22 Mar

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

40 PAGES

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010

RABI ALTHANI 6, 1431 AH

Democrats expect healthcare bill passage

Wildlife meeting leaves rare corals unprotected

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Khamenei accuses Obama of plotting against Iran

150 FILS

Park sends United top, Chelsea held by Rovers

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Panel approves privatization bill Govt confident on no-confidence vote • MPs oppose Rafale deal

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s financial and economic committee yesterday approved the privatization draft law after sorting out the last article which details benefits that Kuwaiti staff would receive in the privatized service, rapporteur of the committee MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari said. Anjari said the 26-article bill would be debated in a special session that he and a number of MPs would request, possibly in the first week of April. The bill has been languishing in the Assembly since 1992.

The lawmaker said that the bill can be considered the backbone of the fouryear development plan which was approved a few weeks ago and stipu-

lates spending around KD 30 billion on major projects over the next four years. The bill stipulates the establishment of a supreme privatization council to be headed by the prime minister and include three ministers and three senior experts.

Anjari said the bill stipulates guarantees to safeguard the interests of Kuwaiti employees, stating that percentage of Kuwaiti staff after privatization must not be lower than that before privatization. Kuwaiti employees will continue to enjoy the same salaries and perks in the privatized service for at least five years, Anjari said. He also expected that the bill will open up new investment avenues in the national economy.

Meanwhile, the government said

yesterday that it was confident at the outcome of the no-confidence motion against the information minister on Thursday. Communications Minister Mohammad Al-Busairi told reporters that the government “feels assured and confident about the no-confidence motion”. Busairi’s statement came as conflicting reports are being circulated about the possible outcome of the vote.

For the vote to pass, it requires 25 votes of the 49 elected MPs, regardless of how many MPs oppose the motion or abstain. Approving the motion would automatically oust the minister from his office. Following a six-hour grilling of Information and Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah on Tuesday, 10 MPs filed a no-confidence motion and voting on the motion has

been set for Thursday.

No Kuwaiti minister has ever been ousted from office in a no-confidence motion, but several ministers were forced to quit ahead of the vote because the government realized it was losing or the Cabinet was forced to resign or reshuffled. The latter situation happened to Sheikh Ahmad himself in 2007 when he was health minister. After facing a grilling, 10 MPs filed a no-confidence motion but the government resigned ahead of the vote because it did not have the required number of votes. Cabinet ministers are not allowed to vote on no-confidence motions. The government is expected to continue campaigning for the minister until Continued on Page 14

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (left) attends the concluding ceremony of an international Holy Quran contest at the Sheraton Hotel yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 2)

Expat workforce falls for 2nd year Interior ministry denies ban on Iranians

MEDAN, Indonesia: Indonesian Muslims collect money on a Palestinian flag to be donated to Palestinian people during a solidarity protest in North Sumatra yesterday. — AP

Obama invites defiant Bibi for talks Ban visits Gaza, slams blockade • Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians JERUSALEM: US President Barack Obama yesterday invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet him at the White House, even as the Israeli leader rebuffed a key US demand to halt settlement construction in east Jerusalem. The invitation for tomorrow’s meeting to discuss Middle East peace efforts was handed to Netanyahu by Obama’s Middle East

envoy George Mitchell at the start of a meeting yesterday, Netanyahu’s office said. Netanyahu was due to leave for Washington later yesterday to meet US officials and Jewish leaders.

Earlier, Netanyahu vowed there would be no halt to settlement building in east Jerusalem, but in an apparent concession to the US, he said Israel was willing to

widen the scope of planned indirect talks with the Palestinians. His comments on settlements were quickly denounced by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as unhelpful to attempts to restart talks.

Abbas also condemned the recent killing of four Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli forces.

Continued on Page 14

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s expatriate workforce dipped last year for the second time in a row, impacted by the global economic downturn, according to official figures yesterday.

Kuwait’s foreign workforce has been declining since 2008, when it fell for the first time since Iraq’s army under thenpresident Saddam Hussein invaded the state in Aug 1990, forcing most foreigners to flee. The expatriate labour force went from 1.77 million in 2007 to 1.75 million the year after and 1.74 million last year, according to the report.

The latest decline of 0.6 percent was marginal.

But the total expatriate population, including workers’ families, rose slightly last year by 11,000 to 2.37 million, a similar rise to 2008 but a massive slide from the previous years. Kuwait’s expatriate population had increased by 150,000 to 200,000 every year since 2003 due to an economic boom triggered by high oil prices that hit a record high of $147 a barrel in mid 2008.

Between 2004 and 2007, the number of expatriates rose by 737,000, mainly due to overseas recruitment. But they

increased by just 26,000 over the past two years.

Oil revenues provide around 94 percent of total income for Kuwait, a major producer inside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Expatriates still make up 67.9 percent of the total population of 3.49 million, with Kuwaitis accounting for 32.1 percent, or 1.2 million, PACI statistics showed. The economic slowdown, which has prompted a raft of Kuwaiti firms to lay off foreign workers, saw the citizen workforce rise to 351,000 last year from 336,000 at the end of 2008. About 270,000, or almost 77 percent, were employed in the public sector, while Kuwaitis made up just four percent of the 1.67 million private sector work force.

Asians, who number 1.32 million, make up the largest part of the expatriate population, followed by 984,000 Arabs, and a total 34,500 Europeans, Americans and Australians.

Meanwhile, the Nationality and Passports Directorate at the Ministry of Interior denied yesterday as “unfounded” a report published by a Continued on Page 14

MANCHESTER: A portion of fish and chips is served at a fish and chip takeaway in northwest England on March 10, 2010. — AFP

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti commerce ministry official met Toyota’s representative in Kuwait yesterday on the latest developments on safety faults recently announced by the Japanese auto giant. Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for Trade Control Ali Al-Baghli said in a statement he met Toyota’s representative Abdullah Al-Shuweia on Toyota’s

brake faults, which has sparked a worldwide row, especially in the US and Japan. During the meeting, the Shuweia made it certain that no Toyota owners in Kuwait had lodged any complaint against such alleged safety problems.

Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, has recalled more than eight million cars worldwide over concerns about floor mats and accelerator pedals. — KUNA

Bharti ties up funds for Zain Africa deal NEW DELHI: Top Indian telecoms firm Bharti Airtel said it had tied up the entire financing requirement of $8.3 billion for its planned buy of Kuwaiti telecom Zain’s African assets, in a sign of progress as the deadline for the firms’ talks expire next week. Bharti and Zain are in exclusive talks until March 25, marking the

third time the Indian firm has tried to get its hands on a meaningful African business after two failed bids for South Africa’s MTN. Bharti said in a statement yesterday the financing, which would be the largest acquisition loan for an Indian borrower, was oversubscribed, with major Continued on Page 14

Lebanon liquid gold is just trickling away

Fish and chips marks 150 yrs as Brit classic LONDON: Whether wrapped in newspaper and eaten with greasy fingers or served on white china with silver cutlery, fish and chips has come a long way since it began 150 years ago. But the traditional British dish, celebrating a landmark anniversary this year, still boasts pride of place in British culture. The dish has survived the arrival of McDonald’s and the trend for healthy and organic food, and there are now about 10,500 “chippies” across Britain serving up between 250 million and 350 million portions each year.

What began as a cheap working-class meal became a national favourite and is now a culinary classic served at some of Britain’s top restaurants. Tucked away in London’s west end district, a seat at J Sheekey is one of the most sought-after in the Continued on Page 14

Toyota assuages Kuwait concerns

EYJAFJALLAJOKULL GLACIER, Iceland: Molten lava vents from a rupture near the Eyjafjallajokull glacier as a volcano erupts early yesterday, seen in this aerial photo. — AP

Iceland volcano erupts HVOLSVOELLUR, Iceland: An Icelandic volcano has erupted following a week of small earthquakes, spewing lava and ash into the air and forcing hundreds to flee yesterday, but causing no casualties. Smoke could be seen rising from behind Eyjafjallajoekull glacier and volcanic ash filled the sky after the eruption that began around midnight on Saturday and which was foretold by a week of localised earthquakes. It occurred in a remotely populat-

ed area about 125 km east of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik and caused 600 people to flee their homes.

The eruption brought to a halt all flights into and out of the Nordic island nation, but they resumed with serious delays mid-day yesterday, while all domestic traffic remained grounded. The risk of floods posed by melting glacial ice prompted the authorities to declare a state Continued on Page 14

AMSHEET, Lebanon: Rose Hatem’s home overlooks the Mediterranean and is just a short distance from one of Lebanon’s longest rivers. But twice a week the 60-year-old has to buy water for her daily needs. “I have been buying in water since I moved here 14 years ago,” Hatem told AFP in the picturesque village of Amsheet, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. “In the summer, when demand is high, I’m often left without a drop.” Hers is a story repeated across Lebanon, one of the rare countries in the Middle East considered relatively rich in water. But many people still have to buy it because of a lack of a proper supply network and effective conservation.

Experts warn that unless Lebanon takes proper measures to protect its precious water resources, little will be Continued on Page 14

BEIRUT: Polluted water flows into a river in Kfarshima, a southern suburb of Beirut, on March 16, 2010.— AFP

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NATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

Kuwait is a strategic partner: Ambassador

Bulgarian PM visit to Kuwait ‘historic’

By Velina Nacheva KUWAIT: Kuwait and Bulgaria, a fully-fledged member of the European Union, are set to sign an intergovern-

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other dignitaries attend the function yesterday.

Amir attends Quran contest KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended yesterday the concluding ceremony of an international Quran contest at Sheraton Kuwait Hotel.

The Amir was received at the venue by Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Rashid Al-Hammad, and members of the organizing committee.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem AlKhorafi, senior sheikhs, Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad AlSabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and several other senior state officials attended the ceremony.

The National Anthem was played and some Quranic verses were recited at the onset of the ceremony.

Addressing the event, the deputy prime minister for legal affairs thanked HH the Amir for sponsoring and attending the Quran contest celebration.

He thanked those who supervised the contest and assessed the contestants for their non-stop efforts for ensuring a successful and fruitful Quranic event.

He noted that contestants from 40 Gulf, Arab and Muslim nations worldwide had been involved in the contest.

The Kuwaiti minister stressed the paramount significance of this Kuwaiti international Quranic memorization contest just like other humanitarian and charitable competitions.

Arbitration Panel Chief Sheikh Ahmad Isa Al-Masrawi thanked the Amir for sponsoring this Quranic contest, which reflected his keenness on spurring people from different world countries to learn and memorize the Holy Quran.

He spoke highly of this international contest, which he said is marked by the fact that it featured seven types of Quranic readings.

Finally, HH the Amir presented the prizes to the winners and arbitrators of the Quranic competition.

The organizing committee then gave the Amir a commemorative gift as a sign of thanks and appreciation for his sponsorship of the great event. — KUNA

This was revealed during a press conference hosted yesterday at the Bulgarian Embassy in Jabriya by Ilko Shivachev, the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Kuwait.

The agreement between the government of the State of Kuwait and the government of the Republic of Bulgaria for economic and technical cooperation will be signed during the forthcoming visit of Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boiko Borissov to Kuwait on March 24.

This is the first visit by a Bulgarian Prime Minister to Kuwait, said Ambassador Shivachev.

“Bulgaria looks at Kuwait as a very friendly country with huge economic potential. For us Kuwait is one of the most important countries in the Arab world and in the Gulf and our priority is to develop the relationship in all fields,” said the ambassador, indicating that his country sees the priorities in this relationship as being in the areas of the economy, energy, investments, and defense.

“We want Bulgaria to be the friendly bridge of Kuwait towards the European Union and the European countries,” Ambassador Shivachev explained.

During his one-day visit, Borisov is scheduled to meet His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-

mental agreement on economic and technical cooperation that aims to “open a huge door” to the development of relations between the two countries in numerous fields.

Bulgarian Ambassador Ilko Shivachev Ahmad Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah, as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi. The discussions during the visit will focus on finding ways of bolstering relations between the two countries in all possible fields.

Investments in the energy field and concessions of two major Bulgarian ports are among the primary interests for the Bulgarian side. According to the ambassador, the delegation led by Borissov will present concrete proposals for investments in energy-related projects, in addition to concessions for the two largest Bulgarian ports - Varna and Burgas situated on the Black Sea. Ambassador Shivachev also

explained that Bulgaria aims to develop the relations between the two countries’ defense ministries.

One way in which this objective is already taking shape is the current presence of some 230 Bulgarian doctors at the Armed Forces Hospital and the plan for another 200 to take up posts there in the near future. On a related point, he explained that the two sides are currently discussing the construction of a medical centre in Bulgaria that will be used for the rehabilitation of Kuwaiti military personnel.

Ambassador Shivachev estimated that Kuwaitis invested over $20 million in Bulgarian properties in 2008 alone - an area which he said offers further untapped opportunities. Bulgaria’s competitive prices and moderate climate have

triggered a “great interest” from Kuwaitis in buying houses there, the ambassador revealed. In a similar vein, Ambassador Shivachev explained that Kuwaitis’ interest in tourism in Bulgaria is rising steadily, with the number of Kuwaiti holidaymakers visiting the country last summer estimated at between 1,000 to 2,000.

The ambassador also talked briefly about a project currently under discussion for the construction of a ‘Kuwaiti village” complex at the Black Sea offering vacation properties for tourists from Kuwait, as well as stressing the need to further develop the trade between the two states.

Concluding his address, Ambassador Shivachev expressed his gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership for “their friendly feeling” and for their seeing future opportunities in developing relations with Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian premier will be accompanied on his upcoming visit by a delegation including the Ministers of Transport and Information Technologies, Foreign Affairs, Regional Development and Public Works, MPs and senior government officials, business leaders, representatives from the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and the Bulgarian Industrial Association, and journalists.

local spotlight

Jleeb kills its workers

By Muna Al-Fuzai could not think of a better title to describe the tragic ending of the poor workers who passed away in a fire that broke out in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

The rest had lost their belongings and the majority were admitted to the hospital for treatment! Also, three firemen were injured while trying to contain the blaze.

According to the Fire Department, preliminary investigation revealed that adequate safety regulations were not adopted. Why wasn’t any attention paid to this aspect in the first place?

The fire started in the basement used to store cosmetics and perfumes! I really don’t understand the need for having a cosmetics

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store operating in a residential building in which workers live! The Fire Department stated that the basement was being used to store materials without observing proper safety precautions.

I thought that cosmetics and perfumes could be stored under controlled conditions which are subject to restrictions. Regardless of what sparked the fire, everyone is careless at one point or other. Firstly, who allowed this company or this merchant to open a store to sell such items. It is dangerous because when not kept unprotected, it could harm the public, especially when it relates to the skin.

Now, are our cosmetics and perfume shop owners required to follow a time duration to place their products on display. If that were the case, no one would buy the items. It is left to fate and when no one buys it, the leftovers are resold to those Asian vendors who

walk in and out of government buildings trying to sell what their wares to ladies who find these items cheap and handy!

Although the Fire Department have issued several warnings issued to building owners, asking them to abide by safety regulations, these comments should be made only after the tragedy has occurred. I think that the Fire Department should not issue licenses to open a store before checking the premises thoroughly. We should ensure that it will comply with safety procedures and standards. Is it difficult to achieve? In action, yes. It may be hard because of wasta. It is there to save owners and that is why corruption exists. Such fire incidents cause death and people are apathetic towards it. Is it because they were poor workers? Truth is, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure their safety. muna@kuwaittimes.net

Pressure grows on minister of education KUWAIT: Minister of Education Dr. Moudhi AlHumoud is facing heavy and fast-growing criticism from MPs, which may end up with an interpellation being presented against her.

One Ministry of Education (MoE) insider suggested that the recent barrage of parliamentary questions and criticism may have an ulterior motive beyond the points actually raised.

“Since MPs have reasserted their commitment to avoiding tensions at this point, what’s the reason behind their continuous attacks on Dr. AlHumoud?” the official asked.

A number of hidden agendas have been suggested as lying behind the MPs’ expressions of displeasure with the minister, reported Al-Qabas.

The MoE insider said that one of the female parliamentarians who has been among AlHumoud’s most vociferous critics, as a previous director of the MoE’s curricular department, is indirectly partly responsible for the problems at the MoE that she is complaining about.

KUWAIT: Health minister tours the Haji Haidar health centre in Jahra after inaugurating it yesterday. — KUNA

kuwait digest

Nuria Al-Subaih’s impact on society n his column with Al-Qabas yesterday, Abdullatif Al-Duaij wrote on how the Cultural Feminine Society honored champions for women’s rights on International Women’s Day. He added that he hoped Nuria Al-Subaih would have been honored for her contribution to women’s participation in the political scene.

‘Political victories for Kuwaiti women, including reaching the Parliament, would not have been possible if it weren’t for AlSubaih’s capabilities and performances,’ he stressed. ‘During the parliamentary elec-

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tions, some advocates for women’s rights in elections proposed a system that would guarantee women a place in the Parliament.

Al-Subaih refused such an approach on the grounds that it would favor women and give them an unfair advantage.’

He also expressed a belief that more than just one woman should be nominated to participate in the Cabinet. ‘It shouldn’t be unusual to see four or six female ministers make decisions and statements,’ he argued.

‘This action will help remove the stereotypical image that citizens have about women in

politics and make voters more accustomed to women in the political scene.’

‘I previously proposed that HH the Prime Minister appoint at least six female ministers to the Cabinet to achieve this kind of awareness,’ he continued. ‘While Al-Subaih was the sole female minister appointed, she was able to live up to that goal. Her impact was equal to that of six or even ten ministers. Her professional approach to the interpellation has encouraged several voters to consider female candidates during parliamentary elections.’

NATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

GCC youth, sports meeting opens in Kuwait

The Labor Law Article (66) Without prejudice to Articles (21) and (64) of this Law, the employer may, by means of a written order, have workers work overtime if the necessity arises for the purpose of preventing a dangerous accident, repairing damages arising from such accident, avoiding a loss or facing an unusual work load. The overtime work should not exceed two hours a day, a maximum of 180 hours a year, three days a week or 90 days a year. The worker shall have the right to prove by any means that the employer required him to perform additional works for an additional period of time, The worker shall also be entitled to a 25 percent increase over his original remuneration for the period of overtime.

This remuneration shall be in conformity with Article (56) of this Law. The employer shall keep a special record for overtime work showing the dates, number of hours worked and remunerations paid in consideration of the additional work assigned to the worker.

Article (67) The worker shall be entitled to a paid weekend which is equal to 24 continuous hours after every six working days. The employer may call the worker for work during his weekend if the necessity arises. The worker shall be entitled to at least 50 percent of his remuneration, in addition to his original remuneration and to another day off instead of the one on which he worked.

The preceding paragraph does not affect the calculation of the worker’s rights including his daily remuneration and his leaves.

This right is calculated by dividing his remuneration by the actual working days without including the weekends, although these weekends are paid.

Article (68) The fully-paid official holidays are as follows: a- Hegira New Year: 1 day b- Isra’ and Mi’raj day: 1 day C- Eid Al-Fitr: 3 days d- Waqfat Arafat: 1 day e- Eid Al-Adha: 3 days f- Prophet’s Birthday (Al-Mawlid AlNabawi): 1 day g- National Day: 1 day h- Liberation Day: 1 day i- Gregorian New Year: 1 day In the event where the worker is required to work during any of the abovementioned holidays, he shall be entitled to a double remuneration and an additional day off.

Article (69) Subject to the provisions of Article (24) of this Law, the worker shall be entitled to the following sick leaves during the year: • 15 days - at full pay • 10 days - at three quarters of the pay • 10 days - at half pay • 10 days - at quarter pay • 30 days without pay.

The worker shall provide a medical report from the doctor appointed by the employer or the doctor of the government medical center.

In the event of conflict regarding the necessity of a sick leave or its duration, the report of the government doctor shall be adopted.

Incurable diseases shall be excluded pursuant to a resolution issued by the competent minister, in which he shall specify the types of incurable diseases.

Section Three Paid Annual Leaves Article (70) The worker shall be entitled to a 30-day paid annual leave.

in the news Mubarak calls KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday received a phone call from Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, who updated His Highness about the state of his health. HH the Amir wished the Egyptian President good health, affirming that such regular conversations would help to further strengthen relations between Kuwait and Egypt.

Treatment abroad KUWAIT: A lawmaker proposed to increase the financial allowance for citizens receiving medical treatment abroad via the Ministries of Health, Interior or Defense. He proposed that the stipend be increased from KD 35 per day to KD 60 for a patient and each of his companions, reported Al-Watan. MP Mubarak Al-Walaan explained that the current amount is outdated and insufficient. He added that the amount allocated would not allow a person to cover accommodation or treatment fees. He asserted the importance of reviewing the regulations regarding treatment abroad and stressed that they should be more aligned with the needs and requirements of citizens.

However, the worker shall not be entitled to a leave for the first year of work except after at least 9 months of service for the employer. Official holidays and sick leaves during the year shall not be counted as annual leave. The worker shall be entitled to a leave for the fractions year in proportion with the period he spent in actual service, even the first year of service.

Article (71) The worker shall be paid for his annual leave before taking such leave. Article (72) The employer shall have the right to determine the date of the annual leave and divide such leave after the first 14 days thereof, with the consent of the worker The worker shall have the right to accumulate his leave entitlements provided that they do not exceed two years and he shall be entitled to take his accumulated leave all at once subject to the approval of the employer.

The annual leave can be accumulated for more than two years with the consent of both parties.

Article (73) Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 70 and 71, the worker shall be entitled to a cash consideration for all his accumulated annual leaves upon the expiry of his contract.

Article (74) Without prejudice to the provisions of Article (72), the worker shall not waive his annual leave with or without compensation.

The employer shall have the right to recover the remuneration paid to the worker for this leave in the event where the worker is found to have worked for another employer during that leave.

Article (75) The employer may grant the worker a paid academic leave to obtain a higher degree in his work field, provided that the worker shall work for the employer for a period of time equal to the period of the academic leave that should not exceed 5 years. In the event where the worker violates this condition, he shall be obliged to repay the remuneration paid to him during the leave in proportion to the remaining period of work.

Article (76) The worker who spent two continuous years working for the same employer shall be entitled to 21 days leave with pay to perform Al-Hajj provided that he had not performed hajj before.

Article (77) In the event of a first and second degree relative’s death, the worker shall be entitled to a three-day fully paid leave.

The Muslim working woman, whose husband has died, shall be entitled to a fully paid iddat leave for four months and ten days from the date of death. During this leave, the working woman shall not be entitled to work for another employer. The conditions of granting this leave shall be organized by a resolution of the Minister.

The non-Muslim working woman, whose husband has died, shall be entitled to a paid leave of 21 days.

Article (78) The employer shall have the right to give the worker a paid leave to attend conferences, annual gatherings and labor meetings.

The Minister shall issue a resolution setting forth the conditions and regulations governing the granting of such leave.

Article (79) The employer may grant his worker, upon his request, an unpaid leave other than the leaves mentioned in this chapter.

New efforts to stimulate, encourage Gulf youth KUWAIT: The 24th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Olympic committee heads began here yesterday. Discussions at the meeting will focus on how to further support and strengthen inter-Gulf sports and youth cooperation.

In his keynote speech, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Chairman of the Kuwaiti Olympic ‘We are moving in the right direction as we have all acted for enriching the Olympic movement,’ he said.

The Kuwaiti minister spoke highly of the GCC member states’ sportsrelated accomplishments at the regional, continental and world levels.

He added, however, that much work still remains to be done to stimulate and encourage young people and athletes in the Gulf region through productive strategies.

For his part, GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah, the chairman of the current GCC session and the other GCC leaders for their tremendous and continuing backing for Gulf sports activities.

He listed some of the main Gulf sports-related achievements, such as the agreement to hold the first GCC Olympic games in Bahrain and the first beach games also in Bahrain.

An internationally recognized performance enhancing drug testing laboratory has also been set up in Qatar, he revealed.

The Gulf sports system is continuously being developed, thus giving more help to Gulf athletes and providing more opportunities for closeness and cooperation between the GCC countries, he pointed out.

Al-Attiyah also revealed that two new sports event organizing committees have been created in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009, taking the total number of organizing committees in the GCC member states up to 27, AlAttiyah added.

As many as 60 sports activities involving over 24 competitions in different categories were also held in the region last year, he concluded. — KUNA

Jordanian premier looks forward to Kuwait visit KUWAIT: Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Zaid Al-Rifai said yesterday that the goal behind his visit to Kuwait, which begins today, is to “have the honor of conveying a message from King Abdullah II to HH the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah as part of boosting and developing JordanianKuwaiti relations.”

Speaking to KUNA, the Jordanian premier said that this visit “includes a continuing stress on coordination concerning various regional issues in what supports the march of Arab solidarity.”

He added that the visit will also provide an invaluable opportunity to hold a meeting with HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah and a number of senior Kuwaiti officials in order to discuss issues of mutual concern.

He also noted that the “persistent and blessed efforts of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah and his brother, King Abdullah II, have had the greatest influence on boosting the bilateral relations between the two countries in what has made them a model of brotherly ties.”

Al-Rifai hailed “the historic role played by the State of Kuwait in bringing the Arab-Arab views closer together,” as well as praising Kuwait’s “defense of the issues of the Arab nation and its higher interests, along with protecting the

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Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Zaid Al-Rifai.

— KUNA security and stability of the region as a whole.”

He called HH the Amir “one of the lofty pillars of Arab diplomacy and one of its wise men, since His Highness, over the past decades, first as a foreign minister, then as the Amir, has played a pivotal advanced role in defending Arab nations’ issues and pushing toward the formation of a joint Arab stance in dealing with the regional and international duties and challenges.”

Al-Rifai also said that “deep-seated KuwaitiJordanian relations and the principled understanding between the leaderships of the two countries have helped to consolidate the concepts of Arab solidarity and deal positively with the challenges and duties that

overshadow the region’s and its peoples’ future.”

The Jordanian premier continued, “This cooperation is fit to stand as a model of Arab-Arab cooperation, though we look forward to further cooperation in all fields to make it reach the same level of strong and distinctive ties that bind the leaderships of the two countries and the two brotherly Arab peoples, Jordanian and Kuwaiti.”

On the subject of “the open investment environment in Jordan,” Rifai said, “It is our duty in Jordan to remove any obstacle that may face Arab investment and there are many wideranging fields and sectors where we diligently seek to push the level of cooperation to a new high.”

— KUNA

Committee Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah said that the GCC leaders attach special significance to Gulf youth and sports activities. Welcoming the guests from elsewhere in the GCC, he said that Kuwait is honored to chair and host the 24th session in completion of the Gulf leaders’ long history of progress, which led to the achievement of many results in all sectors and fields.

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Chairman of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah and other dignitaries at the 24th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council Olympic committee meeting yesterday. — KUNA

Iran ready to talk with US, EU

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: The Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Ali Jannati, said that the American policy in the region has not changed since US President Barak Obama took office. The ‘kind words of the American President are not supported with action,’ he added. His statements were made on Sunday morning during a reception at his residence in Mansouriya to celebrate the Persian New Year. The Iranian ambassador said that Obama’s greetings to the Iranian people on their ‘Nowrose’ day indicates that the American people realize the historical relevance of the civilization and culture of the Iranian people. “Sadly, since Obama took office, and until now, we haven’t seen any change in the American policy towards Iran or the region,” he said.

Jannati argued that America’s bias toward Israel, its stance in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their position regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program hasn’t changed. “They are so apart from those beautiful words, we didn’t see any change in the American policy,” he noted.

Jannati went on to say that alongside the kind words of the American president, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, is traveling through the region. He added that she will be going to Russia and China in an attempt to place pressure on those countries to strengthen the blockade against Iran and increase sanctions against Iran through the UN Security Council.

“The Saudis refused to support the US and continue to provide more oil to China. The Chinese also refused to impose tougher sanctions on Iran in the Security Council because the relations between China and Iran are valuable and fundamental to both countries.

They refused to sell Iran to the Americans,” he affirmed. In the meantime, said the Iranian ambassador, Iran is ready to start talks, with Europeans, Americans, and the

KUWAIT: The Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Ali Jannati, receiving the guests. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat International Atomic Energy Agency.

In his speech to the members of the Iranian community in Kuwait, Jannati said that the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamanae, wants all Iranians to double their efforts to confront the economic blockade imposed against Iran and safeguard their achievement.

The ambassador congratulated the visitors on the new

year, and urged Iranian citizens abroad to represent Iran well.

He stressed the importance of relations with Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries and the exceptional ties between Iran and Kuwait.

“The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad to Iran last year was great for the bilateral relations of the two countries. We are looking forward to the visit of His

Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad,” he said.

Jannati told representatives of the Iranian community that the embassy is working with the Kuwaiti government to open a new Iranian school in Kuwait. “I will be leaving Kuwait after two months and I hope that the new school will be open before I leave,” he concluded.

MoE to improve teaching, curriculums KUWAIT: As part of its efforts to improve teaching and curriculum in the country’s educational sector, the Ministry of Education (MoE) plans to train teachers at the Kuwait University using the latest technology. The Minister Dr Moudhi Al-Homoud further indicated that the work, in cooperation with related parties including the Kuwait Teachers Society (KTS) will be conducted with the aim of improving teaching. The ministry

considers the KTS as its integral government body, despite certain points of conflict that mainly pertain to financial unions and the controversy over whether to classify teaching as hard labor.

Meanwhile, a plan to improve teaching syllabuses, to be executed within two years has been charted out to develop curriculums. It plans to integrate technology in order to cope with worldwide development, the minister said during the

first episode of ‘Education in an Hour’ TV program, reported Al-Watan.

Al-Homoud further said that it seeks to establish cooperation with the International Bank to strengthen the student’s competitive efficiency. She also addressed the issue of private teaching, noting the seriousness of this issue and the importance of eliminating it through several methods including holding afternoon classes.

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NATIONAL

A symbol of forgiveness, sacrifice

Quality, quantity of Gulf water at risk

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Today, the world is celebrating World Water Day. In Kuwait, where the climate is desert hot and water resources are already poor, the demand of water has increased. The local production of water depends on distillation stations which take water from the sea. The recent water pollution situation caused by the malfunction of the Mishref sewage station has dangerously affected the Kuwaiti sea water.

This year, as well as last year, Kuwait’s main source of water, the sea, has been in danger. “We were already suffering from water shortage here, and now the situation is even worse,” Dr Hamad Al-

Matar, an associate professor in the Chemistry Department at Kuwait University, told the Kuwait Times. Since we depend on the sea as a main source of water, any pollution will affect the quantity and quality of the water. The Mishref situation negatively affects this issue.”

Whoever owns the water, wins. According to Dr Al-Matar the next war will be for water. “Turkey, Iraq, and Syria are all fighting for water. Many other countries have conflicts for the same reason. Our problem is that we don’t have a clear water strategy,” the professor added.

Al-Matar thinks that Kuwait should have an alternative in case of a water shortage. “We should

have a plan B. For instance, we could make deals with neighboring countries such as Iraq to support us with water,” he explained.

Oil production negatively affects the underground water reserves. “We should think of a suitable strategy for preserving subterranean water. We should sign agreements with other countries or form a joint committee in the GCC to help solve the water problem. I think this would be more useful than nuclear cooperation between GCC countries,” Al-Matar concluded.

Water is the source of life and the link that binds all living beings on the planet. “The growing population’s need for water, food, raw materials and energy is

competing with nature’s own demands for water to sustain already imperiled ecosystems,” said Khalid Al-Hajiri, Chairman of the Green Line Environmental Group (GLEG). I call upon the government to use renewable energy to desalinate water.”

According to Al-Hajiri, Kuwait is using the worst kind of fuel in the water distillation stations. “The thinness of the pollution in the Gulf waters is decreasing the quality of the water.

The GCC countries should provide enough resources to ensure the safety of the Gulf. Pouring sewage water into the sea without treating it first is still happening.

This badly affects the environment and the health of the people,” he pointed out.

Woman likely involved in money laundering KUWAIT: Kuwaiti security authorities are closely monitoring reports of a prominent Kuwaiti woman’s possible involvement in a Bahrainbased operation to launder money for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

The case, which was recently uncovered by Bahraini security services, is causing a massive controversy in Bahrain, with one Bahraini minister already taken into police custody for questioning, reported Al-Qabas.

Reports coming out of the country indicate that the Bahraini minister told detectives about the involvement of the Kuwaiti woman during questioning, apparently informing them that she was part of a network involved in the money-laundering operation.

Senior officials with the Bahraini security authorities reportedly subsequently contacted their Kuwaiti counterparts to obtain information about the woman, who is said to be a VIP. There have also been unconfirmed reports that the accused Kuwaiti woman has already been arrested and is undergoing questioning.

Love, prayers as residents celebrate Mother’s Day

By Nisreen Zahreddine KUWAIT: On Mother’s Day, the streets are busy with people buying cakes and flowers. This day always has a special ambiance. It’s a day of giving without taking, a symbol of forgiveness, sacrifice and the greatest amount of unconditional love. Kuwait Times spoke with mothers about their wishes Rihab, a young mother, was getting her mother a gift. She said that now that she is a mother, she understands the meaning of the day. “I hope that God keeps good care of my mom and all mothers because they give unconditional love, and their compassion is endless,” she said.

She learned almost everything she knows about being a lady from her mother and is proud of her family because she was raised on love and forgiveness, she added.

“Mothers are the perfect friends for their kids,” said Loubna, a Lebanese woman with three married daughters. She hoped for an easier life for her children.

for their special day. They seemed to be busy and excited at the same time. Fatma Al-Sayed, a 54-year-old Palestinian, was with her son at the dessert shop and he was buying her a cake. She wished that next year she would be able to celebrate Mother’s Day in Gaza and that it would be free by then.

She hoped for good health for her children and grandchildren, and wished everybody happiness.

She also said that when she was young she had to fight for them to have good health, education, jobs and a happy life.

Nada, a young mother, hoped that society will respect the working mother and understand her circumstances more.

“Working mothers make such an effort.

They fight everyday battles to prove that they are worth what they have,” she said.

Nada added that it is a double responsibility for working mothers in this world.

Their gift should be a considerate society to support them and give them love and happiness.

Hajja Zeinab, blew kisses for all the mothers and wished them a happy

anniversary. She hoped all mothers get the opportunity to see their children become important figures and fulfill their wishes and dreams. She has been living in Kuwait for almost 40 years and wished for an opportunity to go back home to a small village in southern Lebanon and gather her grandchildren around her.

“We have been liberated from the Israeli invasion, but I only visit my village on summer vacations,” she complained.

She explained that the reason is because her children are busy. She then said that whatever makes her children happy, make her happy, and that she is just happy to be in their life.

in the news

The three-man gang of thieves. — KUNA

Campsite thieves caught KUWAIT: Ahmadi detectives have arrested a three-man gang of bedoon (stateless) thieves responsible for stealing numerous items from a number of campsites.

The arrests follow a lengthy investigation and surveillance operation following a spate of thefts from campsites in Mina Abdullah, Nuwaiseeb and Kabad. On being caught red-handed, the men confessed to their previous activities, taking officers to their hideaway at a Wafra area farm where they had stashed a variety of stolen items, includ-

ing motorbikes, tents, 13 electrical generators, furniture and electrical appliances. The three men were also positively identified by a number of witnesses, including a security guard at one of the campsites they robbed who they beat severely when he attempted to stop them.

The three men have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.The Ahmadi Criminal Investigation Department has called on the owners of the stolen items to come forward in order to claim their belongings. — KUNA

Iraqi debts are a red line: MPs KUWAIT: As Iraq prepares to welcome its new Cabinet, Kuwaiti lawmakers have urged the next Iraqi Cabinet to settle the debt owed by Iraq to Kuwait as determined by the United Nations. The MPs emphasized the significance of resolving this issue, reiterating how much this would reinforce the relationship between the two countries.

Iraq’s debt to Kuwait is a ‘red line that should not be crossed,’ the MPs warned, calling on the next Iraqi Cabinet to make the resolution of this matter a priority. They stressed the importance of settling the issue so that the two countries could remove any obstacles impeding the development of stronger

Monday, March 22, 2010

relations.

MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan voiced regret at reports that the majority in Iraq believe the compensation due to Kuwait is undeserved, but urged the new Iraqi Prime Minister to demonstrate goodwill towards Kuwait.

The MP reiterated the option of Kuwaiti investment in Iraq as a possible solution to outstanding problems.

Fellow MP Naji AlAbdulhadi urged whoever is elected to the position of Iraqi Prime Minister to consider investment projects as an alternative to the compensation, including providing Kuwait with natural gas, or renting 50km of the border for a joint oil refinery

project. MPs Mubarak AlWaalan, Daifallah Buramya, Abdurrahman Al-Anjari and Adnan Al-Mutawa’a also stressed the importance of Iraq observing its commitment to the debts due to Kuwait.

On a separate issue, the cabinet has collected results of its communications regards MPs’ stances on the no-confidence motion filed against the Minister of Information, with the parliamentary vote on the proposal due to take place at an emergency session on Thursday. These results were discussed at the cabinet’s weekly meeting, reported AlWatan.

Ministers still remain opti-

mistic that the number of votes in favor of the no-confidence motion will be insufficient to pass it, with reports indicating that 23 MPs have already declared their support for the cabinet, while a further four MPs who have yet to decide on their positions are expected to make their decision on Wednesday.

In the meantime, the National Action Bloc met yesterday (Sunday) to discuss the matter, with reports indicating that the bloc’s members apparently favor allowing each member to adopt his own stance on the motion, especially since MP Saleh Al-Mullah insists on voting in favor of it.

Firemen’s Day KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) has completed its preparations to mark International Firemen’s Day, which falls on March 25, this Thursday. Brig Yousef Al-Ansari, the KFSD’s Deputy Director General for Firefighting Affairs and Human Resources, who is chairing the higher committee organizing the celebrations, revealed that activities will be held in malls across Kuwait to mark this year’s event and raise public awareness about fire hazards and the causes of fires and other accidents.

State Minister of Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan is set to inaugurate the celebrations at Souq Sharq Mall on Thursday at 10.00 AM, while Friday will see a wide variety of awareness raising events in the morning and evening in various locations. More activities will take place on Saturday evening, from 4.00 PM onwards, at the Magie Mall in Abu Halifa, the Slayel Mall in Jahra and the Arbid Plaza. More related activities will take place in Qurain throughout Sunday, with the closing ceremony taking place there that evening.

‘Speed boats’ race KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) will hold its first annual remote control operated speed boats race at the Green Island on March 26. This comes as part of their commitment to provide people with the best environment in which they can carry on with their hobbies. The tournament will take place at the island’s main pool, said Supervisor of the Green Island, Khalid AlFoudari. He added that the boats would first be grouped into categories in order for them to be classified, before the race starts from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Rewards have been allocated for winners.

Connection delays KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water has prioritized the tender for the Khairan residential area’s power connection and postponed the Mutlaa residential project. The two projects have a total capacity of 56,000 residential units, 38,000 of which are located in Khairan alone, reported Al-Watan. The delay is not expected to take long, as the tender for the Mutlaa power connection will be placed shortly after Khairan’s.

Also, the regulations for the private companies awarded with the tenders are expected to be identical.

Labor crisis KUWAIT: In a serious development to the issue of unpaid benefits that employees have been demanding, the Cabinet recently received a letter of condemnation from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

The letter addressed the infringement of rights suffered by KPA workers, and attempts by the Kuwaiti government to prevent them from staging protests. In the letter, ITF General Secretary, David Cockroft, urged HH the Prime Minister as well as the Minister of Communications to intervene, end the crisis and find solutions to improve the working conditions of KPA laborers.

KUWAIT: Sixteen expatriates were injured in a massive blaze that broke out in a Hawally apartment block, with nine of the injured being taken to hospital. The others were treated at the scene, along with one fireman who suffered breathing difficulties while tackling the blaze. Firefighters from four local brigades worked together to put out the fire. — Photos by Hanan AlSaadoun

kuwait digest

Private university licenses ith a growing number of students graduating from various pre-graduate stages seeking higher degrees from universities, and with the limited capacity of Kuwait University, it is absolutely imperative to encourage the establishment of many private universities to cope with the rapid changes the world is currently witnessing,’ wrote Dr Sami Nasser Khalifa in his Al-Rai column. He pointed out that such a step was very significant for the state’s development plan.

‘Unfortunately, to-be founders of such universities are facing many obstacles with unreasonable justifications and excuses, while neighboring countries are full of similar ones that have been attracting Kuwaiti students with the many logistic and scientific facilities they enjoy,’ he explained. He wondered about the real reason behind the government’s refusal to license them. ‘In case of any fears that such

‘W

institution might turn into commercial ‘educational outlets,’ the government can set very strict laws and legislations to prevent this,’ he underlined.

He added that approving the establishment of new private universities was not done according to the foreign university regulations that supervise them, their capital or scientific approach. ‘The approval is unfortunately done according to who applies first and who has more connections to influential people and officials,’ he stressed, pointing out that this was a catastrophe.

‘Don’t limit science! Let schools, institutes and universities be opened and you can only supervise their operation. Governments in advanced countries no longer control private education, they always support them and it’s really high time Kuwait’s government did the same,’ he concluded.

NATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

5 New steps to protect environment

Kuwait conference to focus on oil lakes

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: The Central Committee to Supervise the Implementation of Projects Related to Environmental Remediation (Kuwait National Focal Point - KNFP) will be launched today. It will be held under the patronage of Minister of Oil Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah. A three-day conference to discuss the latest international methods and techniques to protect against pollution and salvage environment damage caused by oil and oil production will be held along the sidelines of the conference. The event, which takes place at the premises of the Kuwait Oil Company’s Hubara Conference Center in Ahmadi, aims to be a meeting point for national and international expertise in order to discuss issues relating to oil pollution and oil lakes. An important element that this conference will tackle is the remaining damage caused as result of the 1990-1991 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

KUWAIT: The Francophone Day celebrations in progress.

Francophone celebrations in Kuwait KUWAIT: The Francophone Day, organized by the French Circle of Kuwait, was celebrated on Saturday with national stands by the embassies of the IOF countries, at the French School, with competitions of games, written contests, music, writing skills, as well as concert and trophy awards.

The 20th of March of every year has been chosen to celebrate the Francophone. The Francophone can, first of all, be defined as a global community of French-speaking populations, using the language at various degrees. This community comprises some 200 million people that use French as their main language and about 900 million inhabitants, spread over 70 countries in five continents.

They are grouped together under the International Organization of the Francophone IOF, which alone accounts for more than one third of the member states of the United Nations Organization (UNO).

March 20 is the anniversary marking the signing in 1970 of the intergovernmental Convention which gave birth to an agency that has been constantly growing until it took its present shape in 2005, as the IOF. So, the 40th anniversary of its creation this year is being celebrated.

Beyond this institutional perspective and beyond the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, it is a group of ‘operators’ including, organizations like the Francophone University Agency. It comprises more than 700 establishments of higher education and research in more than 80 countries, the International Association of Mayors of Francophone Cities, the TV channel TV5 Monde, which broadcasts to more than 200 countries, and the Senghor University of Alexandria, which is intended to promote development in Africa.

Culture and education were originally the two major components of the inter-Francophone cooperation. But over the years, new fields were embraced like politics (questions of peace, democracy, human rights) the economy, sustainable development, energy, environment, as well as digital and information technologies.

One of the key elements which holds together all Francophone activities, now and in the future, is respect for the

cultural diversity, a “constituent of and a creative factor for the world, a major political issue,” as it was emphasized by Abu Diouf, Secretary-General of the Francophone. These beliefs led the Francophone to open the development of its cooperation with the Lusophone, the Hispanophone, the Latin Union, the Commonwealth, as well as with the Arab world, in particular.

In 2009, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ISESCO and the IOF, grouping together 120 states, and with the participation of other organizations like the GCC, initiated the adoption of the Declaration of

Elderly ‘dumped’ at Adan Hospital KUWAIT: Adan Hospital is apparently seeing a steady rise in the numbers of elderly Kuwaitis being “dumped” there by family members rather than being taken to care homes.

The practice has apparently gained in popularity as a way for families to ensure that they don’t lose the income from their elderly relatives’ pensions if these relatives are in hospitals, since the family members cannot access this money if their aged ‘loved ones’ are admitted to care facilities.

Head of Adan Hospital Dr. Adel Al-Abdulrazzaq explained that between 25 and 30 elderly people had recently been abandoned there by family members, explaining that the Ministry

of Health (MoH) had contacted the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) to ask that these elderly patients be moved to care homes more suitable for their needs.

He revealed, however, that the MSAL had refused this request “because the rules state that the family’s permission should be gained before such action can be taken.”

Al-Abdulrazzaq mentioned the issue in an interview with local daily AlQabas, which primarily concerned the hospital’s major development plans, including large-scale expansion. He also talked about the Dabous Cardiac Medical Center, which he said had been equipped with the most advanced technology.

Kairouan. It is intended to promote cultural diversity, with the knowledge that what is at stake is not only “its persistence but also how to handle it.” What is needed is to come up with practical solutions - and not with a facade dialogue - which must help peoples of various traditions and beliefs to talk and eventually understand each other.

Furthermore, jointly awarded by the ALESCO, the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science and the IOF, the Ibn Khaldoun / Senghor Prize now annually rewards the best translation, French to Arabic and vice

versa, of a book on humanities.

It is here to encourage all forms of cultural exchange between the Arab world and the Francophone part of the world.

Under the slogan of diversity at the service of peace, and also for solidarity with Haiti, a country of the Francophone so severely affected by natural disasters, the global Francophone celebration will begin on March 20 with the inauguration of the new headquarters of the IOF in Paris. It will continue all along up to the holding, in October, of the 13th Francophone Summit chaired

by Switzerland, in Montreux.

In a press release, officials that organize the conference said that one of the main challenges facing the organizers of the committee and environmental activists is Kuwait’s climate. The hot weather, dust and humidity make it difficult to treat the damage and add complications with time.

Despite the fact that the war ended over 20 years ago, many oil lakes remain a main environment pollutant, damaging the ecological system in Kuwait and rendering many plants and animals dead.

The invasion of the Saddam Hussein regime on Kuwait in 1990 left over 2,400 oil lakes, making in total approximately 50 square kilometers of crude oil. Today, these lakes have turned into complex pollutants containing chemicals and accumulating dirt. Together with other factors like the weather and climate in Kuwait, and the fact that many explosives were planted beneath these lakes make it a very hard task to treat the problem.

“International technology has not yet dealt with explosives planted underneath lakes of oil,” claim the conference’s organizers, saying that possible solutions will be discussed during the conference.

Kuwait National Focal Point (KNFP) was formed in 2006 to supervise the implementation of projects concerning environmental treatment.

It is funded by the United Nations, and works jointly with UN experts and acade-

The Burgan Plate

The Rawada Plate mics. The KNFP is currently working on six projects with the UN aimed at remedying

marine and wild life in Kuwait, as well as water sources. It also intends to build sea and

wild life reserves in Kuwait to protect the habitat of wild life and sea creatures.

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NATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

Fire erupts in Salmiya

Asian maid commits suicide in Rumaithiya KUIWAIT: An Asian maid hanged herself from the ceiling of her room in her sponsor’s home in Rumaithiya. Police and criminal investigators responded to the scene and ordered Salmiya fires A fire occurred in a fifth floor apartment in Salmiya. Firefighters responded to the emergency and extinguished the flames after evacuating the residents.

Investigations revealed that an electrical short circuit was the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, firefighters extinguished a fire that occurred in a 1,000 square meter warehouse used to store lumber and papers in Farwaniya. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Kuwait supports peace in Darfur CAIRO: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Rashid Al-Hamad affirmed that Kuwait will back up peace in Darfur through different outlets such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

This statement came within the first work session for the international donors conference for the reconstruction of Darfur that began here yesterday under the slogan “Development for Peace.” Via KFAED, Kuwait had offered a sum of $518 million to develop different projects in Sudan and it would continue to do so at all levels, said the ambassador.

Al-Hamad lauded Qatar’s role and involvement in the peace process in Darfur, saying that the fellow Gulf country had always been promoting peace in the Arab region.

The meeting is co-chaired

by Egypt and Turkey with the participation of a number of countries, as well as international and regional governmental and NGOs. The conference, organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), aims at collecting USD two billion in the form of grants and loans to rebuild Darfur’s health, agricul-

Kuwaiti Ambassador Rashid Al-Hamad tural, educational and water sectors, among many others.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul-Gheit said in an opening speech that development in Darfur was a must to ensure that refugees and the displaced would return to their homes and normal lives, calling on the participants to donate to the cause.

The meeting was co-chaired

by Egypt and Turkey with the participation of a number of countries, as well as international and regional governmental and NGOs. For his part, Turkish

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu noted that Turkey was willing to promote peace in the Darfur region, adding that his country would also try to get involved in further normalizing relations between Chad and Sudan.

The conference, organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), aims at collecting USD two billion in the form of grants and loans to rebuild Darfur’s health, agricultural, educational and water sectors, among many others.

Meanwhile, OIC’s Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu

affirmed that development in the Darfur region was heading in the right direction, insisting that the OIC would play an important part in the integration of Darfur by working on a mechanism that would secure funding for the reconstruction of Darfur.

Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa expressed similar sentiments on the issue, saying that the recent achievements on the security level must be followed by reinforcing peace in that region.

Officials from the African Union and other organizations stressed that the timing of the event was crucial especially after the peace agreement was signed between the Sudanese government and Liberation and Justice Movement in Doha, alongside a similar agreement between the government and Justice and Equality Movement.

For his part, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Dr. Rashid Al-Hamad and regional head of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Marwan Al-Ghannem took part in the conference.

Both officials noted that Kuwait was ready to back up efforts for development in the region of Darfur. —- KUNA

Kuwait’s sovereignty settled issue: Allawi KUWAIT: The existence of a well-intentioned and reliable Iraqi government would help to open new channels of communication between Iraq and Kuwait, according to Dr. Iyad Allawi, the former Iraqi premier and chairman of the ‘Iraqi List’ party in the recent general election there.

Speaking to Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai during a visit to Beirut, Dr. Allawi said that the current situation is ideal for opening such channels of communication and resolving all the outstanding problems between the two

countries, particularly if the new elections bring a government that does not seek to produce “propaganda” to power.

“Things are now up to the Iraqis themselves to vote for a government that has a clear agenda based on enthusiasm for balancing communications with neighboring nations with respect for everybody’s sovereignty,” he said.

Asked about Iraq’s relations with Kuwait, Dr. Allawi asserted that Kuwait’s sovereignty had already been settled “once and for

all.”

The issue of Iraqi compensation to Kuwait is more political than financial, he asserted, adding that he had himself felt Kuwaitis’ eagerness to “embrace Iraq” and bring it back into the Arab community.

The former premier said that the issues covered in the relevant UN resolutions had been almost fully resolved, except for a small number which are in the process of being determined, such as the rights of use for waterways.

Wataniya Airways is ‘Proud 2 Be Kuwaiti’ KUWAIT: Wataniya Airways, Kuwait’s premium service airline, recently sponsored and participated at the successful “Proud 2 Be Kuwaiti” (P2BK) exhibition, which was held at Mishref International Exhibition Fairground between March 16 and 19.

The exhibition was held under the Patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The exhibition aimed to give young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs the chance to meet with real business people in a business environment throughout the four-day event. Students and young exhibitors with start-up businesses were able to showcase their talents and ideas and interact with a broad range of successful business professionals, ask them questions and learn first hand some of the major challenges in running a successful business.

Jassim Al-Qames, public relations manager at Wataniya Airways said: “As a proud Kuwaiti airline that carries the symbol of Kuwait all over the world, we believe that these young Kuwaitis represent the essence and values of Kuwait. With their determination, hard work, and innovation, they are the future of Kuwait and we are proud to be Kuwaitis and proud to be supporting them in this exhibition that became the landmark of

young Kuwaiti entrepreneurs.”

P2BK was set up four years back by a group of dedicated professional Kuwaiti individuals with the aim of providing a structured forum for Kuwaiti youth to meet and interact in a professional environment with established companies. The idea is to enable budding entrepreneurs to gain exposure to knowledge and experience, giving them a stronger understanding of business which they can use in developing their future

careers. Wataniya Airways, Kuwait’s new premium service airline, commenced operations in January 2009 with point to point connections across the Middle East. Flying to Amman, Bahrain, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh and Jeddah with more destinations to follow, Wataniya Airways offers advantageous services and schedules geared to the specific demands of discerning travelers flying to and from Kuwait. Operating A320 aircraft with only 122 seats,

Wataniya Airways offers passengers more comfort and space than any other scheduled airline within the same aircraft class. First Class offers industry leading comfort, utility, and personal service, while Premium Economy delivers business class ease and comfort for economy guests. In Kuwait, Wataniya Airways operates from Sheikh Saad Terminal, delivering unprecedented levels of exclusivity, convenience, and efficiency on the ground to all its guests.

Thieves nabbed Ahmadi police arrested four bedoon men for robbing camps and chalets. The arrests occurred when one of the gang members was caught roaming around a campsite.

When questioned by authorities, he confessed his responsibility to the crimes and led police to a farm in Wafra where his three accomplices were hiding with the stolen materials. They were taken to the proper authorities and face charges from 36 separate incidents.

Drunk caller A drunk man made an emergency call,

an autopsy for the body. It was discovered that the woman was suffering from depression caused by problems back home.

claiming to have information regarding an act of sabotage that was going to take place.

Police rushed to the man’s home in Taimaa and found him heavily intoxicated. After determining that the call was a hoax, police took him to the proper authorities.

Fatal accidents A citizen was killed in a car accident when he lost control of his vehicle on King Fahad Highway. The man was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene of the accident. A case was opened for further investigation.

Also, an Arab man was killed in another car accident in Farwaniya. He was taken to Farwaniya Hospital by paramedics in critical condition but died shortly after arriving.

A case was opened to look into the accident further.

Drug dealers Jahra investigators arrested an Arab resident and a bedoon on charges of drug trafficking. They were found in possession of 1.5 kilograms of heroin. The arrests were made after the Arab man was apprehended by authorities. When questioned,

he informed police about his bedoon accomplice. They were taken to the General Department for Drug Control.

Shooting case A citizen fired several shots at his neighbor’s home in Um Al-Haiman. Police responded to the emergency and tried to arrest the man after spotting him with a gun in his hand. The man managed to escape police after hitting the police patrol vehicle with his car and shooting in their direction. Police are searching for the assailant.

Vice den Farwaniya police arrested 3 Asian prostitutes and their Asian pimp for using two apartments in Khaitan as brothels. They were taken to the proper authorities.

Duo in custody Hawally police arrested two youngsters for being under the influence of drugs inside their parked car in Maidan Hawally.

They were also found with an amount of hashish in their possession. They were taken to the proper authorities.

in the news Language center KUWAIT: The Deans’ Committee and the University’s administration will be committing an academic error if it proceeds with plans to fragment the university’s Language Center, the spokesman of the Kuwait University Teaching Staff Society, Dr Ibrahim AlHumoud said. In a statement made to the press, Al-Humoud said that ever since he was appointed, KU rector had been doubting the role played by the center. This can be explained by the fact that he had kept the center operational all this time, despite the fact that it had a group of the best national staff members, reported Al-Rai. Notably, the KU intends to fragment the center into smaller units. “This means the end of the academic career of language professors working at the center,” warned Al-Humoud.

He pointed out that language professors are underestimated by the university’s administration.

Women’s diwaniya KUWAIT: Organized by four local women, the first female diwaniya was opened in Jahra last night, reported Al-Jahra. The diwaniya’s goal is to discuss issues important to women, especially those of the area’s residents, said Qatsha Al-Shemmari, spokeswoman for the group. “This diwaniya, the first of its kind in Jahra, will be open for all those concerned with issues regarding women,” said Al-Shemmari, also known as Um Sultan. She added that the diwaniya will be open to people of both genders and from any other area. “The diwaniya will be held monthly at first, so that new cases can be focused on and discussed at each meeting.”

Power outages KUWAIT: Six areas of the Hawally Governorate are expected to experience power outages during this week for periods that may last as long as five hours.

The outages will allow for maintenance work to be conducted on secondary power transformers as part of the Ministry of Electricity and Water Mass maintenance operations before the summer season, reported AlQabas. The maintenance operations started on Saturday and is expected to last until Thursday. As a result, power will be disconnected from 7:30 AM until 12:30 PM at the following locations: Rawdha, Salwa, Adeliyah, East Hawally, Salmy and Mishref.

KUWAIT: Adnan Al-Othman with other officials behind the corner stone of the Al-Othman charity commercial complex.

KUWAIT: Anwar Burhama and Adnan Al-Othman addressing the press conference. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

United Gulf signs KD 65 million contract with new complex

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The United Gulf Real Estate Services Company has announced the signing of an exclusive KD 65 million contract to provide real estate, operational and marketing services for one of the biggest commercial complex in the Gulf region.

The announcement was made yesterday at a press conference held at the site of the complex in Hawally.

The new complex will be unique, said Adnan Al-Othman, one of its co-owners.

“It will consist of 21 floors, including smart offices, shops, medical clinics, restaurants, and spaces for entertainment,” he explained. “The building space will reach a total of 78,900 square meters, divided into 17,500 square meters of commercial offices and 20,800 square meters of space for stores and shops. The project

will also include more than 31,000 meters for car parking and services divided across three basement areas of 500 parking places each, in addition to 500 outdoor parking places.”

The Abdullah Abdullatif AlOthman Complex will be one of the most remarkable and technologically advanced ‘smart’ buildings in Kuwait to date, he revealed.

“This complex will be provided with a central services control network to control around the clock in case of any breakdown,” he explained. “To ensure the best standards, the basements will be equipped with the electronic and mechanical equipment to simplify reaching it even during maintenance work and in emergencies.”

The developers plan to have the complex ready for opening

by September 2012, Al-Othman revealed, explaining that the United Gulf Real Estate

Company would play a central role.

“The United Gulf Real Estate Services Company has prepared a complete plan, including the development plan for the complex, specifying the services and activities and ways of finding the best strategies to attract the commercial activities of international companies,” he said.

As a part of the development plan, a study is to be carried out into what features would be most likely to encourage large companies and multinationals to use the exciting new complex.

“The Al-Othman company will always provide suggestions for strategies and activities that encourage the complex to be more successful,” the co-owner stressed, adding, “The company’s plan also includes a systematic development and marketing plan to ensure the best long-term turnover.”

Monday, March 22, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

7

US president calls rioters human rights activists

Khamenei accuses Obama of plotting against Iran TEHRAN: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his new year address to the nation yesterday accused the US president of plotting against Iran as crowds of worshippers shouted “Death to Obama!” In his defiant outburst,

NABLUS: Relatives of Mohammed and Osayed Qadus, killed yesterday by Israeli troops, mourn during their funeral procession on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday. Israeli troops shot 17-year-old Mohammed dead and wounded his relative Osayed, 20, who also later died of his wounds, during clashes with stone-throwers in the village of Iraq Burin, south of Nablus on March 20, according to medics and Palestinian security officials. —AFP

Palestinians bury WB dead in bloody 24 hours NABLUS: Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians who attacked a soldier in the occupied West Bank yesterday, the army said.

The violence brought to four the number of Palestinian deaths in 24 hours and heightened tension that has been growing.

A Palestinian youth shot by Israeli forces on Saturday died from his wounds yesterday, Palestinian medics said, the second death from the same incident in a village near Nablus.

The men who were shot on Sunday tried to stab a soldier in the same region, the army said.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israel had responded to US and international efforts to revive peace talks “with more escalation” that thwarted attempts to get negotiations going.

The four deaths from Israeli fire made it the bloodiest 24 hours for Palestinians in the West Bank in more than a year, Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib said.

Tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have risen in recent weeks, with Palestinians staging more protests over Israeli policies they believe aim to deepen the Jewish state’s control over land where the Palestinians want to found a state.

Many of the protests have turned violent, with Palestinians throwing rocks at soldiers who fire rubber bullets and tear gas.

Palestinian medics said Mohammed Kaddous, 16, and Osaid Kaddous, 17, were killed during a confrontation on Saturday between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths in the village of Iraq Burin. One was hit in the chest and the other in the head.

The Israeli army, which said it was responding to people throwing stones, denied using live rounds, only rubber bullets.

The two youths were the first Palestinians to die in protests over recent weeks. Villagers in Iraq Burin have been staging protests over Israeli-imposed restrictions on access to farmland that lies near the Jewish settlement of Har Brakha.

Khatib, who speaks for Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, said: “We look at this as part of the Israeli escalation. It could have been treated in a completely different way.

“But the Israelis have been escalating and this is something the prime minister has been warning against.”

Near Bethlehem yesterday, about 100 Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli security forces, the Israeli army said. The security forces responded with riot dispersal means, it said. —Reuters

Lebanese army fires on Israeli warplanes BEIRUT: Lebanese antiaircraft guns opened fire on two Israeli warplanes that were violating its airspace at medium altitude yesterday, the military said.

“The army’s anti-aircraft guns fired at two Israeli warplanes overflying Hasbaya” in southeastern Lebanon, an army statement said.

The incident came amid rising regional tension and heightened concern in Lebanon over recent Israeli threats against Shiite militant party Hezbollah and its backers Syria and Iran.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in the summer of 2006 which destroyed much of southern Lebanon and killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and close to 160 Israelis, mainly soldiers.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted unanimously in August 2006, ended the war and expanded a UN peacekeeping force deployed at the Lebanese border with Israel.

Israel’s regular overflights into southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, are a breach of Resolution 1701, but the Jewish state argues they are necessary to monitor what it claims is massive arms smuggling by Hezbollah.

While Lebanon’s army reports almost-daily Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, the military rarely opens fire unless the planes fly within range of its guns. —AFP

Khamenei’s personal tirade comes as Tehran is locked in a stalemate over its nuclear programme, with Washington pushing for a fourth round of sanctions against the Islamic republic.

He lashed out at the Obama administration in his speech, broadcast live on state television, saying after last June’s presidential election, the United States had taken a “worst stand” against Tehran.

He said Obama’s offer last year of a “new beginning” with Tehran turned out to be “deceptive,” as he had thought at the time that it would be.

“The US government and new administration claimed they wanted to have fair and correct relations, wrote letters and sent messages and even shouted through loudspeakers ‘we want to normalise relations with the Islamic republic,’ but unfortunately in practice they did the opposite,” Khamenei said.

“The US president called the (post-election) rioters human rights activists.

“You take the side of rioters and call it a civil movement. Are you not ashamed? You are in no position to speak of human rights.

Did you reduce the killings in Iraq and Afghanistan?” Khamenei asked as worshippers, their fists raised, chanted “Death to Obama!

Death to America!”

Khamenei, who is also Iran’s military commander-in-chief, said that Iran “condemns” such “arrogant” powers.

“You cannot talk about peace and friendship and at the same time plot and plan sedition and think that you can hurt the regime of the Islamic republic of Iran,” he said.

A significant part of his speech focused on the controversial reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying the nation’s “enemies had plans” to derail the poll but that this was prevented by a massive voter turn-out.

“By resorting to violence, they wanted to change the result of the election. they wanted to trigger violence by bringing people to the arena and by burning buses... but the Iranian nation triumphed,” the cleric said.

“They wanted to divide the people between majority and minority... and to spark a civil war, but the nation was alert. If they had been able to do so, the US and Zionist regime would have sent troops to Tehran’s streets, but they knew it would hurt them. —AFP

the all-powerful Khamenei dismissed President Barack Obama’s frequent offers of dialogue with Iran which began with last year’s historic Nowrouz greeting marking the Persian new year.

BAGHDAD: Iraqis chant anti-Baathist slogans at a protest in Najaf, south of Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday.

Hundreds of residents protested outside the local government office demanding a manual recount of the election votes. The banner in Arabic reads, ‘No for the return of the Baathists.’ —AP

Iraq’s premier asks for recount, warns of violence BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for a nationwide recount of votes from Iraq’s March 7 parliamentary election, saying the country could return to violence if the demand were not met.

The call came after new results from the electoral commission on Saturday showed secularist challenger Iyad Allawi edging ahead of Maliki’s bloc by about 8,000 votes with about 93 percent of the counting complete.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, also issued a statement on Sunday asking the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for a recount in some provinces.

In the Shi’ite holy city of Najaf, an estimated 300 demonstrators gathered on Sunday near a provincial government building, demanding a recount.

The tight race portends weeks of difficult negotiations to form a government, raising the prospect of a political vacuum that could set back Iraq’s fragile security gains.

Maliki, a Shi’ite who won over many Iraqis with his nationalist rhetoric and steps

to crush sectarian violence, noted in a statement late of Saturday there were demands from several political blocs to manually recount the votes.

“I call on the High Electoral Commission to respond immediately to the demands of those blocs to preserve the political stability and prevent the security situation from deteriorating and avoid the return of violence,” he said.

Faraj al-Haidari, head of the electoral commission, said members would meet on Sunday to discuss Maliki’s demand but questioned the need for a recount.

“If there is a glitch, they can file a complaint and say there was a glitch in that station,” he said. “They say they want a manual count, but this is up to the commissioners’ board to decide. We do an accurate electronic count.”

The vote counting has been dogged by allegations of fraud.

Supporters of Maliki’s State of Law coalition asked for a recount in Baghdad after initial results showed their candidate trailing the Iraqiya bloc led by Allawi, a Shi’ite for-

mer prime minister with wide support among minority Sunnis.

The IHEC had said the count was fair and included multiple checks against fraud.

Maliki and Allawi have been locked in a neck-and-neck race and the lead in the popular vote has changed hands several times.

Seats in the 325-member parliament will be allocated on the basis of each coalition’s results in each of the 18 provinces, not by the national vote count.

Maliki leads in seven provinces in central and southern Iraq, six of them mainly Shi’ite.

Allawi, who has tried to model himself as a non-sectarian outsider, swept western and northern areas that are home to large numbers of Sunni Arabs. He also holds a narrow lead over the powerful Kurdish ruling party in Kirkuk, the disputed city that is Iraq’s northern oil hub.

Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is one of two groups that have dominated Kurdish politics for decades. The alliance of the two leads in three provinces. —Reuters

8

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

Turkish Kurd commander threatens to renew fighting AKOYAN: Kurdish militants threatened to end their truce and renew fighting against Turkish forces because a ban of Turkey’s main Kurdish party has made a political settlement more remote, the rebels’ commander said.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) expects the Turkish army to begin operations in the Spring thaw in the mountains of north Iraq, where the group is based, Murat Karayilan, deputy to jailed PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan, said in an interview.

“If the Turkish state continues its military operations and the pressure against political actors, no lasting peace can be had,” Karayilan told Reuters. “We will not take

retreat from these attacks so this Spring could be complicated and volatile.”

More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have been killed since the PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984 with the stated goal of seeking more autonomy for minority Kurds.

Fighting has dropped off significantly since Turkish agents snatched Ocalan from Kenya in 1999, but relentless Turkish army operations against the PKK inside Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast and periodic military raids into northern Iraq have failed to extinguish the insurgency.

The PKK, branded terrorists by Turkey, the United States and the European Union,

declared a “period of non-action” in April 2009, halting fighting except in self-defence.

That was to encourage a political solution to the conflict, said Karayilan, 53, who commands the rebels in Ocalan’s absence.

Before then, PKK fighters clashed almost daily with Turkish troops in the mountains of the southeast and rebel bomb attacks sporadically hit major cities and tourist resorts, hurting a vital source of foreign exchange for the emerging economy.

The PKK’s peace move coincided with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s pledge to expand Kurdish cultural rights to try to end the conflict and help Turkey’s chances of admission to the EU. But the government

initiative suffered a blow in December, when the Constitutional Court outlawed the Democratic Society Party (DTP) on charges of being the political wing of the PKK. “The base for a political solution is being destroyed, Kurds are being forced into war,” said Karayilan flanked by young guards in baggy green fatigues, armed with AK-47 assault rifles in a remote village in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

“If steps aren’t taken, this will revert to war. There’s a month or a month-and-a-half left,” he said, when asked if there was a date for any resumption of hostilities.

The PKK will not disarm without a negotiated settlement, though Turkey has ruled

out talks with the rebels. The rebels do not insist on direct talks but the arrest of dozens of Kurdish politicians makes finding a mediator difficult, Karayilan said.

The PKK has dropped its campaign for an independent Kurdish homeland in southeast Turkey and says it is fighting for greater cultural rights, including local self-governance for Kurds, who make up about 20 percent of Turkey’s population of 72 million.

“We don’t say violence no longer has a place,” Karayilan said. “But we believe that violence will only go so far, that in the end societal problems need to be solved through dialogue.” A Turkish soldier was killed on March 14 in fighting near the Iraqi border,

the first clash in months. Karayilan said 94 PKK fighters were killed in the last year.

Karayilan said the PKK has 7,000 fighters, with more than half based in the semiautonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Rebels say regular shelling of PKK sites

by Turkey has little impact on fighters shielded in the Qandil mountains’ wooded valleys or in hilltop fortifications, but experts say the operations have dented the militants’ supply lines. Qandil’s snow-covered peaks can reach heights of 3,500 metres (11,500 feet). PKK gunmen man the area’s checkpoints, running a swathe of the border region beyond the control of USallied Iraqi Kurds. — Reuters

Big national test before re-election in 2012

Sarkozy faces rebuke from French voters PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy faced a stinging rebuke from French voters yesterday in round two of regional elections that are his last big national test before he seeks re-election in 2012. Polling was underway until 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) in most areas of the country-and partial results and exit polls

released to media immediately afterwards should make the result clear. By midday (1100 GMT), 18.57 percent of France’s 43.35 million voters had cast their ballot, 2.5 percent more than had done so by that time last week, when the vote was marked by a record 53.6 percent abstention rate.

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leave a Paris polling station during the second round of the regional election yesterday. Sarkozy faces pressure to rethink policies and reshuffle ministers as his right-wing party UMP heads for a thrashing in this final round of regional elections. — AFP

South Africa marks 50th Pope does not mention anniversary of massacre rebuke to Irish bishops JOHANNESBURG: South Africans gathered in Sharpeville yesterday, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the massacre that brought the country’s black rights movement to the world’s attention.

Survivors and families of victims met early yesterday morning at the Roman Catholic Church, a building with a strong history of struggle against the racist apartheid regime, to remember the events of March 21, 1960. At the cemetery, over a hundred people assembled to lay wreaths on gravestones of those killed and pay their respects.

South Africa’s Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to address large crowds at Sharpeville stadium later today.

A half century ago, police officers massacred 69 black South Africans in the township of Sharpeville, where protesters had burned the passbooks that the white-led apartheid government required them to carry at all times. But survivors of the massacre here are tired of telling their stories: They are wondering when the change they thought they were fighting for 50 years ago will come to Sharpeville.

Residents in recent weeks have set fire to tires in the streets to protest the lack of basic city services such as electricity and running water.

“Our lives started changing with Nelson Mandela’s release, but people are still financially struggling and finance is still in white people’s hands,” said Abram Mofokeng, who was just 21 when officers opened fire on the protesters, shooting demonstrators including women and children as they ran away.

Mofokeng still bears the scar where a bullet entered his back.

Local residents say that Sunday’s 50th anniversary of the massacre will be calm, despite concerns that commemoration

activities could be interrupted with demonstrations. The massacre, a turning point in the antiapartheid struggle, drew world condemnation of the white-led government’s ruthless treatment of South Africa’s disenfranchised black majority and led the apartheid government to outlaw the African National Congress party. The ANC has governed South Africa since the country’s first all-race elections in 1994.

But 16 years after the end of apartheid, many black South Africans feel that they have not benefited from the economic growth that has made many government and ANC officials rich.

President Jacob Zuma, a popular figure among the poor, has promised to speed up delivery of houses, clinics, schools, running water and electricity as well as create jobs. But he also has acknowledged the difficulties of doing so amid the global recession. In Sharpeville, the cemetery today is filled with rows of mismatched tombstones covered with unkempt grass and faded artificial flowers. A line of neat concrete slabs with black stone headstones marks the resting place of the massacre’s victims.

The old police station where protesters gathered 50 years ago has become a community center.

Survivors of the massacre met here, along with other victims of apartheid, to share their stories and try to help each other heal.

The counseling group has now moved to a nearby church, as the building is being renovated into a museum, part of Sharpeville’s growing “Human Rights Precinct” with its memorial garden and shiny new exhibition center. The engraved stone tablets on a wall at the Garden of Remembrance are cracked in places. Some residents believe it is an attempt to draw attention to the issues that remain decades later. — AP

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI is urging Catholics to be intransigent toward sin but not to judge the sinner. The pontiff addressed pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square yesterday but didn’t mention his rebuke to Irish bishops a day earlier for their handling of decades of clergy sexual abuse of minors.

He told English-speaking pilgrims they should humbly beg forgiveness for their own fail-

ings. Benedict read the Gospel passage about Jesus’ inviting those without sin to cast the first stone toward an adulterer.

In his letter made public Saturday by the Vatican, Benedict said Irish bishops made grave errors of judgment during the sex abuse scandal.

But he didn’t blame Vatican policies of keeping abuse secret as part of the problem, as victims have demanded. — AP

NORTHERN IRELAND: Bishop Noel Treanor pauses during mass at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, yesterday. Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland. Extracts from the Pope’s letter were read at all masses across Ireland yesterday, in the pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal in the Church felt by victims and their families.—AP

Last week’s first-round vote, while marked by a low turnout, saw the French leader’s rightwing supporters win their lowest share of the vote in more than three decades and threatened to wipe them out in regional government. Opinion polls are banned in France in the immediate run up to the vote, but in previous regional elections second round results have closely mirrored first round tallies, and most commentators expect the left to make gains.

Sarkozy, whose UMP party still has a comfortable majority in the national parliament, has insisted that the regional poll is not a verdict on central government, but he is expected to order a reshuffle in the next few days.

One report, in the pro-government daily Le Figaro, suggested Prime Minister Francois Fillon would offer his government’s resignation today but that Sarkozy would ask him to form a new, slightly modified cabinet.

“Whatever happens, there won’t be a big shake up. It will be a modest, technical reshuffle, because some adjustments are worth doing,” Sarkozy’s chief adviser Claude Gueant told the Catholic newspaper La Croix.

But he added: “There could be some political content amid the ‘technical’.”

The new ministerial line-up may offer clues as to whether Sarkozy plans to slow-down or alter his reform programme. He has spoken of a possible “pause” once he raises the retirement age and reforms some state sector pensions. “Many of the political strategies of the coming years will be based on this, the last election” before the presidential vote in 2012, said Pascal Perrineau of the elite Sciences-Po school in Paris.

“If the left takes all the regions, the president will be obliged to think of a political response,” Perrineau told AFP, explaining that last week many of Sarkozy’s working class supporters had abstained or voted farright. “He has to reconnect with a part of the popular vote that supported him in 2007. He has to send them signals on unemployment and on the cost of living for the working class.”

Meanwhile, the Socialists have called on supporters to turn out in greater numbers to secure their regional bastions and begin a fight back that could see their divided party mount a credible challenge in 2012.

Regional councils in 25 regions — 22 on the French mainland and three overseas territories-are up for grabs, the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe having already been won outright by the Socialists in the first round.

The left already controls 20 regions in continental France, and could even wipe Sarkozy’s UMP off the map if it wins close run races in right-wing hold-outs Alsace and Corsica. In March 14’s first round, Sarkozy’s UMP trailed the Socialists with 26.3 to 29.5 percent of the national vote.

The left-leaning greens of Europe Ecologie scored 12.5 percent and then struck regional electoral pacts with the Socialists for the second round, boosting their joint score well ahead of that of the mainstream right.

Meanwhile, the far-right National Front, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, did well enough to stay in the race in 12 mainland regions, meaning much of its 11 percent of the vote will remain outside Sarkozy’s reach. — AFP

CAIRO: From L to R: Arab League Chief Amr Mussa, former Darfur rebel and now Sudanese presidential adviser Minni Minawi, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit and the secretary general of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu attend in Cairo yesterday a one-day aid conference organised by the 57-strong OIC and co-chaired by Egypt and Turkey for the reconstruction of Darfur. — AFP

Darfur aid conference eyes two billion dollars CAIRO, March 19, 2010 (AFP) - International donors were urged yesterday to dig deep into their pockets at a conference in Cairo which aims to raise two billion dollars for the reconstruction of war-ravaged Darfur The one-day conference, which was organised by the 57-strong Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and co-chaired by Egypt and Turkey, was also attended by representatives from the Britain, China, France and the United States among others.

“The Darfur issue is mainly an issue of development,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said as he urged donors to make significant pledges to Darfur, which has been devastated by a seven-year-war.

“We are convinced that the key is to improve development and raise the standard of living for the Darfur citizen,” he told the opening session.

Recent agreements signed between the government of Sudan and rebel groups were “important and need to be implemented,” he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also highlighted the importance of the agreements, but said a solution to the Darfur conflict was not just political.

Peace in Darfur “will not only be achieved through political agreements but also through humanitarian and development assistance,” Davutoglu said.

Sudan is represented by former Darfur rebel and now presidential adviser Minni Minawi, as well as ministers and senior officials.

Western countries refrained from making pledges citing security concerns.

“In the absence of proper conditions on the ground, our focus remains on humanitarian assistance,” the representative from Norway said, echoing the view of several Western diplomats in attendance.

“Our presence here constitutes a political message,” one Western diplomat told AFP, adding that his country would not contribute pledges because of “the uncertainty of how the money will be used or channelled.”

“We cannot make pledges at this conference.

We have donated money in the past through the World Bank, but there are still some difficulties in the country,” another said.

Even host Egypt did not announce a pledge, though some participants said that its role in Sudan goes “deeper than this conference.”

“Egypt does a lot for Sudan, through many channels. It is not a big surprise that it does not make a contribution at this conference. The political significance of the conference is due to Egypt, let’s not forget that,” an African participant told AFP. The two billion dollars which the conference aims to raise is to finance in cooperation with Khartoum a long list of development projects in agriculture, water supply, health and education.

Aid to Darfur has so far concentrated on humanitarian and relief efforts. But organisers are trying to shift gear by working on a more long-term vision for Darfur through development and reconstruction projects.

The conference also hopes to “provide an incentive to all Darfur movements to join the peace process” which has been taking place in Doha, the host said.

The Sudanese government recently signed two agreements with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), hailed by the international community as a key step toward bringing peace to Darfur.

The Cairo conference comes three weeks before Sudan holds its first multi-party elections since 1986, in which veteran leader Omar alBeshir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, is seeking re-election as president.

Since ethnic minority rebels first rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum in 2003, the Darfur conflict has claimed about 300,000 lives and left 2.7 million people homeless, according to UN figures.

Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000. — AFP

11 pirates captured in Kenyan waters MOMBASA: Kenyan security forces have arrested Somali pirates in Kenyan waters for the first time, taking 11 suspected gunmen into custody after a failed attempt to hijack a fishing vessel, police said yesterday.

Kenya is one of the few east African countries prepared to put pirates on trial and has more than 100 suspects in jail facing charges. But, so far, the Somalis have all been captured by foreign navies patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

“Yes, police have arrested the 11 suspects, believed to be pirates in Kiunga area. They are in custody,” said Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer (PCIO) Nyagah Reche.

Police sources said the suspects ran out of fuel at sea, hijacked a fishing boat and ordered the crew to sail to Somalia. But one of the crew made a telephone call which led to the intervention of Kenyan security forces based in Lamu.

One source said the suspects ditched their weapons and skiffs when they realised the police were nearby.

“Transport arrangements are being made to bring them to Mombasa from Lamu, so that they answer to several charges which are being prepared as investigations continue,” said Reche. Somali pirates have plagued the busy shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for years. Emboldened by ever higher ransom payments, Somali sea gangs accounted for more than half of piracy incidents worldwide in 2009. Foreign navies patrolling the areas have prevented some hijackings and captured scores of suspected gunmen. But finding somewhere to put them on trial has sometimes proved problematic, and some navies have let suspects go free.

Earlier this month, a Kenyan court sentenced seven Somalis to 20 years in prison for piracy after British Royal Navy forces

arrested them in 2008 trying to attack a Danish cargo vessel.

Ten more pirates are serving seven-year jail terms in Kenya.

The French navy has also taken a large number of suspected pirates to Puntland, the semi-autonomous northern region of Somalia where several sea gangs are believed to operate from.

On Saturday, a judge in Puntland sentenced 22 suspects to six years in jail for acts of piracy in waters off Somalia.

He released two boys, seized with the others by the French navy, as he said it could not be proved they were pirates.

Puntland’s security minister told reporters on Saturday the French navy had handed over another six suspects, in addition to 22 suspected gunmen delivered by French forces last week. “They will be brought before justice very soon as the jails are overcrowded with pirates,” said General Yusuf Keyre. — Reuters

Monday, March 22, 2010

9

INTERNATIONAL

US gun rights advocates pack heat with pride FALLS CHURCH: About 60 gun rights activists gather in a pizzeria in the Virginia suburb of Falls Church, just outside of Washington DC, their firearms openly displayed in waist holsters.

They are celebrating what they expect will be the successful enactment in Virginia of legislation expanding gun rights for residents. Republican Governor Bob McDonnell has pledged to sign the measure.

With gun control legislation stalled at the federal level in Congress, a number of states have taken matters into their own hands to make it easier for residents to pack heat.

As many as 43 states already have some form of open-carry laws that allow citizens to carry firearms in plain view.

“Gun laws (authorizing openly carrying weapons)

and popularity of gun ownership have been going up considerably,” said Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, carrying a .40caliber semiautomatic pistol strapped to his belt.

Many gun rights proponents feared that President Barack Obama’s administration would take steps to curb gun ownership, but Van Cleave said this has not happened.

In fact, says John Pierce, co-founder of the pro-gun group Opencarry.org, Obama “has done more for us than anybody in recent history,” by spurring gun owners to organize at the grassroots level. Also positive, they said, was Obama’s decision to allow guns on Amtrak trains and national parks.

“There is absolutely no reason for gun owners to feel insecure at this point,” he said.

According to some estimates, roughly 200 million

guns are in circulation in the United States in a population of just over 308 million.

Only seven states ban the carrying of firearms openly.

In Virginia, where residents can already openly carry firearms the new law would expand gun rights to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring loaded weapons into establishments that have a liquor license, including bars, nightclubs, restaurants, pizza parlors and bowling alleys.

“It’s legal here, it’s been a right since the beginning of the country,” says gun owner Rose Brahin, a retired 64-year-old secretary.

“We need to protect our right because if you don’t use it they are going to take it away.”

Even mass killings like the 2007 shootings of 31 people at Virginia Tech University, a short drive

away, have not shaken the conviction of gun rights proponents.

“I carry a firearm for personal protection. I openly carry to show my support for the Second Amendment (to the Constitution) which is our right to bear arms,” said 23-year-old student Elizabeth Webb, carrying a Smith & Wesson .38.

“It’s a personal responsibility to defend your life in the event of an attack.”

Ray Fary, a 53-year-old equipment operator, said carrying a gun is becoming more accepted.

“In most places I go, they treat the pistol as if it may as well be a cellphone or something else you carry under the belt,” he said.

Coffee shop giant Starbucks Corp. was forced recently to wade into the gun rights debate, reluctantly saying it would allow customers to openly carry

firearms into its stores, as long as they are in compliance with local laws.

The decision sparked outrage among anti-gun activists.

“I don’t think having at the next table a guy with a gun is a relaxing way to drink a coffee,” said Jill Lucas of the group Protest Easy Guns, which is pressing for more background checks on gun owners and tougher gun control laws as a way to stem gun violence.

While gun rights activists say Virginia is the vanguard, others say the state is asking for trouble.

Virginia Beach police chief Jake Jacocks wrote to the governor, “We can fully expect that at some point in the future a disagreement that today would likely end up in a verbal confrontation, or a bar fight, will inevitably end up with gunfire if you sign this legislation into law.” — AFP

Front-runners are Democrat Brown, Republican Whitman

California governor’s race to set spending record SAN FRANCISCO: The California governor’s race is on track to be the most expensive nonpresidential election in US history, sparking a debate over money and influence that could become the campaign’s defining issue. Republican front-runner Meg Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of online auction house eBay Inc, w ill likely face off in November against Democrat J erry Brow n, a former governor and career politician

LOS ANGELES: Protestors demonstrate on Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles during an anti-war protest marking the seventh anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, yesterday. — AFP

Anti-war protesters take to streets, defy US indifference WASHINGTON: Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets of the US capital Saturday, on the seventh anniversary of the US-led war in Iraq in a show of frustration widely ignored by the media and public.

As the National Marathon wound down in the city, protesters after midday gathered outside the White House bearing signs alluding to the high cost of the war both in money and human lives and decrying the use of unmanned aircraft, or drones, to bomb US enemies.

Under sunny skies and the watchful but discreet gaze of uniformed police, some demonstrators carried coffins draped in the Iraqi and Afghan flags in homage to civilian deaths the fighting in both countries has caused.

“Obama policies in Iraq and Afghanistan are as criminal as Bush’s,” said Iraqi Veterans Against the War member Mathhis Chiroux, 26, referring to President Barack Obama’s continuation of the two-front war his predecessor George W. Bush

began.

“The US machine produces war regardless of who is president. We are killing innocents,” he added.

Larry Syverson, 61, carried a photograph of his soldier son, Branden, currently deployed in Afghanistan. “I am here to remind the Americans there are two wars going on,” he said.

But despite the colorful, often vociferous demonstration, there was little awareness elsewhere of the Saturday milestone in the Iraq war.

Besides mentioning the anniversary in passing, US media focused almost exclusively on the political brinkmanship preceding yesterday’s vote in the House of Representatives for Obama’s flagship health care reform bill.

According to the independent icasualties.org Website, 4,385 American soldiers have perished in Iraq since the invasion of the country was launched in March 2003. Another 1,024 have died in Afghanistan. — AFP

In this March 2007 handout photo, red and pink corals or Corallium rubrum are seen on the seabed of the Mediterranean sea. — AP

Wildlife meeting leaves rare corals unprotected DOHA: A UN body yesterday rejected the monitoring of trade in dwindling stocks of precious corals days after nixing a ban on bluefin tuna, raising doubts about its capacity to oversee high-value species. The Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meeting in Doha until Thursday, shot down the proposal despite an 85 percent drop since 1980 in global harvests of red and pink coral, among the most valuable of wildlife commodities. A single necklace can sell for $25,000, with a kilo of polished coral costing up to twice that.

Environmental groups slammed the decision, warning that the consequences could be severe, perhaps irreversible. As with Atlantic bluefin, Japan led opposition to the measure, which targeted seven species of the deepwater, reef-building organism, one in the Mediterranean and six in waters off Japan and Taiwan. Another 24 “lookalike” species, also in the Coralliidae family, would have been covered to prevent accidental harvesting.

“Management is already under strict control,” a Japanese delegate said during plenary debate.

North African countries with coral cottage industries joined in the “no” vote, arguing that a CITES Appendix II listing - which mandates export and scientific monitoring - would damage livelihoods. “It will have serious negative repercussions. Coral generates 5,000 jobs in our country, and 1.4 million dinar (one million dollars) every year,” said a delegate from Tunisia, calling for a secret vote. The 133 countries that cast ballots were almost evenly split, but the proposal would have needed

a two-thirds majority to pass.

Co-sponsors the United States and the European Union argued that over-exploitation was responsible for crashed populations, and that only global oversight could prevent the species from slipping past the threshold of viability. Some 30-50 metric tons of pink and red coral are harvested annually from the Mediterranean and Pacific, much of it transformed into jewellery in Italy.

“We need to think in terms of the cautionary principle,” said Kristian Teleki, a marine biologist at conservation group Sea Web. “The harvesting is happening at such a rate, it is simply not sustainable when you look at the ecology of these organisms.” Current practices in the industry could more accurately be described as “coral mining” than fishing, he added.

The organisms take 100 years to reach maturity, but newly discovered beds are often exploited beyond the capacity to reproduce within a couple of years. Unable to source enough coral from the Mediterranean, Italian artisans - centred in Torre del Greco - today get 70 to 80 percent of their raw material from Taiwan, Japan and other sources in the Pacific, according to a 2004 study.

Marine conservation groups reacted strongly to the proposal’s rejection. “To say that it is highly disappointing would be an understatement,” said Ernie Cooper, a coral expert with the wildlife group TRAFFIC. “The message of this meeting is that it is going to be very difficult to achieve conservation for high-value marine species given the concerted effort to block any attempt to list them on CITES.”—AFP

The National Institute on Money in State Politics ranks the 2002 New York race as the most expensive state-level US contest yet, and no congressional campaign comes close.

Whitman’s benchmark would also eclipse billionaire New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 $108 million self-funded campaign.

“This is going to be a record.

There is no question about that,” said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, who sees voters’ anti-incumbent sentiment in California playing out against a historical state bias against wealthy candidates. The current governor, Republican Arnold Schwarzenneger, is barred by term limits from re-election.

Whitman has already poured $39 million of her own funds into her campaign, while state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, her rival for the Republican nomination, has sunk $19 million of his personal wealth into the race.

Voters are still making up their minds. A television advertising blitz by Whitman has helped propel her to a 49-percentage point lead over Poizner and turned her double-digit deficit against Brown into a 3-percentage point lead in the latest Field Polls.

Brown, who was California governor from 1975 to 1983 and is now state attorney general, has about $14 million cash on hand.

That would seem to put him a distinct disadvantage, lacking the deep pockets of his Republican foes and limited by state caps on the amount he can raise from individual donors.

But California campaign finance laws allow unlimited contributions to independent committees, giving Democratic Party stalwarts, such as unions concerned about possible pension fund overhauls under a Republican governor, plenty of room to spend.

Two unions top a list of 15 organizations, including energy companies, casino-operating

Indian tribes and business groups that together spent $1 billion on ballot initiative campaigns, candidate support and lobbying in the past 10 years, according to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.

“At the end of the day, even with contributions and the amount of money Meg will be able to raise, the resources will be about even,” said Whitman spokesman Tucker Bounds, a contention the Brown campaign rejects.

The money has already become part of the message.

Whitman emphasizes her success in business and said she would not take a salary as governor. Brown says he needs the salary after devoting himself to a lifetime of public service.

Those narratives feed into what some analysts see as the thematic choice being presented to voters-an outsider with fresh ideas versus a maverick insider with the experience to carry out muchneeded government reforms.

Questions surrounding the use, abuse and raising of funds are shaping negative campaign ads.

Whitman’s campaign accuses Brown of ceding control to organized labor and circumventing campaign finance law by relying on union dollars and activism to bolster his campaign.

At a recent union gathering, he was videotaped declaring: “We’re going to attack whenever we can, but I’d rather have you attack. I’d rather be the nice guy in this race.”

That, says Whitman’s camp, is illegal coordination. “You have the candidate telling third-party groups to fund other third-party groups on his behalf,” Bounds said.

Brown’s spokesman, Sterling Clifford, called such accusations of campaign finance transgressions ridiculous- and turned the focus to Whitman’s money.

“She’ll say anything in her attempt to crown herself nominee and then buy the general election,” he said. — Reuters

backed by labor unions w ith many millions of dollars in potential contributions at their disposal. The race so far pales in comparison to the $1 billion 2008 presidential contest. But Whitman has said she is prepared to spend $150 million, enough to top the $148 million spent eight years a go in the New York guberna toria l election w on by incum bent Republican George Pataki.

SAN SALVADOR: Catholic faithfuls hold pictures of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero and Sister Silvia Maribel Arriola during a procession to conmemorate the 30 anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero in San Salvador, El Salvador on March 20, 2010. More than 10,000 faithful gather to conmemorate the slaying of Romero on March 24, 1980 during the salvadorean civil war. — AFP

Colombian FARC rebels kidnap oil contractors BOGOTA: Colombian FARC guerrillas kidnapped five local oil contractors near a US-operated oilfield, whisking them into a mountainous area close to Venezuela with troops in pursuit, officials said on Saturday.

The captive men were working for oil service companies Tuboscope and Tecnioriente, subcontracted by the local unit of US company Occidental Petroleum, near the Caricare oilfield in Arauca state, a local army commander said. A sixth worker managed to flee into bushes when rebels crashed their vehicle as army helicopters closed in on them.

Violence and kidnappings in the country’s long war have eased under President Alvaro Uribe, who sent troops to retake areas under rebel control. But the kidnappings underscored the threat guerrillas still present in the Andean country.

“They kidnapped six workers from Tuboscope and Tecnioriente,” army commander General Rafael Neira told local radio. “They took them to a rural area ... the army reacted and rescued one of the workers.”

Arauca state Governor Luis Ataya said he believed the men were taken for extortion and blamed the FARC. Once a powerful rebel force, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been battered to its weakest in decades. Foreign investment, especially in oil and mining, is booming as companies are drawn to Colombia. The country is now Latin America’s No. 4 oil producer with output of more than 700,000 barrels per day. Rebels have often snatched civilians for extortion, but they are also holding 24 soldiers and police for political leverage as part of Latin America’s oldest insurgency. —Reuters

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INTERNATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

Philippines hunts Indonesian training militants MANILA: Indonesian officials have asked Philippine authorities to track down an Indonesian fugitive wanted in connection with several beheadings who is now helping to train militants in an insurgency-wracked Philippine region, security officials said yesterday. Sanusi, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, has been monitored in Mindanao’s marshy heartland, two Philippine intelligence officials said.

He fled to the region after being accused of ordering militants in 2007 to behead three people in the eastern Indonesian town of Poso, where Islamist militants had launched a series of bloody attacks on Christians and government workers.

An Indonesian Embassy official said his government has asked Philippine authorities to capture Sanusi, who was spotted at a mosque near southern Cotabato city during the holy

month of Ramadan last fall. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

A senior Philippine military intelligence official said Sanusi has emerged as a key operative of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian terror group linked to al-Qaeda. He is believed to have helped fund and organize religious and combat training for new Indonesian militant

recruits in Mindanao, where local guerrillas are fighting to create an independent Muslim state.

Sanusi has not been implicated in any attack in the Philippines and is not on any terrorist backlist because authorities are only just beginning to uncover his activities and the role he plays, according to the military intelligence official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his post.

Another government intelligence official said Sanusi has been trying to link up Filipino Muslim guerrillas with potential financial donors in the Middle East. There are at least two dozen Jemaah Islamiyah members in central Mindanao. At least another 25 Indonesian and Asian militants, who belong to other underground groups, have been given refuge mainly by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group on southern Jolo island and nearby

Basilan province, according to the military. Abu Sayyaf is another Southeast Asian terror network linked to al-Qaeda. Among the Indonesian militants allied with the Abu Sayyaf were Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who had recently returned to Indonesia after hiding for years in Mindanao. Indonesian police killed Dulmatin, Southeast Asia’s mostwanted terrorist and a master bombmaker, in an Internet cafe near

Jakarta last March 9.

Patek and Dulmatin had been suspected of helping plot the 2002 nightclub bombings that killed 202 people in Bali, Indonesia.

American troops have provided combat training, intelligence and weapons to the underfunded Philippine military for years to help combat the Abu Sayyaf, which is on US and European terrorist lists, and its Asian militant allies. — AP

‘We guarantee that Abhisit will not get bored’

Thai demonstrators create blood art in political deadlock BANGKOK: Thailand was mired in political deadlock yesterday as demonstrators used their own blood to create a giant piece of protest art and rejected the government’s offer of talks designed to end their rally.

The “Red Shirts” painted poems, pictures and political slogans on white canvas with remains of the blood they had donated and splattered on the

prime minister’s house and offices in their shock tactics of the past week.

“People of the next generation will know that the older generation would sacrifice everything, including their blood,” Red Shirt poet Visa Kantab told the cheering crowd in Bangkok’s old quarter as they displayed the artwork.

S Korea bans sex offenders SEOUL: South Korea has revised its immigration rules to impose a lifetime ban on convicted foreign sex offenders and has already deported two people accordingly, a news report said yesterday.

The justice ministry revised the rules last month so as to deport foreigners who have committed sex offences in South Korea or elsewhere, Yonhap news agency said, citing a ministry official.

“A foreigner convicted of a sex offense here or in any other countries will immediately be deported and will never be allowed to come back to South Korea,” the official said, adding that two people had been deported as a result.

More than 1.1 million foreigners live in South Korea and the number of rapes by foreign residents rose 11 percent year-onyear in 2009, Yonhap said, citing police data. It did not give a concrete figure for the number of offences. — AFP

BANGKOK: Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra use blood to paint on the cloth during an anti-government demonstration yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand. Dozens of artists and supporters used the blood to paint pictures, scrawl poems and write political statements on giant strips of white cloth, which were hung on the walls of a historic fort near their main rally site. — AP

Abu Sayyaf gunmen kill two militiamen MANILA: Government troops chased down a group of Abu Sayyaf militants who killed two government militiamen in the southern Philippines, seriously wounding a leading militant blamed for deadly attacks and kidnappings, officials said yesterday. About 30 Abu Sayyaf gunmen staged an attack Saturday that killed two militiamen near mountainous Sumisip township on Basilan island.

Reinforcement troops later

caught up with the attackers and seriously wounded and possibly killed their leader, Abugao Bayali, said Rear Adm. Alex Pama, who heads a counterterrorism force.

“He’s one of the more notorious commanders and we’ve worked very hard to get him,” Pama said. A military report said Bayali was wanted for deadly attacks last year that killed at least eight people, including village leaders and policemen in

Sumisip, where he maintained a stronghold. Bayali was involved in at least three kidnappings for ransom and used homemade bombs in two attacks last month against government troops in Basilan, a predominantly Muslim island about 550 miles (880 kilometers) south of Manila, the report said.

Last month, he led a brutal attack that killed a militiaman and 10 civilians in the Basilan village of Tubigan, according to

the report. Bayali was believed to have given sanctuary to Malaysian militant Zulkifli bin Hir, a US-trained engineer wanted by Washington for allegedly having given bombmaking training to the Abu Sayyaf.

US-backed offensives have considerably weakened the Abu Sayyaf, which has more than 390 fighters, but the government still considers the group a major security menace. — AP

MANILA: Filipino woman rowers stand beside their friend as firefighters dose them with water to help them cope with the sweltering summer heat in Manila, Philppines yesterday. The Filipino athletes are competing at the Manila Bay Summer Sea Sports Festival, an annual water sports event being held amid a drought that has affected farmlands and destroyed crops in many parts of the country. — AP

The Reds, who support exprime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are calling for immediate elections on claims that the current government, led by premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, is illegitimate and elite-backed.

“We guarantee that Abhisit will not get bored,” Red leader Nattawut Saikur told reporters late yesterday-the eighth day of their Bangkok protests-when asked about their next step.

He said they had “several plans” afoot, without giving further details, as they again rejected Abhisit’s offer of dialogue with one of his ministers.

“We will not talk to anybody except Abhisit and we will only talk about one topic-house dissolution,” added another protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan.

Earlier, Abhisit said he would send his education minister and a government official to meet senior Red Shirts today, despite the protesters’ repeated insistence on speaking only to the premier.

“They can talk to me but before reaching that step, they must meet representatives to talk about the outline of talks,” the prime minister said on his weekly television programme.

“If (the Red Shirts) come it means they are interested in democracy. If not, they are following what Thaksin wants them to do,” he added.

Ex-premier Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup in 2006, is supported by many of the protesters for the populist policies he introduced when in power.

In what they have dubbed a “class war,” the mainly poor and rural Reds say they are fighting Thailand’s elite in bureaucratic, military and palace circles, whom they accuse of ousting elected governments.

On Saturday, they paraded noisily through Bangkok in a carnival-like parade that swelled to 65,000 people and aimed to win urban support to revive the rally, which had waned since peaking at 100,000 at its start last weekend.

Thaksin, who now lives in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption, thanked the marchers via videolink on Saturday. “I’m really proud of you. I almost cried,” he said, calling on Thai people to “join us to call for democracy”.

A few hours after the peaceful parade, two small explosions occurred in Bangkok and a nearby province, targeting a new National Counter Corruption Commission office and a road near the defence ministry.

It was not clear who was behind the attacks, in which one person suffered minor wounds, police said.

A 50,000-strong security force has been in place in the Bangkok area during the protests under a strict security law. The measures enabled by the law are to stay in place until Tuesday but could be continued, Abhisit said.

Since Thaksin was ousted, Thailand has been politically riven, with a string of protests staged by both his supporters and his opponents, who say he is a crook and disloyal to the revered royal family. —AFP

TOKYO: Japan’s nationalists hold a rally in Tokyo on March 6, 2010 to protest against the voting in local elections by foreigners. A plan by Japan’s centre-left leaders to give foreigners the vote in local elections has sparked a conservative backlash, showing ethnic minority issues can touch a raw nerve in the island-nation. — AFP

Japan local vote plan for foreigners triggers backlash TOKYO: A plan by Japan’s centre-left leaders to give foreigners the vote in local elections has sparked a conservative backlash, showing ethnic minority issues can touch a raw nerve in the island-nation.

The idea is to grant local and regional but not national suffrage to almost one million permanent residents of ethnic Korean, Chinese and other foreign backgrounds, both those who were born overseas and their descendants.

But when the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) under Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama floated the idea for the current parliamentary session, a key coalition partner quickly managed to derail the plan, at least temporarily.

Siding with protests from the conservative opposition, the maverick leader of the tiny People’s New Party, Financial Services Minister Shizuka Kamei, this month threatened to quit the government over the issue.

“The coalition will collapse” said Kamei, warning that letting foreigners vote would “stir ethnic sentiments and risk generating confrontation.”

Kamei’s move looks likely to put the plan on ice at least until after July upper house elections, the latest hurdle in a debate over voting rights for foreigners that also include minorities from Brazil, Peru and the Philippines.

Japan has long kept a tight lid on immigration, making the country of 128 million one of the world’s most ethnically homogeneous major democracies. Nationality in Japan is based on parentage rather than birthplace, meaning that even third-generation “foreigners” who pay taxes do not get to vote, unless they adopt Japanese nationality. Dual nationality is not allowed.

When Hatoyama’s DPJ swept to power in August elections, ending a half-century of conservative rule, the local suffrage plan for 910,000 permanent foreign residents was part of its sweeping reformist agenda.

Despite fierce opposition from conservatives, 59 percent of Japanese voters support giving local suffrage to foreigners, against 31 percent who oppose it, according to a November poll by the Mainichi Shimbun daily.

The idea promised “what we have long craved, because we have fought against racial discrimina-

tion for decades,” said Kim Jong-Soo, 33, former president of the Korean Youth Association in Japan.

Ethnic Koreans until recently made up the largest foreign community in Japan, most of them descendants of migrants and forced labourers taken to Japan when it ruled the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945.

“My parents’ generation suffered discrimination in employment, marriage and in being able to rent houses,” Kim said. “Today most of this is obsolete, but local suffrage is the final step to ending the discrimination.”

People of Chinese descent-the biggest foreign community since 2007 as economic links between the Asian giants have grown-also welcomed the move.

Voting rights for the foreigners “would nudge assembly members to listen to ethnic minorities’ everyday concerns,” said Duan Yuezhong, 51, who came to Japan in 1991 and obtained Japanese nationality three years ago.

Critics of the DPJ plan have touched on deeper fears about threats to Japan’s national sovereignty, especially in hot-button territorial disputes over islands also claimed by Japan’s neighbours.

If given voting rights, ethnic Koreans would have more of a platform to push for Takeshima island, called Dokdo by Koreans, to come under Seoul’s sovereignty, they argue.

The assembly speaker of the western prefecture of Shimane told AFP that “our people are worried that giving voting rights to foreigners will have a grave impact on the territorial issue of Takeshima.”

The same applies with rows over the Senkaku islands, known as the Diaoyu islands in Chinese, which are also claimed by Beijing and Taipei.

Duan dismissed those ideas as “delusional thinking” and said Japan should look to other countries, where people of different ethnic backgrounds have become trusted citizens and even government leaders.

“I believe it’s good for both Japan and China that Chinese-Japanese are active in politics,” he said. “Ethnic Chinese, who are familiar with China’s socio-political issues, can help improve Japan’s relations with China.” —AFP

Australia’s Rudd loses support in state elections CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd’s ruling Labor Party suffered a large loss of support in weekend elections in Australia’s two smallest states, in a result which could disrupt his plans for sweeping health reforms.

Voter support dropped more than 7 percent for longstanding Labor governments in South Australia and Tasmania, signalling a revival for the conservative Liberal Party ahead of national elections, due in late 2010. If the shift away from Labor was replicated across the country at a national election, Rudd would be swept from power. However, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said local issues dominated the two state elections, where voters turned against long serving governments. In contrast, Rudd’s national government has been in office only two years and four months.

“I don’t think there’s much in the way of federal implications,” Tanner told Australian television.

“Inevitably, governments that are long-term governments lose a bit of skin along the way.

But we’ll just see what the final details are and obviously we always learn lessons from every election.”

Rudd remains firm favourite to win a second term in office at elections due later this year.

The Reuters Poll Trend shows he holds a 7.2 percent lead over the opposition on the crucial two-party vote, once minor party votes are distributed under Australia’s complex preferential electoral system.

Australians regularly vote for different parties at national elections and state elections, where local issues can dominate, making it difficult to interpret how state results might translate to the national arena.

Rudd’s poll ratings and support for his climate policies have been falling since December after the Liberal Party elected a new leader, and his carbon trade plan was rejected a second time in a hostile parliamentary upper house.

In Tasmania, where Labor has governed for 12 years, the Liberals are likely to take office with support from Greens, who won five seats and a record 21 percent of the vote.

Rudd has unveiled a $45 billion plan to take control of struggling state-run public hospitals. But he needs agreement from all six states and two territories and a Liberal government in Tasmania could complicate efforts to implement the plan.

Rudd holds all five Tasmanian state seats in the national parliament, but four of those seats could be in jeopardy if the state swing away from Labor was replicated at a federal level.

In South Australia, where Labor has ruled for eight years, Premier Mike Rann will retain power despite the strong shift towards the Liberal Party.

Rann’s campaign was disrupted by scandal after a former parliament house waitress claimed she had an affair with the premier. Rann denied the relationship, which happened before he was married, was anything more than a friendship.

South Australia is home to 11 seats in the 150-seat national parliament, and Rudd’s Labor holds six. If the swing away from Labor was replicated at a national election, Rudd could lose three seats. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, March 22, 2010

11

Marines offer cash in fight against Afghan opium COMBAT OUTPOST REILLY: After weeks of intense fighting over the Taleban stronghold of Marjah, US Marines are now taking cautious aim at the drugs trade, with a programme designed to pay opium farmers to destroy their own crops without a fight.

The goal of the new programme is to tackle the drugs trade that fuels the insurgency-without alienating farmers whose livelihoods depend on a crop they planted last year.

Last month, thousands of Marines fought to drive the Taleban out of Marjah, a major hub for the trafficking and trade of opium in southern Helmand, the province that pro-

duces most of the world’s raw material for heroin. Now, with opium poppies blooming and at waist height, some of those forces are pushing into surrounding areas of Marjah where the Taleban’s footprint is still scattered across poor farming communities that depend on modest incomes from the drug crop.

“I spent a lot of money on these poppy fields, until now we haven’t made enough money. We just make money to buy bread from the profits,” 70-year-old Mohammad Hanif, who lives in a village about 11 km (7 miles) from Marjah, said.

When a team of Marines paid him a visit

on Saturday, Hanif was afraid they would destroy his crop-a past strategy employed

by NATO forces and the Afghan government which has sown resentment among farmers and increased support for the Taleban.

The new strategy, the Marines wanted to inform Hanif, involves paying farmers the value of their next harvest in return for them destroying their poppies themselves and growing legal alternatives using seeds provided by the Afghan government.

“For this programme I am happy, as they gave me money for the damage,” Hanif said.

“They are positive and open to the new

Afghanistan rules as far as burning the poppy fields and giving them money for that.

They are ready to burn their poppy fields because they have not had anything like that before,” said Corporal Junior Joseph of Kilo Company of the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines.

Hanif’s neighbour Mohammad Gul also welcomed the programme after cautiously greeting the Marines and initially denying he was growing opium poppy at all. After a Marine interpreter assured him that his trade was an open secret, he agreed to the scheme. “We think it’s a good programme, we are homeless and must support our chil-

dren. If the government destroys everything there’s nothing left for us. So it’s a good programme,” Gul said.

The meeting between the farmers and Marines from Kilo Company marks the unit’s first foray into tackling drug cultivation in Nad Ali since landing in Marjah, a key plank of NATO’s strategy in the district which ultimately seeks to establish full Afghan government control in the area.

Corporal Joseph was hopeful that the poppy scheme would pay-off and took comfort in the initial positive response from Hanif and Gul. “Before it was the Taleban, pretty much

taking over and doing whatever. So with the government willing to buy it, they are pretty open to the new rules,” he said.

The Marines stir mixed feelings among residents. One young man complained to the Marines that they never leave his family alone and asked why they kept bothering them. He declined to give his name. At a shura-or council meeting-earlier this week, other villagers complained about Marines entering their homes when women were present, failing to show enough cultural sensitivity in a devoutly Islamic and rural place, and failing to adhere to their own rules on searching civilian homes.— Reuters

Bomb blast kills 10 in southern Afghanistan Karzai condemns ‘terrorist’ attack KANDAHAR: At least ten people picnicking by a stream in southern Afghanistan to celebrate the Afghan new year were killed in a suicide bomb attack yesterday, police and officials said. A suicide bomber on a three-

KATHMANDU: Senior Nepali Congress party leaders lay the party flag over the body of former prime minister and party leader Girija Prasad Koirala in Kathmandu yesterday. Koirala, who brokered the peace deal that ended a bloody 10-year civil war, died on March 20 aged 85 after a long illness. — AFP

Tens of thousands mourn architect of Nepal’s peace KATHMANDU: Tens of thousands of people gathered in Kathmandu yesterday to pay their last respects to Girija Prasad Koirala, the former Nepalese leader who helped bring a decade-long civil war to an end.

Huge crowds of mourners filled the streets to catch a final glimpse of the former prime minister, who died Saturday aged 85, as his body was driven through the capital to a Hindu temple for cremation.

Koirala, who became Nepal’s first elected prime minister in 1991 after pro-democracy protests, was seen as the guardian of the country’s peace process right up until his death.

“He was a true statesman who led Nepal through its most difficult period,” said banker Sadikshya Poudel, waiting in the hot midday sun to pay his respects. “He was like a father figure and I don’t know what will happen now he is gone.”

Koirala led the Himalayan nation through some of its biggest upheavals, including the 2001 massacre of the king and queen and eight other royals by a drunken crown prince.

But his lasting legacy stems from his decision in 2006 to open talks with Maoist guerrillas waging a bloody insurgency. The move led to a peace agreement later that year and eventually brought the former rebels to power.

His funeral was to be held with full state honours at the Pashupatinath temple on the banks of the holy Baghmati River, where around 40,000 mourners had gathered, police estimated.

In a break with tradition, his daughter, Deputy

Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, was to light the funeral pyre-an honour usually reserved for a male family member.

Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who goes by the nom de guerre Prachanda, said Koirala’s death was an “irreparable loss” to the peace process, which has faltered since the fall of the Maoist-led government last May. “Taking the peace process and constitutionwriting to a logical end and leading the country towards prosperity... will be a true tribute to Koirala,” he said in a statement.

Lawmakers are drafting a new constitution that will shape the future of the world’s youngest republic following the abolition of the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy in 2008.

But with just two months to go until the interim constitution expires, disagreements remain on such fundamental issues as the structure of national government and the creation of federal states.

The question of how to integrate former Maoist fighters into the national army-a key tenet of the peace agreement-also remains unresolved amid fierce disagreement between military leaders and the ex-rebels.

The head of the UN mission in Nepal, Karin Landgren, said the country had lost “a towering figure in its political history”.

“The greatest tribute to G.P. Koirala will be to take up the spirit of his conviction, bringing fresh dedication to concluding the process of preparing a new constitution and consolidating a lasting peace in Nepal,” she added. —AFP

Explosives found aboard India plane THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Explosive material was found in a package on a passenger plane after it landed in southern India, but it was not attached to a detonator and could not have exploded, officials said yesterday.

The package, which was the size of a cricket ball and wrapped in a local newspaper, was found in a bag inside the cargo hold of an aircraft after all 27 passengers had disembarked.

The plane, belonging to Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines, was moved to an isolated area in Thiruvananthapuram airport in the state of Kerala, having flown in from the IT and services hub Bangalore.

“It is a serious security lapse,” said U.K. Bansal, the special secretary for internal security in the home ministry. “As far as we know, there was no detonator and there was no timing device, so the bomb could not have gone off by itself.”

“Nevertheless it’s an explosive ... which is a very serious matter. So we will have to look at the type of security precautions which are put in place at our airports,” he added.

India remains jittery about the threat of militant attacks. A blast in the western city of Pune killed 16 people last month, the first major militant strike since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The home ministry had recommended extra security measures for Indian airlines after intelligence on a threat from militants to hijack a plane in January ahead of the country’s Republic Day. Ajith Kumar, the police commissioner of Thiruvananthapuram, suggested the explosives might have been placed in the hold after the plane landed. “The police will investigate whether the explosive material was placed in the aircraft at Thiruvananthapuram airport,” he said, adding police were questioning airport officials. — Reuters

KOLKATA: An Indian railway worker lights a dia earthenware candle in preparation for flagging off the “Maharajas’ Express”, India’s first pan-India super luxury train, prior to its departure for Delhi from Kolkata on March 20, 2010. The super luxury train costs some 800 US dollars per night per person and was flagged off by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee from the station in Kolkata. — AFP

“It was a suicide bomber who detonated a motorcycle as an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle was passing by,” Daud Ahmadi told AFP. “The blast killed ten civilians and injured seven others,” he said, adding that it took place around 1.45 pm (0915 GMT) in the Gereshk district of Helmand, a cauldron of Taleban insurgent activity.

The blast struck a bridge on the main highway between the capital Kabul and Herat, Afghanistan’s second city, he said.

Beneath the bridge, crowds had gathered on the banks of a stream to mark Nowruz, the Zoroastrian new year which falls on the March 21 equinox.

Helmand’s provincial public health director, Anayatullah Ghafari, said two children were among the wounded taken to a local hospital.

President Hamid Karzai condemned the “terrorist” attack, which he said in a statement was “contrary to all human and Islamic principles... made 17 innocent people swim in blood”.

Gereshk was the target of a military campaign in mid-2009 that attempted to eliminate Taleban insurgents in control of the area, along with local drugs cartels.

Afghan and NATO military chiefs have recently hailed the district as a model of success in clearing out insurgents and replacing their harsh style of justice with government security and civil services.

A military operation is under way in Marjah, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Gereshk, as part of a counter-insurgency strategy aimed at clearing the Taleban out of Helmand, where they control a massive drugs industry.

Preparatory operations, led by US Marines and involving NATO and Afghan troops, have already begun in neighbouring Kandahar province, also a Taleban hotspot and the birthplace of their extremist movement.

More than 120,000 US and NATO troops are being reinforced for the operations, expected to hit 150,000 within months, in an effort to speed up an end to the war and allow foreign troops to draw down from mid-2011.

Afghanistan is just one of many Central Asian states marking Nowruz, though security is tight across the country amid fears of Taleban strikes which have been increasingly staged on national holidays and religious festivals.

The most recent major attack on Kabul occurred on February 26, the Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday, when two guesthouses were targeted in a suicide assault that killed 16 people, including Indians, who appeared to be the main target.

In Mazar-I-Sharif, the main city of northern Afghanistan that annually attracts tens of thousands to Nowruz celebrations at the Blue Mosque-believed to be the grave of the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali-police set up a series of roadblocks and checkpoints to prevent Taliban infiltration.

In eastern Khost province, which borders Pakistan, a roadside bomb-a favoured weapon of the Taleban-linked insurgentskilled two construction company guards when it hit their car yesterday.

Three other people were injured in the blast, said Amir Badshah Rahmatzai Mangal, head of the provincial public health department.

Taleban attacks are the biggest killers of civilians in the Afghan war, according to the United Nations, with roadside bombs and suicide attacks indiscriminate in their collateral damage. —AFP

wheeled motorcycle had apparently been trying to blow up an Afghan army convoy, but missed his target, a spokesman for the government of Helmand province said.

KABUL: Afghans carry a man injured in an explosion in Khost, south of Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday.

Two other civilians died and four were wounded when a roadside bomb went off near a crowd of people celebrating the Afghan New Year at a mountaintop shrine in eastern Afghanistan, a police commander said. — AP

Air strikes kill 15 Taleban in Pakistan PESHAWAR: Air strikes killed 15 Taleban in restive Pakistani northwestern tribal areas yesterday, where militants beheaded three tribesmen accusing them of spying for the United States.

Pakistan’s rugged tribal regions have been wracked by violence since becoming a stronghold for hundreds of Taleban and AlQaeda rebels who fled across the border to escape the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

Separately, a bomb targeting a senior police official killed three people in southwestern Baluchistan province and another bomb damaged an oil tanker carrying fuel for NATO forces stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Five of the militants were killed in air strikes on a village in Orakzai tribal district, where militants fleeing a military operation in South Waziristan tribal district have taken refuge.

“Two jet fighters carried out air strikes

at a militant hideout at Ghiljo. Five militants were killed,” a senior paramilitary official told AFP. In a second air strike in Kurram, another tribal district, 10 militants were killed, the official and local administration chief Fazal Qadir said. The death toll could not be verified by independent sources as the area is under military operations.

In North Waziristan, another tribal district and known as a hot bed of Taleban, militants Sunday beheaded three tribesmen they accused of spying for US forces stationed across the border in Afghanistan.

“Notes found with the bodies said the men were killed for spying for the US,” tribal police official Nisar Khan told AFP. Khan said the Taleban accused the three dead men of killing “several Taleban and ordinary people”.

A local security official confirmed the incident.

Islamist militants frequently kidnap and

kill local tribesmen accusing them of spying for the Pakistani government or US forces, who are battling a Taleban-led insurgency in war-torn neighbouring Afghanistan.

Elsewhere, a remote-controlled bomb attached to a bicycle killed three people and wounded 14 others in Quetta city, capital of the province of Baluchistan.

The blast, which targeted a senior policeman, occurred on a main road in Quetta.

It killed the senior policeman’s driver and a security guard as they drove past, but the policeman was not in the car at the time, police official Hamid Shakeel told AFP. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but similar bombings have been blamed on separatist, secular tribal rebels in Baluchistan.

A timed bomb meanwhile planted on an oil tanker carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan exploded near the southwestern border town of Chaman, leaking fuel but causing no casualties, police said. — AFP

India tests hi-tech new missile NEW DELHI: India successfully tested yesterday a new “manoeuvrable” version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile it developed with Russia, a report said.

The missile was fired from a naval ship in the Bay of Bengal off India’s east coast, BrahMos aerospace chief A. Sivathanu Pillai told the Press Trust of India news agency.

“The missile... manoeuvred, successfully hitting the target ship. It was a perfect hit and a perfect mission,” he said.

India has thus become one of the few countries to possess such a “manoeuvrable supersonic cruise missile”, he said.

The BrahMos can carry a 200-kilogramme (440pound) conventional warhead and has a range of 280 kilometres (175 miles). Indian and Russian experts started development work on the missile in 2001.

A variant of the missile, which gets its name from the rivers of India’s Brahmaputra and Russia’s Moskva, has been in use with the Indian military since 2007. —AFP

NEW DELHI: In this Jan. 26, 2007 file photo, Indian Army’s Brahmos Missiles, a supersonic cruise missile, are displayed during the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India. India successfully tested yesterday a new ‘maneuverable’ version of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, an official said. — AP

OPINION

12

Monday, March 22, 2010

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issues

Fighting hair with a mind of its own

By Harriet Green

O

thers battle with drink or drugs, but my demon is frizzy hair. It looks good when it’s straightened, but turns into candyfloss in even mild humidity. I can only imagine what it would be like to camp at Glastonbury, I shall never visit Hong Kong and I always take a hat with me if it looks like rain. It takes 20 minutes to iron my hair flat.

That’s 140 minutes a week, 560 minutes a month ... the equivalent of five days and nights each year wasted on fighting my hair. So when, this week, the UK’s Office for National Statistics revealed that hair straighteners now outsell hairdryers I was relieved. It was some comfort to discover quite how widespread the quest for straight hair has become.

Some people may think this is frivolous. It’s not. A few years ago, Hillary Clinton stepped onto a podium before Yale’s graduation class to make a speech. “The most important thing I have to say,” she told her eager audience, “is that hair matters. Pay attention to your hair. Because everyone else will.” Cherie Blair, wife of the former UK prime minister, reached the same conclusion. Having been mocked for opening her front door, in 1997, with hair “like a bird’s nest” (her words), she took her hair in hand - only to be criticised during the last election campaign for claiming £7,700 for her hairdressing bills.

The hairdresser John Frieda estimates that 60 percent of the population has frizzy hair, and most of them hate it. “Frizzy hair is dry, coarse and rough-textured.

Who wants that? People with frizzy hair want to make it look smoother, so they can run their hair through their fingers.” When Frieda introduced Frizz-Ease in 1990, it created a global sensation. In 2001, Frieda sold up to the Japanese Kao Corporation for $450 million.

Hair straighteners are an even newer phenomenon. In 1998, another hairdresser, Luke Hersheson, noticed a stylist using straighteners during a fashion shoot. “You couldn’t get straight hair like that then,” Hersheson says. “I said, ‘Where did you get these from? They’re amazing.’ I phoned up this place in Milan immediately and got them to send me some.” He started using the irons during styling sessions at his father’s salon, Daniel Hersheson, then a year later, the salon launched its own Smooth Groove ceramic irons, which immediately became a cult product.

Suddenly, Jennifer Aniston’s long, straight hair was within the grasp of everyone, even a hairdryer klutz like me.

More than a decade on, Hersheson says hair straighteners have now reached critical mass. “They have become a central item in a girl’s beauty regime,” he says. The reason for this is simple: “They are idiot proof, much easier to use than a hairdryer.” He’s quite

right: even some hairdressers admit to having trouble styling their own hair.)

But why is straight, shiny hair so covetable? Philip Kingsley, the trichologist who invented the term “bad hair day”, says: “There is a vital link between sexuality and hair; men prefer straighter, shinier, longer hair.” Rose Weitz, a sociologist and author of an authoritative book about women and their hair, Rapunzel’s Daughters, agrees that hair gives out important signals. “It is personal, growing directly out of our bodies.

It is public, on view for all to see. And it is malleable, allowing us to change it more or less at whim. It’s not surprising that we use our hair to project our identity,” she says.

There is a political side to this, too. Last year, fierce debate raged in America’s black community - sparked by Chris Rock’s film Good Hair over African-American women, such as Michelle Obama, wearing their hair straight and shiny. The film was prompted by Rock’s young daughter coming to him in tears asking, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?”

But the glory days for straight hair could be over.

“Hair fashion changes every decade,” Frieda says. “The 50s backcomb and hairspray, the Vidal Sassoon geometric [in the 60s], the long flicky hair of the 70s, big power hair in the 80s ... if you look at the catwalk now, it’s all curly, wavy hair.” Newby Hands, beauty director of Harper’s Bazaar, agrees. “Poker straight hair has not been a catwalk look for a long time,” she says. “But it’s an easy look to achieve, which is why it’s appealing.

Using straightening irons is a bit like how our mother’s generation used heated rollers it’s not for fashion, it’s so women can control their hair.”

The irony is that today’s loose, wavy catwalk looks think Kate Moss with her bedhead - are actually harder to achieve than the Jennifer Aniston. What to do? Well, Luke Hersheson claims he has perfected an idiot-proof curling iron for people like me. And Hands believes I should try one of the “permanent” blowdry treatments, creating smooth, but not poker-straight hair, available in the top salons. At more than £200 a pop, they are hardly massmarket, but when the price comes down - as Hands believes it will - the treatment could be revolutionary.

I’m not sure. Anybody as neurotic about hair as I am is chronically nervous about trying something new. So, for the moment, I shall stick to my favourite straightening device.

Nine years ago, hearing that it was to be discontinued, I bought 10. Earlier this year, and down to my last one - they blow up after about a year - I searched the Internet for replacements. Eventually, I tracked down a shop in Germany that still had some. I got my husband, who speaks rudimentary German, to order six. I now should have enough to last until 2016. — Guardian

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Muslim, German, female - and a sports star F

By Andre Tucic

atmire Bajramaj is the carefree young face of women’s football in Germany. A Muslim Kosovan, her eventful life story recalls the hit English film Bend it like Beckham, in which a girl footballer strikes out against ethnic prejudices and her family’s reservations. Bajramaj, known commonly as Lira, fled from Kosovo with her family and eventually moved to Mönchengladbach, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, and began playing football there against her father’s will. “He wanted me to do ballet. He said football was only for men,” says Bajramaj.

When she realised she had something to offer on the pitch, Bajramaj signed up for the women’s team at FSC Mönchengladbach, soon moving on to another more ambitious team. Her family found out, but she managed to convince her father to watch her play.

“He’s been my biggest fan ever since,” Bajramaj says with a grin.

At the age of 16 she started receiving inquiries from national league teams, joining FCT Duisburg in 2004 and playing her debut match for the German national side a year later.

Bajramaj has since played in 35 international matches, scoring six goals - probably the most important of which were her two goals in the third place playoff at the 2008 Olympics against Japan.

Bajramaj’s list of successes is impressive: European Under-19 Football Championship, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup and German Football Association (DFB) Cup winner, Olympic bronze, and world and European champion.

Despite her young age, Bajramaj has experienced a great deal, enough to fill the pages of her biography, My Goal in Life - From Refugee to World

Champion, published in October 2009.

The book tells the story of how she grew up in Gjurakovc, at the very heart of the Kosovo conflict. When the Serbian attacks on Kosovans intensified in 1992, her parents fled to Germany with five-year-old Lira and her two brothers.

The Bajramajs left their farm and had to bribe Austrian customs officers to cross the border. They eventually ended up with relatives in North-Rhine Westphalia. They could not stay there long, however, and were transferred to an asylum-seekers’ home. Her father found work as a builder in Mönchengladbach and the family moved into a small flat in the city famous for its football team.

“I want the public to know how difficult it is for refugee children to integrate in Germany. Only sports helped me find friends. I hope my book will encourage young women from ethnic minorities to take the same path,” says Bajramaj. She heard more than her fair share of racist comments on the playground, but later managed to earn respect on the football pitch. “That was when they stopped making stupid comments,” Bajramaj remembers.

Germany is her new home, but Bajramaj still has close links to her old country. Her parents and brothers live in Mönchengladbach, but the rest of the family is still in Kosovo. They visit their relatives once a year, pleased to be there but equally happy to return to Germany. Bajramaj does not want to sever her roots though, which include living out her Muslim faith. “I pray before I go to sleep, before car journeys and matches. But I don’t wear a headscarf, I like wearing makeup and I go to parties.”

Many people still imagine women players all have short hair and stocky legs, one reason why she enjoys play-

ing with her “girlie” image - often wearing makeup on the pitch, playing in pink football boots in last year’s DFB cup final and shooting goals in high heels on a television sports show.

“First and foremost, I want to win, but I want to look good doing it,” says Bajramaj.

But she has more to offer than her looks - she has a big heart too. She has

been an ambassador for the children’s charity World Vision and will soon be sponsoring a child. At the beginning of this year, she was made an ambassador for the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, a movement to renew Europeans’ commitment to solidarity, social justice and greater inclusion. For German Football Association President Theo Zwanziger,

Bajramaj is a shining example of successful integration. He likes bringing her along to public relations appointments and visiting schools with large ethnic minority communities. “I enjoy it,” says Bajramaj. “It’s an honour for me to be a role model.”

NOTE: Andre Tucic is a freelance writer — CGNews

Women healing Pakistan

By Ayeda Naqvi

R

ecently, six relief workers in Mansehra, a city in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP), died after an attack on their office. In 2008, gunmen killed four staff members of another international aid agency.

Charities and international aid organisations are under constant threat in Pakistan, particularly in the NWFP, yet a group of women continue their humanitarian efforts in the region, despite the risks.

Meaning “We are all Pakistani”, the Hum Pakistani Foundation was formed last summer by a group of Pakistani women who joined together as representatives of other organisations or on their own to help the three million internally displaced persons (IDPs) of the Swat Valley who had to leave their homes following the Pakistani army’s operation in Northern Pakistan to root out Taliban extremists.

In the midst of so many crises, the government’s efforts to provide relief to its affected citizens often leave much to be desired. It has been incumbent on the private citizens of Pakistan to come together and take charge of providing relief to their less fortunate compatriots.

In less than a year, as the first umbrella organisation to bring together more than 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and thousands of people to work towards the common goal of alleviating the misery of the IDPs, the Hum Pakistani Foundation was able to set up schools, medical camps, community centres and psychiatric counselling centres in the Swat Valley. It also sent $100,000 worth of food, medical supplies, water storage tanks, stoves and other products to areas most in need. Today, as many of the IDPs have returned to their homes, the foundation is focused on helping the residents of Swat and

Malakand, the most troubled areas of the NWFP, rebuild their lives. Here, Hum Pakistani has been given forts and other buildings by the Pakistan Army which, in collaboration with UNICEF, it is now using as schools, hostels and community centres.

Many of these community centres are used for the rehabilitation of young boys between the ages of eight and 16 who were allegedly kidnapped by extremists and were able to run away.

Most of these boys were being indoctrinated and trained to become suicide bombers or informants.

The centres focus on re-integrating these boys into society by providing them with medical and psychiatric assistance, offering them schooling and, eventually, vocational training so that they can pursue professions in carpentry, electrical services and appliance repair. This spring, these boys will also be given agro-therapy, participating in farming as a way of dealing with their trauma.

As Feriha Peracha, Project Director of Sabaoon - an academy for the vulnerable youth of Malakand and Hum Pakistani partner - explains, “Agro-therapy is important for these young boys, not just as therapy, but as a skill to enhance their output as many of them come from farming backgrounds.”

Additionally, the foundation has created community centres that aim to empower women. They provide a space in which women can safely interact with each other and learn skills that will eventually help them set up small businesses focusing on indigenous crafts, such as pottery and embroidery. This model is now being picked up by other organisations in different parts of the country.

NOTE: Ayeda Naqvi is a Lahore-based journalist and social activist — CGNews

US-Israel spat fortifies Obama’s hand

By Robert Burns

A

n extraordinary test of wills between the United States and Israel has left the Obama administration a stronger negotiator both with its closest ally in the Middle East and with Arab nations needed to broker peace with the Palestinians. The US appears likely to pull Israel and the Palestinians back toward preliminary peace talks after more than a week of harsh words about Israeli housing policies that Arabs and many Americans see as land grabs.

The way ahead probably will become clearer in coming days as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington as early as today and US Mideast envoy George Mitchell resumes his shuttle diplomacy.

Netanyahu’s meetings with US officials will test the limits of US influence over its closest ally in the Middle East and the rightwing Israeli leader’s latitude with even more hawkish elements of his fractious governing coalition.

The US-Israeli dustup began when Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new apartments for Jews in contested east

Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want to serve as their capital. The announcement was made during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe Biden, deeply embarrassing the Obama administration just as it believed indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians were about to begin. The Arab League abruptly withdrew its endorsement of the preliminary talks, to be managed by Mitchell.

Palestinians want Israel to halt all construction of settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. They claim those areas for a future state, along with the Gaza Strip.

Clinton condemned the Israelis for their action, even questioning the Jewish state’s commitment to its security relationship with Washington. On Saturday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said during a visit to the West Bank that Israeli settlement building anywhere on occupied land is illegal and must be stopped, as he got a closer look at some of the Israeli enclaves scattered across

Palestinian-claimed territories.

But the US is giving Netanyahu political breathing space while saddling him with a political debt that Washington hopes will lead him to engage more forthrightly in peace talks with the Palestinians. From the Arab point of view, the administration’s willingness to tussle with Netanyahu over a key issue in the peace process can be seen as evidence of US evenhandedness.

There is little prospect of reaching an early settlement of the long-running conflict, but talks under almost any conditions are a diplomatic coup for President Barack Obama, who pledged as a candidate that he would make peace a priority and not wait for perfect conditions that might never come. Talks broke off more than a year ago, in the closing days of the Bush administration. Mitchell canceled plans to go to the region last week because of the breach.

Once Netanyahu addressed US demands that Israel make up for the housing announcement, Clinton dispatched Mitchell to make preparations for the planned talks in which he will be the intermediary.

The Israeli leader called Clinton on Thursday to present his response, and although

details have not been made public, Clinton indicated Friday that it was good enough - she called it “useful and productive” - to send Mitchell back to the region. Although Clinton mentioned no specifics, one element of Netanyahu’s response apparently was to endorse the goahead for a long-stalled housing project in the Gaza Strip, where poor humanitarian conditions are a growing source of worry in Europe and elsewhere. In a joint statement after their Moscow meeting Friday, the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers - the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - called attention to the Israeli gesture, which it said was among several new Israeli moves to ease conditions in Gaza. Steven A Cook, a Mideast expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, said on the think tank’s website Friday that the US-Israeli divide over settlements is evidence that Israel and Washington are at odds about a two-state solution - an outcome to peace talks in which Israel and a viable, independent Palestinian state would exist side by side. “Regardless of the way they have chosen to approach the issue, Washington’s support for a twostate solution to the Palestinian-

Israeli conflict puts it in direct conflict with Jerusalem,” he wrote.

Michele Dunne, a Mideast analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said in an e-mail exchange Friday that the decision to send Mitchell back to the Middle East this weekend is a clear sign that the US has decided to let Netanyahu off the hook for now. “It seems that the US has decided to accept whatever confidence building measures Netanyahu offered,” she said, adding that another telltale sign will be whether Obama chooses to see the Israeli leader while he’s in Washington. “US actions will be shaped largely by whether Obama believes Netanyahu is capable of real moves toward peace or not,” Dunne said.

For her part, Clinton apparently holds that view of Netanyahu. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp, Clinton was asked Friday whether it was worth the risk to have escalated tensions with Israel over the settlements issue. “I think we’re going to see the resumption of the negotiations track, and that means it is paying off,” she said, because the main goal is to get the two sides back to bargaining. — AP

ANALYSIS

Monday, March 22, 2010

13

Congress skates on thin parliamentary ice

By Alistair Scrutton

T

he Indian government’s ambitions to boost economic growth through pro-market legislation may be sinking into parliamentary quicksand amid a slew of stalled bills, reluctant allies and an emboldened opposition. In just the last week, the ruling Congress party has seen its landmark women’s and nuclear liability bills stalled despite the left-of-centre government enjoying a parliamentary majority after 2009’s resounding reelection. With clumsy party management and a degree of political haughtiness after that victory, Congress managed to lose some parliamentary allies, annoy others and galvanise a divided opposition who believe the ruling coalition majority is softer than it seems.

While the women’s bill was socially rather than economically significant, a message of weakness was sent out. In doubt now is the government’s ability to pass other important laws, from the introduction of foreign universities into India to the opening up of insurance to foreign companies, the latter lan-

cast to grow at more

guishing in a standing committee. The nuclear bill, which limits nuclear firms’ liability in case of industrial accidents, will delay entry of US firms into India’s $150 billion nuclear market and is a setback for industry, where power blackouts can be a huge drain on resources.

“The government’s biggest mistake has been arrogance,” said Mukhtar Naqvi, vice president of the main opposition party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which supported the women’s bill to reserve a third of parliamentary seats to females. “That has meant many parties that were willing to support bills in the parliament have now lost confidence in the government. “That will make passing reforms through parliament more difficult in the future.”

Recovering quicker than expected from the global crunch, India’s economy is fore-

than 7 percent this year and nearly 9 percent in 2011. But investors question its sustainability unless policies are introduced to push investment into India’s dilapidated roads, ports and airports and allow India’s large savings to be channelled into productive returns. Bills that liberalise insurance and banking look increasingly off the table as does legislation to open up retail, which could resolve supply bottlenecks contributing to high inflation Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s budget last month relies on growth over spending cuts to reduce the fiscal deficit from a 16 year high of 6.9 percent and help cut record borrowing. Not all reform will need legislation, and the government has already passed cuts in fertiliser subsidies and raised fuel prices to reduce the fiscal deficit. Sales of stakes in state firms are also underway. But a weakness in parliament sends a signal across India’s political

spectrum. Plans to streamline tax revenues depend on each of India’s 28 states agreeing, and political bickering among its allies will do nothing to help that. Markets have priced in the slow pace of reform as something in India’s DNA and are resigned that this democracy of 1 billion people and more than 20 official languages will never be able to compete with rival China when it comes to bulldozing policy. And some in the government say don’t worry about speed. “Nine percent growth even without those reforms we will manage,” said Kaushik Basu, chief economic adviser to the finance ministry.

But the coalition’s weakening came quicker than expected.

This was meant to be an easy year for Congress, riding high after re-election and with few state elections to worry about.

The women’s bill put a stop to that. The withdrawal of the Samajwadi Party and the RJD from supporting the coalition in protest cost Congress 26 seats in the lower house. Congress has 208 seats - 64 short of a majority - and it relies on a host of other parties to stay in government. Two regional parties

within the coalition, Trinamool Congress from West Bengal and the DMK from Tamil Nadu, have opposed the government over fuel price hikes in the budget, although they are staying in the coalition. The majority coalition may be in fact be the equivalent of the fairy tale’s emperor with new clothes. “The Congress party has to stop deluding itself that it has a twothirds majority in parliament,” wrote political analyst Manoj Joshi in the Mail Today. “It does not even have a majority.”

Congress has realised it made mistakes. “We should have held more consultations with the opposition parties, particularly the BJP,” one senior Congress party leader and government minister told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The opposition appears invigorated, especially the BJP. It is renewing its leadership and is challenging the government over its Archiles heel - food inflation.

Food inflation and the need to recover from the global crunch have already distracted Congress from introducing new policies. Now political mistakes have cost it wasted weeks in parliament. — Reuters

Anti-graft drive dominates US Africa policy I

By Daniel Magnowski

n the eight months since US President Barack Obama’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa, the army has seized power in Niger, a power struggle in Nigeria bedevils its government, and Guinea’s then leader stands accused of involvement in a massacre. Hardly events in line with the goals that Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, spelled out to an overwhelmingly positive response, but the United States says it is undeterred from banging the drum for democracy.

“We are actively implementing the policy priorities that President Obama identified in his historic speech in Ghana. Those priorities are democracy and good governance, economic development public health, conflict prevention and mitigation,” a spokesman for the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department said in response to emailed questions. The message Africans say they are hearing most clearly from Washington is that corruption is the root of many of Africa’s troubles. “Since the inauguration of President Obama ... I have not seen anything apart from asking African leaders to fight corruption,” said Patrick Wafula, a businessman from western Kenya, who agreed that governmental corruption was one of the Africa’s biggest problems. Obama even used this year’s State of the Union address to highlight the effects of corruption in Africa, and his officials have been vocal on the subject.

Visiting Nigeria in January, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blasted what she called “unbelievable” levels of corruption in that country, one of Africa’s biggest oil exporters, drawing a link between poor governance and the growth of extremism. “Persistent corruption ... undermines government institutions at all levels and erodes confidence in democratic elections as a way of effectuating real change,” the State Department said, citing other examples of US efforts. In Niger, the soldiers who took power last month

immediately won explicit domestic support, and tacit Western approval, for their anti-graft stance. In Senegal on the West African coast, for years seen as a rare example of democracy and stability in a historically volatile region, high-level corruption is now near the top of the political agenda. Aid agency USAID is requesting from Congress $4.4 million this year for its “Governing Justly and Democratically” program in Senegal, almost ten times the amount it spent on the same project two years ago. The overall aid budget is rising too: USAID wants $6.7 billion for Africa this year, up from an estimated spend of $5.7 billion last year.

For some Africans, aid handouts do not adequately create the conditions needed for economic growth and development that Obama, on his visit to Ghana last July, said go hand in hand with good governance and democracy.

“The United States needs to refocus their policy on Africa in a beneficial partnership,” said Abubakar Momoh, professor of politics at Lagos University. “What Africa needs is to be treated with respect ... and given equitable opportunities to western and American markets that will allow us to grow.”

The African Union complained in January that the United States was denying some African countries access to its markets by withdrawing trade benefits from Madagascar, Guinea and Niger, citing an “undemocratic” transfer of power in each. On the continent, emotions were high but expectations of Obama were realistically modest. Most Africans never believed Africa was going to shoot up America’s list of policy priorities, given its domestic economic turmoil and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Kwesi Pratt, a Ghanaian newspaper publisher, goes further, saying he believes the Obama administration has distanced itself from Africa. “The Bush administration did much better for Africa than we are seeing under Obama,” he said. President George W Bush is highly regarded by many

Africans for launching humanitarian initiatives such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the President’s Malaria Initiative.

Still, Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, executive director at the Centre for Democratic Development in Ghana, said the emotional connection Africans felt with Obama would endure. “For me

the Obama presidency is a symbolism associated with direct African heritage and no matter what happens, it is still significant today as it was when he assumed office,” he said. — Reuters

Street politics prevail in Bangkok

By Peter Janssen

B

angkok has witnessed another week of street politics, a seemingly more effective means of achieving political goals in Thailand than the dull parliamentary process. Once again, tens of thousands of anti-government protestors have settled in the capital, pressing for the resignation of the prime minister, the dissolution of parliament and new elections. Although the demonstration has been peaceful to date, the threat of violence lurks beneath the surface. A cat-and-mouse game is going on between the protestors and authorities to see who will lose their cool first and resort to force.

Government crackdowns on demonstrations is deemed political suicide in Thailand. In May 1992, newly appointed Prime Minister General Suchinda Krapayoon ordered troops to fire on a mass demonstration calling for his resignation and an end to military intervention in politics. The confrontation put Thailand on the cusp of a civil war, which was only defused by the intervention of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who gave an audience to Suchina and protest leader Chamlong Srimuang, after which Sunchinda resigned. Jatuporn Prompan, one of the leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), learned his tactics as an organizer of the 1992 demonstration. Sources close to the UDD say they are pursuing a similar game plan this month. The so-called red shirts have been holding daily rallies in Bangkok since March 14 to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

They initially promised to bring 1 million protestors, but the demonstrations peaked at about 100,000. Lacking overwhelming numbers, they employed other tactics such as pouring blood drawn form their followers on the steps of Government House, the headquarters of the Democrat Party and the home of Abhisit, the leader of the Democrats.

On Saturday, the UDD shifted gear and organized a “red caravan” through the capital, comprising an estimated 10,000 motorcycles, 7,000 pickups and cars, and somewhere between 65,000 to 100,000 participants. Abhisit on Saturday said he was willing to negotiate with the UDD on the precondition that they do not raise issues related to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains the de facto leader of the Puea Thai opposition party and a

key player behind the UDD. Thaksin is currently a fugitive living in Dubai, fleeing a two-year jail conviction for abuse of power, but he has made phone-in calls to the rallies every night, urging them to continue their protests and promising to return to fix the economy, solve Bangkok traffic and bring back democracy. To what extent Thaksin controls the UDD leadership remains unclear. He has opposed several of their tactics, such as the blood-letting stunt, and last week opposed an offer by Thailand’s Human Rights Commission to moderate negotiations between the government and protestors.

“The UDD need Thaksin but it will be harder for them to use Thaksin-related issues in their demands because what can they say? He doesn’t have to go to jail at all?

Return his property to him? It’s too much,” said Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former top executive of Thaksin’s defunct Thai Rak Thai Party. Thaksin is still known to be a major financier of both the UDD and Puea Thai, despite having lost 1.4 billion in cash seized by the Supreme Court on Feb 26, when it found him guilty of abusing his powers as premier between 2001-06 to the benefit of his family’s Shin Corp business empire.

As of yesterday, the UDD appeared willing to get beyond Thaksin in its negotiations with the government, insisting only on holding talks directly with Abhisit. “We will only hold talks with someone who is honest and has complete authority,” UDD co-leader Weng Tojirakarn said.

“And we have only one demand, the dissolution of the government. That’s all,” Weng said, denying the movement would also push for amnesty for Thaksin.

But Abhisit has previously insisted that he is willing to dissolve parliament only after three conditions have been met: the recovery of the economy; a peaceful politic environment; and constitutional amendments to assure a fair election. Those are all tall orders, especially as many members of his own Democrat Party are among the most vocal opponents to any changes in the current charter, which arguably favours them. And it is unclear whether all the leaders of the UDD are willing to limit talks to Abhisit, whom some claim is a mere figurehead for Bangkok’s political elite, the military and monarchists. What seems certain is that more street politics are in store for Bangkok this week. — dpa

Delicate bonds keep a president afloat

By Julie Pace and Ron Fournier

US

President Barack Obama has forged a complicated personal connection with the American public: Many voters consider him a principled and inspiring leader even as they question his policies and job performance. That delicate bond has given Obama a reservoir of goodwill that is sustaining his presidency in tough times - a political firewall of sorts. As Jessica Luna, a 21-year-old Democrat from Austin, Minnesota,: “If you like someone, you’ll give them time to accomplish their goals.”

But Obama’s likability ratings have slipped a bit, raising an ominous question: Is the bond fraying? History suggests such a connection could give way at any time - over almost any issue - and send Obama into the kind of nosedive from which other presidents never recovered.

Obama needs to look no further than his predecessor. George W Bush enjoyed high approval ratings through much of his first term, only to see them slip during the Iraq war and then plummet after the botched response to Hurricane Katrina.

His presidency limped to a conclusion. “There was a sense that this man didn’t care,” says

Republican pollster Steve Lombardo. “That can be virtually debilitating.” Every president has character traits that bind him to voters, at least initially. That gut-level connection matters to people as much, and arguably more, than a president’s policies, sometimes keeping him afloat through political storms.

Obama’s personal approval rating has trended 5 to 7 percentage points higher than his job approval rating, a likability benefit that is not inconsistent with past presidents. Bill Clinton’s

strongest attribute was empathy. The sense that he would work for you, to use one of his phrases, “until the last dog dies”, kept his presidency going after its rocky first two years and during the Monica Lewinsky intern scandal. Bush was seen as a strong and decisive leader, traits that kept many voters on his side despite misgivings over the Iraq war. He knew that character trumped policies when he declared in 2004, “Even when you might not agree with me, you know where I stand.”

Obama’s advisers like to draw parallels between their boss and another Republican president, Ronald Reagan. His likability ratings remained high despite an economic recession in the early 1980s and rough patches later. “People believed that he had strong principles,” says senior Obama adviser David Axelrod. “They thought he was a likable, admirable person.” Axelrod says Obama is viewed the same way - and there is evidence that he is right. At least, to a point. Obama’s job

approval rating, perhaps the best gauge of an incumbent’s re-election chances, has been hovering around 50 percent since October. It would probably be much lower - the healthcare debate and bank bailouts have drained him politically - if voters did not like him so much, Democratic and Republican pollsters agree.

“Voters think Obama is sincere, wants to do well and has a stable and real marriage,” Republican pollster Bill McInturff said. “Those are all important things because when people like a president, they will give him a chance to do his job even when they’re not so sure about his policies.” A look inside Obama’s ratings show that he has actually gained ground since taking office on the public’s view of his values and his ability to manage a crisis, according to NBC News-Wall Street Journal polling conducted by McInturff.

But those are not the character traits got him elected.

He has experienced doubledigit declines on personal attributes that hew closely to the Obama political brand - his ability to inspire, unify the country and achieve his goals. While those ratings are still high, the trend could spell trouble. But like Bush and Reagan before him, Obama’s strongest suit may be voters’ belief in the sincerity

of his motives. Item: Nearly 6 in 10 Americans say Obama is more interested in serving the public than interest groups, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll. Only 13 percent think the same of Congress.

Still, strategists in both parties say the health care fight for Obama could be the rough equivalent of what the first years of the Iraq war were for Bush - a long, but less-than-debilitating slog that weakened his bond with the public. What could destroy Obama’s bond, as Katrina did for Bush? Anything that galvanizes the public’s growing questions about his abilities to inspire and unify the US Or anything that raises questions about the purity of his motives. Deal-cutting on health care. A failure to create promised jobs - or an incident that shows a lack of empathy toward people who have lost them. Anything could go wrong. But, clearly, the character issue has bought Obama time. “If he’s able to turn things around, he’ll stand up as one of the top presidents in history,” says Republican voter Tony Gay of Redwood City, California, who worries about the direction Obama has pointed the country. The Republican called Obama “honest, sincere - more of a people’s president.” The question is, how long will that be enough? — AP

focus

EU ready to bare its teeth on Iran

By Luke Baker

T

he European Union will announce plans today to take steps against Iran’s jamming of foreign satellite broadcasts, a move that shows a willingness to take firm unilateral measures against Tehran. The initiative is separate to US-led efforts to secure another round of UN sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program, but it is an indication that the EU would be prepared to act on its own against Iran if a UN resolution fails. The draft of an EU foreign ministers’ declaration to be issued today expresses “grave concern” at measures taken by the Iranian authorities to block citizens’ access to foreign TV and radio satellite broadcasts and to the Internet.

“The EU is determined to pursue these issues and to act with a view to put an end to this unacceptable situation,” reads the draft, obtained by Reuters.

Diplomats said the intention was to take concrete action, not just issue a verbal warning. It is not clear what steps EU member states could take to stop the jamming, which involves Iran’s blocking of transmissions by French satellite operator Eutelsat and affects the BBC and Deutsche Welle, among other broadcasters.

But French newspaper Le Figaro reported last week it could include blocking the export of equipment made by companies such as Siemens and Nokia that makes it possible to intercept email and mobile phone conversations. In that respect, the EU’s move would constitute a testing of the waters of how further, deeper sanctions could be imposed against Iran’s uranium enrichment program by the West if UN-backed sanctions were to fail. “UN sanctions on Iran are a separate issue, but you could see this (the EU move on Iranian jamming) as part of overall efforts to lay the ground for tighter sanctions going forward,” a senior EU diplomat said.

Winning UN Security Council

backing for a fourth round of sanctions remains the priority for the United States, Britain, France and Germany - the four countries driving the effort to secure a resolution. But the originally hoped-for February deadline for getting a deal has passed, with China remaining adamantly opposed and Russia also reluctant, if more amenable than Beijing. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said last week it may now take until June to get backing from all five permanent Security Council members and even then he said he wasn’t sure a deal could be reached.

With the clock ticking - the United States referred to the need for “crippling” sanctions at the start of the year - EU officials are increasingly talking about “autonomous” action, which means the European Union, the United States and their allies imposing unilateral measures on Tehran. Finland’s foreign minister, Alexander Stubb, said last week a Security Council resolution remained the goal, “but failing that, we’ll just have to do it unilaterally and by unilateral I mean the EU directly on Iran”.

“Time is running out,” he added, saying he believed there was “consensus enough” within the European Union for autonomous measures, which would likely target Iranian banks and insurance companies and specific members of the Revolutionary Guard.

Officially no discussion of any unilateral EU-US measures will be discussed until it is clear a Security Council resolution is not going to be possible. But informally those conversations are already going on, EU diplomatic sources say, and companies that do business in Iran have taken note. Siemens, with annual sales of Ä500 million ($680 million) in Iran, said in January it would not accept any new orders from Tehran, and two large German insurance companies - Munich Re and Allianz - said last month they would also wind up business there as pressure for sanctions grows. — Reuters

UK election polling split poses dilemma

By Tim Castle

V

oters, politicians and markets are being offered contrasting visions of the outcome of Britain’s imminent national election depending on which opinion polls they read. One is a near consensus view that Britain is heading for its first hung parliament since 1974 with no single party in overall control; the other sees a comfortable victory for the opposition Conservatives over ruling Labour. Most pollsters, including ComRes, ICM, Ipsos-MORI, Populus and YouGov, have reported a decline in the Conservative lead since mid-January from a double digit gap last year to between around 4 and 9 percent now.

By contrast, Angus Reid Public Opinion has consistently shown the Conservatives enjoying a double digit lead since it started surveying British political opinion last year. Uncertainty generated by the polls has buffeted sterling, with traders driving the currency down 4 cents after a particularly narrow YouGov poll earlier this month, before buying it back days later on an Angus Reid poll. The pound has fallen 6 percent against the dollar since January, in line with the decline in the Conservative lead reported by the main polling firms.

The Conservatives’ sterner approach to tackling Britain’s record £178 billion ($270 billion) budget deficit has found favour in financial markets.

The Conservatives want to get to work on the deficit this year, while Labour’s deficit reduction measures would only kick in next year. Polling companies have been measuring the political mood since the 1930s by interviewing a small but representative sample of the population and have a good track record of predicting election outcomes.

But they have suffered failures, miscalculating the outcomes of the 1948 US presidential election, Britain’s 1992 national vote and the first round of France’s 2002 presidential race. The current split in UK forecasting is caused by differing polling methodologies and cre-

ates a dilemma for anyone betting on the outcome - which pollster, if any, should they trust?

The contest pitches an old guard of established research firms against the fresh kid on the block, Angus Reid - part of Canadian research firm Vision Critical - new to Britain but whose chief executive is well known in north America.

The Conservatives are seen needing at least a 10-point advantage if they are to be certain of a majority in parliament, because of an uneven distribution of the vote. That has lead to a widely held view the election, expected on May 6, will have an inconclusive result, a prospect that unnerves markets almost more than any other. Angus Reid has consistently put Labour’s share of the vote around 5 percentage points below other polls, while finding comparable results for the Conservatives and the smaller opposition Liberal Democrat party.

Its research director Andy Morris said the firm remained “very confident we are calling this correctly” despite its forecasts lying outside the range of other researchers. “If we look back at previous elections the pollsters tend to overestimate Labour,” Morris said. “So being low on Labour is probably no bad thing.” Around half its lower score for Labour comes from including a smaller proportion of people saying they voted for the party at the last election in 2005 than some of the other pollsters.

Labour’s vote share also suffers from a higher proportion of Angus Reid’s respondents - all online, as are YouGov’s - saying they back fringe parties such as the eurosceptic UK Independence Party and the farright British National Party.

Morris says the relative anonymity of the Internet could be encouraging respondents to be more open about their preferences than if questioned by telephone canvassers. The mainstream pollsters back their claim to be accurately recording the national mood by noting they all show broadly the same results despite operating their surveys in three quite different ways.— Reuters

NEWS

14 Fish and chips marks 150 yrs as Brit classic Continued from Page 1 capital, with celebrity diners including Jude Law, Kate Moss and the cream of British acting talent from the nearby theatres. White linen tableclothes and dark wood panelling mark it out as a refined establishment, but there, on the menu, is fish and chips. “It’s one of our top sellers,” said head chef Richard Kirkwood, with about 150 to 200 portions sold in the restaurant each week. “For me, there’s something quite special about putting your knife into a light, crispy batter and then into the soft part of the fish and eating it together,” he told AFP. “You’ve got the crunchy, you’ve got the soft, you’ve got the sweet peas, the crispy chips. It’s a great meal.”

For £17.50 ($26), you’d expect something special, and the chefs here pride themselves on using fresh, sustainably caught haddock, deep fried in a light beer batter and served with chips and minted mushy peas. The dish is served with tartare sauce, malt vinegar and tomato ketchup on request, all traditional fishand-chip condiments - although diners here often wash it all down with champagne. It is a far cry from the humble origins of the dish, which emerged from the fried fish cooked by Jewish communities in London’s East End and the chipped

potatoes favoured in the factories of industrial northwest England.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) believes the first fish and chip shop was set up in 1860 - which makes 2010 its 150th birthday - although chippies in northern England and London still argue over where this shop was. John Walton, an academic who wrote a history of fish and chips, says that whatever its roots, the expansion of the railways in this period and the advent of steam-powered fishing trawlers meant the dish soon spread across Britain. By the first world war, the industry had positioned fish and chips as a patriotic dish, and in the 1930s Harry Ramsden became the first to sell it to richer clients in his Yorkshire restaurant that grew into a national chain.

These days, the food is loved by Britons and tourists alike. In a 2008 poll, fish and chips was voted above the queen as the thing Britons best love about Britain, while lawmakers celebrated its birthday this year with a motion proclaiming it as “at the heart of British culture”. Meanwhile, Rock and Sole Plaice, which claims to be the oldest chippie in London, is on the capital’s tourist trail and serves up to 2,000 portions a day, largely to foreigners - including Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Fish and chips has also gone abroad.

According to Tim Hughes, chef director of Caprice Holdings which owns J Sheekey and other celebrity haunts including The Ivy, it is a favourite in their restaurants in New York and Dubai. “In upper Manhattan in New York they watch their weight like mad, but they love fish and chips, they can’t get enough of it,” he said. The health question is a problem.

Although initially seen as a good source of protein for poor workers, these days anything deep fried goes against the trend for healthy, organic food.

However, NFFF president Douglas Roxburgh insists that providing it is cooked well, it is healthier than other fast foods. “Two a week, one a week, as part of a healthy balanced diet, it’s very good for you,” he said. And many would agree. On the beachfront in Brighton on England’s south coast, diners brave a chilly wind to eat their cod and haddock and chips outside one of the town’s bestloved chippies, Jaws Fish Bar. Although the traditional way of wrapping the food in newspaper fell foul of European Union regulations years ago, Jaws keeps it simple, serving it up in a polystyrene bowl with a plastic fork for the bargain price of £4.90. “It’s just so easy to eat, it’s so fresh, so hot and tasty. It’s wonderful, you can’t beat it,” said customer Ian Neary. — AFP

Iceland volcano erupts Continued from Page 1 of emergency and to immediately evacuate the area. It was the first volcanic eruption in Iceland since 2004, and the first in the vicinty of Eyjafjallajoekull, in the south of the island, since 1823.

“We did not have time to be afraid and everyone was so calm and stoical,” farmer Dorhildur Bjarnadottir, 51, told AFP in Hvolsvoellur, a small town of 800 near the glacier where some of the evacuees took refuge. “The worst part in all of this is to leave our animals behind at home,” her husband added. “Around 600 people have been evacuated and the area is still closed,” local police chief Kjartan Thorkelsson told AFP. “Because the eruption is still going strong, we will continue to keep the highest level of security.” He added: “All roads are closed and continue to be closed, but those who need to drive between places will be registered and allowed to do so. We encourage people who have been evacuated to remain calm.”

Significant floods were avoided because the fissure eruption occurred between two large glaciers, Eyjafjallajoekull and Myrdalsjoekull, said Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a professor of geophysics and civil protection advisor.

“We are extremely lucky that the eruption did not occur underneath the glacier, so therefore a gigantic glacier flood did not occur,” Gudmundsson said. With about 15 magma exits at the fissure, he said, the volcano “is not a big eruption” by Icelandic standards. But Gudmundsson warned that extreme caution had to be exercised, because the eruption was taking place so close to two large glaciers.

“The eruption could end within one or two days, but also within one or two

years,” he told reporters.

The Red Cross set up an emergency telephone line and opened three evacuation centres in the towns of Hella, Hvolsvoellur and Vik to help people displaced by the eruption. “People have been extremely calm and the registration of inhabitants went splendidly,” Red Cross field manager Hrafnhildur Bjornsdottir told AFP. Bjoerk Valdimarsdottir, whose sister lives in the vicinity of the eruption, told Swedish news website dn.se the area’s residents had completed evacuation drills last summer to be prepared for a volcanic eruption. “Everything went smoothly thanks to last summer’s practicing,” she said, adding residents were asked to refrain from using their mobile phones to avoid overloading the network.

Valdimarsdottir said the glow from the eruption could be seen near the capital, where she lives. “There are lots of people who want to go there to take a look and that’s why they closed the road some miles out of Reykjavik,” she said. “Those who live in the area are enormously worried about their animals. The ashes can poison the soil and kill the cattle.” Asked

by Swedish public radio if she felt there was any danger, local resident Christina Bengtsson also said the biggest problem was volcanic ash. “The ashes can be dangerous for the animals,” she said. “When we went out before, we could feel (the ash) in our mouths. From my window, I see a red sky. If I went out the door, I could also see fire.”

Scientists said further volcanic activity could be imminent as three previous eruptions at Eyjafjallajokull had all triggered eruptions at Mt Katla, a powerful volcano to the east of the glacier. “What we know is that an eruption in

Eyjafjallajokull seems to be a trigger for Mt Katla,” geophysicist Pall Einarsson said on Icelandic state television. An eruption at Mt Katla would be a far larger and more serious event, Einarsson said, as lava could melt the ice at the top of the mountain, setting off massive flooding. Mt Katla, which usually blows every half century, has not erupted since 1918, he added.

First settled by Vikings in the 9th century, Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice because of its volcanos and glaciers. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the Hekla volcano the “Gateway to Hell”, believing that souls were dragged below. Hekla is Iceland’s most active volcano. In the mid-1780s, the Laki volcano erupted, prompting scores to die of famine when livestock and crops were destroyed.

Iceland, an island with a population of just 320,000, has been better known recently for its financial troubles. After a decade of dizzying economic growth that saw Icelandic banks and companies snap up assets around the world, the global financial crisis wreaked political and economic havoc on the island nation.

Iceland’s banks collapsed within a week in Oct 2008, its krona currency plummeted and protests toppled the government. The new left-of-center government has been trying to negotiate a plan to repay $3.5 billion to Britain and $1.8 billion to the Netherlands as compensation for funds that those governments paid to citizens who had accounts with Icesave, an Icelandic Internet bank that failed along with its parent, Landsbanki.

Icelandic voters this month resoundingly rejected a $5.3 billion plan to repay that debt.— Agencies

Lebanon liquid gold is just trickling away Continued from Page 1 left for future generations as the population, which currently stands at four million, increases. Fadi Comair, who heads hydraulic and electrical resources at the energy and water ministry, said that unless the problem is addressed - and quickly - Lebanon could even run dry within four years. “There is no miracle solution,” he said. “We need to build dams, artificial lakes, a new network and work hand in hand with the private sector.

“If you take into account population increase and climate change, we have enough water to last us another four years, until 2015,” Comair said.

It is a warning that hits home hard where it hurts the most. “As we celebrate World Water Day today we must reflect on the fact that Lebanon should be exporting this resource rather than sitting by and watching it slowly diminish,” said Antoine Issa, head of the local council in Amsheet. “This is a blessing and we have no idea how to preserve it.”

The tiny country bordering Syria and Israel has no fewer than 40 major streams, 2,000 springs and numerous

waterfalls that form each year with the melting snow. But the 1975-1990 civil war and years of political unrest have relegated the water issue to the backburner.

Water rights are also a constant source of dispute between Lebanon and Israel, where the resource is even more scarce.

Comair said Lebanon annually has an average 2.1 billion cu m of renewable hydraulic resources. “We use about a billion of that as drinking water or for irrigation and industrial purposes,” Comair said. “The rest - meaning more than half is dumped in the Mediterranean.” The fact that much of the country’s sewage is channelled into the sea rather than recycled compounds Lebanon’s water problem, he said. “Not only are we polluting the Mediterranean but this water is very valuable economically and could be used for irrigation or other purposes,” Comair said. “Instead we end up using fresh water for irrigation, and that’s catastrophic.”

Experts also say that many rivers, including the Nahr Al-Kabeer and Orontes shared by Lebanon and Syria and the Wazzani and Hasbani shared with Israel, are not exploited, partly because

of their strategic location. “Water is a sensitive political issue and it’s true that any attempt by the state to exploit its rivers in the south would meet with a reaction from Israel,” said Nadim Farajalla, professor of hydrology and water at the American University of Beirut. “But if we don’t do anything there will come a point where the international community will tell us that we have lost our rights to exploit this water,” he added. “We lack a global vision as concerns water and badly manage this resource.”

A sad example of waste is the northern Akkar region, one of the country’s poorest, where a mere 54 percent of homes are connected to the public water grid despite the area being rich in underground water. “Even those connected don’t always have water because the infrastructure is so outdated and there are huge leaks,” said Aisha Mushref, who works with Mada, a nongovernmental organisation that carried out a study on the issue titled “Forgotten Akkar”. “People in this region still have to go and fetch water from the river.” -— AFP

Panel approves privatization bill Continued from Page 1 Thursday and if it feels that it does not have the sufficient number to protect the minister, it might resign or the minister might quit.

In another development, the Islamist Reform and Development Bloc yesterday warned the government against finalizing a deal for the purchase of French Rafale warplanes, describing the deal as “suspicious”. The group also warned the government in a statement against “squandering public funds”. The bloc comprises of MPs Jamaan Al-Harbash, Waleed AlTabtabaei, Faisal Al-Mislem and Falah AlSawwagh.

The statement was issued in response

to statement by Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah last week when he reiterated that the purchase of Rafale planes remained a top priority for the government. In November last year, the Assembly agreed unanimously to ask the independent Audit Bureau to launch a probe into three proposed arms deals with the United States and France. The deals include the planned purchase of an unspecified number of US-made Hercules transport aircraft, an ammunition factory and the Rafale fighters. The statement said the government should not continue with the deal because a technical evaluation by the army reportedly rejected the planes and that no other country in the world has purchased

the jets. “We warn the government against squandering public funds on suspicious deals,” said Tabtabaei, the bloc’s spokesman.

In October, Kuwait and France signed a new defence agreement and discussed details of the Rafale deal. Sheikh Jaber said after talks in Paris that Kuwait would be “proud” to have the supersonic Rafale jet for its armed forces at some point in the future. He said he had given the Rafale a green light and passed the matter to technical teams for detailed scrutiny. During a Gulf tour in Feb 2008, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said discussions had begun with Kuwait to sell between 14 and 28 Rafales, which are made by France’s Dassault Aviation.

Monday, March 22, 2010

US Democrats expect healthcare bill passage WASHINGTON: House Democratic leaders predicted that a rare Sunday session will produce one of the most significant legislative triumphs in decades: passage of a landmark bill to overhaul the US health care system to provide coverage to millions of people who currently lack it.

The House of Representatives convened yesterday afternoon for a series of votes to determine the fate of President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority. Obama has made health care reform the defining issue of his first year in office, setting off a tumultuous debate that has left the country deeply divided.

If passed, the reform is likely to be judged alongside the boldest acts of presidents and Congress in domestic affairs.

While national health care has long been a goal of presidents stretching back decades, it has proved elusive, in part because self-reliance and suspicion of a strong central government remain strong in the US. In a show of confidence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emerged from the final Democratic caucus before the historic vote wielding a large gavel and leading Democrats across the street to the Capitol for the final series of tallies.

“We are doing this for the American people,” Pelosi said. A protester disagreed and yelled back, “You’re doing this to the American people!” Others shouted, “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!”

Supporters cheered the speaker and other Democrats as they entered the Capitol. Inside the House chamber, negotiations continued on the floor while overhead in the visitors’ gallery, a pro-

tester hollered, “The people don’t want this!” As ushers tried to escort him out, several Republicans stood up on the House floor and cheered.

Amid the heat, Democratic leaders said they had only a few votes left to lock in from a handful of members, some of whom remained concerned about the abortion issue. But none was willing to declare victory yet - a hesitance Republicans attributed to public controversy over the plan in a difficult election year. At the White House, Obama, who canceled a trip to Asia to be on hand for the vote, surprised his senior staff by showing up at a meeting. He was making and taking calls with lawmakers as the House met.

The sweeping legislation, affecting virtually every American and impacting one-sixth of the US economy, would extend coverage to an estimated 32 million uninsured, bar insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, and cut federal deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade. Congressional analysts estimate the cost would be $940 billion over a decade.

House Democratic leaders were cautious but optimistic that they’d get to or beyond the 216 votes needed for passage.

“There are still members looking at it and trying to make up their minds,” House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said on NBC television’s “Meet the Press” in the hours before the vote. He added that the holdouts numbered in “the low single digits”. “We think there are

going to be 216-plus votes when we call the roll,” Hoyer said.

Republicans remain resolutely opposed to the legislation and warned they will make Democrats pay dearly in the fall elections when control of Congress is at stake if the fiercely debated measure becomes law. Republicans said they would push to repeal the bill, contending the plan amounts to a government takeover of health care that will lead to higher deficits and taxes.

“The American people don’t want this to pass. The Republicans don’t want this to pass. There will be no Republican votes for this bill,” Rep. Eric Cantor, the House’s second-ranking Republican, told ABC. A few hundred protesters carrying signs opposing the healthcare overhaul crowded a grassy area near the House side of the Capitol. One sign read, “This bill is anti-American, vote the bums out” while another stated, “Obamacare (equals) death warrant for grandma”.

With Obama’s emotional appeal to the House Democratic caucus Saturday ringing in their ears, House Democrats prepared for three showdown votes yesterday: on a “rule” to establish debate guidelines; on a package of changes to a Senate-passed healthcare bill, and on the Senate bill itself, the focus of intense national debate for months. Democrats need 216 votes to pass each one. With all 178 Republicans and at least two dozen Democrats vowing to vote no, the legislation’s fate lay in the hands of the few Democrats who remained uncommitted ahead of yesterday’s vote. — AP

Bharti ties up funds for Zain Africa deal Continued from Page 1 international banks committing to underwrite the total amount. “I think such a statement at such a time makes one quite hopeful that they would be able to clinch a deal by the deadline,” said R K Gupta, managing director at Taurus Asset Management in New Delhi. “This puts Bharti on a strong footing, one step closer to conclude the deal.” Bharti would pay a total $9 billion for acquiring Zain’s assets in 15 African countries, and will also assume $1.7 billion of debt on the target firm’s books. Of the $9 billion purchase price, $700 million would be paid to Zain one year after closing the deal, the companies have said.

In Kuwait, Zain said its due diligence

process was on schedule and that work on final deal documents could take place after its board meeting on Wednesday.

“Executive management will present the latest develpments to the group’s board at its meeting on Wednesday,” CEO Nabil bin Salama said in a statement, adding that final documents for the deal would be prepared after getting the board’s agreement.

On Friday, a source had told Reuters financing would be tied up in the next two days, and the Indian firm’s board met on Saturday to discuss the deal. Bharti has been hunting for emerging market assets as its home turf becomes fiercely competitive and call charges plummet in the world’s fastest growing mobile market.

Standard Chartered Bank acted as the

lead adviser for $7.5 billion of the financing, while Barclays acted as the joint lead adviser, Bharti said. StanChart and Barclays are also Bharti’s main advisers for the deal, sources have said. Other banks participating in the jumbo financing include top Indian lender State Bank of India (SBI), ANZ, BNP, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Agricole CIB, DBS, HSBC, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. In addition to the dollar financing, SBI has committed up to $1 billion equivalent rupee loans which would cover any associated transaction costs, Bharti said. It also said Global Investment House KSCC is serving as the regional financial adviser on the transaction. — Reuters

Expat workforce falls for 2nd year Continued from Page 1 newspaper about verbal or written orders banning the issuance of entry or visit visas to Iranians. The ministry said in a

statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the directorate is implementing the visions of HH the Amir and instructions of the interior minister and undersecretary of the ministry on facilitating the entry of peo-

ple of various nationalities in order to transform Kuwait into a financial center. The statement added that the nationality directorate “has not issued any verbal or written instructions in this regard”. — Agencies

Obama invites defiant Bibi for talks Continued from Page 1 “Our policy on Jerusalem is the same as all previous governments of Israel for the last 42 years, it has not changed,” Netanyahu said ahead of yesterday’s weekly cabinet meeting. “As far as we are concerned building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv and this is something we have made very clear to the US administration.” The hardline premier said he had spelled out his position in a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who had demanded a series of Israeli steps to end a crisis over settlement-building in the Holy City.

Israel and the United States have been at loggerheads for the past two weeks after the Jewish state announced plans to build 1,600 new homes for settlers in east Jerusalem during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden. Netanyahu’s office said he had suggested “mutual confidence-building measures” that could be carried out by Israel and the Palestinians.

He also said yesterday that Israel had agreed that all issues could be discussed at planned indirect - or “proximity”- talks that were delayed by the settlement row, reportedly another US demand. “We have also made clear that in the proximity talks both sides can raise any issues that are in dispute,” Netanyahu said. “But a real solution to the basic problems between us and the Palestinians can only be solved during direct talks and peace negotiations.”

Netanyahu later met visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who said he would encourage Arab states to support proximity talks. Ban had earlier toured the Gaza Strip where he slammed Israel for blockading the Hamas-ruled territory, saying it was causing “unacceptable suffering.” It was Ban’s second visit to Gaza since the war that ended in Jan 2009 in which some 1,400 Palestinians were killed and thousands of houses were severely damaged or destroyed. Thirteen Israelis were killed in the conflict.

“I have repeatedly made it quite clear to Israel’s leaders that the Israeli policy of closure is not sustainable and that it’s wrong,” Ban told reporters in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. “It causes unacceptable suffering,” he said, adding that he was saddened to see that teenagers and children were the worst affected. “This policy is also counterpro-

ductive. It prevents legitimate commerce and encourages smuggling. It undercuts moderates and empowers extremists.”

Ban toured some of the hardest-hit areas of Gaza before announcing projects to build 150 homes, a flour mill and a sewage treatment plant, for which Israel has given rare approval for the import of construction materials. The housing project on the site of a former Israeli settlement near the southern town of Khan Younis is seen as a way of proving to Israel that the United Nations can bring building materials into the territory without them being hijacked by Hamas or other militant groups.

Munir Manneh, the head of construction projects for the UN refugee agency UNRWA, said all the materials would be carefully documented. “We will give an excellent example and prove that we will control the process 100 percent,” he said after presenting the project details to Ban. The UN chief hailed the projects but said the sight of houses still in ruins more than a year after the war ended was “quite distressing”, and that more reconstruction was needed, calling the projects a “drop in the bucket”.

Ban condemned all forms of violence during his visit, but also told Israel’s President Shimon Peres that the closures had imposed “unacceptable hardships”. “I understand and share Israel’s concerns about the challenges posed by Hamas, but Israel’s blockade continues to impose unacceptable hardships while empowering extremists,” he said. “I am confident the blockade can be lifted while addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell, who arrived in the region on a visit originally set for last week but postponed by the controversy, was set to hold talks today with Abbas, who had threatened to call off indirect talks with Israel in protest at the settlement announcement. Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said yesterday that “Netanyahu’s declarations don’t help the return to negotiations”. “The Israeli escalation and the killing of Palestinians on a daily basis is the actual response of the Israeli government to the Palestinians, the Arabs and to American (peace) efforts, and an answer to the Quartet’s statement,” Abu Rudeina said, quoting Abbas.

Meeting in Moscow on Friday, members of the Middle East peace Quartet -

the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States - came out with an ambitious prescription for getting moribund peace talks back on track. They called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001 and stop house demolitions in annexed east Jerusalem.

The last round of peace talks collapsed at the start of the Gaza war.

The latest manoeuvring came amid a rise in violence in the occupied West Bank, where four Palestinians were killed in weekend clashes with Israeli soldiers, including two yesterday the military said were shot dead after trying to stab a soldier. Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib called for an independent investigation into the killing of cousins Mohammed Qawariq and Saleh Qawariq yesterday, citing witness accounts they had been shot only after being arrested.

Mahmoud Al-Aloul, a senior figure in the Fatah party led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said they had been killed in “cold blood”: “Nobody can imagine that we can stand with our hands tied vis-a-vis what is happening,” Aloul told around 1,500 mourners at their funeral in Awarta, south of Nablus. One of the bodies was wrapped in a yellow Fatah flag and the other in the green flag of the rival Hamas Islamist movement.

This was the bloodiest 24 hours for Palestinians in the West Bank for more than a year. Two youths killed by Israeli forces on Saturday were also buried in the nearby village of Iraq Burin, just a few kilometres from Awarta. Palestinian medics said Mohammed Kaddous, 16, and Osaid Kaddous, 17, were killed by gunfire during a confrontation on Saturday between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths.

Ahmad Hammad, a Nablus doctor, showed a Reuters journalist a photograph of what he said was a bullet entry wound in Mohammed Kaddous’ chest and an exit wound in his back. Hamid AlMasri, a doctor who treated Osaid Kaddous, presented an X-ray which he said showed a metal bullet lodged in his brain. The Israeli army, which said it was responding to people throwing stones, denied using live rounds, only rubber bullets. Locals said the youths, who were not closely related despite their similar names, had not been taking part in the protest. — Agencies

SPORTS

Monday, March 22, 2010

15

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Saturday.

Carolina 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT); Dallas 5, Ottawa 4; Toronto 3, Montreal 2 (So); St. Louis 1, New Jersey 0; Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 2; Buffalo 3, Florida 1; Washington 3, Tampa Bay 1; Nashville 1, Columbus 0 (OT); Phoenix 5, Chicago 4 (So); Detroit 4, Vancouver 3 (OT); Los Angeles 1, NY Islanders 0. (OT Denotes Overtime Win; So Indicates Shootout Victory) Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Pittsburgh 42 24 6 224 205 90 New Jersey 42 25 4 189 169 88 Philadelphia 37 29 5 211 196 79 NY Rangers 31 31 9 185 195 71 NY Islanders 29 33 10 189 222 68 Buffalo Ottawa Montreal Boston Toronto

Northeast Division 38 22 10 195 37 30 5 194 36 29 7 196 31 27 12 174 26 34 12 192

177 212 198 180 238

Washington Atlanta Carolina Tampa Bay Florida

Southeast Division 48 14 10 283 31 29 11 215 30 33 8 198 28 31 12 186 28 31 11 181

203 106 229 73 221 68 220 68 207 67

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 45 19 7 234 Nashville 41 26 5 203 Detroit 35 23 13 193 St. Louis 34 28 9 194 Columbus 29 31 12 187 Vancouver Colorado Calgary Minnesota Edmonton

86 79 79 74 64

179 201 192 196 229

97 87 83 77 70

Northwest Division 44 24 4 236 187 40 24 6 211 185 36 26 9 181 177 34 31 6 194 208 22 42 7 179 247

92 86 81 74 51

Pacific Division San Jose 43 18 10 231 187 96 Phoenix 45 22 5 198 177 95 Los Angeles 41 24 5 207 185 87 Dallas 31 27 13 206 227 75 Anaheim 33 29 8 198 215 74 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

LOS ANGELES: Goaltender Jonathan Quick No. 32 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot by Jon Sim No. 16 of the New York Islanders at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Kings won 1-0.—AFP

Hurricanes grab OT win, Stars shine over Senators PITTSBURGH: Jamie McBain scored his first NHL goal with less than a second remaining in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied from a late deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Saturday.

Seconds after Penguins goalie MarcAndre Fleury made what looked to be a potential game-saving stop on Chad LaRose’s shot, McBain — getting two points in his third career game — beat Fleury with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Penguins, 2-2-2 in their last six games, led 2-1 on Evgeni Malkin’s goal with 6:55 remaining. Joni Pitkanen tied it at the 16-minute mark. The Hurricanes won despite losing starting goalie Manny Legace with an unspecified lower body injury during the second period.

Stars 5, Senators 4 At Dallas, Brad Richards had two goals and Trevor Daley scored the winner as Dallas handed Ottawa its fifth straight defeat despite Jason Spezza’s hat trick. Rookie Jamie Benn and Mike Ribeiro also scored for

the Stars, who are trying to stay in the Western Conference playoff race despite a 36-1 record since the Olympic break. Senators goalie Pascal Leclaire was pulled from the game after allowing five goals on 19 shots.

Niittymaki to give Washington a 2-1 lead.

Tomas Fleischmann and Alexander Semin also scored for Washington. Vincent Lecavalier had the Lightning’s only goal.

Blues 1, Devils 0

Capitals 3, Lightning 1

At Atlanta, Colby Armstrong scored two goals as Atlanta beat Philadelphia to move closer to the Eastern Conference playoff cutoff. The Thrashers have won three straight and trail eighth-place Boston by one point.

Atlanta had not won as many as three in a row since a four-game streak from Nov. 25-30.

Armstrong had his second straight twogoal game. Nik Antropov, Niclas Bergfors and Bryan Little also scored against Brian Boucher, who had 23 stops. Dan Carcillo and Blair Betts had goals for the Flyers.

At Tampa, Florida, Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in his return from a two-game NHL suspension and Jose Theodore made 33 saves as Washington beat Tampa Bay. The two-time defending MVP took a long pass off the boards from Nicklas Backstrom, skated in on a breakaway and easily scored on Antero

At Sunrise, Florida, Jochen Hecht, Patrick Kaleta and Mike Grier each scored to lift Buffalo over Florida. Ryan Miller made 31 saves for the Northeast Division-leading Sabres, who have won two straight. Tyler

Thrashers 5, Flyers 2 At Newark, New Jersey, Ty Conklin made 29 saves in his fourth shutout of the season as St. Louis kept up its late-season playoff push with a win over New Jersey.

Alexander Steen scored the only goal for the Blues, who won for the ninth time in 12 games and improved to 9-4 in their past 13 on the road. Steen scored with 13 seconds left in the first period.

Myers and Paul Gaustad both recorded two assists for Buffalo. Byron Bitz scored the lone goal for the Panthers. Tomas Vokoun stopped 17 shots for Florida before he was replaced by Scott Clemmensen in the second period.

Coyotes 5, Blackhawks 4

Predators 1, Blue Jackets 0

At Glendale, Arizona, Radim Vrbata scored the lone goal of the shootout as Phoenix rallied to beat Chicago and stretch its winning streak to eight.

Ilya Bryzgalov saved shots by Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp in succession for his 39th win of the season.

Lee Stempniak scored twice and Wolski also had a goal for the Coyotes, who moved within one point of San Jose for the Pacific Division lead and two points of the Blackhawks for the Western Conference’s best record. Andrew Ladd and Sharp scored 73 seconds apart early in the third period.

Troy Brouwer and Kane also scored.

At Nashville, Tennessee, Cody Franson scored 1:54 into overtime and Pekka Rinne posted his second straight shutout as Nashville stretched its winning streak to five

At Los Angeles, Jonathan Quick posted his fourth shutout of the season and Brad

Maple Leafs 3, Canadiens 2 At Toronto, John Mitchell scored the shootout winner for Toronto, which played the role of spoiler to beat Montreal. Mitchell and Nikolai Kulemin beat Jaroslav Halak in the shootout. Jonas Gustavsson stopped two of Montreal’s three attempts, and sealed the win with a save on Brian Gionta.

Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs, who are 29th in the overall standings of the 30 NHL clubs.

Gionta had both goals for Montreal.

Sabres 3, Panthers 1

Hamilton: Red Bull are ridiculously fast LONDON: Mark Webber has had his hopes of becoming the first Australian to win his home Formula One grand prix next weekend pumped up by McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton.

Britain’s 2008 world champion said before heading to Melbourne that Red Bull’s Webber and German team mate Sebastian Vettel undoubtedly had the quickest cars on the track.

“The Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else’s car,” he told reporters. “It’s insane. The downforce they had on their car last year was at some points just about double what we had. “Even at the end of the year they had so much more than us, even though we had won a couple of grands prix.”

Vettel qualified on pole at this month’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, more than a second a lap faster than Hamilton, and then led for more than two thirds of the race before being slowed by a faulty spark plug.

Hamilton ended up third while Vettel finished fourth.

Webber, winner of two races last year, made an error in qualifying and ended the race in eighth place.

Renault-powered Red Bull still arrive in Melbourne chasing their fourth win in five races, having won the last three of 2009.

“They (Webber and Vettel) have both got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general,” said Hamilton. “(Ferrari’s Bahrain race winner) Fernando (Alonso) I think was very quick in the race and they are obviously a little bit closer, but it’s a good half second.

“We are kind of on the same level as Mercedes I would say,” added the 25-year-old of seven times world champion Michael Schumacher’s new team.

“We just did maybe a better job at the weekend but ... it’s a battle between us and Mercedes to see who can step up and improve faster and do a better job. Red Bull might have the fastest car, but if we can beat them on reliability.”

After a dull opener in Bahrain, with Vettel’s misfortune handing Ferrari a processional one-two led by Alonso, Hamilton hoped for some genuine thrills at Albert Park next weekend.

“You’ve got assume that the next race will be more exciting,” he said. “There will be more people there, there should be more of an atmosphere in Australia as there always is. The track should be more favourable to the cars, it is a street circuit so its not the easiest place to overtake but it should be more exciting.”—Reuters

games. The Predators have beaten the Blue Jackets 14 consecutive times in Nashville. It is the NHL’s longest home winning streak over another team.

Kings 1, Islanders 0

Richardson scored in the first period to lead Los Angeles over the New York Islanders.

The Kings, seeking their first playoff berth since 2002, climbed over Colorado into sixth place in the Western Conference.

They have a six-point lead over ninthplace Calgary with 10 games left. Quick made 26 saves en route to his eighth career shutout and third in nine starts.

Red Wings 4, Canucks 3 At Vancouver, British Columbia, Henrik Zetterberg scored as the overtime buzzer sounded to lift Detroit to a dramatic victory over Vancouver. Zetterberg peeled out of the corner around defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who had lost his stick, and into the slot before lifting a backhand over the left shoulder of Roberto Luongo as time ran out.

Todd Bertuzzi and Pavel Datsyuk scored 5 seconds apart and Valteri Filppula added a short-handed breakaway goal with 2:21 left in the second period as the Red Wings rebounded from a two-goal deficit. Daniel Sedin tied it for Vancouver 5 minutes into the third. —AP

McLaren duo look to banish the boredom

Lewis Hamilton seen in this file photo.

LONDON: When even Lewis Hamilton’s mum finds the seasonopening race a bit of a yawn, then Formula One clearly has a problem.

“I had dinner with my mum the other night and she said it (the race) was kind of boring,” the 2008 champion, who finished third for McLaren in Bahrain, told a handful of British reporters before heading to Australia for round two next weekend.

“I haven’t seen the race but I’ve heard from a lot of people that it wasn’t positive,” added the 25-year-old.

“They were so excited by the hype of Michael (Schumacher) coming back and all that and it was just kind of very dull, there was no overtaking.”

World champion Jenson Button, Hamilton’s team mate and fellowBriton, agreed that it had not been a thriller and said the sport needed to serve up some spicier fare in Melbourne “for all our sakes”.

“I think that even if you had won the race, you would have thought ‘where was the action?’,” said the 30year-old, whose seventh place at Sakhir marked a disappointing debut for the team while Fernando Alonso led a Ferrari one-two. “It’s a sport that I love and it’s tough to see a procession,” added Button.

“I think we all put a lot of pressure on ourselves in Bahrain because everyone was saying ‘it’s going to be the best year ever in Formula One’ so we put the pressure on ourselves to perform. But it wasn’t an exciting race to watch.”

Some team bosses have suggested Formula One should introduce a second mandatory pitstop or change the tyre composition to make them less durable after an opening race that saw most drivers make just one stop with

no chance of any passing after that.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said there is no panic and the sport needs to wait and see what happens in the next few races.

Button agreed with that.

“I’m not going to say ‘What are we going to do about it? It’s terrible’ because I think we’ve got to wait and see,” said Button.

“It’s only one race in, so it’s not the end of the world. There’s still another 18 races to go. There’s still every chance it’s going to be a fantastic season.

“We just have to see what happens over the next few races and then people have got to start making the decisions if it’s not going in the right direction.”

Button said Formula One always had its critics and supporters, and he had certainly not been bored stuck behind Schumacher.

“Even last year, people were saying that the racing can be boring, there isn’t enough overtaking. But for me last year the balance was good,” said the Briton, winner of six of the first seven races with Brawn in 2009.

“You had overtaking, not a lot, but you had overtaking and when you did make a move it was a hell of a move and it was exciting.”

Button said Formula One had at least finally got the qualifying right, with all cars running on low fuel rather than the different loads of last season.

“I think that’s great. In that area we’ve really made a step forward, having low fuel and cars on the limit with low fuel... there are positives but maybe there aren’t enough right now.

We’ve got to hope we get them in Melbourne.”—Reuters

SPORTS

16

Monday, March 22, 2010

England recover, B’desh tail wags

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s players appeal unsuccessfully for the wicket of England’s Jonathan Trott (unseen) on the second day of their second Test cricket match.—AP

SCOREBOARD DHAKA: Scoreboard at the close of play on the second day of the second and final test between Bangladesh and England at the Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh first innings (overnight 330-8) T. Iqbal c Prior b Tredwell 85 I Kayes b Finn b Broad 12 Z. Siddique lbw b Swann 39 J. Islam lbw b Swann 0 Mahmudullah c Collingwood b Finn 59 S. Hasan lbw b Tredwell 49 M. Rahim c Prior b Bresnan 30 N. Islam not out 59 A. Razzak lbw b Swann 3 S. Islam c Prior b Bresnan 53 Rubel Hossain lbw Swann 17 Extras (b-1 lb-10 nb-2) 13 Total (all out; 117.1 overs) 419 Fall of wicket: 1-53 2-119 3-122 4-167 5-226 6-254 7-301 8-314 938810-419

Bowling: Broad 18-5-69-1 (nb-1), Bresnan 21-7-57-2, Swann 36.15-114-4, Finn 10-2-61-1(nb-1) Tredwell 31-5-99-2, Collingwood 10-8-0 England first innings A. Cook c Kayes b Razzak 21 J. Trott not out 64 K. Pietersen c Kayes b Shakib 45 P. Collingwood lbw b Rubel 0 I. Bell not out 25 Extras (b-5 lb-8 nb-3) 16 Total (three wickets; 64 overs) 171 To bat: M. Prior, S. Broad, T. Bresnan, G. Swann, J. Tredwell, S. Finn.

Fall of wicket: 1-29 2-105 3-107 Bowling: Shafiul 6-2-13-0, Razzak 19-3-69-1, Shakib 24-15-26-1, Mahmudullah 4-1-8-0, Rubel 10-0-37-1 (nb-3), Naeem 1-0-5-0.

Team NZ wins Louis Vuitton Trophy AUCKLAND: Team New Zealand beat Italy’s Mascalzone Latino by 56 seconds yesterday to clinch a 2-0 win in the bestof-three final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy sailing regatta for America’s Cup teams.

The final was to be a best-offive race series but was trimmed to a maximum three races when light winds delayed the start of racing yesterday.

Team New Zealand led 1-0 after winning the first race of the finals series by 12 seconds on Saturday and clinched victory in its home series with a convincing win in the second race.

Teams match-raced in identical 75-foot America’s Cup Class yachts belonging to Team New Zealand and built for the 2007 America’s Cup off Valencia.

Australian Adam Beashel, who was up the mast on the Team New Zealand yacht, called for the boat to take the righthand side of the course on the first upwind leg and it managed to squeeze around the first mark with an eight-second lead.

Team New Zealand gybed in a wind shift at the start of the first downwind leg and gradually stretched away from

AUCKLAND: Team New Zealand’s Dean Barker (left) and Grant Dalton hold their trophy following the finals of the Louis Vuitton sailing trophy. Emirates Team New Zealand won 2-0.—AFP

Mascalzone Latino, leading by 21 seconds at the second mark and 38 seconds at the third.

Faultless crew work on the last downwind leg saw the New Zealand team stretch its lead further by the finish. “It was a bloody hard race,” New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said. “We had a very strong call from Adam up the mast who wanted to start to the right”.

“Halfway up the first beat we thought the right wasn’t going to come in but it did. The guys did an amazing job and the first downwind leg was the key for us.” Team New Zealand lost only two of 13 races at the regatta, to Aleph of France in the first round robin and to Azzurra of Italy in its best-ofthree race semifinal.

The New Zealanders won the second race of the semifinal by one second to avoid elimination from the regatta and went on to dominate its final series with Mascalzone, skippered by Kiwi Gavin Brady.

Mascalzone took second place, Azzurra was third and Artemis of Sweden, skippered

by American Paul Cayard was fourth. The French-German team All4One took fifth, TeamOrigin of Britain was sixth, Aleph seventh and Synergy of Russia eighth.

The Louis Vuitton regatta provides racing for America’s Cup teams locked out of the latest Cup regatta between the American syndicate Oracle and Switzerland’s Alinghi. Oracle beat Alinghi 2-0 in a best of three race series off Valencia, Spain in February and will defend the America’s Cup, probably off San Francisco, in 2013.

The next Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta will be sailed off La Maddalena, Sardinia from May 22 to June 6.—AP

DHAKA: Jonathan Trott made a patient half-century to help England recover from two quick blows and reach 171 for three in reply to Bangladesh’s 419 on the second day of the second Test yesterday.

Trott faced 187 balls for his unbeaten 64 and will resume with Ian Bell (25 not out) on the third day with England still trailing the hosts by 248 runs on first innings.

They added 64 runs after Bangladesh made two massive breakthroughs in successive overs by removing Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood.

Pietersen (45) was undone by a short quick delivery from Shakib al Hasan which he spooned to Imrul Kayes at short cover and Rubel Hossain had Collingwood lbw for a duck with a hint of reverse swing to leave England stuttering on 107 for three.

“I wouldn’t say we’re evens.

I think Bangladesh showed a lot of fight and courage this morning, batted really well to get 420,” Pietersen told reporters.

“We are a batsman down so we have definitely got a fight on our hands but I thought Trotty played brilliantly this afternoon and Belly looks in pretty good nick.

“We’ve got some work to do tomorrow, first session tomorrow is a big session, to make sure we don’t lose any wickets but to make sure the scoreboard keeps ticking. It’s pretty difficult to score runs,” he said.

England had already lost skipper Alastair Cook, who was caught by Kayes off Abdur Razzak at midwicket for 21.

Bangladesh wasted a chance to dismiss Trott when Jahirul Islam dropped him at forward short-leg off Shakib when the opener was on 13. Shakib was the most economical bowler in the Bangladesh attack, conceding only 26 runs in 24 overs.

Earlier, tail-enders Naeem Islam and Shafiul Islam scored maiden half-centuries to frustrate the tourists as the hosts battled to their highest ever test total against England.

Bangladesh resumed on 330 for eight and batted for more than 24 overs in the morning session to add 89 runs.

It was Bangladesh’s third highest total against any side, behind the 488 against Zimbabwe at Chittagong in 2005 and 427 against Australia at Fatullah in 2006.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed the last wicket shortly before lunch when he trapped Rubel Hossain lbw for 17 to finish with figures of four for 114.

Naeem added 26 runs to his overnight total to remain unbeaten on 59 after facing 172 balls and hitting eight fours.

Shafiul raced to his first test fifty off 47 balls before falling to seamer Tim Bresnan for 53, ending a ninth-wicket stand of 74.

“They (England fielders) were saying me to hit sixes. But Naeem was discouraging me to go the aerial route because if I hit in the air in this kind of wicket that’s a problem,” said Shafiul.

“We are now in a very good position. If we had taken one or two more wickets, that would have been really good for us.

But we fulfilled our target,” he added. England lead the twomatch series 1-0.—Reuters

PALM HARBOR: Padraig Harrington of Ireland blasts from a sand trap on the first hole during the final round of the Transitions Championship golf tournament.—AP

Furyk poised to end title drought in Tampa Bay TAMPA: Jim Furyk inched closer to his first PGA Tour title in three years when he moved three strokes clear in Saturday’s third round of the Tampa Bay Championship.

The former US Open champion birdied three of the last nine holes for a four-under-par 67 and an 11-under total of 202 at the Innisbrook Resort.

South Korean KJ Choi fired a matching 67 to share second place with South African Retief Goosen, Swede Carl Pettersson and long-hitting American Bubba Watson, who all carded 70s.

“I’m just happy with the round,” American Furyk told reporters after covering the back nine in three-under 32. “I felt like I played real solid on the front nine, missed a couple good birdie putts.

“But I got on a little bit of a run on the back nine and it turned out to be a good score.” The 2003 US Open champion has not triumphed on the U.S. circuit since the 2007 Canadian Open, a barren run of 58 events.

“I’ve had quite a few opportunities to win,” Furyk said. “Sometimes I’ve hit poor shots or I’ve played poorly, shot a bad round and got myself out of it.

“When you’re playing poorly or you don’t play well, it’s easy to lose your confidence and it takes a lot longer to build it up.

“But I’ve also had a lot of events ... where I really felt good about my game and walked off the course knowing that I gave it my all, and really played my rear end off, but just got beat. “I want to go out and win a golf tournament,” added the 13-times PGA Tour winner.

“That’s what we play golf for. That’s what I practise hard for, and I haven’t been able to do that in over two-and-a-half years.” Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who held a one-stroke lead overnight, slipped back with a 72 to share sixth place at seven under with Briton Luke Donald (67) and American Jeff Maggert (70).—Reuters

MOROCCO: Anja Monke of German poses with flowers after winning the Lalla Meryem Cup, with a score of 8 under 208, during the ladies European tour of the Trophee Hassan II tournament.—AP

Yoko misses cut in first pro event TOKYO: Yoko Ishikawa, the 13-year-old sister of Japanese golfing sensation Ryo, was brought down to earth with a bump in her first outing in a professional tournament this weekend.

Just a year out of elementary school, Ishikawa accepted an invitation to play on a sponsors exemption at the 70 million yen ($775,600) TPoint Ladies event in Kagoshima, southern Japan, but fell a long way short of making the cut.

Her second round on Saturday included one

birdie, five bogeys, four double bogeys and one triple bogey and she ended the Japan LPGA tournament with the worst total score in the field at 24-over 168, the Daily Yomiuri reported.

Her 18-year-old brother, who in 2007 became the youngest player to win on the Japanese men’s tour as a 15-year-old, fared a little better in his weekend outing but still failed to make the cut at the US PGA’s Tampa Bay Championship in Florida.—Reuters

Riders set to light up Catalunya Tour MADRID: Two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will be among the big names missing when the Tour of Catalunya provides an early season tester to the stage race specialists this week.

Despite the absence of the Spaniard, who has opted for the two-day Criterium International next weekend, the race boasts a quality-packed field that will be keen to assess their climbing and time-trialling form.

Bradley Wiggins, a fourth-place finisher on the 2009 Tour de France, will be hoping to hand his Sky team the responsibility for defending the race lead-if the Briton wins the opening time trial over 3.6km on Monday.

Over six more days of racing across a mix of hilly and undulating terrain Wiggins will then get a chance to weigh up the form of last year’s Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. Schleck, of Saxo

Bank, should have the support of his brother Franck.

Former Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso will feature for the Liquigas team while Spaniard Carlos Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner who races for Cervelo, returns after a lengthy absence.

Contador, who recently claimed his second victory in France’s second-hardest stage race, the Paris-Nice, was scheduled to race in Catalunya but decided to change his plans last week.

His decision was seen by some as a direct attempt to provoke American rival Lance Armstrong, who is scheduled to race the Criterium International, which will be held in Corsica for the first time.

Meanwhile, Tour of Spain champion Alejandro Valverde denied yesterday Spanish media reports that he had accused a former

team mate of owning the blood bag that led to him being linked with a blood doping scandal.

“Alejandro Valverde has never accused any rider (of being the owner of) the plasma sample number 18 seized in the Operation Puerto,” Valverde’s legal team said in a statement.

“Alejandro Valverde’s lawyers limited themselves exclusively to defend the rider’s interests and they never made such accusations against the cyclist mentioned in the newspapers.”

Last year, Valverde was banned from riding on Italian soil by the Italian Olympic Committee for his alleged implication in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the ban last week and the International Cycling Union said they would do their best to extend the ban to the rest of the world.—Reuters

SPORTS

Monday, March 22, 2010

17 Defending champion cling on to their unbeaten record

PARIS: France’s Thierry Dusautoir (first row center) with William Servat holding the cup and other teammates react after their Six Nations rugby union international match. France defeated England 12-10 to win the tournament. —AP

WELLINGTON: The defending champion Bulls clung to their unbeaten record and a one-point lead in rugby’s Super 14 with a 19-18 win over the Wellington Hurricanes in the weekend’s sixth round.

Flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked 14 points, surpassing 100 points for the season, as the Bulls extended their winning streak at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld stadium to 15 matches.

The Hurricanes were the last visiting team to win in Pretoria, in April 2008.

The Bulls took 67 minutes to gain the lead on Friday, trailing 15-10 at halftime and 18-10 during the second but controlled the match from the time Steyn’s fourth penalty put them in front.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper, whose team slumped to its third straight loss after a three-win start to the season, said the task of beating the Bulls at home was always tough.

“Tactically they play really well,” Cooper said. “They’ve got a great nine and 10 and they play that type of game well. They’ve got a massive pack and they can just squeeze you out of the game.

“It’s quite intimidating (at Loftus Versfeld). There’s altitude to deal with, a massive crowd to deal with, and it felt like we had everything against us.”

Bulls captain Victor Matfield played his 100th Super rugby match. The Bulls win kicked off a weekend of strong performances

by South African teams.

The Stormers beat the Cheetahs 21-8 to take their season record to 5-1 and to remain a point behind the Bulls in second place. —AP

France wins first Six Nations Grand Slam FRANCE: France won its first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004 after narrowly beating England 12-10 on Saturday. After a bright start from England, France came back into the game and three penalties from Morgan Parra put the team 12-7 up at halftime.

Fullback Ben Foden scored a try for England early in the first half, moments after flyhalf Francois TrinhDuc’s drop goal put the French 3-0 ahead.

Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson came off the bench after heavy rain started pelting the pitch, and soon kicked England to within three points of France to ensure a nervous last 10 minutes at Stade de France.

“The essential thing was to win it, we showed that we could entertain in the other four matches,” France coach Marc Lievremont said. “I am very

happy and proud of my players, how they played and how they stuck together. You have to pay tribute to the English, they played magnificently and as usual they made it very hard for us.” Lievremont, who took over from Bernard Laporte after the 2007 World Cup, played down his impact on the Grand Slam.

“I’m not here to write my own personal story, but I am very happy for the players and also very relieved given how the match went,” he said. “I’m happy for French rugby as well.” It was the first Six Nations since 2007 for France, which also won the Grand Slam in 2002.

“All credit to the French, we threw everything at them today but we came up a bit short,” England wing Mark Cueto said.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir

was relieved that “for once we didn’t lose to England in a major game” referring to the two World Cup semifinal losses in 2003 and 2007. “Without necessarily being the best team we showed a lot of pragmatism,” Dusautoir said. England coach Martin Johnson praised his team’s performance.

“We did the things we wanted to do, we knew that if we trusted our hands we could get around them. We did that a couple of times and it led to the first try,” Johnson said.

“The weather conditions changed dramatically and in that heavy downpour we spilled the ball a few times. In the second half we were tactically much better.” Scotland’s 23-20 win over Ireland in Dublin meant France was already assured of the Six Nations title before taking the field.

France gave England one last chance to launch an attack after losing possession with 30 seconds to go. But the English fumbled after gaining some ground and France was able to clear into touch, prompting jubilant celebrations as center Mathieu Bastareaud sprinted off the bench and threw himself into his teammates’ arms.

“Thanks to the fans who were there with us all the way,” Parra said.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, especially against England.” France failed to score a try for the first time in the tournament and showed none of the flair it displayed in thumping Ireland 33-10 at home or winning 26-20 in Wales. “We certainly improved but it was so frustrating,” England captain Lewis Moody said. “We should have finished them off but fair play to

out to the right — to make it 9-7 to France as the rain came teeming down.

England’s fast and dynamic start knocked France out of its stride, but Lievremont’s team gradually became more assured as the first half wore on and Parra’s third successful penalty kick put the French 12-7 up at the interval.

England came out for the second half in aggressive mood and winger Chris Ashton could have scored on his Test debut but chose to kick ahead rather than run or look for support when he had just France fullback Clement Poitrenaud in between him and the tryline.

David Marty came on at center for Bastareaud 10 minutes into the second half and his run through the English midfield was a rare French attack.

France started to get more and more nervous and a brilliant darting run by Cueto almost created a try for the English.

Johnson had made six changes to his team, the most notable of which was to drop Wilkinson to the bench to make way for Flood. Mike Tindall came into midfield for Mathew Tait.

Wilkinson came on with 20 minutes remaining and his penalty from 45 meters out sailed just over.

“We knew he would have the chance to come on and do what he does, that penalty was world class,” Johnson said. Johnson’s plans were shaken up when captain Steve Borthwick failed to pass a fitness test following a knee injury and Louis Deacon replaced him in the second row. Flanker Lewis Moody took over the captaincy. —AP

Bulls snap losing streak

Gena bags Rome marathon ROME: Siraj Gena of Ethiopia sprinted barefoot to the finish line to win the Rome marathon yesterday, pulling away from two Kenyan rivals near the end.

Gena took off his shoes with about 500 meters left near the Colosseum and then sprinted away from Benson Barus and Nixon Machichim to finish in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 39 seconds.

Gena was paying homage to Ethiopian compatriot Abebe Bikila, who won the 1960 Olympic marathon gold in Rome having run the entire course without shoes. “I felt I had to do something to honor Bikila,” Gena told the ANSA news agency. “For me he will always be an enormous inspiration and today I wanted to see what it would be like to cross the line in Rome barefooted like he once did.”

In the women’s race, Firehiwot Dado led an Ethiopian sweep of the podium positions in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 28 seconds.

Kebebush Haile was second in 2:25.31 and Mare Dibaba third with 2:25.38.

Former Formula One racing driver Alex Zanardi of Italy won the men’s handcycle category, boosting his hopes of competing at the London 2012 Paralympics. “Now London 2012 is no longer a dream, it has become a realistic possibility,” he said.

Zanardi had to have both legs amputated above the knee after he crashed during a race in 2001. About 15,000 runners took part in the race. —AP

France, they’re the best team in the tournament.” The French also beat Scotland 18-9 in Murrayfield and trounced Italy 46-20 at Stade de France last weekend. France also won six Grand Slams when the tournament was played as the Five Nations, taking the total to nine overall.

Lievremont’s team scored on its first attack, the ball being quickly released after a scrum for Trinh-Duc to slot over a drop-goal.

England replied straightaway, a series of lightning-quick passes across the line releasing Foden, whose pace took him clear to touch down in the left corner for a try converted by Toby Flood.

Parra missed a penalty but slotted over the next two — the first in front of the posts and the second slightly

PHILADELPHIA: Derrick Rose scored 23 points in his return from a sprained left wrist as the Chicago Bulls snapped their losing streak at 10 games with a 98-84 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and 11 assists, Brad Miller had 16 points, and Hakim Warrick 13 for the Bulls, 2 1/2 games behind Toronto for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Marreese Speights had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia. The 76ers have lost 12 of their last 14 games.

Raptors 100, Nets 90 At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chris Bosh scored 36 points as Toronto handed New Jersey its seventh straight loss and 13th in a row at home.

Jarrett Jack added 15 points for Raptors, 3-10 in its last 13 games. Devin Harris had 22 for New Jersey. At 7-62 with 13 games left, the Nets are in danger of breaking the NBA mark for single-season futility, set by Philadelphia (9-73) in 1972-73.

Heat 77, Bobcats 71 At Miami, Quentin Richardson scored all 18 of his points on 3-pointers and Michael Beasley added 16 points as Miami moved into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Dwyane Wade had 14 points on a poor shooting night, but made up for it with nine assists and five blocks to help Miami move a half-game ahead of Charlotte. Stephen Jackson led Charlotte with 18 points.

MEMPHIS: Golden State Warriors forward Reggie Williams (55) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies forward Sam Young (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game. —AP

Celtics 102, Mavericks 93 At Dallas, Paul Pierce scored 29 points, and Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 10

rebounds as Boston stretched its winning streak to four games.

Ray Allen had 21 points for the Celtics, beaten by the Mavericks 99-90 in Boston on Jan. 18 in their only other meeting this season. Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points, and Jason Terry added 18 to pace the Mavericks, 14-2 in their last 16 games.

Bucks 102, Nuggets 97 At Denver, Carlos Delfino had 26 points and John Salmons added 21 to make up for Andrew Bogut’s off-night as Milwaukee downed Denver.

Bogut, who averages 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds, was limited to two points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups each scored 29 points for Denver, but Anthony missed a series of shots in the final minutes.

Grizzlies 123, Warriors 107 At Memphis, Tennessee, Rudy Gay scored 25 points and O. J. Mayo added 21 to help Memphis hand Golden State its 13th consecutive road loss.

Zach Randolph finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Darrell Arthur matched his career high with 16 points and had a season-best 13 rebounds.

Monta Ellis led Golden State with 28 points.

Jazz 106, Hornets 86 At Salt Lake City, Paul Millsap had 22 points and 15 rebounds, C.J. Miles scored 19 points, and Deron Williams added 17 points and 11 assists for Utah. The Jazz pulled away with a 17-1 run at the end of the second quarter and led by 35 in the second half. Marcus Thornton led New Orleans with 19 points. —AP

NBA results standings NBA results and standings on Saturday.

Chicago 98, Philadelphia 84; Miami 77, Charlotte 71; Toronto 100, New Jersey 90; Memphis 123, Golden State 107; Boston 102, Dallas 93; Milwaukee 102, Denver 97; Tah 106, New Orleans 86.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Boston 45 24 .652 Toronto 34 34 .500 NY Knicks 25 44 .362 Philadelphia 24 46 .343 New Jersey 7 62 .101 Central Division Cleveland 55 15 .786 Milwaukee 38 30 .559 Chicago 32 37 .464 Indiana 23 46 .333 Detroit 23 46 .333 Southeast Division Orlando 49 21 .700 Atlanta 44 24 .647 Miami 36 34 .514 Charlotte 35 34 .507 Washington 21 46 .313 Western Conference Northwest Division Denver 47 23 .671 Utah 45 25 .643 Oklahoma City 42 25 .627 Portland 42 28 .600 Minnesota 14 56 .200 Pacific Division LA Lakers 51 18 .739 Phoenix 43 26 .623 LA Clippers 26 43 .377 Sacramento 23 46 .333 Golden State 19 50 .275 Southwest Division Dallas 46 23 .667 San Antonio 41 26 .612 Memphis 37 33 .529 Houston 35 32 .522 New Orleans 33 38 .465

GB 10.5 20 21.5 38 16 22.5 31.5 31.5 4 13 13.5 26.5

2 3.5 5 33 8 25 28 32 4 9.5 10 14

SPORTS

18

Monday, March 22, 2010

GERMANY: Ukrainian champion Vladimir Klitschko (right) punches Eddie Chambers of the US, during their IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight boxing title match in Duesseldorf. Klitschko knocked out Chambers in the 12th and final round to retain his heavyweight belts Saturday night.—AP

Klitschko KO’s Chambers to retain titles DUESSELDORF: World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko landed a left-hand knockout punch five seconds from the end of the fight to beat challenger Eddie Chambers and retain his WBO, IBO and IBF belts on Saturday.

Ukrainian Klitschko, 33, rattled the 27-year-old American in the second round but had to wait until just before the end of the 12th to stage a dramatic finale and knock him out in front of 51,000 fans at Duesseldorf’s soccer stadium.

Chambers tumbled into the ropes with the referee ending the bout as Klitschko improved his record to 54 wins from 57 fights.

“I have to give him credit. Chambers is very fast and super strong,” Klitschko said. “He does not have much punching power but could have probably outboxed me if I had got tired,” added the beaming Ukrainian in a ringside interview. “But that did not happen.”

Both boxers started off cautiously

with Klitschko well aware of “Fast Eddie” Chambers’ speed and the American wanting to avoid the Ukrainian’s reach.

Klitschko, at 1.99 metres some 14 centimetres taller and 16 kilos heavier than Chambers, used his jab to wear down an opponent who kept moving around the ring.

It did not take long, though, for the 1996 Olympic champion to hurt Chambers with a series of punishing right-hand punches in the second round that rattled his confidence.

Klitschko, with brother Vitaly-the WBC heavyweight champion-in his corner, landed another big right in the third but Chambers bravely battled on while never really staking a strong claim for the titles.

Chambers, with 18 knockouts in his 35 wins, landed few big punches and none powerful enough to hurt Klitschko.

The American looked more interested in avoiding the Ukrainian’s knockout punch

that had already claimed 47 victims.

A brief break in the ninth round to change a glove gave Chambers some time to recover but Klitschko looked fitter and stronger throughout, landing the knockout blow five seconds from the bell to inflict Chambers’ second defeat in 37 fights.

Having popped open a local beer bot-

tle and sprayed his team to celebrate the win, Klitschko said he knew throughout the fight his time would come. “By round six his game plan was out the window,” he said. “I had promised a knock out.”

Meanwhile, minutes after successfully defending his WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles, Vladimir Klitschko

KEY WEST: Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis of Cuba defended his World Boxing Council International heavyweight championship title Saturday when Costa Rican Carl Drummond quit after three rounds.

Solis and Drummond were scheduled for 10 rounds in the main event of Fight Night in the Keys in an outdoor ring at Mallory Square.

Solis (16-0) dominated the first three

rounds and just before round four was to begin, Drummond shook his head to the referee and the fight ended with a technical knockout win for Solis.

The bout began about 40 minutes late after Drummond had issues with pre-fight bandage wrapping of his hands. In an earlier bout American Jorge Diaz scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Mexican Alejandro Lopez in a featherweight bout.—AP

had already set his sights on Briton David Haye’s WBA crown.

The 33-year-old Ukrainian retained his three titles when he knocked out American “Fast Eddie” Chambers with a left hook in the 12th and final round on Saturday evening.

“I do not feel my age at all,” he told reporters. “I just feel that I keep getting better and better. There is more where this came from.”

The Ukrainian, whose brother Vitaly holds the WBC title, was never really threatened by Chambers, let alone seriously hurt, and the question on everyone’s mind now is when will a HayeKlitschko fight go ahead?

With no possibility of a single fighter holding all belts at the moment, as the two brothers are not going to fight each other, the Haye fight would go a long way towards dispersing the notion the Klitschkos pick their opponents to suit their tastes and sizes. It would also be by far the most lucrative bout for broadcast-

Ljubicic stuns Nadal INDIAN WELLS: Ivan Ljubicic played the match of his life to upset third seed and holder Rafa Nadal 36 6-4 7-6 on Saturday and reach the final of the Indian Wells ATP tournament.

The big-serving Croat, seeded 20th, recovered from a set down before crunching a forehand down the line to clinch the tiebreak 7-1 and seal victory in two hours, 34 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Ljubicic, who turned 31 on Friday, will compete for his first Masters 1000 title in Sunday’s final against American Andy Roddick, who held off a fightback by Swede Robin Soderling to win 6-4 3-6 6-3.

“It was a great, great match,” the Croat told reporters after firing down 17 aces for a tournament total of 66. “Probably the best I’ve ever played in my career.

“I struggled a little bit at the beginning with the wind ... but I felt from the beginning okay from the baseline. I didn’t feel like he was in control of the points.

“I just felt if I found the rhythm of the return then I can have the match, and that’s exactly what happened,” added Ljubicic, who beat second-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.

“It’s a great, great moment and my fourth Masters final. I hope it’s gonna be finally the victory. We’ll see tomorrow.”

Ljubicic began the match tentatively on a breezy afternoon in the California desert, twice doublefaulting before netting a forehand to be broken in the first game.

He also lost his serve in the ninth, after a clever Nadal lob forced an error by the Croat as he stretched his racket upwards, to lose the opening set in 34 minutes.

The Spaniard, whose crosscourt forehand was scintillating, seemed poised for a straight sets demolition after going 0-40 up on Ljubicic’s serve in the sixth game of the second set.

But Ljubicic saved four break points to hold and then broke Nadal for the first time in the ninth game, after the Spaniard double-faulted, before levelling the match.

Service breaks were traded in the first two games of the third set before the players went into a tiebreak which Ljubicic dominated as Nadal made a series of unforced errors. Seventh seed Roddick reached the final at Indian Wells for the first time in four attempts after holding off sixth-seeded Soderling in one hour 46 minutes.

“I definitely would love to win this,” said the American, who clinched his 28th ATP Tour title in Brisbane in January. “This is probably the only real big tournament in North America that I haven’t won.”

The powerful-serving American, who had lost to Soderling in their two previous meetings, broke the Swede in the seventh game to sweep through the opening set in 37 minutes.

Although Soderling levelled the match by twice breaking his opponent in the second, Roddick returned the favour in the third and clinched victory when the Swede hit a backhand long.—Reuters

ers.

Haye pulled out of a scheduled fight with Vladimir last year, citing an injury, although it was more a case of the two sides and their promoters failing to reach a deal. A Haye-Vitaly Klitschko match also failed to materialise.

“I told Vitaly I would fight Haye and if he cares about having title belts in the house I told him I will give him Haye’s afterwards,” Vladimir said a day before the Chambers’ fight.

“I would prefer to fight him in a soccer arena but I would also face him in a car park if necessary.” Vladimir is the more likely to fight the big-talking Briton with Vitaly set to fight European champion Albert Sosnowski from Poland in May. Vitaly though also sounded confident a Klitschko-Haye fight was on the cards, even as early as this year. “Maybe even this year,” he told reporters in Duesseldorf. “We have good chances of setting this fight up.”—Reuters

No room for error as Wenger keeps his eye on title prize

INDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal of Spain, serves to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament.—AP

LONDON: If Arsenal are going to end their five-year wait for a trophy they cannot afford to make any mistakes as the season reaches its climax, said manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners, who last won the Premier League in 2004 and have not lifted any silverware since landing the FA Cup the following year, went to the top of the table with a 2-0 home win over West Ham United on Saturday.

Arsenal also appear to have an easier run-in than title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

“My players have always believed (we can do it) and I believe we can as well,” Wenger told the BBC. “That is what champions believewhen no-one else believes you must believe you can do it. We have three teams involved in the fight, it is going to be interesting and we must win our games.

“But there is no room for error.

The target is to win the next game and that is what we are going for. We do not think or speak about errors, we are just thinking about winning the next game,” added the Frenchman.

Arsenal have won their last six league matches and most of their remaining seven fixtures look winnable too.

They face home games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City and Fulham and

trips to Birmingham City, arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers before the season ends on May 9.

The matches against Spurs and Manchester City, who are both challenging for fourth place, and Fulham, rejuvenated by manager Roy Hodgson, look the most problematic.

Wenger’s side also have to play holders Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals but those pundits who wrote off Arsenal’s chances when they lost 3-0 at home to Chelsea in November to trail in the title race by 11 points, were wide of the mark.

“There is still everything to play for,” Wenger told reporters.

Arsenal were reduced to 10 men just before halftime when defender Thomas Vermaelen was sent off for a foul on Guillermo Franco and although Wenger was furious with that decision, he was delighted with the way his team responded.

“We showed maturity today and kept our discipline and technically we were outstanding. Once again we showed mental strength and what we achieved today can only make us stronger,” said Wenger.

Goals from Denilson and skipper Cesc Fabregas, with a late penalty, sealed victory and kept Arsenal, their fans and manager believing more success is just around the corner at last.—Reuters

SPORTS

Monday, March 22, 2010

19

Mallorca blitz Atletico

GERMANY: Schalke’s Marcelo Bordon (center) jumps for the ball in front of Hamburg’s goal during the German First Division Bundesliga soccer match.—AP

Schalke held, Bayern stay top BERLIN: Schalke spurned the chance to go top of the Bundesliga after being held to a 2-2 draw at Hamburg yesterday, leaving Bayern Munich top of the pile despite their defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Substitute Jonathan Pitroipa hit a late equaliser for Hamburg, who took the lead through Ruud van Nistelrooy but were pegged back by goals from Kevin Kuranyi and Ivan Rakitic.

With Bayern losing 2-1 after two late goals at Frankfurt on Saturday, Schalke’s draw leaves them second behind Louis van Gaal’s side, who they meet in the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

Hamburg took the lead in the 40th minute when Germany midfielder Piotr Trochowski floated in a free-kick that Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer parried straight into the path of van Nistelrooy.

Schalke equalised in the 62nd minute when midfielder Alexander Baumjohann, who only came on after 46 minutes, swung in a cross from the left and ex-Germany striker Kuranyi headed home.

And Baumjohann then won a penalty for the Royal Blues when he was hauled down by Hamburg’s Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen, with Rakitic netting at the second attempt to give the away side a 2-1 lead.

But the home side drew level when Trochowski fired in a cross on 77 minutes for Pitroipa to slot home. Baumjohann then clipped the crossbar with a late chance while Pitroiopa fired over as both sides had chances to win the game.

On Saturday, Bayern suffered their first defeat in 20 league games after being floored by two late goals in three minutes at Frankfurt.

Bayern looked to be cruising to a 1-0 win after Miroslav Klose hit an early goal, but Frankfurt floored the Bavarian giants with goals by teenage striker Juvhel Tsoumou and fellow forward Martin Fenin.

The goals came on 87 and 89 minutes and inflicted only the third league defeat of the season on the Champions League quarter-finalists and their first loss in the Bundesliga since September.

On Saturday night, former leaders Bayer Leverkusen suffered another dent in their title aspirations when Argentinian striker Lucas Barrios scored twice to help Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win. Stuttgart took a step closer to a place in Europe with a 2-0 win at home to Hanover as their Romanian striker Ciprian Marica scored either side of half-time. The result leaves Christian Gross-coached Stuttgart seventh.

Werder Bremen, who are fighting to stay in the European places for next season, made hard work of their 3-2 win over Bochum which needed a late winner from German international Torsten Frings. The result leaves them fifth.

Bottom side Hertha Berlin face defending champions Wolfsburg on Sunday evening, but fellow relegation candidates Freiburg did the capital club no favours with a 1-0 win over Mainz that leaves Berlin eight points adrift at the table’s foot.

Cologne are five points above the relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.—AFP

Tevez bursts Fulham’s bubble Fulham 1

Man City 2 LONDON: Fulham were brought back down to earth with a bump as Manchester City swept them aside with a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage yesterday as Carlos Tevez drove the visitors to victory.

The Cottagers enjoyed one of the greatest nights in the club’s history on Thursday with their stunning Europa League win over Juventus.

But after going behind again, there was no magical comeback as they got back to the regular business of the English Premier League.

Paraguay forward Roque Santa Cruz put City ahead with a seventh-minute tap-in and the Argentina striker, at the heart of all the visitors’ best attacking moves, made it 2-0 with a welltaken goal in the 36th.

Fulham captain Danny Murphy scored a 75th-minute penalty after Gareth Barry was deemed to have handled the ball, but it was not enough to impede City’s hunt for fourth place and a Champions League qualifying spot.

The result saw City overtake Liverpool into fifth place in the table, two points behind Tottenham, with a game in hand while Fulham stay 10th.

The Cottagers were given a rousing reception by the home fans following their shock 4-1 victory over Italian giants Juventus, that saw them through to the Europa League quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

Stephen Kelly and Brede Hangeland were the only two missing from the side which conquered the Italians, as Fulham welcomed Murphy back into midfield and Chris Smalling came into the defence.

City had to do without defender Joleon Lescott, who injured a hamstring in the warm-up. Tevez had the first shot of the match, a third-minute low drive from outside the penalty box which Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer did well to tip around the post.

A minute later, Santa Cruz had a looping header saved. The opening goal came as Fulham were caught out on the counter-attack.

City skipper Kolo Toure cleared a Zoltan Gera header off the line and Tevez went on a surging run, playing in Craig Bellamy.

The Wales striker’s shot deflected off defender Chris Baird and onto the post but Schwarzer could do nothing about the rebound as the ball rolled straight to Santa Cruz, who tapped it in.

Tevez tested Schwarzer with a 23rd-minute drive and should have done better 10 minutes later when he messed up his throughball for Bellamy, which went straight out for a goal kick.

However, he more than made up for it a few moments later with a superbly-taken goal. Starting the move, he played it wide to Bellamy and ran on into the penalty box. He brought down the Welshman’s cross and rounded Smalling before cutting it back inside Schwarzer.

Fulham tried to claw a goal back before half-time but midfielder Dickson Etuhu’s shot went wide. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson replaced midfielder Gera and striker Bobby Zamora with Stefano Okaka and Clint Dempsey, the match-winner against Juve, in a bid to shake things up after the break.

But within minutes, it was City who had two great chances to extend their lead. First Schwarzer did well to keep out a Santa Cruz shot and then in the 57th minute, City winger Adam Johnson’s shot from the edge of the penalty box flew across the face of Schwarzer’s goal and hit the far post.

The Londoners were given a lifeline when Barry was adjudged to have handled a cross in the box.

Murphy stroked in the set-piece, but there was to be no repeat of the midweek comeback as City held on for victory.—AFP

MADRID: Real Mallorca continued their impressive home record with an emphatic 4-1 win over Europa League quarter-finalists Atletico Madrid yesterday that took them up to fourth in the table.

With Mallorca having lost just once all season at their own stadium it was always going to be a tough task for Atletico and they went behind after ten minutes when the unmarked Victor Casadesus slotted home.

The Atletico defence was struggling and while Diego Forlan drew them level it was to prove only a brief respite as two minutes later Aritz Aduriz headed the hosts back in front.

The visitors’ chances of a comeback were rocked by the second-half dismissal of Raul Garcia and from then on Mallorca took control.

Luis Perea rounded off a poor personal performance with an own goal and then Felipe Mattioni hit a fine strike to wrap up the scoring in the final minutes.

Malaga brought a run of three straight defeats to an end with a 2-0 win over Villarreal.

A game low on chances and entertainment appeared to be heading for a stalemate until Nabil Baha headed in a corner mid-way through the second half. With Villarreal forced to press forward he found the net again late on from a counterattack.

Racing Santander managed their first win in seven matches with a 3-1 victory away to Osasuna. Miguel Flano put the home side in front before Racing responded through Gonzalo Colsa, Christian Fernandez and Papakouly Diop.

On Saturday, Real Madrid secured their ninth straight victory after coming from behind to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table over Barcelona, who play later on Sunday against Zaragoza.

Sporting went ahead through David Barral before Real woke up and hit back through Rafael van der Vaart, Xabi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain.

The onus is now on Barcelona who could be without their key player Leo Messi, scorer of eight of their last ten goals.

The Argentine winger was unable to take part in the club’s final pre-game training session after picking up a tooth infection.

“With or without Leo we must win. Obviously with him we are better but we can also pick up three points if he doesn’t play,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

“The big aim this year is to win the league and this is more important than the Champions League.

How well we do in the league is an indication of our form over the whole season and if we get to the final of the Champions League we are sure to be also playing well in the league.”

Third-placed Valencia have Spain striker David Villa back as they look to end their three-match run without a win against Almeria.—AFP

Rangers clinch League Cup GLASGOW: A late Kenny Miller goal seven minutes from time sealed a remarkable League Cup final win for nine-man Rangers over St Mirren yesterday and wrapped up the first part of a possible domestic treble.

The Ibrox side showed dogged resilience to keep the Buddies at bay after Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson were shown straight reds before Miller rose unmarked to head in substitute Steven Naismith’s cross at Hampden.

St Mirren had dominated the game with chances from Billy Mehmet and Steven Thomson cleared off the line before a David Barron shot grazed the bar.

Kevin Thomson saw red in the 53rd minute for a late challenge on namesake Steven Thomson and Wilson joined him for an early bath when he tugged Craig Dargo’s shirt on the edge of the box as he raced in on goal.

But the Buddies couldn’t make their numerical advantage count and it was Rangers who collected the trophy for the 26th time.—AFP

Todayʼs matches on TV (local timings) LONDON: Fulham’s Simon Davies (left) and Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match.—AP

Premier League West Ham v Wolves 23:00 ShowSports 1

SPAIN: Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Paulo Assuncao (down) vies with Mallorca’s Uruguayan midfielder Chori Castro during their Spanish League football match.—AFP

Milan squander top spot role ROME: AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A for the first time this season after being held 1-1 by Napoli at the San Siro yesterday. Filippo Inzaghi’s 26th-minute header cancelled out Hugo Campagnaro’s 13th-minute opener in an entertaining encounter with both sides having chances to claim the three points.

The result leaves Milan in second position, one point behind Inter Milan, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Palermo on Saturday, and three above third-place Roma.

Inter and Roma meet next Saturday in a mouth-watering top of the table clash. Napoli are seventh, five points off the Champions League places ahead of the night match between Sampdoria and Juventus.

“It’s never easy playing Napoli. We had a few chances after the goal but it wasn’t to be,” said Brazilian winger Ronaldinho, who was celebrating his 30th birthday.

“There are ten games left to give it our all.

We need to take the positives from the game and keep our feet on the ground. If we do, the scudetto is a real possibility.

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri felt his side

deserved all three points after dominating the early stages. “We should have had it won by half time but we just couldn’t take our chances,” said Mazzarri, whose side had lost their 42-match unbeaten home run last weekend against Fiorentina.

“It was about even second half so we showed today that we are at the same level as Milan.”Milan, who have not won the title since 2004, went into Sunday’s game having endured a torrid week which had seen them lose experienced campaigners David Beckham and Alessandro Nesta through serious injury.

Coach Leonardo included forward Alexander Pato in the starting line-up but it was Napoli who struck first on 13 minutes after calamitous defending from the home side.

Found by Michele Pazienza, Ezequiel Lavezzi’s cross from the dead ball line was side-footed into an empty net by Campagnaro with Christian Abbiati and Massimo Oddo colliding at the near post.

Things got worse for Milan as Pato immediately limped off and was replaced by on-loan Inter winger Mancini as the Azzurri went for

the jugular midway through the first half.

Lavezzi’s pace was causing all sorts of problems and the Argentinian twice came close to doubling the lead. But a piece of magic from Ronaldinho, celebrating his 30th birthday, helped Milan draw level on 26 minutes.

Cutting inside his man, the Brazilian clipped over the most inviting of crosses to present Inzaghi with a simple header to score from inside the six-yard box.

Napoli’s Marek Hamsik and Fabio Quagliarella twice troubled Abbiati around the half hour mark, while an in-form Ronaldinho was desperate to celebrate his birthday with three points.

As the pace slowed in the second half, Inzaghi and Mancini were denied by pointblank saves by Morgan De Sanctis with the goalkeeper then fumbling to safety a late Andrea Pirlo free kick as Napoli held on.

In other results, Bari and Parma shared the points with a 1-1 draw, staying 11th and 12th respectively, with Chievo and Catania matching that result to stay clear of the drop zone. —AFP

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United, Liverpool fans see red over US owners

United on top Man United 2

Liverpool 1

MANCHESTER: Manchester United regained top spot in the Premier League as goals from Wayne Rooney and Park Ji-Sung secured a 2-1 win over arch rivals Liverpool yesterday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team responded to an early opening goal from Fernando Torres to earn a victory which ends Liverpool’s run of three straight wins in this fixture and maintains United’s quest to win a 19th English league title.

The champions are now two points ahead of second placed Arsenal with seven games to play. The opening 10 minutes at Old Trafford were among the most incidentpacked, and contentious, of the Premier League season as the ill-feeling between the two old enemies became abundantly apparent.

First blood was drawn by Liverpool with a superblyworked goal that suggested their hopes of another win over the defending champions might not be that far-fetched.

Steven Gerrard drove deep into United territory from just inside his own half before feeding the ball to Dirk Kuyt whose run continued to the right-hand by-line before he pulled back a pinpoint cross, which found the head of Torres, inexplicably unmarked six yards from goal, for a routine finish.

Old Trafford was stunned but it took just seven minutes for the home side to respond, the equaliser coming after Emiliano Insua made a weak defensive header which saw the ball fall for Antonio Valencia.

He immediately set off towards the Liverpool goal, with Javier Mascherano snapping at his heels and bringing him down just as he entered the area.

Referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot and immediately brandished a yellow card at the Liverpool midfielder, with United players surrounding the official and demanding he show red.

Gary Neville sprinted half the length of the field to voice his opinion and engaged in an angry exchange with Jamie Carragher, one duplicated on the touchline by rival managers Ferguson and Rafa Benitez who engaged in a fin-

ger pointing spat before the United boss screamed his disapproval at Webb.

After the rows, Rooney’s poor penalty was well saved

by Jose Reina but the rebound falling kindly for the England forward, who was alert enough to turn the loose ball into the open net for the equaliser.

Perhaps understandably, the early intensity was not maintained but United remained on top. Park placed a pair of headers wide of the Liverpool goal and Nani’s strong run ended with a powerful shot from the edge of the box which Reina turned around his post.

Just before the interval, Carragher was booked for a foul on Darren Fletcher and Rooney produced a 25yard freekick which Reina caught easily, but such opportunities were rare.

Park had endured an ineffective first half, playing just behind United’s lone striker Rooney, but the second period began in very different fashion for the South Korean, who soon made room for himself on the edge of the area and unleashed a shot which forced Reina to save.

However, just before the hour, the Liverpool goalkeeper had no chance with Park’s next attempt - a clinical, diving header from no more than six yards which put the home side in front.

Rooney had started the move with an intelligent pass to Fletcher on the right wing and the Scotsman’s delivery was inch-perfect.

The earlier threat of violence re-surfaced in the 67th minute when Fletcher was tripped by Kuyt and retaliated with a kick at the Dutchman which should have brought a yellow, or even red, card but which saw both players merely lectured by Webb.

Rooney chipped over and Benitez introduced Alberto Aquilani and Ryan Babel as Liverpool tried desperately to find some attacking impetus.

But Torres wasted their best hope of an equaliser in the final minute when he completely miscued from eight yards and Yossi Benayoun headed meekly at van der Sar. Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson saluted Park Ji-Sung

after the South Korean clinched yesterday’s crucial 2-1 win over arch rivals Liverpool.

It was only the Korean midfielder’s third goal of the season, but those strikes have come in big games against Arsenal, AC Milan and now Liverpool-confirming Ferguson’s belief that Park is especially valuable in

high-stakes encounters.

“It was very tight and Liverpool are good at stopping you playing,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “But you have got to be patient and we

EPL title race LONDON: The race for the Premier League title is heading into the final straight. Here is a list of the remaining fixtures for leaders Manchester United, second placed Arsenal and third placed Chelsea as one of the tightest battles for the English title goes down to the wire.

MAN UTD Bolton (a) March 27 Chelsea (h) April 3 Blackburn (a) April 11 Man City (a) April 17 Tottenham (h) April 25 Sunderland (a) May 1 Stoke (h) May 9 ARSENAL Birmingham (a) March 27 Wolves (h) April 3 Tottenham (a) April 10 Wigan (a) Apil 18 Man City (h) April 24 Blackburn (a) May 1 Fulham (h) May 9 CHELSEA Portsmouth (a) March 24 Aston Villa (h) March 27 Man Utd (a) April 3 Bolton (h) April 13 Tottenham (a) April 17 Stoke (h) April 25 Liverpool (a) May 1 Wigan (h) May 9

scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-Sung, who played another vital role for us.”

Ferguson also highlighted Nemanja Vidic’s display as the Serbian defender generally kept Torres in check after his fifth-minute strike.

EPL results/standings Blackburn 1 (Diouf 70) Chelsea 1 (Drogba 6); Fulham 1 (Murphy 75-pen) Man City 2 (Santa Cruz 7, Tevez 36); Man Utd 2 (Rooney 12, Park 60) Liverpool 1 (Torres 5).

Played Saturday Arsenal 2 (Denilson 5, Fabregas 83-pen) West Ham 0; Aston Villa 2 (Carew 16, 82) Wolves 2

(Craddock 23, Milner 38-og); Everton 2 (Arteta 72, Pienaar 89) Bolton 0; Portsmouth 3 (Smith 37, O’Hara 88, Kanu 89) Hull 2 (Folan 27, 73); Stoke 1 (Etherington 64-pen) Tottenham 2 (Gudjohnsen 46, Kranjcar 77); Sunderland 3 (Bent 5, 11, Campbell 88) Birmingham 1 (Jerome 60) Wigan 1 (Rodallega 90) Burnley 0.

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd 31 Arsenal 31 Chelsea 30 Tottenham 30 Man City 29 Liverpool 31 Aston Villa 29 Everton 30 Birmingham30 Fulham 30 Stoke 30

22 21 20 16 14 15 13 12 12 10 8

3 4 5 7 11 6 11 9 8 8 12

6 6 5 7 4 10 5 9 10 12 10

72 73 70 55 55 50 41 48 31 33 29

25 33 28 29 37 32 24 42 34 34 35

69 67 65 55 53 51 50 45 44 38 36

Blackburn 30 9 8 13 Sunderland 30 8 10 12 Bolton 31 8 8 15 Wigan 31 8 7 16 W’hampton 30 7 7 16 West Ham 30 6 9 15 Burnley 31 6 6 19 Hull 30 5 9 16 Portsmouth 30 6 4 20 Note: Portsmouth deducted entering administration

32 49 35 40 46 34 36 56 32 29 59 31 25 49 28 37 51 27 31 64 24 29 64 24 28 53 13 9 points for

LONDON: Manchester United’s English forward Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Liverpool during their English Premier League football match at Old Trafford yesterday.

—AFP

Vidic had been sent off in his previous three appearances against Liverpool and suffered a torrid time against Torres last season, but Ferguson was more impressed by his performance this time.

“Vidic was magnificent,” he said. “Torres has maybe tried to burst the ball with his late chance, but that was the only break we got in the game really. “I am sure it wasn’t a classic, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it-there was no-one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure.”

Ferguson also said Javier Mascherano should have been sent off for the foul on Antonio Valencia that led to United’s first-half penalty, which was converted on a rebound by Rooney after Jose Reina saved the striker’s spotkick.

“I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I don’t see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting. That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned,” Ferguson said. Park’s goal sent United back to the top of the Premier League, two points clear of second-placed Arsenal, but Ferguson admits the title race is set to go down to the wire.

“We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches-but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter?” he said. “It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams.” —AFP

MANCHESTER: Fans of Manchester United and Liverpool, the Premier League’s fiercest rivals, are linked in a common cause: Anger at American owners who have turned English football’s most successful clubs into the most indebted.

While a tight match yesterday kept the anti-American chants to a minimum during Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool, green-and-gold everywhere, protest scarves were at 76,000-seat except the directors’ seating, The protesters Old Trafford stadium. support, have even won government Brown with Prime Minister Gordon “debt levels complaining that in soccer level that have been at a leverage is too high.” But United club secretary Ken Ramsden dismissed protests by both sets of fans, telling The Associated Press: “It’s all about the football played on the field, not in the board rooms.”

Liverpool fans have been directing bile at Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. almost since the day their leveraged takeover was completed three years ago.

The Americans have ignored the hostility to remain in charge at Anfield, even though their stakes will be diluted by an external injection of at least $150 million urgently required to reduce the team’s $356 million debt burden.

Liverpool’s cash constraints and corresponding lack of investment in players have been brought into sharp focus this season by the dramatic downturn in the team’s fortunes. Runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League quarterfinalists last season, Rafa Benitez’s side is fifth domestically and crashed out of Europe’s elite competition at the group stage.

How Liverpool fans envy the success — if not the debt — of Man United. The Red Devils have won three straight league titles — matching Liverpool’s record haul of 18 in May — while remaining on course for another and a third straight European final.

But the Glazer family’s 2005 takeover saw one of the world’s most profitable clubs suddenly burdened by debt that currently stands at $1.06 billion — more than the total of Germany’s top 36 clubs. After initial grumbles, fan dissent lay largely dormant until January. Concern was voiced last year that only a quarter of the 80 million pound ($120 million) windfall from Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid had been reinvested.

But the spark that reignited the anger was a 320page prospectus sent in January to prospective buyers of bonds in United that laid bare the club’s financial predicament. The seven-year bond issue did raise 504 million pounds ($757 million) to replace long-term financing and reduce debts to hedge funds, but it also helped dissenting fans’ mobilize against the Glazers. “The reason for the lull in the protests was that the initial campaign was to prevent a takeover and it did appear that the battle was lost,” said Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST). “People felt there was nothing they could immediately do about it. We kept the organization going, but it wasn’t growing.

“But when the prospectus came out it made people sit up. It told the story we’d be telling prior — and since takeover — about what the Glazers would do with the financial management.” MUST’s membership has soared to 142,760 from 36,000 since January’s bond issue — thanks in part to Internet strategy devised by Blue State Digital, which also helped rally online support behind Barack Obama’s election to the White House in 2008.

But the visual symbol of the protests is the simple scarf. In January, MUST began producing them in green-and-gold — the colors of Newton Heath, the club’s original incarnation — rather than the usual red and black. Supply can barely match demand and they dominate the stands at Old Trafford.

LONDON: Manchester United supporters hold anti-Glazer family banners during their English Premier League football match against Liverpool. — AFP “The fans wear them because they love this club,” defender Patrice Evra said. “They have their reasons for doing it and we don’t think that they’re crazy. They’d like things to change.” Even former United star David Beckham wore one of the scarves as he left the pitch following AC Milan’s match here earlier this month.

No player has spoken out since Evra earlier this month. Manager Alex Ferguson, though, is alert to the dangers of a mass uprising.

“Some of our fans are clearly unhappy with our financial position, but we mustn’t allow the situation to become divisive,” Ferguson said. “I could see our opponents rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of watching us fall out among ourselves if we don’t think carefully about what we are doing.”

The fans also are trying to collectively buy United. The plan to emulate European champion Barcelona is gathering pace, unlike moves for a fanled buyout of Liverpool, which have floundered since being unveiled two years ago.

The takeover bid being formed in Manchester under the “Red Knights” banner involves MUST and financiers that include Jim O’Neill, chief economist at Goldman Sachs.

Japanese investment bank Nomura has been engaged to lead the search to raise around $1.2 billion from supporters, with the aim of submitting a bid by the summer. While United chief executive David Gill has defiantly insisted that the club is not for sale, the Glazers are yet to break five years of silence. — AP

Diouf dents Chelsea’s title challenge Blackburn 1

Chelsea 1

BLACKBURN: El-Hadji Diouf delivered a significant blow to Chelsea’s title challenge as the Blackburn striker scored his first goal this year to salvage a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park yesterday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had been coasting towards another three points when Didier Drogba put them ahead after just five minutes with his 28th goal of the season.

But the Blues missed several chances to extend their lead and paid the price midway through the second half when Diouf rose above the flat-footed Paulo Fer reira to head home his third goal of the season.

It could and should have been so different for Chelsea, yet this major setback leaves them in third place in the table, now four points behind leaders Manchester United, with a game in hand to come at

Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Blackburn boasted a good home record going into this contest, having won their last four and lost just once in their last 14 outings in front of their own fans.

With sur vival all but secured, Blackburn had their sights set on heading towards a potential top ten finish which would be an admirable achievement in their financial circumstances.

Three of Chelsea’s five league defeats this season had also come in the north west of England, while Ancelotti’s men had won only two of their last seven games on the road.

So the omens pointed towards a potential upset, despite the fact Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was forced to hand a league debut in defence to teenager Phil Jones due to injuries to Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were without Michael Ballack after Ancelotti dropped the German international from his squad.

The visitors

were desperate to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League and keep pace with Arsenal and United. Chelsea made a bright star t, h o w e v e r, with the movement of

Frank Lampard, Drogba and Nicolas Anelka giving Blackburn’s makeshift defence much to think about. Drogba tried his luck inside the opening three minutes but saw his curling effort go just wide. Yet he went one better just two minutes later as the visitors made the per fect possible star t. L ampard released Nicolas Anelka down the right and he weaved beyond the feeble challenge of Keith Andrews courtesy of a cheeky nutmeg before pulling the ball back for the u n m a r k e d Drogba, who drilled a low shot beyond Jason Brown. The lead could have been doubled moments later when Salomon Kalou headed Lampard’s corner inches over as Chelsea threatened to run riot. —AFP

LONDON: Blackburn’s El-Hadji Diouf in action during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea. —AP

Commercial Bank of Kuwait CEO retires

23

Pakistan’s poverty pushes children to work

25

Merkel says Greece should not be focus of EU summit

26

Monday, March 22, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

Dubai’s first budget airline eyes Middle East for growth flydubai spreads wings in Kuwait and Muscat

By Velina Nacheva

LONDON: A young woman, supporter of the British Airways cabin crew strike, holds a mask depicting BA CEO Willie Walsh at a picket line at Heathrow airport yesterday. —AP

British Airways and union claim advantage in protest LONDON: British Airways and the union representing the airline’s 12,000 cabin crew both claimed they held the upper hand on the second day of a three-day strike yesterday. BA said it was reinstating at least 26 flights after so many cabin crew ignored the strike and turned up for work, but the Unite union dismissed its claims as “spin”.

The airline said 1,157 cabin crew had reported for work on Saturday at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, accounting for 97 percent of crew on duty at Gatwick and just over half the scheduled staff at Heathrow.

But the union claimed half of BA’s 250 planes had been grounded on the first day of the action and it had turned Heathrow’s flagship Terminal 5 into a “ghost town”. “Contrary to the spin from the company about this strike collapsing, only five cabin crew have broken ranks and 80 have gone sick,”

Unite’s joint leader Tony Woodley said.

With the union threatening another walkout for four days from March 27 targeting the busy Easter holiday period, Woodley appealed to the BA board to bypass the defiant chief executive Willie Walsh and resolve the dispute.

“I am now appealing to the BA chairman and sensible members of the board to use their influence, put passengers first, and return to the negotiating table for the good of everyone.

“It is quite obvious this strike is in no-one’s interest. We need a negotiated settlement,” Woodley said. A poll showed public opinion was against the strike. The survey by ICM for BBC radio found 60 percent believed the walkout was “unjustified”, with 25 percent expressing support. Passengers who were able to travel said the strike had complicated their journeys.

Diane Huntley, 50, and her daugh-

ter Robin from Maine, New England, had to make a nine-hour bus trip from Edinburgh when their connecting flight to Heathrow was cancelled. The pair were on the way to Boston. “My heart sank when we found out it was cancelled and it affected the holiday,” Diane Huntley said. “I’m a nurse in the States and I think if you work in a ser vice industr y you should not strike.”

BA said it would operate eight long-haul flights and 18 short-haul flights which it had earlier expected to cancel. Destinations included Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Cape Town. As well as using non-striking staff, the airline is offering travelers seats on planes leased from other carriers, including budget airline Ryanair.

In a video message late Saturday, Walsh said the contingency plans had worked “better than expected”.

“We’ve had a great tur nout at Gatwick-incredible, every single cabin crew rostered to fly today has come to work and we’ve had about 50 percent of our cabin crew ar rive at Heathrow, so they are voting with their feet,” he said. The union is bitterly opposed to the loss-making airline’s cost-cutting measures, which would see some of the most lucrative pay and perks packages for cabin crew in the airline industry substantially downgraded.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned the strike and urged BA management and workers to hold fresh talks. But with a general election expected to take place in May, the main opposition Conservatives have accused the government of a limp response to the strike because Unite is a major donor to Brown’s ruling Labor party. —AFP

China warns US against sanctions over currency Beijing might respond. Political pressure is growing in Washington to declare China a currency manipulator, with some US senators threatening to slap duties on Chinese products if Beijing does not allow the yuan, also known as the renminbi, to rise. The head of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday joined the chorus of calls for Beijing to abandon the peg of 6.83 yuan to the dollar imposed in mid-2008 to help China’s exporters weather the global financial crisis. In the three years before that, Beijing had let the yuan climb 21 percent against the dollar.

“Greater flexibility in the exchange rate of the yuan would be in the interests of the Chinese economy. Rebalancing is a big challenge and exchange-rate flexibility could contribute to making that process smoother over the years to come,” ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda told Reuters. While it was wrong to rely exclusively on the exchange

rate to tilt the economy away from exports and towards consumption, a freer-floating yuan would also strengthen Beijing’s control over monetary policy, Kuroda said on the sidelines of the forum.

“When and how should be decided by the Chinese authorities,” he said of the switch back to a more flexible currency regime. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank both urged China last week to let the yuan resume its ascent.

Some US legislators and thinktanks say the Chinese currency is undervalued by as much as 40 percent, causing imbalances in bilateral and global trade flows.

Trade surplus ‘overestimated’ But Chen accused Washington of overestimating the size of China’s trade surplus with the United States, putting more pressure on the relationship between the world’s biggest and third-biggest economies.

The defiant comments stood in contrast to a ministry statement

CEO of flydubai Ghaith Al-Ghaith pleted, will expand the capacity of the airport to 70 million passengers, and the opening of Jaber Ali have created more capacity and a “relief of that problem,” explains AlGhaith.

To explore the premise of why starting flydubai was ‘a strategic’ decision, Al-Ghaith says, “It was known that it will be easy to make an airline in Dubai. That is why it was done. We wanted to do it; now we can and we did it.”

The evolving travel market and emergent tourism opportunities, in addition to the regional growth have triggered the demand for more airlines, greater frequencies and a larger network of destinations. In the case of the United Arab Emirates, Al-Ghaith says, without supplementing the infrastructure of hotels and tourism attractions with more airlines and routes it is unlikely more visitors to come into the country for tourism.

“Having more airlines is essential to complement to the infrastructure that is being built,” he said. He elaborated that the Middle East travel market is still evolving compared to other mature markets, such as Europe. The Middle East market is developing and has a lot of potential, says Al-Ghaith. “Tourism in our region is not even being tapped.”

The more airlines, the more choices For Al-Ghaith, the more airlines there are, the more people will travel. With over 20 legacy carriers and four low-cost carriers in the region, the market will become more competitive and will offer more choices to travelers. To illustrate this point, Al-Ghaith says that previously the Dubai-Kuwait-Dubai route was served by two legacy carriers unlike today where some five airlines are operating this route.

“This will develop the market and more people will be travelling.

Low-cost people are given a way to travel and are given choices to pay for what they want to use...There is always room for people who want to pay less,” he observes. “The fact that we are the first low-cost carrier from Dubai gives us an advantage due to the fact that we will always try to give the passenger choices where they can travel at a lower cost. We try to make travel easier.

This will distinguish us from other airlines,” Al-Ghaith said.

Network expansion Kuwait’s proximity to the UAE, close family and trade links between

the countries and the traditionally strong relationship has kept Kuwait on the radar of flydubai. “We wanted to come to Kuwait when we can offer two flights a day (and when we could) give the Kuwaiti customer the right product... We believe there is a lot of business ahead because the strength of the relationship between the countries, family relationships, trade and business,” AlGhaith said. He stressed that the frequency of flights to and from Kuwait will increase in the future.

“We think the market in Kuwait is very healthy and there is a lot of potential here.”

The market of 2.5 billion people stretching from the GGC, India, Pakistan, Iran, the former Soviet Union to Africa creates a wealth of opportunities for the aviation industry in the region, opines Al-Ghaith.

Hence, flydubai’s plans for network expansion concomitant with fleet growth. Recently, flydubai has had its seventh aircraft delivered with another six expected to be delivered by year-end. In its start, flydubai had placed an order for a total of 50 aircraft to be received by 2015-16.

In Al-Ghaith’s words, flydubai is looking at more destinations within a 4.5 hour radius of Dubai. “The GCC (destinations) was definitely a priority for us. These are the countries that you have to cover because of the wealth of opportunity and relationships...What makes more sense and better business to us, we fly to,” Al-Ghaith said.

Obstacles The low-cost penetration in the Middle East which Al-Ghaith estimates to be less than 10 per cent of the total market compared to other airlines creates a wealth of growth opportunities. By way of contrast, in Europe, low cost makes up about 30 percent and the forecasts point at a growth of up to 50 percent.

“You expect this segment to grow (in the Middle East). I hope it does but there are always one or two problems that will always limit our growth or the industry growth of low-cost airline,” says Al-Ghaith.

He noted these to be ‘the lack of open skies policies’ and the access to visas. “For example, in Europe any airline can travel between any country without any restrictions. In our region, although it is much better than before, there were no comprehensive policies like that,” he said. “You can’t expect people to move freely when there are borders and visas.”

Dubai regulator tells Damas board to quit

Says yuan is not undervalued BEIJING: Beijing will retaliate if the United States declares China a currency manipulator and imposes trade sanctions, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said yesterday, firing the latest salvo in a spat over the value of the yuan. Chen again accused Washington of politicizing the issue ahead of an April 15 deadline for the US Treasury to rule whether China is unfairly holding down its exchange rate to gain a competitive edge in global markets.

“The currency is a sovereign issue and should not be an issue to be discussed between two countries,” Chen told the China Development Forum. “We think the renminbi is not undervalued, but if the US Treasury gave an untrue reply for its own needs, we will wait and see. If such a reply is followed by trade sanctions, I think we will not do nothing. We will also respond if this means litigation under the global legal framework,” he added.

Chen did not specif y how

KUWAIT: Against the backdrop of a stagnant global aviation industry, panicked airfare-slashing, fluctuating oil prices and dwindling demand for travel globally, the Middle East has proved more resilient showing signs of demand picking up.

According to forecasts released recently by the International Air Transport Association, the global aviation watchdog, Middle East carriers are expected to experience a demand growth of 15.2 percent this year.

The infrastructure developments and continuous growth in the Middle East as well as the soaring inter-regional travel have been pointed as few of the factors for such uptick in confidence. Industry analysts relate the quick rebound of the aviation turf to the budget carriers. One such case in point is flydubai, Dubai’s first low-cost air,that has spread wings across the region since June 2009. Since its launch, flydubai has been eyeing further expansion within the Middle East launching flights to Kuwait on March 30 and Muscat on March 28.

Recently, flydubai announced the start of flights to Kuwait and Muscat extending its network to a total of 13 destinations. Launched in the time-crunched era and facing off cut-throat competition from legacy carriers and other no-frills regional airlines, state-owned flydubai is bullish on the Middle East market.

“I am pleased to say that the travelers’ growth in our region is still positive contrary to what happened in the rest of the world,” said Ghaith Al-Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer flydubai.

In a recent interview with the Kuwait Times, he related this optimistic assessment to the overall development of the region, in which the travel industry plays an essential role. “More people travel to come to work in the region; business is growing,” he says. In his words, the inter-Gulf and interregional traffic has been on the increase, too. “People in the Middle East like to travel more often than before simply because it wasn’t available earlier. Because of the development and growth our region is immune to what happened in the rest of the world,” he said.

Going where growth is The surge in demand for travel and the intense competition converges with another trend - regional growth, two factors that serve as a boon to the aviation industry. In the words of Al-Ghaith, “There is a need for even more airlines to take our industry forward.”

In his view, the start of an airline in Dubai was a ‘strategic decision.’

“There was always a need to have a second airline in Dubai,” says AlGhaith who has over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry.

According to him, the only ‘stumbling block’ in the past was the fast growth of the Dubai airport and the fact that “there was not enough capacity.”

The latest projects for Dubai airport expansion, which when com-

Dubai watchdog hits Mideast jeweler with bans

SUINING: A Chinese bank worker arranges stacks of 100-yuan notes at a bank on March 20, 2010. —AFP on Friday that was widely interpreted as an attempt to bridge differences. The ministry said then that it would send a vice minister to Washington this week to try to ease trade frictions, although it specifically noted that China’s currency policy was off-limits.

Speaking yesterday, Chen said any adjustment to the yuan’s value would not by itself resolve global trade imbalances. China’s trade surplus increased while the yuan was gradually appreciating from 2005 to 2008, yet the surplus fell 34 percent last year even though the yuan marked time against the dollar. Chinese trade could even lurch into the

red this month. “A country’s currency appreciation is very limited in helping to rebalance global trade,” he said. “I personally expect that China could possibly have a trade deficit in March.”

Chen called on all countries to oppose any form of trade protectionism, a theme that echoed an earlier speech by Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Neither official mentioned specific countries.

Vice Minister of Finance Wang Jun, also speaking at the forum, said it was not time yet to talk about exiting the economic stimulus program but added “we should actively study the exit strategy together” with other countries. —Reuters

DUBAI: Middle East jewelry retailer Damas International Ltd was penalized yesterday by a Dubai watchdog for improper financial dealings and lax corporate oversight in the regulator’s strongest action to date. The sanctions imposed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority include the resignation of the company’s entire board of directors, fines totaling $3.7 million and voluntary bans on the three brothers who oversaw the family-run business.

The ruling also requires the Abdullah brothers to make good on their earlier promise to repay nearly $100 million in cash and 1,940 kilograms (4,277 pounds) of gold improperly taken from Damas, according to regulatory filings. The company has estimated the total amount wrongly taken from the company was worth about $165 million. The funds were used to pay for real estate and other investments. “This is not a slap on the fingers,” the regulator’s chief executive, Paul Koster, said in an interview. He said the penalties were the DFSA’s most severe since it was founded in 2004, and were meant to send a message that Dubai’s regulatory standards aimed to emulate those in other major financial centers.

“We try to say there are checks and balances within the system,” he said. Damas said in a statement posted last evening on the Nasdaq Dubai that it will fully comply with the DFSA’s ruling, and has received the resignations of its board members. The penalties come as Dubai looks to retain its mantle as a leading

financial center in the region despite serious debt and transparency concerns centered on its state-run businesses.

The DFSA is the regulator for the Dubai International Financial Center, a banking hub that houses the Nasdaq Dubai stock exchange and regional officers for major international banks. It does not have direct oversight of Dubai’s other stock exchange - the Dubai Financial Market - or over state-run companies such as the indebted conglomerate Dubai World, which is in talks with creditors to restructure $26 billion in debt.

Dubai-based Damas ousted CEO Tawhid Abdullah in October after he made what the company described as “unauthorized transactions” worth as much as $165 million.

It quickly hired auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers to examine the improper deals. Abdullah shared control of the company with his two brothers, Tawfique and Tamjid, who both served on the company’s board. Tawfique Abdullah is the company’s chairman.

DFSA’s ruling yesterday calls for voluntary bans of up to 10 years for all three brothers, who are descendants of the company’s founder. They will not be allowed to serve as directors of Damas or any other company within the DIFC financial free trade zone.

Together, the brothers must pay fines of $3 million, and the company itself owes another $700,000, Koster said. —AP

BUSINESS

22

Monday, March 22, 2010

WEEKLY COMMODITY UPDATE

Calm before the storm

By Ole S Hansen A sense of calm has descended on world financial markets, most noticeable stock markets where volatility on the S&P index has dropped to a two year low. During May of 2008 the S&P index reached a high of USD 1,440 which was followed by a major sell off in the months that followed.

The VIX (volatility index) is a measure of fear for the unknown. During periods of market turmoil, the VIX spikes higher reflecting the increased cost of insuring (buying put options) against further losses.

During bullish periods like the one we have had for several months now there is less fear and less need for buying insurance. Looking at recent history we have often seen that a VIX reading below 20%, currently 16.50%, has been followed by a major sell off shortly after.

This complacency is worth keeping in mind as we head towards the second quarter of 2010. With the economic outlook continuing to brighten there are only a few clouds on the horizon.

The ongoing uncertainty about Greece’s sovereign debt problems and the potential risk of it spreading to other countries, risk about a bubble emerging in the Chinese economy and speculation about how the markets will react to the first round of Central Bank tightening when it occurs.

Against this background the major commodity markets have been trading calmly with an unchanged to higher bias. Crude Oil has been grinding higher over the past couple of weeks, reaching USD 83 which ahead of the important USD 85 level has been diffi-

Ole S Hansen cult to breach. OPEC decided to stick to their agreed production cuts and expressed satisfaction about current levels and also indicated that demand from OECD had begun to improve albeit at a slow pace.

Short term momentum can and probably will carry prices higher but that will increase the risk of the market running ahead of itself and a sell off could be the result. The speculative long positions as measured by number of open futures contracts on NYMEX has once again moved back above 110,000 lots after reaching a low of 42,000 lots during the February sell off.

In early January, when the winter rally was at its peak, the speculative long position reached a record 135,000 lots which was subsequently followed by a USD 15 sell off in prices.

Technically a break above the recent high will target USD 85.60 with a potential extension to USD 90 which

is 50% retracement of the 2008 sell off from USD 147 to USD 33. Support can be found at USD 79 and USD 77.50.

The price of natural gas continues to fall out of bed reaching a five month low at USD 4 after having fallen by a third since the peak of the winter. The slower than expected draw of inventories this past few weeks has left the surplus 4.7 percent higher than the five year average. The market is facing weak fundamentals with increased production due to higher rig count and better efficiency. Companies are finding cheaper ways to produce and new areas to produce in.

Forecast for milder than normal weather in the coming weeks indicates that the US will end the winter with plentiful stocks and the rebuilding of stockpiles will begin from a higher level than normal. The front month of April natural gas on NYMEX is near term primarily only supported by a much oversold RSI which indicates a bounce is imminent. How quickly that bounce will be met by new selling is currently the big question with major resistance now at USD 4.60.

Gold has spent the past few weeks consolidating above USD 1,100 but at the same time has failed to make any attempt on the recent highs at USD 1,145. The speculative long position on COMEX has begun to climb again reaching 21 million ounces with the December 2009 record of 26 million getting closer. We continue to watch the dollar for clues about the next move and are looking for the above mentioned range to hold.

Moody’s investor service this week

said that the US and the UK have moved closer to losing their AAA credit ratings. Should this materialize the demand for hard assets such as gold will continue as concerns about the indebtedness of most of the western world will lend support. Platinum has seen a strong rally over the past three weeks reaching USD 1,643 on Wednesday.

This is only a whisker away from the January high of 1,657 which was reached during the frenzy that followed the successful launch of the platinum ETF in London. The move has been primarily investor driven with physical traders balking at the prospect of having to pay above USD 1,600 which is now support followed by USD 1,555.

Most of the drama this past week unfolded in the world of sugar trading with the price at one stage almost going into free fall. Sugar has now dropped 30% in 2010 almost fulfilling one of our ten outrageous claims for 2010. April Sugar on ICE NYBOT at one stage fell to a 7 months low below USD 18 before buying emerged.

Sugar has been falling on revised production estimates from Brazil and India, the world’s largest producers.

Fundamentals however still point towards tightness as supplies continues to be outpaced by demand and global stockpiles are heading towards a 20 year low. The CFTC data Friday evening will be watched closely in order to gauge how much the speculative long position has been reduced. Look for support on the May Sugar #11 at USD 17.55 with resistance at USD 20.50 needed to be cleared before a resumption of the rally can begin.

360 Mall celebrates Mother’s Day in style from Jujus cupcakes.

Claudia Lopusinska, 360 Mall’s Marketing Manager said: There is a nearly endless stream of ideas that can help mothers feel appreciated. 360 Mall is offering simple, yet memorable ideas that will delight and inspire our guests.

360 Mall’s unique selection of luxury brands will serve as the ideal gift of choice for mothers.”

In addition to the wide range of shopping choices, the mall’s attractions that include the gar-

KUWAIT: 360 Mall, Kuwait’s latest luxury shopping centre celebrated Mother’s Day and welcomed families yesterday to experience a wide range of striking gifts for mothers.

Floral booths were designed by renowned Flower Story to offer unique and classic gifts for mothers that included unique flower arrangements using rare and beautiful blooms, handmade chocolate truffles and cupcakes specially made and designed for Mother’s Day

Spotlight on prepaid cards

Sigma Paints introduces technological breakthrough KUWAIT: Sigma Paints introduced Nanotechnology, another technological breakthrough consistent with its reputation as a world’s pioneer of “firsts” in the construction industry, in a launch entitled, “Sigma Guardian - Your Atomic Protection” held on 17 March 2010 at the Scientific Centre in Kuwait.

Sigma Paints has carved an indelible niche in the construction industry as a leader in product innovation. As the first company in the world to promote water-based technology and environment-friendly paints, and the first in the world to formulate a solvent-free range of products, Sigma Paints once again takes center stage as the world pioneer in the introduction of the Nanometric Painting System or NPS technology which was first registered in Europe in 2006.

The most unique quality of the Sigma Guardian Nano Paint is its unique anti-dust and -sand characteristic. This is a distinctive product feature that is vital in the prevalent extreme weather conditions in the Middle East.

The dust-free property is made possible by a superior smooth outer layer created by using a unique nanometric process that employs tiny particles, called “Nano”, to fill up the holes in

Sigma team paint film surfaces. This provides a surface that is highly resistant to dust and sand.

Steven Rijkaard, Brand Manager for Sigma Middle East said “Sigma, the pioneer in cutting edge paint solutions, is introducing its latest and most technologically advanced product range. Sigma Guardian Systems and its Nano particles is the result of a big idea translated into a small defensive particle against humidity, scratch, dulling and aging, especially formulated to suit the harsh exposure conditions prevalent in the GCC. The meteoric power of Nanotechnology now provides us

with the universal exterior protection and surface radiance we desire for our homes, properties and buildings.”

After widespread acclaim in Europe, Sigma Paints brings this innovation for the first time in the Middle East. Now, the region can experience the exceptional benefits of a paint product with superior environment-friendly features and performance that are yet unrivalled in its category.

Steven Rijkaard added, “Indeed, no other paint can equal the properties of the Sigma Guardian Nano Paint. The breakthrough technology gives the ultimate protection for buildings,

houses and properties, against the destructive effects of extreme weather conditions in the region.”

In addition to this quality, Sigma Guardian Nano also has a host of benefits that are truly unmatched in its category. It is alkali resistant, provides anti carbonation, retains color for a much longer time then normal coating, has anti-moisture properties, and resistant to UV radiation and the effects of efflorescence.

Steven Rijkaard, said, “Concrete structures unexpectedly get longer life span and are given an improved appearance.

All this results in less maintenance which of course saves money. It is indeed a very welcome solution to problems our customers in Bahrain face every day.”

Mike Murphy, Sigma Paints Decorative Technical Support (DTS) Manager, said that “The development of this new outstanding Nanotechnology reflects the increasing expectations of architects, contractors and owners who recognize the need for a paint product that offers superior aesthetic qualities as well as long term financial benefits of extended, paint life protection.”

dens and main atrium continue to attract visitors. The gardens offer a living wall of greenery inside a shopping centre. The charming green oasis is created by over 20,000 fresh plants growing on walls along with Japanese KOI fish swimming in reflective pools. The mall’s main atrium invokes the spirit of a large hotel lobby that invites family and friends to relax and enjoy three of the most unique cafes amongst several water features.

With the introduction of Nanotechnology, Sigma Paints hopes to encourage further research and development towards the production of an even wider range of paint products conducive to harsh environmental conditions in the region and worldwide.

The Agents for Sigma Paints in Kuwait, Building Systems Co, Head of Contracting, Bader Alzamel, said, “It is a known fact that the State of Kuwait has the highest percentage of dust throughout the year in the Middle East. With a protection system like nanotechnology, it will help solve the problems that currently exist with external paints, where dust adheres to the surfaces as well as the constant change in the color tone.”

To reinforce its commitment to environmental protection, Sigma Paints conducts regular seminars and training activities for industry professionals on promoting quality and creating sustainable solutions. Sigma Paints believes that quality standards pave the way for environmental responsibility. By promoting best practices, Sigma Paints aligns its mission with the nation to contribute significantly towards the creation of a cleaner Qatari environment and a greener GCC.

Thierry Sabbagh

GM announces new ME brand manager DUBAI: General Motors (GM) has announced the appointment of Thierry Sabbagh to the position of Regional Brand Manager, Cadillac, GM Middle East. “Thierry has delivered results exceeding expectations in each of his roles at GM, and I welcome him on board in his new position,” said Fadi Ghosn, GM Middle East Chief Marketing Officer.

Thierry came to GM with a strong background in sales and marketing, having gained several years’ experience as the Group Marketing Manager for Gargash Enterprises, representing Mercedes-Benz in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Starting off in GM as a Marketing Manager for GMC in the Middle East in January 2006, Thierry actively participated in achieving all-time best GMC sales in 2007 and flawlessly executed several launches. Thierry became the SUV and Compact Vehicles Planning Manager in February 2008, and defined business development opportunities for Middle East operations and developed business cases for future products. “Thierry’s experience will be vital in building Cadillac brand business and growing its volume,” said Fadi.

DUBAI: The region’s first forum to spotlight the prepaid cards segment opens today at Westin Hotel in Dubai. More than 30 global card experts will join the discussions focusing on the prepaid card market in the Middle East, considered one of the fastest and most dynamic markets in the cards and payments scenario with an estimated 65 percent of the region’s population under the age of 30. The two-day summit will kick start with a dialogue on maximising opportunities to penetrate the buoyant prepaid market in Middle East followed by an interactive discussion on role of Central banks and government in the prepaid market.

Related issues such as entry into the prepaid market and the key regulatory challenges are scheduled to be tabled by specialists in the banking and prepaid segments. They will present case studies, market in-sights and varied perspectives from Italy, Turkey and Iran among others, plus delve deep into the opportunity of the growing market of prepaid card and focusing on the fast-moving market of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, an expert panel will focus on consumer insight into prepaid card industry including fresh research on the Middle East prepaid market, covering the UAE, KSA and Egypt sponsored by MasterCard. Will Cain, VRL Group Editorial Director for cards and payments will address the audience and will be joined by leading speakers such as Altaf Ahmed, VP Payment Services & CRM at Emirates NBD who will address the need of innovation in prepaid strategies; Mattia Adani, Director for Special Projects, Research and Analysis in Italian Ministry of Economy and Finances will present an Italian market case study and Reyhan Yurtseven, Deputy General Manager & Head of Credit Cards Group, Banksoft Turkey.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

.2830000 .4350000 .393000 .2700000 .2810000 .2610000 .0045000 .0020000 .0779370 .7593140 .4020000 .0750000 .7443750 .0045000 .0510000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2874000 .4393860 .3952350 .2723610 .2836650 .0531140 .0405100 .2645190 .0369850 .2061460 .0031670 .0063440 .0025240 .0034070 .0042060 .0782050 .7619240 .4060380 .0765990 .7460880 .0063090 TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2892000 .4424890 .2742900 .0770870

.2930000 .4440000 .4000000 .2780000 .2890000 .2680000 .0075000 .0035000 .0787200 .7669460 .4180000 .0790000 .7518560 .0072000 .0590000 .2892000 .4424890 .3980260 .2742900 .2856740 .0534900 .0407960 .2663870 .0372470 .2076060 .0031900 .0063890 .0025420 .0034310 .0042360 .0787040 .7667830 .4089140 .0770870 .7508460 .0063540

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES 3.241 6.355

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.424 2.529 3.988 207.400 37.290 4.173 6.345 8.960 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 77.150 Qatari Riyal 79.480 Omani Riyal 751.530 Bahraini Dinar 768.300 UAE Dirham 78.790 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 56.250 Egyptian Pound 52.790 Yemen Riyal 1.332 Tunisian Dinar 209.300 Jordanian Dinar 408.500 Lebanese Lira 194.100 Syrian Lier 6.352 Morocco Dirham 35.480 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 289.150 Euro 396.140 Sterling Pound 442.830 Canadian dollar 287.600 Turkish lire 188.200 Swiss Franc 275.800 Australian dollar 264.520 US Dollar Buying 287.000 GOLD 20 Gram 217.000 10 Gram 110.000 5 Gram 57.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound

SELL CASH 269.300 768.780 4.410 288.900 567.700 15.800 53.500 167.800 56.580

SELL DRAFT 267.500 768.780 4.175 287.400

208.300 52.800

Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal 10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar

396.400 37.950 6.620 0.035 0.297 0.261 3.290 410.370 0.195 89.310 47.800 4.260 209.200 2.183 50.100 750.650 3.520 6.550 79.950 77.130 208.350 41.870 2.777 439.100 41.700 276.700 6.400 9.290 217.900 78.880 289.500 1.380 GOLD 1,220.620 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 437.100 289.100

394.900 37.800 6.355

403.630 0.194 89.310 4.000 207.700 750.770 3.430 6.340 79.520 77.190 208.350 41.870 2.531 437.100 275.200 9.140 78.880 289.100

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

289.000 288.555 440.800 396.370 271.885 708.355 764.950 78.660 79.275 77.035 407.820 52.786 6.368 3.439

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

2.525 4.183 6.293 3.190 8.934 5.565 3.974

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars

289.150 3.440 6.360 2.545 4.180 6.380 78.795 77.285 768.250 52.785 439.700 0.00003195 3.980 1.550 410.500 5.750 397.000 291.700

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Transfer rate

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

288.700 394.500 437.000 287.000 3.240 6.350 52.770 2.530 4.174 6.332 3.428 768.215 78.675 77.000

BUSINESS

Monday, March 22, 2010

23

Dubai Lynx 2010 announces winners DUBAI: The winners of the fourth Dubai Lynx Awards, the leading creative advertising competition for the Middle East and North Africa, were revealed at the awards ceremony which took place to a packed room at the newly opened Palladium in Dubai Media City. After judging 1,364 entries the jury awarded a total of 156 Dubai Lynx trophies.

The Media category was the strongest with a total of 40 winners, followed by Direct & Sales Promotion with 26 and Print and Outdoor with 19 each. There were 17 trophies presented in Interactive category, nine in TV/Cinema, six in Integrated and four in Radio. In the new Craft category, there were 16 awards presented in total - nine in Print Craft and seven in Film Craft.

The Media Grand Prix went to Starcom MediaVest

Group, Dubai, for Chevrolet’s ‘Confessions of Corporate Spies’. The Print Grand Prix went to the agency Elephant, Cairo, for Sima Food Industries’ Lika Gum campaign ‘Out of this World’.

The Dubai Metro ‘Abandoned Cars’ campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi Dubai won this year’s Outdoor Grand Prix. The Direct and Sales Promotion Grand Prix was awarded to Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubal for the entry ‘Dustvertising’ for BP Visco Engine Oil. This year’s Interactive Grand Prix went to Memac Ogilvy Label Tunisia for SFTP’s ‘Boga Cidre’ ad. Leo Burnett Cairo won the TV/Cinema Grand Prix for the Melody Entertainment ‘Arabic Films - The Mother of all Foreign Films’ campaign. The Integrated Grand Prix went to Elephant, Cairo for ‘89 Fans from 89’ for Coca-Cola. Leo Burnett Cairo was awarded the first

Dubai Lynx Craft Grand Prix in the TV Craft category again for the ‘Arabic Films - The Mother of all Foreign Films’ campaign for Melody Entertainment.

There was no Grand Prix awarded in Radio. Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai was honoured with 2010 Agency of the Year, with second place going to TBWA/Raad Dubai, and third place to JWT Dubai.

Media Agency of the Year was awarded to Starcom MediaVest Group, Dubai, for the second year.

Runners up were OMD Dubai, and third place went to Leo Burnett Beirut. New for 2010 was Network of the Year, which went to JWT. Memac Ogilvy & Mather were awarded second place, and JWT were in third.

The winners of the Young Creatives competitions were also revealed during the Ceremony with the team from Leo Burnett Dubai winning the Print com-

petition, and the team from Starcom MediaVest Group Dubai winning the Media competition.

Also honored during the ceremony was SIC, the national telecommunications services provider in Saudi Arabia, and the largest in the Middle East, which was awarded with the prestigious title of Advertiser of the Year and collected on stage by Mohammad Al-Faraj, General Manager Corporate Communications.

Ramzi Raad, Chairman, Chairman and CEO of TBWA/RAAD Middle East was presented with this year’s Advertising Person of the Year award. The winning work, which was judged over the last week by 21 top international creatives and media experts from 10 countries in Dubai can be viewed at www.dubailynx.com/winners/2010/.

Gulf Bank’s countdown for KD125,000 draw kickstarts KUWAIT: Gulf Bank continues to make dreams of a luxury lifestyle a reality, with its first quarter draw prize of KD125,000. The last date to deposit or open an Al-Danah account is March 31, 2010.

The best way for customers to increase their chances of winning is by increasing or maintaining their deposits for as long as possible to become the first KD125,000 winner.

Gulf Bank’s new Al-Danah offers weekly draws of KD1,000 each to ten winners. Quarterly draw winners are eligible to win KD125,000 in the first quarter draw, KD250,000 in the second quarter draw, KD500,000 during the third quarter

Oman Air appoints new country manager OMAN: Oman Air announced the appointment of Maitha AlMahrouqi as country manager for Oman. Born, brought up and partly educated in Oman, Maitha brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge that she acquired within a span of a decade. She also carries with her the tag of perhaps being the first female cartographer from the region, and the first Omani cartographer as well.

Maitha Al-Mahrouqi Maitha started her airlines stint with Emirates where she began her career as reservation and ticketing, sales and holidays officer and moved over to Gulf Air as the airline’s Business Development Manager. She was subsequently promoted as the General Manager of Gulf Air for Oman, where she was in charge of the entire sales teams, their target and the projected growth.

As Country Manager for Oman Air, Maitha will be responsible for the target of key hub station - Oman, optimising the sales revenue and seeking ways and means of promoting Oman Air through various sales channels.

Abdulrazaq Alraisi, General Manager Worldwide Sales,

Oman Air said “Oman Air is very happy with the appointment of Maitha, as she brings with her exceptional qualities and qualifications required for this post. We are sure that Oman Air will greatly benefit from her expertise and experience and the persistent hard work that sets Maitha apart from others. We wish her all the best in her new role, which we are sure she would execute with elan and efficiency.”

With her exposure of working with the major airlines of the region, Maitha has the knowledge and competence in leading sales operations, reservation, ticketing, holidayspackaging, revenue-optimisations techniques and the related support services.

On her appointment as the Country Manager, Oman, Maitha Al-Mahrouqi said “I feel honoured to be part of our national carrier. It is like working directly to the progress of your country, which is what I had always wanted to do. My priority would be to contribute to the expansion plan as set forth by Oman Air management, and to assist in any endevour set forth by them for the positive growth and results of Oman Air and to map Oman Air as the preferred carrier.”

Maitha is a science graduate from the University of Oxford Brookes, UK, and has gained a vast knowledge and practical training of the airline industry by participating in several training programmes in areas such as strategic revenue management, persuasive presentation skills, corporate management skills, marketing intelligence, group yield management, ticketing and pricing and, corporate revenue information management system.

draw, and KD1 million during the fourth quarter.

There are various ways of depositing money for ease of convenience. Customers can deposit their money using the ATM, online banking, telebanking, event stands in a number of malls or by visiting any of the bank’s 51 branches. Customers can also make free-standing orders from other Gulf Bank accounts into Al-Danah, by using the bank’s online and telebanking solutions or call the telebanking service 1805805 for assistance and guidance. They can also log on to www.e-gulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s bilingual website, to find all the information regarding Al-Danah or any of the bank’s products and services.

McDonald’s participates in food safety conference KUWAIT: As part of the brand’s commitment to food quality and safety, McDonald’s participated in the fifth Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC) which was held from Feb 21-24, 2010 at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.

McDonald’s participation came through the insightful presentation of Dr Bizhan Pourkomailian, Senior Food Safety & Social Accountability Manager, McDonald’s Europe, who shared his expertise in food safety management systems and extensive experience in developing, implementing, auditing, training, presenting and consulting the food and beverage sector across Europe and Middle East. In addition, Dr Pourkomailian focused in his presentation on the tools and techniques required in promoting the food safety culture among employees in food service sector.

Commenting on the participation, Dr Habib M’Nasria, Quality Assurance Director McDonald’s Middle East Development Company (MMEDC) said “We take pride in sharing our expertise in food safety practices, a corner of the

Dr Bizhan Pourkomailian industry that we’ve always been commended for and will always be committed to as part of our brand values and promise. At McDonald’s, we adhere to the highest food quality and safety stan-

dards from farm to counter, and we implement stringent safety measures in our restaurants to ensure that high quality food is consistently served to our customers.”

McDonald’s also distributed a series of leaflets/brochures on the best practices followed in the GCC countries at the level of food quality and safety, featuring detailed information on the sources of its ingredients that come only from trusted and approved suppliers and the quality and safety measures imposed and monitored across the supply chain and restaurants.

Sharing his local views of the conference and McDonald’s participation, Rafic Fakih, Managing Director of McDonald’s UAE, said: “Our strength as a brand in general, and especially from a food quality and safety perspective, comes from our solid system which enables us to share international best practices and apply them at a local level to the best interest of our local customers. Food quality is a major pillar in the brand’s global success and a commitment from us, as local owners and operators, to our customers in the GCC.”

Dow sponsors ‘Journey for Peace’ dinner KUWAIT: The Dow Chemical Company was a premier benefactor of the Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF) “Journey for Peace” gala dinner on March 7, 2010 in Washington, DC. Hosted

by Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah, the annual dinner supports causes ranged from assisting refugees to improving education, providing quality healthcare, fighting poverty, and protecting the environment.

In 2008, the gala raised $1,000,000 in charitable funds for reducing malaria in Africa, and $1,500,000 in 2009 towards environmental and conservation programs. This year’s gala raised funds for establishing schools; with an emphasis on empowering girls through education, in remote regions of

Pakistan and Afghanistan. The $2,000,000 raised in 2010 will build approximately 50 to 60 schools in underprivileged areas, providing education to tens of thousands of children.

The event’s Master of Ceremonies, Dr Fareed Zakaria, an Indo-American journalist, author, and host of his own CNN show, presided over the evening, which honored several personalities instrumental in supporting strong KuwaitAmerica partnerships, particularly in solving key regional challenges.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry also provided introductory remarks, focusing on the opportunities to promote progress and peace through education, matching the long-term foreign policy goals of both the United States and the

State of Kuwait.

Included among the honorees was the Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, particularly for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Institute’s founder, American author Greg Mortenson, was honored for his ground-breaking efforts to promote peace through education.

Mortenson wrote the acclaimed “Three Cups of Tea”, a story of his efforts to ensure adequate funding and actual construction of schools in rural areas. The Institute’s initiatives reflect a commitment to education, community building and regional development that Dow seeks to support through raising awareness and financial aid.

“Our support of the initiatives and bridge-building endeavors set forth by the Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF) is very important to Dow,” said Markus Wildi, VicePresident of Corporate Development for Dow in Kuwait. “Being a part of this evening and helping to fund these worthy organizations supported by KAF resonates completely with Dow’s advocacy of empowerment via education.”

Special guests at the gala included renowned philanthropic actor Michael Douglas, a 2006 humanitarian award honoree of the Kuwait-America Foundation and a renowned UN Messenger of Peace who played a key role in drawing attention to the plight of refugees from the conflict in Sierra Leone.

Dollar stable as risk aversion heightens Kuwait Dinar at 0.28840 The USDKWD opened at 0.28840 following the performance of the US dollar last week.

United States A stable dollar In a relatively quiet week, the US dollar started on a weaker footing against the major currencies but ended slightly higher, as risk aversion heightened amid renewed concerns over Greece’s debt issues.

The euro reached a high of 1.3817 earlier in the week, before closing around 1.3530 levels. The sterling pound started the week at a high of 1.5380 and closed on Friday at 1.5015. The Japanese yen traded in a narrow range between 89.75 and 90.75. The Australian dollar moved to a new 2-month high against the dollar reaching 0.9500, on talks of further interest rate hikes later this year. Finally, the Swiss franc traded between a high of 1.0500 and a low of 1.0640.

FOMC meeting The Federal Reserve renewed its pledge to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged in a range of zero to 0.25 percent at its meeting last week, announcing that rates were likely to stay at very low levels for an “extended period of time”. The Fed has also said that despite signs of stabilization in the economy, the housing market is still at depressed levels while US employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. Furthermore, the Fed confirmed that the quantitative easing measures that had been taken to pro-

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKET REPORT mote the economic recovery are nearing completion.

Contained inflation US consumer prices were unexpectedly unchanged in February as a drop in energy costs was offset by higher food and medical care costs, backing up the Federal Reserve’s commitment to low interest rates.

The consumer price index (CPI) was flat after rising 0.2 percent in January, against an expected increase of 0.1 percent. Excluding volatile energy and food prices, the Core CPI inched up 0.1 percent last month.

Bad weather depresses housing market Weaker-than-expected numbers were released in the US last week, adding pressure on the overall health of the economic recovery. US housing starts and permits to build new homes both fell in February as winter storms in some parts of the country disrupted home building. Housing starts fell 5.9 percent to 575,000 units, reversing the prior month’s gains.

New building permits, which give a sense of future home construction, fell 1.6 percent to 612,000, dropping for a second straight month and suggesting the weakness could linger.

Jobless claims The number of US workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell slightly less than expected last week, pointing to a gradual

improvement in the labor market. Initial jobless claims fell to 457,000 from 462,000 the previous week. Analysts argue that this number must fall below 450,000 to signal sustainable private payroll growth.

United Kingdom Labor market shows signs of recovery The number of Britons claiming jobless benefits fell unexpectedly by 32,300 in February, the largest number since 1997 and against an expected rise of 8,000. The number of people without a job on the wider ILO measure, fell by 33,000, leaving the unemployment rate at 7.8 percent below the expected 7.9 percent reaffirming hopes that the worst of the 18-month recession has passed.

Minutes of MPC meeting The minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee showed that all nine members agreed to keep interest rates at a record low of 0.5 percent and to leave the £200 billion quantitative easing program unchanged. Additionally, some members noted that the upside risks to inflation has increased slightly over the month. With inflation being at more than a full percentage point above the Bank of England’s target rate of 2 percent, some members feared that it might not fall as fast as they had expected.

Europe Eurozone employment falls The eurozone lost 347,000 jobs in the last quarter of 2009, as the 16-country area’s economy remained beset by fragility. The number of employed fell 0.2 percent during the last three months of the year, pulled down by job losses in the industrial sector. Although the eurozone is recovering from the worst economic crisis since World War II, it continues to shed jobs, hitting people’s spending power and undermining future growth.

The Eurozone inflation The eurozone inflation slowed last month, suggesting price growth is likely to stay well below the European Central Bank’s target this year and perhaps in 2011. Consumer prices in the 16-country area rose 0.9 percent year-on-year, following a 1.0 percent increase in January. With inflation remaining at current levels of around 1 percent and below the ECB’s target rate of 2 percent, it is expected that the central bank will not start raising rates until early 2011.

Japan Interest rates unchanged The Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged at 0.10 percent as widely expected. Additionally, the central bank loosened monetary policy following government pressure for action to support the economy by doubling the funds available to banks for three-month loans to ¥20 trillion. The monetary easing aimed to prevent a rise in the Yen from disrupting an export-driven recovery and deepening the country’s deflation.

Jamal Al-Mutawa

Commercial Bank of Kuwait CEO retires KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait announced yesterday that its CGM & CEO, Jamal Al-Mutawa would be retiring by the end of March 2010 after long period of service at the banking sector and after spending twelve years at the Commercial Bank during which the bank made large strides that positioned the Bank at the forefront among Kuwaiti banking Sector.

According to Chairman and Managing Director Abdulmajeed Al-Shatti, “When Jamal joined the Bank in 1998 as one of the prominent national bankers, he was tasked with repositioning the Bank as one of the leading players in retail and corpo-

rate markets. With his leadership credentials as CEO of the Bank, AlMutawa managed, in collaboration with the Board of Directors and senior executive management team, to achieve the Bank’s strategic goals.

This was realised through launching and developing innovative banking product, services and investment solutions that cater for customers’ needs along with bringing the banks’ products to customers at their fingertip through the branch network, which has seen sustainable increase in number. The Board of Directors thank Jamal for his commitment and dedication and we wish him all the best for the future.

QPIC holds annual meeting KUWAIT: Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC) held its annual general meeting at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. At the meeting the company confirmed a net profit of KD7,098,268 million (US$ 24,855,000 million), or 6.47 fils per share, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

QPIC’s Vice Chairman, Essa K Al-Essa, said: “2009 was a successful year for us, with our net profit for the end year of 2009 increased by 226 per cent, to KD7.098 million compared with the 2008 loss of KD5.6 million. Our net earnings per share (EPS) were 6.47 fils per share, against negative earnings per share of 5.12 fils in 2008.

“I am also pleased to announce today the inauguration of our Aromatics and Olefins II Plant, which is an important milestone for our company, and extend my thanks to our shareholders who helped make this plant a reality through their trust and confidence in us and our partners, the Kuwait Aromatics Company, EQUATE, and the Kuwait Olefins Company.”

QPIC’s total assets as of 31 December, 2009 were valued at KD191.35 million (US$ 669.72 million), a 35 percent increase compared to 31 December, 2008.

The increase is directly attributable to the completion of the company’s major petrochemical plants in Kuwait. Available for sale investments (AFS) increased by 27 per cent or KD28.13 million (US$ 98.45 million), and investment in associates increased by 30 per cent or KD10.44 million (US$ 36.54 million) following equity payments made in the Kuwait Aromatics Company during 2009.

Speaking of the company’s future plans, Al-Essa said: “QPIC is committed to seeking the participation in variety of petrochemicals downstream projects locally and globally, establishing superior performance benchmarks, and superior standards of corporate governance through excellence in financial management and responsible corporate citizenship.

The year ahead is looking good for the petrochemical sector in the region, given the regions lower production cost advantage. With three new projects having commenced production in 2009, QPIC is well on its way to meeting its strategic objectives of sustained growth and returns to its shareholders.

QPIC’s initial investments commitments are in Aromatics and Stryene Projects with the equity of 20 per cent producing 400,000 tons per annum of Benzene and annually 820,000 tons of Para-Xylene, and 450,000

tons of Styrene. EQUATE with a share capital of 6 per cent producing 800,000 tons of Ethylene, 830,000 tons of polyethylene, and 400,000 tons of Ethylene Glycol. Also, QPIC invested in the Kuwait Olefins Company with equity of 6 percent producing 850,000 tons per annum ethylene cracker and 600,000 tons per annum of Ethylene Glycol.

QPIC’s Vice Chairman Essa K Al-Essa 2009 highlights During 2009, QPIC subsidiaries witnessed a number of significant events and achievements which will provide longterm sustainable returns to shareholders.

The Kuwait Olefins Company completed its first full year of production in 2009. The company operates an 850,000 tonne per annum Ethylene cracker and produces 600,000 tonnes per annum of Ethylene Glycol.

EQUATE’s Polyethylene expansion of 225,000 tonnes was completed in the second quarter of 2009, bringing EQUATE’s production capacity to 800,000 tonnes of ethylene, 830,000 tonnes of Polyethylene, and 400,000 tonnes of Ethylene Glycol.

The Kuwait Aromatics Company (KARO) completed construction and began production of its Paraxylene and Styrene plants, giving QPIC the capacity to produce 820,000 tonnes of Paraxylene, 400,000 tonnes of Benzene and450,000 tonnes of Styrene per annum.

The Algerian Methanol Company has progressed in the development of its 1 million tonne methanol plant. The final review of all provisions of the partnership agreement with SONATRACH, the Algerian Oil Company, has been complete. The project is expected to commence production by mid-2013.

24

BUSINESS

Monday, March 22, 2010

KSE observes marginal decline he Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) closed yesterday on a mixed note. Marginal declines were witnessed across the market including major indicators and market sectors. The price index declined and the weighted increased for the third day in a row.

T

GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

Market indices Global General Index (GGI) added 0.42 points (+0.20 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 208.22 points.

However, the KSE Price Index decreased by a marginal 5.60 points (0.08 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,408.10 points. Market capitalization was up KD69.34mn yesterday to reach KD34.12bn.

Wataniya Marketing Director Juha Korhonen

Wataniya Telecom launches ‘MyW’

Market breadth During yesterday’s session, 138 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 51 equities retreated versus 43 that advanced. A total of 114 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session.

Daily trading activity Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 15.30 percent to reach 357.65mn shares. In addition, value of shares traded increased by 12.79 percent to stand at KD67.76mn. The Investment Sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 29.76 percent of total traded volume. While the Services Sector was the value leader with 32.99 percent of total traded value. Jeezan Holding Company saw 33.44mn shares changing hands, making it the volume leader. Zain was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD9.49mn.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, Hayat Communications Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 8.33 percent and closed at KD0.325. On the Other hand, First Takaful Insurance Company shed 15.38 percent and closed at KD0.275, making it the biggest decliner in the market yesterday.

Sectors wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices,

they ended the day on a mixed note with Global Banking Index being the top gainer. The index ended the day with a gain of 0.73percent backed by National Bank of Kuwait and Burgan Bank, the top gainers in the sector, ending the day up 1.75 percent and 2.70 percent, respectively.

Global Services Index posted a 0.61 percent increase in value yesterday, making it the second biggest gainer in the market backed by gains witnessed in the telecom companies. Among them heavyweights Zain and National Mobile Telecommunications Company posted

the biggest gains yesterday of 1.47 percent and 1.28 percent, respectively.

On the other side, Global Food Index was the biggest decliner yesterday. The index ended the day with a drop of 4.82 percent backed by heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) ending the day down 6.02 percent and closed at KD1.560.

Regarding Global’s special indices, Global Large Cap Index was the biggest gainer yesterday. The index ended the day up 0.68 percent backed by gains witnessed in National Bank of Kuwait and

Zain. On the other side, Global High Yield Index was the biggest decliner yesterday, down 1.85 percent backed by Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana).

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at US$77.90 a barrel on Thursday, compared with US$78.25 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Market news Bharti Airtel board approved the

company’s plans to acquire Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain’s Africa operations for US$9bn. The board discussed the funding plans in detail for the acquisition, sources said, adding Singapore’s SingTel, which has around 32 percent stake in Bharti, was also present at the meeting.

Though the exact funding details firmed up by the company were not available, sources said Bharti was confident of concluding the deal by March 25, the day the two sides had set for concluding their exclusive talks.

KUWAIT: Always aiming at providing its customers with the highest quality and unique services, Wataniya Telecom recently announced the launching of a yet another exciting service, “MyW”.

With this latest addition to Wataniya Telecom’s services, customers can now download latest ringtones, wallpapers, videos, music, and mobile themes all in one place.

Tailored for the young and hip, MyW is an exclusive service which enables easy downloading for customers through browsing from their mobiles or WAP. Intending to provide variety and customization to its customers, MyW contains ring tones, full track songs and music videos. Also available are amazing graphics and animations to customize their wallpapers in addition to Wchat, games and news updates.

Customers seeking Islamic content for their mobile will find MyW portal a convenient, one stop virtual shop for chants, videos and ringtones.

“Wataniya Telecom invests in treating

their customers with creativity and personalization. Our services represent our targeted strategy to meet our customer’s expectations,” expressed Juha Korhonen, Wataniya Marketing Director.

Korhonen further added that “In reflection to our world class services, we have brought our customers with the ultimate solution to be creative, trendy and every bit different.” Flexible and easy to use, customers can visit MyW on the web and their WAP. The portal allows simple navigation through the different categories. Wataniya customers now need not visit unprotected websites, blogs or other mediums for illegal downloads which often harms the mobile software.

MyW is the new digital entertainment world that combines all content in one go. It is a spot that provides you with legal purchase of all the latest and constantly updated entertainment.

MyW is your one stop shop to personalize your mobile the way you want it.

BUSINESS

Monday, March 22, 2010

China predicts monthly trade deficit since 2004 BEIJING: China warned yesterday its export-dependent economy is likely to experience a trade deficit in Marchthe first for a single month in six years. The announcement followed predictions by analysts of a slump in shipments by the world’s biggest exporter compared with February, when factories cranked up production for April’s Easter holiday.

Commerce minister Chen Deming’s remarks to the closed-door China Development Forum in Beijing were published by the state Xinhua news agency and People’s Daily newspaper amid growing international pressure for the yuan to appreciate.

Chen defended the nation’s exchange rate policy, arguing that a stronger yuan by itself could not resolve global trade imbalances. Beijing says the policy is necessary for the survival of Chinese manufacturers and supporting jobs growth but

critics say the government has kept the currency low to boost exports, resulting in massive trade surpluses with the United States and Europe. A slowdown in shipments could be a sign that the recovery in crisis-hit markets is not yet on a firm footing, which could be a drag on China’s export-dependent economy.

China last recorded a trade deficit for a single month in May 2004, official data shows.

China’s exports soared 45.7 percent in February, their fastest pace in three years, continuing a rebound that started in December when exports grew 17.7 percent and snapped a 13-month falling streak. The nation’s trade surplus reached 7.61 billion dollars in February, up 57.2 percent year-on-year, while imports of coal, luxury handbags, high-tech goods and other products rose 44.7 percent year-on-year to 86.9 billion dollars. — AFP

MANILA: A child touches a mosaic of a tiger during the 15th Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition or WORLDBEX at the World Trade Center yesterday. WORLDBEX features environment friendly construction materials through efficient technologies and materials. — AFP

GM’s S Korean unit recalls 60,000 vehicles Calling vehicles in to fix defects is common practice in auto industry SEOUL: General Motors is recalling nearly 60,000 automobiles in South Korea due to potential problems w ith steering w heels, fuel hoses and seats, the company’s local unit and the government said yesterday. The recall of 58,696 vehicles w ill begin today and cover four models manufactured in South Korea, said Kim Byeong-soo, a spokesman for A total of 45,957 small SUVs sold in South Korea as the Winstorm and Winstorm Maxx are being recalled due to the possibility that the steering wheel can become separated.

The Winstorm is exported as the Chevrolet Captiva, while the Winstorm Maxx is sold overseas as the Opel Antara, Kim said.

A total of 12,604 Lacetti Premiere sedans - sold overseas as the Chevrolet Cruze are being recalled for possibly defective fuel hoses that could leak, Kim said.

Also, the company is recalling 135 of its Damas model, a small commercial vehicle, over materials in seats that do not meet South Korean safety standards, he said. Kim said no accidents have resulted from any of the problems and the recalls were decided by GM Daewoo. The recalls, also announced by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, came after GM Daewoo’s South Korean rival Hyundai Motor Co announced recalls last month of about 47,000 vehicles for problems with door latches.

Calling vehicles in to fix defects, a common practice in the auto industry, has been in focus since late last year when Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp began massive recalls - eventually covering more than 8 million vehicles over brake and acceleration problems. GM Daewoo was created in 2002 after Detroit-based GM acquired Daewoo Motor Co, the automobile unit of the Daewoo Group. — AP

Pakistan’s poverty pushes kids to work ISLAMABAD: Abbas Sajeet is 11 years old, but he doesn’t go to school. Instead, he earns 2,500 rupees ($30) a month as an auto mechanic in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The money goes straight into the meager coffers of his seven-member family. “Every day from the car garage, I see children walking to their schools,” he says. “I wish I could go to school with them, finish high school and study engineering. After that, I would have a good job with a lot of money, and give it to my mother.” At least 10 million children are believed to be working in Pakistan at a variety of jobs, including some of the hardest and most poorly-paid.

Some clean upper-class homes and help

25

baby-sit. Others craft bricks, weave carpets or work in mines. In some cases, families give their children as employees to landlords to pay off debts. That system, known as bonded labor, is likened by human rights activists to slavery.

The children who work often lose their chance to attend school and are vulnerable to abusive employers. Still, those are considered acceptable risks for the many poor families who need every member to pitch in for food, shelter and clothing. The South Asian nation has come under international pressure to reduce child labor, but there is little regulation of the practice, despite laws protecting children from loitation in the workplace. — AP

ISLAMABAD: In this photo, Abduallah Ismatt, 10, fixes a car outside the car garage where he works. — AP

GM Daew oo Auto & Technology Co, the country’s third-largest automaker. Recalls in other countries w here some vehicles w ere exported under the Chevrolet and Opel brands w ill be decided and announced later in accordance w ith local rules, Kim said. He said China has already announced some recalls, though he did not immediately have details.

BUPYUNG: In this file photo released by the GM Daewoo, GM’s Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner (third from right) poses with GM Daewoo’s President and CEO Nick Reilly (second from right) next to GM Daewoo’s new SUV Winstorm car at the GM Daewoo’s assembly factory. — AP

Gas: The next fuel to fire Australia’s boom KARRATHA: First gold, then coal and iron ore. Now, a new bonanza is about to be unleashed from beneath Down Under: Australia’s got gas. Projects being ramped up to tap huge undersea fields off the country’s northwest could quadruple Australia’s exports of liquefied natural gas in the next few years and turn it into what the country’s resources minister has called an “energy superpower.” It will be the next stage of a long boom that has enriched Australia and made it a key supplier of the raw materials underpinning Asia’s development - from the girders in city skyscrapers to the fuel burned to light them. “We have what the world, and particularly the rapidly growing economies of Asia, want - iron ore, energy and minerals,” said Colin Barnett, the premier of Western Australia state, which is at the heart of the new boom.

The mostly desert state has become known for a frontier atmosphere not unlike that of Australia’s 19th century gold rush, the country’s first mining boom that drew enough migrants to almost triple Australia’s population within a decade.

As a major source of the materials driving Asia’s economic surge, Australia has increasingly been drawn into the orbit of emerging giants China and India, spawning tensions and discord. There are also nagging worries over economic overheating and long-lasting environmental damage caused by its thriving resource industry. Gas was discovered off Australia’s remote northwest coast in the 1970s. But its exploitation has lagged behind iron ore and coal that have been easier to get and more in demand. Now, gas is gaining popularity as a cleanerburning alternative to coal in power generation, with a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions.

The biggest boost in the sector came last September, when Chevron and joint venture partners ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell announced they would go ahead with the massive Gorgon project.

The venture will drill fields about 80 miles (130 kilometers) offshore to tap into an estimated 40 trillion cubic feet of gas, build pipelines and a liquefaction plant and port for about AU$43 billion ($41 billion) - roughly the size of Guatemala’s gross national product. If that sounds big, the numbers stack up.

The decision to proceed came on the heels of news that ExxonMobil Corp had signed a 20-year deal worth about AU$50 billion to supply PetroChina Co with LNG from its share of Gorgon. Similar deals for Gorgon gas worth another AU$70 billion were struck with power companies in Japan, South Korea and

India.

The Australian government says Gorgon could generate exports worth AU$300 billion during the next 20 years.

And that’s just one project. There are at least a half dozen other large gas plans in the works, including Australian company Woodside’s $12 billion plan to tap the Browse fields holding an estimated 20 trillion cubic feet of gas. Yet even as the projects pile up, Australia is trying to tamp down strains with China that have taken some of the gloss of its mineral and energy endowments.

Today an Australian executive of mining giant Rio Tinto will face court in China charged with stealing commercial secrets in a trial Australian lawmakers are concerned is linked to Beijing’s unsuccessful campaign to get lower iron ore prices. The case has added to unease about close China relations after a string of deals for state-owned Chinese firms to buy into Australian resource projects.

Other problems are local but no less intractable. Gorgon, Browse and some of the other big deposits lie off the Pilbara, a remote Outback region of Western Australia that is buffeted by a half-dozen cyclones a year and where temperatures can soar to 118 degrees (48 C). Western Australia’s few urban areas are already bursting at the seams because of the mining boom. A five-hour flight across nearly unbroken desert from Sydney, the state capital of Perth can’t build hotels fast enough to keep up with demand, and cranes building office towers dot the skyline.

A severe worker shortage means companies compete for just about everyone from mine site managers to truck drivers - who can earn more than AU$120,000 a year in salary and a rest and recuperation flight to Perth every month. One of the main supply towns is Karratha, a sweltering collection of houses and a few shops and pubs nestled between hills covered in spinifex and boulders of a deep-maroon color that belies the iron content within. It’s more than 1,000 miles (1,800 kilometers) from the nearest city, surrounded by some of Australia’s harshest territory, and there’s almost no one here but miners. A bungalow with a pool can set you back AU$2,000 a week in rent.

“It’s gone bloomin’ overboard,” said Jim Holland, a driver and 40-year-veteran of mining in the region. “The house down the road from me sold the other week for $900,000, three bedrooms.” Holland is one of the lucky ones. Rio Tinto in the 1980s offered to sell some companyowned houses to longtime workers for around AU$45,000, and he took it up.

Before too long he plans to sell up and retire in comfort to Thailand. The federal government has appointed a task force to find ways to fill an expected shortfall of 70,000 construction workers in the resource sector in the next decade, with fast tracking of visas for skilled migrant workers - likely from Asia and the Middle East - a key consideration. Gorgon alone is expected to create 10,000 jobs - including several thousand workers during construction on currently uninhabited

Barrow Island.

Conservationists say the government should never have approved Barrow Island as a site for the liquefaction plant.

The nature reserve is home to species such as the flatback turtle and the burrowing bettong, a rat-like kangaroo that no longer survives on the mainland. “I don’t see how you can have a safe operating environment for an industrial facility and also create the natural dark conditions that turtles need in order to not be disturbed from their natural nesting,” said Gilly Llewellyn, the World Wildlife Fund’s conservation manager. Chevron says the plans for Gorgon avoid conservation sites and the project is environmentally friendly because it includes plans to inject polluting carbon dioxide gases into an underground trap. Chevron did not respond to requests for an interview.

Environmental concerns about the industry deepened last year after fire erupted on an oil and gas rig at a different field off the northwest coast and burned unchecked for more than two months, spilling thousands of barrels of oil into the sea. On Barrow Island, the first signs of Gorgon are starting to show. Shipping containers - entirely shrink-wrapped to prevent mainland pests such as rats or cockroaches being introduced - are being unloaded and scrub cleared for an accommodation camp, said Anne Nolan, a state government official who visited this month. Before long, it will be a bustling scene of more than 3,000 people working around the clock. — AP

In this image provided by PTTEP Australasia, the West Atlas oil rig is on fire 150 miles (250 kilometers) off Australia’s northwest coast. — AP

BUSINESS

26

Monday, March 22, 2010

Madagascar crisis puts thousands out of work ANTANANARIVO: One year after the overthrow of Madagascar’s president, the Indian Ocean island is facing stiffer political penalties and economic sanctions that are plunging thousands into poverty.

A deserted garment factory in the capital Antananarivo is one of the recent victims of the forcible power change that prompted the United States to halt a scheme allowing some African countries preferential access to its markets. Since the US suspended the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in December, factory manager Richard Hurnungee has been struggling to liquidate the Cosmos plant.

“Our client turned his back on us as well as my general manager and the financial director,” Hurnungee said bitterly, referring to the German Adidas label. “I am left alone in Madagascar to do the liquidation,” he added, sitting in an empty board room with a pile of files and a laptop computer before him. In late January, one phone call from the firm’s Hong Kong owners halted production of thousands of items of Adidas apparel, and ordered immediate liquidation. At its peak, Cosmos was producing between 450,000 and 500,000 pieces of Adidas sportswear every month.

Madagascar has been in a political crisis since the March 17, 2009 power grab by then Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina with the backing of the army. Regional blocs African Union and the Southern African Development Community suspended membership for the vast Indian Ocean island, while Washington halted humanitarian aid to the country after the coup.

On Wednesday, the AU went further by slapping travel bans and economic sanctions on Rajoelina and scores of his supporters, who defied an AU directive to implement accords to end the protracted impasse. This month, Cosmos’s 1,750

staff turned up at the shuttered factory to be paid a paltry 45,000 ariary (15 euros), half their monthly salary, sparking anger among those who had expected more money.

“Our case is in court. The creditors have frozen our assets,” Hurnungee said. Production manager Parvez Jamdaty said: “We have to wait to see if we can sell what we produced or the machines.” Some 30 factories under the AGOA scheme have been affected by the suspension and nearly 20,000 workers have been laid off. “I have no confidence that AGOA can resume in Madagascar,” said Jamdaty.

The AGOA program was set to end in 2015.

Alongside Madagascar, Guinea and Niger also saw the US suspend the preferential market access scheme for disregard for democracy. Up to last year, Madagascar was one of the largest African textile exporters to the United States-with sales worth 250 million dollars (184 million euros), the sector employed at least 50,000 workers directly.

In November, Madagascar strongman Rajoelina signed a power-sharing agreement with his political rivals to end the turmoil, but later disregarded the deal. Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest nations, where three quarters of the population live on less than two dollars a day. — AFP

Merkel says Greece should not be focus of EU summit Chancellor fears ‘false expectations’ could roil markets BERLIN: Greece does not need any financial support and European Union leaders should not make the question of aid for the indebted country a focus of their summit this w eek in Brussels, Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday. In an interview w ith Deutschlandfunk radio, Merkel said she feared causing turbulence in financial markets by raising “false expec-

tations” about aid. She reiterated Greece has to sort out its ow n debt problems for the good of the euro single currency. European Commission President J ose Manuel Barroso has urged EU member states to agree a standby aid package Greece at a summit in Brussels March 2526 after Athens said it might have to turn to the IMF for help.

“There’s no looming insolvency,” Merkel said yesterday.

“I don’t believe that Greece has any acute financial needs from the European community and that’s what the Greek prime minister keeps telling me.”

Barroso said on Friday the 16 countries that share the euro should be ready to make coordinated bilateral loans to Greece to help it reduce its budget deficit and refinance its debts, which are nearing 120 percent of gross domestic product. In a move that appeared designed to shake EU member states into action and in particular to win German backing for a rescue package, Barroso said the situation could not be allowed to be go on for much longer and action was needed rapidly.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks with German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg during a debate about the state budget at the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. — AFP

Greek drama shows more euro-cautious Germany BERLIN: As Europe looks to Germany for answers on how to bail out debt-stricken Greece, Berlin has become ever more willing to defend its national interests rather than toe the European line, analysts said.

In recent days, Germany has moved away from promoting a European-led solution to Greece’s fiscal woes, preferring instead for the International Monetary Fund to intervene if necessary to provide emergency funds. And earlier in the week, Chancellor Angela Merkel ruffled feathers and riled markets by insisting the 16 countries that share the euro needed a mechanism to expel a nation from the club if it persistently breaks the rules.

“It’s clear that German policy is becoming a bit more geared towards national interests,” said Sabine von Oppeln, a political science professor at the Free University of Berlin. Thorsten Polleit from Barclays Capital agreed German voters were tired of being Europe’s cash cow. “I think people are pretty much fed up,” he told AFP. But Germany’s increasingly firm stance has prompted outrage from some European politicians.

Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian prime minister, now leader of the Liberal Party in the European Parliament, said that Merkel no longer seemed interested in finding European solutions to European problems. “This is not the Europe that we have been building for centuries. This is not the Europe that was supposed to replace war with co-operation and solidarity” he said in Brussels. Even France, traditionally Germany’s closest ally in Europe, has become frustrated, with Finance Minister Christina Lagarde telling Berlin to reduce its dependence on exports to help pull Europe out of recession. This received a slap down from Merkel.

“Where we are strong, we will not give up these strengths, just because more of our export products are bought than products of

other countries,” she told parliament. Europe should not take its lead from who is slowest, she added. “Instead it should look at who is fastest and best.” The end of Germany’s love affair with Europe and the euro was reflected recently by a poll in the Bild am Sonntag weekly showing nearly half of voters would welcome a re-introduction of the mighty Deutschmark if the euro weakened.

Privately, German officials say Berlin is worried that any aid to Greece would face legal challenges in its top court and that losing such a challenge would be disastrous both domestically and at a European level. But other analysts said Merkel’s tough stance was driven by domestic politics. With her ruling coalition losing support in the polls, the chancellor is thought to have one eye on a key regional election in May and is acutely aware helping Greece is unpopular with voters.

Daniel Gros, director of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, said Merkel’s threat to remove a country from the euro club was “purely for domestic consumption. It’s an absurd suggestion.”

“It’s all about domestic politics,” he added. The director of the Macroeconomic Policy Institute (IMK) in Germany, Gustav Horn, agreed, saying Merkel’s idea of kicking a country out of the euro area “reflects more the mood among the German population rather than a rational suggestion.”

And there were signs over the weekend that Germany has not completely closed the door on European help for debt-stricken Greece. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Germany would not object to European countries providing bilateral assistance to Athens as a last resort, in comments to appeared yesterday in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “In case of extreme necessity there could be coordinated bilateral aid on a voluntary basis,” he said. — AFP

ATHENS: A tourist is shown strolling through the Ancient Agora. Greece places great hopes on tourism, which accounts for about a fifth of the country’s economy, to help pull it out of its worst financial crisis in decades but officials fear that a weak global economic recovery may result in a decline in visits during the summer peak season. — AP

No pre-election giveaways in budget: UK’s Darling LONDON: There will be no pre-election giveaways in Wednesday’s budget, British Finance Minister Alistair Darling said yesterday, promising instead a “sensible, workmanlike” economic plan to support growth and cut borrowing. Markets have speculated Labor, facing possible defeat in an election expected on May 6, would be tempted to splash some cash to woo voters because full-year government borrowing could undershoot forecasts by as much as 10 billion pounds ($15.20 billion).

In a more ordinary year that would be possible, but Britain is borrowing about 170 billion pounds this year or 12 percent of gross domestic product-comparable to crisis-hit Greece. “There’s no question of giveaways,” Darling said in an interview with BBC television. “I don’t think the mood of the time is for giveaways.”

Darling indicated there would be some small investments in greener, future growth industries and he is also expected to use some money to support the labor market but that may only amount to a few billion pounds.

The rest is likely to be banked because a lower borrowing profile than expected this year does not guarantee a similar result in years to come. Darling is expected to stick to the thrust of his economic forecasts made in December, re-emphasizing his four-year plan to halve the budget deficit through a mixture of growth returning to the economy, higher taxes and lower spending.

The opposition Conservatives, who could end Labor’s 13-year grip on power this year, say the government’s plans are inadequate and Britain’s coveted triple-A credit rating could be at risk unless more is done and sooner to reduce borrowing.

The centre-right opposition want to start cutting this year but have yet to give many details on how they could achieve that. Darling says deficit cuts should wait until 2011 because the economy is still frail after an 18-month recession.

“It will be a budget focused on growth,” he said. Opposition Treasury spokesman Philip Hammond said the budget was likely to be little more than “window dressing” given the proximity of an election. The Conservatives have promised to deliver an emergency budget within 50 days of taking office if they win the election. — Reuters

Merkel says Greece not on EU agenda But Merkel rejected that with unusually clear language.

“I don’t see that Greece needs money at the moment and the Greek government has confirmed that. That’s why I’d urge us not to stir up turbulence in the markets by raising false expectations for Thursday’s council meeting,” she said. “I believe that, as long as Greece doesn’t need help, this issue doesn’t have to be at the forefront of our talks,” Merkel added. “Aid will not be on the agenda at the meeting on Thursday because Greece says itself it doesn’t need help right now.”

EU leaders are nevertheless expected to discuss the issue after Greece said it could not deliver promised deficit cuts if its borrowing costs remained so high and that it may have to seek help from the International Monetary Fund.

Some members of the euro zone believe the bloc itself should help Greece sort out its problems and see resorting to the IMF as a sign of weakness that would damage the currency union’s credibility. Barroso did not say how much aid Greece would need but diplomatic sources put the figure at up to 22 billion euros. Athens has not requested any aid and hopes it will not need it.

But he said Greece’s situation could not be allowed to go unchecked and that EU member states must work together quickly. Despite the EU’s verbal assurances of support, it could prove difficult for the euro zone to construct a financial safety net for its most heavily indebted member, largely because of German reluctance.

Germany is concerned that such aid could set a precedent for other euro zone members in financial difficulty. It is also worried that financial support could be challenged in the country’s Constitutional Court because EU rules expressly forbid a bailout of a single currency member by its euro zone partners. Merkel said she does not expect Greece to ask for aid. “I’ll say it once again-I don’t see those expectations,” she said. “Greece would like to have a certain clarity for an eventuality it can’t completely rule out. “But I’ll say it again: The best solution for the euro is for Greece to resolves its problems by itself-naturally with political support from European leaders.” — Reuters

PARIS: OECD general secretary Angel Gurria (center) leaves the Elysee Palace on March 17, 2010 after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his diplomatic adviser Claude Levitte (right). — AFP

OECD’s Gurria sees united EU-IMF support for Greece ATHENS: Combined support for Greece from the IMF and the European Union would be the best way to help the over-borrowed country deal with its debt crisis, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said yesterday.

Greece, which is paying almost twice as much as Germany to refinance maturing debt, is pressing its European partners for a concrete standby package to help bring its borrowing costs down. Aiming for a 4.0 percentage point fiscal adjustment to shrink its budget gap to 8.7 percent of GDP this year, Greece has said it may have to turn to the IMF if a European solution is not found to help it manage its debt mountain.

“Europe must offer strong support to Greece after the stability program it presented.

Markets will get the message, Greece will lower its borrowing cost and move on to implement the measures and reforms,” OECD’s Gurria told Kathimerini newspaper in an interview. “I consider the best way is a combination of support, funding and guarantees. In this combination I see the IMF as well,” he told the paper.

European Union leaders are set to discuss a support mechanism for Greece when they meet in Brussels on March 2526 and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has urged member states to agree a standby aid package Greece.

Aiming to shake EU member states into action and win German backing, Barroso has said the situation could not be allowed to go on for much longer. Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Saturday only the most extreme circumstances could justify a bailout of a European Union state from within the union, and that any such aid would have to be delivered bilaterally. “(Greece) cannot get out of the crisis alone, despite the measures it has taken, nor does the euro zone have a rescue mechanism for a member state at this moment. I think what is needed is a combined suppport package,” Gurria told the paper. “Greece is a member of the IMF, why not ask for help? Many countries have turned to the IMF, why not Greece?” — Reuters

in the news Zimbabw e’s pow er debts surge to $100m HARARE: Zimbabwe’s state-run power utility firm owes other regional electricity suppliers 100 million dollars (74 million euros) as it struggles to recover debts from local customers, a report said yesterday. Ben Rafemoyo, chief executive of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, said low tariffs and failure by customers to settle their bills was stalling recovery prospects. “As of last month, we were nearing 100 million” in debts, Rafemoyo told the state-run Sunday Mail. “If we restore capacity, we would like to pay for the current bill and a portion to cover part of our debt so that we continuously chew into it.”

While ZESA bills its customers 38 million dollars per month, it is failing to collect as much, he added. “Currently, we are recovering between 65 and 70 percent of our billing average. But we have accumulated bills that we are still dealing with in terms of debt management.” Much of Zimbabwe endures daily power outages which can last 10 to 15 hours. Some areas can go without electricity for months, as the power utility struggles to maintain its grid. A decade of economic collapse has left power stations in disrepair, with generators operating at about onethird of their capacity. ZESA has inked an agreement with counterparts in Botswana and Namibia to revive a thermal power station in Bulawayo city and to fix a thermal plant at Hwange in a bid to ease blackouts.

Serbia likely to sell its Telekom this year: PM BELGRADE: Telekom Srbija is likely to be put up for sale after it lost its monopoly on fixed-line services, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said in an interview published yesterday. “The break-up of the monopoly in fixed-line telecommunications has opened a possibility and a need for the privatization of Telekom,” Cvetkovic told the Politika newspaper. “Telekom will be sold on tender,” he said, adding that it would “be smart to do it this year.” State-held Telekom Srbija, in which Greece’s OTE has a 20 percent stake, lost its monopoly status in January when Norway’s Telenor won a license to develop a rival fixedline service. Telekom Srbija also owns Serbia’s biggest mobile phone operator MTS.

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TECHNOLOGY

Monday, March 22, 2010

27

Editorials accusing search giant of helping forces abroad attack China

Google is politicizing dispute: Chinese media You can expect to see packages that include a 3D-capable HDTV, a 3D Bluray player, and two pairs of glasses for an attractive price like this Panasonic 3D HDTV Package. —MCT

Technology Q&A Q. How much do you think 3D TVs will sell for when they are introduced? Will you be buying a 3D TV? A. When I was at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and at CEATEC 2009 (Japan’s CES, held in October) I had some private meetings with industry executives and was provided preliminary pricing information under the condition I keep the numbers confidential. I don’t think they are playing coy so much as wanting to keep some flexibility in case of currency fluctuations. I am at liberty to say that the premium is not expected to be more than 30 percent more than a top-quality TV of a similar size and you will receive at least one pair of 3D glasses with it. So, if you were considering a 42-inch HDTV selling for $1,200, a 3D version with a pair of glasses would run about $1,500 or so. My impression from the meetings was they won’t price themselves out of the market and are going to be as aggressive as they can in keeping 3D affordable. The industry has a lot invested in the technology and wants it to be successful.

Glasses should list for under $100 per pair. As for 3D Blu-ray players, they are available in stores now.

Sony has the BDP-S470 at $199.99, which is not much more than an ordinary Blu-ray player. If you have a Sony PlayStation 3, you are in luck. Sony has announced that an upcoming firmware update will make the PlayStation 3 a 3D Blu-ray player as well as a 3D gaming machine. That’s even more of a reason the PlayStation 3 belongs on your short list if you are shopping for a Blu-ray player.

You can also expect to see packages that include

a 3D-capable HDTV, a 3D Blu-ray player, and two pairs of glasses for an attractive price. I plan on buying a 3D setup as soon as they are available. I’ll never forget the demos I saw in Japan and at CES, and as I watched the Olympics I found myself craving the realism of well-done 3D rendered in 1080p resolution. When demos are available in stores you will see what I am talking about.

Q. What is your recommendation for CD/DVD labeling software?

A. You may not need specialized software to create labels with your computer. Many of the blank label manufacturers have templates that work in Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop. A good free label-making program can be downloaded from www.pressit.com. It is available in Windows and Macintosh versions.

Q. Having read your article about Dreamer BluTV, I checked out the Dreamer Corp Web site.

Other than being able to sign up for future media from Dreamer, I was unable to ascertain how to obtain the disc “that would work with your player’s Web connection.”

Can you provide further insight as to how this disc is obtained?

A. Dreamer BluTV is not slated to launch until later this year. I’ve been told the discs will be available from a variety of sources. They won’t be as ubiquitous as the AOL discs used to be, but you should not have any problem getting a disc. I will provide updates as information on the Dreamer BluTV launch becomes available.

LG raises the bar for home entertainment KUWAIT: LG Electronics, a major player in the global flat panel and audio-video devices market, has announced the launch of its new PK550 plasma TV. With its slim frame and unparalleled picture quality, the PK550 is another endorsement of LG’s commitment to cuttingedge technology and superlative design.

In a major departure from current TV design, the PK550’s Razor Frame boasts an extremely slim bezel for a truly immersive picture. Designed with the versatile consumer in mind, the PK550 is perfect for both wall and tabletop mounting, with a narrow frame that means the TV takes up much less space than other models with the same screen size. Together, the PK550’s slim form - the slimmest of any LG plasma TV and relatively light weight make it easier than ever to blend this widescreen plasma TV into the home. The PK550 also sets new standards for widescreen picture quality, with a range of technologies that make the picture crisper and more vivid than ever before. Among the key improvements are a new anti-reflection filter and LG’s unique Protective Skin Glass Technology, which between them reduce reflection and double imaging, and eliminate interference to create LG’s sharpest picture yet. The Dual XD Engine converts older content into near-high definition quality, while the 600Hz Max Sub-Field Driving ensures smooth viewing of even the fastest action sequences. Taken together, the PK550’s screen technologies deliver a truly peer-

BEIJING: State media lashed out at Google over the weekend with editorials accusing the search giant of helping forces abroad attack China and its laws, while calling efforts to pressure the country over its Internet censorship “ridiculous.” The critical editorials and op-ed columns came amid signs Google Inc. might be moving toward closing its China site after saying in January it would no longer cooperate with Beijing’s Internet censorship.

A commentary carried by the official Xinhua News Agency accused Google of harboring a political agenda and said the company should understand that it has to comply with the laws of countries where it does business. “Whether (Google) leaves or not, the Chinese government will keep its Internet regulation principles unchanged. One company’s ambition to change China’s Internet

rules and legal system will only prove to be ridiculous,” the commentary said.

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 rights and pro-democracy activists. Google is demanding that the government tear down the so-called “Great Firewall” that seeks to keep China’s citizens from finding politically sensitive information and images. Chinese news reports say Google is on the verge of making good on a threat to shutter its China site, Google.cn, because Beijing forces the Internet giant to censor search results.

Google says it is in talks with Beijing after announcing Jan. 12 that its e-mail service had been hacked from inside China and that it no longer wants to comply with Beijing’s extensive Web

controls. But Chinese officials have insisted the company must obey Chinese law, which appears to leave few options other than closing Google.cn, which has about 35 percent of China’s search market. The China Daily said in an editorial Saturday that Google will lose its credibility with the world’s largest Internet market , a population of nearly 400 million users , if it links its departure from the country to political issues. “Chinese netizens did not expect the Google issue to snowball into a political minefield and become a tool in the hands of vested interests abroad to attack China under the pretext of Internet freedom,” the editorial said.

The newspaper carried an opinion piece that said it was “ridiculous and arrogant” for an American company to try to change Chinese laws and suggested that Google was acting in Washington’s

interests.

“Google’s relations with the US government cannot be deeper,” the article said. “How can people believe that the company’s search results are without any bias when it lacks independence as well as business ethics?” Contacted by phone for comment, Google spokeswoman Jessica Powell stressed the company acted independently in making its Jan. 12 announcement. “The decision to go public about the attacks and the decision to review our business in China was entirely Google’s and Google’s alone,” she said.

Since Google’s announcement, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has criticized the censorship of cyberspace by China and others. Beijing sharply rebuked the US for what it called “information imperialism” and said Clinton’s remarks damaged bilateral relations. — AP

CALIFORNIA: This image released by Ubisoft, shows a scene from their new game “Red Steel 2.” The sword and gun-play videogame hitting the market tomorrow, pays tribute to the nameless hero carved into film legend by director Sergio Leone. —AFP

‘Red Steel 2’ videogame an homage to spaghetti westerns less viewing experience.

To complement its industryleading picture quality and design, the PK550 boasts a series of other benefits for LG’s customers. The Intelligent Sensor gauges the amount of ambient light in the room to automatically calibrate and optimize brightness, contrast, white balance and color. In doing so, it both enhances the picture and

uses less electricity. Adding to its eco-friendly credentials, the PK550’s High Efficiency Module helps further reduce energy consumption, for overall savings of up to 20 percent.

All told, the PK550 offers consumers the best in TV design, picture quality and functionality: another way in which LG is helping enrich the lives of its customers.

The PK550 will be available in Kuwait from mid April.

Specifications: • Razor Frame • Full HD 1080p • 3,000,000:1 Mega Contrast Ratio • Protective Skin Glass • Dual XD Engine • THX • 600Hz Max Sub-field Driving • Picture Wizard II • Bluetooth • HD DivX • USB2.0 / HDMI(V.1.3 with Deep Color) • AV Mode • Clear Voice II • Invisible Speaker • Infinite Sound • Intelligent Sensor • Smart Energy Saving Plus • APS (Auto Power Save)

China’s Xinjiang restores access to email, 32 websites BEIJING: Authorities in China’s Xinjiang have restored access to email services and 32 Internet sites that were blocked after ethnic unrest broke out in the region in July, state media reported yesterday. Restrictions on the number of text messages a mobile user could send have also been lifted, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Authorities in the Xinjiang will restore communication services “step by step,” Xinhua said, citing a spokesperson for the local government.

Internet and email services were cut following the outbreak of clashes between ethnic Han Chinese and mainly Muslim Uighurs, in which almost 200 people died and 1,600 were wounded.

The authorities accused Uighur organisers of using the Internet and mobile phones to orchestrate the unrest. Twenty-six people were sentenced to death for their part in the rioting, which lasted several days after breaking out in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s capital. Some have already been executed.— AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: A “Red Steel 2” sword and gunplay videogame hitting the market tomorrow pays tribute to the nameless hero carved into film legend by director Sergio Leone. The title capitalizes on enhanced motion-sensing controllers for Nintendo Wii videogame consoles to let players virtually wield samurai swords in battles with vicious thugs who have overrun a fictional desert town.

“In many ways this character and this world is my personal homage to Sergio Leone,” Ubisoft creative director Jason Vandenberghe told AFP while providing an early go at the game in San Francisco.

“It is very melodramatic, which I love.”

Leone, who died in 1989, was famous for “spaghetti western” genre films starring a young Clint Eastwood as a “man with no name” who outsmarts and outshoots unsavory characters in cowboy towns.

The videogame plays out in a fictional “East meets West” setting in the US

state of Nevada. Players take on the role of a banished clan member who returns home to find his town taken over by biker thugs. The key weapon is a samurai sword realistically wielded by slicing, jabbing and blocking with Wii Motion Plus controllers. “An impressive fusion of Eastern and Western influences, ‘Red Steel 2’ aims to bridge the gap between casual and hardcore players,” said Scott Steinberg, head videogame analyst at TechSavvy Global.

“The game should offer a compelling mix of sword/gun-play that gives the player a greater one-to-one connection to what’s happening on-screen and sense of overall empowerment.” “Red Steel 2” is the first swordplay action videogame customized for Plus devices that ramp up the precision of Wii controllers. “It really makes that much of a difference,” Vandenberghe said. “With the Plus it is swing and bam, simultaneous action. You

believe it.”

Ubisoft jumped early into making games for the Wii, releasing the original “Red Steel” when the consoles debuted in November 2006. The original title sold 1.4 million copies and Vandenberghe is convinced the improved realism of in-game swordplay will win new fans for the franchise.

“There is something about this kind of game play that activates the Conan brain,” Vandenberghe quipped, referring to a barbarian hero from a fiction book series made into a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“When you hold the Wii-mote and whack; I see again and again that it unleashes the barbarian inside people.”

Wii has been criticized for lacking the processing and graphics capabilities to handle action games that can be played on Microsoft Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3 consoles. “We are bringing

a fun action game to the Wii,” said Vandenberghe, who guided the creation of ‘Red Steel 2’ in the French videogame star’s Paris studio.

“I fundamentally believe that if you make a good game and it is only available on the Wii people will buy it.” Sony last week unveiled a motion-sensing controller that it hopes will boost interest in PlayStation 3 consoles. PlayStation Move wands will hit the market in time for the year-end holiday shopping season and aim to tap into a zest for motionsensing controls that made Nintendo Wii consoles marketplace superstars.

Microsoft is getting into the motionsensing controller game with a Project Natal release slated for later this year.

Natal will let Xbox 360 players control in-game action with pure body motion, eliminating the need for wands or other hand-held gadgets, according to early glimpses at the technology.— AFP

Battery-power desalination offers hope to parched areas PARIS: Scientists said yesterday they had made a nanotech device to strip salt from seawater, paving the way to smallscale or even battery-powered desalination for drought-hit regions and disaster zones.

The tiny prototype is reported on the eve of the UN’s World Water Day, which aims to highlight the worsening problems of access to clean water.

Conventional desalination works by forcing water through a membrane to remove molecules of salt. But this process is an energy-gobbler and the membrane is prone to clogging, which means that de-sal plants are inevitably big, expensive, fixed pieces of kit. The new gadget

has been given a proof-of-principle test by Jongyoon Han and colleagues of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

It works through so-called ion concentration polarization, which occurs when a current of charged ions is passed through an ion-selective membrane.

The idea is to create a force that moves charged ions and particles in the water away from the membrane. When the water passes through the system, salt ions-as well as cells, viruses and micro-organismsget pushed to the side. This saltier water is then drawn off, leaving only de-salted water to

pass through the main microchannel.

The tiny device had a recovery rate of 50 percent, meaning that half of the water used at the start was desalinated.

Ninety-nine percent of the salt in this water was removed.

Energy efficiency was similar to or better than state-of-theart large-scale desalination plants. “Rather than competing with larger desalination plants, the methods could be used to make small- or medium-scale systems, with the possibility of battery-powered operation,” their paper, published by the journal Nature Nanotechnology, suggests.

In an email to AFP, Han said the experiment entailed a

tiny microfluidic chip, just a few millimetres (fraction of an inch) square, that desalted just 10 microlitres per minute.

“The idea toward the realworld application is that we would make many of these devices, thousands or tens of thousands of them, on a plate, and operate them in parallel, in the same way semiconductor manufacturers are building many small electronic chips on a single large wafer,” explained Han. “That would bring the flow rate up to around 100 millilitres (three fluid ounces) per minute level, which is comparable to typical household water purifiers and therefore useful in many applications.” A patent has been filed for the

device. However, it may be a matter of years before the invention reaches a commercial scale.

At such early days, the costs of the future system are unknown.

But, said Han, overheads may be significantly reduced because gravity can be used to put the water through the device, as opposed to forced it through by pumps, and there is less of a problem of membrane fouling. The theme of Monday’s World Water Day is “Clean Water for Healthy World,” touching on the growing problem of water contamination in countries grappling with water stress and fast-rising populations.— AFP

28

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Monday, March 22, 2010

Cruise executives say boundaries are too broad

Cruise lines hope to sink US-Canada pollution plan MIAMI: Cruise companies are balking at a proposal to create a low-emissions buffer zone around the United States and Canada, saying it sets arbitrary boundaries based on faulty science that overstates the health benefits. The proposed Emissions Control Area would extend 200 nautical miles, which is 230 statute miles (370 km), around the coast of the two nations and set stringent new limits on air pollution from ocean-going ships beginning in 2015.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency that sets regulations for ships operating internationally, is expected to adopt the proposal at its weeklong meeting that begins today in London. Cruise executives at an industry meeting in Miami said the plan would force them to switch to low-sulfur fuels that would dramatically drive up costs. “Our estimate is that in today’s market it’s probably 40 percent more expensive,” said Michael Crye, executive vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association, known as CLIA. It “essentially means all the current fuel that we burn cannot be burned within 200 miles,” Stein Kruse, chief executive of Holland America Line, told the Cruise Shipping

Miami conference.

Proponents, including the US Environmental Protection Agency, say the plan would clear the air around polluted port cities and save up to 8,300 lives a year in the United States and Canada. It would limit emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, pollutants that are linked to asthma and cancer. The Environmental Defense Fund activist group cheered the plan, saying “the dangerous air pollution from these floating smokestacks is a serious health threat to tens of millions of Americans who live and work in port cities.”

But cruise executives say there is no reason to extend the boundary that far out to sea because the pollutants do not travel even a quarter of that distance, and that a more precisely tailored boundary would suffice. They said the IMO research ignored the effects of prevailing winds, which push emissions ashore in some problem areas such as California, but push them away in other areas.

“Putting it out to 200 miles is completely arbitrary,” said Kruse, whose line is part of Carnival Corp. “The reality is that the problem exists in a few very, very large cities.”

CLEANING UP The plan would require ships in the buffer zone to use fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 0.1 percent, compared with 2.5 percent in the fuel most ships now use, Crye said. The IMO has already agreed to set the standard at 0.5 percent worldwide as of 2020, he said.

Cruise officials contend the health benefits of the proposal were overstated because the IMO compared the proposed sulfur limits against current ones rather than against those already set to take effect in 2020. Cruise ships comprise about 12 percent of the world’s 46,000 commercial ships, according to the US Congressional Research Service. They use the same type of fuel as freighters and tankers. Their impact can be large since they visit the same ports repeatedly. Cruise executives say they want to be good environmental stewards and they support fair and logical regulation. They say they have cleaned up their act, installing better wastewater treatment systems and adopting comprehensive recycling programs, following a few highly publicized prosecutions in the 1990s for dumping trash at sea and discharging oily bilge water.

They say their ships have been

designed to be more fuel-efficient than older models and that they have voluntarily switched to using land-based power sources in some ports, rather than running their engines when docked in cities where air quality is poor. They are also testing exhaust gas scrubbers similar to those used by many electric utilities on shore, CLIA said.

But industry officials feel they are being unfairly singled out. Some pulled ships out of Alaska after it levied hefty taxes and adopted pollution controls they viewed as excessive. “The cruise ships are being held to a higher standard than any facility shoreside in Alaska,” Kruse said. “We cannot even take on fresh water in some ports in Alaska because ... it has a higher copper content than what Alaska allows us to discharge in Alaska.

That’s how crazy it’s gotten.”

Cruise executives see the buffer zone as another example of overzealous regulation that threatens their industry.

“Some days you get up and you feel that new regulatory efforts are coming from almost every direction, from every government from every part of the world ... and that does propose a lot of issues for the industry,” Carnival Cruise Line Chief Executive Gerald Cahill said.— Reuters

More kids now extremely obese The obesity epidemic is hitting children harder than ever, with 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls classified as extremely obese in a California study, researchers from Kaiser Permanente report. The news is even worse for black and Hispanic kids: Among black teenage girls, 11.9 percent were classified as extremely obese, as were 11.2 percent of Hispanic teenage boys.

Extreme obesity among children is defined as weighing more than 1.2 times the 95th percentile, or having a bodymass index (BMI) of 35 kilograms per meter squared.

“There is an alarming high frequency of extremely obese children,” said study author Corinna Koebnick, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente

Gene study highlights cancer risk for those who never smoke PARIS: A trawl through the DNA codes of hundreds of individuals may help explain why some people who never smoke may be unusually at risk from lung cancer, doctors said. Lung cancer is commonly believed to be the preserve of people who smoke or who have smoked.

Yet 10 percent of all lung cancer patients worldwide are “never smokers”, meaning they have not smoked a single cigarette or their lifetime’s tally is less than 100 cigarettes.

The proportion is even higher in Asia, where between 30 and 40 percent of lung cancer victims are “never smokers”.

Nearly two-thirds of the worldwide tally among “never smokers” are women. Work to assess the vulnerability of “never smokers” has been a somewhat neglected issue in cancer research, which has focused on the far bigger number of smokers who develop lung tumors.

Gene sleuths led by Ping Yang from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, in Rochester, Minnesota, found two telltale genetic variants in Chromosome 13 in a study of 754 never smokers, with or without lung cancer. Having these variants boosts the risk of lung cancer by nearly 60 percent, the study found. The variants appear to suppress levels of a protein called GPC5, which plays a role in cell proliferation.

Further work is needed to confirm these findings and explore why never smokers develop cancer. One theory is that someone with genetic vulnerability could develop lung cancer after a common, but as yet unidentified, trigger.

Possible candidates include second-hand tobacco smoke, environmental pollutants, arsenic and the human papillomavirus. The paper is published online by the journal The Lancet Oncology.— AFP

Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena.

Koebnick said the obesity epidemic is driven by a combination of lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. “It’s unhealthy eating habits-fast food versus slow food,” she said.

Parents need to be role models for their children, Koebnick stressed. “There are studies suggesting parent’s weight has a significant influence on the child’s weight,” she noted.

Extreme obesity can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, Koebnick added.

“We need to watch these extremely obese kids more carefully, and we need to try to prevent adverse health effects

that may come up in the near future,” she said. “Children who are extremely obese may continue to be extremely obese as adults, and all the health problems associated with obesity are in these children’s futures. Without major lifestyle changes, these kids face a 10 to 20 years shorter life span and will develop health problems in their 20s that we typically see in 40- [to] 60-year-olds,” Koebnick said in a Kaiser Permanente news release.

Although these findings cover only children in southern California, Koebnick thinks they are representative of what is happening throughout the United States. The report is published in the March 18 online edition of the Journal of Pediatrics. For the study,

Koebnick’s team collected data on 710,949 children and teens aged 2 to 19 who belonged to Kaiser Permanente Southern California integrated health plan in 2007 and 2008. Using these data, the researchers found that 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls were extremely obese, which is more than 45,000 extremely obese children among all the children studied.

Obesity peaked at age 10 for boys and age 12 for girls. The most extremely obese were black teenage girls and Hispanic boys. The least extremely obese were Asian-Pacific Islanders and white children, the researchers found.

Samantha Heller, a dietitian, nutritionist and exercise physiologist, said that “the results of

this survey are not surprising, but are heartbreaking when you consider the health consequences that these children will be facing, not to mention the social, emotional and psychological repercussions.”

It is critical for parents to learn how to provide healthy food for their families, Heller noted. “Healthy food can be affordable and delicious but consumers are led to believe that fast food, junk food and sweets are the easiest and cheapest way to go,” she said. The public is bombarded with food advertising that targets children, Heller said. The 2008 Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress found that more than $1.6 billion was spent in 2006 marketing food and beverages to children.— (HealthDay)

Russia launches US telecoms satellite MOSCOW: A Russian ProtonM rocket launched a US EchoStar 14 telecommunications into orbit yesterday, the Khrunichev space centre announced. “The satellite had

been placed in orbit about 36,000 kilometres above the Earth,” said the a senior official at the centre, the Interfax agency reported.

The Proton launch took off

from the Russian cosmodrome at Baikonur in Kazakhstan at 1827 GMT Saturday. EchoStar 14, built by Space Systems/Loral for the DISH Network, will help broadcast

high-definition television to 14 million viewers in north America. The 6,379-kilogram (14,034-pound) satellite has an expected lifespan of 15 years, Interfax reported.—AFP

TOKYO: A Japanese monkey picks flea off another at the Tama Zoo in Hino, western Tokyo on Saturday. —AP

VIENNA: A jaguar sticks out its tongue as it strolls through its outdoor enclosure in a Spring temperature of around 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) at the Schoenbrunn zoo, in Vienna, on Friday. —AP

Not sure if drug-resistant TB is worsening: WHO LONDON: The World Health Organization says it doesn’t have enough information to know if it is winning the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis. In a new report on the global status of drug-resistant TB based on data from 2008, the agency says almost half of all people with the disease are in China and India, with both countries reporting about 100,000 new cases each.

High rates of drug-resistant TB strains were also seen in eastern Europe and central Asia, with up to 60 percent of people who already had TB in some parts of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan developing drug-resistant versions. About 4 percent of all TB cases worldwide are thought to be non-responsive to the usual TB drugs. The agency estimated there were between 390,000 and 510,000 cases of drug-resistant TB in 2008, including about 150,000 people who were killed by the disease. But those numbers are based on modeling and come with a big margin of error.

The report is based on information from 35 countries worldwide, leaving a huge gap in the global TB picture. “The country data reported to WHO make it impossible at this time to conclude whether the (drug-resistant TB) epidemic worldwide is growing or shrinking,” the agency wrote in its report.

In the United States, the proportion of TB cases that are resistant to at least two first-line antibiotics remained stable in 2008, at less than 1 percent. And there were no cases that year of extensively drug-resistant TB, which is resistant to most available treatments, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC does not yet have data on drugresistant TB for last year. But other, preliminary data indicate a historic drop in new tuberculosis cases of all kinds in 2009 - the largest singleyear decrease in more than 50 years of federal record keeping. TB rates fell more than 11 percent in 2009, to 3.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Generally, the annual decline is about 4 percent.

CDC officials are investigating, but say it could be related to fewer cases coming in to the country through immigration.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis usually arises when people are poorly treated or take substandard medicines. It takes longer to treat than regular TB and requires more expensive drugs, which also cause bad side effects like liver damage. In recent years, WHO and other health authorities have warned the collision of TB with the AIDS virus could fuel simultaneous epidemics - and asked for more money to fight both.

In its latest report, however, the agency acknowledged there is little proof of that.

Again citing missing data, the agency says “it has not been possible to conclude whether an overall association between (drug-resistant) TB and HIV epidemics exists.” In Estonia, Latvia and Moldova, WHO said people infected with both HIV and TB were more likely to develop drug-resistant TB. But there is no information from many countries across Africa where the most people with HIV live.

Some health experts wondered why WHO’s report failed to mention in detail one of the main drivers of drug resistance: bad medicines.

“Many substandard drugs are fakes, but we are also concerned about legitimately manufactured copies - mainly from India and China - which are not made to exacting high standards,” said Philip Stevens, a health policy expert at the London

think-tank International Policy Network.

Stevens said the lack of global TB data was troubling. “WHO doesn’t really have a clue as to the true extent of the problem,” he said. “It’s difficult then, to start promoting targets and goals when you don’t know what baseline you are starting from.”

WHO reported rates of drug-resistant TB were dropping in some parts of Russia with previously large outbreaks. “It’s good news that it can be controlled even in those difficult regions,” said Ruth McNerney, a TB expert at London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not connected to the report.

McNerney said that though progress was being made, authorities need more money to fight it, and more information about where the disease is striking. “We’ve got to find out where there are very serious problems, otherwise we won’t know about it until it’s too late.”-LONDON The World Health Organization says it doesn’t have enough information to know if it is winning the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

In a new report on the global status of drugresistant TB based on data from 2008, the agency says almost half of all people with the disease are in China and India, with both countries reporting about 100,000 new cases each.

High rates of drug-resistant TB strains were also seen in eastern Europe and central Asia, with up to 60 percent of people who already had TB in some parts of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan developing drug-resistant versions.

About 4 percent of all TB cases worldwide are thought to be non-responsive to the usual TB drugs. The agency estimated there were between 390,000 and 510,000 cases of drugresistant TB in 2008, including about 150,000 people who were killed by the disease. But those numbers are based on modeling and come with a big margin of error.

The report is based on information from 35 countries worldwide, leaving a huge gap in the global TB picture.

“The country data reported to WHO make it impossible at this time to conclude whether the (drug-resistant TB) epidemic worldwide is growing or shrinking,” the agency wrote in its report.

In the United States, the proportion of TB cases that are resistant to at least two first-line antibiotics remained stable in 2008, at less than 1 percent. And there were no cases that year of extensively drug-resistant TB, which is resistant to most available treatments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC does not yet have data on drugresistant TB for last year. But other, preliminary data indicate a historic drop in new tuberculosis cases of all kinds in 2009 - the largest singleyear decrease in more than 50 years of federal record keeping.

TB rates fell more than 11 percent in 2009, to 3.8 cases per 100,000 people. Generally, the annual decline is about 4 percent. CDC officials are investigating, but say it could be related to fewer cases coming in to the country through immigration. Drug-resistant tuberculosis usually arises when people are poorly treated or take substandard medicines. It takes longer to treat than regular TB and requires more expensive drugs, which also cause bad side effects like liver damage.— AP

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Monday, March 22, 2010

India International School holds graduation day ndia International School, Mangaf, held its 7th kindergarten Graduation day on Thursday the 18th March 2010. A breathtaking and captivating performance by the KG children moved the audience to a world of fantasy. And they proved that they are confident to move to Grade one. Four Hundred Eighty five students of nine section of UKG and seven sections of LKG participated in the event.

On this occasion Abdullah Ali Al Basari, Manager Educational Affiars Ministry of Private Education was the chief Guest and Ous Al Shaheen a young leader and the grand son of Sayid Yusuf hashim Al Refai was the Guest of Honor. Susan Khalil the inspector from the ministry of private education also graced the occasion as the guest of Honor.

The program began with the recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by National Anthems of Kuwait and India.

Global wonders brought the culture of different countries live on the stage followed by chocolate dance and aliens.

The Arabic dance brought the patriotic fervor when every one started dancing on the stage. It was a big surprise for every one when the Principal Anis Ahmad, and the Direcor Moosa Koya entered through the crowd in Kuwaiti dress holding the Kuwaiti flag and singing in the praise of Kuwait.

The chief Guest and the guest of honors could not resist themselves from coming on the stage and be part of the dance and singing. The Grand Finale was spectacular when all the 485 students came with different color balloons and formed a rainbow on the stage.

No doubt it was a spectacular mega event. Hats off to Kindergarten staff, KG head Shifana Muiz & rest of the team of India International School.

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IEI - 16th annual general meeting he Institution of Engineers (India), IEI Kuwait Chapter is pleased to announce that 16th Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) for the year 2010 shall be held on Monday 29th March 2010 at Holiday Inn, Downtown, Kuwait.

To encourage more participation we have organized a Technical Seminar on the topic of “Current Trends of Control System in High Rise Green Building” delivered by Pugazendhi, a well renowned Engineer and expert in his field. The AGM will be preceded by this Seminar. The seminar will start at 6.30pm sharp. The registration shall start at 6.00pm.

The AGM proceedings shall begin at 7.30pm followed by the election of the new executive com-

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mittee for the year 2010 - 2011.

All the members are kindly requested to attend the AGM. All those who are interested to contest the elections for the Executive Committee can obtain the nomination form from IEI, Kuwait Chapter Office located at KSE premises. For further information please contact IEI, Kuwait Chapter Office between 5.30 pm To 8.30 pm Sunday through Thursday by tel. 22445588 ext 314 OR by email ieikwt@hotmail.com For any further details kindly contact Engr Joseph Panicker(99413279), Engr Sushant Chakravarty (65987313) or Engr Abby Chandy (97214290).

Flex Resorts celebrates Family Day with KNPC LEX Resorts, leading health provider in Kuwait participated in the Family Day festivities that took place at Kuwait National Petroleum Company. The fun filled event began on March 15th and ended on March 18th. Flex offered the KNPC employees and their families the opportunity to experience each of its facilities to encourage a rich and fruitful personal wellbeing.

“Kuwait is in dire need of a health reform system that will change the face of the nation for the better. Our participation functions in conjunction with our mission to enhance the nation’s current lifestyle and derive the best out of its people”, said Khalid Al-Sayegh, Managing Director and Chairman, Flex Resorts and Real Estate.

KNPC personnel were enabled to take full advantage of the deals available to them thereby ensuring a more satisfied and successful workforce. Employee’s families can also reap the benefits of each subsidiary through these rewards.

The offers included free fitness consultancy by an academic fitness instructor, free manicure service by Dashing Diva for ladies, special discount along with extra services for Flex Fitness and free consultancy by a specialized dietician from Flex Gourmet.

There is an alarming rise in the number of lifestyle diseases caused by a lack of nutritional

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diets, exercise, etc. These factors should be managed so as to avoid any future complications for you and your family. Flex’s initiative in creating a nationwide awareness of wholesome goodness is being rolled out step by step and hopes to accomplish its ultimate goal of creating a healthier nation!

For more information on existing and upcoming offers, please contact our hotline at 22522566 or 66660048

Coca-Cola’s expedition 206 circles the globe in search of happiness ew Interactive Features at Expedition206.com Help Fans Connect With Global Travelers Every Step of the Way. 43 down, 163 to go. Coca-Cola’s team of three young “happiness ambassadors” kicked off their year-long global adventure known as Expedition 206. Madrid was the first stop on the team’s 275,000mile voyage to 206 countries and territories where Coca-Cola is sold to seek out what makes people happy. The “happiness ambassadors” will make their first stops in the Middle East during the first week of April. In total they will visit 8 countries in the MENA region during their search for happiness.

The three members of Expedition 206 — Tony Martin, 30, a Washington, D.C., native who teaches kindergarten in Munich; Kelly Ferris, 23, a university student from Brussels; and Antonio Santiago, 24, a university student from Mexico City-will document the entire trip on www.Expedition206.com and a variety of social networking sites, including Facebook (http://facebook.com/cocacola), YouTube (http://youtube.com/expedition206), Twitter

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(http://twitter.com/x206), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e206/) and a TypePad blog at http://expedition206.typepad.com.

As the team travels the globe seeking stories of happiness, fans can follow the real-time updates with a new Expedition 206 widget that takes all of the team’s content and pulls it onto fans’ own Web sites, blogs and social network profile pages. In addition, the built-in chat function on www.Expedition206.com ensures people can quickly and easily become a part of the Expedition 206 adventureinteracting with the team members and other fans. Using all of these sites and tools, fans will serve as “virtual travel agents” for the team, helping decide where they will go, what they will do and whom they will visit in each destination.

As part of their preparation for Expedition 206, the team met with Margarita Alvarez, president of the Coca-Cola Happiness Institute in Madrid, to learn about the organization’s research into what makes people happy. The Coca-Cola Happiness Institute was established by the Company in 2008 in Spain, in collabo-

ration with several leading experts, to conduct and publish research about the nature of happiness and how different people perceive happiness.

“The research we’ve done to study happy people and the causes of happiness will provide a good foundation for the ambassadors as they travel the world seeking out and documenting stories of joy and optimism,” Alvarez said. “These are three of the most energetic, uplifting people I’ve ever met, so it’ll be fun to watch them interact with so many different people from all corners of the earth.”

The team also completed the first in its series of 206 exchanges of specially decorated Coca-Cola bottles while leaving Madrid. They presented the first commemorative bottle, which they received from Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. They will present each bottle that they receive to the hosts of the next country and at the end of the expedition, all 206 of these one-of-a-kind bottles will be displayed in a special collection at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

Antoine Tayyar, Public Affairs and Communications Director for Coca-

McDonald’s - Kuwait marks Mother’s Day at Rawda Park KUWAIT, March 20, 2010: McDonald’s Kuwait celebrated the Mother’s Day, on Saturday, March 20 in a fun-filled family gathering at Rawda Park. Mothers and children of all ages gathered to celebrate the special day with entertaining outdoor activities focused on mothers and children.

Led by McDonald’s Senior Stars team, children gathered to make Mother’s Day cards, and handed out flowers to each mother who attended the event. In addition, there were countless fitness activities for kids to enjoy

the outdoors, as well as fun games, a stage show and a special visit by McDonald’s Ambassador of Smiles, Ronald McDonald. “McDonald’s prides itself in creating a family environment that children can come and experience with their families,” commented George Khawam, Marketing Director of McDonald’s Kuwait “This is an important day that gives us a chance to give back to the community and honor the people who bare the responsibility of holding the family unit together - the Mothers,” concluded Mr. Khawam.

Cola Middle East commented, “We are delighted to be bringing forth a project that embraces the Coca-Cola positive outlook and evolution of our Open Happiness campaign, launched last year in the UAE. Throughout history, Coca-Cola has tried to express a refreshingly positive view of the world. Expedition 206 is an initiative that builds on that heritage by proving that there are always opportunities, no matter where we are in the world, to enjoy life’s simple pleasures and to be refreshed.”

Tony, Kelly and Antonio also met with a delegation of representatives from the Shanghai World Expo 2010, who presented them with a miniature version of “Haibao,” the mascot of the Shanghai Expo. Haibao will accompany the team as they travel the world, bringing a taste of the World Expo to each stop along the route. The team is scheduled to visit the Shanghai World Expo in May, along with other marquee events that Coca-Cola sponsors throughout the year, such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Canada and the FIFA World Cup 2010(tm) in South Africa.

Palestinian handicrafts expo he Palestinian Cultural Center, in co-ordination with the Women’s Cultural Society invite you to an exhibition of traditional Palestinian handmade embroidery including dresses, jackets, cushions, and ceramics in a variety of colors and sizes. The exhibition will be open from Monday March 29 to Thursday April 1 from 10 - 1:30 pm and 4:30 - 8:30 pm at Women’s Cultural Social Society, Khaldiya, Block 2, Al-Quroba Street. For information, call 24843397 or 99376608.

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Monday, March 22, 2010

Attachment to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) base of Islamic ideology: SYS seminar arooq Naeemi, a well known Indian orator, International Muslim Fraternity Forum Award winner and Vice President of Kerala based Sunni Students Federation (SSF) stated here that the affection and attachment to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is the integral part of Islamic belief and ideology and it is only through that affection a man can enjoy and understand the real taste of Islamic brotherhood and human relationships. He was performing the keynote address in the seminar conducted by Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) in the topic of “History

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and Mission of Prophet Mohammed” (PBUH).

The learning and reading of Prophet’s history is to be revised as per the demand of the modern era. The transmission of Islamic ideology and practices from generation to generation is done through the transmission of Prophet’s History.

Prophet’s History and Islamic history cannot be separated from each other. The Quranic verses are justifying the fact that the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the major source of Islamic teachings and ethics.

More creations and literary works are yet to come about the life of Prophet Muhammad. More Studies about the unique personality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are to be carried out in various levels. He is the most loved; most followed and most discussed man of history.

Even the European and Oriental writers have done a lot of works on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his life. The critics and supporters together agree to the fact that there was no man on the earth like him in the popularity and nobility. It is the duty of his followers to prac-

tice his teachings in life and to preach the values of his life to the whole mankind.

Naeemi added saying. The seminar had attracted hundreds of people from all the walks of life Abdul Hakim Darimi presided over the function. Abdul Latheef SaadiAhmed K maiyoor, Syed Abdurrahman Bafaqi, Syed Habib Bukhari, and Nizar moulavi also were present at the seminar. Shukoor Kaipuram welcomed the audience and Habib haji expressed the vote of thanks.

CTA Latheef Kulamukku.

0965 97975913

Welcome reception to His Beatitude Aboon Mor Beaselios Thomas I catholicose

His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios Metropolitan arrives on March 24 is Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios Metropolitan, Successor and Assistant to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, of Indian Orthodox Church, will arrive on 24th March, and H.B. will be available up to 5th April.

H.B Paulose Mar Milithios Metropolitan will be the chief celebrant for the Passion Week Services of St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church.

For more details, please contact on 24312064.

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Greetings

t. George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church Kuwait accorded a royal Welcome reception on 19th March 2010 at the Indian Central School, to His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Catholicos, the spiritual head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India. The Catholicose and the invited dignitaries were escorted by a Candle-lit procession of Sunday School children and parishioners bearing decorated umbrellas to the venue.

The meeting presided over by the Church Vicar Rev. Fr. Bijumon Jacob was inaugurated by His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin Apostolic Vicar of Kuwait, by lighting the traditional lamp. Ajai Malhotra - The Ambassador of India in Kuwait, Monsignor John Kallarackal - First Secretary, Apostolic

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Nunclature of Kuwait, Rev. Emmanuel Ghareeb - Chairman NECK, Rev Jacob I Abraham- Vicar CSI Church, Rev Fr C Kurian - Vicar St. Peter’s Knanaya Church, Rev Thomas Varghese - Vicar Kuwait Marthoma Church, Mr. K.P.Koshy Executive Administrator NECK and Chev.

Bijou Varghese delivered felicitation speeches. During the meeting His Beatitude Honoured Rev. Emmanuel Ghareeb with the traditional Shawl of Honour. Church Secretary John C. Thomas delivered the welcome speech, Joseph M Abraham proposed the Vote of Thanks. The songs by the Church Choir, The Sunday School Children, The Morth Mariam Vanitha Samajam and Mor Baselios Youth Association, enthralled the audience.

Wataniya organizes blood donation campaign n efforts to reinforce its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and as part of its ongoing commitment towards supporting the society, Wataniya Telecom has organized an internal blood donation campaign on March 18th, 2010 in cooperation with the Blood Bank in Kuwait.

Wataniya’s blood donation campaign resulted in marvelous success that was beyond anyone’s expectations! A large number of employees showed up at the location with excitement to donate expressing sincerity and dedication to the cause.

Due to the high number of interested Wataniya employees, the blood bank had to call in for more staff support to accommodate the unexpected large number of blood donors.

Wataniya believes in taking an integral role in the society as well as involving all its employees in promoting the welfare of their community. The campaign aims at saving lives for those who are in need for blood; especially those with a rare type of blood.

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appy birthday to Sravani from dad Kumar Raju, Mom Chandra and friends H and family.

The Truth Kuwait Chapter organizing an open dialogue At 6:30 PM Friday, March 26, 2010, Mass Auditorium, Abbassiya “Recognize Prophet Issa (Peace be upon him) and attain triumph”

By Sayed Abdul Rahman Thangal “ I am the way, truth and life” Yohannan 14:6 “Messenger of Peace”

By Mohamed Aripra “He has been sent for the mercy of human race” - Qur’an 21 - 107 We welcome all including families to witness a unique programme

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

“Wataniya blood donation campaign is organized for our employees, but as a team our aim is to draw the attention to a good cause in which we can save many individuals’ lives and put an end to so many sufferings.”, Stated Abdolaziz Al-Balool, Wataniya Public Relations Manager.

Al-Balool refers to Wataniya’s employees contribution saying that “Our employees exceeded our expectations and have responded with enthusiasm to the campaign and expressed their willingness to take part in donating blood for the benefit of those whom are in need for it.”

Giving Blood is a noble gesture given out of community spirit and sense of duty. Donating blood saves lives and advocates community cohesiveness. Wataniya aspires to inspire other people among the community to donate blood at the blood bank and therefore increase the awareness in Kuwait on the lives that will be saved with blood donation.

The blood donation campaign took place at Wataniya’s head quarter with a big contribution by many employees.

NBK hosts Thahabi mixer event ational Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and highest rated bank in the Middle East, organizes an exclusive and classy event for its Thahabi customers. The event titled Thahabi Mixer will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) at 18:30 at NBKís Ras Salmiya Branch, where the Thahabi customers will be introduced to new and exclusive offerings from NBKís Partners. NBKís Thahabi customers will be also introduced to the new benefits that are associated with the account.

Thahabi is the Premier affluent package from NBK that offers customers personalized and ëbest in classí products and services, delivered by professional Personal Banking Officers.

Furthermore, Thahabi customers also enjoy many banking related discounts, fee waivers and value-added lifestyle benefits. Qualification for the Thahabi package is subject to meeting the minimum deposit criteria of KD. 30,000 in any interest or non-interest bearing account and/or a minimum continuous monthly salary transfer of KD. 1,500.

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Avenues celebrates Mother’s Day he Avenues celebrated Mother’s Day over the weekend, with the mall visitor’s families who enjoyed a tree that was prepared on this occasion, and decorated with flowers and messages from children who expressed their feelings of love and sincere appreciation to their mothers.

The Avenues Mall Management is always keen on the participation of visitors in such social events particularly those related to the family, noting that The Avenues is distinct in its friendly ambience where families

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meet for long hours over the different days of the week.

The Mall Management stated that the families were keen to be present in the Avenues for these days, to see the special Mother’s Day decoration and the opportunity for their children to participate in writing messages to hang on the tree that was specially made for this occasion.

The Management also sent its greetings to all mothers through the flowers that were distributed to mothers in dedication to this special occasion.

TV PROGRAMS

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings

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

ER In Plain Sight Life Murdoch Mysteries In Plain Sight Supernatural Damages ER Criminal Minds Cold Case Life Murdoch Mysteries Damages Supernatural Life In Plain Sight Criminal Minds Cold Case ER Damages Big Love Saving Grace Supernatural True Blood

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

Animal Witness Animal Witness Whale Wars Untamed And Uncut Untamed And Uncut Animal Cops Philadelphia Night Night Animal Cops Houston Rspca: On The Frontline Dolphin Days Wildlife SOS Pet Rescue Great Ocean Adventures The Jeff Corwin Experience Beverly Hills Groomer The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Monkey Life Shamwari: A Wild Life Miami Animal Police Vet On The Loose Pet Rescue Animal Cops Phoenix Wildlife SOS Aussie Animal Rescue Great Ocean Adventures The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Beverly Hills Groomer Animal Battlegrounds I’m Alive Into The Lion’s Den Animal Cops Phoenix

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

Hustle Doctor Who The Life Of Mammals Casualty Casualty Doctors Balamory Fimbles The Roly Mo Show Tikkabilla Yoho Ahoy Little Robots Balamory Fimbles The Roly Mo Show Tikkabilla Yoho Ahoy Little Robots Bargain Hunt Egypt Building Wonders Building Wonders The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Red Dwarf Red Dwarf The Weakest Link Doctors Cash In The Attic Robin Hood Antiques Roadshow The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby Blue Holby City

00:05 Cash In The Attic Usa 01:30 Saturday Kitchen 02:00 Saturday Kitchen 02:30 Big Chef Takes On Little Chef 03:20 The Naked Chef 05:00 Living In The Sun 05:45 Cash In The Attic Usa 08:10 Antiques Roadshow 09:00 Cash In The Attic Usa 09:25 Hidden Potential 10:00 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 11:30 Living In The Sun 12:20 Antiques Roadshow 13:15 What Not To Wear 14:00 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 15:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 16:30 Cash In The Attic Usa 16:50 Hidden Potential 17:15 What Not To Wear 18:00 Antiques Roadshow 19:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 20:15 Daily Cooks Challenge

17:00 Power Rangers Jungle Fury 17:30 American Dragon 18:00 Zeke & Luther 18:30 Aaron Stone 19:00 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 19:25 Kid vs Kat 20:00 Zeke & Luther 20:30 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 21:00 Phineas & Ferb 21:30 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 22:00 Phineas & Ferb 22:25 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 22:50 Power Rangers Jungle Fury 23:15 Fantastic Four

Speed Racer on Show Movies 20:40 21:05 21:30 22:00 22:20 22:40 23:00 23:35

Masterchef Goes Large Saturday Kitchen Saturday Kitchen Cash In The Attic Usa Cash In The Attic Usa Cash In The Attic Usa Coleen’s Real Women What To Eat Now - Autumn

01:00 03:00 04:45 06:45 09:00 PG15 11:00 PG15 12:45 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Wilby Wonderful-PG15 Shallow Grave-18 Night Falls On Manhattan-18 Terms Of Endearment-PG15 Maradona: The Hand Of GodGirl With A Pearl EarringPrincess Mononoke-PG15 Under The Same Moon-PG Only The Strong Survive-PG15 Danse Avec Lui-PG15 Jump Tomorrow-PG15 Jude-18

00:00 Ross Kemp - Return To Afghanistan 01:00 Destroyed In Seconds 02:00 Smash Lab 02:55 Fifth Gear 03:50 American Chopper 04:45 How Do They Do It? 05:10 Destroyed In Seconds 06:05 Extreme Explosions 07:00 Man Made Marvels Asia 07:55 Massive Speed 08:50 Street Customs 09:45 How Do They Do It? 10:10 Mythbusters 11:05 Ultimate Survival 12:00 Extreme Loggers 12:55 How Do They Do It? 13:50 American Chopper 14:45 Miami Ink 15:40 Mythbusters 16:35 Dirty Jobs 17:30 Extreme Loggers 18:30 Street Customs 19:30 Destroyed In Seconds 20:00 How Do They Do It? 20:30 How Stuff’s Made 21:00 Wild Swimming Adventure 22:00 Extreme Fishing 23:00 Ultimate Survival

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

Sci-Fi Science Sci-Fi Science The Future Of...

Future Weapons Sci-Fi Science The Future Of...

What’s That About?

Patent Bending Engineered Thunder Races Nasa’s Greatest Missions Sci-Fi Science Sci-Fi Science How Stuff’s Made Stunt Junkies The Colony Mean Green Machines One Step Beyond Nasa’s Greatest Missions Sci-Fi Science Nextworld How Stuff’s Made Thunder Races Brainiac Building The Biggest Nyc: Inside Out Mega Builders How It’s Made Mythbusters Nyc: Inside Out Mega Builders

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

Suite Life On Deck Kim Possible Phineas & Ferb Fairly Odd Parents Replacements Wizards Of Waverly Place Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Lazytown Jonas Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Higglytown Heroes My Friends Tigger And Pooh Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Imagination Movers Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Brandy & Mr Whiskers Fairly Odd Parents Hannah Montana I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Replacements American Dragon Kim Possible I Got A Rocket Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb Replacements I Got A Rocket Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana The Replacements Jonas Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Hannah Montana Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Replacements American Dragon Kim Possible I Got A Rocket Fairly Odd Parents Phineas & Ferb

07:00 Yin Yang Yo 07:25 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 07:50 Kid vs Kat 08:15 Power Rangers Jungle Fury 08:40 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 09:05 American Dragon 09:30 Kid vs Kat 10:00 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 10:30 Zeke & Luther 11:00 Phil Of The Future 11:30 Jimmy Two-Shoes 12:00 Kid vs Kat 12:30 Phineas & Ferb 13:00 Aaron Stone 13:25 Power Rangers Jungle Fury 13:50 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 14:20 NEXT X U.S SHORTS 14:30 Jimmy Two-Shoes 15:00 American Dragon 15:30 Yin Yang Yo 16:00 Phineas & Ferb 16:30 Kid vs Kat

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

Deadly Women Undercover Murder Shift Serial Killers Deadly Women Undercover Crime Scene Psychics Fbi Files Ghosthunters Ghosthunters Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Real Emergency Calls Real Emergency Calls Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Mystery Er The Prosecutors Extreme Forensics Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Real Emergency Calls Real Emergency Calls Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Mystery Er The Prosecutors Extreme Forensics Forensic Justice Dr G: Medical Examiner

01:15 03:05 04:35 06:00 07:30 09:10 10:50 12:25 14:05 15:55 17:15 18:55 20:20 22:00 23:20

Sunday, Bloody Sunday Some Girls The Curse Of Inferno Deadly Stranger The Winter People Untamed Heart Crusoe Prancer Just Between Friends The Trip Kidnapped Sticky Fingers Hennessy Strictly Business The Rose Garden

00:00 Better Off Ted 00:30 Will and Grace 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Saturday Night Live 04:30 Life & Times of Tim 05:00 Better Off Ted 05:30 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 07:00 Home Improvement 07:30 Malcolm in the Middle 08:00 Coach 08:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 09:00 The Colbert Report 09:30 Drew Carey 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Til’ Death 11:30 Eight Simple Rules 12:00 Best of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 13:00 Will and Grace 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Home Improvement 14:30 Malcolm in the Middle 15:00 Coach 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Drew Carey 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Eight Simple Rules 18:30 Just Shoot me 19:00 Billable Hours 19:30 Will and Grace 20:00 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Monday Stand Up night 23:30 Life & Times of Tim

00:40 01:30 02:20 03:15 05:05 06:00 07:45 08:35 09:25 10:15

E! Investigates E!es Sexiest Ths Dr 90210 Ths Style Star E! News Bank Of Hollywood Ths

11:05 Ths 12:00 E! News 12:50 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 13:40 Ths 15:25 Behind The Scenes 16:15 Ths 17:10 Kendra 18:00 E! News 18:50 Streets Of Hollywood 19:15 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 19:40 E!es 20:30 Ths 21:20 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 21:45 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 Downsize Me S2 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 The Monique Show 04:00 Chef’s table 04:30 Fresh 05:00 GMA Weekend (repeat) 06:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 07:00 GMA Health 07:30 What’s the Buzz 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Never Trust A Skinny Cook 09:30 Fresh 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 Parenting 14:30 Job Club 15:00 GMA Weekend Live 16:00 Ahead of The Curve 16:30 Amplified 17:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 18:00 Downsize Me S2 19:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

22:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 23:00 The Monique Show

00:30 02:00 04:00 05:45 08:00 10:30 12:00 14:00 15:45 18:00 20:00 22:00 PG15

After Sex-R The Clan-PG15 Dragonlance-PG Mongol-PG15 Speed Racer-PG Space Chimps-PG Man In The Chair-PG15 Red Riding 1974-PG15 Speed Racer-PG Leatherheads-PG15 Exterminators-PG15 Hellboy II: The Golden Army-

01:00 Rob Zombie’s Halloween-18 03:00 Connected-PG15 05:00 Last Lullaby-PG15 07:00 Devil’s Diary-PG15 09:00 The Glass House-PG15 11:00 Godzilla-PG15 13:15 Connected-PG15 15:15 The Glass House-PG15 17:00 Heist-PG15 19:00 Merlin And The Book Of Beasts-PG15 21:00 Newton Boys-PG15 23:00 Boot Camp-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Last Request-PG15 Real Time-R Rat-PG Girl’s Best Friend-PG15 Zoolander-PG15 City Slickers-PG15 The Other Half-PG15 The Salon-PG15 The Last Request-PG15 This Is Not A Test-PG15 College-18 Knocked Up-18

00:00 Barbie As The Island PrincessFAM 02:00 The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones-FAM 04:00 Dark Crystal-PG 06:00 Scooby-Doo And The Ghoul School-FAM 08:00 Magic Sport 2-PG 10:00 Dark Crystal-PG 14:00 The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones-FAM 16:00 The Ant Bully-FAM 18:00 D3: The Mighty Ducks-PG 20:00 The Witches-PG

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30

The Ex-list C.S.I: Miami Sex and the City Sex and the City Smallville Law & Order Frasier Coach Emmerdale Coronation Street

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

“24” Frasier Coach Smallville (TBA) Law & Order Emmerdale Coronation Street Frasier Coach The Ex-list C.S.I: Miami “24” Smallville Emmerdale Coronation Street Ugly Betty Desperate Housewives Law & Order “24” Sex and the City

01:00 Premier League 17:00 Futbol Mundial 17:30 Premier League World 18:00 Premier League Classics 18:30 Premier League 20:30 Live Barclays Premier League Review 22:00 Futbol Mundial 22:30 Premier League World 23:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 23:30 Premier League Classics

01:30 NRL Premiership 05:30 Super League 07:00 Futbol Mundial 07:30 NRL Premiership 09:30 Mobil 1 10:00 Futbol Mundial 10:30 ICC Cricket World 11:00 Live NRL Premiership 13:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 15:00 Super 14 17:00 ICC Cricket World 17:30 NRL Premiership 19:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 20:30 Live Goals On Monday 22:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 22:30 Premier League Darts

00:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 07:00 11:30 12:30 14:30 15:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 22:00 22:30

Angelo Welsh Cup Mobil 1 Futbol Mundial Premier League Darts PGA European Tour Weber Cup Bowling Angelo Welsh Cup Futbol Mundial Premier League Darts Futbol Mundial Mobil 1 Angelo Welsh Cup ICC Cricket World Goals On Monday

00:00 01:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 11:30 12:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 20:00 23:00

UFC Unleashed UFC 110 Live UFC Vera vs. Jones WWE Bottomline Mobil 1 The Grid FIM World Cup Rat Race NCAA Basketball UAE National Race Day WWE Bottomline Red Bull Air Race NCAA Basketball UFC - The Ultimate Fighter UFC Vera vs. Jones UFC - The Ultimate Fighter

00:35 Edge Of The City 02:00 The Happening 03:35 Strictly Business 05:00 The Prize 07:30 The Screening Room 08:00 Please Don’t Eat The Daisies 09:50 The Yellow Rolls-royce 11:50 The Wonderful World Of The Brothers...

13:55 Meet Me In St. Louis 15:45 Kelly’s Heroes 18:05 The Prize 20:15 Quo Vadis 23:00 The Executioner

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

Ax Men 2 Extreme Trains Dogfights Engineering Disasters Hitler & Stalin: Roots Of Evil Dead Men’s Secrets Life After People Ax Men 2 Extreme Trains Dogfights Engineering Disasters Hitler & Stalin: Roots Of Evil Dead Men’s Secrets Life After People Ax Men 2 Extreme Trains Dogfights Engineering Disasters Hitler & Stalin: Roots Of Evil Dead Men’s Secrets Life After People Ax Men 2 Extreme Trains Dogfights Engineering Disasters Deep Sea Salvage Ax Men Battle Stations

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

Ruby What I Hate About Me My Celebrity Home How Do I Look?

Split Ends Dr 90210 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Area How Do I Look?

Style Star Style Her Famous My Celebrity Home Style Star Dress My Nest Peter Perfect Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Ruby Clean House Clean House Comes Clean Dress My Nest How Do I Look?

Split Ends Dallas Divas And Daughters Style Her Famous Running In Heels Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Split Ends Clean House Giuliana And Bill Dallas Divas And Daughters What I Hate About Me

01:04 01:45 02:00 02:45 08:04 08:45 13:04 13:50 16:04 16:45 18:00 18:45 20:04 21:00

Africa Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Sound System Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Latina Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Hit US Playlist

00:00 Globe Trekker 01:00 Julian And Camilla’s World Odyssey 02:00 Intrepid Journeys 03:00 Distant Shores 03:30 Wild At Heart 04:00 Angry Planet 04:30 Photoxplorers 05:00 Great Scenic Railways-australia 06:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Travel Today 09:30 Dream Destinations 10:00 Distant Shores 11:00 Chef Abroad 11:30 Entrada 12:00 Planet Food 13:00 Globe Trekker 14:00 Chef Abroad 14:30 The Thirsty Traveler 15:00 Feast India 15:30 Entrada 16:00 Angry Planet 16:30 Photoxplorers 17:00 Globe Trekker 18:00 Essential 18:30 Hollywood And Vines 19:00 Chef Abroad 19:30 The Thirsty Traveler 20:00 Globe Trekker 21:00 Planet Food 22:00 Floyd Uncorked 22:30 Travel Today 23:00 Essential 23:30 Chef Abroad

00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 01:30 Jailed Abroad 02:30 Jailed Abroad 03:30 Cycling Home With Rob Lilwall 04:00 Finding Genghis 04:30 Lonely Planet 05:30 Bondi Rescue 06:00 Bondi Rescue 06:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 07:30 Jailed Abroad 08:30 Jailed Abroad 09:30 Cycling Home With Rob Lilwall 10:00 Treks In A Wild World 10:30 Madventures 11:00 Chasing Time 11:30 Word Travels 12:00 Word Travels 12:30 Pressure Cook 13:00 Pressure Cook 13:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 14:30 Bondi Rescue - Bali 15:00 Destination Extreme 15:30 Surfer’s Journal 16:00 Treks In A Wild World 16:30 Madventures

01:00 Number 23-PG15 03:00 Things That Hang From Trees-PG15 05:00 Broken Lines-PG15 07:00 Dog Days Of Summer-PG 09:00 Sicko-PG15 11:00 Over Her Dead Body-PG15 13:00 Last Mimzy-PG 15:00 Stan Lee: Mosaic-PG 17:00 Iron Road Part 1-PG15 19:00 Sicko-PG15 21:00 The Lodger-R 23:00 Wanted-18

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Sunday Soul Behind The Music Pink!

Vh1 Rocks Vh1 Music Vh1 Hits Vh1 Music Aerobic Top 10 Fire Music For The Masses Vh1 Pop Chart Vh1 Music Music For The Masses Vh1 Music Vh1 Viewer’s Jukebox Vh1 Viewer’s Jukebox Top 10 Fire

Over Her Dead Body on Super Movies

Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:45 22:15 00:05 02:20 03:55 05:25 07:00 08:35 10:20 11:55 13:50 15:55 17:30 19:30

Phantom Racer Alien Resurrection Rain Man The Full Monty Phantom Racer Finding Amanda The Banger Sisters Malice The Full Monty The Savages Deja Vu Hard Ride To Hell Home Alone 2: Lost In New York Keeping The Faith

STAR World 20:00 90210 20:50 Married With Children 21:50 Different Strokes 22:00 Ghost Whisperer 22:50 Married With Children 23:00 Criminal Minds 23:50 Married With Children 00:50 Different Strokes 01:00 Ghost Whisperer 01:50 Married With Children 02:00 90210 03:00 [V] Tunes

04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:50 10:00 10:50 11:00 11:50 12:50 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:50 15:00 15:50 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00

[V] Tunes [V] Tunes 7th Heaven Scrubs The King Of Queens According To Jim According To Jim Criminal Minds Married With Children Grey’s Anatomy Different Strokes 90210 Married With Children Married With Children The King Of Queens The Bold And The Beautiful 7th Heaven Different Strokes Grey’s Anatomy Married With Children [V] Tunes Criminal Minds Scrubs The King Of Queens According To Jim

Granada TV 20:00 Rough Diamond (Series 2) 21:30 Shampoo

22:00 Dentists From Hell 23:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) 00:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 01:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) 02:00 Crime Monday: Rough Diamond (Series 2) 03:30 Shampoo 04:00 Total Emergency 05:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Coronation Street 06:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) 08:00 Crime Monday: Rough Diamond (Series 2) 09:30 Shampoo 10:00 Total Emergency 11:00 Emmerdale 11:30 Coronation Street 12:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 13:00 Trinny And Susannah Undress (Series 1) 14:00 Crime Monday: Rough Diamond (Series 2) 15:30 Shampoo 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street

17:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:00 Trinny And Susannah Undress (Series 1) 19:00 Crime Monday: Rough Diamond (Series 2) Channel [V] 21:00 [V] Tunes 22:00 [V] Plug 22:30 The Playlist 23:00 Loop 00:00 Backtracks 01:00 Double Shot 02:00 [V] Plug 02:30 The Playlist 03:00 Loop 04:00 [V] Special 05:00 [V] Tunes 06:00 Double Shot 07:00 Backtracks 08:00 Loop 09:00 [V] Plug 09:30 Double Shot 10:00 Backtracks 11:00 [V] Tunes 12:00 [V] Plug 12:30 The Playlist 13:00 Loop 14:00 The List

15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00

Keys To The VIP Backtracks [V] Tunes [V] Plug The Playlist Loop The List Keys To The VIP

Fox News 20:00 America’s News HQ 21:00 America’s News HQ host Shannon Bream 23:00 Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace (repeat) 00:00 The O’Reilly Factor(repeat) 01:00 America’s News HQ hosts Gregg Jarrett and Julie Banderas 03:00 FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace (repeat) 04:00 FOX Report Sunday host Julie Banderas 05:00 Huckabee with Mike Huckabee 06:00 Hannity with Sean Hannity 07:00 Geraldo At Large with Geraldo Rivera 08:00 Huckabee with Mike Huckabee 09:00 Hannity with Sean Hannity 10:00 Geraldo At Large with Geraldo Rivera 11:00 FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace

(repeat) 12:00 War Stories with Oliver North 13:00 Bulls and Bears (repeat) 13:30 Cavuto On Business (repeat) 14:00 FORBES on FOX (repeat) 14:30 Cashin’ In (repeat) 15:00 FOX & Friends First Live 16:00 FOX & Friends Live 18:00 America’s Newsroom National Geographic Channel 20:00 Mega Factories -Rolls Royce 21:00 Theme Week -ShowReal Asia : Asia’s Titanic 22:00 Theme Week -Seconds From Disaster : Kobe Earthquake S2-6 23:00 Theme Week -Inside : Mumbai Terror Attacks 00:00 Air Crash Investigation -Miracle Flight S5 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -Space Crab S2 02:00 Locked Up Abroad -Busted And Pregnant 03:00 Dangerous Encounters -Dangerous Encounters With Brad : Closest Encounters 04:00 The Living Edens -Palau: Paradise Of The Pacific 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -Space Crab S2 06:00 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet The New French Revolution 11

Monday, March 22, 2010

33 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for a Keralite bachelor in small single bedroom in CAC flat with all facilities in Farwaniya near Continental suite. Tel: 99716630. (C 20481) Sharing furnished accommodation available for decent executive with a couple in CAC flat at Farwaniya airport road. Call: 99678391. (C 20482) 21-3-2010 Two central A/C rooms available in Bneid Al Gar, very near to Al-Salam hospital. Please call only decent working ladies.

Mob: 97879611. (C 20474) Sharing accommodation available for Indian working ladies, couples in a 2 bedroom flat with all facilities near Khaitan police station round about. Contact: 99480468. (C 20473) Sharing accommodation Abbassiya, Neethi store building full furnished room with mini split A/C 2 bedroom flat, share with Keralite family, couples or working ladies only. Call 66944127 (after noon).

(C 20476) Sharing accommodation Abraq Khaitan, single room available for couple or single executive bachelor in new building, beside the main road opp Kuwait clinic from 1st April. Contact: 97523316/ 24745162.

(C 20479) 19-3-2010

FOR SALE Toyota Corolla XLi 1.6, model 2009, white color, excellent condition, CD player, sensor, folding mirrors, wood trim, alloy wheels, done 7,000 kms only. Cash Price KD 4,200.

Contact: 66211779.

(C 20484) Toyota Corolla XLi 1.8L, model 2007, silver color, excellent condition, done 70,000 kms only. Cash Price KD 2,850. Contact: 97213518. (C 20483) Mitsubishi Pajero, model 2000, automatic gear, in good condition, KD 800.

Contact: 66482700.

(C 20485) Cherry Aster, model 2008, blue color, direct from agent, not used, meter zero km. Final Price KD 2,500 not negotiable. Call: 55451465. (C 20486) 22-3-2010 Nissan X Trail 2003 model, full options, sun roof and heavy trailer, off white metallic color, very good condition, price KD 1,800.

Call afternoon 66944127.

(C 20477) 19-3-2010 Mitsubishi Jeep Pajero model 2005, maroon metallic color, 6-cylinder engine, alloy rim, fog lamp, wooden interior, excellent condition, cash price KD 2,850 (installment possible). Contact: 99105286.

(C 20471)

Laptop Siemens Centrino & Dell D510 Centrino with basic specifications & IBM desktop PC with LCD screen all in good condition. For details call 99322585. (C 20472) 18-3-2010

MATRIMONIAL Hindu Nair parents invite proposal from reputed family for only child daughter, aged 25 years, wheatish, 5ʼ3”, Moolam star, B.Tech/Computer Science & MS/Computing, with work experience in India/Ireland.

Please respond with parents/sonʼs complete personal/career details to: sunneydr@gmail.com (C 20463) 18-3-2910

SITUATION WANTED Diploma holder in civil engineering (Indian) 15 years experience in civil construction field. 5 years Gulf experience, experienced in Autocad + Comp. Seeks suitable placement. Phone: 65033757, 66860418. Mail: kkpillai2005@yahoo.co.in (C 20480)

MISCELLANEOUS Skilled training for results in physical fitness. Using strength training, Pilates, relaxation and yoga tools, enjoy the benefits caring for your body in daily lift. Paul has 13 years P.T experience working around the globe.

Bookings: 65859449.

(C 20475) 19-3-2010

No: 14675

Sharing accommodation at Abbassiya (near German Clinic) Christian non-smoker bachelor only. Rent KD 25. Contact: 99284653.

(C 20470) Sharing accommodation in CAC two bed and bath Salmiya, block 10 with elderly couple for Indian lady. Contact: 25632037, 99464226. (C 20469) Available single room with separate toilet in a CAC 2 bedroom flat for an executive bachelor/working lady in Mangaf to share with a decent family. Contact: 23713472. (C 20468) 18-3-2010

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Monday 22/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1129 Bahrain Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa DHL 370 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul 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 206 Islamabad Kuwait 352 Cochin Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Kuwait 344 Chennai Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Iran Aseman 6521 Lamerd Middle East 404 Beirut Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0171 Dubai 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 07:45 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 11:20 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:55 13:25 13:35 13:35 14:00 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45

Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Jazeera Kuwait Emirates Gulf Air United A/L Saudi Arabian A/L Etihad Jazeera Jazeera Arabia Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways DHL Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Indian Kuwait Jet Airways Oman Air Jazeera Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Middle East Qatari Emirates KLM Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Global Jazeera Jazeera Tunis Air Pakistan Lufthansa Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways

0134 548 678 546 800 0173 118 857 215 982 510 0303 0493 0239 0125 0367 2101 227 2003 473 1025 502 542 674 0177 618 786 614 744 774 575 104 572 0647 0459 2103 217 402 0136 859 0445 1129 0449 0429 081 0117 0185 327 239 636 2201 1029

Doha Luxor Muscat/Abu Dhabi Alexandria Amman Dubai New York Dubai Bahrain Washington Dc Dulles Riyadh Abu Dhabi Jeddah Amman Sharjah Deirezzor Beirut Colombo/Dubai Cairo Baghdad Dubai Beirut Cairo Dubai Dubai Doha Jeddah Bahrain Dammam Riyadh Chennai/Goa London Mumbai Muscat Damascus Beirut Bahrain Beirut Doha Dubai Amsterdam Bahrain Doha Bahrain Baghdad Abu Dhabi Dubai Tunis Islamabad/Sialkot Frankfurt Amman Dubai

15:00 15:15 15:30 15:30 15:40 16:05 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:15 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:05 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 22:25 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:45

Departure Flights on Monday 22/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai Pakistan 206 Peshawar/Lahore Bangladesh 044 Dhaka Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt KLM 0447 Amsterdam Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa DHL 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul 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 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat British 0156 London Kuwait 671 Dubai 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 Jazeera 0172 Dubai Kuwait 541 Cairo Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0492 Jeddah Jazeera 0366 Deirezzor Jazeera 0238 Amman Kuwait 103 London Iran Aseman 6522 Lamerd Middle East 405 Beirut Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 785 Jeddah

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

Time 00:05 00:30 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 07:35 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:10 08:30 08:35 08:40 08:55 09:00 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:20 11:30 11:40 11:45 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:45 12:55 13:00 13:40

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 Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Global Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Oman Air Gulf Air DHL Kuwait Middle East Jazeera Falcon Kuwait Kuwait Qatari Kuwait Emirates KLM Jazeera Jazeera United A/L Jazeera Kuwait

611 1024 673 746 0176 0458 617 501 773 613 801 0135 743 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 543 0184 0116 2200 0448 082 0428 1128 228 1028 283 331 571 0648 218 171 675 403 0188 102 381 203 0137 301 860 0445 0480 0526 981 0502 411

Cairo Dubai Dubai Jeddah Dubai Damascus Doha Jeddah Riyadh Bahrain Amman Doha Dammam Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Cairo Dubai Abu Dhabi Amman Doha Baghdad Bahrain Bahrain Dubai/Colombo Dubai Dhaka Trivandrum Mumbai Muscat Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Beirut Dubai Bahrain Delhi Lahore Doha Mumbai Dubai Bahrain/Amsterdam Sabiha Alexandria Washington Dc Dulles Luxor Bangkok/Manila

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 18:40 18:50 18:50 19:00 19:15 19:15 19:30 20:15 21:00 21:10 21:20 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:30 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:50 22:55 23:00 23:25 23:40 23:50 23:55

SPECTRUM

34 CROSSWORD 935

Monday, March 22, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) You may feel that you

can give to others more generously now— perhaps charities and friends. Everything conspires to value and brings out your more unique and unusual qualities. Communicating and getting your message across to others is at a high just now. Your timing should be perfect and those around you should find you most spontaneous and alive. This is a time when you will enjoy good relations with family members and the financial position may improve because of your association with a relative. You have a natural sense for communicating with others, especially those younger than yourself.

Spending quality time with your loved one/s should be your main priority this evening. Block out distractions.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You and your friends may

talk of a great weekend adventure that will be coming up soon. This could depend upon the weather, but everything looks promising. Perhaps renting a cabin near a lake or family picnic is the choice. Whatever the case, the whole idea is to be with others in a friendly atmosphere to laugh and enjoy the surroundings of the new springtime sights. Plans for this fun gathering are going in the right direction. Stick as close as possible to your budget-don’t give in. Financial changes for the good are in the forecast but the lessons learned as you practice thrift are very important. You are held to your promise this afternoon and may find yourself running errands for a family member. Relations with friends and family are strong.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

4. Fallow deer.

8. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

11. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

12. A republic in the Middle East in western Asia.

13. Imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy.

14. A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch.

15. Any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves.

16. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

17. Divulge information or secrets.

19. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

21. A flexible container with a single opening.

24. A long thin fluffy scarf of feathers or fur.

25. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

32. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

36. Either of two spiral-horned antelopes of the African bush.

41. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

43. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

44. A decree that prohibits something.

46. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers.

47. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

48. A small cake leavened with yeast.

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

DOWN 1. Young sheep.

2. A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically.

3. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

4. Lacking in light.

5. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall.

6. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

7. Jordan's port.

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

9. North American yellow-breasted songbirds.

10. A ruler of the Inca Empire (or a member of his family).

18. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

20. A public promotion of some product or service.

22. Mentally or physically infirm with age.

23. The cry made by sheep.

26. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

27. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

28. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

29. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

30. An Asian river between China and Russia.

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

33. A Russian prison camp for political prisoners.

34. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

35. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

37. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

38. A sudden short attack.

39. The template for protein synthesis.

40. An American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War).

42. A state of southwestern India.

45. A soft gray ductile metallic element used in alloys.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Neighbors or relatives— brothers or sisters in particular—can be subjects for concern. Vocally, you have been quiet, but now the family or some of your friends turn to you for help or advice. Now is the time to make it clear that they are the captain of their own ship and then give them your experience, they will listen. Offensive or hurt feelings are never the case when you come from the truth. You may be asked to help for a short while at a local charity this afternoon. There is a lot of laughter in this environment and you may come away with a new feeling of lightness. Your help to others is returned many times. A friend or loved one takes you out to dine at a fun place this evening. A difficult beginning has turned into quite a spirit-filled day.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22)The first thing on the agenda this morning is to clear the path to a healthier you!

A high protein diet and eating more slowly will probably be all you need as far as dieting is concerned. A more routine oriented meal time, as well as exercise, will improve your energies, as well as your body. Aesthetics and abstract thinking take precedence over emotions. Somehow you can perceive a kinship between various aspects of the universe that seemed unrelated before. Sensitivity to beauty, truth and the arts is certainly heightened. It is a good day for all sorts of thinking and that includes personal matters, as well as lending your thoughts to help another. Also, this is a perfect time to discuss your relationship with someone on an abstract level. Declare your love!

Leo (July 23-August 22) This is a superb day for any mental effort you might want to exercise. Today is a favorable day to figure out what you want to do with that hobby or that personal paperwork that you have been putting off for another time. The time has come . . . you will be pleased at how quickly it takes you to complete whatever task is before you. If you are already the most highly developed individual and have no chores or hobbies to keep you busy, perhaps you could find some form of exercise that will help you get rid of the jitters—nervousness. If you write music, today is the time to create that best selling hit! Later today you will find yourself more involved with neighbors or siblings. Communicating feelings becomes important.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) After a full morning of spirit-filled insights, you and your loved ones or friends may enjoy eating food away from home with others today. This is an excellent time for taking part in social activities with friends. A little time and a listening ear may be all that is needed to mend a misunderstanding or to gain some insight. There is a feeling of knowing things without knowing how you know them. Interaction with others can confirm or adjust your thinking. The mystical, the universal and the eternal are the things that most often stir your curiosity. This afternoon you may get into conversations surrounding current affairs and what might result in the near future. You will notice some strong support for your ideas.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Rewards are for the taking today. Someone will pay back a debt they owe you and some monetary results are prevalent in a financial investment. Finances show improvement after you see what is left in your budget. An advisor might offer positive insights about the best ways to manage your funds in the future. Preach or teach what is on your mind this afternoon. Your words contain a timely message that is good for all to hear. The romantic dreamier side of you is in full blossom. This is not the best time to engage in strenuous activity, however. Your mind is quickened, making you receptive to all external stimuli. Be diplomatic in your discussions with loved ones today. You may find yourself serving to guide someone younger than you tonight.

Mother Goose and Grimm

(October 23-November 21) Domestic tranquility is wonderful this morning but you could be looking forward to viewing some form of entertainment with your friends this afternoon. You can be truly relaxed when it comes time to take it easy with friends.

You are compassionate and giving to all around you and love to get into all sorts of conversations with these friends. There is a conscious effort to balance your response to some of the questions of others with a balance of sorts. You listen and keep your end of the conversation realistic but fun. It can be quite surprising how much you learn about someone when you ask them to tell you about one of the most memorable and positive times of their childhood. Tears of laughter may be easy to see.

Scorpio

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) The time is ripe for some sudden and unexpected changes in the normal routine of family life. It could be that a vacation is in order, a family member moves in or leaves home, or a move happens. This could also be a time where the home is used as a place other than a place to live. Others could be put off by your seriousness today but you may have lots on your mind. Some of the ideas are about creative ways to move forward in your profession. You do not want to be held back. You may have a new understanding that a small house will hold as much happiness as a big one. Try to loosen up with your love relationship this evening. Don’t be afraid to express your wants and desires. Your devotion and selflessness will reap unexpected rewards.

Yesterday’s Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You

yester

Yesterday’s Solution

to

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo

00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321

Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn

0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228

Word Sleuth Solution

have a positive thinking that will keep you going for a very long time. The end of this month and the opening days of April are times that would be more likely for you to overdo and hurry—causing the propensity for strains, sprains, breaks or colds. Go with the flow and do not try to implement changes yourself— if possible. Do not ignore your creative side, as your creativeness can give you a wonderful outlet to relieve stress. Exercise by yourself or enjoy some team sports—which will help with some stress relief. To improve your chances for advancement in the work place this next week, keep a smile on your face and a lighthearted attitude.

Everything brings out your uniqueness and you could come up with new solutions or inventions.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) This is a great day to plant flowers. Take a little trip, or get outside. You may want to break that routine and try something new or different. You may uncover answers of day-to-day problems that will be of great value later. Perhaps this is a time to think and study—you have a real appreciation for ideas and thoughts. You may find yourself enjoying long conversations, writing letters or making phone calls. This is a great time to be with friends, family, neighbors, etc. There is a chance that a new realization will dawn upon you and you will want to engage in some research to gain further information. This may mean a project or craft becomes an interest. If you are giving advice, it is because you were asked; your counsel is highly regarded.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Too many emotional involvements may have drained your enthusiasm a bit.

Look back for a moment and see how you can give yourself more credit, more time and less stress. We all learn from the difficult times and you are no exception.

You can look forward to some good accomplishments for the remainder of this month but today . . . take it easy-let go and enjoy a little down time.

There are a few things happening soon with the lineup of the planets that will begin to influence you in positive ways. You will enjoy all sorts of improvements in many areas of your life. There is a new eagerness focused on creative endeavors today—planning is good. Whatever you begin now will be successful—monetary rewards are available.

INFORMATION

Monday, March 22, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 777 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada始a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha始a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

24874330/9 CLINICS

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

4892674

Al-Omariya

4719048

N.Kheitan

4710044

Rabiya

4732263

Fintas

3900322

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi

PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554

EMERGENCY 112

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

22617700 25625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew

25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 25717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290

(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535 Dentists:

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists:

Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari

25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr

25329924

Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines

22433377 24379900 177 22477631 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK)

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044

Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia

00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965 00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389

SPECTRUM

36

Burton’s Hollywood predictions

Cheryl Cole to file for divorce C

im Burton thinks Hollywood will cannibalize 3-D technology. The director’s most recent big screen offering ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is in 3-D and although he is pleased with the results he is predicting a host of bad three dimensional movies in the coming months. He said: “It’s true that 3-D is being hyped at the moment. It was different when we started working on ‘Alice in Wonderland’ a few years ago. I’m glad I started using it early on and wasn’t forced to shoot a film in 3-D at all costs, because everyone’s doing it now.

We’re surely going to see a lot of bad 3-D films in the near future, because Hollywood cannibalizes every recipe for success. That’s how the industry works.”

Despite his concerns at 3-D being overused, Tim finds the technology thrilling. He added: “It’s a great thing when you use it as a technical tool and not as a wonder weapon.”

T

Sophie Dahl’s slim ‘betrayal’ with food has always been uncomplicated. How I view my body hasn’t been uncomplicated, but that was because my body was discussed and dissected at great length in a very public forum, when I was at a formative age. My relationship with food was never affected.” The 32-year-old beauty is preparing to launch her own TV cooking show in the UK and has already blasted criticism that she is “copying” celebrity chef Nigella Lawson. She added: “I’m not copying Nigella, not at all. There is a real compulsion in this country to put women against one another, particularly in cooking. “I don’t know why it has become some big competition. I think we have very different styles of cooking and our shows are very stylistically different.”

ophie Dahl thinks her weight loss left people feeling “betrayed”. The former supermodel - who is married to singer Jamie Cullum was famously one of the few fuller-figured faces on the catwalk but in recent years has shed the pounds, going from a size 16 to a 10, and admits she was unprepared for people’s reactions. She said: “People definitely said I had betrayed them.

Strangers felt very open to comment about it. When one is a projection of a collective thought, it’s very odd.” Despite her change in size and the scrutiny her appearance has received, Sophie insists she has never dieted extremely or had an unhealthy relationship with food.

She insisted: “My relationship

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over, she will wait six months before starting “formal proceedings”. It has been claimed she will wait until this year’s World Cup soccer tournament - which Ashley is expected to take part in, providing his broken ankle has healed has finished Another source said: “She’s going to take a few months before she starts any formal proceedings. That will be after the World Cup and it will give Ashley a bit of reprieve.”

Cheryl announced she was separating from the sportsman through twitter on February 23. At the time, her PR company tweeted: “Cheryl Cole is separating from her husband Ashley Cole. Cheryl asks the media to respect her privacy during this difficult time.” However, it has been revealed the 26-year-old star altered this statement at the last minute, in case she decided to give her marriage another go. The original draft reportedly read: “Cheryl Cole has announced the end of her marriage to Ashley Cole. Great efforts have been made to make the marriage work but they have failed.”

JLS recruit Peter Andre

Welch not under pressure

heryl Cole is set to file for divorce this week. The ‘Fight for This Love’ singer is apparently desperate to end her marriage to her soccer player spouse Ashley Cole - who has allegedly cheated on her with several other women - as soon as possible and is adamant she doesn’t want any of his money. A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “Cheryl has turned a corner and is now ready to move on.

But she doesn’t want a messy divorce - it must be as quick and as amicable as possible. “She’s not looking to profit and was never with him for his money. She doesn’t want a penny from him.

“She’s spent weeks now yo-yoing, not knowing whether to take Ashley back, but she is ready to get on with her life and realizes divorce is the only way forward.” It is believed Cheryl has met with divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton who has previously represented Britain’s Prince Charles and Sir Paul McCartney - over recent weeks. However, other reports claim that although Cheryl knows her marriage is

Monday, March 22, 2010

lorence Welch feels no pressure recording her new album.

The Florence and the Machine singer has promised her forthcoming LP will be different to her debut ‘Lungs’ because she’s got “more ground to cover” but insists she wasn’t worried about living up to the success of her first record. She said: “The new stuff I’d call kind of dancey, but it’s dark as well. “I don’t feel pressurized at all.

The live situation is similar to the record situation - I felt pressure towards the first album. The second feels like a release - I’ve got new ground to cover - whereas the first was scary. The next year is just me moving on and creating something new, a clean slate to do whatever you want - so what isn’t there to like about that?” Despite insisting she isn’t worried, the flamehaired singer is hopeful her new work will be as successful as the last album now she has simplified her production and song-writing. She added: “It needs to be more contained. With the first album, I was excited that people wanted to work with me, so I worked with as many people as possible just to see what I could come up with. It ended up like a patchwork.”

Paloma Faith struggled with reading

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aloma Faith couldn’t read properly until she was 12. The ‘Stone Cold Sober’ singer struggled to master the written word until she was in secondary school and had to do extra work with her mother to help her learn the life skill. She said: “I wasn’t really comfortable reading until I was 12. But my mum was so encouraging of my creativity. I used to present her with random pages of letters in a line - well execut-

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ed and with rainbow borders, but which didn’t mean anything - and she’d go, ‘Oh, wonderful, read it to me,’ and I would read out this story that was in my head.” However, these extra lessons quickly paid off and by the time Paloma had completed her school studies, she was achieving such high grades her local London newspaper wrote a feature on her. She explained: “I was featured in the Hackney Gazette as a high achiever!”

Dr Murray withheld info about Propofol r Conrad Murray failed to tell paramedics he had given Michael Jackson Propofol.

Documents from the official ambulance report which was filled out by medics on the June 25 last year - the day the pop star died from cardiac arrest, caused by “acute Propofol intoxication” - have been released, and state that Michael’s personal physician didn’t mention he administered the anesthetic shortly before his passing. A family friend told the News of the World newspaper: “This is the clearest suggestion yet that Murray misled the paramedics. Why didn’t he tell them about the Propofol? We are sick at what this report indicates.”

Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter over the late

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LS want to make Peter Andre their fifth member. The ‘Beat Again’ hitmakers - comprising Jonathan ‘JB’ Gill, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, and Oritse Williams - have struck up a close friendship with the Australian singer-and-presenter and are so grateful for his support, they want to offer him the chance to perform with them. JB said: “He’s so supportive of us. He’s fantastic. Even when he was really busy at the BRIT Awards and was being dragged off elsewhere, he was like, ‘Look, no, I just want to speak to the boys for a quick second.’ “ Oritse added: “He could be our fifth member!” In the meantime, the group are preparing to release

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their single ‘Everybody In Love’ in the US later this year and although they want the track to do well, the band are quick to reassure their fans they won’t be abandoning the UK. Aston said: “We would never leave the UK. More than anything, we wanna do all we can here. And emulate what Take That or Westlife have achieved.”

Marvin added: “Obviously there’s been a lot of talk and a lot of rumors. We will be releasing ‘Everybody In Love’ over there at some point in the year. It’s gonna be amazing. As artists, you want to release material all over the world and we are so lucky to be able to do that in America.”

‘Thriller’ singer’s death earlier this year. He has pleaded not guilty. The notes written by the paramedics state they quizzed Murray about which medications Michael was on.

However, Murray told them the late ‘King of Pop’ had only taken the sedative Lorazepam and fluids to rehydrate him after he complained of being exhausted following a sleepless night.

The medications stated are different from what Murray has previously told Police.

Detectives claim Murray also administered Valium, Midazolam, Flumanzenil and Propofol during the night, and tests carried out by a coroner discovered Michael’s blood also contained Lorazepam as well as other anxiety sedatives Lidocaine, Diazepam,

Nordiazepam and Midazolam, plus Ephedrine which can be used for sleep disorders and Propofol. Part of the document has been left blank, which suggest the physician failed to discuss with medics in detail about the medications Michael had taken. The documents also show how Michael had already flat-lined - a term used when there is no heart activity - before emergency services had arrived at his home. On their arrival, he was given two rounds of heart-revival drugs and was declared dead at the scene. However, Murray insisted the pop star’s body was rushed to hospital and demanded doctors tried to revive him for a third time.

This was unsuccessful and Michael passed away, aged 50. —Bang Showbiz

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Monday, March 22, 2010

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Chopin Competition

Music int’l language which bonds all peoples: Minister Kuwait: The Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Naser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the Polish ambassador to Kuwait Yanush Shvido enjoying the ceremony.

list of winners Group 1 1st prize - Wan Ru Thang 2nd prize - Lulwa Al-Shamlan and Leo Foord - Kelcey 3rd prize - Connie Yijia Zhang Chopin Prize by Ambassador to the Embassy of Poland, Janusz Szwedo - Lulwa Al Shamlan Youngest Participant Award - Hai Wei Li, Mizuho Shingai and Almaz Razif.

Distinction Award - Frances Lewelling and Hai Wei Li

Group 2

Winners of one of the categories. —Photos by Joseph Shagra KUWAIT: Music is an international language which binds all peoples of the world and expresses them, said Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at a gala here Saturday night.

Af ter sponsoring the Gala Concer t of the Winners and Awarding Ceremony of the 1st Gulf Inter national Chopin Competition, the minister told reporters the celebration of the second Chopin centennial was important, but even more important is the budding talent which finds expression in such events and finds opportunity to prosper further and secure sponsorship.

He noted the choice of Kuwait to host the celebrations in the Gulf region was “a testimony to the Kuwaiti people’s musical enthusiasm and appreciation of music and arts masters.” The competitions included performances by 49 artists, the youngest at the mere age of six, and the per for mers were from states including Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The

The year of Chopin celebrated in Kuwait

The winner Faisal Al-Behairi thanking sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad.

is an opportunity to further promote his art in the region, adding the master was a great Polish and European representative alike.

The Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia offered the concert and competition in cooperation with the Polish Embassy, with participation and performances by the Polish National Symphonic Orchestra.

First Place winner in his categor y Faisal Al-Behairi from Kuwait said the choice of Kuwait for the venue is cause for pride and a great opportunity to show the people’s sophistication and appreciation of the arts.

Al-Behairi’s First Place cowinner, a Chinese pianist, said she could sense Kuwaitis are music lovers and appreciate diversity of cultures and arts.

Fellow competitor Fatma AlHashimi from the UAE expressed hope she could improve her style and performance level to become a professional, expressing also her appreciation for the atmosphere and organization throughout the event. — KUNA

1st prize - Feixue Li and Faisal Ghazi Al-Bahaiti 2nd prize - Charlez Fernandes, Patil Zakarian and Dalal Yassawi 3rd prize - Dong Min Park and Hyuk Namkoong Chopin Prize by Ambassador to the Embassy of Poland, Janusz Szwedo - Feixiue Li and Faisal Ghazi Al-Bahairi Distinction Award - Fatima Hussain Al-Hashemi

Sheikh Nasser awarding Faisal Al-Bahairi .

The Polish Ambassador to Kuwait Yanush Shvido.

Awarding one of the winners at the ceremony. event featured a piano recital by world famous pianist Pawel Kowalski.

Frederic Francois Chopin was born in 1810 to a Polish mother and French expatriate, and is considered a master composer and vir tuoso pianist of Romantic Music, and was a child-prodigy pianist.

The master lived half his life in Warsaw before eventually moving on to Paris where he lived till 1849. He is most remembered for his success in translating Polish music forms and tunes into internationally-embraced works.

The Polish Ambassador to Kuwait Yanush Shvido said International Chopin Year (2010)

Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad and professor Cezary Owerkowicz on awarding one winner of Chopin’s competition.

One of the youngest pianists performing on stage.

The dignitaries during the ceremony.

Winners of one of the categories.

Winner of the first prize Wan Ru Thang.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Fashion

Major retrospective for fashion genius

Models of ball gowns are displayed during an exhibition dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent on March 8, 2010 at the Petit Palais (City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts) in Paris.—AFP

any young women think of Yves Saint Laurent as a brand, they know nothing about him, says Farid Chenoune, one of the curators of the first major retrospective in 27 years devoted to the fashion genius who died in 2008. One of the missions of the exhibition at the Petit Palais in Paris is to explain the designer’s importance to a whole generation of women who have taken wearing trousers for granted. One exhibit is a pants suit ordered from Saint Laurent in 1968 by the American socialite Nan Kempner. “The doorman at a New York restaurant wouldn’t let her in because the dress code barred women wearing trousers. So she calmly took off the pants and went in just wearing the jacket as a mini dress.”

The exhibition of around 300 models as well as documents and films retraces Saint Laurent’s career, spanning 40 years, from his ground-breaking first collection for Christian Dior in 1958, after the founder’s untimely death. Among the earliest works on display are his “trapeze” dresses, which did away with the underpinnings of corsetry, already a decided break with the past. He went much further in 1960, borrowing from the beatnik youth culture for his Left Bank collection. It was the first time a biker’s blouson had ever been seen on a catwalk, albeit in crocodile.

The press was scandalized.

“He was stifled by the ritu-

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Wash-and-wear hair a hot Hollywood trend W

als of a couture house. He was only 21 when he took over at Dior,” explains Chenoune. By the time he opened his own house in 1962, he had already come up with a blueprint for a modern woman’s wardrobe built round the trouser suit, the safari jacket and the reefer jacket. The show gives over a whole room to these three essentials, showing how they evolved over the years. “His concept was that women look more feminine in a male outfit.

At the same time it gives them more power and a new sensuality.”

Saint Laurent was always concerned with designing func-

Deneuve, has her own wardrobe, with a rail of dresses and rack of shoes, including her costumes from “Belle de Jour”, in which she played a bored bourgeoisie married woman who turns to part-time work in a brothel.

A room full of grand red carpet gowns and balldresses has an appropriately decadent backdrop from the ball scene in Visconti’s classic film “The Leopard”, and a whole wall is covered with variations of Saint Laurent’s signature tuxedo dresses for women. “At some point, everything he did was also used in a tuxedo dress,” Chenoune says.

Another room groups exotic influences from the Ballets Russes to China, Morocco and Africa and his homage to painters, including Mondrian, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso.

There is also the complete set of pictures from the photo shoot the designer did in the nude to launch the house’s first perfume for men, in which he tional clothes for working women, Chenoune notes, pointing to a photo of the actress Charlotte Rampling in a Prince of Wales check trouser suit with her hands thrust in her pockets.

“It’s liberating. Pockets are a man’s handbag.” Although he once said he was “bored” with dressing millionaires, Saint Laurent had his share of celebrity customers and a close inner circle of female friends, from Prince Grace of Monaco and Wallis Simpson to Paloma Picasso, Lauren Bacall, Diana Vreeland and Loulou de la Falaise.

Their clothes get a room to themselves, as does the notorious 1971 “Occupation” collection, with its bitter wartime associations of French women sleeping with Nazis. The inclu-

sion of furs for summer, as worn by prostitutes in the Bois de Boulogne, was considered particularly vulgar, as vitriolic press reports reproduced on the walls testify. But the show launched the trend for retro, vintage and kitsch, says Chenoune.

Saint Laurent’s long-time muse, the actress Catherine

comes across as a pop icon, a cross between Mick Jagger and Marilyn Monroe, erotic male beauty and the vulnerability of someone who shared his private life with the public, Chenoune says. “It was also a turning point for glasses. They suddenly became a sexy accessory.” The exhibition is open until August 29. — AFP

omen will endure straightening balms, flat irons-even semi-permanent treatments that can put your head in a cloud of chemicals and your bank account in a precarious state-all in pursuit of sleek, straight and voluminous hair.

Stylist Alli Webb is familiar with this state of affairs. For years, she operated a mobile “blow-out” service in West Los Angeles, driving to clients’ homes on a weekly basis to wash, dry and style their hair.

Webb, 35, charged her clients (many of them fellow moms from the Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades areas) $40 for her at-home hair service, less than other mobile services such as SpaGo where a wash and style started at $125. But she has since outgrown her small mobile business and two weeks ago opened Drybar, a salon in Brentwood that skips the cut and color services of a typical hair salon and gets right to the most transformative part (a wash and a blowout), which costs $35. (At the nearby Juan Juan salon, the same service starts at $40 and climbs to $60.) By West L.A. standards, the $35 price tag looks like a deal.

“Being a curly-haired girl, I totally get it,” Webb says.

“For years, I never wore curly hair. I would blow it out myself or get it done because I never felt done or finished if I didn’t. But it’s really hard to do your own hair and get all the right angles, especially

the back.”

The salon at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. has eight blowdry stations, a “bar” stocked with hair products and a light and airy space where clients can sip Champagne and watch movies while they wait their turn to be washed and dried.

Webb hopes to make the blow-out as accessible a beauty ritual as the regular mani-pedi. To that end, she

slight curl at the ends. Other menu items include a Shirley Temple, which is a preteen blow-out, and a 10-minute head and neck massage.

Webb has armed each drying station with Bio Ionic Power Light blow dryers, and bar shelves are stocked with items from Toni & Guy and Leonor Greyl. “I’m working on getting yellow blow dryers but haven’t found any yet,”

has created a “menu” of styles for her clients, who can make appointments by calling (310) 442-6084.

The Cosmopolitan gives the hair “big, loose curls, like Kate Hudson,” Webb says.

The Mai Tai is sexy beach hair a la Gisele Bundchen.

Southern Comfort incorporates full body with a lot of height at the crown. The Manhattan is for ladies who want a no-nonsense, stickstraight style. And Straight Up is as it sounds, straight but full of body and with a

Webb says, referring to Drybar’s signature accent color that pops up throughout the narrow, mostly gray-andwhite space.

Webb is quick to point out the adjustable sinks (with padded neck rests) situated in the back for shampooing. “It’s funny being a hair person, I was critical about everything,” she says.

“Neck inserts on the sinks are something I had to have so people are comfortable while getting their hair washed.” — MCT

Model Jessey Lalanecette, of Montreal, Canada, is part of a demonstration by hair stylist and owner, Alli Webb. —MCT

Monday, March 22, 2010

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39

Fashion

Manolo Blahnikʼs Liberty worry anolo Blahnik admits he’s terrified about his collaboration with Liberty’s. The shoe designer has agreed to curate the famous London store’s Christmas decorations and windows, as well as selling his Autumn/Winter collection from a pop-up

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shop there for three months. He will also be designing hats and scarves from the shop, although doesn’t like it described as a “pop-up”. He said: “I hate that word - pop-up - it’s so spitty. But it’s the first time I’ve done anything like it and I’m a bit terrified, but I’m doing it because I

love this building and I’ve been using Liberty prints forever.”

Earlier, Manolo was a guest at British royal residence Buckingham.

Palace as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hosted an event to celebrate UK fashion. Although, he is a huge fan of the

queen’s fashion sense, he says he wasn’t inspired by the palace. He told vogue.com: “I had a wonderful time. I was chatting with David Bailey non-stop.

You know what he’s like - so nasty but so funny. Everybody was thrilled to be there - the queen is just divine - she has

entirely her own personal style and nobody can change her, it would be like trying to change a saint or an icon. She is tiny but beautiful and she looks just amazing. “I can’t say I was inspired by the evening as such - to me all palaces really look the same - but of course this

one is full of the most divine paintings.

At events like this I don’t observe so much as absorb the surroundings - I was too busy having fun. It was a very relaxing, divine party. It was a great honour for me to be there.” —Bang Showbiz

Portuguese designer Fatima Lopes, center, is applauded at the end of her show during the Portugal Fashion weekend Saturday. —AP photos

Portuguese designers Storytailors, from left to right Luis Sanchez and Joao Branco, are applauded at the end of their show during the Portugal Fashion weekend Saturday, in Porto, Portugal.

www.kuwaittimes.net

Tang premieres new film after reported China ban hinese actress Tang Wei returned to the red carpet yesterday, promoting her first movie since the 2007 Ang Lee spy thriller “Lust, Caution,” a politically sensitive production that reportedly prompted officials to ban her in her home country. Lee catapulted the then-unknown Tang to stardom by casting her as a student activist who seduces a Japanese-allied Chinese intelligence chief in World War II-era Shanghai to pave way for his assassination, only to fall in love with the traitor.

With many Chinese still incensed by Japanese atrocities during the war, government censors asked Lee to edit the film to be more politically acceptable. The Oscar-winning Taiwanese filmmaker changed a line of dialogue at the end of the movie so it was more ambiguous if Tang’s character gave away the assassination plot. He also toned down explicit sex scenes.

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An Indian Muslim bride smiles as other brides pose with their hands adorned with henna art before the start of a mass wedding in Ahmedabad yesterday. Some 201 Muslim couples participated in a mass wedding organized by The Gujarat Sarvajanik Welfare Trust. —AFP

Haiti’s cultural heritage faces quake extinction rilliant colors shine through the ruins of the Cathedral de la Sainte-Trinite, fragments of wonderful murals that were the climax of Haiti’s artistic explosion 60 years ago. For gallery owner Toni Monnin, the loss of irreplaceable frescoes by the first generation of Haitian master painters is the most powerful symbol of the cultural devastation wrought by the January 12 earthquake. “There was this explosion of art in Haiti after the Second World War like nowhere else in the world,” explained Monnin, a native Texan. “It is a country of painters and artists and it is a phenomenon that exists only here in Haiti.”

In the capital Port-au-Prince, a teeming mass of humanity fights to recover from unimaginable horror, but the backdrop is a wall of paintings, vibrant colors splashing canvas and somehow masking the smell of death and loss. Haiti could lay claim to having a greater concentration of artists than any other country, but beyond them, it is the buildings, the history, the entire cultural heritage of the Caribbean nation that is at risk.

“What we have been trying to do with the minister of culture is raise awareness of the need to protect the heritage because once it is gone, it is gone,” Teeluck Bhuwanee, head of

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Chinese actress Tang Wei poses during a red carpet session at the opening of the Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong yesterday. —AP But even though the edited version of the movie was cleared for release, Chinese officials still wanted to punish Tang, ordering TV stations to pull ads featuring the actress and to stop covering her, according to news reports.

The actress did not act again until “Crossing Hennessy,” a Hong Kong-set romance that held its world premiere on Sunday, kicking off the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival. The Ivy Ho movie has been cleared for release in China.

“Coming to Hong Kong for this premiere, I can see (director) Ivy and (co-star) Andy On again. I’ve been very happy. Now I’m just excited to see the movie,” Tang told reporters.

“I will be happy if everyone can see my work,” she said. Another co-star, veteran Hong Kong actress Paw Hee-ching, said she was delighted to see Tang’s comeback.

“Everyone knows that Tang Wei is an actress of international stature, but she hasn’t been able to make any movies in the past few years. For her to see the light of day again with this movie, I’m really happy for her,” Paw said.

In “Crossing Hennessy,” Tang plays a shopkeeper who’s set up with the owner of an electric appliance store, played by Hong Kong pop legend Jacky Cheung. The Chinese actress has also been shooting “Late Autumn,” an English-language remake of the 1966 South Korean film by the same name, directed by Kim Tae-yong and costarring Hyun Bin. The Hong Kong festival, which runs until April 6, will screen 298 movies from more than 50 countries, including 24 world premieres. — AP

became Hispaniola.

Artifacts from pre-Columbian times, the era of the Taino Indians, survived the quake largely unscathed at the National Museum of Art, fortuitously located underground. But many important sites, born out of

Interior view March 18, 2010 of the destroyed Episcopal Cathedral Sainte-Trinite in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Haiti’s compelling history of slavery and revolution, were not so fortunate, and Bhuwanee fears culture has been forgotten in the government’s grand reconstruction plan.

“In Port-au-Prince, there are about 30 sites that have been identified as really in danger of total destruction or total extinction. Two of them have already been razed,” he said. The capital is a graveyard of fallen cathedrals, libraries and cultural sites. Invaluable private collections were also decimated by the quake.

Not a single line on cultureDespite the extent of the loss, the word culture is absent from the draft Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) drawn up by the government in conjunction with the international community. “We’ve been fighting to get the PDNA to include culture but when the executive summary came out, there was not a single line on culture, not a single dollar for the refoundation of culture in this country,” Bhuwanee said.

There is an urgent need to protect damaged sites, many of which have been pillaged or, like the Eglise Saint Louis Roi de France, totally razed by the bulldozers that cleared the way

Paintings are exhibited for sale at the Petion-Ville area of Port-au-Prince.

—AFP photos

the UNESCO mission in Haiti, told AFP. Recorded history dates back to 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the island-which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republicand named it La Isla Espanola, which

for the capital to function again. Haiti can lay claim, as the first black country to gain independence, in 1804, to being at the root of universal human rights and countless documents attesting to those fights and struggles may also have perished.

The country, however, has more pressing concerns-hundreds of thousands of quake survivors are still at risk, perched in camps on treacherous hillsides that could slide away into the abyss when the heavy rains come. Sam Worthington, president of InterAction, which coordinates the work of dozens of US NGOs and their almost one billion dollars of American public money, has a clear priority list.

“It is the ability of children to learn to read, it’s the ability of an individual to walk through a camp and be safe and not face violence or rape, it’s the ability of someone to be able to set up their small business and get back to their life before the quake,” he said. But he admitted that culture, too, is important. If properly marketed, Haiti’s heritage could be a tool to create jobs, to stir interest, to help get the country of almost 10 million people back on its feet again, according to Bhuwanee.

“We are saying ‘Let’s do something, let’s make culture at the root of the development of the country,’” he said. Walking the ruins of SainteTrinite, it is easy to see this as a pipe dream, but one wall symbolizes hope, stubbornly standing against all odds and signed by the last living first generation artist, 87-year old Prefete Duffaut. Monnin offered a short history. She spoke of Americans, DeWitt Peters and Selden Rodman, who discovered local talent like Hector Hyppolite, a voodoo priest who painted with chicken feathers and household paint. Rodman’s vision produced this amazing collaboration on the walls of Saint-Trinite, a work that put Haitian art on the map-soon art lovers from all over the world needed a Duffaut or a Hyppolite to grace their collections. —AFP

Shanghai’s openness offers hope to China’s gays n a shabby hall in a working-class area of Shanghai, dozens of men slow dance to a ballad, enjoying a few hours in the company of other homosexuals before going home-many to their wives. Every weekend evening, men of all ages pay seven yuan (one dollar) to waltz, rumba and be themselves-no small feat in China, where homosexuals still face crushing social and familial pressure. “If you’re gay and people find out in my hometown, everything is over,” said Leon, a 28year-old tour guide from the eastern province of Anhui who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years, is married and has a boyfriend on the side.

“But in Shanghai, there are a lot of people like us and places like this-it’s a good city for us.”

Homosexuality has long been a sensitive issue in China, where it was officially considered a mental disorder until 2001, but experts and gays say there has been marked improvement. “In the past, even in the early 2000s, gay bars in normal cities would often be subject to police interference,” said Zhang Beichuan, a Qingdao University professor and an

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expert on homosexuality. “Now the situation has changed... One can do lots of things more openly.”

Shanghai is considered by some as the ‘gay capital’ of China, boasting trendy bars, clubs and

Shanghai is considered by some as the ‘gay capital’ of China. —AFP

even sport teams such as swimming and volleyball squads for homosexuals. The city also discreetly hosted the nation’s first gay pride festival last June.

Although authorities cancelled some events, they allowed most to go ahead.

Other cities in China are also opening up. A government-backed gay bar opened in December in Dali, a tourist town in the southwestern province of Yunnan. Experts estimate there are about 30 million gays and lesbians in China-which would be just 2.3 percent of the population.

Observers concede the number could be higher as many still refuse to come out. Back at the Lailai dance hall, as couples waltz on lino flooring under flashing green and red lights and tinsel, Ma Qun sits, quietly watching.

The 75-year-old says he never married but also never dared find a boyfriend either, growing up as he did at a time when no one in the country even admitted homosexuality existed. “Now, though, there is no more pressure in my heart,” he said with a smile. —AFP

Visitors look at paintings from Andy Warhol’s series ‘Campbell’s Soup’, on March 20, 2010, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Pinacoteca Station Museum opened an exhibition of the work of US artist Andy Warhol called ‘Mr America’. —AFP