13 Mar

RI PT IO N BS C SU THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF

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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010

Heli-skiing back in Kashmir as violence dips

RABI ALAWAL 27, 1431 AH

NO: 14666

Brown, Sarkozy slam US ‘protectionism’ over plane

Putin seals Russian arms, nuclear deals with India

Drogba named African footballer of 2009

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US: Kuwait curbs political pluralism US report highlights human rights issues in Kuwait

BUENA, New Jersey: This 2002 photo shows Sharif Mobley, 26, at a barbecue. –— AP

Yemen holds US man after Qaeda sweep BUENA, New Jersey: He was raised in the state of New Jersey, where he was on the school wrestling team and earned a black belt in karate. Nearly a decade later, Sharif Mobley is under arrest in Yemen, suspected of being an Al-Qaeda member and accused of killing a guard in an attempt to break out of a hospital.

While some acquaintances were startled by the news out of the Middle East on Thursday, a former classmate said that Mobley had strong religious views in high school, often trying to convert friends to Islam, and became increasingly radical, especially after they graduated in 2002.

Roman Castro, 25, who did a tour with the Army in Iraq, said the last time he saw Mobley, about four years ago, Mobley yelled, “Get the hell away from me, you Muslim killer!” The FBI, the State Department and other authorities said they were trying to gather information about Mobley. But the allegations appeared to illustrate a phenomenon US intelligence officials have warned about: American Muslims becoming radicalized and joining terrorist movements overseas.

Mobley, a 26-year-old natural-born US citizen, was identified by Yemeni officials as a Somali-American. Mobley moved to Yemen about two years ago, supposedly to learn Arabic and study Islam, a former neighbor said.

Before that, Mobley worked for several contractors at five nuclear power plants in Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2008. Authorities are investigating whether he might have had any access to sensitive information that would have been useful to terrorists.

Continued on Page 10

WASHINGTON: Although the US State Department commended Kuwait’s democracy in a human rights report by saying that the last parliamentary elections that took place in the country were free and fair, it added that the Kuwaiti government applies restrictions on citizens’ right to form political parties and change the Cabinet. The US State Department Report on Human Rights in Kuwait for 2009, which was issued yesterday, said that there are a few reports on violations committed by security personnel against detainees. However, it added there is at least one probe and one court case regarding the abuse of a prisoner while in detention.

JERUSALEM: A Palestinian worshipper who was prevented from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque prays outside Jerusalem’s Old City while Israeli forces stand guard in the background yesterday. — AP

JERUSALEM: Israeli forces sealed off the West Bank and massed riot squads around Jerusalem’s Old City and Arab neighbourhoods during Muslim weekly prayers yesterday, facing down Palestinian anger over Jewish settlement expansion. After a week in which visiting US Vice

Gaza swimmers hoping to make splash at Asiad heat the frigid winter waters needs to be smuggled into the besieged territory. “There’s no shame in poverty ... but our economic circumstances are difficult, and that affects the level of training,” says 16-yearold Iyad Shamaa, who dropped out of school three years ago to help support his family.

The walls of the cramped house where he lives with his nine siblings were cracked and damaged during last winter’s Gaza war and his father’s carpentry shop was shut Continued on Page 10

children across Gaza since 2003. It said it would also use the donated money to continue its renovations of preschools and support of education across Gaza. “Milk for Preschoolers has garnered the support of many donors who see ANERA successfully reaching people in need in a location rife with challenges,” the non-profit organization indicated.

Continued on Page 10

lion in cash and wants to enter the fast-growing African market to offset its presence in more saturated telecoms markets such as Singapore and Australia. SingTel supported a bid by Bharti to buy South Africa’s MTN, but the deal collapsed last year.

The market value of Bharti, the leading Indian mobile operator, has plunged since it confirmed the Zain deal on concerns that possible high debt for funding the transaction could stretch its balance sheet. “It will definitely be through debt for the amount that we are talking about,” said Lim, a former Singapore government bureaucrat who joined SingTel in 1998.

Sachin Mittal, an analyst at DBS Vickers in Singapore, said that even if the Bharti deal was fully funded by debt, it would still be a manageable exposure for SingTel. “Bharti is betting on a significant improvement in Zain’s operations, and I see reasonable strength in that argument.

Continued on Page 10

Yemen raids offices of pan-Arab TV networks

Confrontations, anger in Jerusalem over settlements

JABALIYA: Palestinian swimmers attend a training session at a swimming pool in this refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip on March 1, 2010. —AFP

WASHINGTON: The American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) voiced its gratefulness to the Kuwaiti government for its donation of one million dollars to fund ANERA’s work with children in Gaza. ANERA said this donation would enable it to operate its ‘Milk for Preschoolers’ program, which has been delivering vitamin-fortified milk and biscuits to 20,000 preschool

SINGAPORE: Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) may help with the funding for Bharti Airtel’s $9 billion acquisition of Zain’s African assets, a senior SingTel executive said yesterday. SingTel, Southeast Asia’s largest telecoms firm that owns 32 percent of Bharti, said the acquisition would be financed by debt, and there was no need for it to inject money directly into its Indian affiliate since the deal would not dilute its stake. “In one way or the other we will be part of the funding, we are a very substantial shareholder of Bharti,” the CEO of Singtel’s international operations, Lim Chuan Poh, told Reuters in an interview.

Bharti and Zain are in exclusive talks until March 25 for the Kuwaiti firm’s operations in 15 African countries and have agreed on an enterprise value of $10.7 billion for the assets, including $1.7 billion of debt on Zain Africa books. Bharti’s bid is in line with the ambitions of SingTel, which is sitting on over $1 bil-

Full report on Pages 18-19 The report further accused the Kuwaiti government enforcing certain curbs on the freedom of expression and religion, though it made a notice of Kuwait’s “free media”. The report also pointed out problems of bedoons (stateless Arabs), corruption in governmental directorates and human trafficking, which it says are still present, while talking about “extreme conditions” that some laborers and house workers are still living through, and indicating that “no progress was made in regards to the accusation of security officers’ abuse of hundreds of Bangladeshi workers”.

The rights of Kuwaiti women were also mentioned in the report, which stated that they still do not enjoy equal rights to those of their male counterparts despite progress that was achieved in this regard, referring to two recent rulings in which women were allowed to apply for citizenship without prior approval from their husbands, and a court decision that said female MPs were not obliged to wear the hijab inside the National Assembly building.

Both of these rules were issued by the constitutional court.

Kuwait gives $1m for Gaza children

SingTel signals help for Bharti/Zain deal

Israel seals off West Bank

GAZA CITY: In the ramshackle warrens of Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp, four young athletes are plotting to swim their way out of the impoverished territory. The four teenagers, who have spent their entire lives in the Gaza Strip, hope to represent Palestine in world swimming competitions in Asia later this year. While their chosen sport is swimming, they face an unusual array of hurdles.

Gaza has only one swimming pool, half the regulation size and usually crowded with paddling children. And even the diesel needed to

150 FILS

President Joe Biden condemned Israel for approving new building just as Washington was pushing its key Middle East ally to relaunch peace talks with the Palestinians, police said a plan to avert a repeat of clashes in which dozens were wounded last Friday had worked.

Four Palestinians were detained for throwing stones and two officers were slightly injured in Jerusalem, a police spokesman said. Reuters journalists saw one protester treated by medics. Israel barred Palestinians from crossing from the Continued on Page 10

CAIRO: Yemeni authorities stormed local offices of the two leading pan-Arab television networks and confiscated broadcasting equipment in an apparent response to their coverage of the country’s south, where a protest movement is pushing to restore the region’s independence.

Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera and its rival Saudi-owned AlArabiya said yesterday that security agents stormed their offices in the capital, Sanaa, called their staff in for questioning and seized live broadcasting equipment Thursday night.

Information Minister Hassan Al-Lozy said authorities acted against the stations because they had no license to operate their live broadcasting equipment, something

the stations dispute. The networks said they believed the raids were related to their coverage of the growing tension in the south, which threatens the impoverished nation’s stability along with a deepening Al-Qaeda presence and a separate rebel insurgency in the north.

Amid the turmoil, authorities have routinely pressured journalists, particularly over coverage of the government’s struggle on these three fronts and the military’s performance. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report in February that Yemen’s government is one of the most media repressive in the Middle East, banning some newspapers, blocking Web Continued on Page 10

Twin suicide blasts kill 45 in Lahore LAHORE: Two suicide bombers targeting the Pakistani military killed at least 45 people in Lahore yesterday, officials said, in a challenge to government assertions that crackdowns have weakened Taleban insurgents. Hours later, a series of small explosions terrified residents in a different Lahore neighborhood near a police station and injured at least four people.

Police officials said the five low-intensity blasts apparently resulted from loose explosives - not packed bombs - scattered through the residential area.

Militants have renewed pressure on the USbacked Pakistani government, with five bomb attacks this week alone. “Two suicide bombers attacked within the span of 15 to 20 seconds and they were on foot,” provincial police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar told reporters after the earlier attack. Those killed in that attack, the bloodiest this year, in a military neighbourhood included nine soldiers, military officials said.

Almost 100 people were wounded.

The bombers walked up to army vehicles in the crowded R A Bazaar area of Lahore, blow-

ing themselves up as people sat down to eat before the main Muslim weekly prayers were to begin, a senior official said. Footage of the blasts broadcast by private Geo TV showed people running and shouting in panic. One man, who apparently shot the video on a mobile phone, is heard murmuring: “Oh my God, Oh my God, Be kind to us God.” Jumpy images of the second explosion showed a thick ball of smoke with a huge bang and people shouting.

Mohammad Nadeem, a man in his 20s whose traditional white shalwar khamis was stained with blood down the front, told AFP he was saying prayers in the mosque when he heard the first blast and rushed out only to hear another explosion. “The second blast took place very near a military vehicle. I sensed real danger and started running,” he said. “There were scenes of destruction in nearby restaurants and shops. There were broken chairs and tables and other items lying everywhere on the ground.”

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LAHORE: Family members mourn the death of a relative after a suicide bombing yesterday. — AP

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NATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Cabinet rejects strikes, vows legal action Development plan includes 800 projects at total cost of KD 4.7 billion

KUWAIT: Young Kuwaitis spraying foam during the country’s celebrations of the National and Liberation Days. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Environment Public Authority calls for ban on foams import KUWAIT: The Deputy Director of the Environmental Public Authority (EPA), Ali Haidar, asserted the importance ending the import of manufactured foams due to their effect and harm on human health.

Following a meeting

between the EPA and the Ministry of Interior, Haider said that it has been recommended to the Cabinet that it take all necessary measures to ban the use of foam in the country due to its hazardous affects. During the National Holiday celebrations, Al-Bahar Hospital

received many injuries, to the eyes in particular, as a result of foam use, he added.

The Assistant Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Khalil AlShemali, said that his ministry is eager to keep citizens and residents safe and called for action to protect

their health.

People expressed genuine emotion during the country’s celebrations last month. Such acts should not be at the expense of the laws and regulations which protect the health and safety of everyone in society, Al-Shemali added.— KUNA

Kuwaiti envoy inaugurates charitable projects in Egypt AL-SHARQIYAH: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Egypt Dr. Rashid Al-Hamad on Thursday inaugurated two charitable projects established by the Kuwaiti office of charitable projects in Egypt. The projects are two mosques, the Abdullah Mohammad AlBahar Mosque, which cost around $124,000, and the Moudhi Saud Al-Zabin Mosque, which cost around $164,000.

Ambassador Al-Hamad said that the projects’ inauguration was in accordance

with the cooperation protocols signed by Egypt and Kuwait and formed part of the Gulf state’s humanitarian role in the region.

The projects also reflect the intimacy between the people of the two countries, he added, emphasizing that Kuwait is keen on establishing charitable and governmental projects around the world, especially in Egypt.

The ambassador praised the efforts of the Kuwaiti office of charitable projects,

which is a subsidiary of Kuwait’s Zakat House. The office’s director, Ismail AlKandari, said that other Kuwaiti projects will be inaugurated soon in other Egyptian governorates. Such projects help to strengthen Kuwaiti-Egyptian relations, he asserted. Meanwhile, the Zakat House’s Deputy Director for Social Services, Khalid Al-Husaini, said that the two new projects were among many Kuwaiti charitable projects in Egypt.— KUNA

KUWAIT: The Cabinet convened an extraordinary meeting at the Seif Palace on Thursday, following up on executive steps for the middle-term development drive, and the annual development plan.

The meeting was presided over by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah.

During the meeting, detailed explanation on such executive steps was presented by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Development and Housing Affairs Sheikh Ahmad AlFahad Al-Sabah, and Chairman of the Governmental Performance Follow-up Apparatus Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah AlSabah and Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning Adel Al-Wuqian, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Abdulaziz AlRoudhan told reporters following the meeting.

They elaborated on the contents of projects enshrined in the country’s national development blueprint, reaching 798 in number at a total cost of KD 4.7 billion, and including supportive and stereotypical projects, he said.

The Cabinet was apprised of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) Secretariat’s visualizations for the embodiment of the contents of the plan law 9/2010, especially as for following up on implementation and ensuring good performance according to high transparency and clarity in all procedures and steps, and optimum coordination among state agencies concerned, leading up to the proper fulfillment of the development drive, the Cabinet minister added.

HH the Premier stressed the paramount significance of this vital subject, pointing to efforts exerted to work out the plan and follow up on implementation.

In this context, he urged all Cabinet ministers to loan

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister presides over the extraordinary Cabinet session at the Seif Palace on Thursday. —KUNA their hands to put the drive in place in order to push forward the country’s national development for the common good of the nation and citizens.

Therefore, the cabinet instructed the Governmental Performance Follow-up Apparatus to coordinate with the SCP Secretariat for devising a holistic system for following up the implementation of the plan pursuant to basics and criteria set by Law No 9/2010 on the development drive.

It also instructed state agencies involved to compile technical documents containing detailed steps for projects enshrined in the plan; the Council of Undersecretaries to consider and remove obstacles scuttling execution; the SCP Secretariat to make up working teams to look into suggested projects; and the Civil Service Commission

(CSC) to set out a mechanism to assess how much senior officials would commit to, and follow up on, the application of the annual blueprint.

The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) has been also asked to work with ministries and state departments involved to take necessary steps for establishing companies that would carry out some development projects as per the sound legal framework.

The Ministry of Information will further coordinate with other stage involved to devise a media plan purposed to promote the contents and favorable reflections of the drive, while the SCP Secretariat will work with the Governmental Performance Follow-up Apparatus to report to the Cabinet about the application of the drive every three

months.

The Cabinet voiced hope that such decrees and instructions could contribute to the realization of the aspired achievements of development projects, the Cabinet minister said.

Also during the extraordinary meeting, the Cabinet reviewed recently reported threats by workers of some vital state departments to go on strike in a bid to exert pressure on certain quarters to meet their financial and functional demands.

Out of keenness on assuming responsibility for observing the law and considering national interests, the Cabinet voiced categorical opposition to all means of strike threats in a bid to impose the fait accompli, something which totally runs counter to the Kuwaiti society’s inherent commitment towards objective, aware and controlled dialogue within the framework of the constitution, law and requirements of public interest, not to mention concomitant harms to supreme interests and citizens’ interests.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has instructed all state agencies to take appropriate legal action in the event of such unacceptable practices, and to bring anyone who may try to hamper the country’s vital interests to accountability in line with Article 26 of the Constitution, Article 24/2 and Article One of the Civil Service Law Decree, the minister noted.

However, the Cabinet expressed its understanding of several overtures tabled diverse state agencies over financial benefits or other demands, saying that the Civil Service Commission, which is in charge of such affairs, would look into such suggestions pursuant to sound legal channels and procedures that could ensure justice to everyone, and in line with the decided development programs and blueprints and within the framework of the public interest, the Cabinet minister concluded. —KUNA

Couple kill toddler in Kuwait tackling sewage overflow child custody dispute KUWAIT: A domestic dispute between a married couple resulted in the accidental death of their child after he was caught in the middle of the heated exchange. The incident occurred in Qurain when the 2-year-old child’s mother tried to take him with her out of the house. The father grabbed the child’s arm and the two parents began pulling the child in either direction.

During the struggle the child was accidently pushed towards a table and slammed head-first into one of its edges. The accident caused the child to suffer a fatal head injury. The parents brought their son to Adan Hospital but the child was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. A case for the incident was opened and investigations are underway.

Sheikh arrested Surra officials arrested a member of the ruling family for driving under the influence of alcohol in the area. He was taken to the local police station and a case was opened against him. He was taken to the General Department for Drugs Control.

Road rage An Asian woman was killed on Abu Halifa Road after she was struck by a speeding vehicle.

Paramedics responded to the emergency and determined that the woman had already died as a result of her wounds. Police are in pursuit of the hit and run driver.

Meanwhile, a citizen was seriously injured when he lost control of his own vehicle and crashed into traffic signs and trees on the Gulf Road. The driver, who was intoxicated at the time of the accident, escaped the vehicle before flames from the accident could reach him. Paramedics brought the driver to a nearby hospital and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. A case was opened to investigate the accident further.

Threat An Egyptian man, working as a senior official in a company in the Industrial Shuwaikh Area, filed an official complaint with the area’s police station. In the report, he accused one of his former employees of threatening to cause him harm after his contract was terminated. A case was opened to further investigate the matter.

Fire A fire in the Amghara scrap yard could have had catastrophic consequences if it weren’t for the quick response of firefighters. While putting out the flames a nearby power cable post caught fire, causing an explosion. Firefighters were spared from the explosion because they had already extinguished the flames in that area. Investigations revealed that poor storage and over-stacking caused the flames to spread quickly. No injuries were reported in the fire.

Bootleggers held A Korean man was arrested by Ahmadi police after he was caught in possession of alcohol. During a search of the minibus the man was driving, police found eight boxes with 60 bottles of homemade liquor inside. The man confessed to possessing alcohol with the intention to sell. He was taken to the proper authorities.

In a similar case, an Indian man was arrested in

Subahiya for selling alcohol in the area. He was found in possession of 31 bottles of homemade liquor and was taken to the proper authorities.

Drug dealers in custody Jahra investigators arrested three Egyptian men for possessing drugs with the intention of selling and abusing them. The arrests were made after one of the Egyptians was caught in Farwaniya. He then led authorities to the apartment where he and his two accomplices kept their drugs. Police apprehended the two accomplices and confiscated 250 grams of hashish. They were all taken to the proper authorities.

Body found in Hasawi A 46-year-old Afghan man was found dead in front of a building under construction in Hasawi. Police and paramedics responded to the emergency and found he had died as a result of natural causes.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani man died of natural causes while at Al-Thuhr (noon) prayer in a local mosque.

Police responded to the emergency but found they were too late to save the man’s life.

Escape gone wrong An Asian maid died after she fell from the third floor of her sponsor’s home in Mubarak Al-Kabeer while trying to escape from the window. A case was opened to investigate the matter further.

Auto thieves nabbed Ahmadi police arrested seven Afghan juveniles for committing 16 thefts throughout the governorate.

The arrests were made after police investigated several reports of vehicles being broken into and having their contents stolen. One of the youths were eventually caught trying to break into a car in Mangaf.

When questioned, he confessed that he and his friends carried out the crimes. All of the youths were then rounded up and sent to the proper authorities.

Fuel smuggling net busted Police arrested a man who was part of a group smuggling fuel out of the country after he was caught loading fuel into a water tanker. Investigators discovered that the criminals were using water tankers to transport stolen diesel fuel from a gas station in Jahra to the Amghara scrap yard. The diesel would then be labeled ‘oil waste’ and smuggled out of the country. It was revealed that an employee at the station was also involved in the operations and would facilitate the theft in exchange for KD 2,000 per shipment.

Authorities are investigating the situation further.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works and Municipal Affairs has signed a contract to repair a sewage plant that broke down seven months ago.

The Mishref sewage plant malfunctioned in August after its 13 pumps broke down, causing a waste crisis and triggering diplomatic and political tensions.

Environmental organizations are warning against severe pollution caused by the breakdown, with some reports suggesting that five million gallons of sewage water are being dumped into the sea daily.

Captain Ali Heidar, deputy director general of the governmental Environment Public Authority (EPA) said the real numbers were significantly lower.

“Now it’s sustainable,” he told The

Media Line, claiming that the situation was under control with the plant already undergoing repair works. “They need another four months to stop partially treated sewage being released into the marine environment. “ “At first we had a daily sampling of water and sediment and now it’s a weekly sampling,” Heidar continued. “We made a model to show that it will be circulated in the same area and won’t go to Kuwait Bay, which is very sensitive.”

The sewage problem has diplomatic repercussions, as many Arab and foreign diplomats who live in the area near the plant have complained of foul smells and pollution.

The pumping station west of the capital, Kuwait City, treats sewage generated by one million people.

The malfunctioning sewage facility has pitted government officials against lawmakers.

In the aftermath of the breakdown, MPs criticized the government for not having put safeguards in place in case of a breakdown. They said the government’s sole contingency plan was to dump the raw sewage into the Gulf.

Environmental organizations in Kuwait are accusing the government of negligence, under claims the facility should not have been built near residential areas.

While the issue is still under consideration in court, the government has accused the plant’s contractor of negligence.

Dr. Ibrahim Hadban, a political science lecturer at the University of Kuwait

said the political crisis was testing the government’s new policy to confront criticism from MPs rather than dissolve parliament, as has been the norm in recent years.

“This will not cause the government to fall,” Hadban told The Media Line.

“On the contrary. The government is using a new approach which is confrontation. In the past, the prime minister was viewed as escaping confrontation by dissolving parliament or the government, but they now decided that each minister would face questioning and show that the government isn’t ‘escaping’.”

“I think it’s a good step,” he continued. “People are fed up with the change in administrations. It’s good for the stock market and good for people’s trust in the government.” (Media Line)

Buramia trial adjourned

KUWAIT: An undated picture shows workers monitoring operation at one of the main manholes at the Mishref sewage treatment plant. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: The Public Prosecution appealed a court ruling to adjourn the case regarding MP Daifullah Buramia’s charge of insulting HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the Minister of Defense.

The trial is expected to be held on April 14, reported Al-Qabas. Deputy Director of the Capital Prosecution Department, Rujaib AlRujaib, appealed on behalf of the General Prosecution in the Appeals Court.

He explained that the First Degree Court has ruled against the trail because of the failure of removing the MP’s immunity. He then pointed out that Buramia committed his crime before he was elected to parliament and that the need to lift his immunity is unnecessary.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

NATIONAL

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State begins probe on dual nationality KUWAIT: Undated picture of students at Kuwait University.

KU students voice frustration over lack of social functions

By Abdullah Al-Qattan KUWAIT: On the different campuses of Kuwait University, things have become more focused on education. Students suffering from long class hours and labs are now showing signs of depression caused by a lack of social activities.

The new regulations regarding student societies, expected to be finished by last November, have yet to see the light of day. It is said that students should not expect the regulations to be finished anytime soon and that there might not be any more social events organized by student societies for academic and professional reasons. Many suspect that this decision was made in order to keep the environment of the university as professional as possible.

Students trying to shed some amusement on their college experience are faced with a set of rules and restrictions that keep them from acting in any way other than purely academic. As a result, some students have gone around the barriers and planned amusing activities without formal approval from the dean’s office.

Mohammad Al-Qallaf, a student in the English literature program, said that a student’s day is filled with a mind numbing routine and that a lack of amusement on campus only makes the educational experience more difficult on students.

Mona Al-Wazzan, a second year student in the industrial engineering program, said “we are in need of fun activities. When we get the chance to do anything it is often done wrong with no relation to the field of study we are in. Our trip and social activities should be more connected to what we do and what we study,” she added.

Rashid Al-Hammad, another student, said that football tournaments and amusement park trips help students socialize with each other and with professors from the same department. Banning them will only encourage students to find other ways to socialize, he said.

Hanna Al-Muttar, from the college of social science, said that some of the activities that student societies participate in are not really necessary and not work related. She added that if they are it is often not segregated so not everyone can participate. “Some of these events are only to encourage people to vote again next year and fill out the activity reports that the clubs need to give to the dean’s office by the end of the year” she said.

Officials in the dean’s office said that they sometimes overlook such events in order to allow students to enjoy this period of their life. They said that there are rules that students need to follow though, such as segregation and not having the events during finals.

Qaeda recruits bedoons in Kuwait, says report KUWAIT: In addition to the already long list of threats that Kuwait faces due to all the insurgencies of the Middle East, a new threat was noted in an international report, reported Al-Watan.

Kuwait is apparently under threat of a new wave of recruitment by the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in which they target bedoon residents. The ‘Defense and Security Policy in Kuwait’ report, written by the Companies and Markets British Research Institution, pointed out that Al-Qaeda has been able to make use of the many hardships that bedoons face in Kuwait.

The report also made notice of the lack of local weapons manufacturing in Kuwait and that the country receives high-tech weapons from the world’s main exporting countries of military arms

and equipment, including the United States, the United Kingdom and France. It further indicated that the reason for allowing Kuwait to have such sophisticated military weapons is due to its strategic situation. Furthermore, the report also mentioned Kuwaiti security forces ability to successfully foil an Al-Qaeda attack on the Arifjan US military camp last year. Addressing the situation of Kuwaiti oppositional political forces, the report noted that the government remains in control despite the actions of some MPs who “obstruct the decision making process.”

The Companies and Markets Institution is a government-owned organization from the UK. It has published around 450 thousand reports in 27 fields within the past 15 years.

Panel addresses graft in prosecution probe KUWAIT: Members of the parliamentary legislative committee argued over the level of corruption in the Public Prosecution’s investigations directorate. The argument, between Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak and MP Khaled Al-Tahous, was so intense that it almost canceled the rest of the meeting, reported Al-Rai. Official sources reported that the argument started when the minister accused the investigations directorate of being corrupt. Al-Tahous rejected the claim and said that the minister’s accusation was unacceptable because it is his role

to defend the directorate. He then accused the minister of giving his undersecretary unlimited authority and accused the investigations department of filing vindictive cases and framing individuals.

Meanwhile, committee chairman, MP Hussein Al-Huraiti, criticized the conduct of the argument.

Al-Tahous rejected the criticism and reminded him that he was elected chairman by committee members.

He also demanded that his words be documented in the meeting’s minutes.

KUWAIT: The Supreme Authority of Citizenship is said to be preparing to inspect the files of people with dual citizenship in order to activate clause 11 of the Kuwait Citizenships Law, reported Al-Watan. This law would allow the government to strip Kuwaiti citizenship from a person with dual citizenship without giving them the chance to choose which citizenship they want to keep.

Meanwhile, MP Khalid Al-Adwa accused the Minister of Interior and the ‘Sheikh Thamer Al-Jaber’ committee of “favoritism and discrimination” in dealing with this matter.

“The Ministry and Thamer committee officials are not tracking down citizens with United States and European passports and are pursuing citizens with other GCC passports,” Al-Adwa said. He

also claimed that the Cabinet received notice from the US Embassy, instructing them not to cancel US citizenship from Kuwaiti citizens. Al-Adwa announced that he would soon be releasing a set of inquisitions to the minister regarding this issue.

The Minister of Interior, Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid, denied Al-Adwa’s accusation, assuring that the law will be enforced against all violators, “even those with American citizenship.”

On a related note, attorney Osama AlMunawer called for Kuwaiti citizenship to be canceled for citizens with Iranian travel documents. He claimed that those people “pose a great threat to the country.”

Meanwhile, MP Dr Hassan Jowhar proposed a question to the Minister of

Commerce, which may turn into an interpellation. He asked the minister about a statement he made previously, regarding the pre-constitutional chamber of commerce law which previously set the number of its board members to 12. The chamber has since announced that the institution is a non-profit organization and can double its board members to 24.

The legislative committee of the National Assembly agreed with Jowhar’s proposal regarding the chamber, and also passed a proposal made by MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan regarding the audio-visual law. The proposal suggests establishing a higher council of information.

The committee also approved a proposal to pay KD 10,000 pension to each retiree. Half of the pension would be a gift while the other half will be consid-

Kuwait urges religious tolerance in HRC meeting GENEVA: The Kuwaiti delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) yesterday called on all religious scholars and civil society institutions to support the values of religious tolerance in order to achieve harmony among all walks of life. The address, delivered by Diplomatic Attache Falah Al-Hajraf, stressed the significance allowing people the freedom of belief in all its aspects, for all people.

In his address, delivered before the

HRC session, he said “all key players need to commit to banning the call for religious hatred. It is an instigation to discrimination, aggression and violence in accordance with the second paragraph of the 20th article of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”

“The inter-faith rounds of dialogue fostered by many countries will not be enough to resolve the problems affecting believers of various religions,” he pointed out.

He acknowledged Kuwait’s support of programs that propagate a culture of tolerance and understanding through dialogue.

He also drew attention to Kuwait’s ability to be a world center for religious moderation. “My country believes in all principles and the basis of economic, social, cultural, civil and political human rights.

They are legitimate to all individuals in society and cannot be divided,” he concluded. —KUNA

GCC emphasizes agriculture, livestock development KUWAIT: Decisions made at the 30th session of the GCC summit in Kuwait last December were referred to the ministerial committees to be scrutinized, a GCC official said on Thursday.

Director of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) department at the foreign ministry ambassador Jamal Abdullah Faraj Al-Ghanim said in a press statement at the close of the first meeting of the 13th session of the consultative board of the supreme council of the GCC that the ministerial committee will submit recommendations to the ministerial council of the GCC in order to be presented to the GCC Leaders’ Supreme

Oil Company puts off small fire KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) announced yesterday that the Kuwait Oil Company was able to control a limited fire without casualties or impact on production this morning.

Spokesman for the oil sector, Managing Director of Government and Parliamentary Relations and Public Relations and Media at KPC, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, said that KOC was able to extinguish a “very limited fire” that occurred in one of the heaters of the oil-gathering center 27 in West Kuwait.

He said the fire occurred at about 10:30 yesterday morning and added that the center’s employees extinguishing the fire quickly by using the fire-fighting equipment located at the center.

He pointed out that the heater was immediately isolated and operations were returned back to normal afterwards. He said that an investigation is under way to find out the cause behind the fire. —KUNA

Health minister meets students in Egypt CAIRO: Visiting Kuwaiti Health Minister Dr. Helal Al-Sayer met yesterday with young Kuwaiti compatriots studying at universities and colleges here, as well as members of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) - Egypt branch. The minister was briefed about the problems the students face and discussed the treatment they have received, when needed, at health centers in Egypt, with the minister vowing to resolve any related problems. —KUNA

Council during the upcoming meeting.

He went on to say that “the vision adopted by Bahrain on boosting the work of the GCC including many aspects was referred to the concerned committees in order to be studied and submitted to the ministerial council in preparation for being presented to the consultative meeting of the GCC leaders due in Riyadh next May.” Answering a question on the mechanism of implementing the decisions made by the GCC summits, Al-Ghanim pointed to a committee that was formed by a decision issued by the GCC ministerial council on following up the implementation of

decisions, adding that this committee will hold its third meeting in the first week of next May in Kuwait.

On the relationship of the consultative board to the supreme council, he asserted that the GCC leaders’ Supreme Council refers topics to the consultative board for scrutiny, pointing out the latest GCC summit in Kuwait saw the referral of three topics to the consultative board.

Al-Ghanim also pointed out that the first topic tackles the developing the output of the agricultural cash crops such as date palms and raising the share of the agricultural, animal and fish production in the domestic output.—KUNA

ered an interest-free loan. The proposal was announced by MP Dr Waleed AlTabtabaei.

In other news, the defense and interior committee announced that during their next meeting they will discuss the Doha road mishap and the series of bomb threats that the country has experienced recently.

Furthermore, MP Saadoun Hammad Al-Otaibi announced that the environmental committee will pass the Um AlHaiman report regarding the shutdown of violating factories. He also announced that a seminar will be held today to discuss the area’s pollution issues.

Also, MP Mubarak Al-Walaan accused the Interior Minister of appointing police officers to training courses in a sectarian and preferential manner.

Kuwaiti hospitals advancing constantly CAIRO: Thanks to the keen attention paid by the government, the health sector in Kuwait and the standards of the country’s hospitals are on the path of ongoing progress, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Affairs Yousif Al-Nisf said Thursday.

Many hospitals in Kuwait are of high and international-standard efficiency, Al-Nisf told KUNA on the sidelines of the eighth Arab Hospitals Forum held in Cairo.

The ministry is aiming at boosting the performance of its cadres through exchanging expertise with the world’s top recognized institutions and providing hi-tech for use in the sector, he said. The Kuwaiti delegation participating at the forum which touches on the developments in the field of hospitals and health care is headed by Health Minister Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, he said.

He hailed the organizers of the event which grouped private and public health sectors, adding that the forum tackled successful Arab experiences, quality of medical care services, and primary care.

Participants will also discuss health care services in view of future recession, fundamentals of distinguished hospitals and facilities, patient safety, and providing experienced, specialized cadres. —KUNA

4

INTERNATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Ominous signs plague Biden’s Middle East visit JERUSALEM: In the region where symbolism may matter most, the signs for US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit were inauspicious.

First Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak cancelled talks in Cairo and flew to hospital for gallbladder surgery. Then came an Israeli gift of broken glass and an eerie power outage in the “Hall of Remembrance”. By the time the lights flickered back on, Biden’s Middle East fortunes were sealed with an Israeli announcement that it would build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers, ignoring US and Palestinian objections.

It was an embarrassing setback that put a spotlight on the challenge the U.S.

administration faces getting Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Biden’s visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank was a largely scripted affair-a reflection of the sensitive issues involved as well as what many see as the Obama administration’s fixation with staying on message.

Biden is famous for blunt talk and sometimes embarrassing gaffes, and his office appeared to take precautions by allowing no questions at his public press appearances.

“He does have a history of mis-speaking,” said Stephen Hess, an expert on presidency at the Brookings Institution.

“He’s aware of it, his people are aware of

it. The president is aware of it. (And) given the sensitivities on this particular trip, it may be the better part of wisdom to keep quiet.”

The first sign of trouble in Israel came when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Biden with a glassframed gift honouring his mother.

“I have one thing to offer you right now and it’s broken glass,” Netanyahu said at discovering the shards he was holding. Biden cautioned: “Don’t cut yourself.”

The prime minister inadvertently shattered the glass when he put his elbows down on the podium, spokesman Mark Regev said.

In Judaism, broken glass is often thought to be a reminder of an imperfect world, and many say the Jewish wedding tradition of stomping on a glass is an expression of sadness at the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

At a later tour of Israel’s Holocaust memorial museum, Yad Vashem, the lights in the “Hall of Remembrance” unexpectedly went out as a prayer for those killed was chanted, catching Biden’s security detail by surprise.

One Biden aide described the moment as “off-putting” but others said it worked well given the mournful context. In the darkness, the only light in the cavernous room came eerily from the eternal flame

reflecting off the ceiling.

“It’s the Middle East,” said an unfazed senior White House adviser, a veteran of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. “It could mean anything.”

An Israeli expert of Jewish mysticism, known as Kabballah, said Biden’s visit came at a time “when there is tremendous energy” before the Passover holiday that starts later this month, marking the biblical escape of the Jews from Egypt.

“It could be something negative, like what is referred to as the ‘evil eye’,” said the expert, who declined to be named.

“But in Kabballah, we also believe that sometimes before a great light is revealed, there have to be a series of dis-

turbances.”

David Wilder, a spokesman for Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron, said he did not necessarily believe “all of this happened because of divine intervention” but he saw the mishaps as “very symbolic”.

“When the United States doesn’t play its cards right, it gets a gift of broken glass,” he said, noting that “one of the plagues in Egypt was darkness.

After underlining U.S. opposition to the latest settlement plan, Biden flew to Amman for more talks, and a trip to the famed ruins at Petra-that is provided a forecast sandstorm does not prevent him reaching there. — Reuters

Iraq’s election race tight as results delayed again Narrow lead for Maliki in Shiite areas

BAGHDAD: Iraqis count votes at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) headquarters in Baghdad yesterday, following Iraq’s second general elections since the US-led invasion of 2003. Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was locked in a tight contest to hold on to his job, as election results from Iraq’s polls trickled in and opposition blocs alleged blatant fraud. — AFP

UN humanitarian chief criticizes Gaza blockade UNITED NATIONS: The UN humanitarian chief warned of an impending humanitarian disaster if Egypt succeeds in blocking the tunnels that pass under it’s border into the Gaza Strip.

John Holmes said that as bad as the hundreds of tunnels that bypass the Israeli blockade are, Gaza would have difficult surviving if Egypt succeeds in blocking them because they are a conduit for badly-needed food, medicine and commercial goods.

He repeated calls for Israel to end its blockade of the Palestinian territory.

“If those tunnels were blocked, however undesirable they may be, and however undesirable the effect they’re having on the Gazan society and Gazan economy, the situation without the tunnels would be completely unsustainable,” said Holmes, who visited the region for four days earlier this month.

The tunnels are also widely believed to be used for smuggling cash and weapons to Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2005 and refuses to recognize Israel. The Israeli government has repeatedly tried to shut the tunnels down.

Egypt has a fence along Gaza’s southern border and is reinforcing the area with underground metal plates to try to block the tunnels. Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has defended the move as necessary for his nation’s security following a series of terrorist attacks

on nearby tourist resorts.

Holmes said it was “very frustrating” to see that there has been almost no rebuilding in Gaza, as a result of the Israeli blockade, since the three-week conflict that ended in Jan. 2009, leaving 13 Israelis and almost 1,400 Palestinians dead.

“What people in Gaza want to see is the opening of the crossings ... not only for goods but for people because they are living ... in a large open-air prison,” Holmes said.

Holmes said the blockade is not helping Israel’s security or weakening Hamas’ hold on the Palestinian territory. “The blockade of Gaza does not serve any purpose in my view in security terms for Israel because anything can come in through those tunnels at the moment, nor is it weakening the hold of Hamas on Gaza,” he said. “That’s perfectly clear when you’re there.” Israel has linked the release of Israeli Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants in 2006 and is being held by Hamas, to the blockade, saying it will not consider easing the embargo until Schalit is home. Holmes said the United Nations has called for the release of Schalit and urged that he be treated in accordance with the Geneva conventions.

“But the link between that and the fate of the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza does not seem to us a reasonable one,” he said. — AP

Lebanese arrested for sister’s ‘honour killing’ BEIRUT: A Lebanese man has been arrested in northern Lebanon for killing his sister earlier this week in what authorities described as an honour killing, a security official said yesterday.

“The 24-year-old victim was single and apparently had a boyfriend,” the security official told AFP. “(Her brother) admitted shooting her twice in the head to cleanse the family honour.”

The woman was only identified by her initials, as was her 28-year-old brother. Her body was discovered on Tuesday on the main road of the village of Hakr al-Daheri, in the northern Akkar region.

“This kind of crime is not common in Lebanon but we have a few every year,” the official said.

Lebanese law stipulates extenuating circumstances for so-called honour killings, in which male relatives kill female kin they suspect of illicit behaviour with men.

In 2007, L ebanon’s top Shiite Muslim cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah issued a fatwa, or religious edict, banning honour killings as repulsive acts that contradict Islamic law. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki had a narrow lead over rival Shi’ites, partial results in Iraq’s tight election race showed yesterday, but a secularist challenger remained far ahead in minority Sunni areas.

The race may remain too close to call until initial results are posted for all of Iraq’s 18 provinces, including pivotal areas like Baghdad, the ethnically and religiously diverse capital city that is home to at least 6 million people.

Initial results released so far for six provinces show Maliki’s State of Law bloc slightly ahead of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), a coalition of powerful Shi’ite parties, with a gap of just 15,500 votes of 313,000 counted for the two groups.

In third place was former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya list, a cross-sectarian, secularist group that is well ahead in two provinces home to large numbers of minority Sunnis.

The picture following Iraq’s March 7 parliamentary poll, a milestone seven years after Saddam Hussein’s ouster, was further muddied by another delay by Iraqi electoral officials in giving complete initial results and by mounting accusations of fraud.

Officials at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said more results may be released yesterday.

The confusing aftermath to the vote represents an inauspicious start to what will likely be lengthy, fractious talks to form a government, especially if the vote is as fragmented as early results suggest.

Violence may have receded, but it lurks under the surface in a country where sectarian wounds have not healed and major questions about land and oil remain unsettled.

Hamdiya al-Husseini, a top IHEC official, dismissed charges of serious fraud coming from Allawi’s camp, including reports that ballots were discovered in the garbage and more than 200,000 soldiers’ names were missing from voting rosters.

“The process of counting and sorting ballots is going well, with the presence of observers from political parties and under international supervision,” Husseini said.

United Nations officials, who are advising IHEC, downplayed the reports of fraud.

A cleric close to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shi’ite authority, called for results to be announced quickly and in a way that would lay suspicions to rest.

“This could delay and confuse the start to the next parliament,” Abdul-Mahdi al-Kerbalai said in a Friday sermon.

After Iraq’s last parliamentary election in late 2005, sectarian violence exploded as politicians took months to settle on a government.

The coming period is crucial for the Obama administration, facing an escalating war in Afghanistan, as it plans to halve its troop force by Sept. 1 and withdraw fully by end-2011.

Leading world energy firms will be watching closely to see what sort of government emerges to take over the multi-billion-dollar oil contracts they have signed with Iraq.

Even if Maliki beats out Shi’ite rivals, he will likely need to ally with one or two other blocs to form the next government.

The gulf between Maliki and Allawi, a secular Shi’ite who governed Iraq from 2004-05, widened ahead of the polls as Allawi criticised the ban of hundreds of candidates, including leading Sunni Arabs from Iraqiya, from the elections over suspected ties to Saddam’s Baath party. Maliki supported the ban. UN officials acknowledged the counting was taking longer than expected, but defended IHEC officials who they said were grappling with a complicated system set up to thwart fraud. — Reuters

MOGADISHU: Somalis stretcher a civilian injured during heavy clashes yesterday in the third day of intense fighting between Somali government troops and insurgent forces yesterday in the capital Mogadishu. Government troops backed by African Union peacekeepers raided a position held by the insurgents in the north of the war-riven capital, sparking the heavy firefight. — AFP

Somali residents flee battle zones MOGADISHU: Frightened Somalis stacked household goods on carts pulled by donkeys and fled the heaviest fighting the capital has seen in almost a year yesterday, after hundreds of heavily armed insurgents moved into an area this week previously controlled by government soldiers.

The battles that have killed more than 50 people could foreshadow a violent spring in Mogadishu, as government troops prepare to launch a true offensive against Islamist insurgents who the US says are linked to al-Qaeda.

Mogadishu’s mayor warned residents to flee, but those abandoning the violence may be moving into arid areas of the lawless Horn of Africa nation where they will find little to eat. Some 3.7 million people in Somalia — nearly half of the population — already need aid. “The ongoing fighting is not part of our planned major offensive, but there is the possibility that it can follow. We urge the civilians to flee from the battle zones,” said Abdurisaq Mohamed Nor. “This time your suffering will not last much longer. We will finish the rebels off.”

With his 2-year-old son clasped to his chest, Adow Yusuf Da’ud said that he had walked three hours through dangerous streets to escape the fighting.

“During the day and during the night, the shells were raining down onto our residences,” Da’ud said. “We had to walk through the danger to escape.” Fighting erupted in Mogadishu for the third straight day yesterday as government-backed troops shelled the front lines of militants trying to advance into government-held territory.

Hundreds of heavily armed fighters from Somalia’s most dangerous insurgent group, alShabab, moved through northern Mogadishu in 10 gun-mounted vehicles after seizing the area from government soldiers on Wednesday, said an eyewitness in the neighborhood, Abdimalik Sheikh.

The fighters advanced to as close as a mile (2 kilometres) from the government-held area on Thursday, but have since been pushed back several blocks.

TV images showed dozens of masked insurgents who carried spare ammunition around their waist firing machine guns. Some wore blue flack jackets and helmets, possibly stolen from UN offices in southern Somalia that were ransacked by insurgents last year. Many of the fighters carry rocket-propelled grenades.

The African Union this week began flying in

1,700 Ugandan peacekeepers, a Nairobi-based security official said. About 850 Ugandans are leaving because they are at the end of their rotation. But the 850 extra troops could offer vital support to an offensive. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

AU officials were not available for comment.

Residents fleeing the city said many of their relatives and neighbors are trapped in the war zone. An Associated Press photo showed red couches piled high on a wooden, donkey-pulled cart as two Somalis helped propel the cart forward.

“My husband and six of my relatives and some of my neighbors are trapped inside their homes ... by mortars and bullets flying every where,” said Dahabo Duhulow, a mother of six.

The UN refugee agency said yesterday that 33,000 residents of Mogadishu have fled their homes since February because of fighting. A spokesman in Geneva for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Andrej Mahecic, said UNHCR was especially concerned about the 8,000 people who have no way to get out of Mogadishu and remain displaced within it. Those remaining in Mogadishu are mostly too poor to move or fear being attacked as they leave. Compounding their dilemma, an Islamist group issued a series of demands at the beginning of the year that caused the UN’s World Food Program to pull out of much of southern Somalia. Families fleeing into the countryside may find nothing to eat. Emergency officials say at least 50 people have been killed and nearly 150 wounded in fighting in the Somali capital on Wednesday and Thursday. At least two more people were killed in fighting Friday, a resident reported. At least six were wounded, emergency officials said.

“The government soldiers often fire toward the direction the attack is coming from, sometimes into residential areas away from the battle zones. That is when we the civilians suffer,” said a resident, Asha Omar. Nor, the mayor, told citizens to move at least a couple miles (kilometers) away from battle zones.

Residents in Mogadishu are often caught in crossfire or are hit by off-target munitions. A resident, Mohamed Abdi Haji, said that about 200 insurgents aboard a dozen gun-mounted vehicles moved into his neighborhood and drove toward the presidential palace. Government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers fired barrages at the militants and forced them to retreat, Haji said. — AP

British hostage endured mock executions in Iraq LONDON: British computer expert Peter Moore, held captive in Iraq for 2-1/2 years until his release in December, has said he was tortured and subjected to mock executions by a well-trained kidnap gang.

In an interview with the Times newspaper, Moore said his kidnappers had links with the Iraqi government and denied US intelligence assessments that he had been held for part of the time in Iran.

He said he and his four British guards were seized from an Iraqi Finance Ministry building in Baghdad in May 2007 by dozens of men in the uniforms of Iraqi security forces.

“They were Iraqi resistance. They have representation in the government,” he said.

Moore denied the gang was acting on the orders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. “The only Iranian link is that there is an interest in Iran, probably covert funding by Iran,” he told the Times. His captors were convinced he was a military intelligence

officer and questioned him for hours, he said.

Three of Moore’s British guards were killed by their captors, and the fourth was believed to have been killed although his body was never returned.

Moore said he endured several mock executions and spent two years of his captivity on his own, living in cramped rooms and guarded by a rotating group of insurgents. At times he was forced to lie for weeks on a mat, sitting up only to eat and standing only to go to the toilet.

At other times he was chained by one ankle to a grille over a window, handcuffed and blindfolded.

“At one point, they handcuffed me behind my back, stood me on a chair next to a door, put my hands over the top of the door, pulled down on the handcuffs and kicked the chair away,” he said. “That was quite painful.”

On another occasion, his captors put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger, firing a real round from another weapon at the same time. — Reuters

YARMOUK: Palestinians shout anti-Israeli slogans during a march held at the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, near Damascus, Syria, yesterday, as they protest the Israeli attempts to judaize Jerusalem and the encroachment on AlAqsa Mosque. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2010

5

Russia criticizes US, NATO over Afghan drugs BRUSSELS: Russia’s envoy to NATO has sharply criticized the alliance’s shift away from fighting drug trafficking in Afghanistan, saying the resulting surge in heroin smuggling is endangering Russia’s national security. In an interview late Thursday, Dmitry Rogozin also highlighted the lack of cohesion within NATO, saying Moscow is worried about declining public support in Europe for the war. “(Russia) is losing 30,000 lives a year to the Afghan drug trade, and a million people are addicts,” Rogozin said. “This is an undeclared war against our country.” “We are obviously very dissatisfied with the lack of attention from NATO and the United States to our complaints about this problem.” For years, the allies tried to eradicate poppy

crops, but that resulted in a boost to the insurgency as impoverished poppy farmers joined the Taleban. Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s new policy of trying to win the support of the population means that these farmers are now left alone, enabling them to tend crops that produce 90 percent of the world’s heroin.

Russia says that drug production in Afghanistan has increased tenfold since the US-led invasion that ousted the Taleban regime in 2001. Smugglers freely transport Afghan heroin and opium north into Central Asia and Russia, and also on to Western Europe.

Rogozin pointed to Washington’s inconsistency in its attitude to international drug trafficking saying that in contrast to

Afghanistan, it was waging a drug war in Colombia because that was the primary source of cocaine that goes to America.

“But in the case of the heroin which goes to Russia, they are doing practically nothing,” he said. “This is not how you treat your friends and partners.” NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the alliance understands Russian concerns, and that the problem affects Europe as well. The most important part of solving the drug trade was helping to defeat the insurgency, and NATO has 120,000 troops trying to do just that, he said. Appathurai noted that the U.N. cites the Marjah region, where NATO has just completed a large-scale offensive, as one of the world’s foremost opium-producing areas.

“By helping reestablish government control there, we are making a substantial contribution to the counter-narcotics effort,” he said.

“We would welcome increased support from Russia for our overall effort and (NATO) has made very specific requests to Moscow which they are considering,” Appathurai said. Russia contributes logistical support for NATO- and US-led operations by providing a vital land and air transit corridor for the shipment of supplies to the international force.

It also services Soviet helicopters and organizes training for the Afghan anti-drug police. But Moscow has always ruled out sending ground troops. During the Cold War, the Soviets provided military support

for the secular Afghan government, and sent over 100,000 troops to defend it against religious fundamentalists being financed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Britain, and other Western nations. About 15,000 Soviet soldiers perished in the 10-year war in the 1980s.

“Today we are helping them fight the same fanatics whom they supported against us 20 years ago,” Rogozin noted. He expressed concern over weakening support for the nine-year war from America’s European allies, “who ended up in Afghanistan without really knowing what they were doing there.” “The result is falling public commitment to the war,” he said.

Last month, the Dutch government col-

lapsed because it tried to comply with a NATO request to keep its 2,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan. The Dutch crisis, and growing public opposition in other European countries to further involvement in Afghanistan, has sparked fears that other NATO nations might also pull out their troops.

“NATO is still dominated by the United States, and European allies still fall in line just to keep the alliance going, (by) participating in US-initiated military adventures, even though their national interests in doing so are far from clear,” said Ian Buruma, a professor of democracy at Bard College in New York.

“It is hard to see how this can continue for much longer.” — AP

PM Putin urges expanded Russia-India commercial ties Signs multi-billion-dollar arms deals

MANILA: Philippine Army soldiers with guns ride a float with a tarpaulin with an image of soldiers in the background during parade-in-review honoring the new army chief at a change-of-command ceremony yesterday at Fort Bonifacio Army parade grounds in Manila, Philippines. Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu assumed command of the biggest branch of the Philippine armed forces from Gen. Delfin Bangit, who was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.— AP

25 Filipino police charged with murder in shootout MANILA: Prosecutors have filed murder charges against 25 policemen who allegedly pumped 80 bullets into a van carrying a man and his 7-yearold daughter while chasing suspected robbers two years ago, officials said yesterday.

Police officers in the Philippines are rarely convicted despite frequent complaints that they are quick on the trigger in a country where crime is rampant and guns easily available.

The Justice Department said it found probable cause to indict the 25 officers in the death of Alfonso de Vera, 53, and his daughter after witnesses testified that police indiscriminately fired at the van without determining who was inside.

The officers were chasing suspected bank robbers in a Manila residential area in December 2008 when they strafed de Vera’s van with 80 bullets, the indictment said. When de Vera left the

vehicle with his fatally wounded daughter, the policemen followed and shot him in the head, the Justice Department said. The policemen have said the civilians were caught in the crossfire with the suspected robbers.

All 12 suspected robbers were also killed, along with a policeman and another civilian. The metropolitan Manila police chief at the time, Leopoldo Bataoil, described the shootout as the bloodiest in recent memory.

The independent Commission on Human Rights said in January that police not only displayed incompetence but also showed “blatant disregard for standard operating procedures, brazen police brutality and reckless disregard for human rights.” The National Police Commission concluded that the officers violated rules of engagement and failed to protect civilians. — AP

Thaksin protesters converge on Bangkok BANGKOK: Tens of thousands of supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra began to mass yesterday in trademark red shirts ahead of weekend protests in Bangkok aimed at toppling the government.

Around 6,500 protesters staged early demonstrations in the capital before dispersing after several hours while thousands more gathered in the rural north before starting their journey to Bangkok for the main rally on Sunday. Organisers insist the protests will be non-violent, but the government is rolling out a 50,000-strong security force and has enacted a tough security law that allows authorities to impose curfews and limit movements.

“I am joining the demonstration to call for democracy and to end the double standards. We come of our own free will,” said

Saket Khosri, 46, a Bangkok housewife attending one of the downtown rallies, billed as a warm-up to Sunday.

The bright red-clad crowd made its way along a main Bangkok thoroughfare, most on foot and on motorbikes and tuktuks, before dispersing mid-afternoon. “Today we had some small groups gathering, this is not yet a rally. We want to build sentiment before Sunday,” said key Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan.

Coming two weeks after Thailand’s top court confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of Thaksin’s assets, the protests are the latest chapter in a political crisis that has beset Thailand since Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 coup.

Thaksin, who lives abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for corruption at home, issued on Friday the latest in a

series of rallying cries via Twitter. “I offer my moral support to the Red Shirts who are making a sacrifice and are coming out to write history today,” Thaksin said on a Twitter posting. Police said 14,000 protesters had left Thaksin’s home city Chiang Mai for Bangkok, although the Reds estimated the figure at 20,000.

About 10,000 had departed Udon Thani in the northeast, said another leader, Kwanchai Praipana.

Thousands of others had gathered in other provinces but exact numbers were not yet available, organisers and officials said. The protest is set to be the biggest since the Red Shirts rioted in Bangkok in April, leaving two dead and scores injured.

Organisers have dubbed it a “million-man march” though the government predicts around 100,000 will turn up. — AFP

BANGKOK: Riot police officers secure an area outside Government house in Bangkok yesterday. Tens of thousands of supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra began to mass in their trademark red shirts ahead of weekend protests in Bangkok aimed at toppling the government.— AFP

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in India to sign a clutch of mult-ibillion-dollar arms deals, said yesterday it was time for the old Cold War allies to boost trade beyond the limited scope of defence.

At just over 7.5 billion dollars in 2009, bilateral trade turnover is minuscule and the two countries aim to lift it to 20 billion dollars by 2015.

“There is the political will on both sides, but we need support from the captains of industry,” Putin said during a live webcast with leading Indian businessmen and cultural figures.

“We should think about the future,” Putin said, stressing the need for commercial ties to move beyond arms sales-Russia is India’s biggest supplier-into areas such as energy, banking and information technology.

“Cooperation in hi-tech is the priority for us,” he said.

“The Russian government is ready to directly support this activity, with the help of additional financial assistance, if need be.”

According to Indian officials, energy is emerging as a focus between oil and gas-rich Russia and energy-starved India, always on the lookout for new fuel sources to power its growing economy.

Indian foreign ministry official Ajay Bisaria noted that New Delhi had invested 2.8 billion dollars in an oil field on Sakhalin island off Russia’s east coast and was in talks with energy firms Rosneft and Gazprom for more blocks in north Russia.

“India has had an energy strategy of investing in equity in that region and this continues,” Bisaria said.

Russia is expected to begin construction soon of a nuclear power facility in the eastern India state of West Bengal and yesterday’s visit is set to result in another deal for at least two reactors in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Russia is already building two reactors there.

“This is one of our most important and promising areas of cooperation,” said Putin, who acknowledged growing competition to provide nuclear energy to India after it sealed a landmark deal with the United States in 2008.

The agreement allowed India access to civilian nuclear energy despite its refusal to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Putin was scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and sign more than a dozen arms and energy pacts worth around 10 billion dollars.

The deals include an accord to resolve the sale of a refitted Soviet-era aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, as well as 29 MiG fighter jets.

The sale of the Admiral Gorshkov has been marred by a series of price disputes and delayed deliveries, fuelling concerns in Moscow that India could be tempted to end its dependence on Russian military equipment.

Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said the new accord would “suit both sides” and help put the dispute behind them.

Russia supplies 70 percent of India’s military hardware but in recent years New Delhi has looked to other suppliers including Israel and the United States.

The strong ties between Moscow and New Delhi date back to the 1950s after the death of Stalin. But India has in recent years also taken care to balance this friendship by fostering closer relations with Washington.—AFP

NEW DELHI: Chairperson of the Congress-led UPA government Sonia Gandhi (L) talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. Putin arrived in India for a two-day visit where he is slated to sign a series of multi-billion-dollar arms deals with Moscow’s old Cold War ally. — AFP

Pakistan navy tests missiles in Arabian Sea ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s navy successfully test-fired a series of missiles and torpedoes yesterday in what it called a message to “nefarious” forces — an apparent reference to longtime rival India.

While the two nuclear-armed neighbors have taken slow steps toward restarting peace talks, they also have a history of using weapons tests as a form of diplomatic saber-rattling.

The missiles were launched from aircraft, submarines and ships in the Arabian Sea. It was not immediately clear if the weapons were capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Both countries regularly test their missile systems, and usually notify each other ahead of such launches in keeping with a diplomatic agreement.

But yesterday’s launches were followed by a navy statement saying the tests showed the navy’s commitment to “defending the motherland.” It added: “This strike capability would also send a

message of deterrence to anyone harboring nefarious designs against Pakistan.” Such statements have been rare in recent years, as the two nations have struggled to keep their peace process limping along. Late last month, India and Pakistan held their first official talks since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which India blamed on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

It was not clear whether the statement was an intentional attempt to stir the diplomatic waters, but similar wording has been used in the past to send warnings to New Delhi. Other Pakistani officials refused to expand on the navy statement.

Indian officials could not immediately be reached for reaction. However, Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said at a Friday speech in New Delhi that Pakistan has been a “very difficult neighbor” since independence

Malaysia detains 93 Rohingya men at sea KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities have picked up 93 Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar who said they spent 30 days at sea in a crowded wooden boat, an official said yesterday.

The Rohingya men, an ethnic group not recognized by Myanmar’s military regime, had apparently been chased out of Thai waters before they were detained Wednesday off Malaysia’s northern resort island of Langkawi, said Zainuddin Mohamad Suki, an officer with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

The Thais denied they chased the boat away. A fishing boat had earlier reported to the agency that the men were asking for food and water from passing vessels after their open boat experienced engine failure, he said. Initial investigations showed they had been at sea for 30 days after fleeing their homeland, he said. “Some of the men said they were chased out of Thai waters earlier before they made their way to Langkawi. They said they were sailing aimlessly in the hope of finding a country that will accept them,” Zainuddin told The Associated Press.

Vimon Kidchob, spokeswoman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, however, said troops gave the men food and water, suggesting the men left Thai waters of their own accord. “The Rohingyas were not chased out of the Thai waters. Thai troops on the Andaman Coast found a group of non-Thai people in boats, so they gave the people food and water and let them continue their journey,” she said. Thailand has acknowledged in the past towing away boats of Rohingyas, hoping they will land in other countries. The Muslim Rohingyas number about 800,000 in Myanmar where they are denied full citizenship and face widespread abuses including forced labor, land seizures and rape, rights groups say.

Hundreds of thousands have fled to Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Middle East, and rights groups have expressed concern they will be tortured or killed if forced to return to Myanmar.

Zainuddin said some of the men detained suffered minor injuries and have been given medical treatment. All 93 have been handed over to the immigration department in northern Kedah state and are likely to be sent to a detention center, he added.— AP

from Britain in from 1947. He added, though, that “war is not an option.” “We must talk when we can, at other times we have to simply be vigilant and alert,” Chidambaram said. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence.

The two countries began talks aimed at resolving their differences over the Himalayan region

of Kashmir and other disputes in 2004. India put the peace process on hold soon after the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan is trying seven men on charges they planned and carried out the Mumbai attacks, which left 166 people dead, but the militant network blamed for the assault continues to operate relatively freely in Pakistan.— AP

INTERNATIONAL

6

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Portuguese police detain Venezuela-bound ETA suspect MADRID: Portuguese police have arrested a suspected member of the Basque separatist group ETA in Lisbon as he tried to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas, Spanish media reported yesterday.

Andoni Zengotitabengoa, 30, was detained at Lisbon airport after he presented a Mexican passport which turned out to be false, the online edition of daily Spanish

newspaper El Mundo reported.

He had been on the run since police last month found hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives at a house in Casal da Avarela, near the central Portuguese city of Obidos, which he occupied with another suspected ETA member who is still on the loose.

His arrest comes less than two weeks after Spanish High Court judge Eloy Velasco accused Venezuela’s leftist gov-

ernment of providing support for ETA, which has Marxist origins, and left-wing Colombian rebel group FARC. Velasco charged 13 ETA and FARC members with plotting to kill Colombian politicians in Spain, including President Alvaro Uribe, with Venezuelan “governmental cooperation.”

This move prompted tension between Madrid and Caracas, and led to the two

governments issuing a joint statement stressing their ties in the fight against terrorism.

Velasco based his case largely on information found in the computer of Raul Reyes, the FARC’s former number two who was killed in Ecuador in March 2008 in a Colombian military operation.

But the Venezuelan government argues the e-mails found in Reyes’ computer may

have been manipulated by the Colombian authorities.

ETA, regarded as a terrorist group by both the European Union and the United States, is blamed for 828 deaths in its 41year campaign for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s socialist government

has adopted a hard line against ETA since the group officially called off a 15-monthold ceasefire in June 2007. Since the end of the ceasefire, police have arrested over 450 suspected members of ETA or supporters of the group who stage acts of urban violence known as “kale borroka” in the Basque language, Zapatero said during an interview with Spanish public television TVE on Monday. —AFP

Bishop: Pope dismayed at clerical abuse scandal German archbishop apologises to victims VATICAN CITY: Germany’s top bishop briefed Pope Benedict XVI on the spiraling cases of clerical sex abuse in the pontiff’s native Germany yesterday and said the pope encouraged him to pursue the truth and assist the victims.

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch said the pope was “greatly dismayed” and “deeply moved” as he was being briefed on the scandal during his 45-minute private audience in the Vatican.

VATICAN: In this photo released by Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, left, meets Archbishop Robert Zollitsch during an audience in his private library at the Vatican, yesterday.

Germany’s top bishop has informed Pope Benedict XVI on cases of clerical sex abuse in the pontiff’s native Germany and said the pope encouraged him to pursue the truth and assist the victims. — AP

Flooding batters Kazakhstan TALDYKORGAN: Thousands of people fled their homes after two dams burst in Kazakhstan, washing away scores of homes and leaving 20 people missing, locals and officials said yesterday.

Flood waters from rivers swoolen by unusually heavy winter snowfalls and an early spring spilled over the walls of a dam in the southern Aksuisky district and washed away a second in the nearby Karatalsky district.

The emergency situations ministry in the former Soviet republic said that the breaching of the dam in Aksuisky on Thursday night had flooded a village of 3,000 people, who were evacuated to a nearby city.

“According to our official data, 20 people are considered missing as a result of the floods ... but this is only preliminary data,” ministry spokesman Eldar Rayimbakov told AFP. “At this point, it is too early to say with

certainty that they are dead.”

Regional officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but Russian news agency Interfax-Kazakhstan said that at least 20 people had been killed and 60 homes washed away in the raging flood waters.

In the regional capital Taldykorgan, evacuees described the last-minute exodus from the village of Kyzyl-Agash as the flood waters began to spill over the dam.

“Our neighbours came and told us to drop everything and run, that the water was about to breach the dam. This was at eight o’clock in the evening,” said Razbek Alakkan, wiping back tears.

“So we abandoned our farm and left. All of our cattle died, but thank God we are alive,” he added.

In the second incident in Karatalsky, officials said that an entire dam was washed away, forcing the evacuation of a village of 820 people, most of whom have taken shel-

ter in a school.

The deluge had also brought down a bridge on a main highway connecting the capital Almaty with the northern city of UstKamenogorsk near the border with Russia, the emergency ministry said.

Around 300 rescue workers have been sent to the scene, the ministry said. The country’s Prime Minister Karim Masimov was also due, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Flooding is common in Kazakhstan, a mountainous nation which borders Russia and China.

The wealthiest of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Kazakhstan has struggled to maintain its ageing infrastructure and has been hit by a series of disasters in recent years as a result. Thirty-eight people were killed last year when a drugs treatment facility caught fire in the city of Taldykorgan, and a warehouse fire in the capital Astana killed at least 16. —AFP

Quake, tsunami alert hit Chile, new leader sworn in VALPARAISO: Strong aftershocks and a tsunami alert rocked Chile and rattled nerves Thursday as rightwing billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new president of the quakehit nation.

“We’re going to rebuild Chile together, stone by stone, brick by brick,” Pinera pledged in his first speech as president only hours after his inauguration and a 6.9magnitude aftershock that sent people scrambling for higher ground. “In some way, we are all survivors of this tragedy,” Pinera said.

The tremors, the strongest since February’s 8.8-magnitude quake, triggered the alert which lasted four hours on parts of the mainland and caused panic at the parliament in the coastal city of Valparaiso where Pinera was inaugurated.

Many guests, including seven Latin American heads of state, were visibly shaken, and the parliament was urgently evacuated straight after the ceremony.

The aftershocks in central areas peaked at a magnitude of 6.9, the strongest in a wave of more than 250 which have shaken Chile since the February 27 quake, which sparked a killer tsunami and left almost 500 confirmed dead and some two million people affected by the disaster.

No damage or injured were reported Thursday, but authorities, who had been criticized for their slow response after the first quake, issued a tsunami alert which was later lifted on land but maintained for Easter Island.

Pinera, 60, inherited the presidency from widely-popular leftwing leader Michelle Bachelet and faces the huge challenge of rebuilding the nation.

On his return to Santiago, the business tycoon called on all Chileans to pull together to rebuild their nation.

“To get there, we need to have unity not divisiveness, generosity not selfishness... we’re going to have to dry our tears and roll up our sleeves,” he said from a balcony of the La Moneda presidential palace, surrounded by his wife and four children.

“Despite the suffering and adversity, we must have the courage and will to dry our tears and get to work to confront the emergency and start reconstruction,” he said.

His earlier visit was to the ravaged coastal town of Constitucion, where he offered 80-dollar vouchers to children of poor families to help ease post-quake recovery.

Pinera said the vouchers would benefit some 4.2 million children, and that he would propose a law to congress on Friday

to back the measure, which he hoped would be applied by early April.

Joined by several ministers, he also placed a floral tribute at a spot where huge waves swept up from the sea on February 27.

His January victory spelled an end to the ruling left-wing coalition that has governed Chile since the end of General Augusto

Pinochet’s dictatorship 20 years ago. But the presidency of Pinera, who placed 437th Wednesday on the latest Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people with a net worth of 2.2 billion dollars, will be marked by the aftermath of the quakes.

Analysts estimate reconstruction could cost up to 15 billion dollars.—AFP

SANTIAGO: Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera speaks to supporters from a balcony at La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago. Pinera was sworn in as president Thursday at the National Congress in Valparaiso. — AP

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch apologised to victims of child abuse by priests and said after meeting Pope Benedict yesterday the pontiff encouraged him to press ahead with tackling the problem.

The German Church was taking steps to investigate numerous allegations of abuse in Catholic institutions, to counsel victims and to prevent a recurrence.

“The German bishops are dismayed by what has happened and the acts of violence against children,” Zollitsch said. “A few weeks ago I asked forgiveness from the victims, something which I must repeat today in Rome.”

Zollitsch said he briefed the pope in particular on the measures being taken so far to confront the scandal. “The Holy Father was very satisfied with our decisions,” Zollitsch told a press conference after the meeting. At least 170 former students from Catholic schools in Germany have come forward recently with claims of physical and sexual abuse, including at an all-boys choir once led by the pope’s brother.

Zollitsch also said he briefed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on measures implemented in Germany, and that the Vatican is considering a set of universal norms to deal with cases of clerical sex abuse. “I’m grateful for the encouragement he (Benedict) gave me to continue carrying out our measures in a decisive and courageous way,” he said.

Benedict hasn’t commented on the German scandal himself.

But he decried the sexual abuse of children as a “heinous crime” after he summoned Irish bishops to Rome last month to discuss the even more widespread scandal in the Irish church.

In addition to the cases in Germany and Ireland, three retired priests at a Catholic school in Austria were relieved of their clerical duties this week after allegations of physical and sexual abuse emerged. Two other priests in Austria have resigned amid similar allegations.

And in the Netherlands, Catholic bishops announced an independent inquiry into more than 200 allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests at church schools and apologized to victims.

But of all the European scandals, the German abuse allegations are particularly sensitive because Germany is Benedict’s homeland, where he served as archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, and because the scandals involve the prestigious choir that was led by his brother, Georg Ratzinger, from 1964 until 1994.

Zollitsch said he and Benedict did not discuss the allegations surrounding the pontiff’s brother.

Ratzinger has repeatedly said the sexual abuse allegations date from before his tenure as choir director and that he never heard of them, although he acknowledged slapping pupils as punishment.

According to a poll conducted by the Emnid institute for N24 television, a full 86 percent of Germans contend the Roman Catholic Church has failed to do enough to explain the allegations of abuse in church-run schools and institutions. Only 10 percent of the 1,000 people polled on March 10 felt the church was doing enough. Also, 68 percent of those polled say the abuse scandal has raised their criticism of the church’s educational abilities, while 28 percent still trust the church to teach their children.

Bishop Stephan Ackermann, who has been appointed by the church to handle abuse allegations in Germany,

said that he would also follow up on any charges against bishops. “Bishops or parishes that are not cooperative will be asked for information,” Ackermann said Thursday on ZDF television. — AP

JOS: A Nigerian woman who lost her children to the sectarian violence rolls on the road during a women’s march to protest the killing of their counterparts and children by Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Jos. —AFP

Togo opposition plans new protest after disputed poll LOME: Togo’s opposition leader announced plans yesterday to stage a new protest march against the disputed re-election of President Faure Gnassingbe.

“We shall show that we have the people behind us and that ... we shall fight to free our country from a system that seeks to extinguish it and prevent it from blossoming,” Jean-Pierre Fabre told AFP. Fabre said he expects a “massive” participation in today’s march.

A similar protest in the capital Lome on Tuesday, attended by several hundred people, was quickly dispersed by security forces.

“Up until now, Saturday’s march has not been banned. No decision has yet been taken on it,” a government official, who demanded anonymity, told AFP.

Fabre’s main opposition party, the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), and three other smaller opposition parties are contesting the results of the March 4 presidential poll which officials say was won by Gnassingbe with 60.92 percent of votes cast.

Fabre said that electoral fraud robbed him of victory.

Togo’s ruling RPT party also said that it would organise today a simultaneous march in Lome.

The two marches are scheduled to begin the same time: 0800 (07HOO GMT).

“We are going to express our joy for having won the poll, support our candidate who has resoundingly been re-elected, and defend our vote as free citizens,” the secretary general of the party, Solitoki Esso, told AFP.— AFP

At least 8 dead across Mexico in drug killings CIUDAD JUAREZ: Gunmen burst into a wake in the border city of Ciudad Juarez on Thursday and opened fire, killing 5 young men and wounding five others, including a 10-year-old girl.

The wake was being held at a private home for an 18-year-old man who had been shot to death in his car two days before.

Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for prosecutors in northern Chihuahua state, where Ciudad Juarez is located, said the bodies of the shooting victims lay in the street outside the home, after they apparently tried to flee the gunmen. There was no immediate information on the condition of the wounded, who were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The city has been plagued by drug gang violence in which gunmen often seek to finish off wounded rivals or associates of previous victims. Gunmen have attacked homes where they believe rivals might be gathering. In January, gunmen killed 16 people, many of them teenagers who had gathered for a party. Investigators believe the killers may have been acting on a false tip that the youths belonged to a rival gang. Elsewhere in Mexico, an American citizen, two policemen, four young men and a local government official were among those killed in other attacks across the country. Police identified U.S. citizen German Norman Hall on Thursday as one of two men murdered by gunmen with assault rifles in the border town of Piedras Negras across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Police said Hall was shot eight times in the Wednesday attack.

Four men sitting down to eat in the Mexican state of Sinaloa died when attackers burst into the restaurant with assault rifles and sprayed them with gunfire. One victim tried to fire back with a handgun before he was killed in the Wednesday afternoon attack, said Martin Gastelum, prosecutor for drugplague state on Mexico’s West Coast.

And in the border city of Tijuana, federal police announced Thursday they had found a tunnel in a warehouse at a border assembly plant. The tunnel

was dug in the direction of, but did not cross, the US border, some 700 yards (meters) away.

Such tunnels are frequently used to smuggle drugs or undocumented migrants.

The tunnel was discovered after a piece of heavy machinery doing repair work in the plant’s parking lot suddenly sank into a hole.

The killings don’t represent a new wave of terror — about 17,900 people have been killed since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against drug trafficking in December 2006.

But they reflect the ongoing wars for local turf and drug routes to US markets among entrenched gangs. Much of the attention in recent weeks has been centered around the border town of Reynosa — across from McAllen, Texas — where federal authorities warned residents to avoid certain neighborhoods after three people were killed in two separate shootings Wednesday.

In Chilpancingo, capital of Mexico’s southern Guerrero state, two commanding police officers were killed Wednesday when gunmen opened fire on the car they were riding in, peppering it with more than 70 bullets, according to police reports. Their murders follow the killings of six other police officers in the region since last weekend. Soldiers killed a government employee and arrested three other men, including a former politician, during a Wednesday shootout in northeastern Nuevo Leon state.

Mexican military officials say the men were traveling in the town of Apodaca in a pickup that had been reported stolen and were armed with pistols. The shootout erupted after soldiers tried to stop them.

Instead of pulling over, the pickup truck driver opened fire and tried to flee. Empty shell casings were found scattered around the vehicle following the pre-dawn attack. Apodaca Mayor Benito Caballero confirmed the dead man, aged 20, was an events organizer for the city. “It’s regrettable that an a local official was involved in this type of activity,” Caballero said. — AP

HAMBURG: Various weapons are on display during a press conference held by the Police in the northern German city of Hamburg yesterday. The police reported 5021 illegal weapons were handed in during an amnesty. —AFP

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Etihad expands codeshare flights in Australia Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has increased the destinations available for passengers travelling to Australia by expanding its codeshare agreement with Qantas.

As part of the agreement, the Etihad twoletter ‘EY’ code is now placed on flights from Sydney to Ayers Rock (Uluru), Alice Springs, Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne and flights from Brisbane to Cairns.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “The expansion of this codeshare agreement with Qantas reaffirms our commitment to passengers around the world who are flying to Australia and want to visit towns and cities outside the key gateways.”

The new routes are in addition to the services that were part of the initial code-

share agreement, which commenced in March 2009 and include flights between Sydney and Brisbane, Sydney and Cairns, Sydney and Adelaide, and Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as Sydney to Auckland in New Zealand.

Aside from the codeshare expansion, Etihad recently secured 14 additional weekly flight frequencies from its Abu Dhabi homebase to Australia.

Within the new flight allocation, which is available from March 2011, seven flights can be operated to any gateway in Australia. This includes Etihad’s current destinations of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. A further seven weekly flights were granted on the condition that the operation also flies via or onto a regional airport.

Kalzip - Raising the bar on creative potential in architecture Kalzip, world renowned market leaders in facades, aluminum roofing and metal cladding systems, offered insight into the future of architectural design during a seminar held on Monday, March 8, at the Slaysil conference room in Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, Al Bida’a.

Unveiling their full range of products and services in front of a large gathering of construction professionals including engineers, architects, planners and designers from government ministries and private consulting firms, Allan Grace, Regional General Manager of Kalzip Middle-East, revealed that Kalzip was being specified by discerning customers for some of the most prestigious projects around the world. Offering unrivalled design possibilities, Kalzip enables architects and designers to create innovative, durable, high performance and low maintenance building envelope solutions using aluminum profiled sheets and other inspiring metal finishes.

Highlighting some of the impressive projects undertaken by the company in the region, including cladding and roofing work for the Dubai Mall and Jebel Ali International Airport in Dubai as well as the Yas Marina Hotel & Yacht club and ADNEC buildings in Abu Dhabi, the Regional Manager went on to say, “With over 80 million square meters of roofing and cladding installed worldwide and over 40 years experience in this field, we are definitely the number one worldwide when it comes to designing innovative building envelopes.”

“The extremely lightweight of our roofing material means that it can easily bridge wide spans, making it the ideal solution for low or high pitch roofs, concave or convex roof shapes and for roof designs calling for variable or constant radii. Due to its versatility, Kalzip can be easily adapted to suit the individual requirements of each and every project,” he added.

Kalzip, who are represented in Kuwait by

RAYS General Trading and Contracting Company, a member of the Al-Ghusain Group, has been specified for roofing and cladding work at several impressive projects in the country including the College of Basic Education in Ardiya, by the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training, and the Kuwait Sports Club for the Deaf at Sulaibikhat, by the Ministry of Public Works.

Elaborating on the success of Kalzip in Kuwait, Maged Albaz, Construction Manager at RAYS, said that it is the only quality solution for metal roofing in the country that offers the highest economic efficiency. Noting that for more than a decade RAYS had been in the forefront of providing cladding and roofing solutions in Kuwait, AlBaza added, “In addition to its low structural weight, high strength and architectural excellence, Kalzip products are specified and insisted upon by architects and planners because of their high quality, sustainability, longevity and the fact that it has excellent thermal and noise insulation and leakage prevention properties that are designed to meet the highest demands of modern architectural design.”

Expanding on the excellent characteristics of Kalzip material Albaz continued, “Besides its recyclable properties, Kalzip products comply with the ecological requirements of modern architectural specifications and in combination with glass and other classic building materials offer virtually unlimited freedom in designing innovative building envelopes. Combining outstanding functionality with stunning aesthetics, Kalzip products offer virtually limitless design potential and meet the most demanding construction and design requirements.”

The presence of a large gathering of construction professionals at the seminar and the keen interest shown by them was a clear attestation of the fact that Kalzip products were becoming the preferred choice when it came to selecting solutions for building envelopes in the country.

7

BUSINESS

China oil demand leaps, top economies lag: IEA Emerging markets drive growth PARIS: Emerging markets are driving unexpectedly strong growth in world oil demand this year with a big boost from China despite a fall in advanced economies, the International Energy Agency said yesterday.

The IEA warned that demand for oil, a strong indicator of economic activity, would not recover in advanced economies overall this year, but was signaling an “astonishing” growth trend of 28 percent in China.

But it raised its forecast for global demand in 2010 to 86.6 million barrels per day (mbd) from its projection last month of 86.5 mbd-a 1.8-percent increase from 2009 demand levels.

The agency said that demand in the area covered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) remained “persistently weak,” and would fall by 0.3 percent this year.

The OECD groups 30 developed economies including Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States, which account for by far the major part of global economic output. The agency said in its monthly review of energy markets: “This year’s global oil demand growth will be driven entirely by non-OECD countries, with non-OECD Asia alone representing over half of total growth.”

Demand in developing nations will rise by 4.3 percent in 2010, offsetting the 0.3-percent contraction in the OECD, the group’s fifth year of decline in a row, the IEA said.

“The OECD has not only borne the brunt of the demand slump, but will also see no net recovery at all,” it said. European demand for oil products sank by 8.0 percent in January compared to the same month last year owing to sharp drops in heating and fuel oil despite a bitterly cold winter, the IEA said.

The snow blizzards disrupted road travel, thus partly contributing to a fall in fuel demand in January, the IEA said.

But the IEA said the drop also backs up its belief that the impact of bad winter weather is diminishing in OECD countries because of a switch from oil to other sources of energy, including cheaper natural gas. The revised estimate for non-OECD countries was almost entirely concentrated in China where apparent demand surged by 28 percent year-on-year in January according to preliminary data, the IEA said.

“China is currently expected to account for almost a third of global oil demand growth in 2010,” it said. But the IEA cautioned that China’s January figures, which assumed that refinery runs that month were unchanged from December, may be partly distorted by product stocking.

Crude oil prices rose close to 83 dollars a barrel on Friday after publication of the IEA report, lifted by signs of firming demand as the world economy recovers from recession, analysts said.

“There is a general consensus that the global economy is growing,” said Victor Shum, an analyst with energy consultancy Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

“Market participants are bullish at this point based on economic recovery optimism and are thinking ahead about the summer driving season raising gasoline demand in the US,” he said.

The recovery in global oil demand comes after the worldwide economic crisis caused demand to fall by 1.4 percent in 2009. The IEA said the latest data confirms that demand returned to growth on a yearly basis in the last three months of 2009 after five consecutive quarters of decline.

“Assuming that the world’s economic recovery is sustained (although many headwinds remain, as noted in last month’s report), demand growth should be robust over the next four quarters,” the energy agency said.

The global oil supply rose by 0.9 mbd to 86.6 mbd in February, with the OPEC cartel of oil producers registering its first yearly growth since October 2008, the IEA said.

Crude production struck a 14-month high of 29.2 mbd in February, and Iraq accounted for half of the 200,000-barrel-per-day increase, the report said.

The IEA noted that markets expect OPEC ministers to maintain current production targets at their next meeting on Wednesday if oil prices remain near 80 dollars per barrel.

OPEC chief Germanico Pinto, Ecuador’s oil minister, indicated on Thursday that he expected no change in oil production quotas at the group’s meeting. — AFP

ESHER, UK: British Airways cabin crew arriving for the start of a union meeting to discuss a strike ballot at Sandown Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, south-west of London. — AFP

OAKLAND: Gas prices over $3.00 per gallon are displayed on a sign at a Shell gas station in Oakland. Emerging markets are driving unexpectedly strong growth in world oil demand this year with a big boost from China despite a fall in advanced economies, the International Energy Agency said yesterday. — AFP

Mubadala looks to agree on $2.5bn refinancing: Bankers LONDON: Abu Dhabi governmentowned Mubadala Development Company has invited banks to participate in a self-arranged $2.5 billion, three-year club loan to refinance existing debt, banking sources close to the deal said.

Pricing on the revolving credit will not be set until the end of March, but the borrower is looking for a consensus from lenders, the bankers added.

Pricing is expected to be aggressive, and will be a long way inside the cost of insuring Abu Dhabi debt for five years, the bankers said. Abu Dhabi’s five-year credit default swap (CDS) level was 110 basis points on Thursday.

“The borrower expects pricing to be seen in the context of large European corporates, despite the fact they are based in the Middle East,” one of the bankers said. As previously reported, Mubadala has been in talks to refinance and increase its $2 billion syndicated loan that matures in April. Mubadala will be the second Abu Dhabi-government linked company to tap the loan market this year, following International Petroleum Investment Company’s (IPIC) $2.5 billion, three-year term loan that launched at the beginning of March.

Oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest of the seven-member United Arab Emirates federation, is regarded very differently to debt-laden Dubai by

lenders and the flow of funds is expected to shift to the richer and more creditworthy Gulf economies, the bankers said.

Mubadala offers comfort to lenders with its 100 percent government ownership and will be able to call on its close relationship banking group to agree a new deal, bankers told TRLPC previously.

There will be no explicit state guarantee for the new loan, however, one of the banking sources said. The original deal was a $2 billion, threeyear club loan that was signed in April 2007 via 21 banks. It paid a margin of 17.5 basis points (bps) over LIBOR, according to Reuters LPC data. — Reuters

BA crew set to walk out, company removes offer LONDON: British Airways cabin crew will walk out for seven days this month after talks between the airline and unions broke down, in a dispute analysts said could cost the airline around 140 million pounds ($212 million).

The Unite union said yesterday its members would strike for three days from March 20 and for four days from March 27, while BA removed a formal offer made to staff on Thursday and conditional on Unite not naming any strike dates. “Because strike dates have been announced, Unite has invalidated the offer. It is no longer on the table,” BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh said.

Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey said BA management wanted to “destroy trade unionism among its employees”. Cabin crew will not strike over the Easter holidays across the first week of April, but Unite said if no deal was reached more strikes could be called after Easter and beyond.

“Unite has warned there could be further action after April 14 if a resolution has not been agreed,” said Guy Lamb, an employment lawyer at law firm DLA Piper.

“The terms of the ballot allows Unite to take further action at any time as long as it relates to the

same dispute, so unless a resolution is reached, we could see further disr uption in the coming months and even into the summer.”

BA said Unite’s proposals to save the airline money fell “significantly short” of helping it reach its 60 million pounds cost-saving target and would leave crew much worse off.

BA shares, which have risen a quarter so far this year, were 2 percent higher at 235.3 pence by 1330 GMT. “The strike could still be averted. Lufthansa had a one day strike last month but sorted it out, which shows what can be done,” said Davy Stockbrokers analyst Stephen Furlong.

“This will probably cost BA something in the region of 20 million pounds a day but maybe less since they have some contingency plans in place,” said Furlong.

BA has trained staff from other areas of the company to fill-in as cabin crew during the strike and has said it will hire 23 fullycrewed planes from charter companies to help run flights from Heathrow.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged BA and Unite to resume talks to avoid a strike. “I hope they will do so (resume

talks) but I remind them of the danger and risk to the British economy of disr uptive strikes going ahead,” Brown told a news conference on Friday.

BA’s Walsh has said the airline must move away from its old, inefficient ways if long-term survival is to be ensured, and that changes at the airline, which analysts believe is losing around 1.5 million pounds a day, are essential to help repair its precarious finances.

“This strike is getting no sympathy from customers and is eroding loyalty for BA’s brand and driving passengers to rivals at a time when the airline is facing record annual losses,” said Bob Atkinson, a manager at travelsupermarket.com. Gavin Halliday, BA’s European head, said the strike threat had not hit bookings too badly and that the impact on earnings was likely “not disastrous”.

The union’s 13,000 cabin crew members have twice voted for industrial action as part of a dispute over job losses and changes to working practices, but a 12-day Christmas strike was halted following a legal challenge from BA. For a Timeline on BA’s battle with unions over strike threats, click on — Reuters

8

BUSINESS

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Gloomy outlook weighs on Greek budget goals

ATHENS: Rioters clash with riot police during a demonstration against the Greek government’s austerity plan in Athens on Thursday. Street clashes have erupted between rioting youths and police in central Athens as more than 30,000 people demonstrated during a nationwide strike against the government’s austerity measures.— AP

ATHENS: Greece’s economy will shrink much more than the government is forecasting this year, the country’s central bank governor said, as economists shrugged off slightly stronger data and warned of a further deterioration.

Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos told Reuters that “bold” government cutbacks designed to tame a 300 billion euro ($413 billion) debt pile meant the economy would contract 2 percent this year.

His view is at odds with the finance ministry, which accepts the economy will undershoot official forecasts but does not think it will perform as badly as last year, when gross domestic product fell 2 percent. The central bank’s forecast is also worse than many economists expect.

Markets are watching Greece’s economy closely for signs of a much steeper downturn that would undermine a goal of cutting the budget deficit to below 3 percent of GDP by 2012 from 12.7 percent last year and risk further unsettling the euro.

GDP shrank slightly less than feared at the end of 2009 and unemployment eased, according to data published a day late after nationwide strikes on Thursday

against government austerity measures.

Greece’s 240 billion euro economy, about 2.5 percent of the euro zone’s, shrank at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter, slightly less sharply than a 2.6 percent contraction indicated by flash estimates last month.

The unemployment rate fell to 10.2 percent in December from 10.6 percent in November, as Greece contended with its first recession in 16 years. Both performances were worse than the euro zone average.

The economy of the 16 countries using the euro contracted 2.1 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter and unemployment was 9.9 percent in January “The fourth quarter GDP data is not indicative of what is to come,” said Dimitris Skapinakis, Chief Investment Strategist at Marfin Group. “The first and the second quarters will be bad and probably worse than the fourth quarter of 2009.”

Skapinakis said the second half performance would depend largely on whether the government was in a position to introduce expansionary measures designed to counterbalance the impact of

Consortium pullout from deal sparks wrath

cutbacks and on the summer tourist season.

The government said on Wednesday that the economy was set to shrink more than its 0.3 forecast for this year although Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou has indicated he expects the contraction to be less than 2 percent.

A Reuters poll of economists on Wednesday showed the Greek economy shrinking 1.5 percent this year and then returning to growth of 0.5 percent next year. Yola Sefteli, manager of a sandwich shop in central Athens, said she was trying avoid raising prices in order to hang onto remaining customers. “We have felt the recession, staff from big companies and banks have stopped eating here,” Sefteli said. “We are all afraid and worried that the restaurant might close if things get any worse or that we might need to cut staff.”

Nikos Magginas, economist at National Bank of Greece, said there was little chance of an imminent improvement in the labour market despite December’s uptick.

“The unemployment rate is still on an upwards trend and its slight drop in

December simply reflects the relatively good state of seasonal demand,” Magginas said.

Data yesterday also showed industrial output declined at a much more modest pace in January while budget revenues continued to come in ahead of target-boding well for government efforts to tame the budget deficit. Economists fear, however, that austerity measures have yet to hit consumers’ pockets and support for the government will suffer once the impact is felt.

“The Greek crisis is far from over,” wrote Ben May, European Economist at Capital Economics, cutting his 2010 GDP forecast to -3.0 percent from -2.0 percent. “With the economy set to contract sharply this year, additional fiscal measures may be required for Greece to meet its budget goal.”

Athens restaurant owner Nikos Koutouzis said salary cuts for civil servants would hurt business and that protests such as those that paralyzed the city on Thursday were compounding the damage. “These measures will help this country, but not the market. If salaries are cut then people won’t spend,” said Koutouzis. — Reuters

Unified communications matters

Brown and Sarkozy slam US I ‘protectionism’ over plane

By Iyad Hindiyeh

LONDON: The French and British leaders accused the United States of protectionism yesterday over a contract to build a new Air Force refueling tanker. A European-led consortium pulled out of bidding this week for the $35 billion contract, saying the Pentagon was favoring rival American bidder Boeing. “This is not the right way for the United States to treat its European allies,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

“If they want to be spearheading the fight against protectionism, they shouldn’t be setting the wrong example of protectionism,” he said. “In life there is what you say and then there is what you do.” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was disappointed with the situation.

“We believe in free trade, we believe in open markets, we believe in open competition,” he said. The withdrawal of a bid by EADS, the parent company of Airbus, and Northrop Grumman, leaves Chicagobased Boeing as the only bidder for the 179-tanker order. The EADS-led consortium was awarded a contract for the tanker fleet in 2008, but Boeing protested and the deal was annulled later that year.

LONDON: French President Nicolas Sarkozy (right) is greeted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he arrives at 10 Downing Street in London yesterday.—AFP The European Union has warned the United States about possible protectionism, saying it “would be extremely concerned if it were to emerge that the terms of tender were such as to

inhibit open competition for the contract.” Sarkozy and Brown gave their news conference after holding talks at the prime minister’s 10 Downing St residence that focused largely on

IATA cuts 2010 loss forecast in half strong start to 2010 GENEVA: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) halved its loss forecast for 2010 to $2.8 billion (compared to the $5.6 billion loss forecast in December 2009). The improvement is largely driven by a much stronger recovery in demand seen by year-end gains that continued into the first months of 2010. Relatively flat capacity translated into some yield improvement and stronger revenues.

IATA also lowered its 2009 loss estimate to $9.4 billion from the previously forecast $11.0 billion loss.

Improvements are driven by economic recovery in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America whose carriers posted international passenger demand gains of 6.5% and 11.0% respectively in January. North America and Europe are lagging with international passenger demand gains of 2.1% and 3.1% respectively for the same month.

“We are seeing a definite two-speed industry. Asia and Latin America are driving the recovery. The weakest international markets are North Atlantic and intra-Europe which have continuously contracted since mid-2008,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Forecast highlights include: Improving Demand: Passenger demand (which fell by 2.9% in 2009) is expected to grow by 5.6% in 2010. This is an improvement on the previous forecast in December of 4.5% growth.

Cargo demand (which fell by 11.1% in 2009) is expected to grow by 12.0% in 2010. This is significantly better than the previously forecast 7.0% growth.

Load Factors: Airlines kept capacity relatively in line with demand throughout 2009. A strong year-end recovery pushed load factors to record levels when adjusted for seasonality. By

January the international passenger load factor was 75.9% while cargo utilization was at 49.6%.

Yields: Tighter supply and demand conditions are expected to see yields improve-2.0% for passenger and 3.1% for cargo. This is a considerable improvement from the precipitous 14% fall experienced by both in 2009.

Premium Travel: Premium travel, while slower to recover than economy travel, now appears to be following a cyclical recovery in volume terms. But it is still 17% below the early 2008 peak.

Premium yields, which are 20% below peak, may be suffering a structural shift.

Fuel: With improved economic conditions, the price of fuel is rising. IATA raised its expected average oil price to $79 per barrel from the previously forecast $75. That is an increase of $17 per barrel on the $62 average price for 2009.

The combined impact of increased capacity and a higher fuel price will add $19 billion to the industry fuel bill bringing it to an expected $132 billion in 2010. As a percentage of operating costs, this represents 26%, up from 24% in 2009.

Revenues: Revenues will rise to $522 billion. That is $44 billion more than previously forecast and a $43 billion improvement on 2009. “Revenues are half-way to recovery-$42 billion below the 2008 peak and $43 billion above the 2009 trough. Important fundamentals are moving in the right direction. Demand is improving. The industry has been wise in managing capacity.

Prices are beginning to align with the costs-premium travel aside. We can be optimistic but with due caution.

Important risks remain. Oil is a wildcard, over-capacity is still a danger, and costs must be kept under controlthroughout the value chain and with labor,” said Bisignani.

the economy.

The two leaders suggested a compromise was possible next week on the thorny issue of hedge fund and private equity fund regulation. The United

States and Britain, which is home to most European hedge funds, are wary of proposed EU reforms to regulate the industry, fearing they could stifle growth and harm business.

Together with the financial industry, they have criticized the proposed reforms as too stringent, while socialist European lawmakers — eager to crack down on risky trading — see them as too lenient.

“I believe, as Nicolas does, that we can reach a solution over the next few days on these issues,” Brown said.

The European Commission recommended last year that hedge funds and private equity funds should register in Europe and inform regulators about trades and debts to prove that they don’t pose a risk to the financial system. Funds based outside Europe would have to show that they face similar oversight at home and cooperate with European tax authorities. The reforms were intended to pressure the US to step up supervision.

British Treasury chief Alistair Darling has suggested that hedge funds authorized by regulators to operate in any one EU country should then be allowed a “passport” to operate across the bloc. — AP

US retail sales rise 0.3% in February WASHINGTON: Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as US consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls. The advance, the biggest since November, provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum. The Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales rose 0.3 percent in February, surpassing expectations that sales would decline by 0.2 percent.

The overall gain was held back by a 2 percent decline in auto sales, reflecting in part the recall problems at Toyota. Excluding autos, sales rose 0.8 percent, far better than the 0.1 percent rise outside of autos that economists had forecast.

The gains outside of autos were widespread with sales rising at department stores, furniture stores, appliance shops and hardware stores. Restaurants and bars enjoyed a 0.9 percent advance, their biggest gain in nearly two years, possibly an indication that snowbound Americans decided to visit their local eating and drinking establishments to get a break from their homes. Consumer spending is being watched carefully because it accounts for 70 percent of total economic activity.

Economists have been worried that the economic recovery they believe began last summer could falter if consumer spending begins to lag. The better-than-expected February gain could ease those concerns.

Economists are hoping that businesses, which have shed 8.4 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007, will soon start rehiring laid off workers. That would give households the incomes they need to support spending growth.

Some analysts had suspected that the February retail sales report could offer a surprise on the upside given encouraging news last week from the nation’s big retail chains.

The International Council of Shopping Centers had reported that sales jumped 3.7 percent in February compared to a year ago, the biggest gain since November 2007, the month before the recession began. That marked the third consecutive increase.

Shoppers shrugged off major snowstorms to visit a broad array of merchants from luxury retailer Nordstrom to middlebrow Macy’s Inc. to discounter Target Corp. All three chains reported solid sales increases that beat analysts’ expectations. — AP

NEW YORK: A woman shops for beach towels at Century 21 department store, in New York. Retail sales post surprising 0.3 pct February increase raising hopes economy gaining momentum.—AP

n today’s global environment, a vast majority of companies experience a set of continually increasing business pressures, regardless of industry or size. While not all companies experience the same pressures, the results are remarkably similar. In order to compete effectively, they must become increasingly agile. In this context, a company is considered to be agile if it can respond in ‘real time’ to situations that impact the health and well being of the enterprise and its stakeholders.

So, as companies open their doors and become extended, global enterprises, they need the ability to communicate and collaborate faster over multiple devices and mediums. Recent research indicates that in order to become more agile, organizations are turning towards Unified communications (UC) which is increasingly becoming the winning solution both in terms of immediate cost reductions and long-term efficiencies. UC has evolved from simple unified messaging and voicemail integrated into e-mail, to a market where all of a user’s collaboration tools are brought together under one umbrella.

These tools include telephony, mobile phones, video conferencing, audio and web conferencing, e-mail, soft phones and other commonly used communications devices. Although these devices address the need for faster communications, few of them are linked together. UC brings all of these devices and systems together. It improves the manageability and effectiveness of the ecosystem and makes the enterprise more responsive and agile, which enables it to achieve its business objectives and ultimately gain competitive advantages. It is the convergence of all forms of audio, video, web and desktop communications, built on an Internet Protocol (IP) network that breaks down all distance, time and media barriers. This enables the modern organization to keep workgroups connected, enable them to collaborate effectively and streamline business processes.

Unified communications is being used by many companies to enhance business processes in large part because it enables effective collaboration, since it does not depend on where a participant is located. It also offers other significant benefits, including increased individual and team productivity, fostering of collaboration, improved relationships, enhanced security and enterpriseclass scalability. However, the two strategic business drivers that have proven to be of great importance to companies deploying UC telephony are growth in revenues and cost savings.

• Revenue Growth: Organizations that deploy Unified communications solutions have experienced a measurable impact on their business processes and shortened time to complete projects and sales cycles through faster responses, increased accessibility, mobility (push mail) to converge fixed to mobile environments and improved decision-making and information sharing. For example, by substituting web conferencing with audio and video collaboration for more traditional face-to-face meetings with customers, partners, suppliers, or other employees, businesses can avoid lost productivity due to travel downtime and are able to improve key business metrics. Decision making can also be made faster by allowing teams to find each other in real-time and meet more frequently, resulting in quicker problem resolution and improved information sharing. This business agility can often result in an increased sales win rate and improve customer relations because these employees are able to respond to customer and partner needs quickly.

• Cost Savings: Avoiding travel expenses is just the beginning of the potential cost savings of using Unified Communications. For online meetings, training, or events, web conferencing is an effective meeting solution that enables people to collaborate with groups of two or of thousands-without leaving their desks.

Furthermore organizations can easily and cost effectively implement compliance policies with built-in compliance capabilities to avoid costly exposure. There is a major savings in an organization’s Total Cost of Ownership to migrate from legacy infrastructure on messaging and telephony to a Unified Communications environment, that on top, also provides additional features and productivity benefits at lesser costs. It offers significant benefits to organizations, including

increased individual and team productivity, fostering of collaboration, improved relationships, enhanced security, and enterprise-class scalability. By granting instant access to team members, partners, suppliers, and customers across geographies, time zones, and organizational boundaries, timely information can flow rapidly and efficiently. Organizations can improve team results by using Unified Communications to share ideas and information faster and more effectively.

Managed solutions The greatest value in UC comes from managed and outsourced solutions, where service provides are able to offer end-to-end management across networks and applications platforms. This means a tighter and long term relationship between service provider and customer. The managed services approach is particularly suited to UC, where platforms and applications from multiple vendors need to be integrated and where one supplier is responsible for end-to-end performance as the technology continues to evolve through upgrades and enhanced capabilities. As a result, UC provides tremendous flexibility as it can cover the needs of a large enterprise as well as a SMB with the availability of the hosted model which allows SMBs to save costs by investing in UC as a pay as you go service.

So, without a doubt, Unified Communications continues to be one of the hottest technologies in the ICT industry as it provides: 1.

Business Value: UC when offered via a carrier class platform with powerful blend of rich media internet applications and mobility features not only enhances the overall customer experience but also leads to significant cost reduction and revenue enablement.

2.

Technology Value: Underpinned by flexible, extensible and integrated IP communications platform, UC can meet customers’ future business challenges and scalability needs.

3.

Financial value: Customers using UC can immensely reduce their Total Cost of Ownership and ensure a higher Return on Investment.

4.

Operational Value: UC is a proven solution with easy integration to existing applications. Its high availability and low failure rates positively increases operational efficiency.

A unified future Unified communications has finally reached the point where the products are mature enough and feature-rich enough that companies can use it to enable new business processes and reach new levels of productivity. It is already changing the way businesses sell to consumers, interact with customers and operate internally. Goals such as re-engineering business processes, enhancing employee productivity and improving relations with customers have a common theme - effective collaboration among employees and customers, all of who are increasingly mobile.

Because Unified communication enables effective collaboration independent of the participant’s location or preferred communications device or communications mode, Unified communications is a key component of any enterprise’s efforts to achieve these goals. When coupled with continuing innovation by providers and users, UC has the potential to increase productivity and power the global economy forward.

Iyad Hindiyeh is COO, Smartworld

Saturday, March 13, 2010

TECHNOLOGY & HEALTH

9

Beijing shows no sign of any compromise

Chinese minister insists Google must obey law BEIJING: China’s top Internet regulator insisted yesterday that Google must obey its laws or “pay the consequences,” giving no sign of a possible compromise in their dispute over censorship and hacking.

“If you want to do something that disobeys Chinese law and regula-

WEYMOUTH: UK: A handout picture obtained yesterday from the Dorset County Council shows decapitated skeletons believed to be those of 1,000-year-old Vikings in a burial pit in Weymouth, Southern England. — AFP

Decapitated skeletons were Vikings: Scientists LONDON: Dozens of decapitated skeletons have been unearthed in southern England believed to be those of 1,000-year-old Vikings, scientists said yesterday.

The macabre discovery in June of a neatly stacked pile of skulls next to a mass of male bones in a burial pit near Weymouth, on the southern English coast, sparked speculation about who the victims were. Scientists from NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory analyzed food and drink isotopes from the teeth of 10 of the 51 skulls and found it highly likely that the unfortunate men came from Scandinavia.

It is believed that the raiding Vikings were slaughtered in public by local Anglo-Saxons between AD 910 and AD 1030.

“The isotope data we obtained from the burial pit teeth strongly indicate that the men executed on the Ridgeway originated from a vari-

ety of places within the Scandinavian countries,” said NERC scientist Jane Evans.

“These results are fantastic. This is the best example we have ever seen of a group of individuals that clearly have their origins outside Britain,” she added. Oxford Archaeology members have been painstakingly uncovered the pit, which was found during investigative excavation work for an £87 million relief road.

“The find of the burial pit on Ridgeway was remarkable and got everyone working on site really excited,” Oxford Archaeology project manager David Score said.

“To find out that the young men executed were Vikings is a thrilling development,” he added.

“Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual and presents an incredible opportunity.” — AFP

Li gave no details of Beijing’s talks with Google Inc. over the search engine’s January announcement that it planned to stop complying with Chinese Internet censorship rules and might close its Chinabased site. “Whether they leave or not is up to them,” Li said. “But if they leave, China’s Internet market is still going to develop.”

China has the world’s most populous Internet market, with 384 million people online. Google has about 35 percent of the Chinese search market, compared with about 60 percent for local rival Baidu Inc. Chinese users of Google and even some of China’s state-controlled media have warned the loss of a major competitor could slow the industry’s development.

Beijing encourages Internet use for education and business but tries to block access to material deemed subversive or pornographic, including Web sites abroad run by human

BEIJING: Li Yizhong, Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology, gestures during a press conference in Beijing yesterday. — AP

India’s smoggy capital tries a whiff of fresh air NEW DELHI: India has switched on its first public air purifier in the heart of capital New Delhi as part of an experiment that backers say could help other smogchoked cities in emerging countries.

The maker of the seventon machine, Italy’s Systemlife, claims the boxlike structure can purify 10,000 cubic meters of air every hour, scrubbing out pollutants such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

The unit, plugged in Saturday on a traffic-clogged street of central Delhi, is a pilot that could lead to more being installed in other areas of the city, ranked the world’s fourth most polluted by the World Health Organization.

“It is the first such project in India and if it works then we would acquire a number of them and place them at strategic locations,” the health chief of the New Delhi Municipal Council, P K Sharma, said. He said a state environmental agency will monitor the performance of the machine, which costs about 25 million rupees ($551,000) and works like a vacuum cleaner, sucking in air and releasing it purified

form from a roof vent.

“Money does not matter when health is in question,” Sharma said, adding that the purifier would be tested for three months at the site, which is drawing curious onlookers.

The electricity-driven unit, installed free of cost, uses a five-stage filtering process including electrodes to remove health-threatening solid and gaseous pollutants.

“Almost all Indian cities and especially New Delhi needs them,” said Ritika Modi, director of the Indian partner company of Systemlife. The Italian company has installed similar public purifiers at 26 locations in Spain, six in Switzerland and seven in Italian cities, including in the capital Rome, according to a statement issued by the firm.

Environmentalists said they could only give a thumbs-up to the machine after the tests were over, which will include an examination of the filters by the Italian firm after three weeks of operations.

“We have to examine the variation in air quality, but this can be done only after

we analyse the readouts,” said Vivek Chattopadhyaya, an air analyst with the Centre for Science and Environment, an environmental research and lobby group.

Environmental scientist D Saha from the Central Pollution Control Board said the state-run watchdog would also keep a check on the success or failure of the Italian unit.

In November, the city government vowed to enforce a single standard for industrial and residential pollution as part of plans to tighten air quality rules. Previous rules allowed lower air quality in industrial areas compared with residential areas.

The city government is also mulling the idea of shutting down thousands of industrial units as well as open-air eateries ahead of the Commonwealth Games later this year in a bid to clear up the city smog.

The Commonwealth Games of October 3-14 are set to draw 8,000 athletes and officials to New Delhi as well as 100,000 visitors. In 2008, New Delhi and Indian financial centre Mumbai were ranked among the world’s 25 dirtiest cities by Forbes Magazine. — AFP

rights and pro-democracy activists.

Li insisted the government needs to censor Internet content to protect the rights of the country and its people.

“If there is information that harms stability or the people, of course we will have to block it,” he said. A Google spokeswoman, Courtney Hohne, declined to comment on the status of contacts with the Chinese government or when the company might start stop censoring search results.

Responding to Google’s complaints of China-based hacking against its e-mail service and several dozen major companies, Li said the government opposes hacking.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said Wednesday the company is in active negotiations with Beijing and expects some resolution in the dispute soon.

Speaking at a conference in the United Arab Emirates, Schmidt declined to provide

specifics or predict how long the discussions would last.

He said Google has decided not to publicize details of the talks.

Even if the China-based Google.cn search site is shut down, Google wants to keep a Beijing development center, advertising sales offices and a fledgling mobile phone business, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking.

Google will not say how many employees it has in China, but industry analysts estimate the workforce at 700. The company, based in Mountain View, California, employs about 20,000 people worldwide.

Beijing has rejected suggestions by Western security experts that China’s military or government agencies might have been involved in the hacking.

“You cannot find evidence about who organizes such attacks. The Chinese government has repeatedly opposed and deterred hacking attacks,” Li said. — AP

Media bosses spar over charging for news online NEW YORK: With The New York Times and Rupert Murdoch poised to start charging for newspapers online, media heavyweights sparred on Thursday over whether readers will pay for news on the Web. The Times plans to require payment for full access to NYTimes.com in early 2011 and Murdoch, who already charges for The Wall Street Journal online, has pledged to begin charging Web readers of his other News Corp. newspapers.

Keynote speakers and panelists at the Bloomberg BusinessWeek Media Summit here differed sharply on whether Internet users would be ready to shell out money for what they have become accustomed to getting for free.

New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger said the time is right for his newspaper to start charging for its website and the move will provide a “critical” new revenue stream to add to print and online advertising revenue.

“There is an opportunity, I think, for us to gain a great deal of revenue from this paid model going forward,” Times

NEW DELHI: Pedestrians take a look at a newly set up Air-Cleaning machine outside Palika Bazar market in New Delhi. India has switched on its first public air purifier in the heart of capital New Delhi as part of an experiment that backers say could help other smog-choked cities of the country. — AFP

tions, you are unfriendly, you are irresponsible and you will have to pay the consequences,” Li Yizhong, the minister of Industry and Information Technology, said on the sidelines of China’s annual legislature.

Co president and chief executive Janet Robinson said.

Merrill Brown, chief strategist for Journalism Online, said more than 1,300 publications around the world have expressed interest in the services offered by the company founded last year to help news outlets make money on the Web. “Everyone of them is contemplating a paid strategy of one kind or another,” Brown said. Readers will not pay for “commoditized headlines,” he said, “but they will pay for very specialized news.

“They will pay for deep coverage of their favorite sports teams, they will pay for content which only local newspapers have in their communities,” Brown said.

“If (publishers) market it smartly to their most engaged users they have a chance to add at least incremental revenue.”

Brown said that although the data is “inadequate,” studies suggest that in the United States, over 20 percent of regular visitors to a particular news website may be willing to pay.

“That would be a pretty good thing at any large publication in the country,” he said.

Andrew Keen, author of “The Cult of the Amateur,” a book which takes a critical look at the impact of the Internet on culture, said the newspaper industry “shot itself in the foot” by not charging on the Web in the first place but has every right to do so now.

“We do need to fight the culture of free, the culture which suggests that large media companies or for that matter small media companies don’t have the right to charge for their content,” he said.

“Media companies if they choose can give their stuff away for free but they shouldn’t be vilified if they choose to build pay walls around it and sell it,” Keen said.

Michael Wolff, founder of news aggregator website Newser and the author of a book on Murdoch, said any attempt to make readers pay online is doomed to fail. “We’re in a moment of destruction, transformation beyond all imagination,”

Lenovo says business will focus on mobile Internet BEIJING: Lenovo Group expects wireless Internet products to account for up to 80 percent of its sales within five years as it pursues expansion in faster-growing emerging markets, CEO Yang Yuanqing said yesterday. Lenovo, the world’s fourth-largest personal computer maker, jumped into the mobile Internet market in January with the unveiling of a smart phone and two Web-linked portable computers.

“Mobile Internet is very important,” Yang said in an interview. “Even today, notebook sales already are higher than desktops. Mobile Internet products are going to be 70 to 80 percent of our sales ... within three to five years.” Yang said Lenovo plans this year to focus on promoting mobile Internet and sales in emerging economies in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Lenovo, based in Beijing and Morrisville, North Carolina, was hit hard by the global crisis, which prompted its core corporate customers to slash spending. It suffered three losing quarters before rebounding to a profit in the second half of last year.

Yang said Lenovo’s longerterm strategy, dubbed “protect and attack,” calls for building up its dominant presence in China.

The country accounts for nearly half of Lenovo’s global sales but it faces competition from industry leaders Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc, which are creating products tailored to Chinese customers. In the latest quarter, Lenovo said sales in India and other emerging markets rose 52 percent over a year earlier, far ahead of the 13 percent sales

growth reported for the United States and Western Europe.

Lenovo, which acquired IBM Corp’s PC unit in 2005, says its global market share last year rose to 9 percent, its highest level to date. Yang said Lenovo has no plans for foreign acquisitions but is ready to look at any deals that fit its strategic plans.

Corporate spending on computers has yet to rebound but companies are expected to step up purchasing in the second half of this year, Yang said. He said he could not foresee when global PC sales might recover to pre-crisis levels. “I’m not an economist,” he said. “Even for economists, it’s difficult to forecast.” — AP

BEIJING: A Chinese model uses a mobile phone to control a robot made by Chinese computer maker Lenovo at a high-tech exhibition in Beijing, China. Lenovo Group expects wireless Internet products to account for up to 80 percent of its sales within five years as it pursues expansion in faster-growing emerging markets, CEO Yang Yuanqing said yesterday. — AP

Wolff said.

“Newspapers are going out of business, every big city newspaper will be out of business or will be owned by a rich man hobbyist within the foreseeable future,” he said.

“It’s not going to happen that The New York Times is going to successfully charge or that anyone else is going to successfully charge,” Wolff said. “You’re not going to pay for news because it’s something you already get, it’s everywhere,” he said. “If you’re connected in any way the news comes to you.”

Richard Gingras, chief executive of online arts and culture magazine Salon, said media companies “clearly have to look for alternate revenue streams and not just rely on advertising” but expressed skepticism readers would be willing to open their wallets to get news online.

“They won’t pay for local news content, not in sufficient numbers,” he said.

“It’s very hard to convince anyone that the value is such that they should pay to get it.” — AFP

Ban on bluefin tuna trade in balance at UN talks OSLO: The outcome of a drive to ban trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, prized as a delicacy in Japan, is too close to call before UN talks starting today that will test the world’s ability to protect dwindling fish stocks.

Japan and Australia will fight a proposal by Monaco, supported by the United States and European Union, to ban international trade in the Atlantic bluefin tuna to try to halt a plunge in numbers.

The 175-nation meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, Qatar, from March 13-25, will vote on about 40 proposals for regulating trade in species including sharks, corals, elephants and polar bears.

Bluefin tuna stocks have plunged more than 80 percent since 1970, according to CITES. Japan imports about 80 percent of the catch. A single fish can weigh up to 650 kg (1,433 lb) and fetch more than $100,000.

The vote, which requires a two-thirds majority for a ban, is likely to be near the end of the two-week talks. “Indications are that it’s going to be very close”, said Richard Thomas, spokesman for the TRAFFIC wildlife trade monitoring network.

The EU, the United States and the CITES Secretariat all favour a ban on international trade in the fish, found in the north Atlantic and also in the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Some tuna swim right across the ocean.

Sergi Tudela, tuna expert at the WWF conservation group, said that many other nations might back the ban since it already has the support of the major fishing nations.

But Australia and Japan are opposed. “Australia strongly believes that firm and effective fisheries management ... offers the best means to secure populations of this species of tuna across the globe,” Environment Minister Peter Garrett said in a statement.

Tokyo says that poor regulation of catches, rather than its purchases, is the main reason for a decline in stocks and has indicated it may not respect any ban. Australia said it favours trade restrictions stopping short of a total ban. France, Italy and Spain catch the majority of tuna consumed by the global market. In 2009, a quota of 19,950 tons of tuna was set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, but many fish are caught live in nets, transferred to farms and fattened before slaughter.

Under any international CITES ban, trade could still continue within the 27-nation EU. Others say that tuna is a symbol of a wider decline in world fish stocks. “It’s not only bluefin tuna ... it’s time to take a look at the world’s fisheries,” said Sue Lieberman, director of international policy at the Pew Environment Group in Washington.

She said that the bluefin tuna vote was “the first time that a highly commercial fish species has been proposed to get into Annex One”, under which all international trade would be banned. Trade within the EU could continue since it counts as one bloc. — Reuters

NEWS

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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Qaeda eyes less complex US attacks WASHINGTON: Ever since Al-Qaeda attacked the United States in 2001, US authorities have worked to detect and prevent the next big terrorist strike. But officials and counterterrorism experts say the Christmas airline plot and last November’s shooting at a military base in Texas, may have shown Al-Qaeda that smaller-scale attacks also can prove unsettling, without the complexity and risk of bigger attempts. The Christmas Day attempt to bring down a Detroit-bound flight - allegedly by a young Nigerian man with explosives in his underwear - was not successful. The attempt, however, shook the government, set agencies against each other and led to months of political second-guessing. Short of mass casualties, the attack produced the kind of reaction that Al-Qaeda desires.

Now it appears that the group, which has prided itself on its ideological purism, seems to be eyeing a more pragmatic and perhaps more dangerous shift in tactics. The emerging message appears to be that big successes are great, but sometimes simply trying can be just as good. It is not clear what Osama bin Laden and his senior leaders are thinking and plotting. But US-born Al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn made a public pitch for such smaller, single acts of jihad in a recent Internet video.

“Even apparently unsuccessful attacks on Western mass transportation systems can bring major cities to a halt, cost the enemy billions and send his corporations into bankruptcy,” Gadahn said in the video.

Officials believe this message has been evolving for the past year. It has turned upside down the prevailing wisdom that the next attack must be bigger and bolder than the one on Sept 11, 2001. “It’s pretty clear that while Al-Qaeda would still love to have home runs, they will take singles and doubles if they can get them,” said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution Saban Center and a former CIA officer. “And that makes the job of counterterrorism much, much harder.”

The partisan bickering that followed the Christmas

bombing may have played into Al-Qaeda’s hands.

Counterterrorism officials note that Al-Qaeda leaders monitor the US closely and watched the reverberations of the attack. They saw the scramble to boost security, the members of Congress criticizing agencies for intelligence and screening failures, the political drumbeat against the Obama administration’s national security efforts and the agency leaders who rushed to blame each other. The shift is ideological as well as tactical. Before Gadahn’s latest video message, Al-Qaeda leaders bin Laden and Ayman AlZawahiri had not seemed to embrace the call for smaller, more singular insurgent operations.

“Big Al-Qaeda still has too much of an ego. They still want big, synchronized, high-visibility attacks,” said Jarret Brachman, an expert on jihadist groups. “They haven’t yet said, ‘Let a thousand flowers bloom’.” Al-Qaeda’s senior leaders have worried that unleashing scattered and untrained insurgents who could make mistakes could do more harm than good to the greater jihadi message.

Brachman pointed to the November 2005 hotel bombings in Amman, Jordan, when one of the bombers set off his suicide belt in a wedding reception at a hotel rather than the lobby - killing the groom’s father and 16 other family members and in-laws. Killing vast numbers of innocent civilians - including fellow Muslims - was one of the factors leading to the erosion of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a mistake the group doesn’t want to make again.

In larger, more elaborate plots there are often many people involved, and the chances are greater that one will make a mistake or that law enforcement authorities will get a tip or notice something is going on. For example, Najibullah Zazi’s plot to bomb the New York City subway system late last year unraveled after investigators got a tip and gathered information from an imam who was communicating with the 24-year-old Afghan immigrant, as well as others at the same mosque. Zazi, who has said he was recruited by Al-Qaeda and received training in a camp in

Pakistan on how to build a bomb, was arrested in Denver before he was able to make his planned drive back to New York to set the plot in motion.

In contrast, officials allege that Maj Nidal Hasan acted alone at the Texas military base after exchanging e-mails with radical Muslim cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki. Officials have raised concerns that while US authorities were aware that Hasan was communicating with al-Awlaki, that information wasn’t passed along to the military. But the assault did not include other people and occurred on a base where he was allowed to be, so it would have been difficult to predict or prevent.

The call for more individual jihad is not a new idea to Al-Qaeda followers on Internet forums. One writer scolded those who condemned Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged airline bomber, as a failure. “From my prospective living in the United States brother Abdulmutallab succeeded. Maybe he didn’t achieve his full objective but you do not necessarily need to achieve a grade of 100 percent to pass the class,” the writer said in an early January posting on the Ansar Al-Mujahideen discussion forum, which is pro-Al-Qaeda and is now closed to new members. “What Abdulmutallab did was instill a fear in Americans. This is a very significant accomplishment. An increased fear of flying, for example, can cripple the airlines and cause economic problems.”

Another poster answered: “What did he accomplish?

How many billions do you think they will spend to boost security that won’t work anyway? He humiliated the Americans, afterward Newark Airport was on lock down for 6 hours because someone walked the wrong way.

Success comes in many ways.” Gadahn, in his video, took a broader view, telling followers: “Jihad is neither the personal property nor the exclusive responsibility of any single group, organization or individual. ... Instead it is the personal duty of every able-bodied Muslim on the face of this earth.” — AP

SingTel signals help for Bharti/Zain deal Continued from Page 1 There is significant scope of improvement in Zain, not just in mobile but in fixed line and the corporate market,” said Mittal, who has a “buy” rating on SingTel. SingTel, 54 percent owned by Singapore state investor Temasek, has spent S$18 billion in recent years to buy stakes in fast growing telecoms markets such as India and Indonesia.

The company has previously said it is also interested in Vietnam, where it has no presence, but Lim said costs were now outweighing revenues in the mobile market there because of price competition among operators. “The prospect has gone from very good to pretty dicey,” he said.

“But we do not believe the future will be in pure mobile.” Lim said Vietnam still

interested SingTel given the growth outlook for providing broadband and data services in a country with a young population and a growing middle class.

Lim, just back from a trip from Vietnam, said he travelled so much for his job he avoided going overseas in his free time. Lim runs the firm’s international operations while Allen Lew heads SingTel’s domestic business, both reporting to Group CEO Chua Sock Koong. Lim said the firm was not necessarily looking to buy further assets directly, if it felt its associate firms could execute deals and operate in target countries more effectively. “We are not egotistical about it. We have to be pragmatic...We do not believe in competing with affiliates.”

Lim said divesting assets was also a possibility, but not for its core business.

Yemen raids offices of pan-Arab TV networks He declined to comment on the possibility of an IPO for its fully-owned Australia unit Optus, and said this was a core asset that had been doing well. “One potential consideration would be Bangladesh. We are not divesting to exit, we are divesting to consolidate,” he said, adding the company is open to divesting its Bangladesh holdings if Bharti approached it with an offer.

In January, Bharti agreed to acquire 70 percent of Bangladesh’s Warid Telecom, while SingTel already has a 45 percent stake in Pacific Bangladesh Telecom.

SingTel’s shares closed 1 percent lower, versus a 0.3 percent drop in the broader Singapore index. The stock, which has a market capitalisation of about $36 billion, the biggest in Singapore, is still up 1 percent so far this year, outperforming a 0.6 percent dip in the index. — Reuters

Kuwait gives $1m for Gaza children Continued from Page 1 It said that the donation was “a valued endorsement of ANERA’s ability to deliver with the highest standards of accountability and responsibility.” ANERA said that it was “deeply grateful to two particular individuals for making this donation possible,” namely Kuwait’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Kuwait’s Ambassador to the US Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The organization affirmed its commitment to the people of Gaza, saying that “thanks to donors like the Kuwaiti government, we look forward to serving Gaza’s growing

children and their parents well into a future and fostering stability and opportunities for all.” Commenting on this matter, Sheikh Salem told KUNA late Thursday that Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations were “distinguished and historic”. He added that the Palestinian issue “has always been and will remain” one of the priorities of the Kuwaiti leadership, government and people, noting that Kuwaiti aid to the Palestinian people - both moral and financial - “never stopped”.

The ambassador said that given the “difficult political, economic and living conditions under which the Palestinians in general, and Gazans in particular, are living, the Kuwaiti donation comes to provide

the simplest living requirements for the children of Gaza”. Sheikh Salem expressed hope that all the obstacles facing the Palestinian people would be removed so that they could have decent living conditions like that of people living in their independent and sovereign countries.

ANERA, based in Washington DC, has been a leading provider of development, health, education and employment programs to Palestinian communities and impoverished families throughout the Middle East.

In 2009, the relief and development agency delivered more than $50 million worth of programs to the people of the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan. — KUNA

West Bank into Israel and Jerusalem, and barred men under 50 from Al-Aqsa mosque, the flashpoint holy site in the walled Old City. As hundreds of youths streamed away from noon prayers at a mosque in the district of Ras Al-Amud, a Reuters journalist saw men hurl stones at a car carrying Orthodox Jews. One rock smashed a side window, but there were no obvious injuries.

Islamists in the blockaded Gaza Strip rallied supporters to protest at Israel’s policies in Jerusalem: “We will redeem Al-Aqsa mosque with our souls and our blood,” the crowd chanted. As demonstrators burned US and Israeli flags, Khalil Al-Hayya, a leader of the Hamas movement which rules Gaza, urged Hamas’s rival, West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to reverse his decision to engage in “proximity talks” with Israel through US mediators after a hiatus of 15 months.

“These direct and indirect negotia-

tions provide a cover to the Zionist aggression against our people and our lands,” Hayya told the crowd. “Our angry people now are calling on the Palestinian negotiator to back off from these negotiations which encourage more settlements and the Judaisation of Jerusalem.”

Before he left Israel on Thursday, Biden made clear he did not want Abbas to hold back from talks. These have been cast in doubt by calls from Palestinian officials and the Arab League for Israel to first reverse its latest settlement approval. The US State Department said it was not aware of any refusal to hold indirect talks when President Barack Obama’s envoy George Mitchell returns to Jerusalem next week.

US officials said Mitchell and diplomats were working to maintain the Arab League support that has helped Abbas fend off criticism from Hamas and others that by resuming talks he has given in to US and Israeli pressure. They still hope Mitchell can shuttle between Jerusalem and Ramallah for talks next week.

Even if he does, however, the two sides remain far apart even on the scope of a planned four-month negotiating window. Israel rejects Palestinian demands that issues at the core of the 60-year-old conflict, including the status of refugees and the sharing of Jerusalem, should be discussed from the outset. The Israeli government agreed a measure to try to avoid a repeat of this week’s diplomatic debacle, when a low-level ministry committee approved plans to build 1,600 new homes.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet would discuss tomorrow a measure that would ensure the premier’s team was notified of sensitive planning decisions.

Netanyahu did not disavow Tuesday’s decision by a committee at the Interior Ministry - a move that did not breach a partial, temporary settlement freeze he has imposed. But he did criticise the minister, who is from a rightwing religious party in the coalition, for the timing of the announcement. — Reuters

Gaza swimmers hoping to make splash at Asiad Continued from Page 1 down after Israel and Egypt closed Gaza’s borders in 2007. But every day he walks the three kilometres to the Nama swimming club, an oasis in the crowded camp, to try to carve seconds off his time for the 50-m freestyle. He and another swimmer hope to compete in Singapore at the first Youth Olympic Games in August. Two other swimmers plan to participate in the Asian Games in China in November. “I’m very happy because I will represent Palestine,” says Khaled AlBursh, 16, who hopes to attend the China games. “We know that the others have much better facilities and clubs and pools ... But we are still determined to compete and to win.”

They have a long road ahead of them.

The Gaza Strip, an impoverished territory of 1.5 million people, has been under a crippling blockade since June 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement seized power in a week of bloody street battles.

The ability of Palestinians to leave the territory is heavily restricted, with Israel mostly limiting permits to humanitarian cases and Egypt only rarely opening its Rafah crossing with Gaza.

The four hope to coordinate their exit through Egypt with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, but there are no guarantees.

The pool in Jabaliya is less than half the regulation size for the Olympics and most of the time is filled with children. The team going to China plans to use an Olympic-size pool in Sweden for a month before the games. “A pool built according to international specifications would require huge capabilities, much more than we have in Gaza,” says Mahmud Shamaa, 28, the coach of the team and distant relative of Iyad. “The circumstances are tough,” he adds.

The pool, built shortly before Hamas seized power, is heated 14 hours a day with diesel smuggled through tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border. If the

Continued from Page 1 sites and setting up a special court for cases involving media. Some journalists have also gone missing, the report said.

Al-Jazeera said on its website that government officials recently warned the station against covering meetings of southern opposition parties. The southern protest movement, fueled by claims of government neglect and discrimination, has become more violent as tensions have soared in recent weeks. Eight

athletes make it to the games they could have their first face-to-face encounter with Israelis, a thought that stirs disgust in many from their generation, which has come of age during years of war and strife. “I don’t even want to see any Israeli athletes,” says Imad Salih, 16, whose older brother Ahmed was killed and whose house was destroyed during an Israeli incursion in 2006.

Both he and Shamaa say they would refuse to shake hands with Israeli athletes if they meet them at the Singapore games. But the older Shamaa, their coach, has told them not to mix politics and swimming and to be “civilised ambassadors of Palestine”. He thinks that given the right opportunities they could escape Gaza’s toxic confines and further the Palestinian cause through sport. “With their abilities they could compete and come in first in any international competition,” he says. “But we need technical and financial aid to nurture them.” — AFP

activists and two policemen have been killed this month during a government crackdown.

The south, where 128 years of British rule ended in 1967, remained independent until a unification deal in 1990. Periods of violence with the north followed, including a brief civil war in 1994.

Al-Jazeera’s Sanaa bureau chief, Murad Hashem, said on the network’s website that Thursday’s raid will paralyze its operations. An official from Yemen’s ruling party, Tarek AlShami, said in an interview with the network on

Friday that its reporting was exaggerated and threatened the country’s unity. Yemeni authorities briefly detained Al-Arabiya’s bureau chief for questioning in Thursday’s sweep, said the station’s spokesman, Nasser Al-Sarami, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Security agents confiscated the news channel’s cameras, computers and live broadcasting equipment, he said.

“They did not explain why they are doing this,” Al-Sarami said. “They did mention that we have no license to broadcast from Yemen, but that is not true since we’ve had it since 2002.” — AP

Twin suicide blasts kill 45 in Lahore Continued from Page 1 Some of the wounded were missing limbs, lying in pools of blood after the explosions, eyewitness Afzal Awan said. “I saw smoke rising everywhere,” Awan told reporters. “A lot of people were crying.”

The army sealed off the tree-lined street.

Troops were deployed on rooftops and an army helicopter flew overhead. Rescue workers with stretchers rushed towards the blast site. “We have the heads of both the bombers. There was an interval of 15 seconds between the two attacks. They were on foot. Their target was army vehicles,” said police official Chaudhry Mohammad Shafiq. Suicide bombers often strap explosives to their bodies and the blasts take off their heads.

Pakistani authorities have said security crackdowns have weakened Al-Qaedalinked Talwban militants fighting to topple the government, which is under pressure at home and abroad. But the Taleban have

renewed pressure on unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari. A lull in violence could have provided some relief for Zardari, who faces calls from opponents to hand over his strongest powers to the prime minister. If that does not happen, Pakistan could face new political turmoil while being pressed to defeat the Taliban.

The five blasts this week included a car bomb suicide attack on a police intelligence building in Lahore on Monday that killed 13 people. A shooting and bombing at a US-based aid agency killed another 6 in the northwest. Kamran Bokhari, South Asia director at the Stratfor global intelligence firm, said the blasts were not as sophisticated as others. He expected a new Taleban push. “This new wave was expected as they are under pressure to demonstrate that, despite the several hits they have taken, they continue to sustain operational capability,” he said.

Apart from facing a stubborn insurgency at home, Pakistan is also under heavy

American pressure to open a new front and go after Afghan Taleban militants in border sanctuaries, a move that would tax its stretched military. While Taleban bases have been smashed in government offensives in militant strongholds such as South Waziristan, fighters have a history of melting away to rugged areas which are hard for the military to penetrate. “The militant network is not substantially or reasonably damaged and they are still capable of striking,” said analyst Khadim Hussain.

Pakistani markets have mostly shrugged off violence, which has spread from militant strongholds in the northwest near the Afghan border to major cities. The market temporarily dipped after the Lahore attacks, before Pakistani stocks ended on a more than 18-month high on foreign buying yesterday, passing through the 10,000-point level. The Karachi Stock Exchange’s benchmark 100-share index rose 146.29 points, or 1.48 percent, to end at 10,025.99. — Agencies

Yemen holds US man after Qaeda sweep Continued from Page 1

Israel seals off West Bank Continued from Page 1

SIDON, Lebanon: A Lebanese special forces soldier eats a snake as students of The Lebanese University take pictures during a military parade in this southern port city yesterday. — AP

Edwin Lyman, a senior staff scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, which opposes nuclear power, said the case raises questions about security at the nation’s nuclear power plants - even though Mobley has not been linked to any wrongdoing at any plants. Some of the information used to give temporary workers like Mobley clearance comes from other nuclear power companies and is sometimes incomplete, Lyman said.

“The real question is: Was there information that the NRC or utilities could have seen that would have led to his disqualification?” Lyman asked.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said yesterday that Mobley worked between 2002 and 2008 for contractors who did work at the Salem and Hope Creek plants in New Jersey; the Peach Bottom, Limerick and Three Mile Island facilities in Pennsylvania; and Calvert Cliffs in Maryland. Officials at PSEG Nuclear, which runs the complex in New Jersey, say he carried supplies and worked on routine maintenance mostly during periodic refueling outages, when hundreds of contracted employees descend upon the plants.

The NRC says a laborer typically would not have access to security-related or sensitive information. Officials also say he passed screenings before he could work at the plants. The NRC says the screenings include criminal history checks, drug testing, psychological assessments and identity verification.

The background checks are to be performed by either the nuclear plant operators or their contracting companies. The plants also run behavior observation programs in which employees are taught to recognize and report suspicious activities.

Mike Drewniak, a spokesman for New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, said Mobley was never reported to be acting improperly and was not believed to have been involved in any breaches at the New Jersey plants. An FBI spokesman did not immediately return a call, but a law enforcement official told AP that authorities don’t believe Mobley’s job at the nuclear plant was related to his activities in Yemen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Also, Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, said there was no immediate connection between Mobley’s activities or capture in Yemen and his work at the plants. Mobley was arrested in Yemen in a roundup of suspected Al-Qaeda members this month and was being treated at a hospital in Sanaa when he got into a shootout with guards during an escape attempt, killing one and wounding another, said Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington.

US officials worry that Yemen is becoming the next significant terrorist staging ground because of signs that lower-level Al-Qaeda operatives have been moving into the country from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. The Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen was linked to the failed Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner. Also, Maj Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood last year, had exchanged emails with an extremist cleric in Yemen.

In response to the threat, the Pentagon has proposed spending $150 million to help Yemen battle insurgents within its borders.

Somali-Americans have become a particular concern to American security officials. Young Somali-American men have been traveling from the US to fight jihad in Somalia, raising fears they are receiving terror training and returning to the US ready to launch attacks. Americans are valuable to terrorist groups, in part because they can travel easily, without arousing much suspicion. “The US passport is the gold standard,” said Fred Burton, a former US counterintelligence agent who is now a vice president at Stratfor, a global intelligence company in Austin, Texas.

Mobley was among 11 Al-Qaeda suspects detained this month in a security sweep in Sanaa, the capital, officials said.

He was taken to the hospital over the weekend after he complained of feeling ill. He snatched a gun from a security guard and shot him, then got into a shootout that ended with anti-police terrorism capturing him, authorities said. In Yemen, killing a guard during an escape attempt could result in execution by a firing squad.

Mobley graduated from high school in 2002 in the rural southern New Jersey

town of Buena, and afterward lived in Philadelphia and Newark, Delaware.

Castro said that in the past few years, Mobley organized religious pilgrimages to the Middle East for other Muslims.

Mobley’s mother, Cynthia Mobley, told WMGM-TV in New Jersey that her son is “an excellent person who’s never been in trouble” and “a good Muslim”. As his father, Charles Mobley, pulled out of the family’s driveway on the way to see a lawyer Thursday, he said: “I can tell you this: He’s no terrorist.”

Abdel-Hadi Shehata, imam of the Islamic Society of Delaware, said Mobley used to live one floor below him in an ageing apartment complex in Delaware and occasionally visited the society’s mosque to pray. Shehata said Mobley, who had a wife and young daughter, moved to Yemen about two years ago. “I think to learn Arabic or something like that ... and to learn more about the religion Islam,” he said. Shehata said Mobley never discussed politics or his religious views with him, but sometimes would ask his advice about how to pray and how to cleanse himself.

Marisa Porges, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said many Arabic language scholars travel to Yemen to study the language because the dialect there is so useful. She said there is a risk that even those who travel there to study can become radicalized. “It’s often the case that their being there makes an individual more vulnerable to radicalization,” she said. Umar Hassan-El, assistant imam at another Islamic Society of Delaware mosque, said he roomed with Mobley during a 2004 pilgrimage to Makkah. The worst Mobley did, HassanEl said, was forget to pick up his clothes or interrupt discussions among older Muslims.

“He gave no indication that he would join a group that he’s alleged to be a part of right now,” said Hassan-El. “I never heard that boy ever talk about shooting anybody, killing anybody.” As a teenager, Mobley studied martial arts at Yi’s Karate Institute in New Jersey, earning his black belt after three years, according to the master of the dojo, Chom Sam Kim. “He was very athletic, and had a good respect and attitude,” Kim said. Kim said he was surprised to hear the allegations against Mobley: “I never saw anything abnormal about him during the time he was here.” — AP

12

SPECTRUM

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Victoria Beckham ‘shocked and upset’ at ex-boyfriend’s death he singer-turned-fashion designer briefly dated the Corey Haim, ‘Lost Boys’ star in 1995, and was saddened to receive news of his shock death of a suspected prescription drug overdose. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Victoria hadn’t had any contact with Corey for years but she was still shocked to learn of his death in such circumstances.” The overdose - which happened at the Los Angeles flat Corey was sharing with his mother while he helped her battle breast cancer - is thought to have been an accident, with four bottles of prescription

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h c i R e l o c i N

drugs reportedly found near the spot Corey died. He said: “Looking back it’s hard to work out whether I really fancied him or if I was just a bit of a sad fan.” Meanwhile Corey’s friend and co-star in ‘Lost Boys’, Corey Feldman, was stunned by the news because he saw his pal just days ago and he was upbeat. He said: “He was fine. He was actually giving me some advice about something I was very upset about. He was being very positive.” Feldman also said that while he was touched by the outpouring of sentiment that has followed his friend’s death, he is also

upset that more people didn’t support him while he was alive. Speaking on US TV show ‘Larry King Live’ he said: “Where were all these people the last 10 years? Where were all these people to lend a handout, to reach out to him and say, ‘You’re a legend, you’re an amazingly talented wonderful person who’s never really gone out of his way to hurt anyone, other than himself?’ “In this entertainment industry, in Hollywood, we build people up as children, we put them on pedestals, and then, when we decide they’re not marketable anymore, we walk away from them.”

alizes wedd n i f in ie

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an s Sharon Osbourne can’t wait to be a fat granny he TV star - who shed a substantial amount of weight after undergoing a gastric band operation nine years ago - is looking forward to the day when she can gorge on food and no longer worry about what she looks like. She said: “Oh yes. When I stop working on TV the floodgates will open and I’ll end up a fatty, but I’ll be happy. I want to be a granny and grannies are supposed to be fat. Why are people just interested in my size? I’m just a middle-aged woman who happens to be in the limelight.” The 57-year-old star - who has famously spent over £300,000 on cosmetic surgery - confesses she still isn’t very careful about what passes her lips. She said: “I’m meant to. You’d have thought I’d have learnt the lesson after having colon cancer and bulimia. The problem is I want to enjoy a dinner with my friends, but I know that the next day I’ll be wearing it on my legs.” Although Sharon can’t wait can’t wait for one of her children - Aimee, 26, Kelly, 25, and 24-year-old Jack - to make her and husband Ozzy Osbourne grandparents she doesn’t want to be referred to by the traditional title because it would make her sound old. Instead, the ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge wants her grandchildren to call her “Pookey”. She said: “I desperately want grandkids, it’s a gift of getting old. But I don’t want to be called gran. And definitely not grandmother. I’d like some kind of doggy type name. Something like Pookey!”

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he TV star-and-fashion designer - who is engaged to Joel Madden - is free of work commitments and is focused on getting everything in place for her big day. Nicole - who recently completed a tour of Europe to promote her new fashion range Winter Kate and her House of Harlow jewelry collection - told US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres: “I’ve been on the road. I just got home, and so it’s really going to be now that’s the time for me to sit down and think about what I want.” Although the 28-year-old beauty is ready to start organizing her nuptials she and Joel - who raise two children together, daughter Harlow, two, and six-month-old son Sparrow - are yet to pick a date.

When asked by Ellen if she had a day in mind, she replied: “Not yet, but soon.” Earlier this week, Nicole claimed Joel has no say in their forthcoming nuptials. The Good Charlotte rocker admitted Nicole is the one in charge of the plans, saying: “It’s the same thing as our engagement, we’re kind of doing it at our own pace. We have no idea right now.” Nicole - who revealed their engagement last month - then quipped: “Like he has any say.”

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Jessica Simpson will always care about John Mayer

Katie Holmes embraces season’s new look he ‘Thank You For Smoking’ actress took 17-year-old stepdaughter Bella - whose father is Tom Cruise - shopping in West Hollywood and despite her enviable bank account, the pair were enjoying some retail therapy in affordable high street store H&M. As well as stocking up on basic wardrobe staples, Katie was a huge fan of the sailor-inspired clothes and looked tempted to buy more than she did. An onlooker said: “Katie loves the H&M brand. She bought about 10 things, mostly basics, including a cute $59 trench. It’s obvious that she believes in mixing high and low priced fashion items. “She was particularly interested in the store was the nautical look. Katie loved all the sailor-inspired pieces.” Although Bella - who Tom adopted with ex-wife Nicole Kidman - is happy to shop in high street stores, the same cannot be said of her three-year-old sister, Suri, Katie and Tom’s daughter. It was recently claimed Katie spent $25,000 a month on her daughter’s clothes as she is determined for her to be the “most fashionable kid in Hollywood”. A source said: “Dressing Suri in amazing outfits has become Katie’s favorite hobby. She’ll scour the Internet and Beverly Hills shops to find items and get inspiration for different looks. “One of Katie’s favorite looks is 80s-inspired - she puts Suri in leggings and long sweatshirts or bright dresses. Suri loves getting involved and choosing things too.”

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he singer-and-actress - who dated the ‘Gravity’ singer for nine months before splitting in May 2007 - admits she still has feelings for him even after he discussed their sex life in a recent interview, in which he called her “sexual napalm”. She said: “I will always care about him. I think he’s a great person, a great musician, but I was very disappointed by the article.”

Although she was upset at the interview, Jessica - who was famously a virgin until she married ex-husband Nick Lachey in 2002 admits it was a “compliment” as he was positive about her skills in the bedroom. She said: “Normally you’d think someone you care

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about would keep those details to himself. It was definitely a compliment, in a way. I don’t really want people to know that about me.

I’m like the good girl, then that happened. “He gave away my game.” Jessica also revealed she is still on good terms with another ex-partner, American footballer Tony Romo, even though he dumped her on her birthday last year. She told US TV talk show host David Letterman: “Tony is great, still a friend of mine. I still look at his cute butt in the outfit - uniform.” “What went wrong?

You’d have to ask him that. He broke up with me on my birthday.

We are still good friends.”

Peter Andre set to release new men’s fragrance he pop star is putting the finishing touches to the scent and hopes it will prove to be as popular as his best-selling women’s perfume, Unconditional. He said: “I’ve just picked out a fragrance for my new men’s range and I can’t wait for everyone to smell it. “I’m planning to launch it just before Father’s Day in the UK so all you ladies have to go out and buy it for that very special man in your life.” Peter, 37, is still amazed at how popular his female fragrance has been. He added: “My perfume is still selling so well - someone buys a bottle once every 35 seconds apparently!” Peter - whose divorce from exwife Katie Price was finalized last October - previously said his women’s fragrance was the smell of freedom and was inspired by Lily Allen. He said: “She’s kind of a fresh burst of summer. There’s something about Lily Allen that’s really exciting to me.”

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Anna Nicole Smith’s life becomes an opera he former Playboy model, who died in 2007 after an accidental overdose of prescription drugs aged 39, will be the focus of the production which will be shown at the Royal Opera House in London. The opera will be entitled ‘Anna Nicole’ and has been written by composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, who created the controversial ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’, based on the outspoken talk show host and his shocking guests. It will debut at the esteemed venue on February 17, 2011, with the role of Anna played

by Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek. The Royal Opera House said the premiere would be “a major event in the UK arts calendar”.

Details of the storyline have not been unveiled, but Anna Nicole whose real name was Vickie Lynne Smith - led a colorful life which is likely to be included. Starting as a stripper, she went on to marry oil baron J Howard Marshall when he was 89 and she was 26 and went on to fight for his estate in the courts following his death. The year before her own death, her 20-year-old son Daniel died of a drugs overdose, just three days after Anna Nicole gave birth to her second child, daughter Dannielynn. — Bangshowbiz

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SPECTRUM

Saturday, March 13, 2010

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Spanish writer Miguel Delibes dies at 89 iguel Delibes, one of Spain’s top novelists whose works portrayed the country’s upheavals following its 1936-39 civil war, died yesterday after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. He was 89.

Delibes, a former journalist whose works have been translated into some 30 languages, died at his home in the central city of Valladolid where he was born in 1920, public radio RNE reported citing his family. “We must remember him as a good person and a great writer,” Education Minister Angel Gabilondo told the radio station, adding the author had a “passion” for writing.

Delibes was operated for colon cancer in 1998 shortly after he published his last novel “El Hereje” (“The Heretic”), an international bestseller that follows the life of a boy born on the day the Protestant reformation began. “I am forgetting what I wrote. The same day that I submitted ‘The Heretic’ to publishers I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Since then the only thing I have dealt with has been my health,” the online edition of daily newspaper El Mundo quoted him as saying at the time.

A prolific writer whose works often

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depicted the harsh realities of rural life, he received Spain’s highest honor for literature, the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, in 1993. In 1991, he was awarded the Spanish National Prize for Literature.

One of his most popular works is “Cinco Horas con Mario” (Five Hours with Mario), published in 1966, in which a widow watches over the body of her husband in a provincial town and recalls their life together.

Another popular novel, “Los Santos Inocentes” (“The Innocent Saints”), published in 1981, depicts the extreme poverty and feudal conditions experienced by peasants living under a wealthy landowner in Spain. The novel was one of about a dozen which he wrote which have been adapted for cinema. Late Spanish actor Francisco Rabal won the award for best actor at the Cannes film festival in 1984 for his portrayal of the main character in the movie version of “The Innocent Saints” by Spanish director Mario Camus.

Throughout his life Delibes defended nature and the simple values of rural life as well as individual liberties during the 193975 right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Born into a bourgeois fam-

The coffin of Spanish novelist Miguel Delibes is seen in the City Hall in Valladolid, Spain yesterday as well-wishers pay their respects. — AP

ily, his father was a university professor and his grandfather was a nephew of the French composer Leo Delibes.

He studied law and commerce but began working as a cartoonist for a regional daily newspaper, El Norte de Castilla. He later became a journalist at the newspaper and in 1958 its director.

A victim of censorship by Franco’s dictatorship after exposing the harsh conditions of life and work of rural peasants, he preferred to resign from the newspaper in 1963. He loved hunting and fishing, passions reflected in his work, especially in “The Diary of a Hunter”. — AFP

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Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba County Agricultural High School, reads her many messages from Facebook and Myspace concerning her desire to attend her senior prom with a same-sex date and in a tuxedo, Thursday, March 11, 2010, at her father’s house in Fulton, Miss. — AP

Lesbian teenager sues to force school to hold prom n 18-year-old lesbian student who wanted to take her girlfriend to her senior prom is asking a federal judge to force her Mississippi school district reinstate the dance it canceled rather than let the couple attend.

The American Civil Liber ties Union of Mississippi on Thursday filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Oxford on behalf of 18-year-old Constance McMillen, who said she faced some unhappy classmates af ter the Itawamba County School District said it wouldn’t host the April 2 prom.

“Somebody said, ‘Thanks for r uining my senior year.”‘ McMillen said of her reluctant retur n Thursday to Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton.

The lawsuit seeks a court order for the school to hold the prom. It also asks that McMillen be allowed to escort her girlfriend, who also is a student at the school, and wear the tuxedo.

The district’s decision Wednesday came after the ACLU demanded that officials change a policy banning same-sex prom dates because it said it violated students’ rights. The ACLU said the district violated McMillen’s free expression rights by not letting her wear a tux. McMillen said she never expected the district to respond the way it did.

“A lot of people said that was going to happen, but I said, they had already spent

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too much money on the prom” to cancel it, she said.

McMillen said she didn’t want to go back to Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton the morning after the decision, but her father told her she needed to face her classmates.

“My daddy told me that I needed to show them that I’m still proud of who I am,” McMillen told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “The fact that this will help people later on, that’s what’s helping me to go on.” The school board statement said it wouldn’t host the event “due to the distractions to t h e e d u c a t i o n a l p ro c e s s caused by recent events” but didn’t mention McMillen. District officials didn’t return calls seeking comment Thursday.

At least one supporter has offered to help McMillen and her classmates hold an alter nate prom.

New Orleans hotel owner Sean Cummings told The ClarionLedger of Jackson he was so disappointed with the school board’s decision he offered to transport the students in buses to the city and host a free prom at one of his properties.

“New Orleans, we’re a joyful culture and a creative culture here and, if the school doesn’t change its mind, we’d be delighted to offer them a prom in New Orleans,” he told the newspaper. “Concluding your high school experience should be a joyful one. — AFP

he awe-inspiring Himalayan slopes of war-torn Indian Kashmir represent one of the last frontiers for daredevil skiers. Now, with violence on the wane and a new heli-skiing service offering access to incredible descents in virgin snow, the region is looking to attract the wellheeled practitioners of the extreme sport. After securing government clearance, a Switzerland-based company started a heli-skiing service on Sunday, reviving a practice thwarted for years by violence and red tape that sees skiers taken by helicopter and dropped on remote peaks.

Priced at 9,000 euros (12,300 dollars) per person per week, trips will be available up to early April, forming part of a trend that has seen the violence-weary area revive its adventure sport industry as fighting declines. The package includes flights from the client’s country and also hotel and local transportation. French skier Andre Bianchini, a 48-year-old mountain guide from the French Alps, was one of the first to head out this week and he plans to come back.

“I’ve fallen in love with the mountains here. Unlike Europe, they’re mostly untouched and there are no crowds,” he told AFP. “The view of the valley from a helicopter is out of this world.”

Himalaya Heliski had been waiting for civil aviation ministry approval in the highly militarized zone since the start of the winter season.

More than 700,000 tourists, foreign and domestic, used to visit Kashmir annually before an insurgency against Indian rule erupted in 1989. Numbers are only now recovering after nosediving when the violence started. “We are reviving heli-skiing as violence is declining,” Nawang Rigzin Jora, the minister of tourism in Kashmir, told AFP. Unrest has dropped sharply since India and Pakistan, which administer the region jointly but claim it in full, launched a peace process in January 2004. The

abre sheathed at her side, greatcoat over her shoulders, Yulia Tkachenko patrols the forest with 10 of her men, dressed in the red and black uniforms of the Cossack. To an outsider it might seem a strange sight. But Tkachenko, the only woman “ataman” or leader of the legendary warriors, sees nothing incongruous in her role.

“Today, the men are a bit weak,” she says. “They are helpless ... the women are stronger. Maybe not physically, but morally certainly, we are stronger.”

Tkachenko, a small, grey-eyed woman of 66, is dwarfed by the Cossack troops under her command, each one of whom is at least a good head taller. But there is no doubt who is in charge, for it is she who issues the orders assigning each team the territory they are to patrol. Tkachenko and her men help ensure security in the Alexandrov region, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Moscow. Working alongside the local police and fire services, they patrol the region on a purely voluntary basis.

“We want our Russia to be strong and it is the role of the Cossacks to help get the country back on its feet,” she says. The Cossacks were originally warriors in the service of the tsar. Crushed as counter-revolutionaries by the Bolsheviks after the 1917 Revolution, they were persecuted during the Soviet era. But in the post-Soviet era, the Cossacks have enjoyed a resurgence of the culture. Today, 740,000 people are recorded as Cossacks in Russia, according to official statistics.

About 10 years ago, Tkachenko decided to revive the Cossack community in the Alexandrov region. She mobilised the youth and registered the Cossack presence with the authorities in Moscow. It was this activism that earned her current position at the head of the 320-strong Cossack troop.

“Yulia Pasalkovna is our mother,” says Vladimir Stukatchov, referring to Tkachenko by her patronymic, the name derived from her father. “She tells us to this or that and we obey her with pleasure. It’s not like a chief who gives orders, it’s more like a mother who asks,” says the 50-year-old Cossack. “Yulia, she’s our Russian Joan of Arc,” he adds. But not everyone has accepted her election as head of the troop.

The Cossacks are traditionalists: their values are church, family and country. One local cossack, Valentin Gusev, who runs a garage in Alexandrov, does not approve of Tkachenko’s status. “It’s not good that a woman is ataman. There are rules,” he says. “You must not break with the traditions.” Tkachenko is aware of the hostility among some sections of the community: she says she has even received threats. “I’m not afraid,” she says. “I’m brave. You only die once, that’s why I’m not afraid of death. “I will fight to the end to accomplish my mission,” she adds.

She is determined to be worthy of her origins, which according to family legend has her as a descendant of Yermak, one of the most famous of Cossack chiefs whose exploits include the conquest of Siberia. After a hard day’s patrolling, Tkachenko goes home, exchanges her uniform for a dress and applies a little lipstick. “Out there, I am ataman, I have my uniform and I go to fight. “But once I come home from combat to the house, I am a woman, I go to the stable, I milk my cow, I get the food ready and I am there for my family.” As she speaks, she is already preparing a meal of veal liver pastries for her son, her husband and any of the Cossacks who regularly come and eat with them.

“Why rest?” she asks. “I’ll have plenty of time to rest after I’m dead!” — AFP

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Foreign skiers sit aboard a helicopter before liftoff bound for snowcovered mountains at the launch of a fresh hel-skiing service in Srinagar. — AFP daily death toll has fallen from about ten in 2001 to less than two in 2009, according to police figures, though most Western countries still advise their citizens against visiting the Muslim-majority region.

Kashmir is host to Gulmarg, India’s top ski resort, which has the highest ski lift in the world, climbing to more than 4,000 metres (13,100 feet). It drew a few thrill-seeking foreigners even during the worst days of the insurgency and this season saw hundreds more skiers from Britain, Scandinavia, Australia and North America come to sample its powder.

The resort boasts thousands of metres of untracked vertical descent and virtually no restrictions on off-piste

skiing. Sylvian Sudan from Himalaya Heliski, which heads to isolated peaks in a different area from Gulmarg, said he had 30 clients booked for this year and expects “many more” next year.

“This is the revival year. It will send out a message that today Kashmir is safe and everything is normal,” says Sudan.

The company started heliskiing in Kashmir in 1988, a year before the eruption of an anti-India insurgency that has claimed 47,000 lives according to the official count. It suspended its activities in 1990 and since then it has struggled to establish a permanent service. In 2007 its chopper plunged into deep snow-fortunately without causing injuries.

Next year a New Zealandbased company in collaboration with Gulmarg HeliSkiing, a local company, will also step in to offer a competing service. It had bookings from 200 foreigners for trips this winter, but was unable to get the clearances in time, said Abdul Hameed, the owner of Gulmarg Heli-Skiing.

Other activities such as hiking, river rafting and snow-cycling are also undergoing a revival in Indian Kashmir, with both locals and foreigners taking part.

“Trekking and mountaineering has picked up over the years and many foreigners and Indians can be seen enjoying the treks alongside locals,” said Farooq Shah, head of Kashmir’s tourism ministry. — AFP

A member of the gallery staff adjusts a portrait of Queen Victoria

by Franz Xaver Winterhalter on display. — AP

A member of the gallery staff checks Queen Victoria’s ball gown, worn by the young Queen to the Stuart Ball in 1851 on display. — AP

Yulia, a Cossack chief leads in a manʼs world

Members of the gallery staff pose in front of a painting of Queen Victoria and her family. — AP

Yulia Tkachenko, 66, the only Russian female-Cossack ataman (local chief), poses in front of a church in the village of Makhra, some 120 kilometers from Moscow. — AFP

A staff member of the gallery checks the Queen Victoria’s South India ivory throne and footstool, a gift from the Maharaja of Travancore in 1851, on display in an exhibition ‘Victoria & Albert: Art & Love’ at the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London, yesterday.

The exhibition brings together over 400 items from the Royal Collection showing the unique partnership of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert through their passion for arts. — AP

SPECTRUM

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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Burton’s edgier ‘Alice’ outgrows her prim style he fashion world has found a muse at the movies: “Alice in Wonderland.” Following the story line of the new Tim Burton adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll book, this Alice is distinctly more mature and has outgrown the headband and pinafore so familiar from her previous animated persona. Now she is live-action, edgy, adventurous and confident. She wears a corseted style and a halter dress with haphazard ruffles and ribbons (the latter look seemingly ripped from the Paris runways).

That makes her a perfect inspiration for the atypical fashion and beauty partners Disney Consumer Products lined up for “Alice,” including jeweler Tom Binns, Swarovski, Bloomingdale’s and makeup brand Urban Decay. It is Burton’s explosion of color, texture and dramatic costumes that has people talking, says Avril Graham, executive fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar. “The whole package for each character, with its otherworldly hair, makeup and design combo almost echoes the mood of current popular culture,” she says, comparing it with the communal fascination of Lady Gaga.

The Lexington Avenue windows of Bloomingdale’s flagship store in Manhattan are filled with Binns’ jewelry modeled after The Red Queen, The White Rabbit and The Cheshire Cat, among other kooky characters, and there are Tea Party vignettes set up in the home department. Movie props decorate the dress floor where designer Sue Wong’s “Alice”-themed cocktail dresses hang. Swarovski, which collaborated with the film’s costume designer Colleen Atwood, is selling replicas of the sparrow pendant worn by Mia Wasikowska’s Alice character. The centerpiece is a smoked topaz crystal on a pendant. Urban Decay crafted an eye shadow palette housed in a box made to look like a gold-spine book. When it is opened, out comes a pop-up scene from the mushroom forest. And, of course, there is a keyhole latch.

“I never connected with the old Disney cartoony Alice because she was very clean and had an apron,” says Wende Zomnir, creative director and founding partner of Urban Decay. “But I don’t think the Lewis Carroll book is quite so shiny and perfect, and I think this movie will be more like that.” Everybody has a personal own image of what “Wonderland” looks like, and that is what fuels so much creativity, says Stephanie Kraus, vice president of fashion and home at Disney Consumer Products. Disney saw this film as an opportunity to branch out from its usual marketing partners. “We wanted to align with the right designers and right brands because it has a bit of an edge,” Kraus explains.

“Alice,” being a century-old story, obviously has a life beyond ofthe-moment trendy fashion. The clothes, accessories and beauty items that use it as inspiration will be relevant years from now, she predicts, just as the imagery from the book and all its movie versions have lasted. Zomnir says that Carroll’s original tone encouraged readers to get in touch with deeper, perhaps even decadent, sides of their personalities, and that is what Burton does in his films: He takes viewers on a journey to the edge.

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Models display the creations of Portuguese designers Alves/Goncalves during the ModaLisboa fashion week Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Lisbon, Portugal.

— AP

That idea, Zomnir says, actually translates quite well on the runway and in makeup. “We want you to explore the dangerous side of yourself, even if you’re a soccer mom in the middle of the country.” — AP

Britain’s Prince Philip in strip club blunder ueen Elizabeth II’s gaffeprone husband Prince Philip proved that at 88 he is as undiplomatic as ever, when he asked a young sea cadet if she worked in a strip club, newspapers reported yesterday. The former naval officer, infamous for his colorful offhand remarks, was visiting cadets in Exeter, southwest England, when he put the question to Elizabeth Rendle. The 24-year-old, who works as a barmaid in a nightclub, was asked what she did for a living.

“I just said that I worked in a club and then he asked, ‘oh, what, a strip club?’”, she told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

“Obviously I said ‘No’ and then he said ‘Oh, it’s a bit too cold today anyway’. “I was quite surprised but I think he was just

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trying to lighten the mood. It was a joke and we were all laughing which drew everyone else’s attention to us. “I don’t think he put his foot in it, it was a joke and I didn’t take any offence. I think he was just putting people at their ease.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s comments are usually intended to put the other person at ease when meeting royalty but they have often landed him in hot water on foreign visits. Past royal outtakes include: “Still throwing spears?”-when quizzing an Australian Aborigine during a 2002 visit and, to a 13-year-old boy dreaming of flying in a spacecraft: “Well, you’ll never fly in it, you’re too fat.” During a state visit to China in 1986, he warned a group of British students: “If you stay here much longer, you’ll all be slitty-eyed.” — AFP

Models display outfits by Ukrainian designer Oksana Karavanska during a Fashion Week in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, March 11, 2010. — AP A model displays a Spring/Summer design by Elena Cuadrado.

Models display Spring/Summer designs by Luis Manteiga Ancochea during the Pasarela Castilla Leon fashion show, in Burgos, Spain, on Thursday, March, 11, 2010. — AP

DNV CRYcket 2010 one-day tournament riends of CRY Club (FOCC) is proud to announce the 13th CRY (Child Rights & You) cricket tournament for children will be held at the KOC Grounds at Ahmadi on Friday, 26th March 2010. The one day “CRYcket” tournament is a much anticipated and very popular annual family event where 24 teams play in two age categories play softball games in two age categories while spectators, parents and well-wishers enjoy a carnival atmosphere. The popular event has generated a tremendous response so that one month ahead of its scheduled date, the entry spots have been filled-up and the children are all geared up for the day. Twelve teams each are set to participate in the Under-12 and Under-14 divisions initially in four groups in round robin fashion leading to 4 winners who will clash in the playoffs. The games will be played simultaneously on two playgrounds in the senior and junior divisions. The FOCC event is supported

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by the Ahmadi Cricket and Hockey Committees.

The game format will be seven overs a side with batsmen requiring to retire at the personal score of 18.

Unlimited substitution is allowed and teams have been encouraged to turn up in colored kits to add to the picturesque Ahmadi setting ambience.

Apart from the winners’ trophies, medals and certificates from CRYIndia will be given to each player.

Experienced umpires will control the games assisted by official scorers. The teams will play in recognition of a much felt need among less fortunate children in the Indian subcontinent and will carry the message of compassion towards them. They will spread awareness of the work done by CRY, an international organization that believes that every child is entitled to basic rights of survival, protection, development, education and participation To add to the spirit of celebration of childhood at the ‘DNV CRYcket 2010’

festival, delicious breakfast, lunch and snacks will be available throughout the day, while drawing and essay competitions, bingo and raffle draws will keep you excited every minute. ‘Buy for CRY’ stall of used books, videos, CDs, toys and household effects will give you a quick bargain. FOCC members are a volunteer group which has grown tremendously over the last 13 years from humble beginning and also additionally organizes CRYchess and BrainBang activities as well as participates in social and cultural activities.

Anyone can freely join in to make a difference to the less fortunate children in India, for more details, email focckwt@yahoo.com or visit the FOCC website http://www.focckwt.org. Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India, has consented to be the chief guest. A colorful souvenir will be released to mark the occasion. Mark Friday 26th March 2010 in your calendars as it will be a memorable day at Ahmadi because “With CRY, everybody wins”.

IKEA launches initiative to save electricity, water ith spring just around the corner, IKEA Kuwait, the leading Swedish furniture store has launched its “Environment friendly” Sustainability Campaign. As a means of extending ways to preserve the environment and conserve the ecology, the IKEA Kuwait Sustainability Campaign is designed to portray IKEA Kuwait’s participation in helping to protect nature. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility duties, IKEA Kuwait takes active part and has set up guidelines and policies in the fields of environment.

Numerous outstanding figures were recorded for IKEA Kuwait’s positive approach toward the environment through ongoing Sustaining Activities in 2009 in comparison to that of figures in 2008, amongst a range of preservation of paper, trees, power and water.

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As a result, IKEA succeeded in preserving 4,900 trees last year, as part of caring for nature, in which the use of waste cartons and cupboards for recycling resulted in 290 tons saved, in consideration to the policy of ‘for every recycled ton of waste paper, IKEA saves 17 adult trees.’

As for paper for recycling, 25 percent has been saved in comparison to that of 2008, power and electricity remained the same as a result of 0 percent sustained in comparison to that of 2008 and 27 percent of water has been saved in relation to 2008 results.

“At IKEA Kuwait, we are constantly working towards preserving the environment, and it is a consistent endeavor to maintain a balance between human needs and Mother Nature’s well being,” said Magdy Boulos, the service operations manager.

KES raises money for Red Crescent uwait English School raised around KD2,000 in support of The Red Crescent and Water Aid at the second Charity Fete Day held on Saturday. “Without exception, every parent and guest with whom I met spoke highly of this event and a good number requested that I convey their thanks and appreciation” said Rhoda Elizabeth Muhmood, KES Director, thanking everyone for the magnificent effort and outcome of the Charity Fete Day. Muhmood thanked the active, concerned and inspirational members of the planning team as well as appreciating their valuable contributions on the day itself. She praised Wild as “man of the day”, for all of his efforts. The School Band performed at 11.15 am and 1.15 pm in the main school hall, where visitors relaxed and listened to the music as they enjoyed a wide variety of refreshments from the French Cafe and homemade food stalls.

In the upper playground, children ran from game to game, trying to win the Lucky Dip, by Year 5, and Coin Drop, by Year 3 and Treasure Hunt by Year 2. Lucy Cliff, a student in RB, guessed 694 to win the Sweets in the Jar competition. But every child who participated in a game was rewarded with a sweet, so everyone was a winner!

The Prep Department organized the Guess the Weight of the Cake, baked

by Hamed, Pick a toothpick, Guess the name of the Teddy, and Guess the Birthday of the Teddy. While Haia in RM was guessing the name of the teddy might be Ramsey, Amal , also in RM, hoped the cake was 1.5kg. Fay Morgan, in 5A, guessed Teddy’s birthday was May 5, but Savanna in 1M won with a guess of March 16th.

Carmen Barakat , in 6R , and Nadeen Abdulhalim, in 6L, were selling crafts specifically made during the past 6 to 7 weeks by Year 6 students to sell at the fair. At another table, the Art Department had organized the Face Painting stall. Vendors here also offered food and drinks, and a popular ice cream bar. The infant playground hosted a market of vendors offering a variety of goods, including books, clothes, toys, and household ware. Faquer Abu Abdulla was enthusiastically plying his olive oil, lubna, and zaatar from Palestine. Sisters Serra Lee, 6P, and Casey in 1P, were selling their home baked cakes with their friend Vanessa, (in 6R).

“We want kids to start healthy living” said Catherine Becka. Operations Director of Cafe Organica, she was promoting her organic menu. “Everything is made from scratch” she said, and all organic “for a healthy life style”.

Dr Ghada was distributing free samples of Progress and Progress Kids milk by Wyeth, for children aged from 1 to 3 years and 3 to 6 years of age. The Maidan Clinic were also distributing free items. Dr Ruba provided free consultations and personally inspected the teeth of children in her mobile dental unit, parked at the front of the school.

In the lower playground, children were playing ball games, including Dinoshoot, football, basketball and cricket.

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Saturday, March 13, 2010

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Free course he Enlightenment into Islam Center (Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, TQortuba) announces a free course (for women only) in eight languages: Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi/Urdu, Indonesian, Sinhali, Tagalog and Mindanao. The name of the course is ‘The Key to Paradise’ and will begin from March 15 and go on till April 26. The timings are from 5 - 7:15 pm. Learn about the meaning of La ilaha illallaah, its conditions and its virtues. For more information, please contact: 97743327, 99507076, 25329259.

Announcements Arabic course The AWARE Center is glad to announce that the Spring 1 Arabic course will begin from tomorrow until April 22nd, 2010. The AWARE Center offers Arabic classes on a regular basis from Introductory Arabic to level 4. AWARE Arabic classes are designed with the expat in mind. Our Arabic Language courses offer a relaxed approach to communicating in basic Arabic for those who wish to learn Arabic for travel, for better understanding the Culture of the Arabs, for conducting business or for simply feeling more involved while residing in Kuwait.

Whether you are a teacher, a traveler, or work in the private business sector, AWARE Arabic courses introduce Arabic language basics that will offer you a start into the skills that will better prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic. For more information, call 25335260/80, ext 105 or e-mail: Htaware.hassan@gmail.com or log onto: www.aware.com.kw” Kuw aiti diw aniya Tour Guided Tour 6-9 pm: Join us on this firsttime tour to an elite Kuwaiti diwaniya after visiting the organization which plans for the complete application of Islamic Law in the State of Kuwait, known as “The Supreme Consultative Committee on the implementation of the provisions of Muslim sharia law.”

On March 15. Seating is limited. For reservations contact AWARE by Tel: 2-5335280 or visit us online at www.aware.com.kw Azerbaijan cultural evening Join us as the Azerbaijan Embassy share the history, culture and geography of this most remarkable country. Experience the tastes, sights and sounds of Azerbaijan on Wednesday, March 17 from 6-9 pm. For further details, contact AWARE by Tel: 25335280 or visit us online at www.aware.com.kw emails may be sent to info@aware.com.kw IMA Family Desert Picnic 2010 Indian Muslim Association is organizing a spectacular picnic for families and bachelors on Friday March 19, 2010 from 7 am to 5 pm in a Desert Camp at the outskirts of Kuwait City. Picnic spot is located at 85.5 Milestone on King Faisal Motorway at Road No: 30.

Free bus service is available to reach the location. For entry passes, bus routes and other information, please visit www.imakuwait.org. or call97494266, 66037944 & 99379283.

Documentary screening This documentary film tells the life story of the seventh century prophet who changed world history in 23 years and continues to shape the lives of more than 1.2 billion people. Three years in the making, the film takes viewers not only to ancient Middle Eastern sites where the Prophet’s story unfolds, but into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America’s estimated seven million Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow the Prophet’s example. “A candid, thoughtful, flowing, visually stunning film...that is as timely as documentaries get” - Howard Rosenberg, Los Angeles Times. For details contact AWARE by Tel: 2-5335280 or visit us online at www.aware.com.kw emails may be sent to info@aware.com.kw

Free Entertainment City entry for moms on Mothers’ Day The Red Crescent Society, Water Aid, and the Kuwait English School expressed their sincere gratitude to the many sponsors and donors who gave so generously to make the event possible, the program read.

The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic and Marks and Spencer provided door prizes, which were drawn on the hour throughout the afternoon. The donated raffle prizes were on display at the reception. The raffle draw took place just before 3 pm. Haya Al-Faris had bought many of the winning tickets and scooped a return flight to Dubai, a hand held vacuum cleaner, a toaster, and 4 tickets to the Scientific Center’s Aquarium and Discovery Place.

Ricky Davis, a friend of Muhmood who had just donated KD20 to charity, won a portable radio, and an acoustic guitar. Yousef Hussain also won an acoustic guitar, and Imogen won a video player. Tia Fayed won a Webster’s Dictionary, and Nadia Ateeq won a Marks and Spencer gift box. Haya AlQinai won a voucher for cosmetic surgery and a buffet for two at the Holiday Inn. Captain Majed won a weekend for two at the Holiday Inn. He

also won four tickets to the Scientific Center.

Aisha Al-Fashani, Yousef Khayat and Toner will all be enjoying some tasty treats for two at the Moghul Mahal, and Hashem won a meal at Movenpick. Ann Gurnett won the final door prize, which Muhmood commented was a beautifully wrapped gift set provided by Marks and Spencer. “Our appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the success and enjoyment of this day” said the program, designed

by P Reed, Year 4.

The Charity Committee expressed sincere thanks to a Dawliah Co AlMaydan Clinic, Bahrain Danish DairyBDD, Discovery Travel, Holiday Inn Downtown, Kuwait Danish dairy KDD, Kuwait Scientific centre, Mais Al-Ghanim Restaurant, Mogul Mahal Restaurant, Movenpick Hotel and resort, Radisson Blu Hotel, Shorooq Salmeen Atelier, and The White Stores.

Financial Officers, Janet Carew and John Lynskey, will shortly be issuing a statement indicating exactly how much has been raised for charity. Searle mentioned at a meeting on Tuesday that the amount was close to KD2,000.

irector of Operations at the Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) Anwar AbdulWahab Al-Nesf has announced that the company will mark Mothers’ Day celebrations on Friday, March 19, 2010 with special festivities. He added that TEC is keen to partake in various social and national occasions and events to share with citizens and expatriates their jubilations by providing them with recreational services.

Al-Nisf said that the administration of Kuwait Entertainment City had prepared special shows and programs which highlight the value of family, particularly mothers. He pointed out that the Entertainment City will continue its 50 percent discount offer for some games at the city, in addition offering families free admission to other games.

He said that the Entertainment City is happy to announce that mothers’ admission to the city will be free, in addition to artistic stage show and other recreational programs for kids and adults. He reminded the public that operation hours for the Entertainment City begin from 2:00 pm until 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 4:00 pm 12:00 midnight for the rest of weekdays.

D

16

SPECTRUM

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 926

Aries (March 21-April 19) Your creative juices are flowing, ready to be applied to whatever comes across your path. Group discussions or meetings have your attention before and after the noon meal.

If you give your best effort, considerable success will certainly follow. If it is at all possible, take your noon break in a book store or on a bench under a tree. This is one of your best days for money; making it, keeping it and investing it. You may find yourself being put to good use by your friends later today—it may be your turn to pay back some favors. Avoid impulsive buying—instead, take the family out this afternoon for a movie or a meal or both. Young people will bring you great joy this evening. Put your feelings into words or music. Write poetry, songs or tell stories.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Be careful of foggy thinking and make it a point to write out a plan and stay with it in order to see a successful outcome. A strong urge for social life may need to be put on hold as you may walk a fine line today between good company and disapproval.

For a good reason, you could find yourself working against the normal flow of progress. Everything points to your completing your professional duties and tending to the matters that pertain to home. There is a possibility that there have been too many days of putting things off on the home front-this afternoon you can follow through with your duties. Continue this routine for a few days and then you will be able to play.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A syndrome that occurs in many women from 2 to 14 days before the onset of menstruation.

4. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

8. The vessel that contains the seeds of a plant (not the seeds themselves).

11. The residue that remains when something is burned.

12. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

13. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

14. (sports) The chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play.

15. (chemistry) P(otential of) H(ydrogen).

16. (architecture) Forming or resembling an arch.

18. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

22. An inn in some Eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravans.

23. The capital of Croatia.

25. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion.

26. An island in Indonesia south of Borneo.

29. An unnaturally frenzied or distraught woman.

33. 100 avos equal 1 pataca.

35. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

36. A sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue separating or binding together muscles and organs etc.

37. A legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge).

38. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages.

39. The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb.

43. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

44. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning.

45. A software system that facilitates the creation and maintenance and use of an electronic database.

46. A doctor's degree in education.

DOWN 1. (obstetrics) The number of live-born children a woman has delivered.

2. One thousandth of a second.

3. 3 to 30 gigahertz.

4. Made of wood of the aspen tree n.

5. Enlarged prostate.

6. A ductile gray metallic element of the lanthanide series.

7. The act of scanning.

8. Either of two large muscles of the chest.

9. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

10. Panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest.

17. Popular music originating in the West Indies.

19. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

20. Generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin.

21. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

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

27. A genus of Indriidae.

28. Relating to or designed for or using the singing voice.

30. Submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers.

31. With the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe.

32. Marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past.

34. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922).

35. (chemistry) P(otential of) H(ydrogen).

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

41. A metric unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter.

42. An honorary degree in science.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Care should be taken when undertaking anything new just now—it is best to act in a practical manner. You are eager to tackle any problem or project that come across your path today.

However, being told to do something today may not sit very well with you—careful. Time will be your friend. There is an air of seriousness as you deal with partners today. This is a good time to practice discretion. Additionally, avoid making large purchases. This day marks a time when you will be feeling secure with your spouse or business partner. Expressing affection should come easily and will do much good for your disposition. Company this evening helps stir a few memories; you enjoy the laughter and camaraderie between friends.

Non Sequitur Cancer (June 21-July 22) There will be lots of tests this year, as usual—but you are in control. You are learning to guide yourself without jumping in to a situation too soon. You may be preparing yourself for some future project. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus and your communication skills are working well. A kid may need your approval this evening and it is easy for you to be helpful. In fact, you may decide to experiment with some magic and share the fun.

There could be some lessons for this child to enjoy learning so make sure any responsibilities have been carried out before the magic or games begin.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Career changes are in the works. All changes now are for the better—take the day one activity, or duty, at a time and stay grounded! Training for some new technique will benefit you in the long-run; so if there is a sign up area or a line you might want to be the first one to line up. This afternoon you may think that winter has gone . . . don’t be in too much of a hurry to plant or garden. Plant some starter plants inside the house to set outside in a few weeks. They will be fun to work with and fun to watch grow. Talk of planting by the moon and the stars is fun—you can really use your imagination to plan a vegetable or flower garden. The energies are good to begin new things—a birth announcement in your family or among your friends could occur soon.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Outgoing experiences have begun for you now. More than ever, you want to be admired. This is child’s play; this is romance; this is taking a chance. It is a good idea to make every effort to cooperate and compromise with others today. Two or more projects may be underway just now. Success is in the works! You gain patience as you help others to have patience. You may have thoughts this afternoon about how to deepen a relationship. You have all the right ideas; now it is time to put them into operation. You may have an instinctive urge to get serious about your weight and your energy level. You want to feel good about yourself and the way you do things and your willingness to work to make good things happen will show positive results.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Libra (September 23-October 22) You spend a great deal of time today in some sort of research. It could be you make a business proposal or you decide on a business proposal. Whatever the case, your cautious way of handling the mornings business is a good thing. You should emphasize the positive aspects of your work and seek companionship with close associates. There is a great deal of interest in all family matters, particularly in regard to the general living environment in the home. Further, you may wish to strengthen ties with your father or may be apt to act like a father figure to those you come in contact with now—both at home and in business. Freedom in relationships is important to you. This does not mean dating other people—it means trust.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Life seems complicated today. There is a lot of pressure to respond to people or customers with quick answers, but it is days like this that you may need to take a little time before you respond. A special item you have been looking for lately may be more costly than you had expected. Wait a few months—the price will go down. There is good news at work this afternoon. There is a love for the unusual but when something works you are very comfortable without change. Think about ways in which you can stretch your imagination, test your talent/s and learn new things. It is in these things that we learn about ourselves and it is in these things that we can grow and become fine-tuned.

Join a choir, enter a contest or perhaps you could take a college course.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Financial shrewdness and a practical turn of mind are qualities that take on greater importance in your life now. A wheelerdealer attitude is prevalent. Obstacles to work and travel are winding down and you will be able to focus your attention upon new projects. If you have been so busy that you have not had time to make that an appointment to see the dentist or to go to your regular doctor check up, the next few weeks are good times to set appointments. The biggest mistake you can make is to overestimate your body’s capabilities.

Listen to your body and get the proper amount of rest. Your need to achieve perfection may create some difficulties physically. Now is a good time to add a good exercise as well as some relaxation techniques into your days.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yester

Yesterday’s Solution

To

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

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Frustrations all around the office today will send you in a direction of creative problem-solving. You are not one to take the road-less-traveled, so when you come up with needed solutions, there is little surprise. There is a heightened need to be successful in your profession and in your personal life. Relax a bit and enjoy the people around you . . . at work and in the private sector. This is the secret to your success. Exercise to keep fit and energized. You may not have much enthusiasm for projects that the family is involved with but after becoming involved you may find a whole different outlook. This can be an expansive, creative and even romantic phase; a time you will look back on with pride and fondness.

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Frustration, especially in getting things accomplished, may slow you down—but not for long. Your determination to complete business transactions may cause you to be a bit more creative than usual. Errands take up much of your time this afternoon, but the purchase of staples that had been few and far between are a welcomed sight on the shelf. Home and family get your attention this afternoon and you will find some disagreement or difficulty has been eased. Writing letters and being caught up on the bills is a good idea. This is not a wildly romantic time but one where small endeavors will meet with success. This is a good time to fully demonstrate your depth of affection to loved ones. A new animal catches your attention this evening-perhaps an opossum.

Word Sleuth Solution

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Joint business ventures are better bets now than total salaried or self-employment options. New ways to communicate or an easy manner will make conversations and interactions go well. You may find yourself more talkative than usual. An elderly friend is responsive to your suggestions. This can be an expansive, creative and even romantic phase—a time you will look back on with pride and fondness.

Being more involved with neighbors or sibling satisfies a deep emotional need. Communicating feelings becomes more important. Continue to work on that creative project of yours because tomorrow and the next few days are high possibilities to pull in some extra money. A garage sale may take place this weekend and a creative project is a winner!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

17 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for a family in a new building with two rooms and two toilets behind United Indian School, Abbassiya from April 1st onwards.

Please contact: 66772421, 66552412. (C 20431) Sharing accommodation available for Indian working ladies, couple, family, in a 2 bedrooms, CA/C flat in Maidan Hawally opp 4th Ring Road. Call: 99325130, 25649970. (C 20435)

looking for an Indian lady for sharing in a fully furnished central AC flat having Internet, telephone & dish facility, rent KD 35, Amman Street, near Apollo hospital Salmiya.

Contact: 97919485. (C 20429) Sharing accommodation available for couples or working ladies or single bachelor with Keralite family, from April 1st 2010 at Abbassiya near Neethi store (fully furnished room with mini split A/C). Contact: 66944127. (C 20420)

Abraq Khaitan, single room available for executive bachelor/lady. Opp Kuwait clinic beside the main road, new building. Contact: 97523316/24745162 from 1st April. (C 20411)

Sharing accommodation available for a small family in a 2 bedroom, hall & kitchen central A/C flat near Emirates hotel Abu Halifa with Keralite Christian family. Contact: 97612421. (C 20427) 10-3-2010

One furnished room with separate bath in a new building flat for a family/working ladies/bachelors with another family in Abbassiya close to Paradise hotel from April first. Contact: 99698501, 66558927, 66720897. (C 20433) 11-3-2010

Sharing accommodation available with a Keralite family for Keralite couples in a two bedroom C-AC flat near Integrated Indian school Abbassiya. Please contact: 99255235.

(C 20426)

Sharing accommodation available in studio room with Mangalorean Catholic bachelor close to Khaitan cinema Garnatha.

Contact: 66036893. (C 20416) Sharing accommodation available for 1 Catholic bachelor at Abbassiya near Unique store no 2 from 1st April 2010.

Contact: 66110593 or 24313908. (C 20430) An Indian lady (Kerala)

Sharing accommodation available in Kuwait City.

Please call: 97527233.

(C 20425) 9-3-2010 Sharing accommodation available for Keralite or Indian bachelor in Sharq Kuwait City with all facilities. Contact: 97964063. (C 20419) Sharing accommodation available in Farwaniya from 1st April in a flat with facilities kitchen, A/C, cupboard, satellite, buses convenient.

Contact: 66021273 / 97449273, 24751664.

(C 20418) Flat for rent with furniture 2BR, 2 toilet + kitchen, hall, 2 balconies, new building with reserved car parking decent location very close to Salmiya RC Church & Takkar Bhelpuri shop. Contact: 66764062. (C 20424) Single room with separate toilet wanted for an executive preferably with decent Christian family. Contact: 66764062. (C 20423) 8-3-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for Keralite Christian couple/working ladies in a CAC 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom flat, near Rainbow center/Eden store from March 25.

Contact: 97143449. (C 20417) Sharing available in studio room with Mangalorean Catholic bachelor close to Khaitan cinema Garnatha.

Contact: 66036893.

(C 20416) 7-3-2010

FOR SALE Hummer H2, 2003, brown, very good condition. Price KD 5,900. Tel: 97487676.

(C 20440) 13-3-2010 Furnished double bedroom flat in Jleeb near Integrated Indian School with or without household goods rent KD 135 (including water and electricity).

Contact: 99763183.

(C 20438)

12-3-2010 Mitsubishi Magna 2002 model, excellent condition, owner leaving Kuwait. Contact: 99928863, 55824279.

(C 20434) Household items for immediate sale, with or without flat, close to Carmel school and in front of bus stop.

(Bedroom set, dining table with 6 chairs, sofa set, refrigerator & ACs). Contact: 55863074. (C 20436)

11-3-2010 Toyota Corolla 1.6, white color, 2009 model, very low mileage, excellent condition, wanted price 3,750 KD. Contact 66050484 (interested person call only).

(C 20428) 10-3-2010

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for Orthodox girl, MBA (Fin), 27/160, working as business development executive in a reputed firm in Kuwait. Contact: gegekutty@hotmail.com (C 20432) Keralite Jacobite boy, 28/172, B.Com working as Junior Accountant, invites proposals from parents of girls working in Kuwait.

Contact email: babypaily@hotmail.com (C 20437) 11-3-2010 Orthodox parents (in Kerala during April) invite proposals for their son 27/172 cm, M.Com PGDBA employed in MNC at Kuwait from parents of Orthodox/

Jacobite/ Marthoma girls suitably qualified and employed at Kuwait. Contact email: thekalloors@gmail.com (C 20415) 7-3-2010

BABY SITTING Baby sitting available near Carmel School, Khaitan, with motherly care, and flexible timing.

Contact: 66434840, 66436458, 55283525. (C 20422) 8-3-2010

SITUATION VACANT

Required English speaking maid for a family living in Mangaf. Preferably Indian. If interested, please contact 60055305 or 23741548.

11-3-2010

SITUATION WANTED Indian female (MBA in HR), 10 years experience in HR/administration, specializing in recruitments, PMS, MIS reports & overall Admin functions. Proficient in MS Office. Good communication skills. Contact: 66634322.

(C 20439) 12-3-2010

No: 14666

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Saturday 13/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1129 Bahrain Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Jazeera 0637 Aleppo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Jazeera 0529 Assiut British 0157 London Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 206 Islamabad Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatar 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Kuwait 344 Chennai Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Middle East 404 Beirut Airquarius 061 Baghdad/Basrah Iran Aseman 6521 Lamerd Egypt Air 610 Cairo Jazeera 0171 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Jazeera 0457 Damascus

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

Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Emirates Kuwait Gulf Air Etihad Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Arabia Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan United A/L Wataniya Airways DHL Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Indian Kuwait Jet A/L Oman Air Jazeera Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Middle East Qatari Emirates KLM Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Global Jazeera Tunis Air Pakistan Lufthansa Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways

0134 548 546 678 800 857 118 215 0303 510 0493 0239 0125 0367 2101 227 982 2003 473 1025 502 542 0177 618 674 786 614 744 774 575 104 572 0647 0459 2103 217 402 0136 859 0445 1129 0449 0429 081 0185 327 239 636 2201 1029

Doha Luxor Alexandria Muscat/Abu Dhabi Amman Dubai New York Bahrain Abu Dhabi Riyadh Jeddah Amman Sharjah Deirezzor Beirut Colombo/Dubai Washington DC Dulles Cairo Baghdad Dubai Beirut Cairo Dubai Doha Dubai Jeddah Bahrain Dammam Riyadh Chennai/Goa London Mumbai Muscat Damascus Beirut Bahrain Beirut Doha Dubai Amsterdam Bahrain Doha Bahrain Baghdad Dubai Tunis Islamabad/Sialkot Frankfurt Amman Dubai

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

Departure Flights on Saturday 13/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode United A/L 981 Washington DC Dulles Indian 982 Ahmadabad/Hyderabad/Chennai Pakistan 206 Peshawar/Lahore Bangladesh 044 Dhaka Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt KLM 0447 Amsterdam Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul DHL 371 Bahrain Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0139 Doha Jazeera 0164 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat British 0156 London Kuwait 551 Damascus Kuwait 547 Luxor Jazeera 0456 Damascus Jazeera 0170 Dubai Arabia 0122 Sharjah Emirates 856 Dubai Qatari 0133 Doha Etihad 0302 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 2002 Cairo Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris Kuwait 541 Cairo Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0492 Jeddah Jazeera 0366 Deirezzor Jazeera 0238 Amman Kuwait 103 London Middle East 405 Beirut Kuwait 501 Beirut

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

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

Airquarius Iran Aseman Kuwait Egypt Air Wataniya Airways Kuwait Nas Air Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Kuwait Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Global Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Oman Air Gulf Air DHL Middle East Falcon Kuwait Kuwait Qatari Kuwait Emirates KLM Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait

060 6522 785 611 1024 673 746 0176 0458 617 501 773 613 801 0135 743 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 543 0184 2200 0448 082 0428 1128 228 1028 283 331 571 0648 218 171 403 102 381 203 0137 301 860 0445 0526 0502 411

Basrah/Baghdad Lamerd Jeddah Cairo Dubai Dubai Jeddah Dubai Damascus Doha Jeddah Riyadh Bahrain Amman Doha Dammam Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Cairo Dubai Amman Doha Baghdad Bahrain Bahrain Dubai/Colombo Dubai Dhaka Trivandrum Mumbai Muscat Bahrain Bahrain Beirut Bahrain Delhi Lahore Doha Mumbai Dubai Bahrain/Amsterdam Alexandria Luxor Bangkok/Manila

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

18

US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2009

Saturday, March 13, 2010

2009 Human Rights Report: Kuwait BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR Kuwait is a constitutional, hereditary amirate ruled by the AlSabah family. The country has a population of 3.44 million, of whom 1.1 million are citizens. Local observers and the press considered the May 16 parliamentary election generally free and fair. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces.

The government limited citizens’ right to change their government and form political parties. There were a few reports of security forces abusing prisoners and at least one investigation and prosecution related to prisoner abuse. The government limited freedoms of speech, religion, and movement for certain groups and, although widely regarded as allowing considerably free media, occasionally limited media freedom. The status of stateless Arab residents (called “Bedoon”) remained unresolved. Government corruption and trafficking in persons remained problems. Women did not enjoy equal rights, although some advances were made.

Expatriate workers faced difficult conditions in the domestic and unskilled service sectors.

On October 20, the Constitutional Court ruled that a woman can obtain a passport without her husband’s permission. On October 28, the same court ruled that female members of parliament (MPs), female candidates for parliament, and female voters are not legally required to wear the hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women, thereby settling a contentious issue of how to interpret the 2005 women’s suffrage amendment to the 1962 election law.

RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From: a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. b. Disappearance There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Articles 53, 159, and 184 of the criminal law code prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; however, some police and members of the security forces reportedly abused detainees during the year. Police and security forces were more likely to inflict such abuse on noncitizens, particularly non-Gulf Arabs and Asians, and there were several reported accounts of police abuse of transgender persons. The government stated that it investigated all allegations of abuse and punished some of the offenders; however, in most cases the government did not make public either the findings of its investigations or any punishments it imposed.

In late January a court sentenced three police officers accused of torturing a young man to two years in prison. The case was appealed on February 10, but the Court of Appeals had not returned a verdict at year’s end.

There were no further developments concerning the allegations that security officials abused hundreds of Bangladeshi workers in the wake of July 2008 labor strikes.

Prison and Detention Center Conditions The Central Prison Complex houses the country’s only three prisons: a low-security men’s prison, a high-security men’s prison, and a women’s prison. The prison complex slightly exceeded its 4,000-person capacity; there were 211 inmates in the women’s prison and 3,834 inmates in the men’s prisons. The country also has a 1,000-person capacity deportation center in Talha that is not part of the prison complex. The 2006 construction of new men’s prisons resulted in an improvement in prison and detention center conditions; however, some detention facilities lacked adequate sanitation and sufficient medical staff. Authorities reportedly mistreated prisoners and failed to prevent inmate-on-inmate violence.

While the Ministry of Interior (MOI) gave some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Al-Takaful Prisoner Care Society unfettered access to prisons, the Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS) issued a statement August 1 criticizing the MOI for barring KHRS representatives from visiting the low-security prison. On July 7, the parliamentary Human Rights Committee visited the Central Prison Complex following up on an earlier visit.

The committee chair expressed his satisfaction that the MOI had dealt with sanitation problems and a lack of medical staff observed during previous visits.

During the year the KHRS visited the Talha Deportation Center (used as a holding facility for expatriate laborers) and stated that the center provides detainees sufficient food and adequate medical services. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions. There were a few reports that police sometimes arbitrarily arrested non-nationals.

Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The police have sole responsibility for the enforcement of laws not related to national security, and State Security oversees intelligence and national security matters; both are under the purview of civilian MOI authorities. The military is responsible for external security.

The police were generally effective in carrying out core responsibilities; however, there were frequent reports of corruption, especially when one party to a dispute had a personal relationship with a police official involved in a case. There were reports that police showed favoritism towards citizens. On September 7, police arrested and briefly detained a foreign citizen after three Kuwaiti men beat him for interfering in a dispute between a domestic worker and an employer; the three Kuwaitis involved were not arrested.

There were also reports that some police stations did not take seriously the requests of complainants, especially foreign nationals.

Unlike in previous years, there were no reports that police sometimes obstructed foreign nationals’ access to the justice system.

In cases of alleged police abuse, the district chief investigator examines abuse allegations and refers cases to the courts for trial.

Arrest Procedures and Treatment While in Detention A police officer generally must obtain an arrest warrant from a state prosecutor or a judge before making an arrest, except in cases of hot pursuit. There were few reports of police arresting and detaining foreign nationals without a warrant during the year. The courts generally do not accept cases without warrants issued prior to arrests. According to the penal code, a suspected criminal may be held at a police station without charge for as long as four days, during which authorities may prevent lawyers and family members from visiting. In such cases lawyers are permitted to attend legal proceedings but are not allowed to have direct contact with their clients. If charges are filed, a prosecutor may remand a suspect to detention for an additional 21 days. Prosecutors also may obtain court orders for further detention pending trial. There is a functioning bail system for defendants awaiting trial. The bar associa-

tion provides lawyers for indigent defendants; in these cases defendants do not have the option of choosing which lawyer will be assigned to them.

Of the 4,035 persons serving sentences or detained pending trial, an estimated 150 were held in the “state security ward” on security grounds, including some held for collaborating with Iraq during the 1990-91 occupation. Arbitrarily lengthy detention before trial was a problem, and approximately 10 percent of the prison population consisted of pretrial detainees.

During the year foreign nationals at the Talha Deportation Center were generally incarcerated between 10 days and two months awaiting deportation. Some prisoners were held for longer periods, due to court delays.

On July 7, due to pressure from the parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the MOI released Ahmad Al-Shammari, a Bedoon, from the Talha Deportation Center, where he had been detained for five years.

Amnesty On February 28, holding to an annual tradition, the Amir freed and pardoned 99 prisoners. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary and the right to a fair trial and states that “judges shall not be subject to any authority”; however, the Amir appoints all judges, and the renewal of judicial appointments is subject to government approval. Judges who are citizens have lifetime appointments; however, many judges are noncitizens who hold one- to three-year renewable contracts. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) may remove judges for cause but rarely does so. Foreign residents involved in legal disputes with citizens frequently claimed the courts showed bias in favor of citizens.

The secular court system tries both civil and criminal cases, all of which originate with the Court of First Instance, composed of a three-judge panel. Both defendants and plaintiffs may appeal a verdict to the High Court of Appeals, with a three-judge panel that may rule on whether the law was applied properly as well as on the guilt or innocence of the defendant. These decisions may be presented to the Court of Cassation, where five judges review the cases to determine only whether the law was properly applied. The Amir has the constitutional authority to pardon or commute all sentences.

Shari’a (Islamic law) courts have jurisdiction over family law cases for Sunni and Shia Muslims. Secular courts allow anyone to testify and consider male and female testimony equally; however, in the family courts the testimony of a man is equal to that of two women.

The Constitutional Court, whose members are senior judges from the civil judiciary, has the authority to issue binding rulings concerning the constitutionality of laws and regulations and also rules on election disputes.

A martial court convenes in the event the Amir declares martial law. The law does not specifically provide for a military court or provide any guidelines for how such a court would operate. The military operates tribunals that can impose punishments for offenses within the military.

Trial Procedures By law criminal trials are public unless a court or the government decides “maintenance of public order” or “preservation of public morals” necessitates closed proceedings. There is no trial by jury. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and have the right to confront their accusers and appeal verdicts. Defendants in felony cases are required by law to be represented in court by legal counsel, which the courts provide in criminal cases. The bar association is obligated upon court request to appoint an attorney without charge for indigent defendants in civil, commercial, and criminal cases, and defendants used these services. Defendants have the right to confront witnesses against them and present their own witnesses. Defendants and their attorneys generally have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases and to appeal their cases to a higher court. The law affords these protections to all citizens.

Political Prisoners and Detainees There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.

ship to avoid unnecessary conflict with the government. In late 2008 the government lifted a ban dating from 2007 on the import and circulation of several Egyptian newsletters. The government owned nine local radio and five television stations, and there were more than 16 privately owned television stations. In July 2008 media workers united to form an independent journalists’ union.

The law prohibits the publication of material criticizing Islam, the Amir, the constitution, or the neutrality of the courts or public prosecutor’s office. The law also mandates jail terms for anyone who “defames religion,” and any Muslim citizen may file criminal charges against an author the citizen believes has defamed Islam, the ruling family, or public morals. The number of such cases filed against journalists and television stations continued to increase; more than 100 were filed during the year, most of which resulted in fines.

On November 22, police arrested journalist Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem on charges that he made slanderous remarks against the prime minister during a “diwaniya,” an informal weekly social and political gathering. Diwaniyas have generally been considered a space for free and open political discourse. At year’s end Al-Jassem was free on bail and awaited trial.

On December 24, upon his return into the country, police arrested former parliamentary candidate Mohammed Al-Juwaihel on charges of unlicensed broadcasting, making false claims, and compromising national security. The government filed charges for public remarks broadcast by Al-Juwaihel on his satellite outlet in which he reportedly insulted certain MPs and made derogatory comments about Kuwaitis with dual citizenship and those of tribal and Bedoon origin. He was released on a 5,000-dinar ($17,400) bail on December 31.

Fuad Al-Hashem of the daily newspaper Al-Watan continued to refuse to pay a 2008 fine of 7,190 dinars ($25,000) for defamation as a result of three cases brought to court by the Qatari prime minister, who accused Al-Hashem of harming his reputation in articles dealing with his relations with Israel.

The MOI censored all books, films, periodicals, videotapes, and other imported publications deemed morally offensive, although satellite dishes were widely available and allowed some citizens to receive unfiltered media. The MOI controlled the publication and distribution of all informational materials.

On August 25, the MOI ordered the cancellation of the television series Sawtik Wossel (Your Voice Has Been Heard). The show featured parodies of various prominent political figures, including the prime minister and the speaker of parliament. During the year columnists and editors used their publications to discuss, and in some cases criticize, the MOI’s decision, without government interference.

The law requires a newspaper publisher to obtain an operating license from the MOI. Publishers may lose their license if their publications do not appear for three months in the case of a daily newspaper, or six months in the case of a less frequent publication.

Internet Freedom According to 2008 International Telecommunications Union statistics, approximately 34 percent of the country’s inhabitants used the Internet. The government monitored Internet communications, such as blogs and discussion groups, for defamation and security reasons. The Ministry of Communications (MOC) continued to block Web sites deemed to “incite terrorism and instability” and required Internet service providers to block other Web sites, some political. Internet cafe owners were obligated to obtain the names and civil identification numbers of customers and to submit the information to the MOC upon request.

Academic Freedom and Cultural Events The law provides for freedom of opinion and of research; however, academic freedom was limited by self-censorship, and the law prohibits academics from criticizing the Amir or Islam.

The MOI reserved the right to approve or reject public events and rejected those it deemed politically or morally inappropriate.

There were no updates in the Commercial Attorney’s Office’s investigation of a hotel owner and party organizers for sponsoring a mixed-gender dance in August 2008.

The MOI censored films for profanity, nudity, sexual contact, kissing, and extreme violence. b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association

Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The law provides for an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters; however, rulings occasionally were not enforced.

Administrative punishments, such as travel bans, are also available in civil matters. f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence The law provides for individual privacy and the sanctity of the home, and the government generally respected these rights in practice. Security forces occasionally monitored individuals’ private communications and activities.

The law forbids marriage between Muslim women and nonMuslim men and requires male citizens serving in the police force or military to obtain government approval to marry foreign nationals. In practice the government offered only nonbinding advice in such matters and did not prevent any such marriages.

The government may deny a citizenship application by a Bedoon resident based on security or criminal violations committed by his or her family members.

Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. Freedom of Speech and Press The constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press “in accordance with the conditions and in the circumstances defined by law.” In practice the government sometimes did not respect these rights, and journalists and publishers practiced self-censorship. According to Freedom House’s annual Freedom of the Press report, the country has a considerably free press, including electronic media.

Individuals were able to criticize the government freely in private and informal gatherings but could incur jail time and/or fines for attacking Islam, the Amir, or the Crown Prince. Pointed criticism of ministers and other high-ranking government officials continued to be widespread, even though authorities arrested and detained individuals, including opposition political candidates, for incitement or criticism of the Amir.

On April 17, police detained former MP Dhaifallah Buramiya for telling an election rally that Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling family, was not fit to become prime minister. The former MP faced charges of disparaging the powers of the Amir, who has the right to appoint the prime minister. After being detained for three days, Buramiya was released on bail and continued his ultimately successful election campaign.

On April 19, police arrested and detained parliamentary candidate Khalifa Al-Kharafi overnight. For a similar offense. No charges were brought against him.

On June 12, authorities released an Australian woman sentenced in April to two years in prison for similar offense and allowed her to return home. The woman, arrested in December 2008, committed the offense while arguing with airport security guards.

The country had 14 Arabic and three English-language daily newspapers, all of which were privately owned. Print media generally exhibited independence and diversity of opinion, although there were reports that media outlets sometimes practiced self-censor-

Freedom of Assembly The law provides for freedom of assembly, and the government generally respected the right in practice. Organizers of public gatherings of more than 20 persons must inform the MOI of their plans.

The law also protects diwaniyas. Many adult male citizens, including members of the government and of the National Assembly, and increasing numbers of female citizens hosted or attended diwaniyas to discuss current economic, political, and social issues. A few women held female-only diwaniyas, and a small number of diwaniyas were open to both sexes.

Freedom of Association The law provides for freedom of association; however, the government restricted this right in practice. The law prohibits officially licensed groups from engaging in political activities.

The government used its power to license associations as a means of political control. There were 73 officially licensed NGOs in the country, including a bar association, professional groups, and scientific bodies. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) did not license any new NGOs during the year. There remained 149 NGOs pending licensing by the MOSAL; many had been waiting years for approval.

The 45 NGOs licensed prior to 2004 continued to receive an annual government subsidy of 12,000 dinars ($41,800) for their operating expenses, including travel to international conferences.

NGOs licensed since 2004, when the MOSAL resumed issuing licenses after a long period of refusing to do so, received no financial assistance. The MOSAL rejected some license requests on the grounds that established NGOs already provided services similar to those the petitioners proposed. The MOSAL can also reject an NGO’s application if it deems that the NGO does not provide a public service. The minister has discretion to change a proposed NGO’s name prior to licensing and sometimes did so on the grounds that the name was too close to that of an already existing NGO. Members of licensed NGOs must obtain permission from the MOSAL to attend international conferences as official representatives of their organization.

There were dozens of unlicensed civic groups, clubs, and unofficial NGOs in the country. These unofficial associations did not receive government subsidies and had no legal status. c. Freedom of Religion The constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the government limited this right. The constitution protects the freedom to practice religion in accordance with established customs, provided it does not conflict with public policy or morals. The constitution declares that Islam is the state religion and that Shari’a is “a main source of legislation.”

Non-Muslim religious groups unanimously reported that the government respected freedom of belief, but non-Muslim religious organizations had more difficulty operating due to registration requirements. The government did not recognize some Christian churches, and those churches could not operate openly. Some recognized churches complained that their quota of visas allotted by the government did not meet their needs for clergy and other staff.

Shia faced some disadvantages in comparison with Sunnis.

Members of religions not sanctioned in the Holy Quran, such as Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs, may not operate official

places of worship, but they were allowed to worship in their homes without government interference. There is no specific law banning the establishment of other non-Muslim places of worship; however, in practice the government denied permission to the few groups that applied for licenses to build new places of worship, deterring some religious groups from applying.

Islamic religious instruction is mandatory in all government schools and in any private school that has one or more Muslim students. The law prohibits organized religious education other than Islam; however, in practice the government allowed non-Muslim religious instruction as long as no Muslim students were taking part in the education. The government did not interfere with religious instruction inside private homes.

Muslims who wished to convert from Islam to another religion faced intense societal pressure and generally had to hide their new religious affiliation. The law prohibits naturalization of nonMuslims and forbids marriage between Muslim women and nonMuslim men; these prohibitions effectively coerced individuals to convert to Islam.

The government prohibited non-Muslim missionaries from proselytizing to Muslims, although they may serve non-Muslim congregations. The Islamic Presentation Committee, under the authority of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (MAIA), actively proselytized to non-Muslims.

The government does not permit the establishment of nonIslamic religious publishing companies, and only one private company had an import license for non-Muslim religious materials.

Societal Abuses and Discrimination Although discrimination based on religion reportedly occurred on a personal level, most observers agreed it was not widespread.

During the year there were markedly fewer instances of antiJewish rhetoric by the media than in previous years. There were no known Jewish citizens and an estimated few dozen Jewish foreign resident workers.

The MAIA’s “moderation” project, which aimed to discourage extremism among Muslims and improve the image of Muslims among non-Muslims, has been dormant since the end of 2008.

For a more detailed discussion, see the 2009 International Religious Freedom Report at www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/. d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons The constitution generally provides for freedom of movement within the country; however, numerous laws constrain foreign travel, and the government placed some limits on freedom of movement in practice. Although the government contributed 575,000 dinars ($2 million) to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) during the year, it was uncooperative with most UNHCR efforts to provide implementation of protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern.

In contrast with 2008, there were no reports of laborers claiming they were not allowed to leave the residential camps where they lived.

Women, persons younger than 21, and Bedoon faced problems with or restrictions on foreign travel. Although not sanctioned by law, MOI regulations mandate that all persons younger than 21 obtain permission from their father or another male relative to receive a passport and travel abroad and that a married woman obtain her husband’s permission to apply for a passport. However, on October 20, the Constitutional Court issued and began enforcing a final ruling confirming a woman’s right to obtain a passport without her husband’s approval. A husband may still request that immigration authorities prevent his wife’s departure from the country for 24 hours, after which a court order may extend the travel ban.

The government restricted the ability of the Bedoon population to travel abroad. It permitted some Bedoon to travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj and continued to issue increasing numbers of “Article 17” passports (temporary travel documents that do not confer nationality) for Bedoon, including more than 18,000 in 2008 and more than 2,500 in January 2009.

The law also permits the government to place a travel ban on any citizen or foreigner accused or suspected of violating the law, and it allows citizens to petition authorities to do so. In practice this resulted in citizens and foreigners arbitrarily being prevented or delayed from departing the country.

The law prohibits the deportation or forced exile of citizens, although the government can revoke citizenship of naturalized citizens for various causes, including felony conviction and subsequently deport individuals. The government cannot revoke the citizenship of individuals who are born citizens.

During the year several hundred Bedoon emigrated from the country to Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Canada.

Protection of Refugees The country is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967. The laws do not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, there is no system for providing protection to refugees, and the government did not grant refugee status or asylum during the year. The country’s immigration regulations prohibit local settlement for asylum seekers. In practice the government provided protection against the expulsion or return of refugees to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The constitution prohibits the extradition of political refugees; the government often kept such persons in detention until they agreed to return to their home country or made alternative travel arrangements, and it rarely granted them permission to live and work in the country.

Stateless Persons According to the law, Kuwaiti citizenship is derived entirely from the father; children born to citizen mothers and non-national fathers do not inherit citizenship unless the mother is divorced or widowed. The law further fails to provide non-nationals, including Bedoon and non-Muslims, the opportunity to gain nationality on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Although the exact number of Bedoon residents was unknown, the Ministry of Planning estimated there were more than 100,000 Bedoon in the country at the end of 2006, the last year the government collected those statistics. The government continued to discriminate against Bedoon in areas such as education, employment, medical care, and freedom of movement. Bedoon children may not attend public schools. Although the government accepted Bedoon in an increasing number of government positions, it barred them from enlisting in the armed forces. Bedoon generally did not qualify for the subsidized health care that citizens received, and the government also made it difficult for Bedoon to obtain official documents necessary for employment or travel, such as birth certificates, civil identification cards, driver licenses, and marriage certificates. There were at least two developments in Bedoon rights during the year.

On March 25, the Court of First Instance decided to issue a marriage certificate to a Bedoon woman married to a Kuwaiti citizen.

Based on this precedent, on April 5 and again on May 26, the same court affirmed a Bedoon man’s right to receive a marriage certificate and birth certificates for his children. Neither the justice nor health ministries had complied with these court orders by year’s end.

On May 21, the Ministry of Health passed a resolution allowing free access to government health clinics for any Bedoon child who had a Kuwaiti mother (free access would end once a child turns 18, whereas Kuwaiti citizens receive free clinic access for life). This resolution also allows free health clinic access for life for all Bedoon whom the Ministry of Health deemed to have disabilities.

Saturday, March 13, 2010 During the year the government did not grant citizenship to any Bedoon, despite having granted citizenship in 2008 to 573 Bedoon on the basis of sufficient ties to the country. More than 80,000 Bedoon citizenship requests were pending at year’s end. Many Bedoon were unable to provide documentation proving sufficient ties to the country or present evidence of their original nationality.

However, the government maintained that the vast majority of Bedoon were concealing their true identities and were not actually stateless.

Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government The law provides citizens with the right to change their representatives in the legislative branch of government, and citizens exercised this right in practice. Citizens had only a limited, indirect impact on control of the executive branch, as the constitution stipulates that the country is a hereditary state. The elected National Assembly must approve the Amir’s choice of crown prince (the future Amir) and may remove the Amir from power if it declares him unfit.

Elections and Political Participation On May 16, two months after the Amir dissolved the National Assembly, tribal candidates gained seats in a parliamentary election that was generally considered free and fair. It was the third election in three years, due to the Amir’s constitutional dissolution of parliament in May 2006, March 2008, and March 2009.

Although there is no formal law banning political parties, the government did not recognize any political parties or allow their formation. Nevertheless, tribal affiliations and several well-organized, unofficial blocs closely resembled political parties in National Assembly elections. Assembly candidates must nominate themselves as individuals and may run for election in any of the country’s electoral districts. Tribes dominated two of the five constituencies and exerted influence on the other three. Tribal leaders excluded women from the tribal primaries.

On April 12, police arrested trade unionist Khalid Al-Tahous, a parliamentary tribal candidate, for “incitement against the state” after he told an election rally that tribes would oppose any attempts to enforce the law prohibiting tribal primaries. After being detained for eight days, he apologized for his statements and was released on bail to continue his ultimately successful election campaign.

In addition to the four women elected to the National Assembly in May, the Amir appointed a woman as minister of education. There has been a female minister in every cabinet since 2005.

There were nine Shia members in the parliament, the most ever elected to the National Assembly since its 1962 founding. There were also two appointed Shia members of the cabinet.

Section 4 Official Corruption and Government Transparency The law mandates criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.

Twenty percent of the respondents in a Transparency International poll released June 3 claimed to have paid a bribe or to know someone in their household who had done so in the past year.

Respondents believed public officials and civil servants were the most corrupt entities, and they perceived the judiciary and parliament as less corrupt. According to the poll, respondents thought corruption was less prevalent in the country than experts believe it is. The Audit Bureau is the government agency responsible for combating government corruption.

The MOSAL and MOI continued to discover dozens of cases during the year of ministry employees forging documents to enable the importation of foreign workers. Violations were referred to investigative bodies within the ministries and then sent to the Attorney General’s Office for action. Courts rarely took rigorous action against the violators; however, on October 30, a court sentenced three officials charged with embezzlement to seven years in prison and a 3.4 million dinar ($12 million) fine.

Public officials were not subject to financial disclosure laws.

The law provides for public access to unclassified government information by citizens and noncitizens alike. The government enforced this law.

Section 5 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights The law permits the existence of NGOs; however, the government continued to deny licenses to some NGOs. NGOs may not engage in overtly political activity and are prohibited from encouraging sectarianism. They must also demonstrate that their existence is in the public interest. The only local independent NGOs dedicated specifically to human rights were the KHRS and the Kuwaiti Society for Fundamental Human Rights. Other local licensed NGOs devoted to specific groups, such as women, children, foreign workers, prisoners, and persons with disabilities, were permitted to work without government interference. An unknown number of local unlicensed human rights groups operated without government restriction during the year. The government and various National Assembly committees met regularly with local NGOs and responded to their inquiries.

The government permits international human rights organizations to visit the country and establish offices, although none operated in the country. The International Office for Migration regional director visited the country during the year.

The government permitted visits by international governmental organizations and continued to cooperate fully with the work of UN special rapporteurs for Iran and Iraq and the high-level representative of the UN secretary-general on the issue of Kuwaiti citizens missing in Iraq since the end of the 1991 Gulf War. The National Assembly’s Human Rights Committee is an advisory body that primarily hears individual complaints of human rights abuses. Committee members also visited the Central Prison during the year (see section 1.c.).

Section 6 Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons The law prohibits discrimination based on race, origin, disability, or language; however, in practice the government did not uniformly or consistently enforce laws against discrimination, and a number of laws and regulations discriminated against women, noncitizens, and domestic workers.

Women Violence against women continued to be a serious and underreported problem. Rape carries a maximum penalty of death, which the country occasionally imposes for the crime; however, spousal rape is not a crime. The media reported hundreds of rape cases during the year. Many of the victims were noncitizen domestic workers. Police occasionally arrested alleged rapists, and several were tried and convicted during the year; however, laws against rape were not always enforced effectively. According to foreign diplomatic sources, victims reported that the majority of police stations and hospitals handled their cases in a professional way, but others did not.

The law does not specifically prohibit domestic violence; cases are tried instead as assault, and a victim of domestic violence may file a complaint with police requesting formal charges be brought against the alleged abuser. Each of the country’s 83 police stations reportedly received weekly complaints of domestic abuse. However, even with documented evidence of the abuse, such as eyewitness

US HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2009 accounts, hospital reports, and social worker testimony, police officials rarely arrested perpetrators of domestic violence. Noncitizen women married to citizens reported domestic abuse and inaction or discrimination by police during the year. A woman may petition for divorce based on injury from abuse, but the law does not provide a clear legal standard as to what constitutes injury. In addition, a woman must provide at least two male witnesses (or a male witness and two female witnesses) to attest to the injury. The courts have found husbands guilty of spousal abuse; however, most domestic abuse cases were not reported, especially outside the capital, and individuals reportedly bribed police officials to ignore domestic abuse charges. Abusive husbands, if convicted, rarely faced severe penalties. There were no shelters or hotlines specifically for victims of domestic violence, although a temporary shelter for domestic workers housed victims during the year.

Honor crimes are prohibited; however, the penal code reduces penalties for such crimes to misdemeanors. The law states that a man who sees his wife, daughter, mother, or sister in the act of adultery and immediately kills her and/or the man with whom she is committing adultery faces a maximum punishment of three years’ imprisonment and a 225 dinar ($784) fine. There have been no reported cases of honor crimes in recent years.

Police actively enforced laws against pandering and prostitution, reporting 632 arrests and 351 convictions. During the year police also uncovered numerous prostitution rings. However, according to reports the prostitution rings were largely made up of women who were not being forced or held captive against their will. The police Criminal Investigation Division determined whether prostituted women were being held against their will based on evidence of coercion, such as doors that locked from the outside and barred windows. The government generally deported prostituted persons to their countries of origin; however, some were released after signing a pledge of good conduct. Pimps, usually non-nationals, received lengthy jail terms. Some unemployed runaway foreign domestic workers were recruited or kidnapped and forced into prostitution.

There is no specific law that addresses sexual harassment; however, the law criminalizes “encroachment on honor,” which encompasses everything from touching a woman against her will to rape, and police strictly enforced this law. Perpetrators face fines and jail time. Human rights groups characterized sexual harassment against women in the workplace as a pervasive but unreported problem.

Women enjoyed the right to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children. Oral contraceptives were available over the counter. A 2004 study found the contraceptive needs of 90 percent of non-pregnant, married Kuwaiti women were being met despite the absence of a formal family planning program.

Women have some political rights; however, they do not enjoy the same rights as men under family law, property law, or in the judicial system, and they continued to face discrimination in many areas. Nevertheless, women attained prominent positions in government and business. A parliamentary committee for women’s and family affairs exists, and female MPs made up four of its five members.

Women continued to experience legal, economic, and social discrimination. Shari’a discriminates against women in judicial proceedings, freedom of movement, and marriage. Inheritance is also governed by Shari’a, which varies according to the school of Islamic jurisprudence the different populations in the country follow. In the absence of a direct male heir, a Shia woman may inherit all property, while a Sunni woman inherits only a portion, with the balance divided among brothers, uncles, and male cousins of the deceased.

When the children of a divorced woman reach age 18, she loses her right to live in housing purchased through the government loan program, regardless of any payments she may have made on the loan, and a female citizen married to a noncitizen cannot, by law, qualify for the loan program. Female citizens married to noncitizens are also required to pay annual residence fees of 217 dinars ($756) for their husbands and children; the law grants residency only if the noncitizen husband is employed. Female citizens cannot pass citizenship to their noncitizen husbands or their children. Male citizens married to female noncitizens did not face such discrimination in law or practice.

The law provides for a woman to receive “remuneration equal to that of a man provided she does the same work”; however, it prohibits women from working in “dangerous industries” and in trades “harmful” to health. In June 2008 the Constitutional Court ruled that the housing benefits package outlined in a resolution by the Council of Ministers for judges, attorneys general, and counselors in the legal advice and legislation department was unconstitutional.

According to the resolution, married employees of both genders received a housing allowance of 323 dinars ($1,125), single male employees received 217 dinars ($756), and single female employees received nothing. Educated women maintained that the conservative nature of society limited career opportunities, although there were limited improvements. Women made up 50 percent of the 263,000 citizens working in the public sector, 39 percent of the 57,000 working in the private sector, and 70 percent of college graduates.

The law requires that classes at all universities, private and public, be segregated by gender. Public universities enforced this law more rigorously than private universities.

On March 26, the first female police officers graduated from the Support Authority Institute at the Saad Al-Abdallah police academy.

On October 28, the Constitutional Court ruled that female MPs Rola Dashti and Aseel Al-Awadhi did not violate the Shari’a requirement of the electoral law by going uncovered (not wearing a hijab) and, as a consequence, would not have their National Assembly seats revoked. The ruling also determined that female candidates for parliament and female voters are not legally required to wear the hijab.

Children The government is generally committed to the rights and welfare of citizen children, although noncitizen children received less support and attention. The government did not issue birth certificates to Bedoon children despite several court decisions against the government during the year (see section 2.d.), and many Bedoon children could not receive free public services. The government automatically granted citizenship to orphaned or abandoned infants, including Bedoon infants.

For citizen children, education is free through the university level and compulsory through the secondary level. Education is neither free nor compulsory for Bedoon and expatriate children. Some Bedoon children attended private schools, and some did not attend school at all. The Charity Fund to Educate Needy Children, administered by the MOI, MAIA, and Ministry of Education, paid school fees for more than 11,000 Bedoon children since its creation in 2003.

There was no societal pattern of child abuse.

The legal age for girls to marry is 15, but younger girls continued to marry within some tribal groups. The MOJ estimated the prevalence at 2 to 3 percent of total marriages.

Trafficking in Persons The law does not explicitly prohibit trafficking in persons, although it prohibits transnational slavery and forced prostitution.

Trafficking in persons was a serious problem.

The country was a destination and transit point for men and women for forced labor. Female migrant workers were sometimes victims of sexual exploitation. Victims came from South and East Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, and the Philippines, although individuals from other countries such as Ethiopia and Eritrea also reportedly were trafficked. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians worked in the country, and some were subjected to trafficking, particularly in the form of debt bondage. There were reports that foreign workers younger than 18 were employed in homes in the country, but most trafficking victims were adults.

Principal traffickers were sending-country labor-recruitment agencies and host-country sponsors (employers) of foreign workers.

The primary method to obtain and transport victims was for sending-country labor recruitment agencies to offer valid contracts to workers, inflating salary figures and misrepresenting the labor conditions, and then not honor those contracts. There were reports that employers gave workers new contracts at lower salaries than those

they signed previously or deducted multiple fees from their salaries.

Some companies reportedly kept workers’ debit cards and withdrew part of the salary after the paycheck had been deposited. Workers found it difficult to leave these situations for several reasons: employers frequently withheld workers’ passports or otherwise restricted their movements; employees often were in debt from their travel to the country; and employers could file or threaten to file criminal charges against workers for absconding. Some workers also faced physical and sexual assault as a means of forcing them to work.

Traffickers also forced some female domestic workers into prostitution after they had escaped an abusive employer or deceived them with a promise of a job in a different sector.

Although the law does not explicitly prohibit trafficking in persons, traffickers may be prosecuted for transnational slavery, with a penalty of as long as five years’ imprisonment, or forced prostitution, with a penalty of as long as five years’ imprisonment or seven years’ for minors. Penalties for trafficking-related crimes range from fines and incarceration for failure to abide by the standardized domestic labor contract to life sentences and the death penalty for rape. However, in most cases law enforcement efforts focused on administrative measures, such as shutting down companies in violation of labor laws or issuing the return of withheld passports or payment of back wages, rather than criminal punishments for abusive employers.

During the year the MOI’s Immigration Investigations Department closed more than 700 false companies that were involved in visa trading and trafficking in persons. The Immigration Investigations Department also made numerous arrests, but the courts did not secure any convictions for trafficking-related crimes.

On March 11, the Court of Appeals ruled against two defendants who had been sentenced in June 2008 to two years in prison for selling two domestic workers into sex slavery.

The government assisted some trafficking victims; however, it sometimes detained, prosecuted, or deported victims for acts such as prostitution or absconding, committed as a consequence of being trafficked. On April 14, the government reported it had convicted 351 defendants for prostitution and/or debauchery in 2008. The government sheltered some trafficking victims in a domestic workers shelter, and it occasionally paid for airline tickets to repatriate runaway or abused domestic workers. The Domestic Workers Administration sometimes brokered solutions between employers and former employees. In 2008 the MOSAL and MOI sent officers to International Organization of Migration (IOM) training on managing shelters and assisting trafficking victims. Foreign workers were sometimes unable to afford airfare back home from the country.

During the year the government cooperated with the IOM to buy plane tickets home for 400 Sri Lankan and Indonesian workers.

On August 9, the MOSAL issued a resolution to permit most foreign workers to change employers after three years of work without having to first secure the permission of the original sponsor. The resolution excludes domestic workers, public sector workers, and foreign workers involved in finance management, thereby applying to approximately two-thirds of the country’s two million foreign workers. At year’s end the MOSAL had not processed any sponsor transfer requests.

The Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report can be found at www.state.gov/g/tip.

Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and imposes penalties against employers who refrain from hiring persons with disabilities without reasonable cause. The law also mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities. The government generally enforced these provisions. There were no specific reports of discrimination against persons with disabilities; however, noncitizens with disabilities did not have access to governmentoperated facilities or receive stipends paid to citizens with disabilities, which covered transportation, housing, job training, and social welfare.

Representatives from ministries, other governmental bodies, Kuwait University, and several NGOs constituted the government’s Higher Council for Handicapped Affairs, which made policy recommendations, provided financial aid to persons with disabilities, and facilitated the integration of such persons into schools, jobs, and other social institutions. The government supervised and contributed to schools and job and training programs that catered to persons with special needs.

Societal Abuses, Discrimination, and Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Homosexuality and cross-dressing are illegal. The law punishes homosexual behavior between men older than 21 with imprisonment of up to seven years; those engaging in homosexual activity with men younger than 21 may be imprisoned for as long as 10 years. In 2007 the National Assembly approved a law to impose a fine of 1,059 dinars ($3,690) and/or one year’s imprisonment for those imitating the appearance of the opposite sex in public. There are no laws that criminalize sexual behavior between women.

During the year there were more than a dozen reports of police arresting transgender persons at malls and markets, taking them into custody, beating them and shaving their heads, and then releasing them without charges. For example, on March 10, MOI Criminal Investigations Division officers raided a cafe, arresting five men for cross-dressing.

There were no official NGOs focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender matters. Societal discrimination based on sexual orientation was common; official discrimination was less so. There was no government response to either.

Other Societal Violence or Discrimination There was no reported societal violence or discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS. Unmarried men continued to face housing discrimination based solely on marital status. Although the law prohibits single men from obtaining accommodation in many urban residential areas, at year’s end the government had not fulfilled a plan to construct housing for them on the outskirts of the capital.

Section 7 Workers’ Rights a. The Right of Association With the exceptions of the country’s approximately 560,000 domestic servants and an unknown number of maritime employees, the law provides that workers have the restricted right to join unions without previous authorization. Although 1.5 million foreign workers who are not domestic workers can join unions, they cannot run or vote in board elections. An estimated 100,000 persons, or 5 percent, of a total workforce of two million were organized into unions, mostly in the public sector or petroleum industry. The law empowers the government to interfere significantly in union activities, including the right to strike; however, the government did not impede strikes. To hold a legal strike, a union must obtain permission from the MOI, which did not grant permission for any of the strikes that took place during the year.

The government restricts the right of freedom of association to only one union per occupational trade and permits only one federation, the Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF), which comprises 15 of the 47 licensed unions. Some workers were dissatisfied with the KTUF and instead joined the unlicensed National Trade Union Federation. The law stipulates that any new union must include at least 100 workers, 15 of them citizens. Both the International Labor Organization and the International Trade Union Confederation criticized this requirement because it discourages unions in sectors that employ few citizens, such as the construction industry and much of the private sector.

The government essentially treated licensed unions as parastatal organizations, providing as much as 90 percent of their budgets and inspecting financial records. Union leaders and board members are elected by the union members, who are citizens. It is prohibited for unions to discuss political, religious, or sectarian issues. The law empowers the courts to dissolve any union for violating labor laws or for threatening “public order and morals,” although such a court decision may be appealed. The MOSAL can request the dissolution

19

of a union through the Court of First Instance. The Amir also may dissolve a union by decree. No union was dissolved during the year.

The government denied several public sector and oil sector unions’ applications for official recognition during the year on the grounds that the law does not allow for more than one union to represent the same profession or organization.

The law denies domestic servants (one-third of the noncitizen workforce) and maritime employees the right to associate and organize. It also discriminates against more than one million other foreign workers by denying them union voting rights, barring them from leadership positions, and permitting them to join unions only after five years of residence, although the KTUF stated that this last requirement was not widely enforced in practice. During the year, for the first time, the KTUF worked to promote the rights of noncitizen workers, cooperating with the Embassy of Pakistan to settle the labor disputes of several Pakistani workers in the country.

The law limits the right of workers, especially noncitizens, to strike. Most labor disputes are resolved in compulsory negotiations; if not, either party may petition the MOSAL for mediation. If mediation fails the dispute is referred to a labor arbitration board composed of officials from the Court of Appeals, the Attorney General’s Office, and the MOSAL. The law does not contain any provision ensuring protecting strikers from legal or administrative action taken against them by the government. Employers generally try to settle disputes with workers themselves to retain them.

Foreign workers went on strike several times during the year.

Most striking workers were employees of cleaning and security companies who claimed they had not received their salaries. In these instances the MOSAL responded by attempting to negotiate a settlement between the workers and the employers.

On April 26, more than 300 cleaning and security company workers staged a strike, claiming they had not received their salaries for four months. The MOSAL summoned the owner of the company and made him pay all late wages.

On July 19, an estimated 120 cleaning workers gathered in front of the Capital Labor Department, claiming they had not received their salaries for more than six months and their company had not renewed their residencies. The MOSAL summoned the owner of the company and made him pay all late wages. b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively The law provides workers, with the exceptions of domestic servants, maritime workers, and civil servants, with the right to bargain collectively, subject to certain restrictions; the government generally respected in practice the rights of those workers covered by the law. Collective agreements covered approximately 70 percent of the labor force. There are no restrictions on collective bargaining.

There is no minimum number of workers needed for such agreements.

The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and employer interference with union functions, and the government generally protected those rights. Any worker alleging antiunion discrimination has the right to appeal to the judiciary. Employers found guilty of such discrimination must reinstate workers fired for union activities. There were no reports of discrimination against employees based on their affiliation with a union. There are no export processing zones. c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor, including by children, “except in cases specified by law for national emergency and with just remuneration”; however, there were reports that such practices occurred. Domestic servitude and forced prostitution were the most common types of forced labor.

Some foreign domestic workers, often trafficked, were victims of forced labor. Physical or sexual abuse of female domestic workers was a serious problem, and police and courts took action against employers when presented with evidence of serious abuse.

There were frequent reports of domestic workers allegedly committing or attempting suicide because of desperation over poor working conditions or abuse. For example, on August 16, a Sri Lankan domestic employee sustained injuries after a failed attempt to commit suicide by jumping from a roof. She alleged that her employer had punished her by pouring boiling oil on her and making her stand on the roof. Authorities took the employee to the hospital and questioned her employer. d. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment The law prohibits child labor; however, there were credible reports of underage workers, including domestic servants.

The legal minimum age for employment is 18; however, employers may obtain permits from the MOSAL to employ juveniles between the ages of 14 and 18 in nonhazardous trades. Juveniles may work a maximum of six hours a day on the condition that they work no more than four consecutive hours followed by a one-hour rest period.

There were reports that some children were trafficked to the country to provide domestic labor, and some underage workers reportedly falsified their ages to enter the country. There were few reports of underage Asian girls working as domestic servants after entering the country on false travel documents obtained in source countries. Approximately 300 inspectors from the Labor Inspection Department monitored private firms routinely for labor law compliance, including laws against child labor. Noncompliant employers were fined or their company operations were suspended. e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The public sector minimum wage for citizens was 217 dinars ($756) per month, and the public sector noncitizen wage was 97 dinars ($338). The public sector minimum wage provided a decent standard of living for a citizen worker and family. There was no legal minimum wage in the private sector, except for those domestic workers who had signed contracts in 2006 who received at least 40 dinars ($140) per month. The MOSAL implemented the minimum wage effectively by requiring companies to provide a monthly wage report with supporting documents.

The law establishes general conditions of work for the private sector. The law limits the standard workweek to 48 hours (40 hours for the petroleum industry) with one full day of rest per week and one hour of rest after every five consecutive hours of work. These standards were not well enforced, and domestic servants and other unskilled foreign workers in the private sector frequently worked in excess of 48 hours a week, often with no day of rest. Workers submitted complaints to the MOSAL’s Labor Disputes Department.

The government issued occupational health and safety standards; however, compliance and enforcement by the MOSAL appeared poor, especially with respect to unskilled foreign laborers. A September MOSAL report stated that in the previous 12 months approximately 20,000 industrial and commercial firms had negligently violated professional safety standards and that 3,313 workers were injured on the job.

To decrease accident rates, the government periodically inspected enterprises to raise awareness among workers and employers and to ensure that they abided by safety rules, controlled pollution resulting from certain industries, trained workers to use machines, and reported violations. Workers have the right to remove themselves from dangerous work situations without jeopardizing their continued employment, and legal protection existed for both citizen and foreign workers who filed complaints about such conditions. In past years government attention to worker safety issues was limited, resulting in poor training of inspectors, inadequate injury reports, and no link between insurance payments and accident reports. No such cases were reported during the year.

The law provides that all outdoor work stop between noon and 4:00 p.m. during the months of June, July, and August or when the temperature rises to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in the shade. The MOSAL monitored work sites to ensure compliance with these rules. There were no reports of violations during the year.

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SPORTS

Saturday, March 13, 2010

First ever freerunning competition in Kuwait World Champion Ryan Doyle to judge Red Bull Urban Jump KUWAIT: The first ever Freerunning competition in Kuwait, Red Bull Urban Jump, will take place kicked off yesterday at the eXtreme Skate Park located at the Marina.

After being practiced on the streets of Kuwait, this sport will be brought to the public for the first time as a competition.

Red Bull Urban Jump is expected to boast the best 30-40 freerunners in Kuwait. The

participants are expected to reach their limits in a safe and competitive environment.

The event features two categories Parkour and Freerunning/Freestyle.

Parkour (in English is the art of moving) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one’s path by adapting one’s movements to the environment. Participants run along a route

attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible, as if moving in an emergency situation. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The object of parkour is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment.

Freerunning is a form of urban acrobat-

ics in which participants, known as free runners, use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures.

It incorporates efficient movements from parkour, adds aesthetic vaults and other acrobatics, such as tricking and street stunts, creating an athletic and aesthetically pleasing way of moving. It is commonly practiced at gymnasiums and in urban areas

that are cluttered with obstacles.

Challenging obstacles are being built for this event such as plateaus, walls and wooden boxes. The participating athletes will perform breathtaking flips, spins and jumps from walls as well as somersaults over car roofs. 26 years old Ryan Doyle who won the 2007 Red Bull Art of Motion World Championship will be available in Kuwait to

judge and perform a show during the event.

Doyle said: “I am very excited to come to Kuwait and help the scene to develop; this is an amazing new sport which shows lots of skills and acrobatic moves. I am very positive that the guys will perform an excellent show for the audience. From what I have seen on the internet, the level in Kuwait looks very promising.”

Samsung launches IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships sponsorship DOHA: Samsung Electronics, a global leader in consumer technology and award winning innovator, yesterday launched its sponsorship of this year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics taking place at the outstanding setting of the Aspire Dome which will host the World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar. The Championships welcomed athletes, sporting delegates and fans from more than 160 countries, making it one of the biggest international sporting events ever held in Qatar. The three-day competition which runs from 12 to 14 March 2010 will be the most sought after athletics event of the year, hosting a number of defending champions from the previous edition of Valencia 2008, with over 1,300 athletes expected to be participating.

“Samsung’s sponsorship of the World Indoor Championships in Doha this year is something we are excited about, as we see

sports and athletics in particular, as a perfect fit for the Samsung brand. We recognize the importance of engaging our consumers in an arena that means a lot and through a medium which is emotionally important to them.” said Marco Vocale, Head of Corporate Solutions at Samsung Gulf Electronics Samsung’s three-year agreement as the official partner of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) began at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin and includes this year’s World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. The 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea will see Samsung as a sponsor in this event for the third time. Samsung is also appointed the IAAF’s official equipment provider in the categories of Wireless Communications and Audio/TV/Video.

In addition to Samsung’s long history of commitment to sport, including its sponsor-

ship of Chelsea FC since 2005, and its sponsorship of the 2006 Asian Games for two decades, Samsung also had the honor of selecting the Asian Games’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) by awarding the most deserving with the Samsung MVP Award. In addition, Samsung has extended its official sponsorship of the Olympic Games through to 2016. During this year’s championship in Doha, Samsung will be providing daily updates, in addition to hosting a range of supporting activities at the venue. “Our sponsorship of this year’s IAAF Indoor Athletics Championships reflects our commitment to the sporting landscape in the Gulf. The ability of sports to unify cultures and inspire new levels of personal achievement - the very qualities that Samsung seeks to realize in its constant pursuit of innovation reflects the company’s core philosophy of Passion for Excellence,” concluded Vocale.

Argentina down India to finish 7th NEW DELHI: Lucas Vila scored two goals as Argentina downed hosts India 4-2 to take seventh place in the 12-nation men’s field hockey World Cup yesterday.

The South Americans, who had not lost a World Cup match to India since 1978, continued their domination of the former champions in the play-off for the 7th-8th positions. Argentina led 1-0 at half-time through a fourthminute goal by Tomas

NZ clinch the ninth position Argento, before Sandeep Singh convered a penalty stroke to draw level seven minutes into the second session.

Vila and Facundo Callioni pumped in three goals in four minutes to make it 4-1, a margin that proved beyond India’s reach despite a goal from Shivendra Singh. Argentina had finished 10th and India

11th in the previous World Cup in Germany in 2006. New Zealand, meanwhile, clinched the ninth position after defeating valiant South Africa in a high-scoring thriller which ended in a penalty shoot-out.

The Black Sticks, trailing 34 till the final minute of regulation play, equalized in the last second when Andrew Hayward

netted his third penalty corner goal of the match.

Both teams failed to break the deadlock in 15 minutes of extra-time and New Zealand won the shoot-out 5-4 with captain Dean Couzins pushing in the crucial ninth stroke.

New Zealand had finished eighth in the last World Cup, while South Africa moved up two places from their 12th position in the same tournament.—AFP

RIYADH: FIA President Jean Todt tours facilities in Saudi Arabia

FIA boss Todt visits Saudi FIA president discusses motor sport, mobility, road safety RIYADH: FIA President Jean Todt has just completed a one-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a guest of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF). Todt was accompanied by Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa AlKhalifa, Bahrain’s FIA World Council member. Todt will attend the FIA World Council meeting in Bahrain this week, prior to the opening round of the Formula One World Championship at the Sakhir circuit at the weekend. He arrived in Riyadh on Monday evening and was welcomed by a party headed by Mishaal Al-Sudairy, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, and Saud bin Abdulaziz, sports deputy for the President General of Youth Welfare.

During a hectic schedule of engagements in his 24-hour visit to the Kingdom, Todt visited the new Dirab racetrack complex, which has a planned completion date at the end of 2010. He visited the recently-established Zain Reem International Circuit, Saudi Arabia’s premier motor racing circuit facility, near Riyadh. Todt also met HRH

Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, President General of Youth Welfare, Head of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC) and President of the Saudi Youth and Sports Body.

He discussed various aspects of motoring-related matters with HRH Prince Sultan in the presence of Mishaal Al-Sudairy. Over lunch he also met SAMF board members and talked about a diverse range of topics.

“Jean Todt discussed various aspects of world motor sport with representatives from the SAMF and the motor clubs in Saudi Arabia,” enthused Al-Sudairy.

“It was a very positive and successful first visit by the new FIA President and he discussed topics as diverse as mobility, various motor sporting disciplines and aspects of road safety.”

Todt was very pleased with his visit and acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress through the ranks of world motor sport. He also recognized the country’s potential for off-road motor sport, particularly for rallies

and Baja-type events. “We were extremely grateful to Jean Todt and delighted that he took the time to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” added Al-Sudairy.

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East region and has a relatively recent motor sporting history. It has already hosted the opening round of the 2010 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in Ha’il in the north-central region of the country and has a thriving race circuit program at the Zain Reem International Circuit, near Riyadh.

The circuit already hosts rounds of the popular Saudi Radical and Zain Lotus race series’ and is a regular venue on the calendar for the Chevrolet Middle East Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. The Saudi Arabian Motor Federation is also putting the finishing touches to the route and format for the fourth round of the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, which will take place in the Eastern Province on April 20th-22nd.

Moya advances at Indian Wells

FLORIDA: Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, tees-off at the ninth hole during the first round at the CA Championship golf tournament in Doral. — AP

Schwartzel grabs Doral lead MIAMI: South African Charl Schwartzel produced the only bogey free round of the WGCCA Championship first round on Thursday to gain a one shot lead with a five-under par round of 67.

Australian Robert Allenby, who blew apart an excellent round by bogeying the final four holes, Fiji’s Vijay Singh and South Africa’s, Ernie Els, were tied in second place a shot behind Schwartzel. All that trio had fallen foul of the tricky 18th hole with its expanse of water to the left of the fairway and green and was proving even trickier than usual in gusty winds with just five players making birdie on the hole. Singh double bogeyed after finding the water with his tee shot and Els bogeyed after driving wide right and then going in

Allenby blows four shot lead the lake with his second stroke.

With no world number one Tiger Woods, small crowds, grey skies and mild temperatures it was an unusually low key opening to an event that prides itself on a passionate Latin atmosphere. But there was an international look to the top of the leader board with Australian John Senden, Italian Francesco Molinari, Britain’s Paul Casey and Dane Soren Hansen all two shots behind Schwartzel along with Americans JB Holmes and Dustin Johnson. Last year’s champion Phil Mickelson, who did not practice this week as he was in Houston with his wife who is battling breast cancer,

produced a solid one-under 71.

Schwartzel, who won two of the early events of the European Tour - the Africa Open and the Joburg Open this year, coped well with the winds as he took a surprise lead. The South African started on the back nine and rolled in a superb putt from 43feet at the 11th but it was his ability to avoid trouble that earned him top spot. “I didn’t think 67 was out there today at the beginning of the day with the wind as strong as it was,” he said. “I played a lot of good rounds in my career and this one rates right up there. It could even be at the top. It was difficult. You couldn’t mess up a

shot,” he said.

While Else and Singh were frustrated along with Molinari who double bogeyed the 18th, Allenby gave up the most ground. Four birdies and an eagle on the front nine gave Allenby a flying start but, after birdies on the 10th and 12th, the round fell apart with four consecutive bogeys at the end. “I was never predicting a finish like that. It shows you how quick this golf course can creep up on you,” said the Australian. On a day lacking the events usual fiesta atmosphere, some color was provided in the form of Briton Ian Poulter’s footwear. The always dapper Poulter wore shocking pink shoes as he finished even for the round, tied in 24th position. — Reuters

INDIAN WELLS: Carlos Moya withstood a determined challenge from qualifier Tim Smyczek in the first round Thursday at Indian Wells, the tournament where he seized the world number-one ranking in 1999. The veteran Spaniard held off the 22year-old American to triumph 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5). Moya is playing the Masters 1000 tournament, which runs alongside a WTA premier event under the BNP Paribas Open banner, for the first time since 2008.

Smyczek, playing his third ATP Tour event and his first Masters 1000, had set points in each set, but Moya managed to outlast him in each.

“I’m hitting the ball well and training well,” said the Spaniard, who was hindered by a series of injuries last season. “But I can see I’m having trouble closing out matches.

“That’s not something you can practice for.

My goal now is to try and play as many matches as possible. In the first set I had so many chances. I made it very difficult to win.”

Moya received a wildcard into the main draw.

The top 32 seeds, led by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, enjoy firstround byes.

Djokovic will open against American Mardy Fish - the man he beat in the final here in 2008. Fish rallied Thursday for a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Germany’s Michael Berrer.

Fish said the chilly wind that prevailed during their match as darkness fell made it hard to get into the contest. But he was looking forward to tackling Djokovic again. “We’ve played three or four times, we’ve had some great matches,” Fish said. “He beat me at Wimbledon the last time we played in straight sets. Other than that it has gone the distance. We’ve had some great matches.”

The women continued to jockey for position with first-round matches. Italy’s Roberta Vinci booked a second-round clash with twotime champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, the 21st seed, with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over rising US teen star Melanie Oudin. Unheralded American Sloane Stephens, 16, booked a second-round match with defending champion and 12th seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia. Stephens, ranked 747th in the world, beat Czech Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (9/7). While men’s first-round action continues on Friday, the women’s second round gets underway.

Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark opens her campaign against American Vania King. Fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva and 10th-seeded compatriot Maria Sharapova will also in action, along with China’s two Australian Open semi-finalists, Li Na and Zheng Jie. Li, seeded seventh, will take on British qualifier Elna Baltacha while 18th-seeded Zheng will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea. Former world number one Justine Henin, playing just her third tournament since launching a comeback after an 18-month retirement, will try to follow up her dominant first-round victory when she meets 31st-seeded Gisela Dulko of Argentina. Friday night will feature the Hit for Haiti exhibition for the benefit of Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Federer and Pete Sampras will play Nadal and Andre Agassi in one doubles match, then Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport will play Henin and Martina Navratilova. The event is sold out and organizers hope to raise one million dollars for earthquake relief. A similar event quickly arranged by Federar ahead of the Australian Open in January raised more than 600,000 US dollars. — AFP

Woods preparing for return - but when?

MIAMI: Speculation was mounting Thursday that Tiger Woods will return to competitive golf within the next month, but just where and when remained a mystery. Woods was sighted Sunday working on the driving range at his home course in Florida with his instructor Hank Haney. Fellow pro Robert Allenby of Australia is among those who don’t think Woods would have flown Haney into town unless his comeback was imminent. “If he wasn’t going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?” Allenby said Thursday at the World Golf Championships CA Championship.

“I look at that as maybe he’s getting ready.”

Woods took an indefinite hiatus from competitive golf in the wake of a sex scandal that engulfed him last November. In his only public

remarks since, Woods said last month that he did not know when he would return. The New York Post, citing two unnamed “sources in the golf community” reported Thursday that Woods was prepping for a possible return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando on March 25.

The Post reported Woods had consulted Ari Fleischer, the former presidential adviser to George W. Bush, on strategy to manage his return. The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods’ management company, International Management Group, but the tournament director says he has not heard from Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg. While Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000-2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, the first major championship of

the year, the Masters at Augusta National in April also remains a likely venue for his return.

Augusta National is famed for its watertight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course. Speculation has also centered on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival exclusive clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona.

Golfer Mark O’Meara, a friend and neighbor of Woods, fanned that flame this week when he told Golf Channel that he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see Woods play the Tavistock Cup, which is set for March 22-23. Woods has represented Isleworth in the past. Isleworth is hosting the event this year, so Woods wouldn’t even have to leave the property. — AFP

SPORTS

Saturday, March 13, 2010

21

Clottey aims to seize surprise world title chance DALLAS: The Cowboys Stadium stages its first big fight today when Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight title against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey. The $1.2 billion arena, which opened last year, is home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and will be transformed into a boxing arena this weekend. Most of the big-fight community had circled this weekend on their calendars as the date for a bout between

the champion and American Floyd Mayweather Jr, considered the best pound for pound boxers in the world.

However, talks broke down in January when Pacquiao refused American Mayweather’s demands for Olympicstyle dope testing procedures.

The Filipino then turned to Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), a relatively little-known fighter who last boxed when he lost to

Miguel Cotto in June 2009. “I never thought he would give me the chance,” said Clottey. “When they called me I was surprised. “I’m so happy, I’m so proud.”

Despite being the late replacement and the underdog, the challenger has warned Pacquiao would be unwise to underestimate him. “I am a very big welterweight,” Clottey told reporters at the pre-fight news conference, contrasting

himself with the champion who began his career 40 pounds under the welterweight limit.

PACQUIAO DISTRACTED “I cannot wait for Saturday night,” said the Ghanaian. “I want to see what Manny Pacquiao can do, whether he can hurt me with his punches.” Clottey believes Pacquiao’s preparation has been distracted by the Mayweather issue and his bid

to seek election on May 20 for the Congressional seat in the Philippine province of Sarangani. “Pacquiao has three things on his mind now,” said Clottey. “He has me, he has Mayweather and he has an election he wants to win.

He has so many things on his mind.”

The champion, though, said he was focused on the bout. “Joshua Clottey is a very dangerous fighter,” he said. “I can-

not underestimate him, I have to remain focused.”

Pacquiao believes a showdown with Mayweather will eventually happen despite the bad feeling between the two.

It is a match his trainer Freddie Roach also wants.

“I want us to fight him,” he said. “I want us to knock him out then everybody will be happy.” — Reuters

Cook, Pietersen feast on Bangladesh attack Cook crafts patient century as England dominate

DOHA: Russia’s Yaroslav Rybakov clears the bar during the men’s high jump qualifying round at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Aspire Dome. — AFP

Chambers fastest in 60 meters qualifying DOHA: British European champion Dwain Chambers showed he was the man to beat in the men’s 60 meters, clocking a fast 6.59 seconds in his opening race of the IAAF world indoor championships yesterday. “It felt good, but it’s early days yet,” said Chambers, who became the favorite for the title when US champion Ivory Williams tested positive for marijuana and was declared ineligible for the championships.

“I did not show 100 per cent of me,” added the 2008 silver medalist. “It is not about doing big things in the heats but in the final.” Australian Olympic and world champion Steve Hooker turned his first indoor pole vault of the year into an easy qualifier, joining eight others in today’s final by clearing 5.60 on his only attempt.

However, the year’s top indoor vaulter, France’s Renaud Lavillenie, could not advance past the opening session of the three-day championships.

The world outdoor bronze medalist failed three times at the qualifying height. “I jumped just before the equipment broke, so that made it much easier,” Hooker said after the competition was interrupted because of a problem with one of the standards on which the bar rests.

“Anyone that had to jump after that, it made it very challenging. I really feel for those guys.”

Lavillenie and US 2004 Olympic champion Tim Mack were among the victims, both ending their

day at 5.45 meters.

“I spent 30 minutes without jumping at 5.60,” Lavillenie said of his failure. “It is a real pity because these championships were a rare opportunity where I could get a real competition from Steve Hooker and that’s the day when I messed it up.” Hooker overcame the pain from a torn thigh muscle to win last year’s Berlin outdoor world championships in a stern test of mind over body.

“I would love to win this competition,” a much more relaxed Hooker said this time. “That is my only goal coming here.”

Heavily favored defending women’s high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia smoothly advanced to today’s final, clearing all three heights she attempted. Vlasic, who has world record hopes, was one of nine moving forward with clearances of 1.92 meters.

“It’s always a stressful competition, the qualification, because there are a lot of people (jumping),” said Vlasic, who has jumped 2.06 meters this season. “But I am happy with everything today.” Champion Christian Cantwell joined Germany’s Ralf Bartels in qualifying for today’s men’s shot put final. Bartels, the 2006 European champion, had a heave of 20.91 meters on his second attempt while American Cantwell threw only once, reaching 20.72 to meet the automatic qualifying standard. —Reuters

From first to last, Trulli seeks to revive Lotus MANAMA: A year ago, Jarno Trulli was dreaming of Toyota’s first Formula One victory after blasting to pole position in Bahrain. It never happened, and after Toyota pulled out at the end of the season the Italian is now resigned to qualifying near the back of the field in tomorrow’s season-opener at Sakhir.

Finishing the race would be a victory in itself.

Trulli, however, now partnering Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen at the reborn Malaysian-backed Lotus team, is not unhappy with his situation. “I thought about it while I was driving here,” he told the three reporters who made the long walk down to the unfashionable end of the paddock to talk to him at his new team’s home. “I said to myself: ‘Last year I was on pole and this year I will see myself on the back of the grid’.

“That’s it, you have to re-start from zero, from scratch, like here, and try to do again what I have done before, pushing the team and giving the team the direction technically and bringing it back to a certain level,” he added. Toyota swept the front row last season but strategic errors, and the supremacy of Jenson Button’s Brawn, put paid to the hopes of a team that had spent hundreds of millions of dollars with little reward. Trulli finished third but was downcast, only too aware of what might have been.

IMPORTANT PROJECT “I am the kind of person who is never happy

enough but I try to fix my target,” he said. “Last year my target here was to try to win the race and I didn’t, ... this year I may fix a target where let’s say to finish the race would be enough.” Trulli said that his satisfaction was more about performance than the general result. “Sometimes you also have to be happy just to get things right and be here and try to work on this fantastic project,” he added.

“Taking Lotus back on the track after 16 years is something important.” The original Lotus led by Colin Chapman enjoyed an exalted status, with 107 poles and 79 wins between 1960 and 1987. Their seven constructors’ championships left them fourth in the all-time list while their champions included the late Jim Clark, American Mario Andretti and Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi. The late Ayrton Senna took his first race win in a Lotus.

“You can breath the air of Lotus. It will be hard at the beginning, but the intention of everyone behind this project is to take Lotus back to where it belongs and it will take some time. But we are serious about it,” said Trulli. “I’m really proud, but I am also old enough to understand that I am responsible,” he added. “I cannot leave the team where it is now, I want to bring it back to where it belongs. I don’t want to ruin the name and the heritage of Lotus, because Lotus can only be second to Ferrari-not to anyone else in the paddock.” —Reuters

CHITTAGONG: Alastair Cook made a patient unbeaten century in his first test as England captain to lift his team to a commanding 374 for three on the opening day of the series against Bangladesh yesterday.

Cook’s 11th test century made the hosts regret their decision to bowl first and he had reached 158 not at the close with Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 32. Former skipper Kevin Pietersen was out for 99 after adding 170 runs with Cook for the third wicket.

Cook, quiet initially, grew in confidence to hit 14 boundaries and smash off-spinner Mahmudullah over long on for the second of his two sixes to reach three figures.

His opening partner, debutant Michael Carberry, was first out for 30, unable to cope with the spin of Mahmudullah.

The left-hander had clubbed six fours, including three in one over from seamer Rubel Hossain, but was dropped by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 30 off Mahmudullah before being trapped lbw in the spinner’s next over.

Jonathan Trott was next to go when he was caught behind for 39, replays suggesting the short-pitched ball from Rubel struck him on the helmet before flying through to wicketkeeper Rahim.

COVER BOUNDARY Bangladesh brought their fielders around the bat for the struggling Pietersen, but he showed no sign of nerves and drove left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak for a cover boundary to get off the mark.

He struck Shakib Al Hasan for a six and two fours in four balls to move into the 90s before his weakness against left-arm spin resurfaced and Razzak bowled him with the right-hander one run short of his 17th test century.

“Probably at the end of your career you look back and think one run could have made a difference to me personally, but for the team 99 was very important,” Pietersen told reporters.

“One run is really insignificant, though it may not look it on the scoreboard and I’d have taken 99 this morning that’s for sure,” Pietersen said.

“You don’t like getting out for 99. I’ve had a 99, I’ve had a 97, I’ve had a 96, I’ve had a 92...yeah, it’s not nice. But I can tell you getting out for 20 the other day wasn’t nice, getting out for one in the one-day series wasn’t nice. It’s never nice getting out,” said Pietersen.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said his side were now virtually out of the match.

“I don’t think two teams can win the game from here, I think we are pretty much nearly out of the game, unless we bowl terrifically in the morning, and then we have to bat the house down,” he said.

“We’ve probably put ourselves out of the game which we tend to do a lot in the first day or first session of a game. Our two fast bowlers bowled really poorly and let the team down and our two spinners didn’t put the ball in the right areas.

It’s been a difficult day,” Siddons added. —Reuters

CHITTAGONG: England’s Kevin Pietersen bends to avoid a bouncer delivery during the first Test cricket match against Bangladesh in Chittagong yesterday. —AP

SCOREBOARD CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh: Scoreboard at close of the opening day of the first Test between England and Bangladesh at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Bangladesh yesterday.

England first innings A. Cook not out M. Carberry lbw b Mahmudullah J. Trott c Rahim b Rubel K. Pietersen b Razzak P. Collingwood Extras (b-4 lb-3 w-2 nb-7)

158 30 39 99 32 16

Total (three wickets; 90 overs) 374 Fall of wickets: 1-72 2-149 3-319 To bat: I. Bell, M. Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, T. Bresnan, S. Finn.

Bowling: Shahadat 12-2-50-0 (w-2 nb-2), Rubel 13-0-79-1 (nb-5), Shakib 21-2-80-0, Naeem, 11-1-38-0, Mahmudullah 14-1-45-1, Razzak 17-1-71-1, Aftab 1-0-2-0, Tamim 1-0-2-0.

Renault accuse McLaren of opening up new arms race

MANAMA: McLaren Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton drives at the Bahrain international circuit yesterday in Manama, during the second free practice session of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix. — AFP

MANAMA: Renault have accused rivals McLaren of opening up a Formula One arms race with their controversial rear wing even though it has been ruled legal by the sport’s governing body. “It is fundamentally clear that the McLaren wing design is totally illegal,” Renault managing director Bob Bell told BBC radio after the first practice session of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday. “They have driven a cart horse through the spirit of the rules and regulations,” added Bell, whose team are competing under a suspended permanent ban after a race-fixing controversy that hung over last season.

“They have opened up another arms race, it’s going to cost everybody a lot of money. The governing bodies need to be a lot stronger with these things.” The McLaren car passed inspections on Thursday at the Sakhir circuit and the team said they consulted the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) throughout the design process.

Williams co-owner and engineering director Patrick Head told Reuters that the rear wing had a slot that appeared to be fed by a duct that McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton could block at will by body movement.

“I understand that (race director) Charlie (Whiting) is saying that article three of the regulations that would limit something like that don’t apply to the driver, only to the car,” he said. “But I do remember when our active ride car was banned, it was banned on

the grounds that a piston in the strut was moving and by virtue of doing so was influencing the aerodynamic performance of the car.

“What I’m told Charlie is saying is that Lewis or Jenson’s knee, or whatever it is, is not part of the car.”

ONE-HANDED DRIVING Head said Williams might take another look at the McLaren system. “It is a bit of a problem because if one car is suddenly able to gain five or six km an hour on the straight then we’ve all got to do it,” he added. He depicted a scenario where drivers might drive one-handed down the straight with the other covering the flow of air through a hole elsewhere in the cockpit to give an aerodynamic advantage. “If anybody comes up with a way to make their car 0.3 or 0.4 of a second quicker around the track that other people haven’t done, then they’ve been very clever,” said Head. “I’m not saying it’s illegal but we’ve just got to look at Charlie’s interpretation.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who first aired concerns about the McLaren device, said the wing had been declared legal so rival teams would have to come up with their own solutions.

“We questioned it some time ago,” he said. “As the FIA have looked at it and deemed it to be okay, it’s therefore a clever design as opposed to illegal design. “So inevitably now there will be a wild goose chase I guess of all the teams chasing that loophole.” — Reuters

22

SPORTS

Saturday, March 13, 2010

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Thursday: Atlanta 105, Washington Portland 110, Golden State 105.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Denver Boston 40 23 .635 Utah Toronto 32 31 .508 8 Oklahoma City Philadelphia 23 41 .359 17.5 Portland NY Knicks 22 42 .344 18.5 Minnesota New Jersey 7 57 .109 33.5 Central Division LA Lakers Cleveland 50 15 .769 Phoenix Milwaukee 34 29 .540 15 LA Clippers Chicago 31 33 .484 18.5 Sacramento Detroit 22 42 .344 27.5 Golden State Indiana 21 43 .328 28.5 Southeast Division Dallas Orlando 46 20 .697 San Antonio Atlanta 41 23 .641 4 Memphis Charlotte 32 31 .508 12.5 Miami 33 32 .508 12.5 Houston Washington 21 41 .339 23 New Orleans

99; Orlando 111, Chicago 82; Western Conference Northwest Division 43 21 .672 42 22 .656 1 39 24 .619 3.5 39 28 .582 5.5 14 51 .215 29.5 Pacific Division 47 18 .723 40 25 .615 7 25 40 .385 22 22 43 .338 25 17 47 .266 29.5 Southwest Division 45 21 .682 37 25 .597 6 34 31 .523 10.5 32 31 .508 11.5 32 33 .492 12.5

Magic roll past Bulls 111-82 Seventh straight win for hot Magic

NEW YORK: St Louis Blues’ Brad Winchester (15) and New York Islanders’ Jack Hillen (38) collide against the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Uniondale. — AP

Sharks reclaim Western Conference lead in style SAN JOSE: The San Jose Sharks reclaimed the outright lead of the NHL Western Conference in some style, coming from behind to beat the Nashville Predators 8-5 on Thursday. San Jose entered the third period trailing 4-2, but Joe Pavelski set up two goals to bring the Sharks level and then scored the go-ahead goal with a scintillating spin move. Dany Heatley also scored twice and had an assist, Manny Malhotra had a goal and two assists in the third period, Patrick Marleau scored his 40th goal, and Joe Thornton and Jay Leach also netted for San Jose, which recorded its third straight comeback win.

Patric Hornqvist and JP Dumont each scored twice for Nashville, and Colin Wilson added a goal.

Flames 2, Senators 0 In Calgary, Miikka Kiprusoff made 33 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 34th overall as Calgary downed Ottawa. Jamal Mayers and Christopher Higgins scored for the Flames, who have won four straight to match seventh-place Nashville with 77 points in the Western Conference playoff race.

Blues 2, Islanders 1, SO In Uniondale, New York, surging St. Louis notched its sixth victory in seven games, beating New York. Patrik Berglund scored the tying goal for the Blues in the second period after Matt Moulson put New York ahead in the closing seconds of the first. TJ Oshie and Brad Boyes scored shootout goals for the Blues.

Hurricanes 4, Penguins 3, OT In Raleigh, North Carolina, Brian Pothier scored 23 seconds into overtime to lift Carolina over Pittsburgh. Eric Staal and Ray Whitney had a goal and an assist each, while Zach Boychuk also scored for the Hurricanes, who remain last in the Southeast Division but are on a hot run of form that has moved them to the fringes of playoff contention. Matt Cooke, Jordan Staal and Bill Guerin scored for the Penguins, who had their post-Olympic winning streak snapped at four.

Avalanche 3, Panthers 0 In Denver, Craig Anderson made 27 saves to move into a tie for the NHL shutout lead with seven, as Colorado beat Florida.

Anderson matched New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur, Phoenix’s Ilya Bryzgalov and Florida’s Tomas Vokoun for the shutout lead. Vokoun made 28 saves for the Panthers. Paul Stastny scored twice and Matt Hendricks also netted for Colorado, ending the Panthers’ winning trot at three.

Bruins 5, Flyers 1 In Philadelphia, Tuukka Rask made 31 saves to help Boston overcome Philadelphia. Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci scored second-period goals for the Bruins, while Blake Wheeler and Marco Sturm also scored. The Flyers’ goal came via Jeff Carter.

Red Wings 5, Wild 1 In Detroit, Johan Franzen scored twice in Detroit’s win over Minnesota. Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and two assists, and Jimmy Howard made 21 saves for Detroit. Tomas Holmstrom added a goal and an assist, and Drew Miller also scored. Andrew Ebbett netted for Minnesota.

Blue Jackets 2, Thrashers 1 In Columbus, Ohio, Columbus weathered a late rally to beat Atlanta. The Thrashers, who lost their fourth in a row, had several good scoring chances after Johnny Oduya’s goal with 2:21 left. But Mathieu Garon made 28 saves, including several big stops in the final minute while Atlanta had two extra attackers. Kristian Huselius had a goal and an assist and RJ Umberger also scored for the Blue Jackets. Atlanta’s defeat clinched the Southeast Division title for the Washington Capitals.

Canadiens 5, Oilers 4, SO In Montreal, the hosts took their winning streak to four games by edging Edmonton in a shootout. Andrei Kostitsyn scored on Montreal’s fifth shootout attempt, and Jaroslav Halak turned aside five Oilers’ shots in the tiebreaker. Sam Gagner, whose gave Edmonton its only lead at 2-1, lost control of the puck on the Oilers’ final attempt. Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta, Travis Moen and Sergei Kostitsyn scored in regulation for the Canadiens. Robert Nilsson, Andrew Cogliano and Shawn Horcoff also scored for Edmonton.

Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3, OT In Toronto, Phil Kessel scored in overtime, and Viktor Stahlberg had two goals to help Toronto defeat Tampa Bay. Tyler Bozak set up the winning goal and also scored in regulation. Steven Stamkos, extending his points streak to 18 games with his 42nd goal of the season, Kurtis Foster and Steve Downie scored for the Lightning, who have lost seven of their past eight.— AP

Kiprusoff shuts out Senators NHL results/standings WASHINGTON: National Hockey League results and standings after Thursday’s games: Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT); St Louis 2, NY Islanders 1 (SO); Boston 5, Philadelphia 1; Carolina 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT); Columbus 2, Atlanta 1; Montreal 5, Edmonton 4 (So); Detroit 5, Minnesota 1; Colorado 3, Florida 0; Calgary 2, Ottawa 0; San Jose 8, Nashville 5.

Western Conference Eastern Conference Central Division Atlantic Division Chicago 44 17 5 220 163 93 Nashville 36 26 5 189 196 77 W LOTL GF GA PTS Detroit 32 23 12 182 183 76 Pittsburgh 40 22 5 214 193 85 St Louis 31 26 9 179 183 71 New Jersey 39 23 3 175 157 81 Columbus 27 30 11 177 218 65 Philadelphia 35 27 4 199 180 74 Northwest Division NY Rangers 29 29 9 173 185 67 Vancouver 41 23 3 220 174 85 NY Islanders 26 32 9 172 211 61 Colorado 38 23 6 199 176 82 Northeast Division Calgary 34 24 9 172 167 77 Minnesota 31 29 6 181 193 68 Buffalo 36 20 9 179 164 81 Edmonton 21 39 7 167 230 49 Ottawa 37 26 5 185 192 79 Pacific Division Montreal 34 29 6 188 192 74 San Jose 43 14 9 220 165 95 Boston 30 24 12 165 169 72 Phoenix 40 22 5 180 167 85 Toronto 22 33 12 176 226 56 Los Angeles 39 22 5 202 178 83 Southeast Division Dallas 29 25 12 187 211 70 Washington 45 13 9 264 189 99 Anaheim 30 28 8 185 206 68 Atlanta 28 28 10 196 213 66 Tampa Bay 27 27 12 178 205 66 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss colFlorida 27 29 10 171 191 64 umn (L).

Carolina 28 31 8 189 207 64

Desperate Celtic seek Cup lifeline GLASGOW: Midfielder Marc Crosas believes the Scottish Cup remains Celtic’s only realistic chance of silverware this season. The Hoops trail rivals Rangers by 13 points in the Scottish Premier League and were knocked out the League Cup by Hearts at the end of last year. Spaniard Crosas and his teammates travel to Rugby Park today to take on Kilmarnock for a place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Pressure is on the Hoops to make sure they don’t end the season trophy-less but Croasas says the players are used to the demands put on them by their fans. “When you play for Celtic you have the demand to win all of the games and to win titles,” he said. “The way it’s been going this season, it’s the only chance maybe we’ve got to win a trophy so we have the pressure on us - but I think we always have.”

However, his manager denies the Scottish Cup has taken on any more importance with the club this season.

Tony Mowbray says they will continue to try and will all their matches in the slim hope of winning a domestic double.

“The club tries to finish every season with a trophy - it’s no more important or less important this year,” said Mowbray.

“Every season we try and win every competition we are in and every year we try and win the Scottish Cup, it’s a big part of the club’s history. We strive to win every match. That’s the aim.

“There are 10 games still to go in the league and we will keep fighting on that front and try and win them all. But this cup game at Kilmarnock is not more or less important than it always has been at this club.”

It is just over a month since Celtic’s last visit to Rugby Park when Killie dealt their championship hopes a major blow with a 1-0 win. Celtic have major injury worries ahead of today’s game with defenders Thomas Rogne, Jos Hoovield and Glenn Loovens joined on the sidelines by Niall McGinn and Pat McCourt.

On-loan Diomansy Kamara could also miss out after collecting a hamstring injury while on international duty with Senegal.

Kilmarnock will be hoping striker Kevin Kyle can recover from a groin injury in time

for the game. Dundee host Raith Rovers in an all First Division clash. The Dens Park side are flying high at the top of the table but Rovers will take confidence from their win over Aberdeen in the last round. Hibernian’s 108-year quest to win the Scottish Cup continues as they host Ross County at Easter Road in their quarter-final.

Tomorrow, Rangers face Dundee United at Ibrox as they look to take the next step on their way to a potential treble.

Central defender Madjid Bougherra is the only real injury doubt for Walter Smith’s side who have now gone 20 games without defeat while the Ibrox side are looking to reach their six successive domestic cup final.

Manager Peter Houston says his side are desperate to make amends for the 7-1 thrashing they suffered the last time they visited Ibrox on league duty in December. “We didn’t do ourselves justice last time we were at Ibrox,” said Houston. United will be without captain Andy Webster, who is ineligible due to the conditions of his loan move from Rangers. — AFP

ORLANDO: Vince Carter scored 23 points to help the Orlando Magic pull away early and cruise to a 11182 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night for a season-high seventh straight win. Matt Barnes added 14 points, and reserve Brandon Bass scored 13 in another blowout victory against a struggling team for the Magic. All-Star point guard Derrick Rose sprained his left wrist in a collision with Dwight Howard in the first quarter and didn’t return for the Bulls, the latest setback in a season that is quickly going sour. Taj Gibson and Hakim Warrick had 12 points apiece, not nearly enough to prevent Chicago’s sixth consecutive loss.

Hawks 105, Wizards 99 At Washington, Jamal Crawford scored 29 points to help Atlanta win for the first time in three matches.

Joe Johnson and Al Horford each scored 18 points in Atlanta’s first trip to the nation’s capital this season for the makeup of a game that was postponed Feb. 6 due to a blizzard. Andray Blatche had 30 points and 10 rebounds for Washington, in the midst of a stretch of three games in three nights because of the schedule change. Crawford scored 12 points in the final 3:37 of the third quarter, making six free throws and connecting on two of his four made 3-pointers.

Trail Blazers 110, Warriors 105 In Oakland, California, Portland overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Golden State.

Brandon Roy scored 41 points and Andre Miller added 15 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who put together a late 17-3 run. The comeback could prove vital as Portland clings onto the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Corey Maggette scored 24 points for the Warriors, who lost their sixth straight.— AP

CALIFORNIA: Golden State Warriors’ Mike Tolliver (44) lands on Portland Trail Blazers’ Brandon Roy during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland. — AP

Bayern ‘back to business’ BERLIN: Bayern Munich may have booked their Champions League quarter-final berth, but captain Mark van Bommel says the Bundesliga leaders will be straight back to business against Freiburg today. Despite suffering a 3-2 second-leg defeat in Fiorentina on Tuesday in the last 16, Bayern went through on the away-goals rule.

But having scored one of the goals in Florence, van Bommel wants three points at Munich’s Allianz Arena today to cement their lead at the top of the German league. “Physically, it is no problem getting back into training, but it is not so easy to concentrate again,” admitted van Bommel. “But now we are all ready for Freiburg.” Bayern enjoy a two-point gap at the top of the table, but Schalke 04 can overtake them on Friday if they beat Stuttgart at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena. Having earned himself a fifth yellow card, Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger sits out today’s game serving a one-match ban.

Argentina defender Martin Demichelis is out with a face injury and Germany striker Mario Gomez is missing with a calf strain. Bayern should have few problems against their second-from-bottom opponents, but with nine games until the end of the season, sides near the foot of the table are

becoming increasingly desperate for points.

Stuttgart, who have shot back up the table since ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Christian Gross took over last December, will give Schalke a hard game and are preparing to face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.

With seven goals in his last four games, Stuttgart’s Germany striker Cacau is in great form and will test the Schalke defense. Having dropped to third in the table, Bayer Leverkusen will want three points at home to fourth-placed Hamburg on Sunday.

Having suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at struggling Nuremberg, Leverkusen need points to get back in the title race, but are without chief play-maker Toni Kroos while Germany midfielder Simon Rolfes is working back to fitness.

Hamburg’s Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to start. At the other end of the table, there will be a battle royal in the German capital with bottom side Hertha Berlin hosting Nuremberg. Nuremberg’s win over Leverkusen left Hertha five points from second-bottom Freiburg and six points away from safety. Striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who scored twice against Leverkusen is looking to keep his scoring run going against Hertha. — AFP

German Preview

Problem-plagued Milan look for Serie A bounce ROME: AC Milan are confronting a serious injury crisis as they seek to rebuild their confidence which was so badly mauled by Manchester United in an embarrassing Champions League midweek exit.

Veteran defender Alessandro Nesta’s knee problem could mean an early-season end, the last thing coach Leonardo wanted after his defense leaked four goals at Old Trafford. “I fear Nesta’s injury could be serious,” said Leonardo whose side welcome Chievo tomorrow. Nesta missed Wednesday’s tie as did Luca Antonini while Daniele Bonera limped off at half-time with a calf problem. By the time Milan kick off tomorrow, they could be seven points behind leaders Inter whose league game at Catania has been brought forward to Friday to allow Jose Mourinho’s side to prepare for their Champions League trip to Chelsea on Tuesday where they are defending a 2-1 lead. Inter will go to London with plenty to prove. After Milan’s and Fiorentina’s Champions League exits, the Italian

champions are Serie A’s last representatives in the competition this season.

Despite their four-point lead in the league, Inter have misfired in recent weeks. They have won just once in their last five matches, with the other four games all ending goalless. Their drab 0-0 stalemate at Genoa last weekend was probably their worst performance of the season at the San Siro.

Mourinho will again be watching from the stands as he serves out the last game of a three-match touchline ban. Adding to his worries is having influential defender Walter Samuel suspended while striker Mario Balotelli misses out with a knee injury.

Balotelli and Mourinho have been at loggerheads all week. The player was reported to have a fever in the game against Genoa, but that was dismissed as a “lie” by an angry Mourinho. Cristian Chivu is available again after fracturing his skull against Chievo. —AFP

Italian League Preview

SPORTS

Saturday, March 13, 2010

23

Perez project under scrutiny as Real flop MADRID: Real Madrid’s shock early exit from the Champions League has raised uncomfortable questions about the unprecedented spending spree launched by president Florentino Perez on his return to the club last year. The Spanish construction magnate spent close to a quarter of a billion euros ($339 million) to lure players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to the Bernabeu, part of a bid to end Real’s five-year Champions League drought and cement their position as the world’s richest club by revenue. Real’s dream of winning a 10th European title at their own stadium in May was shattered on Wednesday by French side Olympique Lyon, a club with just over a quarter of the annual income earned by the La Liga giants.

The latest setback, leaving the domestic league as their only chance of silverware this season, posed a serious threat to Perez’s strategy to boost income from marketing and merchandise, in which winning titles was a crucial element, analysts said.

“Champions League success is key because it helps raise the club’s international profile,” Antonio Martin, director of the Masters programme in Sports Management at the IE Business School in Madrid said. “Although Real’s brand remains very strong, this year could have been an historic one for them if they had played the final at their own stadium.”

REVENUE LOSS Martin said Real’s failure to progress beyond the last 16 of

Europe’s elite club competition for a sixth consecutive season would squeeze income in numerous ways.

The club would miss out on revenue from the competition itself of around 20 million euros and would earn less from audiovisual rights, marketing,

turned 63 on Monday, returned unopposed to the Real presidency in June and his splurge on players recalled his purchase of “galacticos” David Beckham, Brazilian striker Ronaldo, Figo and Zinedine Zidane during his first term.

boost to revenues from sponsorship and audiovisual rights, sales of licensed merchandise and gate receipts.

INTERNATIONAL STANDING Real retained top spot in the Deloitte Money League for a fifth

Doubts raised over business strategy after European exit ticketing and products and services linked to matches such as catering.

“More than the financial aspects, it will cause dissatisfaction among the fans and in the squad,” he added.

“These concepts don’t have a direct economic value but they can have an impact, for example in supporters deciding not to consume some of the Real Madrid ‘products’”. Perez, who

Last summer, he spent a record 94 million euros on Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and another 67 million on Brazilian playmaker Kaka, adding to the club’s debts of around 680 million euros at the end of the 2008/09 season.

He argues that investment in high-profile players will pay for itself over time and is banking on a major

straight year in the 2010 ranking, with income last season of 401.4 million euros, ahead of European champions Barcelona with 366 million and Manchester United with 327 million.

However, their elimination from the Champions League threatens to knock them off the top spot and arch rivals Barcelona or United could overtake them, according to Jose

Maria Gay, a professor of economics and expert on soccer finances at the University of Barcelona.

“It will limit their revenue-earning ability because a club like Real Madrid grows according to their international standing and not by winning the Spanish league,” Gay said.

“A club that wins the Champions League can negotiate better conditions in their commercial contracts, they can earn more from matchday revenue and their brand.

“Real Madrid will miss out on this extra income. If a club is not a winner their options for boosting revenue are limited.”

Gay said there was even a danger the club could post a loss as their operating costs of 390 million euros last season would have increased this

term, inflated by higher player salaries and amortization of transfer payments.

“If income does not increase their profit-and-loss account will deteriorate,” he said, adding that the club could be forced to sell assets to make up the shortfall.

Instead of spending huge sums to bring in top players, a better strategy might be to devote more resources and effort to bringing players through the youth academy, with whom fans could identify more easily, Gay said.

“The cost of a squad made up of players coming up through the club is always much lower than bringing in high-profile signings, who, let’s not pretend, are like mercenaries. “It’s the patriots who win the wars, not the mercenaries.” —Reuters

Lyon ready for derby date after slaying Real PARIS: Lyon get back to league action against local rivals SaintEtienne today after their 2-1 aggregate win over Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek. The seven-time champions are just two points off leaders Bordeaux, who lost 2-1 at home to Auxerre on Wednesday, and will be looking to build upon their headlinegrabbing heroics at the Santiago Bernabeu.

French Preview MADRID: Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain from Argentina falls during the second leg of the first knockout round Champions League soccer match against Lyon at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. — AP

Troubled Pellegrini rallies wounded Real MADRID: Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, who is under intense pressure after the club’s shattering Champions League exit, desperately needs a La Liga win at lowly Valladolid tomorrow to prevent the axe from falling. Real, stunned by Lyon in the Champions League last 16 stage, are only ahead of Barcelona on goal difference, and Pellegrini knows that his expensive collection of stars could end up empty-handed for the second successive season. Barcelona, in Champions League action against VfB Stuttgart next week, have seen a five-point league lead evaporate and have a much tougher test at home to Valencia tomorrow.

The failure of Real’s second generation of ‘Galacticos’ in Europe has put the spotlight firmly on the club this weekend as they come to terms with the disappointment of spending over 250 million euros in the summer only to crash out of the Kings Cup and Champions League. Madrid sports daily Marca went with the headline: “Goodbye Champions League, Goodbye Pellegrini,” and the Chilean coach confessed he was under pressure, although he countered that he had only had six months to turn the club around.

“My future is for the board to decide but I don’t think you can evaluate a huge project like this in six months,” said Pellegrini. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas admitted it was humiliating to exit the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the sixth successive season but said Pellegrini had the backing of the players. “He should be calm. He has the support of all the players in the squad and we are all behind him,” said Casillas. “The first to be at fault is the coach, but we, the players are at fault. “We have to look to the future. Our goal is to recover our self-esteem and that will not be

easy against Valladolid.”

Valladolid sit third from bottom and will hope Real are affected by the Lyon defeat, however, they could also be subjected to a backlash.

Barcelona have problems of their own after seeing their lead slip with a defeat at Atletico Madrid and a draw against Almeria last weekend. The treble winners need to get back to their best at home to third-placed Valencia in tomorrow’s game at Camp Nou. Barca are unbeaten at home in the league this season but drew 0-0 at Valencia earlier in the campaign and have been struggling for goals with record signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of form and French forward Thierry Henry out of favour.

Barca full back Dani Alves believes his side still have a crucial edge on Real as they won the first game between the two sides 1-0 giving them the superior head-to-head record which would decide the league should the teams finish level on points. “I don’t consider Real Madrid as league leaders because we still have to play the return game (at the Santiago Bernabeu),” said Alves.

“Without a doubt Barcelona are the favourites for the title and if Real want to be champions they have to show it.” Valencia are well-positioned in third which is their realistic goal as they are a substantial 15 points behind Barcelona and Real.

Sevilla, four points behind Valencia in fourth, are still reeling from their last minute 3-2 loss at Real last weekend and have another difficult game at home to sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna today before tackling CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. Villarreal hoped to be challenging for the Champions League but now the target is the Europa League and even that will be a struggle as they are eight points off the top six at the moment. — AFP

Matches on TV (local timings) English Premier League Preview Tottenham v Blackburn.................15:45 ShowSports1 ShowSports2 Burnley v Wolves..........................15:45 Show movies Chelsea v West Ham.....................18:00 ShowSports1 ShowSports2 Bolton v Wigan..............................18:00 Fox Sports Hull City V Arsenal.......................20:30 ShowSports1 ShowSports2 Italian League Napoli v Fiorentina.......................22:45 Aljazeera Sport +1 Spanish League Getafe v Real Mallorca..................20:00 Aljazeera Sport +4 Sporting v Athletic de Bilbao.........22:00 Aljazeera Sport +2 Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruna.........0:00

Aljazeera Sport +2 Aljazeera Sport +3 German League Borussia Munchen v Wolfsburg......17:30 Premiere Sport 1 FSV Mainz 05 v FC Koln ...............17:30 Premiere Sport 1 Premiere Start Hannoverscher v E Frankfurt.........17:30 Premiere Sport 1 Premiere Start Hertha Berlin v Nurnberg.............17:30 Premiere Sport 1 Premiere Start VFL Bochum v B Dortmund...........17:30 Premiere Sport 1 Dubai Sports 2 Premiere Start Bayern Munich v SC Freiburg.........20:30 Premiere Sport 1 Dubai Sports 2 Premiere Start

Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says their Champions League exploits will not hinder their preparations for the game against 16th-placed SaintEtienne. “It was an achievement, but we should not stop there,” the 23-year-old told the club’s official website. “We need to get back in shape before preparing for the Saint-Etienne game. Is it tough mentally? No. We will be ready.”

Victory over Real, however, came at the expense of injuries to key first-team players, potentially scuppering Lyon coach Claude Puel’s attempts to capitalize on Bordeaux’s slip-up.

Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and midfield man Jean II Makoun are both ruled out, while Michel Bastos and Argentine hitman Lisandro Lopez are also major doubts. Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin warned Lyon not to expect his side to give away easy goals and vowed that they would be difficult to break down.

“We will stop them from playing by winning the ball back high up the field. We must also maintain the strong defensive performances that we have been putting on in our recent matches,” Perrin said. Leaders Bordeaux travel to Monaco in a bid to rebuild their lead over the chasing pack and coach Laurent Blanc has called on his players to rediscover their form from earlier in the season after the loss to Auxerre. “We’ll see if we can bounce back and show we have character. It’s time to demonstrate that we have the necessary maturity, starting with the Monaco game. Our past two performances have been insufficient.”

Promoted Montpellier, second only on goal difference, meet third-placed Auxerre today as they bid to clinch an unexpected Champions League spot.

“Auxerre are a very good team,” said Montpellier’s Senegalese forward Souleymane Camara.

“When you look at their side, there are some really good players throughout. We are not focusing on one in particular as there is danger everywhere.”

In the weekend’s other games, Le Mans host Nice today as both teams fight to avoid the drop down to Ligue 2, while 15th-placed Lens travel to ninth-placed Lorient. Also today, Nancy take on relegation-threatened Boulogne and under-performing Paris SaintGermain battle it out with midtable rivals Sochaux. Lille, who defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the home leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, host basement club Grenoble tomorrow. Tomorrow’s late game sees fifth-placed Marseille, who are now just three points off the top of the table, travel to Toulouse. — AFP

MADRID: Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic of Bosnia (second right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Real Madrid during the second leg of the first knockout round Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. — AP

Chelsea unity hailed during troubled times LONDON: Didier Drogba insists there has been no shortage of leadership inside the Chelsea dressing room during a troubled period for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Questions have been raised about the morale at Stamford Bridge in the wake of the revelations about skipper John Terry’s private life that led to the defender being stripped of the England captaincy.

The focus on Terry’s form meant recent mistakes were closely scrutinized and prompted the player’s emotional response after scoring in last week’s FA Cup victory over Stoke.

A series of individual errors by the centre-back and other key Blues players had contributed to successive defeats to Inter Milan and Manchester City and Terry reacted after clinching the win over Stoke by brandishing his captain’s armband. Drogba, though, is adamant that responsibility for leading the team does not lie solely with Terry, claiming that a group of senior players each have a role to play as the season enters its decisive stage. West Ham United visit Stamford Bridge this weekend and having fallen two points behind Manchester United, Drogba and company are desperate

to claim three points and maintain the pressure on the leaders.

And with Inter Milan heading to west London next week for the return leg of the Champions League last 16 tie, the coming days could have a crucial impact on Chelsea’s hopes of landing silverware.

This week marks the latest challenge to confront Ancelotti’s team and Drogba maintains he is always happy to assume a senior role if required. The Ivory Coast striker, 32, said: “You can be a leader on the pitch, you can be a leader in the dressing room.

“There are different kinds of leadership and maybe I do speak when I feel it is important to. When you speak, after that you have to go out on the pitch and show and prove it.

“That is how people respect you and I think that is how you become a leader.

“When you speak and then you act, that is what gives you more courage and credibility. “When I feel it I do it but the good thing is I am not the only one. When I speak, John Terry or Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack, or other players, we are really going in the same direction. “That is why sometimes when we have a difficult first half we come back and we try to be stronger.”

The clean sheet against Stoke came as a welcome boost for stand-in keeper Hilario who produced an unconvincing display in the 4-2 defeat to City and will again deputize for Petr Cech against West Ham. Less likely to feature is England midfielder Joe Cole who is expected to leave the club as a free agent in the close-season after so far failing to agree a new contract.

West Ham’s plight at the foot of the table is looking increasingly desperate following last weekend’s home defeat to fellow strugglers Bolton. Gianfranco Zola’s side sit three points above the relegation zone but must travel to face title challengers Arsenal after this trip to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea legend Zola said: “I know they are big teams and big games, and probably nobody is expecting anything from us, but football is strange. “Last year we got a point in both games, so you never know what is going to happen.

We are not going there already beaten, because I know that football can give you a surprise.” Full backs Julien Faubert and Herita Ilunga are both doubtful and are likely to be replaced by Jonathan Spector and Swiss youngster Fabio Daprela. —AFP

Wenger rules out Real Madrid switch LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he would reject any offer from Real Madrid to take charge at the Bernabeu.

Reports in Spain suggest current Real manager Manuel Pellegrini is likely to be sacked after Lyon eliminated his side from the Champions League in midweek. Real are top of La Liga but Pellegrini’s failure to end the team’s six-year wait to reach the quarter-finals is set to cost him his job.

Wenger has been a long-term target for Real - the Spanish club tried to sign him up last season before appointing Pellegrini last June and they are expected to renew interest in the

Frenchman if they make a managerial change.

But Wenger maintains he has no intention of breaking his contract with the Gunners. “I am always going to stay to the end of my contract and I am going (to stay at Arsenal) until 2011.

There is no way I am going to break it,” Wenger said. “For me, it is the worst possible moment to come back on that. At the moment my focus is fully on Hull City on Saturday they may be less glamorous than Real Madrid, but they are much more important in my life at the moment.” Real’s latest European flops comes despite their massive pre-season spending spree on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim

Benzema. Wenger believes Real’s exit proves that money doesn’t guarantee success in Europe’s elite club competition. He added: “It shows that 240 million pounds does not necessarily buy you the Champions League and that in Europe you have no guarantee of success.

“If you can spend that kind of money every year, you will get there in the end, but at the moment it is difficult for them to take. “In the last five years we have been in the final, a semi-final and two quarter-finals in England we don’t rate that as an achievement anymore because we are used to it, but that consistency is not easy to achieve.” — AFP

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Liverpool crash at Lille Juve in Europa League boxseat; Benitez under pressure

BOLTON: Chelsea’s Ivorian forward Didier Drogba attempts to control the ball during the English Premier League football match at The Reebok stadium. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was on March 11, 2010 named African Footballer of the Year for 2009, the second time the Ivory Coast international has won the award. — AFP

Drogba named African Footballer of the Year World Cup-bound Algeria crowned ‘Team of the Year’ ACCRA: Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year on Thursday, beating Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Ghana’s Michael Essien for the 2009 award. The announcement came on the Chelsea striker’s 32nd birthday and it is his second award, after he also won in 2006. Drogba helped his country through a convincing World Cup qualifying campaign in 2009, during which he scored five goals as the Ivorians finished unbeaten.

But while he scored in the FA Cup final his achievements at club level were not as significant as those of 29year-old Eto’o, who will have legitimate reason to feel he should have won a record fourth award. The award was

decided by a vote of Africa’s national team coaches although the final tally was not immediately made available by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Eto’o, who also had a birthday this week, scored for Barcelona in May’s UEFA Champions League final and also won league honors in Spain before moving to Inter Milan.

Eto’o was also pivotal in Cameroon turning around their World Cup qualifying campaign af ter new coach Paul Le Guen appointed him captain in August. Cameroon came from bottom of their group to top the standings and qualif y for this year’s finals in South Africa.

Drogba had narrowly edged out Eto’o for the 2006 award by just 79 votes to 74.

The Cameroon captain was African Footballer of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005, when he beat Drogba by only two votes.

Drogba’s Chelsea team mate Essien, who was among the final three candidates for a fifth successive year, has never won the award. The 2008 prize was lif ted by Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo but the Manchester City striker did not make the shortlist for the 2009 award.

None of the three candidates travelled to Ghana’s capital for the annual awards at which World Cup-bound Algeria were named Team of the Year.

Algeria beat African champions Egypt in a sudden-death playoff to reach this year’s World Cup finals.— Reuters

LONDON: Five-times European champions Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat at Lille after a late goal by forward Eden Hazard while Juventus beat underdogs Fulham 3-1 in Europa League last 16 first leg matches on Thursday.

Hamburg SV and Standard Liege also won 3-1 while there were 1-1 draws between Rubin Kazan and VfL Wolfsburg, Valencia versus Werder Bremen and Benfica against Olympique Marseille plus a goalless affair in the Atletico Madrid versus Sporting tie.

The pressure on Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez continued after his side were undone by a fortuitous freekick from teenage Belgium forward Hazard with just minutes left on a cold night. The visitors, whose only chance of a trophy this season is in Europe’s second-tier competition, started with an attacking lineup of Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard while Lille were without their top striker Gervinho.

After shading the first half and having a close-range Torres header superbly saved by Mickael L andreau, Liverpool almost went behind after the break when Daniel Agger’s attempted clearance narrowly missed his own goal.

Lille’s winner came in equally bizarre fashion with six minutes remaining, when Hazard’s long-range freekick evaded everyone including Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina to hand the French side a slender advantage for the second leg.

However, Benitez remains confident of securing a quarterfinal berth.

GOOD SIDE “Lille are a good side, with good players and they are dangerous. We will play a difficult game at Anfield but have confidence we can beat them,” the Spaniard told reporters. The competition’s other big name, twice European champions Juventus, eased past underdogs Fulham with first half goals from Nicola Legrottaglie, Jonathan Zebina and David Trezeguet.

LILLE: Lille’s Adil Rami (center) vies with Liverpool Ryan Babel during their first leg Europa League soccer match at Villeneuve d’Ascq Stadium in northern France. — AP The hosts, who surprisingly started with 23-year-old forward Antonio Candreva in favour of stalwart Alessandro Del Piero, went ahead early through Legrottaglie’s powerful header and a superb Zebina strike. Fulham rallied and struck lucky soon after with a deflected Dickson Etuhu shot before Trezeguet grabbed a third with the final kick of the first half, knocking the ball home after his initial strike came back off the post. Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy marked his first start for Hamburg with a goal in a comfortable victory over

Anderlecht.

Strikes from defender Joris Mathijsen and compatriot Van Nistelrooy put the hosts ahead but Anderlecht hit back with a long-range Jonathan Legear freekick just before the break.

The Belgian side, who started with 16-year-old Romelu Lukaku up front, went further behind with 15 minutes to go when Hamburg captain David Jarolim volleyed home. Last season’s beaten UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen drew in Valencia after captain Torsten Frings converted a first-half penalty to put them ahead. Juan Mata equalised just before the

hour mark minutes after team mate Ever Banega was sent off.

SWEET STRIKE Russian champions Rubin Kazan were also held at home

by Wolfsburg after Zvjezdan Misimovic’s sweet strike cancelled out midfielder Christian Noboa’s first-half header.

Sporting managed a draw at Atletico despite finishing the match with nine players and would have grabbed an unlikely victory if striker Liedson’s shot had not hit the bar. The Portuguese side lost defender Leandro Grimi to a second yellow card after half an hour and Tonel was later shown a

straight red with just minutes remaining. Belgian side Standard Liege comfortably beat Panathinaikos courtesy of an early Alex Witsel header and strikes from highly-rated forward Milan Jovanovic and Igor De Camargo. Loukas Vintra’s second-half header was the only reply from the hosts who had Simao sent off late on.

Marseille will take a precious away goal back to France after Hatem Ben Arfa’s 90th minute header cancelled out Maxi Pereira’s bundled goal to earn a draw at Benfica. The second legs will be played on March 18.— Reuters

Drogba fires warning to Chelsea title rivals LONDON: Didier Drogba has warned Chelsea’s title rivals that he is determined to satisfy his voracious appetite for success by firing the Blues back to Premier League glory. Drogba has won two league titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2004, but the Ivory Coast striker is still as hungry to lift silverware as ever.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were knocked off top spot by Manchester United last weekend, so the pressure is on Chelsea to reclaim pole position with a home win over West Ham today before the leaders, fresh from their impressive Champions League win over AC Milan, play 24 hours later against Fulham at Old Trafford.

Drogba, who has 25 goals this season, knows every match from now until the end of the season will come loaded with pressure, but the 32-year-old has no fears about Chelsea’s ability to cope. “We have lot of games coming and big games too so I don’t want to bring bad luck by talking about if we win, but this season so far has been really good for me,” he said.

“Even when I came back from the African Nations Cup it was good. I still have the same passion for the game. I still feel hungry and I am still chasing medals. “I still feel like a kid when I am on the pitch so sometimes Ancelotti has to pull me back.” While Drogba expects Chelsea to last the pace, leaders United showed in their Wayne Rooney-inspired destruction of Milan that they are just as motivated to take the major honors. Rooney has now scored 30 goals this season and is closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 42 for United in the 2007-08 campaign. — AFP