issues,” he said. “I think that we succeeded in doing that.” Pascoe’s visit generated widespread speculation here that he was preparing the way for a visit to Pyongyang by SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, a former South Korean foreign minister. Assistant Secretary-General Kim Won-soo, Ban’s deputy chief of staff who accompanied Pascoe to North Korea, said the visit was to establish a high-level dialogue and the possibility of a visit by the secretary-general wasn’t raised. Pascoe said he made clear to the North Koreans that he and the secretary-general believe the six-party talks “needed to begin right away and without preconditions.” However, Pascoe said he didn’t think the North was “all that eager” to return to the talks with the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. He cited issues including North Korean unhappiness over UN sanctions and a desire for a peace treaty ending the Korean War. Pascoe said negotiations on restarting talks must take place between the six parties. — Agencies
HONG KONG: The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sailed into Hong Kong on schedule yesterday despite a Chinese pledge to suspend military exchanges with the United States after its announced arms sales to Taiwan. Speculation had swirled on whether China might prevent the Nimitz from visiting over the $6.4 billion arms sales and in retaliation for a planned meeting between the Dalai Lama and US President Barack Obama in the White House today. “For us, this is a routine port visit,” said John Miller, the Commanding Officer and Rear Admiral of the Nimitz strike group. “We had a request pending, and about a week or so ago it was approved and we’ve been on our way ever since,” he told reporters aboard the aircraft carrier, which had sailed from Malaysia with four accompanying ships. He offered no comment, however, when asked whether military exchanges would be held with China during the fourday visit. Hong Kong has been a favorite destination for US sailors on R&R since the Vietnam War. Some of the nearly 6,000 sailors in the strike group, anchored in the western reaches of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor on a cold and wet day, soon spilled ashore to the lively Wanchai bar district. Tensions with Washington have arisen over issues from trade and currencies to the US plan to sell $6.4 billion of weapons to self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. Miller played down tensions, calling China a “like-minded nation” while praising its role in multilateral anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. “We’re nations that don’t always agree on a variety of issues, but can find agreement, and certainly counter-piracy is one of those examples,” he said. While US warships have long made periodic port calls to the former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997, China has barred US ships from entering at sensitive moments. In 2007, the USS Kitty Hawk was denied entry to Hong Kong as it neared the city’s waters for a Thanksgiving visit. Analysts linked the refusal to then-US President George W Bush awarding the US Congressional Gold Medal, one of the country’s highest honours, to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader branded a separatist by China. The Nimitz, whose home port is San Diego, recently completed a five-month tour of duty in the North Arabian Sea, where it supported US operations in Afghanistan. The carrier group will resume its routine deployment in the Western Pacific.— Reuters
Famine-hit N Koreans shorter, thinner than South Koreans SEOUL: North Korean teenage refugees are far shorter and thinner than their South Korean peers, official data showed yesterday, amid reports of a deepening food crisis in the impoverished communist state. The height of North Korean males aged between 13 and 18 who have recently arrived in South Korea averages 155.7 centimeters, 13.5 centimeters less than their South Korean counterparts, according to data at Seoul’s Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The North Korean girls of the same age group are 151.1 centimeters tall on average, 8.3 centimeters shorter than their South Korean peers, they said. The weight of the North Korean male teenagers averages 47.3 kilograms, 13.5 kilograms less than that of their southern peers, they said. The North Korean girls weigh 46.9 kilograms on average, 5.4 kilograms lighter than their South Korean counterparts, they said. “The data indicate that the North Korean escapees have been exposed to
severe malnutrition and other poor health conditions,” said an official at the South Korean health organization. He said the report was based on checkups of 8,214 North Korean refugees, including 1,257 people aged 18 or below, who crossed the border between 2005 and 2008. A growing number of North Koreans have fled their homeland, which has relied on outside aid to help feed its people since a famine in the 1990s killed hundreds of thousands. About 2,000 people have starved to
death in North Korea this winter, Good Friends, a Seoul-based welfare group with contacts in the North, said Tuesday, citing an unnamed North Korean ruling party official. The South’s unification ministry said last week the North produced an estimated 4.11 million tons of grain last year, less than its projected annual demand of 5.4 million tons. The estimated shortfall is equal to almost four months’ food supply this year, according to the state-run Korea Rural Economic Institute in Seoul. — AFP
JAKARTA: Abdu Rauf, 12 year old Indonesian Facebook user, logs on at an internet shop in Jakarta yesterday. Indonesia is considering proposals to block internet sites that are deemed to violate “public decency” and privacy, provoking a barrage of criticism from bloggers and web users. — AFP
Teenager convicted for Facebook insult JAKARTA: A teenager received a suspended jail sentence for posting insulting comments on a romantic rival’s Facebook page, the latest case bringing Indonesia’s tough defamation laws under criticism. Farah Nur Arafah, 18, was convicted Tuesday by three District Court judges in the town of Bogor, 35 miles south of Jakarta, of defaming her 18-year-old Facebook friend Felly Fandini. Arafah feared Fandini was attempting to sour the relationship with her boyfriend. Arahaf’s posting in July last year called Fandini a pig and a dog, as well as saying she was promiscuous and overweight. Presiding judge Ekofa Rahayu sentenced her to 75 days in prison, but suspended the sentence because Arafah cooperated during her trial. She must serve the sentence if she breaks the law in the next five months. Arafah said her brush with the law had not put her off Facebook. “But I’ll be more careful about what comments I post,” she told The Jakarta Post newspaper. Arafah’s defamation case was the latest involving social networking Web sites. A group of reporters recently complained to police when Indonesian actress Luna Maya Twittered that tabloid journalists were worse than prostitutes and murderers. Police did not press charges.
A mother of two young children, Prita Mulyasari, became a national symbol for the plight of the powerless in Indonesia when she was sued by a hospital and spent three weeks in jail last year because she complained on Facebook that her mumps had been misdiagnosed. She has countersued. Andreas Harsono, consultant for Human Rights Watch, said yesterday the New York-based watchdog would release a report next month showing that Indonesia’s criminal defamation laws were among the world’s toughest. Since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, the penalty for defamation has been reduced from death to life in prison, Harsono said. But now the number of defamation cases under civil and criminal statutes has increased as a means of protecting the powerful and corrupt from criticism, he said. “It is an electoral democracy, but there are no civil liberties,” Harsono said. A Facebook spokesman could not be immediately contacted for comment yesterday. Charges relating to Facebook posts are not uncommon. Earlier this month a teenager in the US state of Illinois was charged with two counts of harassment through electronic communication, and a Florida woman was jailed for making threats on the website. —AP
in the news China ‘a mystery’ on Iran sanctions
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah arrive at a court in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur yesterday. —AP Malaysia rejects Anwar’s bid to end sodomy trial KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court yesterday rejected opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to close down his sodomy trial on the grounds of medical reports the defense says prove his innocence. Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was jailed on similar charges a decade ago, has made a number of legal maneuvers to try to quash the allegations of illicit sex with former aide Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan. The defense had argued that medical reports on Mohamad Saiful, who has accused Anwar of sodomizing him at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur apartment, showed that penetration had not take place. The appeals court dismissed the latest bid, saying that medical reports were not the only evidence in the trial, which began earlier this month, and that other witness and forensic evidence would also be heard. “So what else is new,” said Anwar after the latest in a series of court decisions against him, including on bids to obtain access to evidence such as closed-circuit television footage.
WASHINGTON: China’s position on toughened nuclear sanctions against Iran remains a “mystery,” Israel’s UN envoy said Tuesday, and doubted the Security Council would agree new punishments for Tehran this month. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev also said that should efforts fail to frame a unified range of United Nations sanctions, it would be up to individual world powers to team up outside the Council to punish Iran economically. And, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Moscow, Shalev said that it was clear Russia had dropped its earlier reluctance to impose more sanctions on Iran to punish its nuclear drive. “I know that the Russians have turned their position,” Shalev told a small group of reporters. “I know that the Russians now agree that there must be some kind of limit on the engagement,” she said, referring to Iran’s refusal to agree to a UN-backed deal to end the standoff over its nuclear program.
Rebels kill Yemeni officer SANAA: A Yemeni army officer was killed by northern Shiite rebels days into a ceasefire in a war that has drawn in Saudi Arabia and has raged off and on since 2004, a government official said. The 51-year-old colonel was killed on Monday while eating lunch at a checkpoint in the northern Jawf province after coming under rebel fire, a website of Yemen’s ruling party said. But the official said the shooting was linked to a dispute between the officer’s tribe and the rebels and not to clashes between the army and the insurgents. The northern rebels agreed on Thursday to a truce with the government in Sanaa. The government has come under pressure to turn its focus to a crackdown on a resurgent Al-Qaeda after a failed December attack on a US-bound plane claimed by AlQaeda’s Yemen-based wing. The Shiite insurgents and the Yemeni government have sought in recent weeks to wind down fighting. The rebels complain of religious, social and economic discrimination in Yemen.
INTERNATIONAL
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Exiled Bangladesh author gets her ‘last’ Indian visa NEW DELHI: Bangladesh writer Taslima Nasreen, forced to flee her homeland by Muslim extremists, said yesterday that India had told her it will no longer renew her residence visa after the current one expires. Nasreen, who has been unable to live full-time in India because of opposition from Muslim hardliners in the country, said the Indian government had renewed her temporary six-month residence permit. But 47-year-old author, who has spent the past two years mainly in the United States, said the government told her it was “the last time” the permit would be extended. “I don’t know where I will go if India does not give me shelter,” Nasreen said by telephone from an undisclosed location in the Indian capital where she was under federal protection. There was no immediate comment from the Indian home ministry. The gynecologist-turned-author holds Swedish citizenship but she has long been seeking permanent residence in India, which she describes as her “cultural home.”
The author was hounded out of India in March 2008 by Muslim radicals and moved to the United States. “Sometimes it seems I am facing a slow death, standing at a bus stop to shuttle between Paris and New York, London and Washington,” she told AFP last week. Nasreen was forced to flee Bangladesh in 1994 after radical Muslims accused her of blasphemy over her novel “Lajja” (Shame), in which a Hindu family is persecuted by Muslims. She spent the next 10 years in Europe and the United States before India granted her a temporary residential permit in 2004. She moved to Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, adjoining Bangladesh. But seething resentment by Muslim extremists at her presence in the city exploded into full-blown riots in November 2007, which resulted in the army being called out. Afterwards, Nasreen, whose situation has been likened to that of Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie, went into hiding in New Delhi but was eventually forced to leave India. — AFP
Pakistan confirms Baradar’s capture ISLAMABAD: Pakistan confirmed yesterday the capture of the Taleban’s top military commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, whose removal could deal a heavy blow to the militia’s eight-year war in Afghanistan. It is the most important Taleban arrest since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the militia for sheltering Al-Qaeda after the September 11 attacks but dragged the United States into an increasingly deadly and costly conflict. The involvement of Pakistan-suspected by the West of supporting the Taleban in Afghanistan-could also herald a new era in US efforts to persuade Islamabad to move aggressively against Islamist networks in both countries. The military confirmed Baradar had been arrested, but made no mention of US reports that he was captured “several days ago” in Pakistan’s financial capital Karachi in a joint operation with US spies and was being interrogated. “At the conclusion of detailed identification procedure, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar,” said military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas. “Place of arrest and operational details cannot
be released due to security reasons,” he said, without giving further details. The Afghan-born Baradar is known as a powerful military chief and trusted aide to the Taleban’s one-eyed and elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. Confirmation of Baradar’s detention came just hours before US President Barack Obama was to meet his war cabinet to discuss Afghanistan and a major offensive on a key Taleban bastion that has run into stiff resistance. Obama was to meet in the White House’s Situation Room with Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command, and top officials. General Stanley McChrystal, ground commander of the 113,000 US-led and NATO troops fighting against the Taleban across Afghanistan, was to join the meeting via video conference, the White House said. The White House on Tuesday refused to confirm Baradar’s arrest, but said it welcomed better cooperation between the United States and Pakistan. “We’ve seen an increase in Pakistani pushback on extrem-
ists in their own country, which I think is beneficial not simply for us,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. US officials had long complained that Islamabad’s spy service was failing to crack down on the Afghan Taleban but had recently refrained from public criticism while Washington doled out billions in military and civilian aid. Baradar’s detention also exposed the presence of Afghan Taleban leaders in Pakistan. Despite Pakistani denials, the leadership is widely reported to be headquartered in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province. “This arrest is very significant. It is a major setback for the Taleban. It will have a demoralizing effect on them, something in the favor of both the United States and Pakistan,” said Pakistani political analyst Hasan Askari. “It will also help advance President Obama’s new strategy in Afghanistan. There appears to be a shift in the Pakistan army’s policy,” he added. India recently offered to resume dialogue with Pakistan, going some way under US pressure to easing Pakistani fears about its arch rival, and Askari suggested the army was willing to make concessions on the Taleban. — AFP
Taleban using human shields Military squads resume painstaking house-to-house searches MARJAH: Taleban insurgents are increasingly using civilians as human shields as they fight allied troops trying to take the militants’ southern stronghold of Marjah, an Afghan official said yesterday as military squads resumed painstaking houseNATO hopes to rush in aid and public services as soon as the town is secured to try to win the loyalty of the population. With the assault in its fifth day, insurgents are firing at Afghan troops from inside or next to compounds where women and children appear to have been ordered to stand on a roof or in a window, said Gen Mohiudin Ghori, the brigade commander for Afghan troops in Marjah. “Especially in the south of Marjah, the enemy is fighting from compounds where soldiers can very clearly see women or children on the roof or in a second-floor or third-floor window,” Ghori said. “They are trying to get us to fire on them and kill the civilians.” The Marjah offensive is the biggest joint operation since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan and is a major test of a retooled NATO strategy to focus on protecting civilians, rather than killing insurgents. Ghori said troops have made choices either not to fire at the insurgents with civilians nearby or they have had to target and advance much more slowly in order to distinguish between militants and civilians as they go. Even with such caution on both the NATO and Afghan side, civilians have been killed. NATO has confirmed 15 civilian deaths in the operation. Afghan rights groups say at least 19 have been killed. In northern Marjah yesterday, US Marines fanned out through poppy fields, dirt roads and side alleys to take control of a broader stretch of area from insurgents as machine gun fire rattled in the distance. The Marines found several compounds that had primitive drawings on their walls depicting insurgents blowing up tanks or helicopters, a sign that Afghan troops say revealed strong Taleban support in the neighborhood. Lt Col Brian Christmas, commander of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, said
IEDs ‘give Taleban upper hand’ in Afghan assault QARI SAHEB: Afghan army Sergeant Rafiullah says he is so afraid of the mines Taleban militants have spread all over a southern battlezone he even takes a metal detector with him to the toilet. Some 15,000 US, NATO and Afghan soldiers are battling militants in one of their last strongholds in Helmand province, aiming to push them out and allow the Afghan government to re-establish sovereignty. Progress in Operation Mushtarak (“together” in Dari) is being slowed by pockets of stiff resistance in the Marjah and Nad Ali farming districts of the central Helmand River valley. But Afghan and NATO commanders say their biggest challenge is improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, which have been planted throughout the area, probably during the weeks leading up to the Saturday launch of the assault. “I’m scared of Taleban mines,” said Rafiullah. “Even when I go to the toilet I take this with me to make sure there are no bombs
hidden there,” he said, holding up a metal detector. Advancing through villages in Nad Ali, Rafiullah, of 3 Brigade, 201 Army Corps said he fought a few battles against the Taleban, but on each occasion the militants pulled back under fire. Battle-hardened he may be, but Rafiullah readily admits IEDs are the one thing that scares him-and give the rebels the upper hand in the long war. Afghan and British soldiers sweeping through villages in the area surrounding Marjah found IEDs buried by roadsides, in fields, hanging from trees, even embedded in walls, an Afghan army colonel said early this week. “We found IEDs all over the place,” Colonel Shirin Shah, commander of 1 Brigade, 115 Corps Helmand province said. IEDs-crude, cheap and easily made bombs often detonated remotely-are the main killer of foreign and Afghan forces fighting the Taleban because they can be almost impossible to detect. “The Taleban are not
good fighters-if they were, they would fight me on the battlefield like men,” Rafiullah said. “But what they do is attack from the back-using IEDs,” he said. On day five of Operation Mushtarak, military officials readily admit IEDs are slowing an advance that at first looked like a walkover. “They (Taleban) have planted mines all over the place. I think even their women have their feet on the remote controls,” said another soldier in Qari Saheb village in Nad Ali district, where the Afghan flag has replaced the white Taleban flag that flew above a mud-brick compound until Monday. Since the launch of the operation NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has reported that two of four foreign troop deaths confirmed in the Mushtarak theatre were caused by IEDs. “The enemy was thinking that we would step on their mines” during the advance, said four-star General Besmillah
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Khan, Afghanistan’s army chief of staff, at Camp Shorabak, the main Afghan army base in the restive province. While no Afghan soldiers have been killed by the bombs, Khan said that the need to sweep every inch of territory was slowing progress. In a report from the frontline, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the Afghan army said troops have removed more than 100 mines since the operation was launched. Soldiers returning from the front line said most of the sweeping was being done by US Marines inching forward with military sniffer dogs, metal detectors and anti-mine vehicles. “First the Americans are cleaning the roads then we move forward,” said another soldier at Camp Shorabak, who asked not to be named. “They are using dogs and anti-mine vehicles,” he said, limping from a bullet wound he received in battle on Saturday. “There are lots of mines in the area. You just never know when they are going to go off.” — AFP
MARJAH: During a sporadic firefight, US Army Staff Sgt. and flight medic Robert B Cowdrey (far left) with Task Force Pegasus, coordinates a medical evacuation mission as Marine infantrymen carry a combative and wounded Taleban fighter captured minutes earlier. — AP
to-house searches. About 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops are taking part in the offensive around Marjah, which has an estimated 80,000 inhabitants and was the largest town in southern Helmand province under Taleban control.
TAG: US 4th Infantry Division 2-77 Field Artillery Nightmare Platoon soldiers patrol at Tag in Laghman. — AFP security has improved enough in northern Marjah for Afghan police to step in. Other Marine units have taken control over main locations in the center of town. “Bringing in the Afghan police frees up my forces to clear more insurgent zones,” Christmas said. Combat engineers were building a fortified base at the entrance of town for the police, who are expected to arrive Thursday. Afghan police chosen for the task in Marjah were selected from other regions of the coun-
try instead of Helmand province, Marine officials said, in order to avoid handing over day-to-day security to officers who may have tribal or friendship ties to the Taleban. A day earlier, Marines and Afghan forces moving by land from the north had succeeded in linking up with US units that have faced nearly constant Taleban attack in the four days since they were dropped by helicopter into this insurgent stronghold. The linkup between the two Marine rifle companies and their Afghan army partners
will enable the US to expand its control in Marjah, about 380 miles southwest of Kabul. A top Taleban commander, Mullah Abdul Razaq Akhund, dismissed the offensive as NATO propaganda and said on the group’s website that Marjah was militarily insignificant. Four NATO service members have been killed in the Marjah operation. An American and a Briton were killed on Saturday, while two others whose nationalities were not identified were killed Tuesday. One Afghan soldier
also died Tuesday, Afghan officials said. The Marines and Afghan troops “saw sustained but less frequent insurgent activity” in Marjah yesterday, limited mostly to small-scale attacks, NATO said in a statement. Marine officials have said that Taleban resistance has started to seem more disorganized than in the first few days of the assault, when small teams of insurgents swarmed around Marine and Afghan army positions firing rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Troops are encountering less fire from mortars and RPGs than at the start of the assault, suggesting that the insurgents may have depleted some of their reserves or that the heavier weapons have been hit, Ghori said. Nevertheless, Taleban have not given up. Insurgent snipers hiding in haystacks in poppy fields have exchanged fire with Marines and Afghan troops in recent days as they swept south. Insurgents tried but failed to shoot down an Osprey aircraft with rocket-propelled grenades as Cobra attack helicopters fired missiles at Taleban positions, including a machine gun bunker. NATO said it has reinstated use of a high-tech rocket system that it suspended after two rockets hit a house on the outskirts of Marjah on Sunday, killing 12 people, including at least five children. — AP
22 killed as wedding bus plunges into river NEW DELHI: At least 22 people were killed when a bus filled with wedding guests plunged into a river yesterday in northern India, police said. “Twenty-two bodies have been recovered and 13 people are still missing,” a police officer said by telephone from Uttar Pradesh state capital Lucknow. Fifteen people survived the accident which occurred soon after midnight when the bus spun out of con-
trol on a road in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh and hurtled into the river, the officer said. “The victims were attending a wedding,” he said. Police and rescue workers were struggling to free the victims from the mangled bus wreckage, he added. The bus was believed to be carrying around 50 people, police said. Police were unable to give details about the fate of the
bride and groom. India has the highest annual road death toll in the world, larger than the more populous China, according to the World Health Organization, with accidents caused by speeding, bad roads, overcrowding and poor vehicle maintenance. In 2007, police figures showed 114,000 people died nationwide on the roads, one fatal accident every four and half minutes. — AFP
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OPINION
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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issues
Google’s diplomatic alliance carries risks By Alexei Oreskovic and Andrew Quinn
G
oogle Inc’s mastery of Internet search technology is unrivaled, but the high-tech pioneer is in uncharted territory as it finds itself embroiled in US diplomatic spats with China and Iran. Google and the Obama administration are now allies as both push for Internet freedom and an end to censorship - the Internet giant giving Washington a high-tech boost as it seeks to claim the moral high ground in the digital era. But analysts say the fragile alliance could be put to new tests as their interests diverge on intellectual copyright and user privacy, particularly for users Washington may deem national security risks. Google has become a cause celebre in Washington because its business provides people with information access - whether through Internet search, email or instant messaging - making the company a de facto threat for many repressive governments, said DJ Peterson, director of corporate advisory services for the Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy firm. And Google’s vocal position on issues like Internet freedom has made the Mountain View, California, company easy to single out for praise by the United States and criticism by foreign governments. “Google has become a politicized brand,” Peterson said. “In some ways you could say that Google is unique in its political exposure in places like Iran or China.” The US government has thus far been eager to claim an alliance with Google, Twitter, Facebook and others, saying the services they provide are all key to achieving U.S. goals of greater democratic freedom. “We’re working with these companies in trouble spots around the world, trying to see how we can employ technology to solve local challenges before they become regional conflicts,” State Department spokesman P J Crowley said. But for Google, balancing delicate foreign relations with its business and ethical priorities represents a growing challenge for a company that has often seemed primarily focused on the technology at the heart of its online business. Google, which lists the phrase “Don’t Be Evil” among its mottos, has only in recent years built a sizable presence in Washington to deal with public policy and regulatory issues. “There’s no international guy that sits in Mountain View,” said one person close to the company, who described Google’s approach to political matters affecting the company as de-centralized and collaborative, often involving everyone from the regional sales head to product managers. Gonzalo Alonso, the former general manager for Spanish-speaking Latin America at Google, said the company is very focused on issues affecting its interna-
tional operations, and that his duties often involved dealing with regional tax issues and Internet-related legislation. But he noted that Google is still not as sophisticated as Microsoft Corp, for which he also previously worked, or companies in other industries like oil, when it comes to managing relations with foreign governments. “We keep forgetting Google is a very young company and they keep on learning all the time,” said Alonso. “The oil companies have been around for a hundred years. Google has been around for 10 years,” he said. Google declined to comment on its internal operations. It hit the headlines again last week when it reported a sharp drop in email traffic on its Gmail service in Iran, and the Wall Street Journal said Tehran planned to permanently suspend the service as antigovernment protests broke out anew. The news followed Google’s surprised announcement in January when it said it had detected sophisticated cyber attacks on its systems originating in China and declared that it was no longer willing to censor search results in the country as required by the Beijing government. Its initial decision to selfcensor searches on its google.cn website drew criticism from activists, who said the company was pandering to China’s communist government at the expense of the country’s 360 million Internet users. Google has said it will hold talks with the Chinese government about search censorship, but that it could potentially have to shut down its China operations. Google’s announcement came just days before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a major speech on Internet freedom which forcefully argued that those who disrupt the free flow of information on the Internet should be condemned. The State Department backed Google and demanded a Chinese explanation for the alleged hacking attacks, adding tensions to a Sino-US relationship already under strain over US arms sales to Taiwan and other issues. But some note that while the partnership has thus far worked for both Washington and Google, it has also allowed the Chinese government to frame the argument as one against “information imperialism” - a persuasive rallying cry across much of the developing world. In the longer term, some analysts see dangers for both Google and the US government in working so closely together. Google has staked out positions opposed to those of Washington on potential anti-counterfeiting legislation, which the company says could hurt Internet users’ rights and innovation in the field. It also could potentially run afoul of US interests on user privacy if Google users were of interest to US anti-terrorism or criminal investigators. “Google’s interests coincide in places with the US government, and diverge in places from the US govern-
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Forget gilded elite, Iran economy under strain By Fredrik Dahl and Alistair Lyon
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ich Iranians don’t mind flaunting it. Porsche sold more than 100 luxury vehicles at its opening reception a few months ago to customers undeterred by the hefty price tag or the 100 percent customs duty. Such ostentation shows the disposable income available to a few in Iran, which is the world’s fifth largest oil exporter and sits on gas reserves second only to Russia’s, said Cyrus Razzaghi, president of Ara Enterprise, a business consultancy. But it cannot mask the Islamic Republic’s underlying economic problems, likely to be aggravated by any more sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, and by political unrest set off by a fiercely disputed presidential election in June. “Nobody in their right mind expects the system to collapse, but uncertainty is pushing people to leave,” said Razzaghi, who called Iran the world’s biggest brain exporter per capita, with 150,000 to 300,000 mostly educated people a year going abroad. Officials say unemployment dropped to 11 percent in
January from 12.5 percent in April, but sluggish growth and business jitters are hampering young job-seekers, especially as more women want to work - the World Bank says women undergraduates now outnumber men 2 to 1 at Iranian universities. The economy, while not in crisis, confronts significant difficulties, said a Western diplomat in Tehran. “It’s a gradual, continuing decline. There doesn’t seem to be anybody pushing policies that could reverse it, for example by allowing more foreign investment, reducing the state sector or devaluing the rial to help the domestic sector,” he said. The government has passed a subsidy reform plan aimed at saving $100 billion from the state budget, despite critics who say phasing out price supports on petrol, electricity, cooking gas, food, water, health and education will fuel inflation. The Central Bank says inflation, rarely below double digits in recent years, fell to 7.8 percent in January, compared with the same month in 2009, from a peak of 30 percent in late 2008. Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has pursued populist eco-
nomic policies since he was first elected in 2005, handing out cash and loans to assuage local demands, while slowing economic reforms and privatisation begun by his predecessors. “Privatisation is still on the agenda, but official foot-dragging continues to ensure almost total state control over the largest commercial enterprises,” said Mohammed Shakeel, an Iran economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Ahmadinejad boasted in May that the economy was growing at 5 to 6 percent, far higher than IMF estimates of 1.5 percent real Gross Domestic Product growth in 2009 and 2.2 percent in 2010. Some economists suggest even the IMF figure is rosy. “We estimate that real GDP growth will have weakened in 2009/10 to just 0.5 percent, owing to the drop in oil earnings over the year, which will have affected the rate of private consumption and investment growth,” said Shakeel. He said real GDP was forecast to pick up steadily to 2.9 percent in the Iranian year to March 2011, attributing this to higher oil prices and a small rise in oil output. Labour supply, meanwhile, is growing about 4 percent a year, according to
the World Bank. Ahmadinejad’s critics accuse him of squandering windfall oil revenue Iran earned when crude prices soared in the first half of 2008, leaving Iran more vulnerable to any new UN sanctions. The United States and its European allies are seeking ways to pressure Iran into dropping a suspected nuclear weapons program. Tehran says its atomic work is for peaceful purposes. Tighter sanctions may focus on Iranian banks, as well as individuals and companies connected to the Revolutionary Guards organisation, which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week accused of moving Iran towards a “military dictatorship”. Even if the West resists Israeli calls for “crippling sanctions” on Iranian petrol imports or oil exports, any new measures will help deter investment, especially in the energy sector, source of at least 80 percent of government revenue. Iran produced over 5 million barrels per day of oil in 1978, a year before the Islamic revolution, a level not matched since, thanks to war, under-investment, sanctions and natural decline. Yet Tehran has set an ambitious target for
oil production capacity to reach 5.6 million bpd by 2010. “Without extensive outside assistance, attaining this is totally unrealistic,” Shakeel said, adding that European firms were under pressure to pull out of Iran, while their competitors from China, Russia and East Asia lacked the technical expertise. He forecast Iran’s oil revenue at $65 billion this year from an estimated output of 3.82 million bpd - a similar production level earned $82 billion in 2008 when oil prices jumped. Iran netted an estimated $54 billion from 3.74 million bpd last year, when OPEC quotas restrained output, he said. Oil wealth has helped Iran improve health and education services in the past 20 years, but even Ahmadinejad now argues it can no longer afford untargeted subsidies which benefit the rich more than the nine million Iranians classified as poor. Razzaghi, the business consultant, said a small middle class was growing, even as disparities widened between disadvantaged Iranians and those who can splash out on a Porsche Cayenne. “The extremely poor are becoming poorer and the extremely rich are becoming even richer.” —Reuters
After Dubai hit, Israelis question Mossad methods By Dan Williams
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he quiet assassination of a Hamas commander gets unexpectedly messy. Exposed and forced to atone before angry allies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders the spymaster responsible to fall on his sword. That was in 1997, when the Mossad director resigned after his men botched the poisoning of Khaled Meshaal in Jordan. Now premier a second time, Netanyahu faces a similar crisis over the the death of another Hamas figure, Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, in Dubai. Israel’s official silence on the Jan 20 killing has been outpaced, in the popular imagination, by UAE police footage of the suspected assassins and revelations some of them had copied the European passports of actual immigrants to the Jewish state. The idea that the Mossad, having long cultivated a reputation for lethally outwitting Israel’s foes abroad, this time tripped up by underestimating Arab counter-espionage capabilities prompted commentators to demand a public reckoning. Special scrutiny was devoted to Mossad director Meir Dagan, an ex-general now in his eighth year of service and praised by Israeli leaders for spearheading a “shadow war” against Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, and Iran’s nuclear programme. Amir Oren of the liberal Haaretz daily went as far as to call for Dagan to be fired, describing him as “belligerent, heavy-handed” and predicting a row with Britain, Ireland, France and Germany - the countries whose passports were used. “Even if whoever carried out the
This combination image made from undated photos released by the Dubai Ruler’s Media Office Feb 15, 2010 shows eleven suspects wanted in connection with the killing of a Hamas commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in his Dubai hotel room last month. (From left to right, top row): Evan Dennings of Irish nationality, Gail Folliard of Irish nationality, James Leonard Clarke of British nationality, Jonathan Louis Graham of British nationality; (From left to right, middle row) Michael Bodenheimer of German nationality, Paul John Keeley of British nationality, Michael Lawrence Barney of British nationality; (From left to right, bottom row) Peter Elvinger of French nationality, Kevin Daveron of Irish nationality, Melvyn Adam Mildiner of British nationality, Stephen Daniel Hodes of British nationality. – AP
assassination does reach some kind of arrangement with the infuriated Western nations, it still has an obligation to its own citizens,” Oren wrote. Several of the foreign-born Israelis who said their identities had been stolen for the Mabhouh assassination voiced fear they could now be vulnerable to murder prosecutions. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman did not deny Mossad involvement in Mabhouh’s death but tried to deflect attention, implying in a radio interview that “some other intelligence service or another country” may have had a role. Israel’s allies recognise “that our security activity is conducted according to very clear, cautious and responsible rules of the game”, Lieberman asserted. Other pundits disagreed about the diplomatic price that could be exacted from Israel, which is already fending off foreign criticism of the hundreds of Palestinian civilian deaths during its offensive in the Hamasruled Gaza Strip last year. But there was little arguing the fact that Hamas had turned the tables on Mabhouh’s assassins by insisting UAE police launch a murder investigation after they initially ruled that his death, in a Dubai hotel room, had been of natural causes. “What began as a heart attack turned out to be an assassination, which led to a probe, which turned into the current passport affair,” wrote Yoav Limor in Israel Hayom, a pro-government newspaper. “It is doubtful whether this is the end of the affair.” Israelis generally rally around the Mossad’s two-fisted image - honed back in the 1970s, when the agency hunted down
and killed Palestinians blamed for a deadly raid on Israel’s Olympic delegation at the Munich Games. But the Mabhouh hit underscored the difficulties spies must contend with in the digital era, with ubiquitous high-resolution CCTV coverage and easily accessed passport databases. “What happens in the modern world, the cameras everywhere - it changes things not just for those whose trade is terror but also those trying to fight terror,” former Mossad officer Ram Igra told Israel’s Army Radio. The UAE is holding two Palestinians accused of helping Mabhouh’s assassins. Should they finger Israel, it will deepen the questions about Mossad tradecraft and operational security. Mabhouh had masterminded the abduction and killing of two Israeli troops in 1989 and, more recently, the smuggling of Iranian-funded arms to Gaza. The attempted discretion of his killing indicated the assassins were not on a vendetta but, rather, trying to eliminate what they saw as a current threat. Yet the possibility that the Mossad had so quickly come undone led Yossi Melman, author of two books on the intelligence agency, to suggest such assassinations would not be repeated. Melman said a wider question would be also raised: “Does Israel’s assassinations policy pay off?” The 1997 attempted assassination in Amman, by two Mossad officers posing as Canadian tourists, unwittingly boosted Meshaal’s status in Hamas. Netanyahu was also forced to free the Islamist faction’s jailed spiritual leader, Ahmed Yassin. — Reuters
NEWS DNA unravels some mystery on King Tut
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
CAIRO: DNA testing has unraveled some of the mystery surrounding the birth and death of pharaoh king Tutenkhamun, revealing his father was a famed monotheistic king and ruling out Nefertiti as his mother, Egypt’s antiquities chief said yesterday. Zahi Hawass announced the results of the study involving DNA tests and computerised tomography (CT) scans on Tutankhamun’s mummy at a packed media conference in the Egyptian Museum. The testing showed he died of malaria after suffering a fall, putting to rest the theory that the enigmatic boy-king was murdered. He was also shown to have suffered from a club foot and used a cane as a walking aid. Hawass said what seemed as an injury to the back of Tutankhamun’s skull, which some had taken as evidence that he was murdered, was in fact a hole made by embalmers. “We found evidence from DNA that proves he had very severe malaria,” Hawass said. “He was ill, weak, walked on a cane. When he was 19, and got malaria, he fell, how we don’t know, maybe he fell in the bathroom,” he said. “When he fell, and was weak from malaria, he died.” Meanwhile, Tutankhamun seems to have sired two children who were stillborn. The testing showed that two mummified fetuses found in his tomb were his issue, probably with his wife Ankhsenpaamon. While Tutenkhamun’s death at about 19, after ten years of rule between 1333 to 1324 BC, has been a source of much speculation, the circumstances of his birth were not any clearer.
Researchers from Egypt used DNA testing to draw a family tree for Tutankhamun, and their results were reviewed by German scientists. The researchers, led by Hawass, analysed DNA taken from 11 mummies, including the boy king himself. It showed his father was almost certainly King Akhenaten, who ruled between 1351 and 1334 BC and who tried to impose monotheistic worship. The antiquities chief added that researchers were able to determine that the previously unidentified mummy found in Tomb 55 in the Valley of Kings belonged to Akhenaten. Yet another mummy was identified as Queen Tiye. Another, previously unidentified mummy, was confirmed as Tutankhamun’s mother, whose name is not known. That discovery lay to rest the theory that Tutankhamun was the son of Queen Nefertiti. The mummy, known as the “Younger lady”, was discovered in 1898 by a French archaeologist in the Valley of the Kings. “She is the daughter of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye. It is not possible she was Nefertiti,” Hawass said, making her Akhenaten’s sister. Sibling marriages were not unusual among pharaonic royalty. “This allows us to evoke a new genealogical scenario,” said French Egyptologist Marc Gabord, a Tutankhamum specialist. “After having failed to obtain a son with Nefertiti, who gave birth to six girls, and with the Kiya princess, who gave birth to a girl, Akhenaton took one of his sisters and a male child was born from this incestuous union,” he said. — AFP
Yemen water crisis eclipses Qaeda threat SANAA: Yemeni water trader Mohammed Al-Tawwa runs his diesel pumps day and night, but gets less and less from his well in Sanaa, which experts say could become the world’s first capital city to run dry. “My well is now 400 metres deep and I don’t think I can drill any deeper here,” said Tawwa, pointing to the meagre flow into tanks that supply water trucks and companies. From dawn, dozens of people with yellow jerricans collect water from a special canister Tawwa has set aside for the poor. “Sometimes we don’t have any water for a whole week, sometimes for two days and then it stops again,” said Talal Al-Bahr, who comes almost daily to supply his family of six. The West frets that Al-Qaeda will exploit instability in Yemen to prepare new attacks like the failed Dec 25 bombing of a US airliner, but this impoverished Arabian peninsula country faces a catastrophe that poses a far deadlier long-term threat. Nature cannot recharge ground water to keep pace with demand from a population of 23 million expected to double in 20 years. More water is consumed than produced from most of Yemen’s 21 aquifers, especially in the highlands, home to big cities like Sanaa, with a fast-growing population of two million, and Taiz. “If we continue like this, Sanaa will be a ghost city in 20 years,” said Anwer Sahooly, a water expert at German development agency GTZ, which runs several water projects in Yemen. Some wells in Sanaa are now 800 to 1,000 m deep requiring oil-drilling equipment - while many are no longer usable because of the
sinking water table, he said. Millions of thirsty Yemenis may eventually have to abandon Sanaa and other mountain cities for the coastal plain. “Water refugees” may try to migrate to nearby Gulf states or Europe. Diplomats say fights over water use have erupted in some tribal areas. Several orange orchards have run dry in Saada, a northern province already racked by a conflict with rebels who agreed a fragile ceasefire with the government last week. “From a Yemeni perspective, Al-Qaeda is a smaller problem than water. What do you do if big cities have no water? Who would want to commit any investment here?” asked one diplomat. The crisis is worsened by excessive irrigation by farmers growing qat, a mild narcotic leaf that dominates life in Yemen, where most men spend half the day chewing it, even at work. Agriculture accounts for more than 90 percent of water use, of which 37 percent goes to irrigate qat, GTZ estimates. Qat also eats into family budgets, aggravating poverty and leading to under-nutrition of children and others, experts say. “Qat is the culprit,” said Sahooly, at the Sanaa water authority office where he works as an adviser. “It is a dangerous crop that will lead us to disaster.” Government policies are also to blame. Diesel subsidies, due to cost the state $2 billion this year, indirectly encourage qat farmers, or well-owners like Tawwa, to pump more water. Yemen has overhauled water use regulations, but Sahooly said this would be ineffective unless President
Ali Abdullah Saleh enforces restrictions on wildcat drilling and qat cultivation. He contrasted Yemen’s plight with neighbouring Oman, whose government has made water conservation a top priority. No new well can be drilled there without the sultan’s approval. The absence of local utilities to manage water resources has sharpened grievances in remoter areas of Yemen, says Christopher Boucek of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The failure to establish local water corporations in several governorates that historically have not received much support or social services from the central government has raised fear that a resurgent AlQaeda may seek refuge there,” he argued in written testimony to the US Congress this month. Yemen should import qat from East Africa and spur farmers to produce cereals to cut water consumption and dependence on food imports, both Carnegie and GTZ recommend to the government. Yet at Sanaa’s bustling qat market, merchants shrug off talk of the unfolding water disaster. “It’s true that qat uses much of our water but Yemen cannot live without qat,” said Heniar Al-Qaidasi, handing bags of qat to customers to sample at the peak lunchtime sales period. “It’s the biggest employer of farmers and traders. Where would the jobs come from if qat production were stopped?” Qat farmer Fathi Ali Dhaghan, arriving with his latest crop for Sanaa traders, agreed. “We depend on qat. Without it, Yemen is impossible. God will help us find new water.” — Reuters
Mossad in hot seat over Dubai bungle Continued from Page 1 Dubai police this week released names, photos, and passport numbers of 11 members of an alleged hit-squad that killed Mabhouh in his luxury Dubai hotel room last month. Dubai said all 11 carried European passports. But most of the identities appear to be stolen and at least seven matched up with real people in Israel who claim they are victims of identity theft. “I don’t know why we are assuming that Israel, or the Mossad, used those passports,” Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Army Radio in Israel’s first official comments on the affair. But Lieberman did not deny involvement outright, saying Israel rightly maintains a policy of ambiguity where security operations are concerned. “Israel never responds, never confirms and never denies,” he said. “There is no reason for Israel to change this policy.” Amir Oren, a military analyst for the Israeli daily Haaretz, called for the ouster of Mossad director Meir Dagan. “What is needed now is a swift decision to terminate Dagan’s contract and to appoint a new Mossad chief,” wrote Oren in a frontpage commentary. “There’s no disease without a cure.” The Iranian-backed Hamas has been blaming Israel for Mabhouh’s killing from the beginning. “The investigation of the police of Dubai proves what Hamas had said from the first minute, that Israel’s Mossad is responsible for the assassination,” Mushir AlMasri, a Hamas legislator in Gaza, said yesterday. Mabhouh was one of the founders of the Hamas militant group, which has carried out hundreds of attacks and suicide bombings targeting Israelis, and now rules the Gaza Strip. He also was involved in the 1989 capturing and killing of two Israeli soldiers. Israel considered him to be the point man in smuggling Iranian rockets into Gaza that would be capable of striking the Jewish state’s Tel Aviv heartland. Mabhouh was targeted in three previous assassination attempts, his brother Hussein told AP. At least seven people who live in Israel share names with suspects identified by Dubai police. Six of the men are Britons who immigrated to Israel. The seventh is an American-Israeli, whose name Dubai said was on a German passport used by one of the assassins. One, a British-Israeli citizen named Melvyn Adam Mildiner, said the passport photo on the Dubai wanted flier was not him but the passport number was correct. He also denied having been to Dubai. Another of the seven, Stephen Hodes, denied any link to the case in an interview with Israel Radio and said he, too, had never visited Dubai. “I’m shocked. I don’t know how they got to
me. Those aren’t my photographs, of course,” Hodes said. “I don’t know how they got to my details, who took them. .... I’m simply afraid. These are powerful forces.” “Since I realised that they used my identity and my name, I’ve been walking around like a zombie,” Paul John Keally, an Israeli-British citizen, told the Israeli media. “I woke up this morning and suddenly my life is like an espionage movie. It is all very worrying but I know I have not done anything wrong,” he was quoted as saying by Britain’s Daily Mail. “I have not left Israel for two years and I certainly have not been to Dubai recently.” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday promised an inquiry into the use of fake British passports in the killing. “We are looking at this at this very moment,” Brown told London’s LBC radio. “We have got to carry out a full investigation into this. The British passport is an important document that has got to be held with care.” He did not assess blame for the forgeries. Several senior British lawmakers said Israel’s envoy should be summoned to the Foreign Office to explain what his country’s role in the slaying was. The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, the smallest of Britain’s three main parties, said that “if the Israeli government was party to behavior of this kind it would be a serious violation of trust between nations.” Menzies Campbell, who serves on the House of Common’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said “the Israeli government has some explaining to do” and called for the ambassador to be summoned “in double-quick time.” The committee’s chairman, Mike Gapes, a member of Britain’s ruling Labour party, added that the assassination was either the work of Israelis “or someone trying to make sure it looks like the Israelis.” A source close to the French intelligence services told Reuters a French passport which Dubai said was used in the operation had a valid number but incorrect name. “It was a very good fake,” the source said. The Irish government said it was trying to reach three of its citizens whose passport numbers were used on the forgeries recorded in Dubai. As with the French passports, identity data on the fakes was not that of those three people, it added. Austria’s Interior Ministry said it had launched an investigation into the suspected use of at least seven mobile phones with prepaid Austrian chips by Mabhouh’s killers. Like Lieberman, Israeli security analyst Ephraim Kam said the use of Israeli identities did not prove the Mossad killed Mabhouh. “I cannot see a reason why the Mossad would use the names of Israelis here or citizens who live here,” Kam said.
Rafi Eitan, a former Cabinet minister and Mossad agent who took part in the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, thought Israel’s foes were trying to frame it by using the identities of Israelis. “It means some foreign service, an enemy of Israel, wanted to taint Israel. It took the names of Israeli citizens, doctored the passports ... and thus tainted us,” Eitan said. Lawmaker Yisrael Hasson, a former deputy commander of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, said he would ask to convene a meeting of the Israeli parliament’s powerful foreign affairs and defense committee to discuss the matter. “No one should use someone’s identity without his permission or without his understanding in some way what it is being used for,” Hasson told Israel Radio. The Mossad has been accused of identity theft before. New Zealand convicted and jailed two Israelis in 2005 of trying to fraudulently obtain New Zealand passports. New Zealand demanded - and won an apology from Israel, which Auckland said proved the pair were spies. But this would be the first time that the Mossad has been suspected of using the identities of its own citizens. If the Israeli government was behind the identity theft, it broke Israeli laws against impersonation and fraud, said Nirit Moskovich of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. Kam, the security analyst, said the people whose identities were released could be in danger from Hamas. “I think they should be careful,” he said. The affair could have unwanted diplomatic repercussions for Israel if it indeed used the foreign passports of its own nationals. Several British lawmakers yesterday called for the Israeli ambassador to be summoned to the Foreign Office immediately to explain what happened. The affair could also have fallout for the Mossad as an agency, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Dagan personally. Netanyahu’s first tenure in the late 1990s was marred by the Mossad’s botched attempt at assassinating the man who now is Hamas’ supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal. In 1987, Britain protested to Israel about what London called the misuse by Israeli authorities of forged British passports and said it received assurances steps had been taken to prevent future occurrences. The documents, Britain’s Sunday Times reported at the time, were found in a telephone booth in West Germany and were to have been picked up by a Mossad agent. But while Haaretz commentator Oren was calling for Dagan’s head, analyst Ronen Bergman of the Yediot Ahronot newspaper deemed the operation a success. “Mabhouh is dead and all the partners to the operation left Dubai safely,” he said. — Agencies
CAIRO: The mummy of King Tut’s grandmother, seen through a glass case, is displayed for media during a press conference with Egypt’s top archaeologist Zahi Hawass at the Egyptian Museum yesterday. — AP
Iraq sees ‘package deal’ with Kuwait Continued from Page 1 weapons of mass destruction (WMD). “We believe it is high time for the UN to lift all sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq,” he urged. Ad Melkert, the UN special envoy for Iraq, told reporters, “we are basically discussing the border issue with everyone,
including the Iraqis. We are trying to come to a conclusion as soon as possible.” Asked what the Iraqi objection is to allow the UN to send experts to maintain the border posts, Melkert said, “I cannot be specific on that. It has our attention because it is an important issue.” On what is needed for Iraq to do to exit Chapter VII, Melkert said “we hope very much
that soon after the elections, it will be possible to work with the new Iraqi Government on resolving all issues that eventually would enable that, that includes the relation with Kuwait.” He said he held talks with Kuwaiti officials in Kuwait last month and “I intend to continue those conversations to bring the parties together as quickly as possible.” — KUNA
Barrak insists information minister’s grilling ‘certain’ Continued from Page 1 About 20 MPs have agreed last month to file the grilling against the minister on allegations that he failed to apply laws that govern private TV stations, thus allowing certain private TV stations to broadcast material deemed dangerous to national unity. Barrak denied reports that there are disputes among MPs planning to grill the minister. “We have positive views and hope to complete the issue soon,” he said. The lawmaker accused the minister of failing to apply the audiovisual and press and publications laws. Barrak said that the planned grilling is different from previous ones, since the previous grillings were normally submitted by a single bloc or MP, but this one is being supported by several blocs and as many as 20 lawmakers. Accordingly, the decision regarding the grilling is not being taken by one bloc only “and that is why we are exchanging views on the matter”. “But it must be known that there is no dispute about fil-
ing the grilling because this has been decided,” he insisted. Meanwhile, a number of MPs continued their campaign against the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, claiming that the chamber has been operating without a correct law. Because the chamber was established in 1959 and three years before the Kuwaiti constitution was issued, several MPs are alleging that the chamber’s legislation issued in 1959 is illegal and must be replaced by a new one. MP Hassan Jowhar has been leading the campaign and is reported to be on the verge of completing a new draft law for the chamber. Yesterday, MP Mubarak Al-Waalan called on the commerce and industry minister to dissolve the board of directors of the chamber and appoint a temporary board to run its affairs until a new law is issued and fresh elections held. MP Mohammad Al-Huwailah stressed that the chamber of commerce is not above the law and its board must be dissolved. MPs are specifically objecting to the fact that the chamber is allowed to collect mil-
lions of dinars in fees every year, saying all these fees are illegal because the law regulating the charges is not legal. In another development, the owner of a controversial Sunni religious center in Salmiya was criticized by two Shiite MPs but backed by hardline Sunni Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef. The owner of the center, Sayed Fuad Al-Refai was in the news two months ago for issuing a statement that was considered to incite sectarianism between Shiites and Sunnis. Refai was even referred to the public prosecution for investigation. Yesterday, Refai returned to the spotlight by publishing another controversial advertisement in an Arabic newspaper. The advertisement is about highly controversial issues between Sunnis and Shiites. Shiite MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan called on the interior and information ministers to shoulder their political responsibilities and file a lawsuit against Refai. He was also supported by MP Saleh Ashour. But Hayef backed Refai saying his advertisement is a clear call against sectarianism.
Emirati tycoon denies he’s a wanted man Co nt in ue d f rom Pa ge 1 in a property dispute, according to the newspaper. A spokesman for Dubai courts, Marwan Abdool, said he was unable to comment on the case. Another court official who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media said an arrest warrant was issued on Feb 10 but canceled yesterday. He said Al-Fahim has one month to clear the debt. Under Dubai law, debtors can face jail time if they are unable to pay what they owe. Al-Fahim said he has yet to receive
any official order to pay the debt, and only learned of the ruling Tuesday night. He stressed that the case involved a civil, not criminal, dispute and was not unusual. “As a developer we have cases on a daily basis. Some you win, some you lose,” he said. “I have full faith in the UAE courts.” Al-Fahim gained attention in the Arab world as a flamboyant real estate mogul and host of a reality show dubbed “Hydra Executives” set in Abu Dhabi. The series was modeled on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” and pitted American and British entrepreneurs fighting for a chance to work at a
property company Al-Fahim used to lead. He became well-known in Britain as the public face of an Abu Dhabi ruling family member’s acquisition of Premier League club Manchester City, and later as the buyer of another English team, Portsmouth. Al-Fahim’s ownership of Portsmouth lasted less than six weeks, however, after he failed to refinance the club and pay players’ wages on time. The team has been through a series of owners and is fighting to avoid becoming the first Premier League club to go out of business. — AP
Rare Arabic plaque found in Jerusalem Continued from Page 1 in the Old City’s Jewish Quarter. The house’s owner planned a renovation and as required by law - brought archaeologists to carry out a salvage dig meant to
prevent harm to valuable antiquities. The plaque has been removed from the site and is now in the hands of Israel’s Antiquities Authority. The writing was deciphered by Hebrew University professor Moshe
Sharon, who traced it to 910, during the early part of Al-Muqtadir’s 24-year rule. The finding will help scholars better understand 10th-century Jerusalem and the methods used by Muslim rulers to solidify their control. — AP
Zero-rupee note tackles India corruption culture Continued from Page 1 “The corruption prevailing in the common man’s life is painful and it can be dealt with by the zero-rupee note,” said Anand. Many Indians are resigned to having to pay extra for government services and to smooth daily transactions such as registering a birth, getting a driving licence or avoiding the attentions of an unscrupulous traffic officer. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has often spoken out against the damaging effect that bribes, extortion and fraud have on all levels of life, and said the problem threatens India’s future economic prospects. Campaign group Transparency International, in its latest annual report, stated that each year almost four million poor Indian families had to bribe officials for access to basic public services. In the same report, India slipped further in its corruption index from 72nd to 85th in a list of 180 countries. Anand said the zero-rupee note, which was conceived by an Indian professor liv-
ing in the United States, gave people the chance to register a grassroots protest against low-level corruption. “We are confident it will change the way people think and act in the coming years,” he said. The bill, which like all Indian notes is graced with a picture of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, carries 5th Pillar’s email address and phone number and the solemn vow “I promise to neither accept nor give a bribe.” Volunteers hand them out near places where officials are often on the lookout for a backhander, such as railway stations and government hospitals. Though questions remain over whether it is legal to print the fake - if worthless - money, more than one million bills in five languages have been distributed. Anand said they have even had a practical effect, often shaming officials into getting business done efficiently without using real cash. “There has not been one incident where a zero-rupee note has created a more serious situation,” said Anand. Ravi Sundar, an IT recruiter in the
southern city of Coimbatore, said he used the notes whenever he had government business to sort out. He gave one example where a tax official refused to process documents unless he paid her 500 rupees. “I handed over the zero-rupee note which I always keep in my pocket,” said Sundar. “She was afraid and didn’t want to take it. She completed the job immediately and said she was sorry and asked me not to take it forward.” Parth J Shah, president of the Centre for Civil Society think tank, said the root of the problem lay in state-run companies and their vast bureaucracies. “Unless we remove monopolies and the kind of licensing system that we have in many areas of life to create more competition, we’re unlikely to get rid of lowlevel corruption,” he said. Anand said he hoped to introduce the zero-rupee note across India, but he insists he remains an optimist about human behaviour. “We haven’t given up on officials. There are honest ones in every department,” he said. — AFP
SPORTS
16
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Match Play a great tournament in reverse MARANA: The Match Play Championship has at least one thing going for it this week. No one has to fret when the biggest stars don’t make it to the final match, or even the weekend. That’s because they’re not here. Anyone who has paid attention over the last 11 years should know that even if Tiger Woods were not embroiled in a sex scandal and Phil Mickelson was not on a vacation with his family, there would be no guarantee they would last long, anyway. Woods is the only three-time winner of this fickle tournament, yet he has made it to the weekend only four times in 10 starts. The longest Mickelson ever lasted was the Saturday in 2004, and he was gone before lunch. This World Golf Championship
brings together the best 64 players available. For one week, it is hard to distinguish them from top to bottom. Lee Westwood is the No. 2 seed and opened yesterday against Chris Wood. The only time Westwood played on Friday was in 2005, and only because the tournament started a day late at La Costa because of rain. He has never made it past the second round, although he came close last year until losing to Stewart Cink in 23 holes. There were years when Westwood wondered if it was even worth the trouble to fly all the way from England. And when he packed his bags late Sunday and his 5year-old daughter asked him when he was coming home, Westwood wasn’t sure what
to say. “Historically, Thursday,” he told her. “Optimistically, Monday.” No one has a better record in the Match Play Championship than Geoff Ogilvy, the defending champion, who has won nearly 90 percent of his matches. He has won twice, was runner-up and had the odd year when he lost in the first round. As he stood on the putting green late Monday at his home course of Whisper Rock north of Phoenix, he asked another member if he would be around on Sunday to host three friends who wanted to play. Then came an awkward pause, for Ogilvy knows full well that he might be able to join them. The Match Play seedings are one
way to measure the peaks and valleys of a career. Michael Campbell of New Zealand has seen both extremes. He was the No. 64 seed in 2000 when he lost in the first round to Woods, and the No. 5 seed a year later. Westwood played in the inaugural Match Play Championship as the No. 5 seed, and four years later was No. 59. For those who watch golf for its star power, this isn’t the best week even when Woods and Mickelson are around. Steve Stricker is the No. 1 seed. His opening match is against Ross McGowan of England, and Stricker should know better than anyone what to expect, which is anything.
“It scares me a little bit, to tell you the truth,” he said. “Just because you never know who you’re going to get, or who you’re going to run into.” In 2001, Stricker was ranked No. 90 in the world when he got into the 64-man field because it was held in Australia right after the holidays and so many northern hemisphere players didn’t want to go. He showed up as the No. 55 seed and beat Padraig Harrington, Scott Verplank and Justin Leonard without ever getting to the 18th hole and ultimately beat Pierre Fulke in the final. The following year, Kevin Sutherland became the lowest seed to win (No. 62) and the only player to beat a higher seed in all six of his matches. He rum-
bled through a lineup of Ryder Cup players (David Duval, Paul McGinley, Jim Furyk, David Toms, Brad Faxon) before beating Scott McCarron in the final. The one peculiar part of this event is that it operates in reverse. The two most exciting days of the tournament are Wednesday and Thursday, when there are 32 and 16 matches on the golf course, most of them filled with wild swings in momentum. A year ago, Ogilvy had to go 19 holes in each of the first two rounds. The matches will be tight. Most of them will be tense. And the reward for the winners is to repeat the process today. There’s a reason they only play this format once a year. — AP
Smit all set for South African Super 14 record
DUBAI: Daniela Hantuchova from Slovak returns the ball to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during the fourth day of Dubai Tennis Championship. — AP
Venus title favorite as top seeds falter DUBAI: Venus Williams became the favourite to win the Dubai Open title for the second successive year after reaching the quarter-finals with a devastating run of eight games in a row. This was not due just to the quality of Venus’ finish in a 7-5, 6-0 win over the initially impressive Olga Govortsova, but also to shock defeats for Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova, the two top seeds. The third-seeded Venus was within one point of going 1-5 down against the Belarussian, who struck the ball with great freedom and fluency early on, but became suddenly inhibited as Venus made her comeback. Govortsova was unable to close out the set at 5-3, suddenly began timing the ball less well, and served a double fault to lose the first set. After that the five times former Wimbledon champion was unstoppable, getting more first serves in, moving forward more often, and turning an anxious start into a rout. In the process Venus hinted how a successful title defence would help with the morale and
motivation necessary to maintain belief in her ability to win majors. “I love it,” she said, when asked if she liked being defending champion. “I’m getting closer to defending my championship and I am going to work hard for it.” Earlier Wozniacki slipped to a stunning 6-2,
7-5 defeat to Shahar Peer, the first Israeli athlete ever to compete in the United Arab Emirates, who notched one of the best wins of her career despite the distraction of 25 bodyguards, constant security discipline, and the need to play all her matches on a cramped outside court.
Verdasco upset at Memphis MEMPHIS: Second-seed Fernando Verdasco lost in an upset to Jeremy Chardy of France 76 (4), 6-3 on Tuesday in the first round of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships/Cellular South Cup. Verdasco was coming off a win at the SAP Open in San Jose, where he beat Andy Roddick in the final. “With just one day in between matches and in different conditions, and not being able to practice on the stadium court before the match, it was difficult,” he said. “And it was difficult for me to get the timing. But he played a great match. He served really good.” Chardy, ranked 41st, had been winless in four matches this year before beating the 11th-ranked Spaniard. Chardy did not face a break point in the match and he said his confidence was boosted by winning the first-set tiebreaker. “It was difficult for him because he won last week and came here at the last second,” Chardy said. —AP
Peer, the world number 22, was magnificently focussed, and despite briefly wavering in the second set when she went 3-4 and 4-5 down, played with too much consistency, mobility and variety for her 19-year-old top-seeded opponent. “I am pretty good at blocking it all out,” said Peer. “I try to take energy from what’s going on, and I really think I am playing better and better. “I really did play very very well today and I’m really happy. “I never cried when I won before. I’ve cried before when I lost matches, but this is the first time I cried when I won.” Peer, who previously beat Yanina Wickmayer, the 13th seed, and Virginie Razzano, last year’s runner-up, will play for the fourth time on the same outside court when she takes on Li Na, the Australian Open quarterfinalist. Li made the escape of the day, and possibly of the week, when she came from a set and 2-5 down to Marion Bartoli of France, before taking 11 games in a row to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. “Everyone can see I never give up,” said Li,
who was asked how she felt after two tough matches. “I feel okay because I’m still in the tournament,” she replied. “I can’t say I feel like I will die, because I have a match tomorrow!” Peer also volunteered that she had made a visit to see Venus in New York to thank the American for her public support when denied a visa to play in Dubai last year. “I can’t imagine being in the position she is and playing so well,” Venus said. “In these circumstances I just give her congratulations for her courage. I don’t think anyone else but her could do what she has done.” The defeat of Kuznetsova, the French Open champion, by 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to her Russian compatriot, Regina Kulikova, a qualifier ranked 99 in the world, was in pure tennis terms an even bigger surprise. The second seed was even 4-2 up in the final set and still could not get over the line. “I didn’t play my best,” said Kuznetsova, who had had a bye and a walkover and had not competed since the Australian Open a month ago. “But she played out of her league.”— AFP
Countdown begins to Salwa Cup Table Tennis Championship By Nawara Fattahova
KUWAIT: (From left) Khalifa Al-Jali, Mohammed Matouq, Sheikh Talal Al-Ahmad, and Sanad Al-Ajmi during a press conference.
KUWAIT: The countdown for the Kuwait’s Sixth International Table Tennis Championship (Salwa Cup) has begun. The event will be held between February 22 to 27 under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah. “At least 37 countries will be participating, with 289 male and female players and administrative and technical teams. At least 35 judges including nine from Kuwait will be taking part,” said Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. He is the head of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Championship and was speaking during the press conference held at the Palms Hotel. The conference was also attended by Mohammed Al-Matouq, President of the Table Tennis Federation and the Deputy of the Higher Organizing Committee, Khalifa Al-Jali, Head of the Technical Committee, and Sanad Al-Ajmi, Manager
of the Championship. This championship is an important sporting event on the international level. “We intend to increase the prize money in the next season. The current prize money stands at $300,000 divided into the following: 125 000 for singles men’s category, the same amount for singles women’s category. An amount of $20,000 will be awarded for doubles men category and another $20,000 for the doubles women category. The winner of the single junior men and women’s category will receive $5,000,” added Al-Fahad. Although there are problems with the sporting activity in Kuwait, in addition to numerous suspensions by the International Olympic committee against federations, the championship will still be held in its present form. “Holding the championship in this situation is important and useful for the championship and the game in general,” he noted. The championship is scheduled to be
held at a suitable time (February) which coincides with national celebrations. Also, preparations are in its final stage. “The Fajhan Hilal Al-Mutairi Hall in Qadisiya Sports Club in Hawally is ready to host the official tournaments and training, prior to the matches of the international championship as well. This championship is part of an international schedule of championships which strengthen its position, especially as it is followed by Qatar Championship,” he stressed. The Deputy of the Media Committee then held a presentation on the idea and functions of the championship’s logo. It contains the name, date, prizes, and pictures of the championship. “It is done in 3D system. Also, the official website of the championship: www.salwacup.com will contain between 500 - 600 photos of the event in different stages. In addition, the visitor to the site may read all the information and news about the championship in both Arabic and English languages.
DURBAN: Springbok captain John Smit will become the first South African to play 100 games for one Super rugby team when the Sharks hosts the Cheetahs in round two of the competition. The 31-year-old Smit will reach the landmark in Durban on Friday and will be joined by Pedrie Wannenberg a day later when the loose forward makes his 100th Super Rugby appearance for the defending Super 14 champion Bulls. Former South Africa internationals AJ Venter, Ollie le Roux and Albert van den Berg have all played more than 100 games but for different teams. George Gregan holds the Super rugby record with 136 games for Australian team, the Brumbies. Smit made his then Super 12 debut in 1999 and, apart from a brief spell at French club Clermont, has spent his entire career at the Sharks. The Sharks and South Africa captain told the Sharks’ Web site it was an amazing feeling to reach the milestone. “I missed a season through a shoulder injury and one spent in France and through those things you wonder to yourself where it will all end and to be sitting here now, 31 years old about to run out for my 100th game for the Sharks, I’m pretty proud of that,” Smit said. “I’m grateful as well, it so easily could have been impossible and here I sit, back from France, captaining the Sharks. It’s a pretty amazing feeling.” The front row forward also holds the world record for the most international caps as captain having led South Africa in 67 tests. He is the Springboks’ most capped forward with 93 international appearances and captained the country to its second World Cup triumph in 2007, as well as Tri-Nations victories in 2004 and 2009. However, Smit’s Sharks team has never won the Super 14 title despite reaching the final in 2001 and most dramatically 2007, when it lost to a last-minute try from the Bulls. “That’s where hunger comes in, not only to win the Super 14 when we haven’t won it but also about the tough training, playing in a team environment,” he said. “I enjoy the camaraderie, the game day, but I’ve played in two finals and lost, hopefully there will be an opportunity to take those lessons and put them to good use in the future. It’s important to be hungry for every day, not just a final.” The Sharks made a disappointing start to its 2010 Super 14 campaign last weekend when it lost 19-18 at home to the Chiefs. In response, coach John Plumtree named Springboks Adi Jacobs, Ruan Pienaar and Jannie du Plessis in his starting lineup Wednesday for the match with the Cheetahs after the trio started on the bench against the Chiefs. Lock Alistair Hargreaves will play his first Super 14 game in place of the injured Johann Muller. Smit has been moved from prop to hooker and will captain the team, and Plumtree paid tribute to his popular skipper. “He’s been outstanding for us and the achievement of 100 caps for just one union, that’s massive for John,” Plumtree said. “Players move around a lot, so to play 100 games for one province is really significant.” Loose forward Willem Alberts, who was cleared to play for the Sharks last week following a legal battle over his contract, is once again on the bench for the clash with the Cheetahs, which also lost its first match of the competition. It’s the final home game for the Sharks before a five-match tour of New Zealand.—Reuters
John Smit
SPORTS
Thursday, February 18, 2010
17
Iranian woman skier aims to be first of many WHISTLER: Marjan Kalhor knows she has no chance of winning a gold medal in next week’s women’s slalom but before she even steps out of the gate she has already claimed a first place. As the first Iranian woman to enter an Olympic ski event, the 21-year-old finds herself a role model for a generation of female skiers in her homeland and it is a position she is proud to occupy. “I will be very, very happy when I am there (at the start gate) and one of my targets is to tell Muslim women that there is no limitation for them, even with hijab they can do whatever they want and they can get here like me,” she told Reuters in an
women’s opportunities in Iran is one for which the Islamist government is frequently criticised-Kalhor did not duck questions about whether she encountered encouragement or hostility towards her choice of career. She said her family were always behind her desire to compete in skiing right from the age of 11 when she won her first junior national title. “It was because of their encouragement that I am here- they always encouraged me to do this,” she said. But surely in Iran, a country with a strict Islamist government, she encountered some negativity for her choosing to be an active sportswoman?
interview. The interview with Reuters television took place inside a small rented apartment and Kalhor was dressed in a conservative Islamic fashion with headscarf and an additional scarf around her neck. Before the interview began, she was instructed to tighten up the wrap of her neck scarf by one of the five men present throughout and the same man interrupted on at least two occasions, with comments in Farsi to Kalhor before she answered questions through a translator provided by the local Olympic organisers. Despite her nerves and a somewhat tense atmosphere-after all the issue of
“Not in my family but between my friends sometimes I heard it,” she said. “I heard from some that ‘it’s not proper for you, don’t do that’ but I never listened to them,” she says. “It’s not important to me what they say but at the same time it can make me more determined,” she said. “People are different. Some people don’t know how precious it is to be a winner or competitor. “I try not to listen to them but why they say so and why they advise women not to do that- it’s their problem.” Kalhor, who intends to be a physical education teacher, says she loves the sport of Alpine skiing, which she began on the
slopes of Dizin, not far from Tehran and believes her journey from a small kid playing in the snow to an Olympic slalom skier was a natural progression. “I grew up close to a ski course, that’s the main reason, the same as anywhere in the world-if you grow up near the slopes you are always going to be interested. All the champions come from nearby ski slopes and it was the same for me.” she said. Her brother Rostam, now a coach, was an avid fan of the sport and in particular Italian former Olympic champion Alberto Tomba, who was also a favorite of Marjan, Now the Iranian finds herself training at
the same gate as seven-times world champion Anja Paerson and Austrian slalom specialist Kathrin Zettel. That is an experience she hopes that other Iranian women will get in the future and she is aware of her status as a pioneer for the next generation. “The number of women who are interested in ski is increasing quickly and I am so happy about that. “This generation and the next one are thinking about competing, not just having fun, and one of the reasons that I am so happy about being here is to be a role model for all of them,” she said.—Reuters
Ricker shines but it’s a ‘black day’ for some VANCOUVER: Russia’s Evgeny Malkin (left) reaches for the puck with Latvia’s Herberts Vasiljevs (12) in the second period of a preliminary round men’s ice hockey game.—AP
Canada, US, Russia big winners VANCOUVER: Canada didn’t let the fans down in its opening game, and the United States and Russia were also big winners Tuesday on the first day of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament. Under immense pressure to take gold on home ice, the Canadians overcame some early nerves and a scoreless first period before pulling away to an 8-0 win over Norway. Jarome Iginla had three goals, Dany Heatley scored twice, and Sidney Crosby had three assists, thrilling the maple leaf-wearing fans who packed Canada Hockey Place. “We are in Canada. That’s why we had nerves,” Canada coach Mike Babcock said. “We want to show how good we are, but we’re still a work in progress.” In the day’s other games, Russia defeated Latvia 8-2, and the United States beat Switzerland 3-1. Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards and Corey Perry also scored for the Canadians. Goalie Roberto Luongo, playing in his NHL home arena, was rarely tested as his team outshot Norway 42-15. “As the game went on, we got better,” said Crosby, who is trying to win a gold medal eight months after winning the NHL’s Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “That’s pretty typical. When you’ve got so many great players around each other you start to think a little bit and try to find those guys and play to their strengths.” Norway goalie Pal Grotnes, a carpenter by trade, was strong early, blocking all 14 shots in the first period, but the country that lacks a single current NHL player could not keep out Canada for ever. “It was a matter of time, maybe, but it was a lot of fun — in the first period,” Grotnes said. The Latvians had perhaps a little bit more fun against the Russians, if only because they avoided
a shutout. Two-time reigning NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin and Danis Zaripov had two goals apiece for Russia, a contender to disrupt Canada’s plan for gold and win the Olympic title for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia led 4-0 when Latvia finally got on the board, scoring on Herberts Vasiljevs’ goal in the opening seconds of the final period. The Russians responded with two goals - including Zaripov’s second _ in less than a minute. “We relaxed and started playing better,” Ovechkin said in an interview that was translated for The Associated Press. “We just let go and played a bit.” Russia’s Evgeni Nabokov made 18 saves, and Edgars Masalskis stopped 37 shots for Latvia. The Russians not only have some of the NHL’s top talent, but they also loaded the team with many players from the country’s own KHL. In the day’s opening game, the Americans debuted their youngest collection of players since the NHL began supplying the talent for the Winter Olympics. They were scoreless against the Swiss until Bobby Ryan found the net late in the first period, then pulled away with goals by David Backes and Ryan Malone in the second period before Switzerland scored in the third. Ryan Miller, considered the key to the US chances to reach the podium, made 14 saves. With the victory, the Americans avoided a repeat of the opening-game letdown experienced four years ago in Turin, when they began with a 3-3 tie against Latvia and never challenged for a medal. “Once I scored, I was able to settle down and come back into my own a little bit,” Ryan said. “You definitely don’t want to come from behind early. To get the lead, I think it settled the game down quite a bit for us.”—AP
Finland edge China 2-1 VANCOUVER: Venla Hovi scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and Finland survived a scare from China to clinch a spot in the Olympic women’s hockey semifinals with a 2-1 victory Tuesday night. Karoliina Rantamaki also scored in the second period for the Finns, who outshot China 43-5 but trailed after 28 minutes. “We never got nervous, really,” said Hovi, who has two goals in the tournament. “We talked about patience before the game. That’s all we talked about. We knew we would get some goals even if it didn’t happen right away.” Captain Wang Linuo scored a short-handed goal with 1:50 left in the first period for China, which previously lost 12-1 to the United States. Finland’s goalie Noora Raty was otherwise barely tested as her team hung on through a tense third period, including a Chinese power play for the final 1:50 with Rantamaki in the box. “It was terrible,” Rantamaki said. “I don’t remember when I ever felt like that before. It was a terrible two minutes.” Finland, United States, Canada and Sweden all advanced to next week’s semifinals - no surprise for any of the sport’s four dominant programs. China’s Shi Yao made 41 saves against the Finns, but she was beaten by a puck tipped by her own forward for Finland’s first goal. “That goalie is good, but we made her look even better than
she is,” Rantamaki said. Although the Finns dominated puck possession from shortly after the opening faceoff, they fell behind after allowing a slick play by Wang. While killing a penalty, she slapped the puck away from a pinching defenseman and broke out on a 2on-1, faking a pass before beating Raty with a slap shot. “I was at fault,” said Raty, who plays at the University of Minnesota. “It’s just hard when you don’t see many shots. These are the hardest games for goalies. You can’t get into it.” The Chinese celebrated to chants of “Jia You!” (“Let’s Go!”) familiar to many from the Beijing Games, and they hung onto the lead despite getting outshot 18-3 in the first period, earning another ovation. Finland finally evened it with 10:47 left in the second period when Rantamaki circled the net and put the puck in front, where Chinese forward Jin Fengling accidentally tipped it past Shi’s outstretched pad. Jin, who scored China’s only goal against the United States, slammed her stick on the ice in frustration. Hovi then put the Finns ahead nearly five minutes later during 4-on-4 play, outskating two defenders and flipping a backhand underneath Shi for her second goal of the Olympics. “It was like a skating competition, and I won,” Hovi said with a smile. —AP
Olympic Games latest medals Olympic Games latest medals table on the fourth day of events in Vancouver on Tuesday. Country
G
S
B Total
Germany
3
4
2
9
Netherlands Norway
1 0
0 2
0 1
1 3
South Korea
3
1
0
4
Austria
0
2
1
3
1Italy
0
1
2
3
Switzerland
3
0
1
4
U.S
2
2
4
8
Japan
0
1
1
2
Canada
2
2
1
5
Australia
0
1
0
1
France
2
1
4
7
Estonia
0
1
0
1
Sweden
2
0
0
2
Poland
0
1
0
1
China
1
1
1
3
Russia
0
0
1
1
Slovakia
1
1
0
2
Croatia
0
0
1
1
Czech Republic
1
0
1
2
Total
21
21
21
63
VANCOUVER: Canada’s Winter Olympics came under further fire on Tuesday after a slew of problems-some man-made and others purely down to Mother Nature-threatened to take the focus away from a memorable home triumph. Snowboarder Maelle Ricker won Canada’s second Olympic gold medal on Day Four, a first for its women on home soil, by carving her way through a rain-soaked cross course where humiliating wipeouts were the order of the day. The 31-year-old’s triumph was one of the few bright spots for Winter Games host Canada, coming under increasing criticism for its handling of weather-wracked events and equipment mishaps like unreliable ice resurfacing machines. Malfunctions affected athletes, fans and possibly even medals. Timing errors were reported in biathlon skiing, prompting one official to call it “the blackest day ever”. More fog and snow up at Whistler mountain forced the postponement of the men’s super combined slalom until Sunday and a major reshuffling in the men’s Alpine skiing events. On Cypress Mountain, the lightning rod for weather-related complaints after the warmest January on record, more than a dozen women snowboarders’ careered off a course likened to “mashed potatoes” by American favourite Lindsey Jacobellis. She fell and failed to make it into the medal final. While Games organisers said there was little they could do about the weather, they still faced a barrage of questions over mishaps and, far worse, the death of a Georgian luger in a horrific training crash on Friday. Adding to their woes, organisers refunded tickets for 28,000 standing freestyle and snowboard spectators worth C$1.4 million due to unstable ground. At Whistler’s biathlon course, it was not weather, but rather problems with the stopwatch. A timing error in the women’s biathlon pursuit may have cost Sweden’s Anna Carin Oloffson-Zidek a medal, since she left 14 seconds too late, and a similar blunder affected the men’s race. Times were adjusted and should stand. That overshadowed the biathlon gold medals that went to Germany’s Magdalena Neuner in the women’s race and to Sweden’s Bjorn Ferry in the men’s. Finally, to complete this day of foul-ups a thirdplaced competitor in the women’s luge was forced to delay her final run because a photographer had accidentally set off a hydrant, briefly flooding part of the course. It was that kind of day and, to an extent, has been that kind of Games. On the other hand, although the Games has yet to witness its first world record, when the weather and human mess-ups did not interfere, fans were treated to scintillating, world class performances throughout the day and evening. In women’s speed skating 500 metres, South Korea’s Lee Sang-hwa edged out world champion Jenny Wolf of Germany and Tatjana Huefner of Germany triumphed in the women’s luge, Those medals put South Korea and Germany at the top of the medals table with Switzerland on three golds apiece, while the United States, France, Sweden and Canada all have two golds. Host country Canada very much needed a second gold medal to avoid falling into the “one-title wonder” category. Ricker’s win on the hills above her native Vancouver was sweet revenge for her compatriot Mike Robertson who was edged out by American Seth Wescott for gold the day before. “I’m so overwhelmed, I can’t even believe it,” Ricker said after winning before a wildly happy Canadian crowd. “The way my day started ... and the way it all went through.” She had fallen in her opening qualifier but took the opportunity on her second run to progress on her route to eventual gold. The ice hockey competition, in which Canada is a favourite to take gold, started to heat up, and not only because of what was happening in the rink. The International Olympic Committee told US goalkeeper Ryan Miller to take “Miller Time” off his mask since it is a popular beer slogan and his teammate Jonathan Quick to remove a ‘Support Our Troops’ slogan for contravening Olympic rules on political propaganda. Miller moved past the controversy and helped his team to a 3-1 win over Switzerland. Canada crushed Norway 8-0. Russia, their major rivals for gold, also made short work of Latvia, winning 8-2. Canada also look like they meant serious business in the men’s curling competition which is more than many casual observers would have said of the Norwegian team they opposed in their opening encounter. The visitors took to the ice in trousers of eccentric design; a harlequin pattern of red, white and blue, drawing stiffled sniggers and smirks from competitors and fans alike. Once the action started, though, the Norwegians showed they were certainly no clowns on ice and pushed the fancied Canadians hard before succumbing 7-6 before they beat the U.S. 6-5 in their second match. Canada also defeated Germany 9-4.—Reuters
VANCOUVER: USA’s Jeremy Abbott performs his short program during the men’s figure skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. —AP
VANCOUVER: Tatjana Huefner of Germany (right) shows the gold medal she won in the women’s singles luge competition flanked by Natalie Geisenberger of Germany, who got the bronze, at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.—AP
Only color that counts for Canada is gold VANCOUVER: Alexandre Bilodeau’s mogul skiing gold warmed the hearts of Canadians because it was the host country’s first on home ground, but unless Canada wins ice hockey gold these Olympics will be deemed a failure. Canadians have a love affair with hockey that crosses generations and stretches back to the origin of the sport in the second largest country in the world. So when it comes to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics there is no honour in finishing second. Whether it is getting up at 6:00 am in freezing temperatures to drive your son to hockey practice, or entire families sitting down to watch Hockey Night In Canada on television on a Saturday, the game is an integral part of the culture. “If we don’t win the gold it’s going to be a disappointment,” said former National Hockey League all-star defenceman Denis Potvin. “Everybody plays hockey at a young age. So it goes without saying that my dad played, my uncle played. They weren’t professional players, but certainly they played junior hockey, or they played midget hockey. And everybody has a history with the game, and I think that’s what gets passed down.” If Canada, who won its opener 8-0 against Norway, makes it to the gold medal game of the men’s hockey tournament it will likely be the most
watched game ever on Canadian soil. Close to four million Canadians watched live on TV when executive director Steve Yzerman announced the 23-man Olympic roster in December. It is anticipated that a third of the population of 35 million will watch the gold medal game if Canada gets that far. “I always say to people when I come to Canada and your plane lands in Toronto or anywhere and it smells like hockey,” said Rene Fasel, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation. “It is their genetic code. It is winter, it is ice, it is challenging, it is tough and what Canadians like. Hockey was born here.” That pretty much describes fans in the Olympic host city of Vancouver. The only colour that counts at this tournament is gold. The city’s National Hockey League team has sold out 300 straight games. But hockey fever sometimes goes too far. There was a riot in the city’s downtown in 1994 after the Canucks lost the Stanley Cup playoff final to the New York Rangers. Bob Nicholson, chief executive of Hockey Canada, said hockey is the social vehicle that drives the culture and creates lifetime friendships. “Everyone in this country loves hockey,” Nicholson said. “It is about the rinks opening in the mornings. Everyone taking their cup of coffee and
standing in the cold and hanging out. I am a parent I have been there with my son and loved it. “You get to meet people in a different way. I look back at my best friends and they are people I played hockey with as a kid. “You can play other sports and they are great but the feeling just isn’t the same when you are in that cold rink all bundled up and watching the game of hockey.” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly isn’t Canadian but he understands the strong feelings they have for the sport because his mother was originally from Saskatchewan, Canada. “It is part of their history,” Daly said. “It is part of the sports that Canadians have excelled at. They believe there is a certain vested ownership in the game and I think that is great.” Rob Wright, 56, of the Vancouver suburb White Rock, said the love of hockey starts at a young age. “It gets passed down to generations,” said Wright at Canada Hockey House pavilion next to the BC Place Stadium where Friday’s opening ceremony took place. “For my dad and I it was like a religion. When Hockey Night In Canada was on my dad and I would go one way into the room with the big TV and my mom and sisters would go the other way to the small TV. We ruled.”—AFP
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KUWAIT: Officials of the Arab and International Shooting Federations with PAYS Chairman Maj Gen (Ret) Faisal Al-Jazzaf and Farwaniya Governor Lt General (Ret) Abdelrahim Al-Haji.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
KUWAIT: Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf being congratulated by PAYS Chief Maj General (Ret) Faisal Al-Jazzaf.
Sheikh Nawaf elected head of IPSF KUWAIT: General Assembly of the International Police Sports Federation (IPSF) announced during its second session here yesterday the election by acclamation of the head of the Kuwait Police Sports Federation Major General Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the new president of the IPSF for its new session that last till 2014. The meeting of the General Assembly of the IPSF was held on the sidelines of the first International Police Shooting Championship currently hosted by Kuwait for five days at Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Olympic Shooting Ranges
Complex. Sheikh Ahmad became with this new appointment the second Kuwaiti president of the IPSF succeeding his predecessor Lieutenant General Abdul Hamid Al-Hejji who had his term ended following a ten-year tenure. Sheikh Ahmad was elected by acclamation for a four-year term presidency by the IPSF General Assembly. The meeting also included the election of three vice-presidents of the IPSF with the Emirati Major General Abdullah bin Nasrah Al-Ameri becoming the first vicepresident with 35 votes and the Hungarian Colonel Jiza becoming the sec-
ond by seniority getting the same number of votes with his compatriot, the third vice-president Colonel Sandrwa Dairex with 32 votes for each of them. The Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah in his address welcomed those participating in the meeting. He expressed his hope for the meeting to achieve its desired goals in what serves best for the current and future sports activities in the international police federations and help develop the sports competitions among the member states federations and boost the ties of friendship and
cooperation among the security personnel all over the world. He also expressed his joy at Kuwait’s hosting the General Assembly of the IPSF that coincides with the celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah taking the reins of power as well as the celebrations marking both the National and Liberation days. Al-Khaled also lauded the role played by the ex-president of the IPSF Lieutenant General. Abdul Hamid Hejji for his relentless efforts at the local and international levels, and hoped success
for the new President Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Sabah. The session was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and head of the higher organizing committee of the championship Lieutenant General Ahmad Al-Rajib, ex-president of the IPSF Abdul Hamid Hejji and his deputy the president of both Arab and Qatari police federations Khaled Alatiah. Secretary General of the International Police Federation Vladimir Sias, the legal adviser at the IPSF Adam Hussein and representatives of single country federations also attended the meeting.—KUNA
Major General KUWAIT: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf
Al-Osta finishes second in Estonian Open
Nour Al-Osta (left) during the Estonian Open
Kuwaiti gymnast, Nour Al-Osta, continued her outstanding performance on the international scene as she recently clinched the silver medal at the Estonian Open tournament, which featured participation from 20 European nations. Al-Osta was able to overcome players from Spain, Germany, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Finland and Turkey, to finish in second place with 23.5 points, falling behind Dariya from Russia, who emerged victorious with 25.28 points, and ahead of Diana, also from Russia, who achieved 23.1 points. Al-Osta expressed her excitement on this achievement, stating that her victory is a small token of appreciation that she gives to Kuwait on the occasion of the National day. She further acknowledged the support that she receives from the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, and its CEO, Lt. Faisal Al-Jazzaf, and his deputy, Dr. Hmoud Fulaiteh, adding that this support enabled her to achieve her success. In addition, Al-Osta vowed to continue her trainings under the supervision of the national team’s coach, Natalya, aiming to represent Kuwait at the 2012 London Olympics.
Australia, NZ govts assess Indian terror threat
SYDNEY: Australian and New Zealand sports organizations say their athletes will continue to compete in India despite a purported threat by an Al-Qaeda-linked guerrilla group to target major upcoming sports events. Officials said yesterday they would heed advice from their governments, international sports bodies and specialist security advisers over the level of threat associated with the forthcoming men’s field hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League cricket tournament and Commonwealth Games. The Asia Times Online Web site published a message reportedly from guerrilla commander Ilyas Kashmiri, whose Kashmir-based 313 Brigade is an operational arm of Al-Qaeda. The message warns of potential attacks on the Hockey World Cup, the IPL cricket tournament and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year. “We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India — if they do, they will be
responsible for the consequences,” Asia Times Online quoted a translated message as saying. The message was not verified, but Asia Times Online said it had interviewed the leader of the group in October. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand’s John Key said Wednesday their governments were working closely with Indian authorities to monitor the level of risk. “Indian authorities have pledged to implement strong security procedures for all upcoming sporting events in India,” Rudd said. “We, however, will be following this very, very closely.” Key said his government could not instruct New Zealanders not to compete in India but would offer the latest security advice. “The decision whether to travel or not ultimately rests with the sporting team. We wouldn’t stop a sporting team going but it’s important we are able to give them the best information possible so that they can assess that,” Key said. The Australian and New Zealand field hockey organizations both said they would
send teams to the men’s World Cup, to be held in New Delhi from Feb. 28 to March 13. Hockey Australia chief executive Mark Anderson said the Australian team would leave for India on Sunday, but individual players could withdraw if they had safety fears. “So at any stage if they are not comfortable with the situation they can elect to opt out of the team, so there is no pressure on team members,” Anderson said. “But at this stage there’s no indication that anyone is going to exercise that option.” Hockey New Zealand said it would delay the scheduled departure of its team in response to the latest threat, but confirmed it was not withdrawing from the tournament. The Pakistan Hockey Federation said it was sending two representatives to Delhi on Thursday to assess security, and secretary Asif Bajwa hoped the Indians had set up “good security arrangements.” The Pakistan government has already cleared the team to compete in India. The English Hockey Board said it contacted the British High Commission in Delhi and the British Foreign and Commonwealth
Office yesterday. “The credibility of the reported threats is still being assessed and at present plans for the team’s participation in the World Cup remain unchanged,” the EHB said in a statement. Australia cricket vice captain Michael Clarke said he and other Australian players heading for the Indian Premier League in March had confidence in the security advice they were receiving. Clarke said Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association were closely monitoring developments. “I don’t know the exact detail on it, I only heard a few little bits about it this morning, but we’re in pretty safe hands with Cricket Australia and the ACA making those sorts of decisions,” Clarke said. “They have the people in place to make those sorts of major decisions.” Perry Crosswhite, head of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said Australia was committed to attending the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year. He said threats would not stop the games.
“That threat does not affect our cur-
Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah won the Saudi Arabian Ha’il Baja in 2008 and went on to win the 2008 FIA World Cup and finished second overall in the 2010 Dakar Rally.
Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) announces exciting new Rally Of Arabia HA’IL: HRH Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Ha’il, President of the Supreme Commission for Ha’il Development and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Ha’il Rally, announced at the start of the 2010 Saudi Arabian Ha’il Baja that the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) would organise a brand new cross-country rally in spring 2011. The stand-alone event will appear in the FIA calendar and run instead of the Ha’il Baja round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas over a five or six-day format. It will offer in excess of 1,500km of selective sections in a route of over 2,000km in the vast An-Nafud desert in the northcentral region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “The time has come for Saudi Arabia to show the rest of the world what potential we have for international off-road motor sport and we are thrilled to announce that we will run an event with around 1,500km of selective sections in 2011,” enthused Mishaal Al-Sudairy, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation. “We hope to run the event in the spring, February or early March time, and it will be registered as a stand-alone event in the FIA calendar, but we will also permit motorcycles in co-ordination with the FIM and trucks to take part for the first time. The Rally of Arabia will use as much of the beautiful
uncharted desert in the Ha’il area as possible and is sure to be probably the most demanding rally in the world outside the Dakar.” Al-Sudairy has pledged excellent incentives and concessions for local, GCC and other international competitors and is planning a generous prize fund to make the event the most lucrative in the world Cross-Country calendar. The event will run in a looped format and use a centralised service area and rally headquarters at the Maghwat Conference Centre on the outskirts of Ha’il. “The rally will be organised by our team at the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation,” added Al-Sudairy. “The team now has five years’ experience running the Ha’il Baja and we feel it is an excellent time to move on and expand the Ha’il Rally to make it one of the great challenges in world motor sport. We have fast tracks, large dunes, rocky trails, undulating pistes...everything is here for the connoisseur of Cross-Country rallying.” The Dakar Rally is traditionally the world’s most popular and demanding off-road, long-distance rally, but Al-Sudairy is confident that the Rally of Arabia will become a feared, respected and treasured addition to the international calendar. “We want this event to become the jewel in the Arabian crown,” said Al-Sudairy. “Our very own treasure here in the Middle East.”
Kuwait Cricket all set for prestigious trophy All eligible players invited for Kuwait Team selection
KUWAITI squad for the ACC T-20 Cup held in UAE
KUWAIT: Kuwait Cricket has immense pleasure in inviting cricketers to register themselves to be active members of Kuwait National cricket team which will be participating in the forthcoming ACC trophy Elite 2010, which is slated to be conducted in Kuwait during the first week of April 2010. Any cricketer with established records of playing quality cricket in Kuwait or any other nations and who is a resident of Kuwait and has been staying for a minimum period of 4 years and above do qualify in accordance with the ICC players qualification criteria for selection trials. After its much impressive performance in the recently concluded ACC T20 trophy in Dubai, where the talented Kuwaiti squad com-
peted with the 10 top non-test playing nations in Asia and had the distinction of being ranked 4th. ACC Trophy is a prestigious tournament for non test playing countries which provides a chance for the both finalist teams to participate in the Asia Cup tournament where the top 4 Test playing nations of Asia namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh compete with much pomp and fare. Kuwait Cricket is highly honored to have got the opportunity to organize the fabulous ACC trophy for the first time and this is the result of its proven track records of its abilities to organize and deliver top-class International tournaments in the past. Kuwait cricket is highly indebted to Asian
Cricket Council (ACC) & ICC (International Cricket Council) for providing an opportunity to stage international events. Kuwait and Bhutan’s performance in the last ACC Trophy round sees them playing in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 8 which is to be held in Kuwait in December 2010. Since its inception in 1996, The ACC Elite Trophy has evolved into a highly competitive tournament and they have been emblematic of just how much cricket has developed in Asia as a whole in the past fourteen years. Without a doubt, the gap between our topranked test playing nations and the non test playing nations are quite substantial but if the non test playing nations truly wish to bridge the gap and achieve ODI status one day, this is
the stepping stone for them to achieve full fledge International status. Bangladesh won the first ACC Trophy fourteen years ago and step by step they reached the glory of achieving Test status and so is the story of Afghanistan who started playing in the ACC Elite trophy and now has qualified to participate in the T20 World Cup which is to be played in the West Indies shortly. The participating teams are Afghanistan, Nepal, UAE, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Bhutan and host Kuwait. For registration and further information Sheikh Ayub a formidable cricketer, Cricket Australia and ACC level 2 Qualified Coach and Kuwait Cricket representative for this assignment can be contacted on 97962009.
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Nets knock off Bobcats
KOLKATA: Indian cricketer Amit Mishra (second from left) is congratulated by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) and other teammates for dismissing South Africa’s Jacques Kallis during the fourth day of the second cricket Test match. — AP
Rain and Amla frustrate India’s victory charge
KOLKATA: Top-ranked India will bank heavily on their spinners on the last day after rain and Hashim Amla frustrated their bid for a series-levelling victory in the second test against South Africa yesterday. India have a possible 97 overs to take out seven South African wickets on Thursday and avoid their first home series loss since the defeat by Australia in 2004 as they try to hold on to their number one ranking. However, with a full day’s play not guaranteed after bad light and rain allowed only 34.1 overs to be bowled yesterday, India will look to play aggressive cricket with their traditional strength being the main weapon. “It would have been handy to have 50 overs today. But that’s what we were dealt with. We just have to get on with it and use the time we have left,” India coach Gary Kirsten told reporters. The tourists were 115-3 at the close on the fourth day, still 232 behind, with in-form Amla on a fighting 49. Ashwell Prince had yet to get off the mark. The tourists, 1-0 up in the series, still have a chance of saving the test to record their first series victory in India in a decade and reclaim the top-ranking from their hosts.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took the key wicket of Jacques Kallis (20) just minutes before the rain came down on Wednesday, having already dismissed Graeme Smith (20) before lunch. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh sent back first innings century maker Alviro Petersen for 21 when the test debutant was caught at shortleg. “It was handy getting Kallis out before the bad light. Amit (Mishra) bowled really good today and so did Harbhajan,” Kirsten said. “With the two of them bowling really well and Ishant (Sharma and) Zaheer (Khan) adding to (the) attack we’re really in a good position. It’s only about how many overs are available to us tomorrow.” Amla, who scored centuries in his two previous outings, forged a partnership of 57 with Kallis, who told reporters it would be important for Amla to bat for the whole day with the remaining batsmen rallying around him. “When you have form, you should keep going,” Kallis said of Amla. “He has high powers of concentration and knows his limitations. He should keep on doing what he is doing, stick to his game plans.” — Reuters
Scoreboard
Scoreboard at the close on the fourth day of the second and final test between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday: South Africa first innings 296 India first innings 643-6d South Africa second innings (6-0 overnight) Smith lbw b Mishra 20 Petersen c Badrinath b Harbhajan 21 Amla not out 49 20 Kallis c Dhoni b Mishra Prince not out 0 Extras (nb 5) 5 Total (for three wickets; 35 overs) 115 Fall of wickets: 1-36 2-54 3-111. To bat: AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, D. Steyn, W. Parnell, M. Morkel, P. Harris. Bowling (to date): Zaheer 6-0-32-0, Harbhajan 13-3-31-1, Ishant 8-1-36-0 (nb 4), Mishra 7-3-15-2 (nb 1), Sehwag 1-0-1-0. South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0.
Drogba, Essien, Eto’o nominated for African award ACCRA: Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Michael Essien and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o have been nominated for the 2009 African Footballer of the Year award. Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana were announced as nominees for the African National Team of the Year. The possible winners of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards, which also chooses the African club, young player and coach of the year, were announced Tuesday. The 31-year-old Drogba won the African Player of the Year award in 2006 and is Ivory Coast’s all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 65 games. The powerful striker was instrumental in his country’s successful run to the World Cup, scoring six goals in five games as Ivory Coast topped its group and sealed a spot at the tournament in South Africa later this year. Essien has been nominated for African Player of the Year for the fifth successive year but is yet to win. The 27-yearold midfielder also helped his country finish top of its group in qualifying for the west African country to reach just its second World Cup. In the absence of the injured Essien, Ghana reached the final of the 2010 African Cup of Nations last month, losing to Egypt. Eto’o was voted African Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the Cameroon striker is the leading scorer in African Cup history. The 28-year-old scored eight goals in World Cup qualifying, including a crucial strike in the victory over Morocco that secured qualification for Cameroon. Algeria reached its first World Cup since 1986 after overcoming north African rivals Egypt in a heated playoff in Sudan last November. The two countries had finished with identical records at the top of their qualifying
group. Algeria climbed to its highest ever FIFA ranking of No. 26 in the world in December 2009. TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 2009 African Champions League winner, has been nominated as African Club of the Year alongside Heartland FC of Nigeria and Mali’s CAF Confederation Cup winner, Stade Malien. AC Milan player Dominic Adiyiah was named as a contender for the Young Player of the Year award. Adiyiah won the most valuable player award at the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt as Ghana were crowned champions. Ghana’s young stars beat Brazil in a penalty shootout to become the first African winners of the tournament. Feyenoord’s South Africa under-20 international, Kermit Erasmus, and Sani Emmanuel of the Nigerian under-17 team were also nominated. The African Coach of the Year will be chosen between Diego Garzitto of T.P. Mazembe, Ghana under-20 coach Sellas Tetteh and John Obuh, who led the Nigerian team to the final of the under17 World Cup last year after taking over shortly before the tournament. The winners are decided by a vote of the national coaches of 53 African countries and will be announced at an awards gala in Accra on
LONDON: Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba celebrates in this file photo. — AFP March 11. Nominees for the 2009 CAF awards: African Footballer of the Year: Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan, Cameroon).National Team of the Year: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana. Club of the Year: Heartland FC (Nigeria), Stade Malien (Mali), T.P. Mazembe (DR Congo). Young Player of the Year: Dominic
Adiyiah (AC Milan, Ghana U20), Kermit Erasmus (Feyenoord, South Africa U20), Sani Emmanuel (Bodens BK, Nigeria U-17). Coach of the Year: Diego Garzitto (T.P. Mazembe), John Obuh (Nigeria U-17), Sellas Tetteh (Ghana U-20). Best African player on the continent: Uche Agba (Heartland FC, Nigeria), Mputu Mabi (T.P. Mazembe, DR Congo), Abdelmalek Ziaya (Entente Setif, Algeria) — AP
Matches on TV (local timings) Europa League Ajax v Juventus .............................. 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +4 Brugge v Valencia ......................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +1 Villarreal v Wolfsburg .................. 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +2 FC Twente v Bremen ................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +6 Lille v Fenerbahce ........................ 21:00 Al Jazeera Sport +5 Bilbao v Anderlecht ...................... 23:05
Al Jazeera Sport +7 Panathinakos v AS Roma ............ 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +1 Atletico v Gala Tasaray ............... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sport +2 Fulham v Shakhtar ...................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sport +6 Liverpool v Unirea ....................... 23:00 Al Jazeera Sport +5 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Hamburg v Eindhoven ................ 23:00 Al Jazeera Sport +4
CHARLOTTE: Courtney Lee scored 21 points and Devin Harris added 17 as the New Jersey Nets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 103-94 on Tuesday for only its fifth win of the season. Brook Lopez added 16 points before fouling out for the energized Nets (5-48), who snapped an eight-game losing streak, improved to 2-27 on the road and moved ahead of the pace of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished an NBAworst 9-73. Gerald Wallace had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Boris Diaw had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who allowed the NBA’s worst-shooting and lowest-scoring team to shoot 52 percent. Thunder 99, Mavericks 86 At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 25 points and 14 rebounds and rookie reserve James Harden added 17 points as Oklahoma City beat the new-look Dallas to stretch their winning streak to seven games. Caron Butler scored 13 points after coming over in a weekend trade from Washington. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points, Jason Terry had 14 points and Jason Kidd had 12 points for the Mavericks. Starting center Erick Dampier had 13 rebounds but headed to the locker room with 2:54 remaining with an open dislocation of the middle finger on his right hand. Durant extended his streak of games with at least 25 points to 26, but he needed a driving layup with 26.6 seconds left to get there — after coach Scott Brooks had taken three of Oklahoma City’s five starters out of the game. Heat 105, 76ers 78 At Philadelphia, Dwyane Wade scored 24 points as Miami cruised past Philadelphia. Jermaine O’Neal added 20 points for Miami, which won its third straight. Philadelphia welcomed back Allen Iverson, who returned after missing five games to help care for his ill daughter, Messiah. Iverson came off the bench and shot 1 for 7 from the field for four points. Thaddeus Young led the 76ers with 16 points, and Andre Iguodala added 11. Bulls 116, Knicks 85 At Chicago, Derrick Rose hit his first nine shots and scored 29 points to lead Chicago over New York. Rose buried all seven shots while scoring 15 in the first quarter and was 14 for 18 in all, just missing his sixth 30-point game. David Lee led New York with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Pistons 108, T’wolves 85 At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Jonas Jerebko led a balanced offense with 21 points as Detroit pulled away in the second half to beat Minnesota. The Pistons had five players in double figures and got at least two points from all 12. Kevin Love paced Minnesota with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Suns 109, Grizzlies 95 At Memphis, Tennessee, Jason Richardson scored 27 points, and Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix won its sixth game in the last seven with a victory over Memphis. Richardson was 12 of 17 from the field in the Suns’ fifth straight road victory. Robin Lopez finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Nash had 16 assists for the Suns. Rudy Gay led Memphis with 21 points and Zach Randolph had 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Grizzlies lost their fifth straight. Jazz 104, Rockets 95 At Houston, Deron Williams scored 17 points and dished out 15 assists, and Mehmet Okur scored 21 points as Utah continued its midseason surge with a win over Houston. Paul Millsap scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, helping the Jazz win for the 14th time in 16 games. Utah finished with 30 assists to offset 21 turnovers. Backup center David Andersen and Aaron Brooks scored 18 points apiece for Houston, which committed a seasonhigh 24 turnovers. Celtics 95, Kings 92 At Sacramento, California, Rasheed Wallace and Paul Pierce each scored 17 points as Boston held off Sacramento. Omri Casspie scored 19 points, Tyreke Evans had 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Jason Thompson added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who have dropped 19 of 23 games since Dec. 28. Ray Allen scored 15 points and Eddie House had 12 for Boston, which made six straight free throws in the final 15.4 seconds to seal the victory. T Blazers 109, Clippers 87 At Portland, Oregon, Martell Webster scored 28 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 as the Portland Trail Blazers cruised to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers a few hours after the teams made a deal Tuesday night. Eric Gordon scored 20 points and Rasual Butler 18 for slumping Los Angeles, which lost its fifth consecutive game, and ninth in 10 games. Earlier Tuesday, Portland and Los Angeles made a three-player trade in which the Blazers acquired 6-foot-11 center Marcus Camby in exchange for guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw. Camby was averaging 7.7 points and 12 rebounds a game for the Clippers this season. None of the three played. Lakers 104, Warriors 94 At Los Angeles, Shannon Brown set career highs with 27 points and 10 rebounds while starting in place of the injured Kobe Bryant, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State. Andrew Bynum added 21 points and seven rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing two games because of a bruised right hip that still gives him discomfort. The defending NBA champions have won all four games they’ve played without Bryant, who also was unable to play in the All-Star game. Anthony Morrow scored 23 points and CJ Watson added 20 off the bench for the Warriors, who lost to the Lakers for the eighth straight time. — AP
LOS ANGLES: Lakers guard Shannon Brown (left) steals the ball from Golden State Warriors guard Anthony Morrow in the first half of their NBA basketball game. — AP
NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Tuesday: New Jersey 103, Charlotte 94; Miami 105, Philadelphia 78; Detroit 108, Minnesota 85; Chicago 118, NY Knicks 85; Phoenix 109, Memphis 95; Oklahoma City 99, Dallas 86; Utah 104, Houston 95; Portland 109, LA Clippers 87; Boston 95, Sacramento 92; LA Lakers 104, Golden State 94. Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Boston 33 18 .647 Toronto 29 23 .558 Philadelphia 20 33 .377 19 33 .365 NY Knicks New Jersey 5 48 .094 Central Division Cleveland 43 11 .796 Chicago 26 26 .500 Milwaukee 24 27 .471 Detroit 19 33 .365 Indiana 18 34 .346 Southeast Division Orlando 36 18 .667 Atlanta 33 18 .647 Charlotte 26 26 .500 Miami 27 27 .500 Washington 17 33 .340
GB 4.5 14 14.5 29 16 17.5 23 24 1.5 9 9 17
Western Conference Northwest Division Denver 35 18 .660 Utah 33 19 .635 Oklahoma City 31 21 .596 Portland 32 24 .571 Minnesota 13 41 .241 Pacific Division LA Lakers 42 13 .764 Phoenix 32 22 .593 LA Clippers 21 32 .396 Sacramento 18 35 .340 Golden State 14 38 .269 Southwest Division Dallas 32 21 .604 San Antonio 30 21 .588 New Orleans 28 25 .528 Houston 27 25 .519 Memphis 26 26 .500
1.5 3.5 4.5 22.5 9.5 20 23 26.5 1 4 4.5 5.5
Dalglish claims Celtic face do or die Old Firm clashes GLASGOW: Kenny Dalglish admits Celtic have to win their two remaining Old Firm games against arch rivals Rangers if his former club are to win the Scottish Premier League title. Celtic currently trail Rangers by 10 points with 13 games remaining, but they can claw back six of those points by defeating their Glasgow neighbors twice starting with the visit to Ibrox at the end of February. Dalglish knows all about the pressure of fighting Rangers for the title after an eight-year spell as a Celtic player. The Liverpool legend also had a brief spell as Celtic director of football and, speaking in Glasgow at the launch of a new football youth initiative on Wednesday, he said: “Celtic have to get 11 more points than Rangers before the end of the season. “To do that they have got to give themselves the best possible chance and that is to win the two Old Firm games as well as a lot of others. “Obviously everyone is envious of Rangers manager Walter (Smith) and the position that Rangers are in. “They are 10 points clear, there are two Old Firm games to come, one on the 28th of February which is really important for Celtic. But certainly Rangers are in the driving seat. “They have done fantastically well to get that far in front and I’m sure Celtic are hugely disappointed with the number of points they are behind.” Meanwhile, Dalglish believes Scotland
have a good chance of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine despite their tough group. Current European champions Spain are strong favourites to win the section which also contains the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein and Lithuania and as a consequence, the general consensus is that the Scots’ best chance of qualification is by finishing as the best of the runners-up or via a play-off spot. Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France but Dalglish, who won a record 102 caps in dark blue, is adamant new boss Craig Levein has no reason to be negative about his team’s chances. “I think we have got to look forward, be positive, aim as high as we can possibly get and take as much as we can from every game that we play,” Dalglish said. “We have a difficult job with Spain, Czech Republic, they are two difficult teams. “But you know what Scotland are like, the better the opposition, the better they play and they are more likely to get a positive result against a good team than a bad team. “You get your own house in order and if anyone else does you a favour you have got be in a position to capitalise on that. “A lot of teams will come to Hampden and know that it is going to be a difficult game and I hope Spain and the Czech Republic are going to be two of them.” — AFP
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Europe’s giants make last-ditch bid for glory PARIS: Italian giants Juventus will take a stab at European glory for the second time this season when they meet Dutch heavyweights Ajax in the first-leg of their Europa League tie today. The last 32 clash is a rematch of the 1996 Champions League final, which saw the Italian club triumph over then holders Ajax in a penalty shootout 4-2 after it finished 11 at the end of normal time. With the Amsterdam side nine points off league leaders PSV Eindhoven and Juventus trailing first-placed Inter Milan by 16 points, the Europa League represents their last chance at winning a major title in 2010. Juve’s French midfielder Jonathan
Zebina conceded that another Serie A title is out of the club’s reach but that his team would give their all to win the trophy. “We have to continue now as the season is still long and there are objectives. It might not be the Scudetto, but it won’t be bad if we win the Europa League,” Zebina told the official Juventus website. But Ajax’s Danish starlet Christian Eriksen believes his side can pile on the woes for The Old Lady, who sacked coach Ciro Ferrara just over two weeks ago. “Juventus are in bit of a crisis,” the 18-yearold playmaker said. “I hope we can win at home. We must now seize our opportunity. I think we can
pull off an upset.” Juventus feature in this rebranded successor to the UEFA Cup after crashing out of the Champions League earlier this season, while Ajax failed to even qualify for Europe’s elite competition after finishing third in the championship. A place in the Europa League is the consolation prize awarded to clubs that finish third in their Champions League qualifying groups. Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool was one of those sides and his team will bid to turn around their ailing season when Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni - coached by former Romania and Chelsea star defender Dan Petrescu — visit Anfield today.
The Reds have been knocked out of both of England’s domestic cups and are behind Premier League leaders Chelsea by 14 points. “Clearly I would prefer to be fighting for the title or for the Champions League but you must accept the situation,” said the Liverpool manager. “But you have to be positive and turn things in your favour...we have got to keep progressing in the Europa League and aim to finish as high as we can in the Premier League.” Although striker Fernando Torres is still out injured, Benitez is expected to field his strongest possible side on Thursday in the
club’s last-ditch bid to win some silverware this season. tournament include eight The Champions League drop-outs including German titleholders Wolfsburg and Ajax’s bitter domestic rivals PSV Eindhoven. Hamburg’s new signing, Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, will be looking to open his European account today when the German side play PSV, where he plyed his trade before his big money move to Manchester United in 2001. But the 33-year-old, who arrived from Real Madrid during the January transfer window, has no intention of granting any favours to the team that launched his career.
“It’s the sort of coincidence only football can bring about, but those who know me know I don’t live in the past,” said van Nistelrooy. In the pick of Thursday’s other games, Roy Hodgson’s Fulham meet Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk - who can claim to be the defending champions as they won the last ever UEFA Cup last year - at home while former England coach Steve McClaren sees his high-flying FC Twente side welcome Germany’s Werder Bremen, who were beaten by Shakhtar in the 2009 final. Spain’s Atletico Madrid will play Turkish giants Galatasaray at home, while Hertha Berlin play Portugal’s Benefica.—AFP
Arsenal undone 2-1 by Fabianski horrow show PORTO: Two errors from Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski allowed Porto to establish a 2-1 lead in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie here yesterday. The 24-year-old Pole started in place of the injured Manuel Almunia but gifted the hosts an early lead with a soft own goal and presented them the opportunity to score their second five minutes into the second period by inexplicably picking up a backpass. The industrious Falcao was the beneficiary on the latter occasion, rolling the ball past a stranded Fabianski after Ruben Micael took a quick free-kick to secure a slim advantage for his side prior to the second leg on March 9.
Champions League
PORTO: Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner (left) from Denmark challenges FC Porto’s Fernando Reges from Brazil in a Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match.—AP
Klose header sinks Fiorentina MUNICH: Bayern Munich left it late to beat a dogged 10-man Florentina with a controversial last-minute goal to hand the German giants a 2-1 win, making it 13 in a row in all competitions. German international striker Miroslav Klose headed home in the 89th minute after the ball went loose from a long distance shot from Dutch international Arjen Robben, but he appeared to be in an offside position. The strike gave the Bundesliga outfit a slender advantage for when the two sides head to Florence for the second leg on March 9, with the Italians holding a precious away goal. Earlier in the second half, Florentina had been reduced to 10 men when Massimo Gobbi was handed a straight red card for a blatant elbow in Robben’s throat. But Bayern’s defensive frailties had gifted the Italians a goal only five minutes after the restart. The German giants failed to clear a corner and Fiorentina’s Danish international defender Per Kroldrup pounced in the ensuing goal-mouth scramble, toe-poking the ball home from close range. Bayern, brimming with confidence after an impressive run of 12 straight wins, took the lead on the stroke of half-time through a Robben penalty. Three minutes into injury time at the end of the first-half, Bayern’s French star Franck Ribery was unceremoniously upended in the area by Cesare Natali. Striker Mario Gomez slotted the ball home, but to Bayern’s disgust, the referee had already blown for a penalty. But Robben made no mistake from the spot,
sending Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey the wrong way for his sixth goal in as many games but his first in this season’s Champions League campaign. The penalty brought an end to a largely frustrating first half for both sides as Bayern struggled to break down a wellorganised Italian defence. Bayern had shown their attacking intentions from the kick-off, a long ball finding Robben in space on the right, whose pull-back into the box just evaded Gomez with only 15 seconds on the clock. But after this early foray into the Fiorentina box, neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in
an uninspiring first half. With the score at 1-1, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal rang the changes, pulled off Gomez and Thomas Mueller and brought on Klose and Croatia’s Ivica Olic. However, despite numerous chances created by Bayern’s potent attacking force in a hectic second half, no one was able to deliver a telling blow until the very last minute, leaving the four-times European champions with plenty to do in Florence. Bayern came into the game as clear favorites on the back of their exceptional run of form that has seen them catapulted to joint top of the league and into the semi-finals of the German
Cup. In contrast, Fiorentina’s form before their visit to Munich had been patchy, with five straight games without a win in Serie A, slumping to a disappointing 11th place in the league. Injuries and suspensions also hampered Fiorentina’s preparations, with star Romanian striker Adrian Mutu out of action after failing drugs tests and defender Alessandro Gamberini dislocating his shoulder. Bayern, on the other hand, welcomed back Ribery and Klose from injury as they remained in the hunt for their 22nd German league title and their fifth triumph in Europe’s top club competition.—AFP
MUNICH: Alberto Gilardino from Florence, Munich’s Daniel van Buyten and goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt (left to right) vie for the ball during the Champions League last of sixteen first leg soccer match.—AP
Fabianski’s nightmare performance distracted attention from an impressive return to European action by Sol Campbell. The 35-year-old veteran marked his first appearance in continental competition since his return to the club in January by scoring the equaliser - three years and nine months since his goalscoring turn in Arsenal’s defeat by Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final. Porto’s winner sparked a furious reaction from Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who was also without William Gallas, Alex Song, Andrey Arshavin, Eduardo and long-term absentee Robin van Persie due to injury. Wenger stormed to the touchline to remonstrate with Swedish referee Martin Hansson - who was in charge of his highest profile match since the infamous Thierry Henry handball in the 2010 World Cup finals play-off between France and the Republic of Ireland. Hanson had turned down a strong penalty appeal from Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky shortly before Porto’s second goal. Fabianski kept the score down with a save from Hulk but Arsenal continued to look unsettled at the back and will pray that Fabianski recovers morale in time for the Premier League visit of Sunderland on Saturday. There was no gentle return for Campbell, who was exposed as early as the second minute, but having been sold short by a loose pass from Bacary Sagna he responded brilliantly to thwart Falcao with an outstretched right leg. Hulk flashed a shot wide of Fabianski’s right-hand post barely a minute later, while Campbell was perhaps fortunate to avoid punishment for a strong bodycheck on the advancing Hulk just inside the Arsenal box. Disaster first struck for the visitors in the 11th minute, when Varela broke into space down the right before flinging a low cross towards goal that Fabianski, who had edged forward, weakly fumbled over his own line. Arsenal, though, were quick to react and drew level eight minutes later, Campbell heading home from close range after Rosicky had turned a deep corner back across goal. Porto goalkeeper Helton was twice called upon before half-time, pushing away a drive from Rosicky and then athletically touching a Nicklas Bendtner header over the bar, while Fabianski repelled Micael’s long-range effort at the other end.—AFP
LONDON: Bolton’s Sam Ricketts (right) fights for the ball with Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia during their English Premier League soccer match.—AP
Bolton stay in relegation zone lowing Sunday’s FA Cup draw against Tottenham. With Bolton in the bottom three and Wigan just above the relegation zone, there was more than just Lancashire pride at stake for both teams in this local derby. Nerves seemed to dominate in the early stages as snow descended on the DW Stadium’s already weather-beaten pitch. South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong provided a brief spark of inspiration as the Bolton star whipped in a perfect cross that Ricardo Gardner volleyed high over the crossbar. But Wigan were the more dangerous side after that. Hugo Rodallega had Wigan’s first sight of goal, only for Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to smother the danger. Latics winger Charles N’Zogbia also threatened with a superb run past two defenders that ended with a curling shot which grazed the outside of a post. Neither team could find any
Wigan 0
Bolton 0 WIGAN: Bolton remained in the Premier League relegation zone after grinding out a 0-0 draw against fellow strugglers Wigan yesterday. Owen Coyle’s 18th placed team moved up one spot as a result of the stalemate at the DW Stadium, but they missed a chance to climb out of the bottom three. Wigan are also still in trouble and lie just two points above the drop zone after their fifth league game without a win. Latics boss Roberto Martinez handed a first start to Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno, signed on loan from Ukraine’s UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk, while Bolton named an unchanged side fol-
momentum after the break and Martinez sent on striker Jason Scotland in place of centre-back Titus Bramble in a bid to shake up Wigan’s attack. Rodallega headed wide from an N’Zogbia cross soon after Martinez’s change but Wigan were still subdued by the visitors’ stubborn defence. Coyle attempted to break the deadlock by introducing on-loan Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss and the move almost paid off. Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander combined to set up Weiss, who shot just past a post with his first touch. Martinez threw on recent signing Victor Moses with 11 minutes remaining but it was Rodallega who went closest to scoring for the Latics with a bicycle kick that flashed over. Bolton made a late surge to steal the points as Davies forced Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to save well, while Matt Taylor shot wide from a good position.—AFP
EPL result/standings Wigan 0 Bolton 0 Played Tuesday Stoke 1 (Whelan 72) Manchester City 1 (Barry 85) English Premier League table against, points): Chelsea 26 18 4 4 Man Utd 26 18 3 5 Arsenal 26 16 4 6 Man City 25 12 9 4 Liverpool 26 13 5 8 Tottenham 26 12 7 7 Aston Villa 25 11 9 5 Birmingham 25 10 7 8 Everton 25 9 8 8 Fulham 26 9 7 10
after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals 61 62 61 48 43 45 32 24 35 30
22 21 30 33 27 26 19 26 36 28
58 57 52 45 44 43 42 37 35 34
Stoke Blackburn Sunderland Wigan West Ham W’hampton Hull Bolton Burnley Portsmouth
25 7 10 8 26 8 7 11 25 6 8 11 25 6 7 12 25 5 9 11 25 6 6 13 26 5 9 12 25 5 8 12 25 6 5 14 25 4 4 17
24 26 32 26 32 21 25 29 25 20
28 43 42 49 40 42 51 46 50 42
31 31 26 25 24 24 24 23 23 16
Hiddink to take over as Turkey coach ISTANBUL: Much-travelled Guus Hiddink is on the move again, taking over as head coach of Turkey as they gear up for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The Turkish Football Federation on its website yesterday announced that the 63-year-old Dutchman had agreed on a two-year contract, with an option for a further two years. He will take over in August, a month after the end of his current contract as head coach of Russia. Hiddink has previously been in charge of the national teams of his native Netherlands, South Korea and Australia before taking over as manag-
er of Russia. He led the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and South Korea to the same stage four years later. He took Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, but failed to qualify them for the 2010 World Cup losing out to Slovenia in the play-offs. Hiddink doubled up then as coach at Chelsea, the London club he guided to victory in the FA Cup. Hiddink was linked to several coaching positions at national and club level before deciding to move to Turkey. He has previous experience of management in that country, having been in charge of Istanbul club side Fenerbahce in the 1990/91 season.—AFP
Sony heralds era of 3D entertainment in 2010
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Zain on money with ‘Zap’
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India inflation a worry; may touch 10% by March
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Worst not over for Dubai debt: HQ managers Fitch downgrades Dubai Holding COPENHAGEN: Swedish bank HQ’s Middle East equities fund has cut United Arab Emirates exposure in half since November and the fund’s manager is at ease with his portfolio despite renewed Dubai debt jitters earlier this week. Speaking before Fitch cut the debt rating of the emirate’s ruler’s Dubai Holding yesterday, Carl Cederstrom told Reuters the fund’s UAE allocation at 18 percent of assets was by now almost void of debt-sensitive financial and property stocks. “After the bang in November I had to sell because of redemptions even though the Dubai stock market was not very liquid,” he said in a telephone interview. State-owned Gulf conglomerate Dubai World called for a moratorium on over $20 billion in debts on Nov. 25, prompting Cederstrom to slash his over 40 percent UAE exposure. “They handled the debt problem very badly. They obviously had a poor understanding of how markets think. The communication was very bad,” he said. “This made investors uncertain. The risks linked to how Dubai would manage its debt burden increased strongly,” he said, adding: “This is making the pricing of assets difficult”. Fitch Ratings meanwhile downgraded Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group’s (DHCOG) ratings
because of increasing doubts about the Dubai government’s ability to support the group. DHCOG’s long-term issuer default rating and senior unsecured rating were both lowered from BB to B+ and remained on “R ating Watch Negative,” Fitch said in a statement. The action reflects Fitch’s changed approach to DHCOG which it now rates on a standalone basis rather than on a top-down parent and subsidiary basis, the statement said. “This is due to a continuing lack of substantive information on the government’s ability to support the group in case of need,” Fitch said. The ratings remain on R ating Watch Negative, “reflecting concerns that the deterioration in market conditions has weakened DHCOG’s operational performance,” it said. The group is one of the major government-related masterplan developers in Dubai and has been gifted land by the government to pursue key infrastructure and property developments in the emirate. DHCOG remains central to Dubai’s aim of becoming a regional hub for trade, tourism and leisure. “DHCOG is exposed to cyclical industries, principally Dubai’s real estate and hospitality markets which could potentially experience increased vacancy rates and a higher risk of buyer and tenant defaults,” Fitch said. “Weakness in these markets is
expected to continue through 2010 and 2011 at least.” DHCOG is effectively 97.4-percent-owned by Dubai r uler Sheikh Mohammed bin R ashid alMaktoum, who is also vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Fitch said. Several government-related agencies and business groups in Dubai have been hit with downgrades by inter national rating agencies since the emirate sought a debt moratorium in November for the Dubai World conglomerate, which currently owes creditors $22 billion. Cederstrom said Dubai’s debt situation could worsen further, but that the fund had seen inflows recently to replace some of the money pulled out towards the end of 2009. Despite the widening of Dubai credit default swap spreads this week, the fund’s positioning was “quite appropriate,” he said. Its top UAE holdings include logistics firm Aramex, food group Agthia, hydrocarbons explorer Dana Gas and port operator DP World. Egypt, with 35 percent of assets, has overtaken the UAE as the HQ Middle East fund’s biggest country allocation. Cederstrom said his holdings there include Orascom Construction and oil services firm Maridive. Other focus countries include Qatar, Israel and Morocco. —Agencies
Greece faces deadline on swaps
ATHENS: A woman walks yesterday by a closed gasoline station in Athens, which features a sign reading: “No More Fuel,” due to a custom workers strike. Europe cornered Greece Tuesday into preparing drastic new action to rein in its bulging deficit and debts while Athens was immediately hit by a new wave of strikes. —
Gulf Arab sukuk market subdued Dubai debt woes, Greece spillover hurt MANAMA: Gulf Arab capital markets, including issuance of Islamic bonds, will remain sluggish well into the year as a result of Dubai’s debt troubles and spillover effects from Greece’s fiscal woes, bankers said. Last year’s sukuk volumes were stable from 2008, but the market was almost entirely held up by sovereign and quasi-sovereign issues. Just when the industry prepared to accept private sector issuers towards the end of year, Dubai’s debt restructuring rocked markets, effectively shutting down Gulf Arab fixedincome issuance, both conventional and Islamic. “Realistically, debt and equity markets in this region will remain subdued until well af ter the summer,” said Frederick Stonehouse, head of strategic mergers and acquisition at Bahrain-based Unicor n Investment Bank. Stonehouse said Islamic Banking and Finance Summit in Bahrain that regional markets were also waiting for banks to report their 2009 earnings and how companies are able to refinance debt coming due over the coming months. “Until all of that is settled I don’t think anybody is going to take major bets between now and the summer,” he said. Bahrain’s Gulf Finance House last week reported a $728 million full-year loss and this month escaped default on a $300 million loan by striking an eleventh-hour deal with lenders to roll over one third of it. “I think the market is still finding its feet in the capital markets,” said Safdar Alam, head of Islamic structuring at J.P. Morgan. “In Q3 I’d expect stronger credit issuance to come to the market,” he said.
Saudi real estate developer Dar Al Arkan last week was the first issuer in the region in 2010, but could only raise $450 million whereas bankers had expected up to $750 million. Bankers said that the region was both hit by the debt troubles in Dubai as well as Greece’s fiscal woes. “Now the market is distorted due to global news,” Afaq Khan, chief executive of Islamic banking at Standard Chartered Bank told the summit in Dubai. However, bankers feel there was still demand for strongly rated papers from sovereign or quasi sovereign issuers. “There’s excess liquidity in the market looking for quality assets,” Khan said. Simon Eedle, head of Islamic banking at Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Banking said investor interest in the region shifted away from private equity and real estate funds to money market funds. “There’s not enough instr uments to suppor t the growth of money market funds,” said “(Demand) is for strong rated paper, it’s not for unrated paper and I think some of the money markets funds I’ve spoken to have taken unrated paper out of what they are allowed to buy,” Eedle said. The financial crisis has brought to the surface a severe lack of transparency in the Gulf Arab region, where few private sector companies are rated and some have cancelled ratings when they started to be downgraded during the downturn. Bankers also said that international investors are now refining their view of the Gulf Arab region and that issuers from countries with stronger fundamentals such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi will see some investor demand. —Reuters
BRUSSELS: Greece has only days to explain its use of complex financial deals that it used to mask debt and just a month to prove that its drastic budget cuts go far enough to reassure markets and EU governments, who are reluctant to bail Athens out if it can’t pay its bills. Greece’s troubles have plunged the 16 nations that use the euro into a crisis by breaking rules on debt and deficit that underpin Europe’s currency union amid worries that its problems could be even bigger because its public finance figures cannot be trusted. The EU’s top economy official, Olli Rehn, said Tuesday that he wanted the Greek government to supply answers by tomorrow on how it used currency swaps and how that affected debt and deficit figures. European Union finance ministers on Tuesday also gave Greece a deadline of March 16 to show that it can make big spending cuts to bring its deficit down from the EU’s highest, 12.7 percent of economic output, to 8.7 percent this year. They said in a statement that this was essential to “remove the risk of jeopardizing the proper functioning of economic and monetary union.” Euro-zone nations — which have pledged to provide a financial bailout to Greece if needed — said they would demand new spending cuts, higher value-added taxes and fuel taxes and new taxes on luxury goods, including cars, if Greece can’t make the deficit reductions it is promising. Greece now has a month to show that it can make real savings from a freeze on public sector salaries, cuts to bonuses and stipends and promises to reform pensions and health care. The government is facing opposition at home. Greek customs officials walked off the job Tuesday for a three-day strike which will hamper imports and exports. But Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou insisted that he is already ahead of schedule on sweeping budget reductions and that public finances reported a slight surplus last month thanks to a one-off tax on large companies. “It’s a matter of credibility for the country,” he told reporters. “The execution of the Greek budget for the month of January, based on preliminary figures, is going quite well. We have actually a surplus.” Greece says it isn’t asking for financial help and won’t need any — but it is facing a credibility crisis as a Feb. 1 report commissioned by the Greek finance ministry warns of “significant debt revisions” for 2009 statistics due to swaps, debt to suppliers and state-guaranteed loans that may default. The report said some swaps are now “being done in order to transfer interest from the current year to the future, with long-term loss to the Greek state.” —AP
JAKARTA: An Indonesian trader selling credit load for mobile phones displaying dirham silver coins used in the daily transaction at Cilincing district in north Jakarta. Guided by a Scottish-born convert to Islam, a group of devout Indonesian Muslims is shunning “worthless” paper money in favor of gold and silver coins for their daily transactions. —AFP
Mideast Q4 gold demand slumps with jewelry sales Economic downturn, high prices hit demand DUBAI: Middle East fourth-quarter gold demand fell 32 percent on the year as jewelry sales continued to feel the impact of high prices and the global economic downturn, the World Gold Council said yesterday. Jewelry demand makes up the bulk of gold consumption in the Middle East, leaving gold sales more sensitive to consumer trends than in other parts of the world where investors account for a higher portion of sales. Egypt and the UAE saw the biggest slump in fourth-quarter jewelry demand, with Egypt falling 35 percent and the UAE 33 percent on the year, the council said. Dubai, which brands itself as the city of gold, has felt the pinch at its gold souks, the council said. The souks are an attraction for tourists, but the number of holidaymakers in Dubai has dwindled as consumers tightened their belts during the downturn. Expatriate workers from India, one of the world’s biggest gold consumers, were
another big buying population in Dubai, but their numbers too have dwindled as hundreds of billions of dollars worth of construction projects have been put on hold. “Jewelry sales in the UAE and Dubai in particular are continuing to suffer under the pressure of future expatriates (in particular Indian workers), the economic downturn and problems in the property sector,” the council’s report said. “Lower than normal tourist numbers have also continued to impact, although these showed signs of improvement in the latest quarter.” UAE DEMAND FALLS 33 PCT Demand in the United Arab Emirates fell 33 percent in full-year 2009, a little higher than the average fall of 31 percent recorded across Gulf Arab states, the council said. Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest gold market, saw 2009 demand drop 24 percent on the year. Total Middle East gold consumption in 2009 fell 28 percent on the year to 250.6 tons, the council said.
Record international gold prices, driven by investors seeking a safe haven from volatility in other financial markets, have also hit demand. To encourage cautious investors in the region into gold, the World Gold Council plans to launch two gold investment hedging products this year, one in the UAE and the other in Saudi Arabia, Anan Fakhreddin, managing director of the World Gold Council Middle East and Turkey told reporters in Dubai. The Saudi product would probably be Shariah-compliant, he said, to encourage investment from those looking for instruments that match Islamic principles, including a prohibition on interest. “The product that will be launched in Saudi will most probably be Islamic and this is all to encourage more investment,” he said, declining to give more details about the products. Spot gold prices were around $1,116 an ounce yesterday, off a record high of over $1,226 hit on Dec 3. —Reuters
Bharti shares rally as boss hits out at Zain bid critics NEW DELHI: Shares of Indian mobile phone giant Bharti rallied yesterday after its boss called critics of the firm’s $10.7 billion bid for the African assets of Kuwait’s Zain telecom shortsighted. The shares jumped 2.44 percent to hit 279.10 rupees, snapping a two-day losing streak, as Bharti chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said detractors were unable to understand the longterm logic behind the bid.
“Allow us to work on Zain and in the coming months and years, we will prove them (the critics) wrong,” Mittal told India’s Economic Times newspaper in Barcelona where he was attending a conference. Bharti, India’s top mobile phone company, and Zain said Monday they would hold exclusive talks until March 25 to wrap up the deal giving the Indian company entry into 15 African nations and 42 million new customers on top
of the 125 million it already has. Bharti shares plunged 4.5 percent Tuesday and 9.2 percent the previous day on investor worries the New Delhi-based company was overpaying for underperforming assets. In an effort to reassure investors, Mittal said Bharti was looking at the “growth potential that Africa offers.” The takeover would give Bharti a foothold in Africa’s cellular market where just 36 out of every 100 people
own a mobile phone. That compares to developed markets where there are more mobile phones than people. India’s government, meanwhile, offered all possible help to enable Bharti to carry out the acquisition. “It’s not the company alone but they’re our flagbearers. We’ll do the utmost we can,” India’s Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in televised remarks. —AFP
22
BUSINESS
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Telecom firm offers a bundle of activities in February
Wataniya dedicates special national song to Kuwait KUWAIT: Being always keen to reach beyond its customer’s expectations and in midst of a highly eventful month, Wataniya Telecom is ready to roll out its latest activities in the festive month in February 2010 ranging from media treats to sponsorships of national, athletic and business-oriented events. “Wataniya Telecom’s top priority is to keep our people on the go with our funfilled and momentous activities”, said Abdolaziz Al-Balool, PR Manager of Wataniya Telecom. Al-Balool describes February as “The most important time of the year” in Kuwait; adding that “It marks our two utmost important national days along with the festive season of Hala February. Keeping in mind the occasions and our goal to constantly contribute to the society, Wataniya has a fun-filled calendar ready to be rolled out to meet our customer’s expectations.” In a starting note, Wataniya Telecom in the spirit of nationalism shall mark its footprints during the month of Hala February by producing a video clip for the National and Liberation day which will be aired on various national channels. In line with entertainment related activities, Wataniya shall also produce a CD consisting of songs tailored specifically for the month of Hala Feb to be distributed to customers in the month of
Abdolaziz Manager Telecom.
Al-Balool, PR of Wataniya
Feb! Wataniya Telecom in cooperation with Ericsson, will be honoring their strategic partnership with Kuwait’s media by conducting a lavish media for selected media personnel to the GSM World Conference in Barcelona. Enjoying a prolific partnership with Ericsson, Wataniya Telecom’s prime
objective behind the media treat is to give media an insight on latest technologies in Telecom and IT industries. Accordingly, Wataniya Telecom strives to maintain its relationship with the media not only in business terms but also considers them as their ally in Wataniya’s mission to provide Kuwait with the best possible communication services. Following the media treat is the sponsorship of Watan Annahar an annual national event held in London, UK which gathers all Kuwaiti students for the celebration of its national and liberation day. The event is an attempt to be a part of and promote the sense of nationalism and pride amongst the youth of Kuwait living abroad. With this sponsorship, Wataniya strives to strengthen its role of social responsibility and prove its constant efforts to provide the best for its people in and out the country. Further to sponsorships, Wataniya Telecom will continue reinforcing its support in the sports sector while encouraging the athletic spirit of students in Kuwait by sponsoring an exciting football tournament for French schools in mid February. Wataniya shall be hosting the top three foreign schools in Kuwait: British Academy School (BAS), Lycee Francaise de Koweit (LFK) and American International School (AIS). Aligned with the same goal of advanc-
ing athleticism and promoting a healthier Kuwait, Wataniya Telecom will further sponsor the Etihad Al Shabab Marathon which will take place at the Arabian Gulf Road where the winners will be awarded with prizes and gifts from Wataniya. In addition to sponsoring sport activities, Wataniya Telecom will also be present to show their appreciation and support to the much awaited Equestrian National Open Tournament towards end of February to which it enjoys exclusive sponsorship. On a continuous note to sponsorships, Wataniya will be sponsoring the Qadha o Qdoo exhibition that focuses on the evolvement of Kuwaiti youth’s vision of business and trading and their ability to manage business and projects. The sponsorship of this exhibition stems from the belief that Wataniya Telecom is proud of its younger generation and believes in their capabilities and hence will always be ahead in supporting them in every possible way. Al-Balool concluded, “Wataniya’s diversity during February comes from our constant approach to fulfill our customer’s expectations and needs while make their journey with us a memorable one. We promise our customers more exciting services that are yet to come, as we have just started to demonstrate when we state that, “it’s just got started”.
Diyafa Holdings signs agreement with corporate executive offices MANAMA: Global Banking Corporation BSC (GBCORP), through its subsidiary, Diyafa Holdings Company WLL launched operations of Global Executive Offices [GEO] the new, premium serviced-offices provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain achieving the unique distinction of having 100% occupancy upon launch. GEO is the first initiative of Diyafa in the hospitality sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain benefiting from the strategic partnership agreement with Corporate Executive Offices [CEO], an Australian leading provider of quality serviced offices. GEO offices are located on the fifth floor of the GBCORP Tower, in the Bahrain Financial Harbour. GEO’s impressive client list already includes international law firms, consultancy companies and other international and GCC corporations. The exclusively appointed offices are elegantly designed, with a unique luxurious hospitality ambience, blending professionalism with comfort and high quality services. Companies renting office space take advantage of a complete range of support services, including high speed broadband, video conferencing, dedicated receptionist, concierge service, travel agent, driver, mail handling, photocopying, binding, courier services, secretarial services, conference and meeting facilities. GEO offers great flexibility in set up and operations, with no confusing commercial lease agreements, minimal start
Global executive offices launched in Bahrain up costs, no costly overheads and no time consuming formalities. In addition, GEO provides legal and regulatory services, offering companies the benefit of expert legal opinion and advice on adherence to regulatory requirements to facilitate a smooth and simple establishment of operations. Given the current financial climate, many companies are shelving plans to purchase office space in favour of the more economical and hassle free option of
renting serviced offices. According to, Ahmed Al Khan, Chairman of Diyafa Holdings: “Flexibility is key in the present economic scenario. Global Executive Offices offers businesses the prospect of opening satellite offices, with no upfront capital expenditure. For startups in particular, serviced offices are a cost-effective and uncomplicated solution. It is a low-risk arrangement with immediate functionalities.”
MANAMA: Jenny Folley, Managing Director of CEO, Ahmed Al Khan, Chairman of Diyafa and J Michael Sayers, Chairman of CEO.
Commenting on the agreement between Diyafa Holdings and CEO, Al Khan, added: “Our agreement with Corporate Executive Offices allows Global Executive Offices to draw from the wealth of experience that Corporate Executive Offices has brought to the partnership, to enable us to offer high quality professional services, within the dynamic, economic environment of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Clients of Global Executive Offices will enjoy a superb combination of premium location, supported by a full suite of business facilities. The serviced offices are packaged to boost a company’s visibility and corporate identity, within the country and the region.” Ms Jenny Folley, Managing Director of CEO in Australia, said that the partnership with Diyafa Holdings has enabled CEO to provide superior services with greater geographic reach. “Corporate Executive Offices is known internationally for premium locations, quality service and attention to detail. With more than 20 years’ experience in the serviced office industry, Corporate Executive Offices has a reputation for excellence. Businesses today have to seek property solutions that provide a lot more options in terms of space and length of occupancy,” she added. Diyafa Holdings will have an international access to the CEO network and services in over 700 exclusive locations worldwide through this agreement.
The Sony Gulf MD Osamu Miura (extreme right) and E-Vision CEO Humaid Rashid Sahoo (centre) at the launch of Sony 3D range
Sony heralds era of 3D entertainment in 2010 DUBAI: Sony yesterday announced plans to accelerate initiatives to deliver an array of 3D entertainment to the home in 2010, leveraging all its diverse business assets to create a 3D world encompassing electronics and games to movie content. Sony also showcased the first of its ground-breaking line up of 3D entertainment products for the home at a press conference in Dubai. Addressing the media, Hiroyasu Sugiyama, General Manager, 3D Strategy Office, Sony Corporation, Japan, said: “Today, we have brought the latest 3D experience for you to enjoy. For Sony, 3D is strategically very important, and we are committed to lead the 3D industry. “In the 3D space, Sony is very uniquely positioned compared to other consumer electronics makers because we are not only going to sell 3D compatible consumer hardware but also ensure there is affluent variety of 3D content that consumers can enjoy.” Sony is introducing the following 3D compatible consumer electronics products within this
year, enabling users to enjoy an array of immersive 3D content in the home: • 3D compatible “BRAVIA” LCD TVs, “Blu-ray 3D(tm)” compatible Blu-ray Disc?players, and “Blu-ray 3D” compatible home theatre systems. • 3D compatible VAIO PCs and 3D compatible digital still cameras. • For PlayStation(r)3, the global installed base of which is approximately 30 million units with more than half a million units in the Middle East, Sony will provide firmware updates making PlayStation(r)3 units compatible with 3D stereoscopic games. And with a separate firmware update, they will also become compatible with “Blu-ray 3D” discs. In the Middle East, cable television service providers such as E-vision, ORBIT SHOWTIME and broadcasters such as Al Jazeera are upgrading their bouquet to provide the latest in entertainment technology and are in active discussion with companies to bring 3D to Middle Eastern homes in 2010. Speaking at the press confer-
ence, Osamu Miura, Managing Director, Sony Gulf, said: “Clearly, 3D has already captured the imagination of filmmakers, content creators and broadcasters. Sony is moving to bring that magic directly into consumers’ homes with movies, games, and sporting events, all in 3D, in 2010. “Today, 3D is the next generation of home entertainment and, with our technological leadership, we stand at the forefront of 3D technology.” Sony’s range of professional 3D products is also driving the growth of 3D production and distribution across a range of entertainment industries, from theatre and music performances to sport and beyond. Andy Hotten, Senior Product Manager, Sony Professional Solutions, Europe, said: “At Sony, we not only have the products to bring 3D to the home we also have a complete line up of professional products suitable for production of high quality 3D content for both movie makers and broadcasters. We are hence able to offer a complete Sony solution from the lens to the living room.”
Beiersdorf Mideast posts excellent 2009 results KUWAIT: In a year when many companies have faced serious difficulties, Beiersdorf Middle East, brand owners of the renowned NIVEA brand, has posted another excellent year in the region. Commenting on the results, Robert TaylorHughes, Managing Director and CEO of the Middle East, West Asian and North African Markets said: “A recession is all about lack of consumer confidence; therefore it’s important to have brands that consumers trust and offer good value for money. Similarly, if you can’t afford large luxuries, then smaller luxuries experienced more often can bring back the feel-good factor to the consumer. It is also important to keep innovating during difficult times. If you can offer more consumer benefits driven by science and technology, for a similar outlay, then you can win important market share and this is the key: Top-line sales during times of de-growth and stagnation must be replaced with stronger market positions and growth in profit; these were our main objectives for 2009.” He continued: “In order to accurately measure our growth in 2009 we need to look at figures
including and excluding KSA, as we did not renew our local agency agreement in Saudi Arabia this year in favour of setting up new operations in 2010 with a planned improvement in service and coverage. This effectively reduced our sales volumes in KSA by approximately 40%. It is also prudent to look at currency shifts as Euro-Dollar Forex rates have been very volatile during the year and 98% of our assortment is produced and sourced from Europe, therefore currency hedging was necessary.” “The Cosmetics & Toiletries markets in our regions contracted from double digit growth in 2008 to around 4% in 2009. Excluding KSA, we grew at 12%, achieving 3 x the market rate. Even if we include KSA our net sales still grew by 5.6% and 11.5% if we exclude currency effects. This is a tremendous result considering all the extraneous factors affecting business in our regions. Key highlights from the region include Jordan with +36% growth, Egypt +33%, Lebanon & Iraq + 23%, and most of our other thirteen markets witnessing double digit growth”.
EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds
.2830000 .4510000 .3930000 .2670000 .2730000 .2570000 .0045000 .0020000 .0781130 .7610300 .4020000 .0750000 .7460570 .0045000 .0500000
US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso
CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2872500 .4531430 .3957000 .2695620 .2750480 .0531580 .0400390 .2588840 .0369700 .2047320 .0031800 .0062780 .0025190 .0033990 .0042080 .0782460 .7623220 .4062500 .0766390 .7464770 .0062780
US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals
TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2898500 .4548470 .2696150 .0772620
.2930000 .4600000 .4000000 .2750000 .2810000 .2640000 .0075000 .0035000 .0788980 .7686780 .4180000 .0790000 .7535550 .0072000 .0580000
277.600 191.900 271.830 259.900 286.000 ASIAN COUNTRIES
Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash
3.217 6.266 3.393 2.520 3.933 206.300 37.170 4.173 6.272 8.711 0.301 0.292 ARAB COUNTRIES
.2893500 .4563440 .3984940 .2714710 .2769960 .0535350 .0403230 .2607120 .0372320 .2061820 .0032020 .0063220 .0025370 .0034230 .0042380 .0787450 .7671830 .4091270 .0771280 .7512370 .0063220
Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham
56.250 52.674 1.361 210.500 407.700 195.000 6.311 35.890 GCC COUNTRIES
Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham
76.990 79.320 750.000 766.710 78.624 GOLD
20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram
216.000 112.000 58.000
Bahrain Exchange Company
Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer Euro Sterling Pound
Canadian dollar Turkish lire Swiss Franc Australian dollar US Dollar Buying
288.550 398.500 457.400
COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash
SELL CASH 263.500 767.190 4.450 279.800 566.500 15.800 53.700 167.800 56.180 401.500
SELL DRAFT 262.000 767.190 4.172 278.300
207.000 52.614 400.000
Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal
37.830 6.590 0.034 0.291 0.259 3.290 409.370 0.195 87.570 37.100 4.250 206.800 2.183 50.000 749.390 3.490 6.400 79.790 77.030 206.960 40.190 2.771 459.500 40.700 274.500 6.400 9.080 217.900 78.720 268.900 1.400
37.680 6.270
407.780 0.194 87.570 3.940 205.300
273.000 8.880 78.720 288.500
1,212.750
Sterling Pound US Dollar
Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Rate per 1000 (Tran)
US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 457.500 288.500
288.550 3.410 6.280 2.530 4.175 6.305 78.545 77.115 766.700 52.565 460.500 0.0000312 3.900 1.550 409.600 5.750 402.900 283.400
Al Mulla Exchange Currency
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees
2.520 4.180 6.260 3.215 8.700 5.562 3.908
Currency 749.210 3.410 6.280 79.360 77.030 206.960 40.190 2.518 457.500
GOLD 10 Tola
Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees
288.900 280.030 458.905 399.435 268.630 708.110 766.105 78.635 79.275 77.070 407.675 52.675 6.255 3.405
US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal
*Rates are subject to change
Transfer rate 288.300 399.850 457.350 278.150 3.225 6.268 52.645 2.520 4.168 6.270 3.400 767.000 78.675 77.000
BUSINESS
Thursday, February 18, 2010
23
Mobile commerce service takes GSMA top prize BARCELON: Zain, the leading mobile network operator in the Middle East and Africa, has won the inaugural GSMA’s 2010 ‘Mobile Money for the Unbanked Service’ award for ‘Zap’, its mobile commerce service. The announcement was made at the Global Mobile Awards, the industry’s leading annual prize ceremony, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Mobile Money for the Unbanked Service is a new award, established to recognize innovative mobile banking around the world that pioneers the roll out of low-cost financial services to millions of people, in countries where traditional financial services are either not within easy reach or unavailable. It is aligned to the GSMA’s Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) initiative, which was created to connect the unconnected and improve the social, econom-
ic and environmental well-being of the world’s population living on less than $2 a day by supporting and encouraging the development of sustainable mobile money solutions. Zap, which was launched exactly one year ago on February 16, 2009, in partnership with leading international and regional banks, provides the most comprehensive and accessible package of m-commerce features currently available anywhere in the world. With more that 12 million customers already fully-enabled for the service across seven African nations, ‘Zap’ is the biggest Mobile Commerce service in the world in terms of geographical coverage, enabled customers and service functionalities. It is currently accessible to approximately 200 million potential customers in Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana, where over
80% of them are ‘unbanked’, with little or no access to financial services. Zain has plans to roll-out the service in all its operations. “This is yet another indication that Zain is at the cutting edge of technological development,” said Zain Africa CEO, Chris Gabriel. “Not only are we pushing the boundaries of where the mobile phone can take us, we are showing that we can improve lives and make sustainable economic contributions in the countries where we operate. Time and again Zain is showing that when it promises ‘A wonderful world’, it is more than a slogan.” Zap provides customers with a virtual mobile wallet, which allows them to use their mobile phone in much the same way as a bank account debit card, managing their money through their handset. It provides customers with increased security and flex-
Zain on money with ‘Zap’
ibility, reducing the need to carry cash and ensuring payments between friends and family from around the world remain secure. Customers also benefit from being able to access the service 24/7 through their handset, allowing them access to their money anytime, anywhere. The service is supported on all handsets, including the ultra-low-cost handsets (ULCH) which Zain is successfully rolling out across the continent. As one prominent African media group wrote recently, “the popularity and appeal of Zap transcends its current and intended geographical coverage as it is specially created to improve the social, economic and environmental security of Africans”. On awarding the prize, the judging panel, said, “Once again, Zain has shown that it can shake up the system with its vision of bringing essential services to
people who really need them. Zain changed Africa by bringing the mobile phone to the masses; it ignored borders by creating “One Network’ and now, with Zap, it has made transferring money less fraught with risk, in a very dynamic way.” The judging panel also noted the distinctiveness of Zap as it is compatible with Zain’s award winning ‘One Network’ platform, which allows all Zap customers to move freely across geographical borders and be treated as a local customer in any of the 22 ‘One Network’ countries in terms of pricing. Furthermore, they retain home network service functionalities; they can access their Zap accounts, send/receive money and pay for goods and service exactly the same way as they can at home. The judges also praised the multi-language capabilities of the Zap service.
KAMCO Research —Monthly Oil & Money Market
Kuwait’s money supply growth slows marginally KUWAIT: Following the upward trend seen over the last three consecutive months, Kuwait’s broad measure of money supply (M2) recorded a decline of KD 96 million compared to last month to stand at KD 24.9 billion at the end of December-09. The decline in M2 during the month was mainly triggered by the monthly decrease in KD sight deposits of KD 257 million which in turn
World Debut in Beijing: Panamera and Panamera 4 Efficient, light and fast with six-cylinder power units DUBAI: Following the successful introduction of the Panamera, Dr Ing h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is rapidly expanding the range of models available: Starting in May 2010, both the Panamera and the Panamera 4 will be available at the dealership as the new entry-level versions of Porsche’s Gran Turismo model series. Both models are powered by a brand-new 3.6litre V6 featuring Direct Fuel Injection and developing maximum output of 300 bhp (220 kW) plus peak torque of 400 Nm/295 lb-ft. The Panamera transmits its power to the road via the rear wheels, while the Panamera 4 comes as standard with active all-wheel drive. The two new versions of Porsche’s Gran Turismo are convincing examples of the “Porsche Intelligent Performance” consistent development strategy. Equipped with PDK PorscheDoppelkupplungsgetriebe (Porsche Double-Clutch Gearbox) and Auto Start Stop, both models consume far less than 10 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in the New European Driving Cycle: The Panamera makes do with a mere 9.3 litres/100 kilometres, the Panamera 4 averages 9.6 litres/100 kilometres. Nineteen-inch wheels with optimised roll resistance available as an option (standard on Panamera 4 for Middle East) reduce these consumption figures by another 0.2 litres/100 kilometres, giving the Panamera a CO2 rating of just 213 g/km, the Panamera 4 an equally impressive 220 g/km. Both V6 versions of the Panamera fulfil the strict EU5 emission standard in Europe and the LEV standard in the United States. Superior economy and performance typical of the brand do not rule out each other on these new V6 Gran Turismos. On the contrary - the ideal combination of these qualities is attributable to consistent lightweight construction as one particular highlight, with the axles, doors, engine compartment lid, wings and the rear lid all made either of aluminium or a combination of aluminium and magnesium. At the
same time the brand-new V6 power unit built at Porsche’s engine plant in Zuffenhausen and boasting a 90o cylinder angle is approximately 30 kg lighter than the eight-cylinder featured in the Panamera S and 4S, thus contributing to the low overall weight of the Panamera of just 1,730 kg. Like the proven V8 models, both the Panamera and the Panamera 4, as genuine Gran Turismo, combine sporting character with a high standard of comfort and everyday driving qualities. Apart from the regular steel suspension available as an option with variable dampers, adaptive air suspension with additional air volume is also available on request. This provides a very wide range of suspension qualities and features extending from an even higher level of motoring comfort at one end all the way to extremely sporting driving dynamics at the other. The Panamera and Panamera 4 will be making their world debut at the Beijing Motor Show on the 23rd of April 2010. The Panamera model will be available for order in the Middle East as of February 2010 with deliveries starting in May 2010. Starting price in the GCC is $ 99,794. The arrival of Panamera 4 can be expected at the same time. The basic retail for this model in the GCC is $ 105,910.
Jet Airways announces new daily non-stop service to South Africa MUBAI: Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, yesterday announced that it will commence daily non-stop flights from Mumbai to Johannesburg from April 14, 2010. The airline will introduce services to the Rainbow Nation using a new state-ofthe-art Airbus 330-200 aircraft. The launch of this new international route marks the first time that Jet Airways is adding destinations to Africa on its international route network. Flight 9W 242 will depart Mumbai at 0205 hours, arriving in Johannesburg at 0735 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 241 will depart Johannesburg at 1100 hrs, arriving in Mumbai at 2330 hrs. According to Nikos Kardassis, CEO, Jet Airways, “Jet Airways is delighted to enter Africa with its daily Mumbai-Johannesburg service. South Africa’s reputation as a leading tourist and business destination and the fact that it will play host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup also
presents a huge opportunity for Jet Airways. We are confident that our airline will soon emerge as one of the first choice carriers on this popular route given our unparalleled domestic network in India and ever expanding international footprint. South Africa, as indeed the African region is an important market for us and we are confident of capturing and growing the market”. “Given the strong linkages between India and South Africa, and the large number of people of Indian origin living in and/or working in South Africa, we believe that there is untapped potential and this new route promises to serve the needs of our discerning corporate and leisure flyers”, added Kardassis. A truly diverse rainbow nation with 11 official languages, South Africa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. From the deserts of the Kgalagadi to the lush green forests of Tsitsikamma to the unspoilt beaches of the wild coast to the vibrant nightlife of Cape
Town, the country has something for every traveler. It is also emerging as one of the leading business tourism and conference destinations in the world, and ranked 18thon the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Index as an attractive foreign investment destination. Configured in two classes, with 30 seats in PremiËre (Business Class) and 190 seats in Economy, the spacious fulllength wide-bodied twin aisle cabin of the A330-200 will truly make for a more pleasurable flying experience. The airline’s PremiËre guests will enjoy a 180 degree flat bed with lumbar support and massage systems, oversized table, laptop power, telephony, SMS, Email and live text news to deliver a flying office, state-ofthe-art On-Demand Panasonic In-Flight Entertainment (IFE), as well as the finest in-flight dining and service, among other amenities. Return Economy fares from various Indian cities start from INR 35,595 while return Premiere (Business Class) fares start from INR 1,16,020.
During the full year 2009, M2 rose by 13.42% or KD 2.95 billion fuelled by the 14.80% growth in quasi money, equivalent to an increase of KD 2.60 billion, which is mainly constituted of foreign currency deposits and savings and time deposits. This increase was mainly as a result of the risk aversion preference by most investors who primarily considered divesting large portion of their portfolios to avoid any further losses driven by the unsteadiness in the local and regional stock markets. Since the intensification of the financial crisis in September-08, M2 surged by a significant 20.7% or KD 4.28 billion, out of which KD 1.33 billion was added during the last four months of 2008. Credit facilities Credit facilities extended by local banks to residents recorded a marginal drop of 0.2% or KD 49.7 million compared to Nov-09, to reach KD 25.1 billion at 31-Dec-09. On a yearly basis, credit facilities witnessed a slight upward movement in 2009, with yearly growth of 6.60%, much lower than the 16.9% growth recorded during full year 2008. The marginal growth in credit facilities during FY-09 was mainly in tandem with liquidity squeeze in the market, tightening credit conditions and deterioration in the prices of financial assets which together pushed banks to implement a conservative and strict lending policies in extending additional facilities to local investors especially with the lack of viable investment opportunities in the real economic sectors and the real estate market coupled with the instability in the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Credit’s key component, personal facilities reversed the last two months’ upward movement to drop by a marginal 0.2% and reach KD 8.39 billion at the end of December-09 and hence recording a yearly growth of 6.63%. Credit facilities for the purchase of securities accounted for 33.7% of personal facilities and recorded around KD 2.83 billion, down by KD 45.7 million compared to last month. Such an exposure to the stock market exposes banks to the risk of rising doubtful debts and thereby loan loss provision will elevate and adversely impact the profitability of the banking
was partially offset by a growth of KD 214 million or 1.1% in Quasi money which recorded KD 20.18 billion at the end of the year 2009. Furthermore, Net Domestic Assets (NDA) during the month dropped by KD 71.2 million on the back of the decrease in claims on private sector, while Net Foreign Assets (NFA) saw a marginal decrease of around KD 24.5 million.
Trend in Money Supply since Dec-08
Change in Loans extended by banks across different sectors in the economy
A report prepared by KAMCO Research that sheds light on the latest trends and developments in the money market in Kuwait, interest rates movement along with an analysis of banks deposit base and credit facilities extended by the Kuwaiti banks to different economic sectors. sector as was evident in drop reported in profits for the 9M-09 period compared to 9M-08. Loans to real estate Loans to Real Estate sector, the second major component of credit facilities, maintained its upward movement and went up by around KD 36 million, to reach KWD 6.60 billion, accounting for around 26.28% of aggregate credit facilities. The global financial turmoil has adversely affected Kuwait’s financial system, with slowdown in credit growth, weakening economy, and rising non-performing loans with banks. Kuwaiti Banks’ exposure to the real estate sector and construction, representing 32.78% of their loan portfolio as of December 2009, might be one of the highest levels in the Gulf region. The widespread lending secured against assets namely real estate or properties, as opposed to cash flow, suggests the fact that any significant fluctuation and downturn in proper-
ty and land prices constitutes a major threat to the quality of secured lending extended by banks. Loans extended to Non-bank financial institutions continued the overall downward trend since the beginning of the year and recorded a drop of 1.71% or KD 50.3 million, to reach KD 2.9 billion. The first half of the year saw a decline of KD 117 million, or 4.1% on the back of the high risk in the market and the strict lending policies following the severe illiquidity and insolvency issues faced by some major players in the financial services and investment sector in the midst of the intensification of the global financial turmoil; however, the second half of the year saw an increase KD 152 million, or 5.5% in loans to non-bank financial institutions due to the negotiations and restructuring of debts for some insolvent and financially troubled companies and the additional credit extended amid
some easing in the credit market. During 2009, credit to NonBank financial institutions recorded a growth of 1.21% compared to a significant growth of 18.8% or around KD 453 million during 2008. Interest rates During January 2010, the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) announced the issuance of KWD 60 million worth of one-year treasury bonds, with a coupon rate of 1.5%. Moreover, during full year 2009, CBK has issued treasury bonds for a total of KD 1.59 billion which represents a represents a way of creating investment opportunities for risk-averse banks that are reluctant to lend or invest amid the global financial turmoil and its implications on the financial sector and the local economy. The CBK has kept its discount rate unchanged during January-2010 at its previous
level of 3% on May-09, to keep room for further cut in case required; however, the CBK governor announced on 7-Feb2010 a 50 bps slash in discount rate to 2.5%. The cut in discount rate came as a stimulus to create a suitable climate for the growth of non-oil sectors of the national economy as, as announced by CBK Governor, especially at a time when all indicators pointed to a continued reduction in inflation. As well, CBK action is meant to build confidence in the local economy, boost economic growth, and encourage banks to resume lending activities. After reaching a high of 6.25% during July 2006 followed by a cut of 50 bps during January 2008, the CBK discount rate has been slashed continuously since the intensification of the global financial turmoil by a total of 275 bps.
King Power Alinghi seals Hublot’s association with Swiss Alinghi team Yesterday in Geneva, Hublot’s CEO Jean-Claude Biver, side by side with Ernesto Bertarelli, the president of Alinghi, unveiled the chronograph sporting the colours of the Swiss Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup. Swiss Made expertise was the toast of the hour yesterday evening on the shores of Lake Geneva, as the
exclusive, limited edition Hublot “King Power Alinghi” watch made its debut. The pride of the participants was swelled by immense motivation felt on all sides to defend the Swiss colours together in a few weeks’ time, when Alinghi and Oracle do battle on the water. The King Power Alinghi
echoes the expertise and precision of the Defender yacht built for the America’s Cup. New developments, cutting edge technology and materials, a focus on the excellence of resources and sharing the highest level of skills are qualities which link the two companies. Jean-Claude Biver hopes that the King Power will bring
the catamaran luck in this extraordinary challenge: “Alinghi already has an enormous range of skills and qualities, as well as the motivation to win, and we wish to demonstrate to them how proud we are to be their partner and to show them our support through this chronograph in the yacht’s colours!”.
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BUSINESS GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT
Profit-booking hits KSE
Zain extends gains on deal, KSE index falls MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) reversed its upward trend it has been witnessing since last week and ended in the red during yesterday’s session due to profit-taking on some stocks that have gained during this period. However, Zain continued to gain due to its deal to sell most of its African assets. GGI shed 1.05 points (-0.51 percent) during the session to reach 202.63 points. Furthermore, the KSE Price Index decreased by 74 points (-0.45 percent) and closed at 7,366.60 points. Market capitalization was down KD170.84mn to reach KD33.13bn. Market breadth During the session, 143 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 78 equities retreated versus 36 that advanced. A total of 93 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session. Trading activities ended on a mixed note as volume of shares traded on the exchange decreased by 3.60 percent to reach 703.63mn shares. However, value of shares traded increased by 21.88 percent to stand at KD167.68mn. The Services Sector was the volume and value leader, with 38.80 percent of total traded volume and 53.98 percent of total traded value. Al-Safwa Holding Group saw 93.76mn shares changing hands, making it the volume leader. Zain, on the other hand, was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD57.91mn. In terms of top gainers, Sanam Real Estate Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 8.16 percent and closed
Thursday, February 18, 2010
at KD0.106. On the other hand, Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company and Housing Finance Company both shed 8.20 percent, making them the biggest decliners in the market yesterday. Sector-wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they all ended on a negative note except for Global Services Index which was the only gainer. The index ended the day up 4.30 percent backed by heavyweight Zain ending the day with a 6.78 percent gain and closed at KD1.260. In addition to Zain, heavyweight Agility also ended in the green by posting a 7.94 percent
increase. Regarding the decliners, Global Food Index ended the day with a 3.48 percent decline making it the biggest loser in the market. Aiding the index’s loss was heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) which ended the day down 4.44 percent and closed at KD1.720, making it the biggest loser in the sector. It is worth to mention that Americana announced that their FY2009 annual results stood at KD36.28mn compared with KD35.22mn for the previous period. The company’s board of directors have recommended to distribute 60 percent cash dividends which
awaits approval from the AGM. Global Banking Index was the second biggest decliner in the market, with a 3.28 percent drop. Heavyweights National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House, the biggest decliners in the sector, ended the day down 4.69 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Global’s special indices ended on a mixed note with Global Large Cap Index being the only gainer. The index ended the day up a marginal 0.01 percent backed by Zain. On the other hand, Global Islamic Index shed 2.67 percent making it the biggest loser backed by two Islamic banks ending in the red.
Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $73.06 a barrel on Tuesday 16/2/2010, compared with $71.72 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. Arab Insurance Group (ARIG) board of directors made a proposal for distributing cash dividends for FY ended on 31/12/2009 at 6.25 percent of par value, or 18 fils per share, to shareholders of record on their general meeting date. The recommendation is pending the approval of shareholder meeting and competent authorities. The distributions will be financed from FY09 earnings.
DUBAI: Kuwait’s Zain extended gains yesterday ahead of its $9 billion asset sale, but the country’s index made its biggest decline for three weeks as investors cashed in recent gains. Dubai’s bourse rose for a second day, but volumes slumped to an 11-week low as uncertainty over the emirate’s debts deterred traders, while likely dividends drew buyers to Oman and Abu Dhabi, and the Saudi market hit a new 16-week high. Zain climbed 6.8 percent to its highest close since Oct. 26, rising for a second day since saying it was in talks with Bharti Telecom to sell some of its African operations. “Zain’s deal is good - the company, shareholders and banks will all benefit,” said Naser Al-Nafisi, general manager for Al Joman Center for Economic Consultancy in Kuwait. Zain’s likely deal lifted bank stocks earlier this week, with investors subsequently cashing in. National Bank of Kuwait dropped 4.7 percent and Kuwait Finance House lost 5 percent. The index fell 1 percent, its biggest fall since Jan. 27 and ending an 11-session winning streak. It is up 5.2 percent this year. “Our outlook is for Kuwait to gain 10 percent this year, so the market can do more, but not that much,” Nafisi added. Banks helped the Saudi index rise 0.5 percent to its highest close since Oct 28. SABB climbed 2.4 percent and Samba Financial Group
added 1.8 percent. “Banks should outperform in 2010,” said Youssef Kassantini, an independent financial analyst. “Most of them took big provisions last year, so they should have cleared all their losses from non-performing loans and this should convert into bigger profits this year.” Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) climbed 3.1 percent, hitting a 16-week closing high. “Etisalat has been performing extremely well and it’s a pure dividend play,” said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president and chief trader at Gulfmena Alternative Investments. “Etisalat is a safe haven and so if investors don’t want volatility they head towards the more stable telecoms and cement sectors, which also offer good dividend yields.” UAE investors are placing increasing importance on dividends with markets in retreat since Dubai World’s November debt standstill request. Dubai rose 0.4 percent to leave it down 2.8 percent this week. “Going forward, there will still be downward pressure as long as Dubai World overshadows the market,” added Shurrab. Oman’s benchmark claimed a fresh 18-week high on increasing demand from regional and foreign investors. “Dividend season is driving the market - most results are out and asset managers and Gulf investors are continuously buying,” said Adel Nasr, United Securities brokerage manager.
“There’s huge cash flow coming in, with foreign investors and fund managers targeting Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar because these three economies have proved the most stable in the region and the least affected by the global financial crisis or Dubai World.” Egypt’s index fell 1.3 percent, with Orascom Telecom dropping 7.3 percent after Algerian sources said the government wants it to leave. HIGHLIGHTS KUWAIT The index fell 1 percent to 7,367 points. DUBAI The index rose 0.4 percent to 1,628 points. ABU DHABI The benchmark climbed 1.1 percent to 2,759 points. SAUDI ARABIA The index rose 0.5 percent to 6,411 points. EGYPT The index fell 1.3 percent to 6,973 points. OMAN The index climbed 0.6 percent to 6,741 points. QATAR The measure slipped 0.1 percent to 6,908 points. BAHRAIN The index rose 0.1 percent to 1,504 points. — Reuters
BUSINESS
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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India inflation a worry; may touch 10% by March NEW DELHI: India’s high food prices have started to ease and will dip further next month, the farm minister said, while the finance minister is still worried about inflation amid signs that the headline number may hit 10 percent by March. Despite a string of government efforts to ease concerns, rising prices are posing a big challenge for the Congress-led government, particularly high food prices, and they may prompt the central bank to raise interest rates even before April. The government last month ordered the
sale of stocked grain and extended duty-free sugar imports by nine months. Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said prices would start coming down in the next seven to 10 days. But progress is slow, especially for millions of poor urban voters that helped re-elect the Congress party to power last year. Dealing with this pain at the grassroots could overshadow government efforts to cut spending and the fiscal gap in the Feb 26 budget. Food prices rose an annual 17.4 percent in January, easing slightly
from a rise of 19.2 percent in December. But India’s headline inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in 14 months in January, rising an annual 8.56 percent- above the central bank’s revised end-March inflation forecast of 8.5 percent. “That is a matter of concern no doubt and I am afraid that an 8.56percent rise in WPI (wholesale price index) is disturbing,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said. “We have taken on the supply side adequate measures which will take some time to have the depressing
impact on the rising prices of essential commodities.” Pawar, however, said food prices have started falling and will dip further next month. Pawar also said India’s wheat harvest would exceed last year’s record 80.6 million tons and the government will not restrain large sugar firms from buying sugar from the domestic market. Even as the government remains hopeful of a moderation in rising prices, analysts expect headline inflation could speed to double-digits
by March on a rise in manufacturing prices. “We expect core inflationary pressures to rise further because input costs have surged much faster than output prices. We expect inflation to rise to double-digits by March,” Sonal Verma, economist at Nomura said in a note. On Tuesday, India’s chief statistician Pronab Sen told Reuters that headline inflation could top 10 percent by the end of March. Rising food prices have sparked opposition-led street protests and could distract the government from
pushing reforms. A government panel has advised eliminating price controls for gasoline and diesel and an income-linked rise in kerosene and cooking gas prices. The government is dithering. Freeing up fuel costs may boost broader inflation, and food prices. A relentless build-up in price pressure is also putting pressure on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to take sterner measures like raising rates ahead of its April policy review. The RBI is widely expected to
raise borrowing rates at its April review after surprising markets with a bigger-than-expected rise in banks’ cash reserve requirements in January. Pranab Mukherjee also said economic growth in the fiscal year 2010/11 (April-March) could top 8 percent, following a growth at around 7.5 percent in the current fiscal year ending March. The government officials have forecast the economic growth in the current year in the range of 7-8 percent. —Reuters
Beijing may cut back on huge US treasury bonds
China flexing financial muscle amid US tensions WASHINGTON: China may be flexing its financial muscle by cutting back on its massive holding of US Treasury bonds as tensions rise between the two powers on multiple fronts, some analysts say. China slashed its bond holding
NEW DELHI: Indian customers buy vegetables at a wholesale market in New Delhi yesterday. India’s inflation has jumped to its highest level in more than a year due to soaring food prices, data showed, raising pressure to unwind stimulus measures that spurred economic recovery. —AFP
Bank reform may have $220bn capital hit LONDON: Top banks will need an extra $221 billion of capital and see annual profits slump by $110 billion if all proposed regulations to reform the industry are brought in, leading analysts said yesterday. If all the initiatives from regulators are implemented it would cut the average return on equity to 5.4 percent from 13.3 percent next year, hurt economic growth and raise costs for bank services, JPMorgan analysts warned. “The cumulative impact of all the proposed regulation suggests that there is a real risk that we may move from a system that was under regulated to one that is over regulated and that that could cause a significant increase in lending costs and a negative impact on the economy,” Nick O’Donohue, head of research at JPMorgan, said in a research note. The capital needs of banks would be $221 billion higher in the extreme event that all the reforms were brought in. British banks alone would need $91 billion, other European banks would need $86 billion and
US banks would need $44 billion, JPMorgan estimated. The most impacted banks could be Britain’s part-nationalized Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, it said. Pretax profits among the global banks would be cut by $110 billion. Net income in 2011 would more than halve to $74 billion, JPMorgan forecast. G20 countries had been coordinating efforts to create a strong banking landscape, but the United States and other countries have also put forward separate proposals. Among the plans are increasing capital and liquidity requirements; the possible separation of retail and investment banking activities; caps on size and potential levies on systemically important institutions. Banks could end up passing the cost on to customers through higher prices. “In order to return to similar levels of profitability as per current forecasts, we estimate that pricing on all products (retail banking, commercial banking and investment banking) would have to go up by 33 percent,” O’Donohoe said. —Reuters
PARIS: French food giant Danone Chief Executive Franck Riboud poses prior to the start of a press conference to present the 2009 results in Paris. Danone assumes it will continue to face a challenging financial, economic and social environment in 2010, with continued difficult consumption trends in western economies. —AFP
UK jobless claimant count jumps to highest since 1997 LONDON: The number of Britons claiming jobless benefit jumped unexpectedly in January and at its fastest rate in 6 months, raising fears that an improvement at the end of last year may have been little more than a blip. Figures from the Office for National Statistics yesterday showed claimant count unemployment rose by 23,500 last month, the biggest rise since last July. The rise wiped out the declines seen in the previous two months and took the total number of claimants to its highest since 1997, when the ruling Labor party came to power. Economists had been expecting claimant count unemployment to fall for a third consecu-
tive month, by around 10,000. “The standout figure is the increase in the claimant count, which calls into question the hypothesis that unemployment is falling,” said Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec. There was better news on the internationally comparable ILO jobless measure, which includes people out of work and not claiming benefit. Unemployment on this broader measure fell by 3,000 in the three months to December to 2.457 million, its lowest since April-June 2009. The ILO jobless rate was steady at 7.8 percent of the workforce, well below the rate of 9.7 percent in the United States and 10 percent in the euro zone. With a national election due
by June, the Labor party is counting on an economic recovery to overturn a large opinion poll lead for the opposition Conservatives. But analysts said any recovery was likely to be sluggish and yesterday’s labor market report fitted in with that, particularly since whichever party is in government after the election will have to tighten fiscal policy sharply to rein in a bulging budget deficit. Britain’s economy expanded by just 0.1 percent in the final quarter of last year after an 18month long recession that wiped out six percent of economic output. “The fact that the claimant count was falling in recent months was the huge surprise,” said Ross Walker, an economist at RBS. —Reuters
It was also the biggest drop in Chinese bond holdings since August 2000 and allowed Japan to regain its position as the top holder of American government debt after a 15-month hiatus. Japan’s holding increased to $768.8 billion in December from $757.3 billion the previous month, said the Treasury’s latest international capital data report. The decline in the Chinese holding came amid deteriorating relations with the United States amid problems in several areas, and after Beijing expressed concern about the ballooning US fiscal deficit. Some analysts believe Beijing may be flexing its financial leverage on US President Barack Obama’s administration. “The last few months of net sales of US Treasuries by China might also contain a subtle economic and political message to the US,” Eswar Prasad, a trade policy professor at Cornell University and former head of the International Monetary Fund’s China division, told AFP. “Chinese leaders are deploying their reserves to try and pressure the US to stop haranguing China about its currency and trade policies and to back off from interference in its domestic political and human rights issues,” he said. In the latest US-China dispute, President Barack Obama’s administration rebuffed Beijing’s demand to cancel his meeting this week with the Dalai Lama. The deepening public spat over Tibet, a row over US arms sales to Taiwan, China’s dispute with Google and trade and currency disagreements, come at a key diplomatic moment, as Obama seeks Chinese help to toughen sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. “While China may reduce its holdings of US debt in order to send a signal to Washingtonthough this is not necessarily the only reason it would do soit has no intention of selling debt to the point that it wrecks the US economic recovery, since doing so would destroy China’s own economic and socio-political stability,” analysts at US think tank Stratfor said in a note to clients. China is highly dependent on US export markets and invests the bulk of its nearly 2.4 trillion dollars in foreign exchange reserves in US bonds. The United States receives a large volume of low-cost imports from China while Beijing’s Treasury bond holding virtually finances the snowballing US budget and current account deficits. Nicholas Lardy, a China expert at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, told AFP that the December drop in China’s Treasury bond holdings was “very small” and one should not read too much into it. Beijing also holds more than $400 billion in US agency debt such as those of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, effectively making its bond holding much larger, to about one trillion dollars, he pointed out. In addition, Lardy said, the Treasury data might not include securities held in “street names.” China has consistently raised concerns about the mushrooming US debt, fearing it could erode the value of the dollar and its Treasury holding. —Reuters
by $34.2 billion or 4.3 percent to $755.4 billion in December, fueling the biggest drop in the foreign purchase of short-term US bonds, according to Treasury data released Tuesday.
TOKYO: Pedestrians pass before a share prices board in Tokyo yesterday. Japanese shares closed up 2.72 percent, or 272.58 points, after US stocks soared overnight on the back of strong manufacturing data and easing concerns about Greece’s debt crisis. —AFP
EADS deal nears to save European military plane PARIS: Airbus parent EADS looked close yesterday to clinching a long-awaited deal with European governments to rescue the A400M military transporter plane, boosting its shares and easing fears over 10,000 jobs. As France and Germany piled pressure on the aerospace group to accept a package of international support to prevent a cost crisis overheating, a source familiar with the matter said EADS was ready to give broad backing after months of negotiations. An agreement in principle, lifting doubts over Europe’s largest defense project, should be firmed up this week, but some of the details need to be finalized, the source said. “It is 90 percent okay. The basics are there. It clarifies things a lot,” the source said, asking not to be identified because the talks remain confi-
dential. A second source with knowledge of the matter said EADS and buyers were still in talks, but characterized these as a “clarification” exercise rather than continued negotiations. Technical problems, delays and rampant overspending have pushed Europe’s ambitions to develop a home-grown transporter for strategic missions more than 5 billion euros into the red. Countries that ordered the troop plane-Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey-have offered 3.5 billion euros in mixed forms of funding support, which is 900 million euros less than EADS had been asking for. Germany said it expected a swift answer on the offer and that all sides were making efforts to resolve disagreements. France said there would be
no more money on the table after the new offer, which would leave EADS with A400M losses of 1.7 billion euros on top of 2.4 billion it has already written off. “This is an important step and we have reached the end of the line,” Defence Minister Herve Morin told Les Echos daily. An EADS spokesman said the offer was still being studied. Although EADS still faces a hefty loss on the deal, shares in the world’s second-largest aerospace group rose up to 6.4 percent as concerns faded that it would have to bear the entire 5.2 billion euro loss-or walk away at even greater cost. At 1140 GMT they were up 4.4 percent at 14.41 euros. The A400M heavy airlifter is designed to fill a gap between the veteran Lockheed Martin C130 Hercules and the larger jetpowered C-17 from Boeing, but has been plagued by problems in developing its powerful turbo-
MADRID: Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is seen after his speech in a plenary session at the Spanish Parliament in Madrid yesterday. Spain’s recession-plagued economy contracted 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. —AP
prop engines. Despite taking to the skies in a maiden test flight last December, it will not be ready for military or humanitarian missions before late 2013, four years later than scheduled. Buyers ordered 180 planes for almost 20 billion euros in 2003, but the cost of building them is set to top 30 billion. Talks over the dispute have dragged on for months, fuelling testy exchanges between Airbus and Germany, whose nominal share of the proposed rescue is one third, or over 1.1 billion euros. Failure to finalize a deal could hit 10,000 production jobs. EADS meanwhile faces pressure not just from government buyers but also from its own auditors, who are seen as increasingly reluctant to let EADS defer potentially hefty charges beyond its fourth-quarter 2009 results due on March 9. Sources familiar with the talks said that in addition to offering a price increase equivalent to 2 billion euros, buyers were prepared to stump up guarantees of 1.5 billion euros, part of which would be repaid as royalties on future exports. How that is packaged could determine the size of provisions since loans cannot be used to avoid charges. Facing weak budgets, several nations may opt to take fewer planes rather than spending new cash to fund part of the deal. But there were signs of last-minute squabbling among buyers as Britain fought for as much as possible of the 1.5 billion euro topup to be reimbursable to taxpayers. One media report said Britain may opt out of the additional part of the offer. Britain’s defence ministry declined to comment. —Reuters
BUSINESS
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
China in a dilemma as real estate prices soar SHENZHEN, China: In the hard, exhaust-choked reality of his days trawling Longhua’s clogged roads, taxi driver Zhang Bo’s ambition to buy a small flat for his young family has slipped out of reach for now. Like many Chinese who covet real estate as a symbol of stability and social stature, Zhang is dismayed at the alarming climb of apartment prices in his adopted city of Shenzhen in southern China. “People can’t afford new flats anymore,” said Zhang, 28, who drives a taxi to make ends meet after his small electronics factory went belly-up during the financial downturn last year. “It’s a very distant goal for us. Something we can only dream about,” said the spiky-haired native of Hubei province, who takes home around 6,000 yuan ($880) in cab fares a month. He likes to joke that he now has to work three months just to buy one square metre (three feet) of residential space in the city’s suburbs. As one of millions of workers gravitating to China’s major cities in search of work and opportunity, Zhang’s plight mirrors the dilemma faced by many Chinese who are beneficiaries of the country’s economic rise, but who are nevertheless finding it increasingly difficult to own a roof over their heads. “The affordability is deteriorating because of the rapidly rising prices and increasing mortgages for home buyers, particularly for investors,” said Xavier
Wong, head of research for greater China at property consultant Knight Frank. In January, property prices in 70 cities across China rose 9.5 percent from a year earlier. The eighth consecutive year-on-year rise added to worries of a real estate bubble. Stephen Green, a China economist at Standard Chartered noted in a report in early February that at least seven cities saw land prices triple in 2009. “This is clearly bubble territory for the land markets in many cities,” he wrote. The property bubble has become a hot social topic, spawning TV shows, Internet chatter, books and buzzwords such as “house slaves”, while the growing ranks of hard-up Chinese couples opting to marry without a home, car and other traditional middle class trappings are now dubbed “naked marriages”. A popular TV drama called “Dwelling Narrowness”, depicting the tribulations of a family in a city modelled on Shanghai struggling to buy their own apartment, was yanked from the airwaves in some places, hinting at government sensitivities towards the subject matter. The migration of grassroots families and graduates in major cities to cheap, rented digs on urban fringes, could pose a socio-economic challenge for the government as the middle class malaise could
fuel protests and threaten Communist Party rule. Risks of an asset bubble forming have prompted Beijing to tighten monetary policies to help cap price rises in land and residential markets, with major developers, such as China Vanke watching future policies closely. For the second time this year, China last week raised the level of reserves banks must hold in a move that could dent demand for risky assets. Analysts said the government could deploy other tools as well, such as mortgage rates, lifting down payments of second homes and slapping a property tax to cool the sector. The measures appear to be working, with sales of new and existing homes down across the country in January, leading to dampened sentiment and a slide in prices in some cities. Analysts say, however, that the government may not be able to rein in the property sector too aggressively since it is a main pillar of the economy with its investments accounting for over 10 percent of gross domestic product. “The central government is trying to get the price down for a short period of time. They’re squeezing out the people with money to allow the middle class to be able to afford (property) again,” said Andy Xie, an independent China economist.
“(But) the local developers who have liquidity know the game. They’ll be asking why should I discount now and sell to poor people when I know the government will come around and open this up again so that they can sell to rich people again. “It’s very much a political economy thing,” he said. Unlike places like Hong Kong or Singapore, which provide ample cheap public housing for its citizens, most cities in China lack such municipal infrastructure. Analysts said a common way of calculating affordability of housing was to measure the percentage of monthly household income needed to pay up mortgage instalments and anywhere between 30 to 40 percent was deemed reasonable in Asia. “You will find that the ratio (in China) is very, very high. (It’s) very unaffordable because a lot of cities-we’re talking about 60 percent to 70 percent of their monthly household income-needs to be used for monthly mortgages,” said Wee Liat Lee, an analyst at Nomura International. “But the problem with this measure is that you forget the fact that income is extremely skewed in China,” he said, referring to the ability of many home buyers to pay for their apartments due to the onechild policy, with parents and grandparents pooling their savings to fund the purchases of the only chil-
dren who are now old enough to own homes. Overall, analysts say housing prices may rise further, though at a more modest pace than last year as the government is pushing for more affordable housing to hit the market later this year. The scope of such housing, however, is likely to remain modest, given the great dependence of public coffers on a flood of property-related income to bankroll government spending and debts from last year’s massive economic stimulus package. Due to a lack of other investment options and as real bank deposit rates turn negative, more of China’s accumulated wealth and savings are likely to pour into real estate in many top cities, potentially exacerbating inflation and home prices for the grassroots. “The property market is a little unsteady at the moment,” said Zhou Shaoying, a businesswoman who owns two homes in Shenzhen including an apartment in a complex which has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts and even a ferris wheel. “But if we have any surplus money, we’ll invest it in another flat,” added Zhou, who runs a printed circuit board factory with her husband in Songgang, a gritty town in Shenzhen’s western suburbs. “We’ll wait till after the lunar new year ... After that I think the market will rise again in the long term for sure.” — Reuters
French bank doubles net profit
BNP Paribas to pay 500m euros in bonuses to traders
PARIS: BNP chief executive officer Baudouin Prot addresses reporters during the presentation of the company’s financial results, at the BNP headquarters in Paris yesterday. — AP
ING reports higher Q4 and annual losses THE HAGUE: Dutch bank and insurance group ING reported an unexpectedly big fourth-quarter net loss yesterday, and a worse annual result than in 2008 as it repays state aid. Announcing it would pay no dividend for 2009 “given the uncertain financial environment”, ING said it had made a net loss of 712 million euros ($980 million) in the fourth quarter. This was mainly owing to “an accrual of additional future payments” to the Dutch state in return for a guarantee on US mortgage securities, it said in a statement. “In the fourth quarter we were also able to raise equity to repay half of the capital support received from the Dutch State and further strengthen our capital position, marking an important milestone on our road to recovery.” The group received a 10-million-euro state loan to help it through the worst of the global economic crisis which hit many banks hard at the end of 2008. The latest quarterly figure, although being a big improvement on a loss of 3.7 billion euros loss in the fourth quarter of 2008, was a reversal from profit of 500 million euros in the third quarter and 71 million euros in the second. It was also more than double a loss of 323 million euros foreseen by analysis polled by Dow Jones Newswires. The quarterly figure helped drag the annual result to a total loss of 935 million euros, worse than the figure for 2008 of 729 million euros.
“2009 was a tumultuous year for financial markets, and for ING,” chief executive officer Jan Hommen said in a statement. “Yet even in this challenging environment, we made great strides to improve our operating performance, cut expenses and return to profit on an underlying basis.” Underlying performance showed a profit of 74 million euros in the last three months of 2009 from a loss of 3.09 billion euros a year earlier when results were impacted by impairments on US mortgage-backed securities. Total underlying income was 11.4 billion euros for the fourth quarter, down from 12.7 billion euros a year earlier. Hommen said market volatility was “substantially lower” than a year ago, and ING managed to reduce operating expenses by 1.5 billion euros. It cut the equivalent of 11,331 full-time jobs. “2010 will be a year of transition and it will not be without challenges as we work towards the operational separation of the banking and insurance businesses”, he said. Announcing the split last October, ING said it would eventually lead to the sale of its insurance branch. The banking business reported an underlying net profit of 132 million euros in the fourth quarter compared to a 1.8 billioneuro net loss a year earlier. The results represented a net loss per share of 0.33 euros in the fourth quarter from a net loss of 1.82 euros per share in the same period of 2008. — Reuters
The Dutch flag flying outside ING head office in Amsterdam, Netherlands. —AP
PARIS: French bank BNP Paribas said yesterday that after doubling its net profit for 2009 it would pay out 500 million euros in bonuses to 4,000 traders and the same sum again if it hits its goals for 2010. “We have made provisions of one billion euros, of which half is in cash and the other half held over for the following business periods and dependent on results,” managing director Baudouin Prot told reporters. Earlier yesterday, BNP Paribas reported doubled net profit to 5.832 billion euros ($8.027 billion) last year on strong capital market activity. The bank sparked outrage last August when it announced that it planned to pay out over one billion euros in bonus payments to traders, executives and some 17,000 staff in its investment banking divisions. After political pressure and public indignation BNP Paribas backed down, saying it would cut the package by half. Chief operating officer Georges Chodron de Courcel said yesterday that BNP was “the only bank in the world to publish this figure and we wish that the other banks would do the same.” BNP was bailed out by the French state during the financial crisis in March 2008 but late last year paid back the 5.1 billion euros it got in government loans. — AFP
Rexam year profit in line, cautiously optimistic LONDON: Rexam, one of the world’s biggest makers of drinks cans, was cautiously optimistic for 2010 after last year’s profit met expectations and as volumes stabilized in some markets. Rexam, which has been reducing expenditure and slashing debt, will remain focused on cost cutting in what chief executive Graham Chipcase said would continue to be a challenging trading environment. “Looking at the outlook for 2010, the visibility does remain low and uncertainty persists as to the strength of any global economic recovery. However, volumes in parts of our business do appear to be stabilising” Chipcase told Reuters. Rexam, whose customers include Coca-Cola, Pepsi and SABMiller, posted underlying pretax profit of 285 million pounds ($447.1 million) for the year to 31 December 2009, compared with 328 million pounds in 2008. Market expectations for Rexam’s pretax profit ranged between 278.3 million pounds and 311 million with the consensus at 288.4 million, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of four analysts, while a company-conducted consensus forecast pretax profits of 280 million pounds. Rexam said it had reduced net debt to 1.8 billion pounds from 2.6 billion a year ago, aided by a rights issue in August, and that a restructuring plan, announced in 2009, was on schedule to deliver 45 million pounds of cost savings in 2010. The FTSE 100 company said its closures business, which makes lids for bottles, would remain under pressure as it announced a further plant shut-down in the US. Rexam, whose plastic packaging is used in healthcare and personal care products, said its beverage can business in Russia suffered as the volume of cans it sold dropped by 26 percent and the recession dented consumer demand. A new tax on beer introduced on Jan.1 could worsen demand for cans in Russia, it added, and it would look to South America for emerging market growth in the near term. “In the short term when you look at the capital expenditure in 2010, a significant part of that is going to go into our South American can business,” said Chipcase, who succeeded Leslie Van de Walle as Rexam chief executive on Jan.1. “The new CEO has plenty to do and Russia is clearly a worry but the worst appears to be over for Rexam,” said Seymour Pierce analyst Kevin Lapwood, who has an “outperform” rating on the stock. —Reuters
TOKYO: Toyota Motor president Akio Toyoda (upper left) delivers a speech, surrounded by cameramen and photographers, during a news conference in Tokyo to provide an update on the progress of massive recalls. — AFP
Toyota considers recall of top-selling Corolla Toyoda to skip US lawmakers’ grilling TOKYO: Toyota’s safety crisis deepened yesterday as the embattled Japanese giant said it was considering a recall of its Corolla, the world’s best-selling car, because of possible steering problems. Toyota also announced that it would fit all new models with a system to cut engine power when the driver steps on the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time, to prevent runaway car crashes blamed for dozens of deaths. The Japanese maker, which is pulling millions of vehicles worldwide due to faulty accelerator and brake systems, said it was now looking into complaints of steering trouble with Corolla models launched since 2009. If there is a defect that affects safety, “we will start recalls,” Toyota executive vice president Shinichi Sasaki told a news conference. “We are in the process of investigating.” US authorities said this month they were reviewing dozens of complaints about the Corolla-the world’s most popular car ever with total global sales of more than 30 million since the first version was launched in the 1960s. There have been reports of the vehicle unexpectedly veering off course at speeds above 64 kilometres per hour (about 40 miles per hour). In an effort to restore confidence in its brand, Toyota said its president Akio Toyoda would head a task force to improve quality control and enable the group to respond more quickly to reports of defects. But the Toyota family scion, under fire for his handling of the safety problems, signalled that he would miss a grilling by US lawmakers next week on the mass recalls, sending one of his top North America executives instead. “I am sure they are well equipped to respond well to the questions,” he told a news conference, his third this month on the safety issues that have tarnished the company’s once-glowing reputation. However, Toyoda-who is notoriously publicity shy and was criticised for being slow to appear in public after the mass recalls went global-added that he would consider appearing before Congress if formally invited to do so. US authorities on Tuesday demanded that the
world’s largest carmaker hand over documents to prove it did not drag its feet in recalling the vehicles once it learnt about defects that can lead to unintended acceleration. Investigators will probe how the manufacturer learned of the defects in the recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles and when the problems were discovered, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. President Barack Obama’s Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has vowed “to hold Toyota’s feet to the fire” to make sure its cars are safe, but Toyoda denied his company had ever covered up safety defects. “We have not withheld information and we shall not do so in the future,” said Toyoda, the grandson of the company’s founder. The Japanese giant, which in 2008 dethroned General Motors as the world’s biggest car maker, has pledged to fix more than eight million vehicles worldwide, more than its entire 2009 global sales, due to the safety problems. The 2009-2010 Corolla is among the models involved in Toyota’s earlier recalls to fix problems with unintended acceleration. The number of complaints alleging deaths related to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles has surged since the company announced on January 26 it was suspending sales and production of eight models in the United States. According to the NHTSA’s website Tuesday, 34 deaths allegedly were caused by the problem, including 13 deaths caused by nine accidents between 2005 and 2010 that were reported since late January. The company faces dozens of lawsuits in the United States alleging Toyota was too slow to act on the problems. Experts say the legal action could potentially cost the company billions of dollars. Toyota’s woes are the latest crisis to batter Japan Inc. and its once-glowing reputation for technological prowess. Rival Honda last week recalled more than 400,000 vehicles owing to airbags that it said can explode and spray out potentially deadly metal shards, while Japan Airlines is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. — AFP
S African retail sales fall less than expected JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s retail sales fell by a less-than-expected 3.7 percent year-on-year in December, data showed yesterday, showing still weak consumer demand but signs the sector may be on the mend. Statistics South Africa said the decline in retail sales followed a drop of 6.6 percent the previous month, bringing the contraction for the last quarter of 2009 to 5.3 percent compared with a year ago. The retail sector has been in decline for 11 months, with households struggling under heavy debt and nearly 900,000 job losses last year when recession hit manufacturing and mining industries particularly hard. December’s fall was the smallest over that period, and less than forecasts for a 6.1 percent drop. “The data indicates that retail sales are improving but it is a fairly gradual recovery because many households are still struggling to pay down their debt,” Citadel economist Salomi Odendaal said. The data may reduce the need for another interest
rate cut to accelerate the recovery from a recession that officially ended in the third quarter of last year. “The latest evidence seems to suggest that things are picking up and that there is less need for interest rates relief, Nedbank chief economist Dennis Dykes said. “I wouldn’t exclude it, but it suggests that they (central bank) have done enough at this stage and things are starting to pick up naturally. The Reserve Bank has left its repo rate steady at 7 percent since August last year after reducing it by 5 percentage points, but Governor Gill Marcus said some members of its policy committee had argued for further relief at January’s meeting, raising speculation of a drop in March. Consumers were the main drivers of faster growth in the five years until the global crisis crimped growth from 2007 and an extended period of soft consumption could slow South Africa’s recovery. The rand was steady after the data was released, while government bonds firmed slightly with the yield on the 2015 bond down 0.5 basis points at 8.305 percent. — Reuters
TECHNOLOGY
Thursday, February 18, 2010
27
Cisco’s Networks is a not to be missed event DUBAI: Under the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed bin Ateyatallah Al Khalifa, Minister of cabinet Affairs, Bahrain - Cisco will host its industry-accredited Networkers for the first time in the Middle East. Aimed at training, education and networking, the event will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, from March 28-March 31 2010. Cisco today reveals ten very good reasons as to why visitors should attend and experience first-hand the event’s theme “Knowledge is Power”. Ten reasons to visit Networkers Bahrain 2010:
● Networking: Meet more than 2000 key technical and business decision makers from your industry peers from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Cisco Networkers Bahrain 2010 will also provide be a great opportunity to meet with the engineers who design and develop Cisco solutions to discuss your specific challenges and explore potential solutions to help you business. ● Education: With over 200 sessions delivering innovation technology content covering Cisco’s technologies solutions and architecture, Cisco Networkers Bahrain 2010 will provide educa-
tion and training to information and communications technology (ICT) professionals through compelling forums with in-depth technical demonstrations, networking opportunities and glimpses of current and future ICT trends. ● Training: Take this opportunity to improve your career prospects and become a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or CCNA Security. Meet Cisco’s trainers at Networkers. Cisco Networkers Bahrain 2010 is not just one conference but five unique programs running in parallel, over three days tailored to the different technology needs of the
attendees. ● World of Solutions Exhibition: Cisco alongside more than 45 strategic partners will showcase the latest in innovative technology solutions. ● Opportunities to meet, talk and collaborate: Attending IT, networking and communications professionals will get the opportunity to meet, talk, learn and collaborate, share case studies about some of the most exciting technology innovations available. “It’s a Physical Version of Facebook” says Nick Earle, SVP, Services European Markets, Cisco.
● Recognition: The event will also include an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding companies that embrace innovation in business and technology. ● Knowledge is Power: The global theme for Cisco Networkers 2010 is ‘Knowledge Is Power.’ During this event, attendees will have the opportunity to build on their knowledge and skills through in-depth technical seminars, breakout sessions, demonstrations and hands-on training. ● Enhance Business Growth: Keynotes, breakout sessions and case studies at the event will
demonstrate to delegates how to bring enhanced value to companies businesses and provide will also share insights into how to stay competitive in the current economic climate. The event will also provide delegates with a vision into current and future trends, essential to driving informed business decisions. ● Renowned Experts: Networkers Bahrain is the best place to meet more than 300 of the world’s renowned experts who will be available to answer all your questions about technology. Visitors will have the chance to troubleshoot specific technical
challenges and receive high level, detailed insights. ● See live demos: Observe TelePresence in real-time, Cisco’s powerful “in person” videoconferencing solution and WebEx, the fully-integrated online meeting place. This is in addition to an engaging keynote program encompassing a unique holographic Cisco TelePresence(tm) experience incorporating senior Cisco executive speakers and high-level government guest speakers. If you are in the ICT sector, then you can’t miss Networkers Bahrain 2010!
Utilities see electric cars as consumers for spare power
Houston aims to be electric car capital In this image obtained via Twitter, astronaut Soichi Noguchi aboard the International Space Station posted this image showing the Sahara Desert, the first view out of the cupola’s windows on the observation deck of the Tranquility module station early yesterday. —AP
Phenomenal new window on world unveiled on ISS CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: In a highly anticipated grand finale to their mission, astronauts opened the shutters on the International Space Station’s new observation deck yesterday and were humbled by “absolutely spectacular” views of Earth from inside the elaborate atrium of windows. The $27 million lookout opened each of its seven eyes one window at a time as the crews of the station and shuttle Endeavour carried out their third and final spacewalk. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for: The round central window - the largest ever flown in space - was the first exposed as astronauts inside cranked open the shutter as they sailed 350 km above the South Pacific. “As expected, the view through window seven is absolutely spectacular,” space station commander Jeffrey Williams said. “When we have the others around it open, it will give us a view of the entire globe. Absolutely incredible.” Mission Control set the night’s mood by beaming up a recording of Jimmy Buffett’s “Window on the World.” “I don’t think space station’s ever going to be the same after this,” Mission Control said in a congratulatory call. The astronauts closed the round shutter covering the window, which measures 31 inches across, after three minutes to test the mechanisms. They repeated the process until all the windows were checked, opening the last two as the linked shuttle and space station flew above France and Greece. It was a satisfying conclusion to this construction mission for the 11 astronauts. Though Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken completed a multitude of other chores during Tuesday night’s spacewalk, including opening valves on an ammonia coolant line they
previously installed on Tranquility, a new room that the astronauts connected to the space station last Friday. “Great job raising the curtains on the bay window to the world,” astronaut Kay Hire called out to the spacewalkers. “I look forward to the view from inside,” Patrick said. Mission Control wanted the shutters opened while the spacewalkers were still floating outside so the two men could intercede if something jammed. Behnken and Patrick stayed a safe 10 feet or more from the windows while the shutters were raised. The last thing NASA wanted was to have one of them inadvertently kick a window or bang it with a tool bag. The observation deck is part of Tranquility, a more than $380 million addition. Space shuttle Endeavour delivered the European compartments last week. The Italian-built dome - 1.5 m tall and nearly 3 m in diameter - is designed to offer sweeping 360-degree views of the home planet and outer space, as well as the space station itself. It’s not just for the crew’s viewing pleasure; a robotic work station will be installed early today, providing direct views for astronauts when they operate the station’s big mechanical arm. Six trapezoid-shaped windows encircle the dome. In the middle is the circular window. During normal operations, the space station crew will be able to keep the round window unshuttered most of the time, along with a couple others. But the windows facing along the direction the outpost is orbiting will need to be closed, except during robotic operations, to protect the fused silica glass against micrometeorite strikes. —AP
Google digital book project gets day in court WASHINGTON: Google’s digital book project finally gets its day in court today as the Internet giant asks a US judge to approve its ambitious plan to scan millions of books and sell them online. US District Court Judge Denny Chin is scheduled to hold a so-called “fairness hearing” in New York to hear arguments for and against the controversial deal between Google and US authors and publishers. The agreement is the proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit filed against Google in 2005 by the Authors Guild and the American Association of Publishers (AAP) charging the Internet titan with copyright infringement. The hearing is going ahead after Google last week rebuffed anti-trust and copyright concerns raised by the US Justice Department and critics of the deal and urged Judge Chin to give it a green light. Google, the Authors Guild, the AAP and two dozen backers and opponents of the settlement, which was reached in 2008 and modified since, are expected to present arguments at the daylong hearing in a Manhattan courtroom. Peter Brantley, cochair of the Open Book Alliance, a group of critics of the agreement which includes Google rivals
Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo!, said he does not expect the judge to deliver his ruling right away. “I would be surprised if everything comes to a climax on Thursday,” he said. “I think it’s much more likely that the judge will at the end of a long day say ‘Thank you very much and I’ll get back to you,’” said Brantley, a director of the San Franciscobased Internet Archive, which maintains a digital library of websites and has its own book-scanning project. Brantley said he expected the Justice Department’s continued reservations about the agreement to carry some weight. “One branch of the government can’t entirely ignore the expressions of interest of another part of the government, that’s just bad form,” he said. “Particularly when you’ve got the Justice Department saying quite explicitly that this agreement is, in their words, ‘a ‘bridge too far.’” “The judge could attempt to give them some guidance and we could enter another round of discussion about what the settlement might look like,” he said. The settlement has already been changed once to take into account previous objections raised by the Justice Department and others that forced a delay of a fairness
hearing scheduled for November. In its latest filing, the Justice Department said the revised settlement represented “substantial progress” but “issues remain.” “The amended settlement agreement still confers significant and possibly anti-competitive advantages on Google as a single entity,” it said. David Balto, an antitrust attorney and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, said he believed there was a “strong likelihood” of the settlement being approved and that it will “ultimately benefit consumers.” “You’re going to see the usual arguments on both sides,” Balto said. “But I think any independent observation of the record makes it clear that there are profound, pro-competitive benefits from the settlement.” Under the settlement, Google agreed to pay 125 million dollars to resolve outstanding claims and establish an independent “Book Rights Registry,” which would provide a majority of the revenue from sales and advertising to authors and publishers who agree to digitize their books. The revised settlement narrowed the definition of books covered under the deal to those published in Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States. —AFP
HOUSTON: Houston, nicknamed the Petro Metro for the profusion of oil a car city,” said newly elected Mayor Annise Parker, speaking at an event and gas companies that dot its skyline, is an unlikely host for an electric-car on Feb. 5 to promote the Nissan LEAF, an all-electric, five-passenger vehirevolution. But the fourth-biggest US city that claims the title of the cle that can travel 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge. “To have an elec“Energy Capital of the World” is competing with cities like San Francisco to tric vehicle that appeals to a car culture will make the real difference for be the nation’s electric car capital. “We are the Petro Metro but we are also market penetration.” Cities like Houston and San Francisco are forging partnerships with automakers and power companies to make the vision a reality. In Houston, for instance, Japanese-based Nissan Motor Co Ltd has signed a deal where the city and power provider Reliant, a unit of NRG Energy Inc, will build a handful of public-charging stations to allow electric car drivers to recharge their cars. Nissan has signed agreements with other cities like San Diego, Seattle and Orlando and states like Tennessee and Oregon to ensure that publiccharging stations are built. Such agreements are key to easing skeptical consumers’ fears of running out of juice if their car batteries run low before they can reach their garage charging stations. For beleaguered US auto makers like General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co, electric cars could be a way to boost shrinking market share. “Detroit needs something to be exciting and new,” said William Hederman, a senior vice president at Concept Capital’s Washington Research Group. General Motors’ highlyanticipated battery-powered Chevy Volt hits showrooms in BARCELONA: A man looks at his mobile phone during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday. November, about the same The 2010 Mobile World Congress is held from February 15 to 18 in Barcelona. —AFP time that Nissan begins US sales of the LEAF. Texas drivers have a wellestablished affinity for oversized cars, but the case for electric cars is strong. Even if a small percentage of Texas drivers switch to electric cars, the payoff could be substantial. The Houston area alone is home to 4.5 million vehicles that travel BARCELONA: Smartphones are pen. And I do think that sooner or people attacking mobile phones and anti-virus software for mobile 86 million miles a day, accordunder a growing menace from later it will happen, but when? have been doing it as a hobby, phones as well as anti-theft feaing to state statistics. And cyber-criminals seeking to hack Well that I cannot tell you,” he Hyppoenen said. “It seems that tures that allow a phone’s owner into web-connected handsets, but told AFP. But security companies, on any new platform, the first to remotely block the device and Texas leads the nation in prothe mobile industry has contained mobile operators and makers of years, the first viruses are done even map its location. ducing clean, carbon-free elecBut smartphones, with their the threat so far, security experts operating systems have found by hobbyists just to show off and tricity from windmills. But the said. Software security firms solutions to limit the attacks so far then later more professional email and Internet capabilities, state must build billions of dolwarned at the Mobile World and delay an onslaught of spam money-making criminals move will invite more break-ins, espelars worth of transmission lines cially with the growth of mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, that and viruses, he said. “It won’t in,” he said. needed to channel the wind One of the first viruses was banking-financial transactions that the increasingly popular smart- work forever, eventually we will power to urban centers. phones could face an explosion of see the first global outbreak. But called Skulls. Spreading through can be done through applications, For US utilities that have virus attacks in the coming years. we have been able to delay it by wireless bluetooth systems, a experts said. “It is all about seen electric demand slump 5 “Tomorrow we could see a worm more than five years, at least,” he skull would appear on a phone’s money,” said Eugene Kaspersky, percent over the last two years screen and delete all its data, founder and chief executive of on phones which would go around said. due to a recession, the electric protection firm The first mobile virus Hyppoenen said. The few money- software the world in five minutes,” said car is a godsend, said Kevin Mikko Hyppoenen, chief research appeared six years ago, and so far making “trojan” viruses that have Kaspersky Lab. “Malware is Book, managing director of officer at F-Secure, which makes F-Secure has detected only 430 been seen infiltrate a person’s developed to make more money. research at ClearView Energy anti-virus software for mobile mobile worms. This compares to phone and send text messages to It doesn’t matter if it’s computers Partners LLC. “What a salvamillions of computer viruses. premium numbers controlled by or smartphones,” he said. phones. tion the electric car revolution His company has detected an “It could have happened Much like the first computer the hacker, he said. Security comwould be for generators that are already. It hasn’t, but it could hap- hackers of two decades ago, the panies have developped anti-spam average of 30 mobile viruses per well below their capacity marmonth over the past year, and gins and trying to figure out believes that a wave of financial assaults are just around the corhow to make money,” Book ner. It took more than 20 years for said. In a strange bedfellows computer viruses to become a story of sorts, US utilities have money-making industry, moved in recent months to Kaspersky said. “We expect that cement ties with automakers. in mobiles it will take much less “We’ve worked very closely time,” he said. “This year and together,” said Tony Earley, next year we expect to see the chief executive of a Detroit utility industrialisation of smartphone and chairman of the USelectric malware.” industry’s main lobbying group Adam Leach, a mobile device who also sits on Ford’s board of expert at Ovum research firm, directors. Such coordination has played down the threat, saying helped utilities fend off clean-car that the industry is staying on top competition in the form of naturof the problem. “The threat hasn’t al gas powered vehicles promotbeen as high as expected,” he ed by Texas oil man T. Boone said, adding that companies have Pickens, Hederman said. learned from past experiences and Utilities see electric cars as a have found ways to “minimise the perfect market for spare electricthreat.” But he warned that the mobile industry should not let its ity that is generated by power guard down. “I think it is someplants in off-peak hours that thing companies need to take could be sold to consumers who seriously,” Leach said. “If it is not will recharge their electric cars taken seriously, it has the potenduring late-night and early-mornBARCELONA: The Puma phone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress in tial to have a big impact on ing hours when power is the (mobile phone) users.” —AFP Barcelona yesterday. —AFP cheapest. —Reuters
Smartphones under growing threat from hackers
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Stamping out the Guinea worm ‘dragons’ of Sudan
SAN DIEGO: In this photo provided by the San Diego Zoo, the giant panda cub Yun Zi, 6 months old, climbs an elm tree on Tuesday in San Diego. — AP
Boy king’s DNA is mapped, family identified
Who was King Tut? World-renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass leads an unprecedented forensic investigation into the life and times of King Tut that reveals for the first time the identity of Tut’s parents and grandparents, his cause of death and new details of his reign in a two-night world premiere special event, KING TUT UNWRAPPED, airing May 2010 on Discovery Channel exclusively on Orbit Showtime Network (OSN). Papers published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) detail the painstaking medical and archeological research conducted by an international team of field experts. Part One of KING TUT UNWRAPPED follows the delicate, first- ever DNA extraction from Tut’s mummy setting into motion a series of cross-reference studies to determine the Boy King’s family. Part Two uses neverbefore-examined evidence from Tut’s mummy to conclude what caused his death and how that information sheds
new light on his reign as a military, religious and political leader. “We’re really excited to be working with Dr. Zahi Hawass and his team again and to be exclusively following this important work in King Tut Unwrapped on Discovery World and Discovery HD Showcase. The life and death of King Tut continues to capture the imagination of our viewers all over the world and we’re sure that this fascinating new research, blending both cutting-edge technology and traditional archeology, will open up a new chapter in Egyptology.” said Caleb Weinstein, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Discovery Networks, Emerging Markets. The road to understanding the Tut family tree begins with filling out his parents’ branches. Based on historical records and previous digs, Dr. Hawass determines Tut’s father could one of three great Egyptian pharaohs: the successful and popular second king of the 18th Dynasty Amenhotep III; the radical
and controversial Akhenaton, who moved Egypt into the age of monotheism or the little-known Smenkhare who reigned just prior to Tut’s rule. To effectively solve this mystery, the team will need test Tut’s DNA against the mummies of these three candidates. When Howard Carter discovered the riches of King Tut’s tomb in 1922, who could have predicted that almost a century later the ancient chamber would be the site for the cutting edge of Egyptology? KING TUT UNWRAPPED details the edge-of-your-seat process as researchers hold their breath and oh so gingerly but successfully extract DNA for the first time from Tut’s mummy. Specimens now abound for testing, but the expert team assembled at Discovery Channel’s DNA lab at the Cairo Museum faces challenge upon challenge in connecting the forensic dots. In order to test the ancient DNA, Assistant Professor Dr. Carsten M. Pusch of the University of Tubingen’s
LOJURA: Scars on Severion Wayet’s arms reveal where the flesh-burrowing Guinea worms burst through her skin. It was an agonising process that lasted days as the worms, measuring around one metre (three feet) in length, fought their way out of her body. “They were very painful, you cannot rest or sleep,” the young mother said, her baby resting on her back in a goatskin carrying pouch. Her village of Lojura, a remote settlement in the hot, dusty bush of south Sudan’s Central Equatoria state, already has enough to deal with following a brutal civil war that ended just five years ago. But it is also one of the world’s worst areas for Guinea worm. Also known as dracunculiasis, from the Latin for “little dragons”, the worm is a particularly painful water-borne parasite that can leave people weakened and sick for months every year. Caught by drinking contaminated water, the worm larvae grow into wriggling creatures up to a metre in length, and mate inside the human body. After about a year, the white worms dig through the body towards the skin, releasing chemicals to burn the flesh and then spewing thousands of larvae as they exit. “Many people have suffered from the worms, but we want them to end,” said Wayet. “I do not want my children to suffer like that.” Now a final drive is being made to eradicate the worms for good. The Carter Centre-the not-for-profit organisation founded by former US president Jimmy Carter-has been working in Sudan since 1989 to exterminate the worm once and for all. He said that when they started their project in southern Sudan they found more than 100,000 cases of infection. “Last year we had about 2,500 cases, and we believe that in the next two or three years we will have zero cases of Guinea worm in Sudan,” he said during a mid-February visit to Lojura where he met worm-infected villagers. Infections worldwide have been slashed by 99 percent from some 3.9 million people in 1986 to 3,500 in 2009, according to the World Health Organisation. Now the worms are found only in small and isolated pockets of Ghana, Mali and Ethiopia, with its final main stronghold in grossly underdeveloped south Sudan. South Sudan was cut off from health workers for years by the 22-year civil war
between southern rebels and the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, during which some two million people died. Peace was signed in 2005 but tensions remain high. Nationwide elections are set for April and an independence referendum for next year. Medical experts believe that it would be possible to eradicate Guinea worm within a few years. “When we succeed,” Carter said, “this will be the second disease in history ever eradicated from the face of the earth-the only other one was smallpox now almost 20 years ago.” Although there is no direct treatment, the breeding cycle can be broken by making sure people do not wash in sources of drinking water while the worm is emerging from the skin. Moreover, thousands of volunteer health workers have been trained to ensure people use a simple water filter for drinking potentially unsafe water. Many in the community here wear a water filter tube around their neck, and Carter predicted that Guinea worm would be the first disease to be wiped out without the use of a vaccine or medicine. Worms mainly exit from the legs and arms but affected communities say they have been known to emerge from the head, sexual organs and even the eyes. Eradicating it would have a major impact. Extracting an entire worm requires winding it around a small stick-like twisting spaghetti on a fork, but victims can be incapacitated for months. The traditional universal medical symbol, of a snake wrapped around a pole, is thought by many to have its roots in the treatment of Guinea worm. The peak period for the worms to emerge coincides with the crucial farming months, which may explain why, in Mali, Guinea worm is called “the disease of the empty granary,” according to the WHO. South Sudan’s health minister, Joseph Manytuil Wejang, warned that without its eradication, thousands of people would be incapacitated every year in the poorest communities. “The potential to improve the social and economic conditions is limitless,” Wejang added. If the worms are tangled around muscles-something that can often happen-twisting the parasites out is especially painful, and can make the process even longer.— AFP
Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics in Tubingen, Germany and Professor Albert Zink of the EURACInstitute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy, work with Dr. Yehia Zakaria Gad of the Department of Medical Molecular Genetics at Cairo’s National Research Center to perform, for the first time, microsatellite-based DNA-fingerprinting on familial Egyptian mummies. There is triumph in the lab but that is only the start of the Tut family odyssey. With successful DNA sequencing of Tut’s father, Hawass is able to pursue leads that will eventually point to Tut’s mother and grandparents. KING TUT UNWRAPPED is a juggernaut of science, history, national pride and professional drive. From the pristine interiors and precision work of the DNA lab to dusty, unpredictable dig sites in the field, Dr. Hawass leads an intense, deeply personal journey for the truth.
Pediatrician discusses breastfeeding Celebrating with a cigar? Although social trends and the fast pace of modern life can distract from it, the tradition of breastfeeding is one that offers many benefits to mother, baby and society, according to Dr Amal Khidir, assistant professor of pediatrics at WCMC-Q. In her contribution to the WCMC-Q Medicine and U lecture series, Dr Khidir explained to an attentive audience the basic facts about breastfeeding and why it’s widely considered a healthy practice. She also discussed practical challenges and possible solutions involving family, health care community, policy makers and the general public. Although there is not enough research or data published to give solid figures on the incidence of breastfeeding, Dr Khidir said it is clear by her observations and the studies published that there is a decline in breastfeeding throughout the region. She referred especially to the first six months of the baby’s development-a window of time where exclusive breastfeeding is important, according to the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics. In cases where mothers are discouraged or giving up easily, she said health practitioners at every level can help to empower them with information that may motivate them further. “It used to be in the US that women were not permitted to breastfeed in public, but this changed right as developing countries picked up the trend,” Dr Khidir said. “This issue, locally, requires knowledge as well as enthusiasm and passion on the part of the entire medical community and the community at large.” Holding a thick reference book up for the audience to see, Dr Khidir noted the abundance of research and scientific information on breastfeeding but said she’d like to focus on basic benefits to mother and baby, and the simple yet enlightening information that people can go out and use. The doctor first described the way the mother’s body produces
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milk according to the baby’s needs, in a way that is calibrated based on the number of feedings and amount of milk consumed over the course of the first days. She explained that the first two weeks are a critical time to set up and maintain breastfeeding. This window of time is also when challenges peak and is thus the time when the mother requires the most support. “Breastfeeding is a dynamic process,” she explained. “I highly discourage any interference in the breastfeeding schedule over the first two weeks. During that time the baby’s system and the mother’s system are adjusting to one another and trying to figure out how to do this. Each mother and each baby is different and so the approach should be individualized. Although companies try to produce formulas close to breast milk, Dr Khidir said that in terms of immune-building properties and digestibility, the packaged version doesn’t come close to what’s produced by mom. “Even if companies try to mimic the molecules protein by protein, they are not there yet,” Dr Khidir explained. “Also, most of the protein in the breast milk is whey protein, and the formula is made mainly of casein. There is a difference in structure between these two proteins, how they are digested and how readily the body can use them. Even the fat in the mother’s milk is formulated in a way that matches what the baby needs. Furthermore, breast milk changes as the baby grows.”
In addition to nutritional, brain development and immunity benefits, Dr Khidir explained how breastfeeding relates to hormones within the mother’s body as well as the important connection between mother and baby. “This can help her lose weight actually and it helps parts of her body return to normal size within the first few months,” she said. “And then the most important part of breastfeeding is the bonding-the skin-to-skin bond stimulates a lot in mother’s body and baby’s body.” Dr Khidir stressed that breastfeeding depends not only on mom but also on dad, the medical community and the community at large. For example, she said fluid intake, as simple as water, and rest are key factors in the mother’s ability to produce milk. If the father encourages the mother to drink fluids-in a supportive way and not a punitive way-and takes care of the baby for even an hour a day so she can rest, she said this would make a big difference. In the end, every woman and every baby is different and Dr Khidir said that she counsels them according to their unique circumstances and advises women and their families and health care providers to discuss this topic in the same way. “The mother has the right to decide how she wants to feed her baby,” she said. “Our role together is to help her make an informed decision after we empower her with evidenced-based, accurate information.”
NEW YORK: If you thought it was only cigarettes that were dangerous to smoke, think again, with a U.S. study showing cigars and pipes also raise the risk of lung disease, defying their image of sophistication and celebration. Rsearchers from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in New Brunswick found that even if the smoke is not inhaled, people who smoke cigars or pipes have a greater risk of airway damage that could lead to emphysema and other diseases. Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but few studies have looked at whether other types of smoking add to COPD. This research found that among more than 3,500 U.S. adults, those who had ever smoked cigars or pipes were more likely than non-smokers to show obstructed airflow - a hallmark of COPD- during tests of lung function. Reseachers Michael Steinberg and Cristine Delnevo said the findings were particularly important as cigars and pipes are still often seen as emblems of “sophistication, affluence, education and celebration” and people had the mistaken belief that not inhaling the smoke meant it was not harmful. “These images largely fostered by the tobacco industry, perpetuate the idea that these products play a suitable role in our society,”they said in a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study found that among 56 participants who said they had smoked at least 20 cigars or pipe-bowls in their lives, 18 percent showed airway obstruction. That compared with less than 8 percent of men and women who had never smoked. Study participants who had only smoked cigars or pipes- that is, cigarette-freegenerally had poorer scores on their lung-function tests and were twice as likely to show airflow obstruction as people who had never smoked. The effects were compounded among people who had smoked cigarettes. Their risk of airflow obstruction was increased more than three-fold. Among 428 study participants who had smoked both cigarettes and cigars or pipes, 21 percent had obstructed airways. When the researchers weighed other factors-like age and history of cigarette smoking-cigar and pipe smoking were linked to a doubling in the odds of airflow obstruction. The findings “suggest that pipe and cigar smoking produce a measurable increase in the risk for COPD,” the researchers said. The findings add to evidence of the health risks of cigars and pipes, which many people tend to view as “safe” ways to smoke. Cigar and pipe smoking have also been linked to increased risks of mouth and throat cancers, heart disease and lung cancer. One study estimated that those risks were on par with those associated with light cigarette smoking which was defined in the study as up to 19 cigarettes per day. Steinberg and Delnevo said people wrongly believed that pipes and cigars were safer smoking alternatives as the smoke was not inhaled into the lungs. But they said this study showed “further evidence that smokers of these products are exposed to sufficient levels of toxins to affect” their lung health.— Reuters
LOJURA: A Southern Sudanese dancer from the Mundari ethnic group is pictured during a welcoming ceremony for former US president Jimmy Carter in the Central Equatorian village of Lojura on February 11, 2010. — AFP
Two languages in womb makes bilingual babies WASHINGTON: Babies who hear two languages regularly when they are in their mother’s womb are more open to being bilingual, a study published this week in Psychological Science shows. Psychological scientists from the University of British Columbia and a researcher from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in France tested two groups of newborns, one of which only heard English in the womb and the others who heard English and Tagalog, which is spoken in the Philippines. To determine the babies’ preference for a language, the researchers studied the newborns’ sucking reflex; increased sucking by a neonate indicates interest in a stimulus. In the first experiment, infants heard 10 minutes of speech, with every minute alternating between English and Tagalog. The English-only infants were more interested in English than Tagalog-in other words, they “exhibited increased sucking behavior” when they heard English than when they heard Tagalog being spoken. The infants exposed to two languages, on the
other hand, showed an equal preference for both English and Tagalog, suggesting to the researchers that prenatal bilingual exposure prepares infants to listen to and learn about both of their native languages. The researchers also tested the newborns to see if they could tell the differences between two languages-key to becoming bilingual. The infants listened to sentences being spoken in one of the languages until they lost interest, and then heard sentences in the other language or heard sentences in the same language, but spoken by a different person. The infants exhibited increased sucking when they heard the other language being spoken, but their sucking did not increase if they heard additional sentences in the same language. “These results suggest that bilingual infants, along with monolingual infants, are able to discriminate between the two languages, providing a mechanism from the first moments of life that helps ensure bilingual infants do not confuse their two languages,” the authors of the study said.— AFP
WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Embassy information
armel School celebrated India’s 60th Republic Day with great fervour. The programme started with an orchestral performance of “Saare Jaahan Se Aacha”. The melodious note set the mood of the function and showcased the musical talents of our children. After a short prayer and a Quran recitation invoking the Almighty’s blessings on our motherland, the children presented a choral recitation “Mera Hindustan”. It delineated the vibrant sights and sounds of India. The innovative props and lively intonation made it all the more delightful.
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Carmel school celebrates Republic Day and clear. The slide show was both informative and entertaining and transported everybody to the Republic Day parade in Rajpath. It highlighted the three wings of the army, the beautiful fly past, the salutation of the President of India and the colourful tableaus of various states. The climax of the programme was a dance medley
This was followed by a patriot song - Aye Watan”. The singers dressed in the national tri-colours carrying the Ashoka Chakra stole the show. The highlight of the Republic Day Assembly was a skit which tried to instill pride in our national heritage. The actors were all dressed in traditional clothes. Though the play was humorous, the message was loud
on “Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hain” and “Desh Rangeela”. The foot-tapping music and the colourful costumes of the dancers enthralled one and all. A soulful rendition of the Indian national anthem set the spirit of patriotism ringing in the air. Being for removed from our roots, programmes like this are imperative to ignite the zeal in the minds of young Indians and to propel them to contribute positively to the progress of the country. The aim of this function was to make the students feel proud of their motherland and this was achieved, judging by the gratis faction on the faces of our students.
Inter-House dance competition at FAIPS he ambience resonated with a patriotic fervour as the students of FAIPS-DPS participated in the Inter-House dance competition held on 25th January 2010 in the school Auditorium to celebrate India’s 61st Republic Day. Pomp and pageantry marked the occasion as students from the four houses, viz. Faith, Harmony, Peace and Truth vied with one another to come up with their best against a stiff competition. The event was judged by a distinguished panel comprising Mrs. Banani Bose, Mrs. Piyali Gupta and Mrs. Sujatha Rajendran, each an eminent personality in the field of performing arts. The guest of honour was Ms
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Anita Bhukari, Senior Operating Co-ordinator, Al Rayan Holding Co. After the traditional lighting of the lamp by the judges, the programme began with the Solo dance performance. Each participant exhibited her skill in Indian classical dance forms. Akshara Vishwanathan of Peace House was awarded the first position for her graceful Bharatnatyam performance, a piece on Lord Shiva and his tandav dance, followed by Sucharita Rumesh in the second position. The Group dances, choreographed by Ms. Vishakha Mathur, the dance teacher at FAIPS, portrayed the rich
culture and diversity of India. In keeping with the theme of patriotism, dances were based on aspects glorifying India’s history, cultural diversity and above all national pride for the motherland. The Group dance category had Peace and Faith sharing the top honours for their enthralling and colourful presentation of the popular number ‘Chak De’ (Peace house) and ‘Jai Ho’(Faith house) respectively. Truth and Harmony were placed in the second and third positions respectively. The curtain rang down with a thunderous applause for a magnificent performance followed by a soulful rendering of the National Anthem.
EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed on Sunday, 21 February 2010 on the occasion of the Shahid Dibash and International Mother Language Day. The Embassy will arrange the following programmes to observe the Shahid Dibash and International Mother Language Day at the Chancery on Saturday, 20 February and Sunday, 21 February 2010: Saturday, 20 February, 1030 hrs, Hall Room of the Chancery. Programme: Art competition. Sunday 21 February, 0800. Roof top of the Chancery. National Flag will be flown at half-mast. Hall Room of the Chancery, Recitation from the Holy Quran. Dua and Munajat Reading out of the messages. Discussion on Ekushe and International Mother Language Day, Refreshment. All Bangladeshis in Kuwait are cordially invited to attend the above function. EMBASSY OF UKRAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait informs that it has started updating the information about Ukrainian citizens, who live and work in Kuwait. In this connection, we are asking you to refer to the Embassy and update your file in consular register in order not to be excluded from it. Please note, that the last day of updating your data is 20th of March, 2010. For additional information please call: 25318507 ext.106 or visit the embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait (address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str.6, house 5). The consular section of the Embassy open every day from 09:30 till 14:30 except Friday and Saturday. EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya is happy to inform the general public and visitors to Kenya of a reduction in the cost of tourist visas by 50%, continuing through all of 2010. Additionally, in recognition of the family travel segment, Kenya is giving a complete waiver of visit fees to children aged 16 years and below. Visitors are urged to take this opportunity and experience unique Kenyan beach holidays on palm fringed, sandy beaches, safaris in the country’s famous national parks, and activity based tourism. For more information contact the Kenya Embassy located at Surra, block 6, Street 9, Villa No.3. Tel. 25353314/ 25353362 or visit the Mission’s websites www.kenyaembkuwait.com & www.magicalkenya.com. Official timings are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Sundays through Thursdays. ter or call: 25318507 ext.106 EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on Thursday, February 25 and Monday, March 1, 2010 on account of “National Day of
ICS Primary Wing holds fancy dress show very man is an architect of his own fortune”. The Primary wing of Indian Central School organized a “Fancy Dress Show” for the students in the month of December and January respectively. The show was not just an imitation of great personalities or some product. It was a show which helped to tap the talents of the stu-
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dents. The programme commenced with the morning assembly and was followed by the Fancy Dress Show. The theme for the show of Upper Primary Wing was imitation of Great Personalities and that of Lower Primary Wing was Advertisements. The students of both the wing presented a splendid and excellent show. The Lower Primary Wing stu-
dents put forth their performances with an exuberant variety of products like the Tide Washing powder, Nokia Mobile phone, KDD milk, Ice creams, Toshiba computers etc., while the students of Upper Primary Wing made the audience recollect and recall the endless efforts and pain put forth by the legendary personalities, that made them the most remarkable characters of history. The crowd witnessed the show, where the children displayed and promoted their products; sang, danced and dressed up as little Obama’s , Gandhiji’s, Charlie Chaplin’s and many more and talked in their child lingo. Mr Bean with his usual comical swing was there to make every one laugh. Freedom fighters like Rani Laxmi Bhai, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji , Bhagat Singh and so on walked bravely to the stage and rendered their influencing dialogues. Writers, legendary heroes and heroines, sport personalities were also some of the characters that children tried to imitate for the audience. The characters were shown on power point by Mrs. Manjula Rathnakumar. The students looked adorable in their costumes and were full of spirit while presenting their characters on stage. The supervisors of Lower Primary Wing and Upper Primary Wing, Mrs. Amarjeet and Mrs. Moncy, appreciated the young creative minds and congratulated them for their outstanding performance. They also applauded the efforts of the parents who actually were the real brain behind each character. The Principal of the school Mrs. Shantha Maria James appreciated the participants for putting up an exuberant show. She commented that “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises”.
New jewellery showroom inaugurated he crowd kept swelling at the Mangaf souk on a Friday evening with each passing minute. People vied with one another to be the first to catch a glimpse of the ‘Chenda Melam’ reflecting the Kerala culture in all its hue and ambience to welcome all, which preceded the inauguration of the Orma Jewellery showroom. The new showroom was inaugurated by Ajay Malhotra, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, in the presence of eminent dignitaries and other business personalities. Earlier, Rt. Rev. Gee Varghese Mar Athanesious Episcopa had graced the showroom. The spectacular store showcased an exquisite collection of Gold with a specialty in gift items for various seasons. The Orma group Managing Partner, Abey Varicad said that every customer could benefit from their new schemes, such as the gold-gift scheme and the gold-deposit scheme, to help offset the fluctuating high gold prices. The Gold gift scheme gives opportunity to buy Gold on easy installments of which, any scheme-member would be eligible to win the monthly draw. Orma provides all services for both Gold and Silver Jewellery in Abbassiya and Mangaf showrooms.
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Ajay Malhotra, the Ambassador ot India to Kuwait inaugurating the Orma Jewellery, Mangaf showroom along with the Managing Partner Abey Varicad.
Kuwait” & “Holi”. The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.
Kuwait Chopin Competition invites entries
EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES The Embassy of the Philippines wishes to inform the Filipino community in the State of Kuwait, that the recent supreme court decision to extend the registration of voter’s applies only in local registration in the Philippines under Republic Act no. 8189 and does not apply to overseas voters which is governed by Republic Act no. 9189, hence it has no impact on the plans and preparations on the conduct of overseas absentee voting. The overseas absentee voting for presidential elections will start on 10 April 2010 and will continue uninterrupted until 10 May 2010 daily at the Philippine Embassy. Registered overseas absentee voters are advised to schedule their days off in advance to avoid complications in their schedules. Qualified voters are encouraged to get out and vote.
ntries are now being accepted for the fifth Kuwait Chopin Competition which is part of the first Gulf International Chopin Competition for pianists in the Gulf region. It is already taking place in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Oman and Qatar. The Kuwait leg will be held on March 12 and 13 and all application forms should be completed by March 1. There are four groups: Under 8, Under 12, Under 16 and Over 16. Full details of registration and the rules of the competition can be found at www.kuwaitcp; treasureoftalents@yahoo.com. The event is being organized by Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia, Embassy of Poland, Treasure of Talents , Radisson BLU Hotel and is honored to have HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as a patron. Completed application forms and fees can be returned to Radisson Blu Hotel or The British School of Kuwait in Salwa.
Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20
Filipino Group Symmetry Kuwait welcomed Rudolph Revak, President and Founder of Symmetry International during his recent visit to Kuwait headed by Madame Josephine Medina, CEO of Symmetry Middle East with Symmetry Kuwait Manager Efren S. Molina and Bessie Kho accountant with business partners. A business presentation was held in Holiday Inn, Kuwait on February 3.
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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Greetings
Announcements TODAY Technical meet: American Society of Safety Engineers will present one more interesting topic through a technical meet on 18.02.2010 (Thursday evening). Details of the Technical Meet are as under: Topic: Green Beans & Ice Cream - The Art of Definitive Behavior Change. Date: 18th February 2010. Venue: Burgan Hall, Hilton Resort, Mangaf frpm 7- 8:30 pm. Registration: 6:30 - 7 pm. To make the technical meets more informative and valuable we have obtained the approval for CEU’s (Continuous Educational Units) for the upcoming technical meets. For more information on the topics and the speaker please visit www.billsims. com/seminars.htm. As you know, registration is mandatory to all the Technical meets of the chapter. We appreciate if you can kindly register your name, either by email to assekuwait@hotmail. com or by SMS to mobile: 66846040 on or before 18th February 2010, 12:30 pm.
elated happy fifth birthday B Baby - Cha-Cha
appy b’day to master H Jovin Jerald D’Souza father, mother, relatives & friends
nder the patronage of Bangladesh Embassy, Kuwait a cultural programme on the occasion of Spring Festival (Bashanti Utshab) was organized at Carmel School auditorium on 14th February 2010. The programme was attended by Syed Shahed Reza, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait along with Bangladesh community. The visiting military delegation to Kuwait headed by Major General A T M Shahidul Islam, ndu,psc, General of Bangladesh Army also attended the programme. Syyed Hyder Husyn, a prominent singer of Bangladesh performed patriotic songs on this occasion which was highly appreciated by Bangladesh community. A short cultural programme was organized by some local community and ladies of Bangladesh living in Kuwait.
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FEBRUARY 23 Lecture on diabetes: Correlation between diabetes and obesity by Dr. Dhari Al-Own. What is the definition of obesity? What are its side effects, how can one calculate his BMI (Body mass Index? How can we calculate our calorie requirements? And how can we avoid obesity and diabetes? In his 20-minute presentation, Dr. Dhari will answer all this questions and many more. When? Tuesday February 23rd at 7pm at AWARE.
Amicos annual day ssociation of Mar Ivanios College Old Students - Kuwait Chapter celebrated 13th Annual Day at Indian School, Khaitan. Indian Embassy Secretary Sanjeev Agarwal inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp. Amicos President Jaison P. Varghese and Chief Guest Vidhu Prathap addressed the gathering. Indian School-Khaitan, Principal Mrs Sreedevi Pradeep rendered felicitation. Dr Grace Alex, Vice President, AMICOS welcomed the gathering. John Joseph, General Secretary, proposed Vote of Thanks. Poetess Bessy Kadavil, (Amicos) was honored at the function and she recited her poetry. Play back singer Vidhu Prathap, TV anchor and dancer Deepthi Vidhu Pratap who were the chief guests, performed along with Amicos members. Amicos children Catherine Vismaya, Aishwarya & Priyanka, Sharon Rachel Sunil, Jurgen George Jacob, Nikhil Sunil Malayil, Arjun Sathish, Sanjana Koshy, Mathew P. Varghese, Vineeth Alexander, Ansara Mariam George, Lipi, Likhitha & lyrics, presented various programmes. Grant finale, a blend of eastern and western music was led by Dr Jaison. Amicos thank all the sponsors, well wishers and the media for their great support to make the event another memorable one. The whole programme was compered by Jojy and Sunita Oommen. The programme concluded with a gala dinner.
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Ramapuram Association formed
Trafalgar celebrates Chopard’s 150th anniversary rafalgar, the official and sole distributor of Chopard watches, jewelry and accessories in Kuwait, has commemorated the 150th anniversary of the brand by launching a massive outdoor visual in Kuwait City. Located on the Nassar Tower that faces the historic Jahra roundabout, the visual features a large Chopard logo alongside the brand’s iconic product, the Mark II Happy Sport. The visual encompasses floors 3-25 of the tower’s 32-floor total, and holds a surface area of 2500 m2. This establishes it as the largest visual ever in Chopard’s 150 years of existence. Amer Alansari, Trafalgar’s managing partner commented: “We were searching for
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Kalpak drama blessing today amous Indian dramatist Joseph Chetupuzha is in Kuwait for the new theater production of Kalpak, an association dedicated to drama. The inaugural ceremony is to take place today at United Indian School, Abbasiya, 7.30pm for the drama titled ‘Sargakshethram’, a famous play performed years back with filmstars TG Ravi, CI Paul and Jose Pellisery. The play is written by Joseph Chetupuzha and in Kuwait the lead role is by Babu Chackola, the eminent artist who has the record of acting and producing in several plays and TV serials. Famous film star Anu Anand is also in Kuwait to act in the Kalpak production.
Mercado, many many happy returns of the day, best wishes from Hassan, Elizabath, Any, Len, Sherley, and Samir family.
Bangladeshis celebrate ‘Spring Festival’
FEBRUARY 20 Islamic courses: Under the auspices of KIG Education Board, Islamic courses will be conducted for students from 8th to 12th standard on Saturdays at IPC Khaitan Branch. The first class of this kind shall be conducted on coming Saturday 20th February, 2010 from 8 am till 12 noon. Well trained instructors will conduct classes with the aid of multimedia and syllabus made for the over all development of the students with Islamic Orientation includes various Islamic studies, Quran, Hadees and Fiqh. For more details parents are requested to contact Abdurazack Nadvi 97261957/65597389.
FEBRUARY 26 IOC fest ’09 winners: Indian Overseas Congress, Kuwait is conducting its 16th Annual day celebrations on Friday, 26th February 2010 at Indian Central School Auditorium, Abbassiya. Various Senior Congress leaders from Kerala including K.C Joseph MLA, E.M Augasthy Ex. MLA, V.D Satheeshan MLA will be attending the function. IOC as an organisation of equally minded people from India, have been anchored with a vision of imparting the spirit of economically prosperous, socialy just, politically united and culturally Harmonious India to the expatriate Indian Community. The uncomparable public speeches of V.D Satheeshan, E.M. Augusthy and KC Joseph will be memorable talks to the Congressmen in Kuwait. Since few years LOC is conducting Arts festival for all the Indians in Kuwait. More than one thousand participants from all States of India are participating in various competitions organised. every year. The winners of IOC Fest ‘09 will be awarded with prizes and certificates at the function. Various committees under the leadership of M.A Hilal, Somu Mathew Geevarghese Abraham, Raju Zakarias, K.J. John, John Abraham, Tony Mathew, Adv. John Thomas, C. Ramachandran, Thajudeen, Alex Bino Joseph, Varghese Mamparampan, Shaji Kavalam, are actively working to make this a memorable event among the Indians in Kuwait. IOC requests all the IOC Fest ‘09 winners to contact Tony Mathew (66853100) or Raju Zakarias (99234968).
appy H birthday to Jackie Lou
Chelly Constantino who celebrated on February 12. Best wishes come from her loving Dad Romel and Mom Claire, aunt Vivian and uncle Choy. May Lord shower you with more blessing and very warm wishes with prayer. Greetings also from FCC Kids and family.
TOMORROW Indian Lawyers Forum: Indian Lawyers forum, (ILF) the Association of Indian Lawyers & Law Graduates in Kuwait planning to conduct its annual programme & get together on 19-02-2010 Friday evening 6 pm at Hidine Restaurant Auditorium (Tel: 24312505) at Abassiya. Professional presentation, orchestra & variety entertainments arranged. All Indian lawyers & Law graduates with their families are cordially invited to attend the functions. For more information please contact. 97203939, 97260159 email: advpanicker@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 24-27 Islamic seminar: Kuwait Kerala Islahi Centre is organizing a 4 day-long Islamic Seminar at Farwaniya Garden Ground starting from February 24 to 27 and will be under the patronage of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, Minister of Justice and Awqaf & Islamic Affairs Advisor Rashid Abdul Mohsin Al Hammad. Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs Ibrahim Al-Saleh, Advisor for Minister of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs Shaikh Jassem Muhammed Al Farhan, Director of Department of Justice Salem Abdullah Al-Hassan, Shaikh Yousuf Shuaib and Shaikh Khalid Sinan from Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs will be attending the Islamic Seminar Inauguration program. Indian Ambassador Ajay Malhotra will be inaugurating Exhibiton, Vision-2010 on Feb 24. All are invited to attend this program with your families and friends.
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amapuram Association Kuwait (RAK) was formed with the aim of conducting cultural and the welfare activities. The decision of forming the association was taken during their gathering arranged by the people from Ramapuram Town in Kottayam Dist. Kerala State India. Patrons of the association are M.K Kuriakose Manivayalil and Dominic Mathew Aerath and the advisory
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board members are Baby Aattupurathu, K. Antony Thomas, Athewkutty Aerathu. Chessil Cherian Kaviyil was elected as the President and Gen Secretaries are Sunny Kurishummoottil, Anoop Aalanolickal, Treasurer Jaibe Pooppallil. Other office bearers are Jomon Vichattu, Roby Chittadikunnel, Jimmy Kanjirathamkunnel, Bobin Mulloor, Azad M. Nair, Francis Mundaplackal, Biju Pulickal, Joji Muthukaattil and Deepu Surendran.
a way to pay tribute to such an important milestone in Chopard’s long history. And we are honored by having found it near Kuwait’s important and historic landmark, the Jahra gate.” Hugues Jucker, the Middle East and North Africa manager for Chopard adds:” “The Kuwaiti market has been one of the first in the Middle-East to support Chopard in the early 70’s and still today is one the most important one in the region, particularly thanks to the excellent collaboration with the Al Ansari family. The huge Chopard visual on the Nassar Tower is the perfect way to celebrate Chopard 150th Anniversary, as well as our confidence in a promising future”.
Fine Arts Handicraft Creativity Society holds expo or all lovers of art and refined taste, and in appreciation of nimble fingers, the Fine Arts Handicraft Creativity Society is delighted to invite you to attend its first public exhibition of drawing, embroidery, tailoring and egg drawing,
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which will be held at the house of the famous historian and astronomer, Dr Adel Al-Saadoun at Fintas, Block 4, Street 9, House 21 on Saturday, February 20, 2010. The exhibition will be held for one day only from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
TV PROGRAMS
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Orbit / Showtime Listings 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 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:35
00:00 Doctor Who 01:00 Life on Mars 02:00 Knight Rider 03:00 Dawsons Creek 04:00 Life on Mars 05:00 One Tree Hill 06:00 Heroes 07:00 Doctor Whol 08:00 Lie to Me 09:00 Law & Order 10:00 Knight Rider 11:00 Dawsons Creek 12:00 Heroes 13:00 One Tree Hill 14:00 Knight Rider 15:00 Prison Break 16:00 Lie to Me 17:00 Law & Order 18:00 Ashes to Ashes 19:00 The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 20:00 Without a Trace 21:00 Ghost Whisperer 22:00 One Tree Hill
00:50 01:45 02:40 03:35 04:30 05:25 06:20 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:45 10:10 10:40 11:05 11:55 12:50 13:15 13:45 14:10 14:40 15:35 16:00 16:30 16:55 17:25 17:50 18:20 19:15 20:10 21:10 22:05 23:00 23:55
00:35 01:25 02:25 03:15 04:00 04:50 05:40 06:45 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 20:00 21:00 21:45 22:15 22:45 23:15
00:05 00:30 01:00 01:20 01:45 02:10 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:15 05:45 06:10 07:00 08:10 09:00 09:25 09:45 10:30 11:30
Animal Cops Phoenix Amba The Russian Tiger Untamed & Uncut Galapagos Animal Cops Philadelphia Animal Cops Phoenix Lemur Street Monkey Business RSPCA: On the Frontline Vet on the Loose Wildlife SOS Pet Rescue Animal Precinct The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals RSPCA: On the Frontline Animal Cops Phoenix Corwin’s Quest Specials Wildlife SOS Pet Rescue The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Amba The Russian Tiger Lemur Street Monkey Business Pet Rescue Vet on the Loose Wildlife SOS RSPCA: On the Frontline Animal Cops Philadelphia Austin Stevens Adventures Saba and the Rhino’s Secret Animal Cops Phoenix Untamed & Uncut Austin Stevens Adventures Animal Cops Philadelphia
Casualty Coast The Ship Goldplated Casualty Casualty Coast Cash In The Attic Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Tommy Zoom Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Bargain Hunt Coast Terry Jones’ Barbarians The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Blackadder Goes Forth Blackadder Goes Forth The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Casualty The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Green Green Grass Carrie & Barry
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 The Naked Chef The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Living In The Sun The Clothes Show Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Rhodes Across India Rhodes Across India Living In The Sun
Eastern Promises on Show Movies Action 12:20 13:10 14:00 14:45 15:40 16:05 16:30 16:50 17:10 18:10 18:50 19:40 20:10 21:05 21:35 22:00 22:45 23:15 23:40
Antiques Roadshow The Clothes Show Rhodes Across India Rhodes Across India Daily Cooks Challenge Daily Cooks Challenge Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Antiques Roadshow The Clothes Show Living In The Sun Daily Cooks Challenge Masterchef Goes Large Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Superhomes The Week The Women Went The Week The Women Went The Naked Chef
01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00
Girl 6 - 18 The Juror - 18 Escape To Victory - PG Quand J’etais Chanteur - PG 15 Class Action - PG 15 Macarthur - PG Heights - PG 15 Return To Rajapur - PG 15 Last Orders - PG Iris - 18 Self Medicated - PG 15 Elite Squad - 18
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 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
Untamed & Uncut Miami Ink Street Customs American Chopper The Kustomizer Mythbusters How Does it Work Ultimate Survival Extreme Engineering The Kustomizer Street Customs How Do They Do It? Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds How Do They Do It? How Does it Work Fifth Gear American Chopper Miami Ink Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds Street Customs 2008 How Do They Do It? How Does it Work Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds Against the Elements I Was Bitten
00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:05 05:00 05:55 06:20 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:30 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:40 15:30
Dr G: Medical Examiner Fbi Files A Haunting Murder Shift Serial Killers Forensic Detectives Real Emergency Calls Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters Ghosthunters Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Royal Inquest Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files The Prosecutors Guilty Or Innocent? Csu Forensic Detectives
16:20 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50
Fbi Files Royal Inquest Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files The Prosecutors Guilty Or Innocent? Csu Dr G: Medical Examiner Crimes That Shook The World
00:40 China’s Man Made Marvels 01:30 Engineered 02:20 Sci-Trek 03:10 What’s That About? 04:00 Beyond Tomorrow 04:50 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 05:45 How Does That Work? 06:10 Mean Green Machines 06:40 One Step Beyond 07:10 Engineered 08:00 Scrapheap Challenge 09:00 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 10:00 What’s That About? 10:55 How Does That Work? 11:20 Stunt Junkies 11:50 Engineered 12:45 Mean Green Machines 13:10 One Step Beyond 13:40 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 14:35 What’s That About? 15:30 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 16:25 How Does That Work? 16:55 Scrapheap Challenge 17:50 Brainiac 18:45 Man Made Marvels China 19:40 The Future of... 20:30 Brainiac 21:20 How It’s Made 21:45 How It’s Made 22:10 Mythbusters 23:00 The Future of... 23:50 Brainiac
00:00 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 00:20 Handy Manny 00:45 Special Agent Oso 01:10 IMAGINATION MOVERS 01:35 Lazytown 02:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:25 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:45 HANDY MANNY NEW EPISODES 03:10 Special Agent Oso 03:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 04:00 Fairly Odd Parents 04:25 Hannah Montana 04:45 I Got A Rocket 05:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:35 Phineas & Ferb 06:00 Higglytown Heroes 06:10 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 06:35 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:20 IMAGINATION MOVERS 07:45 Lazytown 08:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:00 Handy Manny 09:25 Special Agent Oso 09:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 10:10 Fairly Odd Parents 10:35 Hannah Montana 11:00 I Got A Rocket 11:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place 11:45 Phineas & Ferb 12:10 Suite Life On Deck 12:35 Replacements 12:55 American Dragon 13:20 Kim Possible 13:40 Famous Five 14:05 Fairly Odd Parents 14:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:55 Replacements 15:15 I Got A Rocket 15:40 Wizards Of Waverly Place 16:00 Hannah Montana 16:25 Sonny With A Chance
Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana The Replacements Jonas Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Hannah Montana Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life of Zack & Cody The Suite Life of Zack & Cody The Replacements American Dragon Kim Possible Famous Five Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb
00:15 Streets Of Hollywood 00:40 E!es 01:30 25 Most Stylish 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 25 Celebrity Near Death Experiences 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 THS 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Leave It To Lamas 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 THS 11:05 THS 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Kendra 13:15 Kendra 13:40 THS 14:30 THS 15:25 Behind The Scenes 15:50 Behind The Scenes 16:15 E!es 17:10 Perfect Catch 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 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210 23:50 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties
00:00 Chopped 01:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 01:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 02:00 Food Network Challenge 03:00 Iron Chef America 04:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 04:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 05:00 Teleshopping 05:30 Teleshopping 06:00 Teleshopping 06:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Teleshopping 07:30 Teleshopping 08:00 Giada At Home 08:25 Giada At Home 08:50 Barefoot Contessa 09:15 30 Minute Meals 09:40 30 Minute Meals 10:05 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome 10:30 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome 11:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 11:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 12:00 Barefoot Contessa 12:30 Barefoot Contessa 13:00 Giada At Home 13:30 Giada At Home 14:00 30 Minute Meals 14:30 30 Minute Meals 15:00 Barefoot Contessa 15:30 Barefoot Contessa 16:00 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 16:30 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:30 Barefoot Contessa 18:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 18:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 19:00 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome 19:30 Rescue Chef with Danny Boome
01:25 03:40 05:20 06:50 08:40 10:05 12:00 13:35 15:30 17:05 19:20 22:00 23:35
The Hawaiians The House On Carroll Street Dublin Murders Neon City The Glory Stompers Lady in White The Escape Huckleberry Finn Crusoe Nicholas Nickleby Hawaii Kid Galahad Alice’s Restaurant
00:00 Rita Rocks 00:30 10 Things I Hate About You 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien 03:00 Free Radio
03:30 Nutcase 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 10 Things I Hate About You 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Home Improvement 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Coach 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Drew Carey Show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Eight Simple Rules 18:30 All of us 19:00 Rita Rocks 19:30 New adventures of old Christine 20:00 The Tonight Show With Conan OBrien
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
The Martha Stewart Show 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 The Martha Stewart Show Jimmy Kimmel The View The Ellen Degeneres Show Huey’s Cooking Adventure 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
00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Cocaine Cowboys Ii - 18 Humboldt County - U Chasing The Horizon - PG 15 Before The Rains - U Mostly Ghostly - PG Honeydripper - PG 15 Ghost Town - PG 15 Not Easily Broken - PG 15 Mostly Ghostly - PG Leatherheads - PG 15 Max Payne - PG 15 Sweeney Todd - U
01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00
Eastern Promises - 18 Child’s Play - 18 Midnight Bayou - PG 15 The Collective - PG 15 Franck Spadone - PG 15 Planet Of The Apes - PG 15 The Hideout - PG 15 Franck Spadone - PG 15 Urban Assault - 18 Monster Ark - 18 Resident Evil 3 - 18 Bronson - PG 15
00:00 Faintheart - PG 15 02:00 National Lampoon’s: Electric Apricot - PG 15 04:00 Parenthood - PG 15 06:00 Blonde And Blonder - PG 15 08:00 Together Again For The First Time - PG 15 10:00 Girl’s Best Friend - PG 15 12:00 Tortilla Soup - 18 14:00 Rat - PG 16:00 Faintheart - PG 15 18:00 How To Be A Player - 18 20:00 Deep In The Valley - PG 15 22:00 Idle Hands - 18
00:00 The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones - FAM 02:00 How To Eat Fried Worms 04:00 Olsen Twins: Switching Goals 06:00 Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium - FAM 08:00 Barbie As The Island Princess 10:00 Olsen Twins: Switching Goals 12:00 Quest For Camelot - FAM 14:00 How To Eat Fried Worms FAM 16:00 D2: The Mighty Ducks - PG 18:00 First Kid - PG 20:00 Bedtime Stories - FAM 22:00 Quest For Camelot - FAM
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30
Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice Parkinson Sex and the City Sex and the City The Murdoch Mysteries Ally Mcbeal Emmerdale Coronation Street Parkinson 24 The Murdoch Mysteries Ally Mcbeal Law & Order Emmerdale Coronation Street Parkinson Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice Law & Order That Mitchell and Webb Look Emmerdale According to Jim Hotel Babylon Bones Dollhouse The Murdoch Mysteries Sex and the City Sex and the City
00:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 00:30 Premier League 02:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 03:30 Futbol Mundial 04:00 Premier League 06:00 Portugol 06:30 Brazilian League Highlights 07:00 Premier League 09:00 Premier League Classics 09:30 Premier League Classics 10:00 Premier League 12:00 Premier League 14:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 14:30 Futbrasil 15:00 Scottish Premier League 17:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 17:30 Futbol Mundial 18:00 Live Dubai International Racing Carnival 22:00 Premier League World 22:30 Premier League Classics 23:00 Premier League Classics 23:30 Premier League
01:00 Premier League World 01:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 02:30 European Tour Weekly 03:00 Premier League Darts 07:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 08:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 08:30 Super 14 10:30 Futbol Mundial 11:00 Weber Cup Bowling 12:00 Premier League World 12:30 Goals Goals Goals 13:00 Premier League Classics 13:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 14:30 Goals Goals Goals 15:00 Portuguese Liga 17:00 Weber Cup Bowling 18:00 Premier League Classics 18:30 Goals Goals Goals 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:30 Portugol 20:00 World Sport 20:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 21:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 22:00 Live Premier League Darts
14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00
LG Action Sport Rat Race FIM World Cup NCAA Basketball UFC 110 Countdown Drambuie Pursuit WWE ECW UFC The Ultimate Fighter NCAA Basketball
01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00
The 11th Hour - U Asterix Aux Jeux Olympiques Dan In Real Life - PG 15 Saving Sarah Cain - PG 15 Stan Lee: The Condor - PG Snowglobe - PG Fool’s Gold - PG 15 Asterix Aux Jeux Olympiques Sydney White - PG 15 What Happens In Vegas - PG Yes Man - PG 15 No Country For Old Men - PG
00:45 Lost Horizon 03:25 The Hunger 05:00 Martin’s Day 06:50 The Screening Room 07:25 The Screening Room 08:00 Adam’s Rib 09:40 Forbidden Planet 11:20 3 Godfathers 13:05 Echoes of a Summer 14:45 Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm 16:55 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 18:35 Lost Horizon 21:15 The Time Machine 23:00 Cannery Row
00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:55 06:40 07:30 08:20 09:10 10:00 10:55 12:40 13:30 14:20 15:10 16:00 16:55 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:55 23:50
Digging for the Truth Lost Worlds Dead Men’s Secrets Conspiracy? Dead Men’s Secrets USS Constellation Digging for the Truth Lost Worlds Dead Men’s Secrets Conspiracy? Dead Men’s Secrets USS Constellation Digging for the Truth Lost Worlds Dead Men’s Secrets Conspiracy? Dead Men’s Secrets USS Constellation Digging for the Truth Lost Worlds Dead Men’s Secrets Conspiracy? Deep Wreck Mysteries Cities Of The Underworld Modern Marvels
00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00
Clean House Giuliana And Bill Giuliana And Bill Running In Heels How Do I Look? Split Ends Dr 90210 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane
06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30
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 Clean House Clean House Comes Clean Dress My Nest What I Hate About Me Split Ends Style Her Famous The Dish Running In Heels Split Ends Clean House Dress My Nest Style Her Famous Ruby Ruby
01:00 01:04 01:35 02:00 02:45 05:00 05:04 06:00 08:00 08:04 08:35 13:00 13:04 13:50 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:04 16:35 18:00 18:45 20:00 20:04 20:35 21:00 21:15 22:00 22:14
Code Latina Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Code Legend Playlist Code Latina Playlist Code Urban Hit Playlist Trace Video Mix Playlist Code RNB Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Code Sound System Playlist Guest Star Playlist Code Compilation Playlist
00:00 Globe Trekker - U 01:00 Angry Planet - U 01:30 The Thirsty Traveler - U 02:00 Inside Luxury Travel-varun Sharma - U 03:00 Planet Food - U 04:00 X-quest - U 05:00 Globe Trekker - U 06:00 Swiss Railway Journeys - U 07:00 The Thirsty Traveler - U 07:30 Angry Planet - U 08:00 Globe Trekker - U 09:00 Travel Today - U 09:30 Rudy Maxa’s World - U 10:00 Distant Shores - U 10:30 Distant Shores - U 11:00 Chef Abroad - U 11:30 Entrada - U 12:00 Planet Food - U 13:00 Globe Trekker - U 14:00 Chef Abroad - U 14:30 The Thirsty Traveler - U 15:00 Taste Takes Off - U 15:30 Entrada - U 16:00 Planet Food - U 17:00 Globe Trekker - U 18:00 Skier’s World - U 18:30 Floyd Uncorked - U
01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 Scottish Premier League 03:30 European Tour Weekly 04:00 Weber Cup Bowling 05:00 Premier League World 05:30 Goals Goals Goals 06:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 07:00 Scottish Premier League 09:00 Portuguese Liga 11:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 12:00 European Tour Weekly 12:30 Guinness Premiership 14:30 Super League 16:30 World Hockey 17:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 18:00 Premier League World 18:30 European Tour Weekly 19:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 Super League 22:00 Guinness Premiership
00:00 02:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:00
NCAA Basketball NCAA Basketball UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown NCAA Basketball Bushido WWE SmackDown
The 11th Hour on Super Movies
Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 21:30 Life With Mikey 23:05 Soul Food 01:00 Dark Skies 02:30 Someone Like You 04:05 Life With Mikey 05:40 Soul Food 07:35 Dark Skies 09:05 Mr. Holland’s Opus 11:30 Someone Like You 13:05 Rise Of The Gargoyles 14:40 Urgency 16:05 The Comebacks 17:30 Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End STAR World 20:00 East West 20:50 Charlie’s Angels 21:00 The Unit 21:50 Bewitched 22:00 [V] Tunes 23:00 [V] Tunes 00:00 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Tunes 02:00 7th Heaven 03:00 The Simpsons 03:30 The King Of Queens 04:00 Boston Legal
05:00 06:00 06:50 07:00 08:00 08:50 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:50 11:00 11:50 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00
American Idol Brothers & Sisters Charlie’s Angels American Idol East West Jackie Chan Adventures Worst Week The Bold And The Beautiful 7th Heaven Charlie’s Angels Brothers & Sisters Different Strokes [V] Tunes American Idol The Simpsons The King Of Queens Boston Legal Rules Of Engagement Rules Of Engagement Desperate Housewives Dirty Sexy Money Asia Uncut
Granada TV 21:00 Vroom Vroom (Series 2) 22:00 Emmerdale 22:30 Coronation Street 23:00 Vroom Vroom (Series 2) 00:00 The Springer Show
01:00 02:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00
Coach Trip (Series 1) Action Thursday: Murder City (Series 2) Beyond Boiling Point Art Crime Emmerdale Coronation Street The Springer Show Coach Trip (Series 1) Action Thursday: Murder City (Series 2) Beyond Boiling Point For One Night Only Emmerdale Coronation Street The Springer Show American Princess (Series 1) Action Thursday: Murder City (Series 2) Beyond Boiling Point Emmerdale Coronation Street The Springer Show American Princess (Series 1) Action Thursday: Murder City (Series 2)
Channel [V] 22:00 [V] Plug 22:30 The Playlist 23:00 Loop 00:00 Backtracks 01:00 Double Shot
02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00
[V] Plug The Playlist Loop Parental Control Double Bill [V] Tunes Double Shot Backtracks Loop [V] Plug Double Shot Backtracks [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist Loop Videoscope [V] Tunes Backtracks [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist Parental Control Double Bill Videoscope [V] Tunes
Fox News 00:00 Happening Now 02:00 The Live Desk 04:00 Studio B with Shepard Smith Live
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 22:00 23:00
Your World with Neil Cavuto Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck Special Report with Bret Baier The FOX Report with Shepard Smith The O’Reilly Factor Hannity On the Record with Greta Van Susteren The O’Reilly Factor Hannity On the Record with Greta Van Susteren Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck Fox Report Special Report with Bret Baier The O’Reilly Factor FOX & Friends First Live FOX & Friends Live America’s Newsroom America’s Newsroom
National Geographic Channel 20:00 Machines Of War -Machine Gun 21:00 Wild Wednesday -Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy : Mexico 22:00 Wild Wednesday -Animal Autopsy : Elephant 23:00 Theme Week -Super Cat 00:00 Seconds From Disaster -Wreck of the Sunset Limited 6 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -Bite Me With Dr. Mike
Leahy : Vietnam 2 02:00 Against All Odds -Buried Alive S1-6 03:00 Predator CSI -X-Bear 04:00 Hunter Hunted -Outback Attack S2-2 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy : Vietnam 2 06:00 Somewhere In China -Ice City 3 07:00 Built For The Kill -Hidden S2-4 08:00 Against All Odds -Buried Alive S1-6 09:00 Monkey Thieves -The Apartment Job 1 09:30 More Amazing Moments -S2-3 10:00 Theme Week -The Living Edens : Temple Of The Tigers: India’s Bandhavgarh Wilderne 11:00 Seconds From Disaster -Wreck of the Sunset Limited 6 12:00 ABOUT ASIA -Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy : Vietnam 2 13:00 Mega Thursday -Engineering Connections : Guggenheim Bilbao 14:00 Mega Thursday -World’s Toughest Fixes : Blown Away 15:00 Theme Week -The Living Edens : Temple Of The Tigers: India’s Bandhavgarh Wilderne 16:00 Inside: The Super Carrier 17:00 Seconds From Disaster -Wreck of the Sunset Limited 6
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for single girls. Contact: 97527233. (C 20348) Sharing accommodation available for Christian couples or working ladies in Abbassiya. Please contact: 66538532. (C 20347) Sharing accommodation available in Salmiya behind Appolo, for Indian bachelors. Contact: 97961405/ 66176090. (C 20349) Sharing accommodation available for executive bachelor/ couples/ visiting family (preferred Christian) in a 3BHK, 2 bathroom centralized A/C flat near Shara Amman, Salmiya. Interested may please call 66624123. (C 20346) Rent for a single family, new building C-A/C, attached bathroom, water & electricity charge is free, rent KD 90, location is near Abbassiya Indian Integrated school & Bharatia Vidya Bhavan. Contact: 66548128. (C 20350) Room in C-A/C flat with separate bathroom in Sharq near Mughal Mahal restaurant for working ladies from March 1st. Please contact: 99567689 or 55197093. (C 20345)
To let, a spacious furnished room in a flat, to a decent executive bachelor, rent KD 75, payable from March 2010. Independent toilet & to avail kitchen facility. Location B始neid Al Gar. Call 97407275 for more details. 18-2-2010 There is accommodation available for one Keralite bachelor near United Indian School, Abbassiya. Contact: 24348576, 66288012. (C 20344) 17-2-2010 Sharing accommodation furnished one room available in Sharq CA/C, 2 bathrooms, for Indian couple or 2 working ladies or one executive bachelor. Rent KD 100. Contact: 99849490. (C 20340) Sharing accommodation available for bachelors or a small family Goan or Mangalorean to share with a small Mangalorean family. Two bedroom flat, window
A/C near Rashid hospital Shara Amman. Contact: 66132003 or 94969047. (C 20338) 16-2-2010 Sharing accommodation available in a C-A/C building for a small family or two working ladies in Abbassiya near Integrated Indian School & Bharathiya Vidhyabhavan. Contact: 97846304/ 24346984. (C 20334) Fully furnished one bedroom and separate bathroom available with Keralite family in new Vigi studio building near United Indian School at Abbassiya for couple or working ladies from 10/03/10. Contact: 97841925. (C 20335) 15-2-2010 Single room accommodation required for a decent Keralite Christian bachelor with a small family in Abbassiya. Contact: 97426334. (C 20330) 14-2-2010
FOR SALE BMW 740i black 1996 model, 220,000 kms with beige leather seats in good condition. Contact: 97201151. (C 20353) Furniture with household items 2 dish antenna two bedroom flat with two toilets central A/C near City Center, Salmiya with land line telephone transferable rent. Contact: 97201151. (C 20352) 18-2-2010 Magna 2002 model excellent condition, company maintained. Contact: 99928863, 24344176. (C 20333) Pajero 2001 model, green and silver, good condition, price KD 1950, and Out Lander red color 2003, price KD 1650 only. Phone: 99980087, 66052331. (C 20332) 15-2-2010
SITUATION VACANT
Looking for home nurse to take care of old Kuwaiti male. Salary 150 KD, send your CV immediately to fax: 24836310 contact Mob: 97687707. (C 20343) Required English speaking nanny/maid. If interested, please contact 99824597. (C 20339) 16-2-2010
ence including in USA with Bank of America in the field of finance, HR, administration, banking. Well versed in all software applications and computers. Contact: 55354081. Email:
guy_great32@yahoo.com (C 20331) Indian male MBA, B.Com (27 years) having 4 years experience in finance and investment in Kuwait seeking
suitable placement. Proficient in MS Office & Tally. Fluent in English, Arabic, Hindi. Article # 18, transferable visa. Contact: 55492163. Email: abdul_sudheer@yahoo.com (C 20336)
No: 14644
MATRIMONIAL Seeking alliance for a Keralite RC 27, 152 cm Palai Dioces working staff MoH in Jahra (GNM) looking for alliance preferably working in Kuwait from Kottayam district. Email: sthomas@qnetstaff.com (C 20337) 17-2-2010
SITUATION WANTED Indian male, American citizen (MBA in finance and hospital administration), 10 years of international experi-
Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Thursday 18/02/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Gulf Air 211 Bahrain DHL 370 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Kuwait 802 Cairo Jazeera 0637 Aleppo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Jazeera 0629 Assiut British 0157 London Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Kuwait 204 Lahore Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 332 Trivandrum Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Iran Air 605 Isfahan Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Saudi Arabian A/L 9654 Jeddah Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Bahrain Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Kuwait 772 Riyadh Egypt Air 610 Cairo Syrian Arab A/L 341 Damascus Jazeera 0171 Dubai Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Egypt Air 621 Assiut Nas Air 745 Jeddah Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 878 Muscat/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 562 Amman Kuwait 552 Damascus Jazeera 0457 Damascus Qatari 0134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Royal Jordanian 800 Amman
Time 00:05 00:10 01:05 02:15 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:30 04.45 05:05 05:25 05:35 06:10 06:30 06:40 06:45 07:35 07:45 07:55 08:05 08:10 08:10 08:15 08:30 08:55 09:00 09:15 09:38 10:45 10:45 11:00 11:00 11:05 11:10 11:20 11:20 12:40 12:55 13:00 13:05 13:25 13:35 13:55 14:00 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:30 15.40
Jazeera Mihin Lanka Bahrain Air Kuwait Emirates Gulf Air Etihad Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Arabia Jazeera Thai Wataniya Airways Sri Lankan Jazeera United A/L Wataniya Airways DHL Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Rovos Kuwait Kuwait Iran Air Kuwait Kuwait Singapore A/L Jet A/W Wataniya Airways Oman Air Egypt Air Jazeera Jazeera Gulf Air Middle East Qatari Emirates Kuwait KLM Indian Jazeera Safi A/W Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Egypt Air India Express Lufthansa Bangladesh Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Pakistan
0173 403 344 118 857 215 0303 510 0493 0217 0125 0433 519 2101 227 0427 982 2003 473 1025 502 542 618 674 0177 093 786 614 617 774 104 458 572 1201 0647 618 0459 0343 217 402 0136 859 174 0445 981 0449 215 0429 0117 0185 612 606 389 636 043 1029 1129 205
Dubai Colombo/Dubai Bahrain New York Dubai Bahrain Abu Dhabi Riyadh Jeddah Isfahan Sharjah Mashad Bangkok Beirut Colombo/Dubai Bahrain Washington DC Dulles Cairo Baghdad Dubai Beirut Cairo Doha Dubai Dubai Kandahar/Dubai Jeddah Bahrain Ahwaz Riyadh London Singapore/Abu Dhabi Mumbai Jeddah Muscat Alexandria Damascus Sanaa/Bahrain Bahrain Beirut Doha Dubai Geneva/Frankfurt Amsterdam Chennai/Ahmadabad Doha Kabul Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Cairo Luxor Kozhikode/Mangalore Frankfurt Dhaka Dubai Bahrain Lahore
16:05 16:40 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:30 17:40 17:40 17:45 17:45 17:50 18:05 18:15 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:55 18:55 18:55 19.00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:45 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:55 21:05 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:45 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:15 22:15 22:25 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:40 23:45 23:55 23:55
Departure Flights on Thursday l8/2/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0528 Assiut Shaheen Air 442 Lahore India Express 394 Cochin/Kozhikode United A/L 981 Washington DC Dulles Indian 576 Goa/Chennai Bangladesh 046 Dhaka Pakistan 216 Karachi Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt KLM 0447 Amsterdam DHL 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa Qatari 0139 Doha Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Jazeera 0164 Dubai Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain Rovos 094 Dubai/Kandahar Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut British 0156 London Jazeera 0170 Dubai Kuwait 671 Dubai Kuwait 551 Damascus Kuwait 561 Amman Kuwait 771 Riyadh Jazeera 0456 Damascus Arabia 0122 Sharjah Kuwait 101 London/New York Emirates 856 Dubai Qatari 0133 Doha Iran Air 606 Mashad Etihad 0302 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 2002 Cairo Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris Jazeera 0342 Bahrain/Sanaa Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 0172 Dubai Jazeera 0432 Mashad Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0492 Jeddah Saudi Arabian A/L 2054 Jeddah Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 785 Jeddah Egypt Air 611 Cairo Syrian Arab A/L 342 Damascus
FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161
Time 00:05 00:15 00:30 00:40 00:50 01:00 01:10 01:20 01:25 03:15 03:15 03:50 04:10 04:15 05:00 07:00 07:00 07:20 07:30 07:35 07:40 07:40 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:10 08:30 08:35 08:55 09:00 09:00 09:10 09:15 09:20 09:25 09:35 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:15 10:20 11:30 11:40 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:05 12:15 12:30 13:00 13:40 13:55 14:00
Wataniya Airways Kuwait Jazeera Egypt Air Nas Air Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Bahrain Air Mihin Lanka Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Thai Kuwait Sri Lankan Wataniya Airways Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Iran Air Kuwait Wataniya Airways Jet A/W Oman Air Jazeera Egypt Air Singapore A/L Gulf Air DHL Kuwait Middle East Jazeera Falcon Qatari Kuwait Emirates Kuwait KLM Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait
1024 673 0216 622 746 0176 1200 0426 0458 617 505 773 613 801 0135 345 404 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 543 0184 0116 2010 0448 0428 2102 520 285 228 1028 0512 283 361 616 351 1128 571 0648 0240 619 457 218 171 675 403 0188 102 0137 301 860 205 0445 0480 0526 613 415 0502 411
Dubai Dubai Isfahan Assiut Jeddah Dubai Jeddah Bahrain Damascus Doha Jeddah Riyadh Bahrain Amman Doha Bahrain Dubai/Colombo Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Cairo Dubai Abu Dhabi Sharm El Sheikh Doha Bahrain Beirut Bangkok Chittagong Dubai/Colombo Dubai Sharm El Sheikh Dhaka Colombo Ahwaz Cochin Bahrain Mumbai Muscat Amman Alexandria Abu Dhabi/Singapore Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Beirut Dubai Bahrain Doha Mumbai Dubai Islamabad Bahrain/Amsterdam Sabiha Alexandria Cairo Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta Luxor Bangkok/Manila
14:25 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:25 15:30 15:35 16:00 16:10 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:35 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:30 19:50 20:15 20:20 20:25 20:55 21:00 21:10 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:50 22:55 22:55 23:00 23:25 23:45 23:45 23:50 23:55
34
SPECTRUM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Calvin
CROSSWORD 904
Aries (March 21-April 19) You are super-sensitive today and that can be rewarding or damaging. If you focus on others, your understanding will enable you to fit into any group. This ability is helpful in any job. Save the decisions that require clear logic for another day. It is, however, a favorable aspect for financial dealings. Your social life should blossom now—perhaps including a new love interest. Avoid the extravagance and self-indulgence that accompanies this time. Discoveries, investigative work and financial investments show good results. If you have a mate, it could be bells and whistles in the romantic area of your life this evening. If you are unattached, you may find someone new and fascinating to spend your leisure time with this winter. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today you may be slowed enough to be realistic about your abilities and expectations for success. Balancing your time and commitments may be difficult, but necessary if you wish to keep everything running smoothly. Your nature will most likely be focused for now, as you take a serious attitude to just about all aspects of your life. In the work place, much can be accomplished. You have what it takes to tackle any problem involved with your profession. This afternoon is for people gatherings! You crave to socialize and make new friends easily. Others in turn are attracted to you and this can bring all sorts of good things into your life, including, perhaps, a new love interest. Objects of art and beauty are especially heartfelt.
Pooch Cafe
ACROSS 1. Type genus of the family Myacidae. 4. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural). 7. A French abbot. 11. The habitation of wild animals. 12. A toilet in England. 13. Hang loosely or laxly. 14. An adult male person (as opposed to a woman). 15. A decree that prohibits something. 16. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people. 17. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC). 20. (Judaism) Sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments. 22. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters. 23. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells. 26. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 28. A ductile silvery-white ductile ferromagnetic trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group. 29. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. 30. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. 32. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system. 34. Flightless New Zealand rail of thievish disposition having short wings each with a spur used in fighting. 37. A colorless and odorless inert gas. 39. A federal agency that supervises carriers that transport goods and people between states. 41. The atomic weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element. 42. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984). 47. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 48. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 50. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. 51. An informal term for a father. 52. Having undesirable or negative qualities. 53. A small cake leavened with yeast.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Modernization, reform and principle are your paths to growth and gain now. New, futuristic ideas are part of this, but it’s much more than that: putting them into practice is essential. A break from the way things were accomplished in the past is not good enough just now—you are willing to try new methods or new ideas. Emotional beginnings, a fresh start, perhaps the establishment of new habit patterns will set the tone for quite some time to come! Being appreciated and admired for your gifts and talents are powerful needs. Taking chances can bring big rewards. Your birth sign is taking a turn toward high energy. Creative endeavors are where you are headed during your time away from work. No obstacle slows your progress.
Non Sequitur Cancer (June 21-July 22) Almost any subject or activity is possible in the work place today. There could be some confusion or misunderstandings if you are do not carefully listening. For now . . . take notes and be as positive as you can be and realize that this is a fast moving time that will not stay for long. If there is any project that seems to be difficult, a good plan of action will emerge soon. Later today you may find yourself walking away from people that seem to have no guidance or focus. Cultural or academic pursuits provide excellent stress relief for you this evening. You enjoy challenges but can become quite involved when the challenges broaden your knowledge. Music is likely to play a more important role for you just now—you may decide to join a choir. Leo (July 23-August 22) You have good energies today— most anything you set out to do can be successful. Be aware of working too long without a break. You may be trying to work faster and it may be better to just work effectively. Make a point to take your regular breaks and do some brisk walking up and down the stairs for stress relief. This is a time when many projects will end—especially large ones. You should resist selling short, however, just to finish work quickly. Away from work this afternoon, you will find yourself motivated to help a young person. This may take the form of teaching or perhaps discovering a child’s talent. You will find that this experience can be quite pleasant and fun. Doing just about anything with friends or family later this evening is fun.
Zits
Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is a good day for
DOWN 1. Designer drug designed to have the effects of amphetamines (it floods the brain with serotonin) but to avoid the drug laws. 2. Not only so, but. 3. A former copper coin of Pakistan. 4. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves. 5. A long thin fluffy scarf of feathers or fur. 6. An argument opposed to a proposal. 7. The table in Christian churches where communion is given. 8. German mystic and theosophist who founded modern theosophy. 9. Divulge information or secrets. 10. English essayist (1775-1834). 18. The cry made by sheep. 19. God of death. 21. 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. 24. An associate degree in nursing. 25. A flexible container with a single opening. 27. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 31. The use of bacteria or viruses of toxins to destroy men and animals or food. 33. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 35. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 36. Jordan's port. 38. Port city that is the capital and largest city of Latvia. 40. Of or relating to or characteristic of the Republic of Chad or its people or language. 43. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material. 44. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits. 45. A light touch or stroke. 46. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma. 47. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 49. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.
making plans—your mind is clear. You may find yourself presented with several different options to get where you need to go today whether this means a project or a trip. Before obligating yourself, take the time to process the difference between each option. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus. Those around you are watching your successful rise to fame and they encourage you. Before today, you may have wondered if you would ever get credit. You feel generous toward your loved ones and this will reflect back on you. Now marks a time when relations with a spouse or business partner are on a solid ground. Expressing affections should come easily.
Libra (September 23-October 22) Your heart is as big as all outdoors—not only for those close to you emotionally, but for the public as well. Your nerves are calm and your sense of humor is intact—ready to help customers or others. Your happy-go-lucky mood continues this afternoon and generally marks a great day in which all relationships are exalted. Projects you have worked on for many months could reach an end at this time. Be sure to check if these activities produced the results you expected. Besides being creative and affectionate, you are very sociable and magnetic to the opposite sex. There is a desire for outdoor, physical activity this afternoon—depending on the weather, you will probably find a partner to play squash or some other similar activity at the gym.
Mother Goose and Grimm
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) What would life be without a few challenges now and then? Hopefully, you have done your homework and can reassure others of the validity of your position. If your ideas are a little shaky then it may be time to reassess what you want for the results. This is a good time to exercise caution and care in business dealings, both in the physical and financial realm. This day is certainly a beneficial and enlightening one—making you aware of new concepts and ideals. Someone may offer you a new position within your job or a new job in a new location. This is worth the time to consider. If wild life or photography is your hobby, consider including this hobby into your upcoming weekend. Perhaps a short trip to the country can be planned. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You have the ability to take charge in the work environment; there may be a golden opportunity that you should not hesitate to seize upon. This is not a good time to think that good things come to one who waits. Courage and confidence reign. Others follow your lead in most projects. Just make sure new projects are short-term. Some of the elderly people in your living area still occupy their own home, but sometimes there is difficulty in maintaining a minimum level of comfort—particularly in cold weather. A nice warm blanket, sweaters or socks may be beneficial. Volunteer to help by leaving your name with visiting nurses or some other home care. They will notice where the needs exist and can pass your name along.
Yesterday’s Solution
Yester
Yesterday’s Solution
To
INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo
00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321
Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn
0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228
Word Sleuth Solution
Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Tremendous mental inspiration is available to you today—this may take some deep breaths and lots of note taking. If you channel this mental drive, you can be very influential. It is best to rely on facts rather than feelings, especially when an expensive mistake might be the outcome. You have a constant influence over others and fortunately, these others respect your opinion. Careful however, opinions can be ignored if others do not ask for it first. While shopping this afternoon or evening, major purchases that could increase in value would be a good bet today— antiques. Spend time with good friends this evening—this is not the best time to spend time alone. Friends and loved ones give you good feedback tonight.
Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your mind is wide open and insisting to be fed! This is a great day to study and learn new things, as well as to assess your own position. Others’ points of view will be clear, as will be yours to them. This is a good day to begin a business project or trip. Your ability to communicate your true feelings to friends and family is also accented. This period marks an excellent time to be with loved ones, whether at work or at play. This is likewise a most favorable time to go on a family outing or engage in some type of social activity with friends. Being outdoors is most stimulating now. It is not a wildly romantic time, but one where small-scale endeavors will meet with success. Incredibly romantic feelings are fostered in you, intensifying love relationships. Pisces (February 19-March 20) Your drive to accomplish is high and your ideas are catchy and ready to apply to the necessary work. If you give your best effort now, much can be accomplished. Your communicative abilities are emphasized. This is an excellent time to sway others to your cause through speeches or clever arguments—your thinking is most lucid and grasping. Be careful, though, from taking it to the extreme in trying to find a logical reason for every event that occurs, especially the actions of co-workers. Companionship with others is most rewarding. Everything-is-coming-up-roses and optimism rules the day. Life is for living and you cannot wait to partake of all those new and rewarding experiences that are waiting to enthrall you. Do not go overboard, but have fun.
INFORMATION
Thursday, February 18, 2010
35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 777 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada始a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368
Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw
For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital
24812000
Amiri Hospital
22450005
Maternity Hospital
24843100
Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital
25312700
Chest Hospital
24849400
Farwaniya Hospital
24892010
Adan Hospital
23940620
Ibn Sina Hospital
24840300
Al-Razi Hospital
24846000
Physiotherapy Hospital
POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha始a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station
24874330/9 CLINICS
Roudha
22517733
Adhaliya
22517144
Khaldiya
24848075
Keifan
24849807
Shamiya
24848913
Shuwaikh
24814507
Abdullah Salim
22549134
Al-Nuzha
22526804
Industrial Shuwaikh
24814764
Al-Khadissiya
22515088
Dasmah
22532265
Bneid Al-Ghar
22531908
Al-Shaab
22518752
Al-Kibla
22459381
Ayoun Al-Kibla
22451082
Al-Mirqab
22456536
Sharq
22465401
Salmiya
25746401
Jabriya
25316254
Maidan Hawally
25623444
Bayan
25388462
Mishref
25381200
W.Hawally
22630786
Sabah
24810221
Jahra
24770319
New Jahra
24575755
West Jahra
24772608
South Jahra
24775066
North Jahra
24775992
North Jleeb
24311795
Al-Ardhiya
24884079
Firdous
4892674
Al-Omariya
4719048
N.Kheitan
4710044
Rabiya
4732263
Fintas
3900322
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES
PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi
PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan
ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd
PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558
Jahra
Modern Jahra Madina Munawara
Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92
24575518 24566622
Capital
Ahlam Khaldiya Coop
Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop
22436184 24833967
Farwaniya
New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan
Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11
24734000 24881201 24726638
Hawally
Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy
Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B
25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554
EMERGENCY 112
PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly
25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272
22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801
Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah
22617700 25625030/60
Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581
Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew
25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282
(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 25717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148
Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300
Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290
(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)
25655535 Dentists:
Dr Anil Thomas
3729596/3729581
Dr. Shamah Al-Matar
22641071/2
Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed
22562226
Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer
22561444
Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan
22619557
Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash
22525888
Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan
25653755
Dr. Bader Al-Ansari
25620111
Neurologists:
Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123
Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan
Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3
Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288
25345875
Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman
22636464
Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali
22633135
Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari
25658888
Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr
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SPECTRUM
36
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Richie can’t wait to walk daughter down the aisle ionel Richie can’t wait to walk daughter Nicole down the aisle. The ‘All Night Long’ singer is thrilled the reality TV star is to tie the knot with Joel Madden - with who she has two children with, Harlow, two, and five-month-old Sparrow - and can’t wait to perform his father-of-the-bride duties. Lionel - who legally adopted Nicole when she was nine but had been a dad to her since the age of two - told People magazine: “My happiness for Nicole and Joel knows no boundaries. They have given me two beautiful grandchildren, Harlow and Sparrow, and have proven to be great parents. “I am not sure who is luckier, Nicole and Joel to have each other, or me, to have both of them in my life. I cannot wait to give away the bride!” Earlier this week, Nicole confirmed she was getting married when she appeared on ‘The Late Show With David Letterman’, sporting a large engagement ring. Good Charlotte singer Joel later confirmed the news - revealing they had managed to keep their engagement secret for some time. He tweeted: “Yep. I’m engaged. Very happy. “Yeah we’ve been engaged for a while so your all kind of late on that. But Thanks for the hooplah all the same (sic).” It has been reported the couple are planning to marry this summer and wedding plans are already well under way.
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herself away. And when she did finally emerge for rehearsals, organizers made all the photographers leave the auditorium.” Meanwhile, it has been reported that Ashley - who is recovering from a broken ankle - wanted to take Cheryl on a romantic break to Dubai to help solve their marriage problems. But Cheryl has cancelled all plans for the romantic trip after explicit messages and photographs of Ashley in his underwear emerged on two other women’s phones - an unnamed blonde office worker and glamour model Sonia Wilde. A source explained to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “As soon as the first story came out, that was the end to all of that. All plans for a romantic trip away were dead in the water.” Another added: “It’s definitely not going to happen. Ashley for one was looking forward to going away to chill out. But Cheryl put her foot down.” It is believed the brunette singer will now fly away with friends for a few days.
he 41-year-old singer, who is dating Spanish model Andres Velencoso, is hoping to start a family but needs to concentrate on her career commitments first. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It won’t happen just yet but soon I hope, it would be lovely. I’ve got a new album coming out - I’ll have to get that out of the way first.” Although Kylie wants to start a family with Andres, the ‘In My Arms’ songstress recently claimed she won’t be getting married to the 31-year-old model, who she has been dating since September 2008, any time soon. She
T Cole performed the BRIT Awards without wedding ring
Jessica Simpson is looking for an ‘artistic man’ he US singer-and-actress who counts American footballer Tony Romo and womanizing singer John Mayer among her ex
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boyfriends, and used to be married to singer Nick Lachey said she wants her next husband to be fit into her “emotional type”. She said: “My next husband will be an artistic man. It will show you the colors of my character, the person that I fall in love with next. “I don’t even have a type! I don’t have a physical type. I have an emotional type.” Jessica - who was most recently romantically linked to Billy Corgan - also said she would never appear naked in any role, and is saving herself for her next love. She added: “I will never do nudity. I don’t care how dark and intellectual the role could be, you know. I don’t care if I could get an Oscar for it, I’m not going to do it. “Those accolades mean nothing to me. I don’t think people deserve to see what’s under my clothing. That’s only for my next husband ha ha ha!” The ‘Come On Over’ singer - who gave up country music in April 2009 after a widely criticized move from her pop roots to the genre in 2007 - also reflected on her upcoming 30th birthday, admitting her life has turned out differently to how she thought when she was young. She told Allure magazine: “I never really thought, growing up, ‘What am I gonna be like when I’m 30?’ “I just kind of thought I had it figured out; I’m going to be this great pop star, have my songs on the radio, be married, and have babies. “But things can be taken away from you. A song cannot be played on the radio. An album cannot work.”
Pitt and Jolie to move to Venice
heryl Cole performed at the BRIT Awards last night without her wedding ring. The 26-yearold singer left her £160,000 diamondencrusted band at home as she performed an energetic version of ‘Fight for This Love’ at London’s Earls Court - the first time she has been seen in public since revelations of her husband Ashley Cole’s alleged affair emerged. She reportedly vowed: “Nothing’s going to ruin my big night.” After her performance, Cheryl smiled at the star-studded audience and said, ‘Thank you, thank you,’ while members of the crowd chanted, ‘Dump him, dump him.’ She was comforted by her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts, who hugged her as she left the stage. Before the show, backstage staff were ordered to leave Cheryl alone after she cancelled all interviews and photoshoots. Another source said: “There was a directive that she should be left alone. “Cheryl was nowhere to be seen. She just hid
Kylie Minogue wants a baby
Spears to spent $700,000 on her home ritney Spears has reportedly spent $700,000 renovating her home. The ‘3’ singer spent the huge amount on various projects on her lavish Californian property, including on decorating, new furniture and electronic equipment. A source said: “Britney remodeled her entire home. She loves spending money.” According to the insider, as well as a reported $200,000 spent on artwork, Britney splashed out $150,000 on electronics, purchased a new $100,000 bathroom, paid $100,000 for Venetian plaster walls and bought $150,000 of new furniture. Meanwhile, Britney’s lawyers have moved to make sure confidential information about the pop star and her children, Sean Preston, four, and three-year-old Jayden James, are legally sealed amid fears her private medical information could be leaked. Lawyers Geraldine Wyle and Jeryll Cohen said in legal documentation: “A
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revealed: “I don’t know where people get that information, but no, I’m not getting married. Well. I guess that I will one day, but it’s not in my immediate plans. “Love is number one in my priorities now. I’m in love.” Kylie recently revealed she was excited about become an auntie to her sister Dannii Minogue’s first child with rugby player Kris Smith. She tweeted: “Congratulations to my sister Dannii and her partner Kris on the happy news!!!! I am so excited to be an Aunty again!! WOW WOW WOW!! Xxx (sic)”
rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are moving to Venice for three months. The Hollywood couple and their six children - Maddox, eight, Pax, six, Zahara, five, Shiloh, three, and 19-month-old twins Vivienne and Knox arrived in the Italian canal city and intend to stay there while Angelina films her new movie ‘The Tourist’. The family - who have homes in Los Angeles, France and New Orleans - are renting out the stunning canal side Palazzo, which is situated between the Rialto and Accademia parts of the city and faces San
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Toma. After arriving in a private plane at Marco Polo Airport the Jolie-Pitt clan took two speedboats - one for their luggage and another for the family - to their new home. Angelina - who begins filming on March 15 - has previously spoken about the family’s jet-setting lifestyle. She said: “It’s hard, and maybe one day we’ll have to stay in one place. I’m sure the kids are going to be 18 and say, “God, I just want to stay in one place.” They’ll never want to leave home.” The couple recently denied reports their five-year relationship was in trouble.
Holloway to be his daughter’s hero osh Holloway wants to be his daughter’s hero. The ‘Lost’ actor says having 10month-old Java - his first child with wife Yessica Kumala - has given him a newfound appreciation for life and makes him want to be a better person. He said: “It’s made me hungry, and so joyous about life in general. I feel a responsibility to be a better human being. To be her hero. I mean, I gotta be. I will be.” The 40-year-old star says he is a hands-on dad and even loves changing his daughter’s diapers. He said: “I change her all the time. I’m super fast. I bathe her, I do everything.” As well as focusing on his family commitments, Josh has work on his mind as he prepares to finish filming on the final
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Google search for Ms. Spears’ name yields 54,300,000 hits. “Photographs and personal information, particular information of a highly confidential nature (such as personal medical information of Ms Spears and her children), can potentially reap thousands if not millions of dollars. “The possibility of such enormous profits presents a substantial risk that Ms. Spears’ most confidential medical and personal information will be disclosed.”— Bang Showbiz
Rihanna is often mistaken for rudeness ihanna thinks people perceive her to be a “b***h”. The ‘Russian Roulette’ singer says her shy side is often mistaken for rudeness because she isn’t always open and chatty when she meets new people. She told WPGC radio: “I don’t really open up to a lot of people, usually I go very quiet. “If I don’t know someone often I don’t say very much, I observe and people think I am snooty because of that. People assume that I’m a b***h. But I don’t think that I am. I just don’t feel I
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have to be that enthusiastic if I don’t know who you are yet.” Rihanna - who was famously assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown last February - also said that, despite the incident, she had never considered stepping out of the public eye and can’t see herself making the decision to do so in the future. She added: “If I could step away from the music industry? I’d never do that because I really love what I do and it would be a shame to give this away because I dreamt about it for so many years.”
series of ‘Lost’. Despite the success of the US drama, he insists he doesn’t want playing badboy Sawyer in the show to give him an unfair advantage when looking for more acting work. He told People magazine: “I have a huge desire to do other things - TV, movies - and I feel like I’m just getting started. It’s gonna be a whole new adventure. “I’ll always keep roots in Hawaii but inevitably, I must go to Los Angeles - that’s where the heart of the business is. It’ll be back to the audition room, and I’m game. I don’t want straight offers - I want to read for things. “I want to prove to myself and to that town that I can go forward. I don’t want anything given to me.”
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SPECTRUM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Music & Movies
Into the future, with an open eye
A scene from Future Eyeís Theatre’s drama ‘Kallan Kayariya Veedu’. By Sunil K Cherian KUWAIT: In his latest movie, “The Tale Sufi Told,” award winning Indian director Priyanandanan attempts to sketch the tale of a Hindu woman who converts to Islam for the sake of her lover. The movie features a bold and brave heroine, a rare sight in recent Indian movies, who evokes the veneration and vengeance of fellow villagers. The film is slated to be released tomorrow and is adapted for the big screen from a novel set in pre-independent India. The director’s bold endeavor has been eagerly anticipated since its critically acclaimed premiere at the International Film Festival of Kerala last month. “My source of energy is my theater years,” said
Rajesh Poonthuruthi being directed by Priyanandanan during the workshop.
Indian director opens local theater group Priyan, as the director is affectionately known. Priyan was here to launch Future Eye Theater, an open arena for theater lovers in Kuwait. The director spent several years in theater rewriting classic plays and performing them using ordinary people from his village. He is known for drawing parallels between folktales and contemporary social life in films. Priyan’s first film, Neythukaran (The Weaver) was produced by collecting funds from local people. The director was also made famous for performing the classic Sanskrit drama, Mudraraakshasam in
New Delhi, with actors being his villagers. “In theater, there’s a harmony like that of an extended family. Teamwork is more visible there”, Priyan said. The director expressed his delight in watching the team effort of the Future Eye group in Kuwait. “Future Eye is an open stage for anyone who loves theater,” said Sajeev K Peter, President of the Future Eye Theatre. “The emphasis is on embracing all that is relevant in world theater,” he added. Future Eye Theatre - consisting of 25 expatriates - invited Priyan to Kuwait for their debut perform-
ance at Central School in Abbasiya. The 40-minute play, a satire on the evils of bureaucracy, was led by first-time director Shemej Kumar KK. “The play peeps into the wrongdoings of officials and the victimization of the poor,” he said. He added that directing the play was a “joyful experience since members were free from all preconceived notions.” Futuer Eye hosted a full-day workshop led by Priyan on drama in the United Indian School in Abbasiya. The workshop was attended by many theater enthusiasts who also took part in various role-
Big success for ‘A Little Night Music’ in Paris rench audiences used to turn up their noses at Broadway-style musicals. Has a new staging of “A Little Night Music” won them over at last? Parisian theatergoers and critics are heaping praise on the first-ever French production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s tale of romantic intrigues and escapades based on the Ingmar Bergman film “Smiles of a Summer Night.” It stars Greta Scacchi as celebrated actress Desiree Armfeldt and Leslie Caron as her mother, the worldly wise Madame Armfeldt. La Croix newspaper’s Web site dubbed the English-language production “a well-deserved triumph.” It said the audience at Monday’s premiere gave Sondheim “one of those spontaneous standing ovations that mean both ‘bravo’ and ‘thank you.”‘ Le Figaro newspaper’s headline read: “Stephen Sondheim, the giant of Broadway in Paris at last.” “A Little Night Music,” directed by Lee Blakeley, is playing at the Theatre du Chatelet in the heart of Paris, which has lately played a big role in persuading France to get over its historic skepticism about musical theater. An English-language production of “The Sound of Music” recently ran for five weeks at Chatelet to rave reviews. Amazingly, the theater will stage the French revolutionary tale “Les
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Miserables” for more than a month starting in May-in English. The musical’s original version was in French, but it never had the same overwhelming impact as the version later made famous in London and then Broadway. Chatelet’s director, Jean-Luc Choplin, says he wanted to put Broadway in the spotlight in 2009-2010 because it “has produced so many masterpieces and artists of renown” but “has so rarely been honored in France.” Besides dancer-actress Caron, star of the classic 1950s movie musicals “An American in Paris” and “Gigi,” and Scacchi, the cast includes Lambert Wilson as Desiree’s longtime lover. Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper said Caron “wears her age with noblesse and energy.” Caron has been working hard to master the role’s difficult singing part. She recalled singing in “Grand Hotel” in Berlin and “hating it.” “This is different,” she told Le Figaro. “I’m an old lady, I don’t need to have a pretty voice. What counts are the words.” “A Little Night Music” runs at the Theatre du Chatelet through Saturday. A revival of “A Little Night Music” currently is playing to hefty business on Broadway. It stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desiree and Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt. — AP
Yoko revives Plastic Ono Band with Clapton as guest
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please, I think he should be here,” Pitts told a news conference. “The Hunter” and the documentary “Red, White & the Green” by Nader Davoodi, screened the same day, touch on the protests in the run-up to Iran’s disputed presidential election last year. Pitts said “The Hunter” was intended to raise questions rather than make a political statement. It is about a man whose wife is killed in cross-fire between police and demonstrators in Tehran. Driven to distraction with grief and desperate for revenge, he runs amok and shoots two policemen with his hunting gun. Police chase him into the woods and arrest
Al Pacino signs on for cop thriller l Pacino is slipping into the shoes vacated by Robert De Niro in “Son of No One,” a police thriller starring recent box office champ Channing Tatum. The script, written by director Dito Montiel, centers on a young cop (Tatum, “Dear John”) who is assigned to a precinct in the working class neighborhood where he grew up, with an old secret surfacing and threatening to destroy his life and family. Terrence Howard, Ray Liotta and Katie Holmes are in various stages of dealmaking to join the cast. Shooting on the Nu Image/Millennium Films project is scheduled to begin in New York on March 22. Pacino’s recent credits include 2008’s “Righteous Kill” and 2007’s “Ocean’s Thirteen.” — Reuters
oko Ono revived the Plastic Ono Band for a concert Tuesday night that was part tribute, part vanity project and all irresistible fun. The show belonged as much to her son Sean Lennon, 34, as to Ono, 76. Looking and sounding like his famous father, Sean Lennon pulled together an all-star lineup that included Eric Clapton, Paul Simon and Bette Midler as special guests. Plastic Ono Band was the name of the conceptual supergroup that recorded John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” in 1969 and one Ono had not used artistically since the 1970s. The succession of stars led to the inevitable sing-along of that anthem for the encore at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Clapton played with fellow rockers Klaus Voormann and Jim Keltner-all members of the original Plastic Ono Band. Ono held the stage for the first act, building up from an a cappella opening number to a standard rock lineup to a 7-piece backing band that found its stride with funk-inspired
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(Left) French actor Lambert Wilson and British actress Rebecca Bottone. — AP
Iran bars director from Berlin festival ran prevented a film director from traveling on Tuesday to the Berlin film festival, the same day a drama and a documentary about the country were screened, festival organizers said. They said a travel ban had been imposed on Jafar Panahi, winner of many international awards, including the top prize at the Venice film festival for “The Circle” in 2000. “It is ridiculous to think you can stop people from saying what they think,” fellow Iranian director Rafi Pitts said after the screening of his bleak drama “The Hunter.” “I believe in freedom of speech...I believe people should be able to travel wherever they
playing activities guided by Priyan. The director had attendees act out short stories and poems by well known and published Malayalam authors. Future Eye’s General Convener, PD Paulose, is already looking forward to the next project. “If we wait for something to happen, it will never happen”, he said. “We believe in doing small plays that are within our budget and bounds.” Before he left Kuwait, Priyan promised to continue his cooperation with Future Eye. “Artists have to plant a tree, the shade of which will be available to future generations”, he said poetically. Perhaps theater movements like Future Eye do just that. They are rooted in the past but grow in the present.
him but they get lost and the situation becomes increasingly aggressive and violent. Gradually, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the hunters and the hunted, between good and bad. “You don’t want to make a film with one flat line, it’s not just politics,” Pitts, who plays the lead role, said. “The situation the character finds himself in, which is very Kafkaesque, relates to many countries.” Pitts said he wanted to show that people pushed to the brink can become ticking time bombs. He described Iran’s youth as “a generation that is prepared to die as it has nothing to lose.” That generation is the focus
of “Red, White & the Green”— Davoodi’s hour-long documentary shot with a hand-held camera in the three weeks leading up to last June’s election. One of the most striking aspects of the film, in which ordinary Iranians discuss their hopes and fears for the vote and the country in general, is the overwhelming sense of optimism shared by excitable people filling the streets of Tehran. In the weeks following the vote violent clashes broke out and opponents of reelected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said nearly 70 people were killed and thousands detained. — Reuters
rhythms. The second act, though disjointed at times and largely unrehearsed, gave the adoring audience what it wanted: guest artists including Scissor Sisters, Justin Bond, and Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, all playing Ono songs. Midler sang “Yes, I’m Your Angel,” a light-hearted number Ono said she wrote for Lennon when he was growing anxious about turning 40. Lennon was shot dead by a deranged fan outside his New York City apartment two months after turning 40 in 1980. Other artists dipped into Lennon’s repertoire. Gene Ween’s version of Lennon’s love song “Oh Yoko” was touching, with Sean Lennon playing along. Simon and his son Harper Simon-a childhood friend of Sean Lennon’s-played in guitar duet, providing an acoustic warm-up to Clapton’s blazing lead guitar on “Yer Blues” from the Beatles’ White Album, on which Clapton played as a session guitarist. —AFP
File photo shows Yoko Ono Lennon talks about her late husband at the opening of the exhibit ‘Lennon: His Life and Work. — MCT
Moore, Bening team up in lesbian family comedy Beatle McCartney hopes for Abbey Road studios rescue J
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British singer Susan Boyle performs on the stage of the Ariston Theatre in Sanremo, during the 60th Italian Music Festival on February 16, 2010. — AFP
ulianne Moore and Annette Bening team up in “The Kids Are All Right” in which they play a long-term lesbian couple whose lives are turned upside down when their two teenage children contact their biological father. The family comedy, screening at the Berlin film festival out of competition, had the audience laughing and applauding on Wednesday with a sharp script and increasingly complicated love triangle that forces the characters to rethink their lives. Moore, 49, said she had wanted to work with director Lisa Cholodenko since her 1998 feature “High Art”, which also involves a lesbian relationship. Cholodenko took nearly five years to complete the script, although with gay marriage such a hot topic in the United States, her timing turned out to be good. “I don’t see myself as an overtly political person,”
ormer Beatle Paul McCartney has spoken of his hopes that the band’s historic Abbey Road studios could be saved after reportedly being put up for sale by British music group EMI. “There are a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it,” McCartney told BBC television Tuesday. “I sympathize with them. I hope they can do something, it’d be great.” The Financial Times has reported that EMI put the north London studios up for sale in an effort to reduce its debts. They have been used by a long line of artists since the Fab Four made them famous and their sale could raise tens of millions of pounds, said the business daily. “I have got so many memories there with the Beatles,” said McCartney. “It still is a great studio. So it would be lovely if somebody could get a thing together to save it.” EMI has declined to comment, but the FT quoted people familiar with the situation as saying the
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US film director Lisa Cholodenko and US actress Julianne Moore pose for photographers ahead of the press conference for the film ‘The Kids Are All Right’ during the 60th Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin yesterday. —AFP the director told reporters in Berlin after a press screening. “What I do feel good about is that there’s so much activity in the States right now about gay marriage. I think the timing of
this film is quite interesting (although) it’s not calculated. “I feel like, as an artist, I’ve contributed politically.” Jules (Moore) and Nic (Bening) are trying to be good. — Reuters
music group is courting bidders as it looks to reduce a debt burden stemming from its 2007 buyout by private equity firm Terra Firma. It is unclear whether EMI would sell the Abbey Road brand as well as the studios, but one media lawyer told the paper: “The brand is worth more than the building... anybody who wants the studios will want the brand.” EMI bought the property in the St John’s Wood area for 100,000 pounds in 1929. The Beatles used it for most of their recording in the 1960s, including the 1969 album “Abbey Road”, which featured them walking over a pedestrian crossing outside the studios before they split up. Other artists who have used the studios include Pink Floyd, who recorded “Dark Side of the Moon” there, as well as Radiohead, the Manic Street Preachers, Travis and Blur. EMI is seeking to bolster its finances as Terra Firma tries to avoid breaching agreements on 3.3 billion pounds (5.2 billion dollars)of loans, the FT added. — AFP
SPECTRUM
38
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fashion
n g i r e is big trend at y a L
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RODARTE The bittersweet drama that played out on the Rodarte runway reminded fashion insiders why Kate and Laura Mulleavy have become such a big deal in such a short time. The theme of their collection was the hazy state of consciousness that comes between sleep and being awake. Lovely, lacedraped dresses in a light, almost dusty palette captured the feeling of vintage lingerie and wallpaper prints, but there was something weighing on them, too-a seriousness, a respect. The chunky knits, sometimes with yarn fringe, were just on the right side of looking well loved and worn in, yet luxurious in a way that a designer collection demands. The layers that have been so popular at New York Fashion Week were certainly on this catwalk in a Chelsea artist space, but the Mulleavys had a lighter touch because of their airy fabrics and loose-weave knits. “The draped dresses in gauze and lace were spectacular,” said Ikram Goldman, the Chicago retailer who advises first lady Michelle Obama on her wardrobe. “The way they were manipulated and draped to perfection on the body. ... They were beautiful. They were perfect.” VERA WANG Black-at least the way Vera Wang does itcan be light. Wang debuted her fall collection for the editors, stylists and retailers who have gotten quite used to seeing black over the past few days, but made them seem new. The show’s title was “The Bride Wore Black,” but Wang said in her notes she was drawn to the color (or non-color, as it may be) because it’s “a contemporary metaphor for youth, romance and sophistication ringed ever so slightly with a sense of mystery.” She opened with a menswear-style black jacket, turned feminine with oversized organza corsages on the lapel. That set the tone for the yin-and-yang vibe of most of the outfits: a featherweight faille bolero with rosettes was paired with a wool-knit jumpsuit with a tuxedo stripe down the side, for example, and a tightly tailored Nehru jacket had sexy sheer sleeves.
HALSTON
THE ROW Without the paparazzi in sight-and just a few fashion photographers perched at the end of a black wooden runway-Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen presented their collection The Row to a small group of fashion insiders. The small show, held far away from the Bryant Park tents, seemed an indication they wanted the headlines to be about the clothes, a strategy employed by fellow camera-magnet Victoria Beckham earlier this week. The Olsens appeared only briefly at the end to take a very quick bow in front of Carey Mulligan, Chloe Sevigny, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and her French Vogue counterpart, Carine Roitfeld. The
clothes were indeed quite serious-and sophisticated. The first model wore a simple black wrap coat that was belted and black trousers with flat gladiator sandals. Most of the collection was black, which has been the norm on many catwalks at New York Fashion Week. Adding textural interest, though, has been a trick to making all the black more interesting-and the Olsens mastered it. An A-line carriage skirt in a croc pattern was worn with a slim shirt and a delicate spaghettistrap camisole on top. Another look featured a buttery leather corset over a flowing, asymmetrical-hem dress. HALSTON The shoes to fill were big and expectations high, but Halston’s creative director Marios Schwab said he tried not to think about that pressure on his debut collection for the storied label. He can now breathe a sigh of relief: He presented a warmly received series of dresses-and a handful of other silhouettes-Monday night. Sarah Jessica Parker, who will be designing a contemporary label called Halston Heritage, turned out to see what her new colleague had done. Two of the most attention-worthy were done in the spirit of the house’s founder, the late Roy Halston Frowick. One was a slinky red jersey with cutouts around the bustline, and the other was a super-sexy yellow halter top with open sides and back. But there was more than the liquidlike jersey looks that made Halston a powerhouse in the 1970s and ‘80s among the high-fashion crowd at Studio 54. For the woman who wears Halston in 2010, Schwab added fabrics such as neoprene, leather, cashmere and even a metallic cracked lame, used on an asymmetrical cropped jacket. CHRIS BENZ It seems Chris Benz drank the Kool-Aid that’s been served at New York Fashion Week, tapping into the rebel-schoolgirl look with outfits built around classic plaids, sometimes walking-short versions, and then shaking it up with bra tops and metallic biker jackets. But Benz also spiked it with something a little extra: an adventurous attitude. The models at his presentation Monday in an artist space wore acid-yellow and bright-purple fur mittens and trapper hats, too. A liquidlike metallic top with sweatpants pooling around the ankles and a fur vest with oversized hood, a poncho with a lame sheen and a cozy swirl-knit minidress probably would all make their way into the suitcase when Benz’s young hipster customer goes away to the “country” for the weekend. BEBE Reality show stars Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian can now sell the clothes right off their backs to their fans. The brunette sisters collaborated with fast-fashion chain bebe to offer a line inspired by pieces from the girls’ closets, a collection shown Tuesday during New York Fashion Week to another face made famous by reality TV: “Jersey Shore” diva Jenni “JWoww” Farley. The line, which is available this month in bebe stores, consisted of basic jerseys, fitted blazers and leather separates devoid of embellishment or the company’s signature rhinestone branding. Kim Kardashian posed for cameras in one of the looks-a gray stretch mini dress under a cropped leather corset-that emphasized the assets for which she is known. The tight and short silhouette was reiterated throughout, including spandex one-shoulder dresses with side cutouts and a stretch jersey-andmesh tube dress so short that the model had to adjust the length mid-catwalk. — AP
RODARTE
an’t decide what to wear? Pile it all on. Layering was a key trend at New York Fashion Week as it continued its sixth day of fall previews Tuesday, with a mix of fabrics that created a textured look. A few designers like Peter Som and Alexander Wang showed models who looked like they’d thrown on everything in the closet all at once. Another trend was the contrasting sleeve, using a different material than the rest of the outfit, a look featured at Chris Benz and Derek Lam, among other shows. For all that layering, you need a tissue-thin, long-sleeve T-shirt to go underneath it all. And a coat that’s a little roomier for all those layers.
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SPECTRUM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fashion
British fashion designer McQueen hanged himself: Inquest ritish fashion designer Alexander McQueen hanged himself in a wardrobe after leaving a note, an inquest into his shock death last week heard yesterday. McQueen, the former enfant terrible of the British fashion world who went on to find global commercial success with his provocative designs, was found dead at his central London home last Thursday, aged 40. The designer-full name Lee Alexander McQueen-died from asphyxiation and hanging at his home in London’s upmarket Mayfair district, according to a post-mortem examination. The results of the post-mortem were presented at Westminster Coroner’s Court, as an inquest into his death was opened. “At about 10.30am last Thursday... a man was found hanging in his wardrobe at Flat 1, Green Street, London, W1,” said coroner’s officer Lynda Martindill. “On Monday February 15, he was identified as Lee
B
Alexander McQueen, aged 40, born 17/3/69 in Lewisham, southeast London. He was a single man, a fashion designer,” she added, in a five-minute hearing. Representing the police at the inquest-which was adjourned until April 28 — detective inspector Paul Armstrong said that a “note” had been found at the scene, which he handed to the coroner for examination as part of the inquest. From a humble background, McQueen rose to become one of Britain’s most lauded fashion designers. A four-time winner of the British designer of the year award, he designed for Givenchy and was creative director of his own label which was bought out by Gucci. Media reports said McQueen’s mother Joyce died on February 2, and in a comment on his Twitter page days before his death he wrote that he had had an “awful week.” McQueen’s close friend and fashion icon Isabella Blow killed herself three years ago at the age of 48. Suffering from cancer
and depression, she died after drinking weed killer having told friends she was going out shopping. McQueen’s unexpected death shocked the fashion world and cast a pall over preparations for London Fashion Week, which begins on Friday. Organizers have pledged to hold a “simple and respectful” tribute to the designer, without giving further details. While he had not attended the event for a long time, he was one of Britain’s most famous and bestloved fashion exports. London department store Liberty set up a window display dedicated to him this week, while similar tributes are expected over the weekend as were seen at New York Fashion Week. At a charity catwalk show in the Big Apple last week, supermodels including Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen paraded seven spectacular designs from McQueen’s last collection, shown in Paris last October. Among the first tributes which
poured in within minutes of his death was that of German couture legend Karl Lagerfeld, who told AFP: “There was always some attraction to death, his designs were sometimes dehumanized. “Who knows, perhaps after flirting with death too often, death attracts you,” he added. On Tuesday night, flamboyant US superstar Lady Gaga, who has worn many of McQueen’s creations, paid an emotional tribute to him after scooping three awards at Britain’s top music awards the Brits in London. As she took the stage to play her song “Telephone”, she told the audience: “This is for Alexander McQueen.” Sales of McQueen’s clothes and accessories have surged, as fashion fans rushed to grab mementos. Liberty said its stock “started flying off the shelves,” while the Selfridges department store said it had seen a “very significant and immediate uplift” in sales.—AFP
This file picture taken on January 18, 2010 shows British designer Alexander McQueen acknowledging the audience after his Fall-Winter 2010-2011 Menswear collection in Milan.—AFP
Models present creations by Pakistani designer Nickie Nina on the first day of Pakistan Fashion Design Council Fashion Week in Lahore. Fashion week will showcase 32 local designers over the four-day event with twists on traditional Pakistani dress and western styles. — AFP photos
In this photo taken on Tuesday night, Pakistani models present a final look of creations by local designer Ali Zeesshan during a fashion show in Lahore, Pakistan. — AP photos
Lingerie shops lured in men for Valentine’s Day W
ith a little detective work and a lot of courage, men can succeed at perhaps the most daunting Valentine’s Day task: slogging through the wide world of chemises, bras and panties for that perfect little something. For her. That SHE would like. Boutiques and retail chains have set up “boyfriend corners” with PlayStations and found other ways to entertain bored dudes dragged lingerie shopping by their wives or girlfriends. This is the time of year that more men strike out on their own to make holiday purchases without a clue about sizes and styles. “There’s usually a bit of shyness,” said Jessica Hlavac, manager of the hip, one-room shop Panty Raid in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles. “With the name of our store, men think it’s going to be a little crazier than it is. ... But they can relax. We say to them: ‘It’s just smaller clothing. There’s nothing
to be afraid of.”‘ Hlavac, though, is used to looking at the shop’s bras by Cosabella, Jezebel and other brands priced up to $85. And the racks of turquoise boyshorts next to zebra-striped bras edged in pink trim. Mannequins wrapped in black corsets, sporting huge, cutout hearts for faces, stand in the front window. Normally, one or two men come into the shop on their own. Around the sweetheart holiday, Feb. 14, a dozen a day can be expected. Hlavac, who has been helping male customers for years, asks them pointed questions about the individual tastes of each woman. “I see people in the neighborhood. I get to know them, and they know me,” she said. Another Los Angeles lingerie shop, Sugar Lilie, has a group-oriented approach to luring in men: a nighttime “MenClave” series with live models wearing the dos and don’ts of potential lingerie gifts. The boutique, which
opened in November, recently hosted one of the nights for four men, treating them to beers and styling tips as they learned the difference between trashy and sexy. “Our illustration of trashy was a little two-piece set that was pink and blue polka dots, that came with the panties, and was made of polyester,” said owner Stacy Shakoor. “The guy may think, ‘Oh my god, that is so cute.’ But the model put it on, and she goes, ‘I don’t like it. I wouldn’t wear it. It’s just gross.”‘ The boutique specializes in retro, classic looks, from red silk lace-up corsets by Corset Creations to pinktrimmed chemises by couture designer John Galliano. Black and white shots by erotic photographer Steve Diet Goedde line the walls. Like Panty Raid, the shop also has a hangout corner just for men. Pointing to Shakoor, “Men-Clave” attendee
Toddius Maximus said he learned some helpful lessons. “I know that she stressed it’s good to do research, with knowing the right size,” he said. “I also think it’s good to not assume the woman is going to like something.” Buying something classy for Valentine’s Day does not mean spending a lot of money, Shakoor said. “Getting a panty and bra set, or even a really nice pair of panties,” she said. “The colors are based on what your woman likes, and that’s where paying attention comes in.” There always is the option of buying a gift certificate, she said. National lingerie chain Frederick’s of Hollywood, known for sexy, slinky outfits, lures in men by mailing out an exclusive Valentine’s Day gift guide to regular male customers. Best sellers for the holiday include a three-piece heart print satin pajama set, retailing online for $29, and a teddy with a plunging
neckline, said Linda LoRe, president of Frederick’s of Hollywood Group Inc. Victoria’s Secret spokeswoman Jennifer Fahey said that getting men to the stores or online for the holiday starts with women. The mass retail chain has been promoting a holiday campaign featuring animal prints, lace and bright colors. “We have some fun online tools to help women drop hints for men. On our Victoria’s Secret Facebook Fan Page, women can fill out a flirty ‘love note’ and post it to their sweetheart’s wall,” Fahey said. Like Shakoor, Fahey also suggested that a man do some investigative work first and take a look in his girlfriend’s or wife’s lingerie drawer to see what size she is. “The three things men need to know: You’re buying it for her. You’re not buying for yourself. You have to know sizing, and you’ve got to shop where you’re comfortable,” Shakoor said. — AP
www.kuwaittimes.net
Lady Gaga in Brit awards triple, pays tribute to McQueen F
lamboyant US superstar Lady Gaga has scooped three awards at Britain’s top music awards the Brits, where she paid an emotional tribute to late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. At the 30th anniversary edition of the awards Tuesday, the eccentric New Yorker was awarded all three prizes she was up for, including best international female solo artist and international breakthrough act. Sporting a lace outfit with a huge white wig and Winners at the 30th BRIT music awards British female solo artist Lily Allen British male solo artist Dizzee Rascal British breakthrough act JLS British group Kasabian MasterCard British album Florence & the Machine - Lungs British single JLS - Beat Again Critics’ choice Ellie Goulding Brits album of 30 years Oasis - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Brits performance of 30 years Spice Girls - Wannabe/Who Do You Think You Are International female solo artist Lady Gaga International male solo artist Jay-Z International album Lady Gaga - The Fame International breakthrough act Lady Gaga British producer Paul Epworth Outstanding contribution award Robbie Williams—Reuters mask at the London ceremony, she also picked up the award for best international album for “The Fame.” Accepting her album award, the tearful star said: “I was really excited to win the first two awards. This award means even more to me because I worked so hard on this album for so long. “My fans were the first people to believe in
me. Thank you so much.” As she took the stage to play her song “Telephone”, she told the audience: “This is for Alexander McQueen.” The songstress was a huge fan of British designer McQueen, whose death on Thursday aged 40 after apparently committing suicide sent shock waves through the fashion world. She recently donned his towering lobster claw shoes for her Bad Romance music video and often incorporated his pieces into her stage acts. This year’s Brits were marked by success for female artists. Singer Lily Allen was named best British female solo artist and Florence And the Machine-the stage name for singer Florence Welch-picked up best British album for “Lungs”. Male artists also received their share of awards. Jay-Z picked up best international male solo artist, while British singer Robbie Williams received a gong for his outstanding contribution to music. Williams, a former member of boy band Take That turned solo artist, celebrated his success with a live medley of his international hits including “Let Me Entertain You” and “Angels”. Rockers Kasabian were named best British group after a year which has seen them chalk up their second number one album. British rapper Dizzee Rascal was named best British male solo artist, and JLS scooped two awards for best breakthrough act and best British single for “Beat Again.” There were also two special awards to mark 30 years of the Brits. British rockers Oasis, who have recently split up, received the award for best Brits album of the past three decades for their record “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”. The Spice Girls were honored for the best Brits performance of the past 30 years, for their rendition of “Wannabe / Who Do You Think You Are?” in 1997. Cheryl Cole, whose Chelsea footballer husband Ashley is at the centre of lurid newspaper allegations, gave a slightly chaotic performance where the dancing did not always seem to match the sound, but received strong applause. Despite getting off to a shaky start when the sound briefly disappeared, this year’s Brits was largely free of the controversies that have plagued the awards in past years. In 1996, Michael Jackson’s performance of “Earth Song” was interrupted when Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker ran across the stage and waved his bottom in Jackson’s direction.—AFP
Kasabian with their Brit Awards for Best British Group and Best British Album.
Former Spice Girls Geri Halliwell, right Lady Gaga with her Brit Awards and Mel B with their Brit Award for for Best International Female, Best British Performance over the last Best Breakthrough Act and Best 30 years. International Album.
Lady Gaga performs at the Brit Awards 2010 at Earls Court exhibition center in London, Tuesday.—AP
Lily Allen with her award for Best British Female.
Robbie Williams reacts with his special award for the Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Ellie Goulding with her Critics Choice Brit award.
JLS react with their awards for Best British Breakthrough Act and best British Single.
lessly,” Rangel said. The smooth ending to Sadie’s quest came despite a brief protest staged by animal rights campaigners who ran into the ring. Campaigners, notably from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have long criticized the highly competitive dog show world in which perfection is pursued relentlessly. The big win was also a far cry from the damp ending to Sadie’s run last year, when she made an unscheduled pee stop on the green carpet while showing in the finale. The Westminster Kennel Club dog show, the canine world’s cross between the Oscars, Olympics and Fashion Week, featured some 2,500 pooches of every size, shape and hair type competing to be declared America’s best friend. Although
Scottish Terrier Sadie poses for the press after winning Best in Show at the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 16, 2010.—AFP
Sadie had been widely expected to triumph, the tense last stages of the competition are often unpredictable. Handlers run around a pen in the arena center while the judge scrutinizes the dog’s movement and grooming. L ast year, an elderly Sussex Spaniel named Stump was the surprise winner, his case possibly aided by Sadie’s bathroom accident. The Westminster Kennel Club show is considered by many to be the most prestigious of all dog beauty contests. The show, in its 134th year, was broadcast live on USA Network television and has a worldwide following. This year, the Best in Show contest featured pooches to satisfy most tastes. The lean red Doberman Blazing Star leant a touch of menace to the pampered canine crowd. Although most associated with police dogs, Dobermans are no stranger to the Westminster championship and Blazing Star has an especially starstudded pedigree. The Toy Poodle named Moon Walk looked like an escaped candy floss stick as she pranced around the pen, her behind and face shaved clean and her head a mass of puffy white hair. Bearing the standard for Pulis, which have never won a Best in Show, was Field of Dreams whose long black hair resembled dreadlocks. The French Bulldog vying to be the first French breed to triumph in New York was the most unassuming of the pack, a humble, rather porky creature who trundled around the pen without complaint and blinked in the strong spotlights. Judge Elliott Weiss needed only seconds after asking handlers to take one final trot around before he made his decision.—AFP
Florence & the Machine with her Best British Album award.
New Orleans revs up the Mardi Gras mood
Sadie the terrier is top US dog S
adie, a black-haired Scottish Terrier, has completed her inexorable rise to top-dog by winning the Westminster Kennel Club’s Best in Show prize. The fouryear-old with the breed’s trademark beard and antenna-like tail was the bookies’ heavy favorite in New York after having already amassed 111 other competition titles. On Tuesday, she beat six hungry rivals in the last round: a Doberman Pinscher, a Brittany Spaniel, a Toy Poodle, a Puli, a Whippet and a French Bulldog. Sadie reacted to the cheers from a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden arena by standing on her hind legs and reaching out-not for the trophy, but a biscuit from handler Gabriel Rangel. “I was truly enjoying the moment. She showed flaw-
Dizzee Rascal with his Brit Award for Best British Male.
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A duke in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club displays a gold coconut to revelers.—AFP
till giddy from tasting Super Bowl success, New Orleans residents ratcheted up the party mood Tuesday and put the finishing touches to their costumes for the legendary Mardi Gras. The most committed of the revelers in the southern US city began gathering on parade routes on a freezing Monday night to camp out ready for the big event. The 12-day carnival season culminates Tuesday with Mardi Gras-a citywide celebration featuring gaudy costumes, marching bands and decorative floats with riders tossing beads, doubloons and trinkets to huge crowds. The season is the fifth since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and the excitement over the New Orleans Saints’ first-ever Super Bowl win has overlapped with Carnival festivities. The result is a collective lifting of public spirits to heights not seen since Katrina’s floodwaters devastated the city on August 29, 2005 — killing nearly 1,000 residents and displacing tens of thousands more from their homes. “We’re back!” Lawton Fabacher, 29, a native New Orleanian said as she sprayed gray paint on a replica of the Saints Super Bowl trophy before a parade Sunday night. Fabacher, an unemployed school teacher, who gets by on contract work as a substitute instructor, said the Saints’ internationally televised Super Bowl victory had been a major boost for the city’s flood-worn image. “This (team) is like a big billboard for this city,” she said, triumphantly. Moments later, the Bacchus parade got under way, with the Valentine’s Day theme “Love is in the Air.” Tens of thousands of spectators dressed in Valentinered mingled with Saints fans attired in team colors of black-and-gold, mixed in with traditional Carnival colors of purple, green and gold. Marching bands played Saints’ theme songs like “Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk)” along with Carnival standards, like Al Johnson’s “Carnival Time.” As recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, Carnival season begins January 6 — the Feast of the Epiphany-and ends with Mardi Gras, the last festive day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the austere Lenten season. When Carnival 2010 started last month, Saints fever was already building, with the appearance of traditional seasonal “king cakes” in the team’s black and gold, instead of the purple, green and gold colors of the holiday. A new political era is also dawning in the city with the inauguration of a new mayor and city council on May 3. Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu, now the state’s lieutenant governor, won a stunning 66.5 percent of the vote on February 6 to replace Ray Nagin, an unpopular, term-limited incumbent who led the city through Katrina. Landrieu’s victory was overshadowed by the Saints Super Bowl win the following day, but it was seen as another sign of the city emerging from the bad memories that accompanied the devastating hurricane. For the moment, the city was happy to enjoy the twin thrills of Super Bowl success and Carnival. As the Carnival monarch of the Bacchus parade, Saints quarterback Drew Brees-the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player-appeared atop a float dressed as the wine god. He hurled toy footballs to thrilled crowds below. Mardi Gras will kick off later Tuesday with jazz great Pete Fountain leading his Half-Fast marching club on its 50th anniversary trek up Saint Charles Avenue to the French Quarter. Despite near-freezing temperatures overnight, hundreds of ladders and tents lined the streetcar tracks of the historic avenue. Their owners camped out in anticipation of a full morning of parades, marching bands and floats.—AFP