25 Mar 2010

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

40 PAGES

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010

Undeterred Israel okays more East Jerusalem building

Africa’s gorillas face bleak future

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conspiracy theories

Hats off UK!

By Badrya Darwish

I

t is unprecedented for Great Britain to expel an Israeli diplomat. Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced in parliament the expulsion of the Israeli diplomat over forging British passports which were used by Israeli Mossad agents to assassinate Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai in Jaunary. Mossad used many passports, not only British but also from Germany, Ireland and Australia. The only country that took a daring step is the United Kingdom. There is an investigation undergoing in Australia. But despite questioning in France, Ireland and Germany, no news on the subject has emerged from these countries.

Of course, the news was headlined in most of the Arab media - TV, newspapers, satellite channels and radio stations. Just switch on any TV channel and everybody is talking about how the UK expelled an Israeli. Even people on the streets and buses are excited over the issue. The Arabs are too emotional, honestly speaking. They think the UK did it for them over the Palestinian issue.

Well, I am sorry to disappoint you guys, but the UK did it for its sovereignty and dignity and to defend their interests and national security against anybody fiddling with their passports and identity.

This is the right move to do. I am sure the UK would have taken these measures regardless of which country had forged their passports. They are people who have respect for their country, authority and sovereignty. I salute them. Hats off Miliband!

Expelling diplomats happens all the time between countries for many reasons. But expel an Israeli diplomat - this is the issue. They are the untouchables.

Even powerful countries like the US cannot order or play around with Israel. Look at the recent news when US President Obama promised all kinds of solutions to the Palestinian issue which is an enigma in the Middle East between the Arabs and the US. What could he offer? Nothing.

Even the settlements he ordered Israel to remove was met with a collective shrug.

And at the beginning he didn’t even accept outposts!

His Foreign Secretary Mrs Clinton comes to the region trying her best to patch the rift between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But once she spoke at the AIPAC meet in Washington, she changed her tone 180 degrees. I do not know that if Mossad had used forged American passports, what would be Washington’s reaction? Please, Mossad, next time forge American passports! By the way, do you think if Israel had forged passports of Arab countries with which they have ties, would they have reacted? You know what, no need to forge Arab passports - Israel only has to request!

Have a nice ‘forging’ day, guys! Don’t ask me what is a forging day!

Zain approves African asset sale to Bharti KUWAIT/LONDON: Kuwaiti telecom Zain is about to sell most of its African assets to Bharti Airtel for $9 billion, finally giving the Indian buyer its much sought-after foothold in Africa’s fast-growing market. Zain said yesterday it will sign the deal in the next few days, confirming what sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters earlier. Due diligence for the deal, the second-biggest overseas acquisition by an Indian buyer after Tata Steel’s $13 billion purchase of Corus in 2007, has been completed successfully, Zain said.

Billionaire Sunil Mittal’s Bharti wants to establish a meaningful presence in Africa after two failed bids to buy South Africa’s MTN, the continent’s biggest mobile operator. Exclusive negotiations for Zain’s African assets expire today. “It’s good for Africa, it’s good for African mobile, it’s good for African consumers, and it’s good for Bharti’s shareholders also,” said Michael Kovacocy, a London-based telecoms analyst at Daiwa Securities. “Bharti’s way of operating is perfect for Africa. Many African countries have low GDP per capita. The ability to run an operation on a shoestring is a valued commodity,” he said. Bharti declined to comment. Indian markets were closed yesterday.

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RABI ALTHANI 9, 1431 AH

NO: 14678

150 FILS

US, Pakistan take bumpy road to better ties

Barcelona move clear at top after labored win

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Kuwait economy to rebound Gulf states urged to coordinate for financial stability KUWAIT: Gulf central bank chiefs began a meeting yesterday with a call for more coordination to achieve financial stability and face continued fallout from the global economic downturn. “This period necessarily requires that our attention is focused on issues related to achieving financial stability,” Kuwait Central Bank governor Sheikh Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah said in his opening speech. “Accomplishing this task is not an easy one. It involves many challenges related to practical implementation,” he said without giving details.

Sheikh Salem added that his own economy should turn around this year, forecasting Kuwaiti gross domestic product would grow by

4 to 5 percent after an expected contraction in 2009. The global downturn slashed inflation across the Gulf from 2008 record peaks with some countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar experiencing deflation last year. “Inflationary pressures have greatly declined, but this does not mean they have disappeared... This has enabled Gulf central banks to adopt measures to face the impacts of the global financial crisis” and of slow growth, he said.

Sheikh Salem said he expected Kuwait’s economy to pick up following an expected contraction of 1.5 to 2 percent in 2009, and said the worst was over for Kuwaiti banks. He said he

expected more credit growth in the coming period. “We think for 2010 GDP in Kuwait will expand by 4 to 5 percent,” he told a news conference. Asked if Kuwaiti banks would continue booking provisions in 2010, Sheikh Salem said: “This depends on the quality of the credit portfolio and will there be more defaults or not. It looks like the worst is over ... Banks are in a great condition.”

Sheikh Salem also called on supervisory and monitoring agencies in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to adopt “early-warning systems to boost their ability” to deal with financial crises in the future.

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KU WA I T: Ku w a i t ’ s C e n t r a l B a n k G o v e r n o r Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah speaks following a meeting with other GCC central bank chiefs yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Saudis bust Qaeda cells Attacks foiled as 113 militants arrested

KUWAIT: Members of a group of female police cadets give a demonstration during the graduation ceremony of the 36th promotion of police officers at the Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Security Sciences Academy yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 2)

Info minister set to survive

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Information and Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah is well set to survive a serious bid to oust him from office for the second time in three years as the National Assembly votes today on a no-confidence motion. The motion was filed

last week following a grilling in which the minister was accused of failing to apply media laws, thus putting national unity at risk. The minister had categorically denied the charges.

Opponents need 25 votes to dismiss the minister, but based on the latest calculations, the number of MPs supporting the no-confidence

motion has not changed and it remains at around 22. The 25 votes are needed regardless of how many MPs support the minister and how many abstain. Only elected MPs who are not Cabinet members are allowed to vote on the motion.

Communication Minister Mohammad Al-Busairi said Continued on Page 14

New Egypt fiction bypassing politics

CAIRO: Egyptians crowd around novels by young authors at the Cairo Book fair in this Feb 10, 2010 photo. — AP

CAIRO: For decades, Arabic fiction was associated with the name of one man: Naguib Mahfouz, winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for literature.

Nearly four years after his death, his native Egypt is experiencing an unprecedented fiction explosion from a new generation. Unlike their predecessors, the expanding group of young authors putting out a barrage of celebrated novels in recent years has grown bored with tackling big political issues. Instead, they explore the deeply personal, day-to-day life and hidden ills of society, writing candidly on taboo topics.

And they have turned to a more accessible language, peppered with Arabic pop culture and often infused with the writing styles of the Internet, building an audience among Egypt’s younger middle class. The fiction renaissance has fueled - and been fueled by - a spread of “Borders”-style bookstores, complete with cafes and reading areas, and of new prestigious Arab literary prizes. “It is amazing that this kind of fiction has gained popularity when you consider the spread and influence of religious conservatism,” said Continued on Page 14

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said it had arrested 113 Al-Qaeda militants including suicide bombers who had been planning attacks on energy facilities in the world’s top oil exporter. The interior ministry said its sweep, among the biggest in several years, netted 58 suspected Saudi militants and 52 from Yemen, which jumped to the forefront of Western security concerns after a failed December attack on a US-bound plane. The militants were backed by AlQaeda in Yemen, it added.

The 113 militants were organised into three cells, including two planning suicide attacks on oil and security facilities in the oil-producing Eastern Province, home to the world’s biggest oil refinery. “The 12 in the two cells were suicide bombers,” security affairs spokesman Mansour Al-Turki said. “We have compelling evidence against all of those arrested, that they were plotting terrorist attacks inside the kingdom.”

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in the news Abraaj water safe: MoH KUWAIT: Bottled Abraaj water is free of microbes and pollutants, the Health Ministry said yesterday. After examining samples of Abraaj bottled water at the ministry’s labs, it appeared that all samples taken are safe and show no sign of microbes or pollutants, the ministry’s undersecretary for public health affairs Dr Yousif Al-Nisf told KUNA. The samples taken from various bottle sizes match standards, he said.

Families visit jailed Iraqis KUWAIT: The families of six Iraqis jailed in Kuwait since the 1991 Gulf War have begun a three-day visit to their relatives, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said yesterday. The six men have been held in Kuwait Central Prison since a US-led international coalition ousted Iraqi troops that occupied the state for seven months. It was the second such visit of its kind. The families were allowed to speak freely with the prisoners.

Iraq-Kuwait dispute heard MONTREAL: Iraq argued before the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday that it should be allowed to take delivery of 10 Bombardier Inc aircraft it ordered nearly two years ago in a case that could have important ramifications on how embattled states do business in this country. The planes have been seized by the Canadian courts while they decide whether Kuwait Airways Corp has a legal right to claim them as repayment on a near two-decade-old debt dating back to the first Gulf War.

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NATIONAL

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Saad Al-Abdullah Academy hosts graduation ceremony

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences hosted a graduation ceremony for their 36th batch of police officers, their 21st batch of specialized police officers, and second batch of female police officers from the Support Authority Institute. The ceremony was held yesterday under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah.

The academy graduated 160 police officers, 21 specialized police officers, 15 female officers and 31 female noncommitted officers.

The graduation began with the national anthem and a citation from

the Holy Quran. Following the opening ceremony, a speech was delivered by the academy’s director general, Fahad Yousif Al-Shargawi. Graduating officers then presented the academy’s flag to their successors and recited excerpts from ministerial laws.

The ceremony featured a variety of entertaining demonstrations, performed by the new graduates. One of the events included a fast paced driving demonstration, of which three of the seven drivers were women.

Women also participated in a shooting demonstration.

The graduates then performed their oath to the country and were awarded certificates from His Highness the Amir. The event con-

cluded when HH the Amir and HH the Crown Prince were presented with the academy’s shield.

The Amir was received by the Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Lt Gen Jaber Khalid Jaber Al-Sabah, Undersecretary Lt Gen Ahmad Abdullatif Al-Rujaib, Assistant Undersecretary for Education and Training Affairs, Maj Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad and the academy’s Director General.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi, Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Sheikh Mishaal AlAhmad Al-Sabah also attended the ceremony.

KUWAIT: HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and other dignitaries pictured during the ceremony.

KUWAIT: One of the female police officers honored by HH the Amir.

KUWAIT: Female police officers during the musical show.

KUWAIT: An officer of the 36th batch handing his successors the academy’s flag.

KUWAIT: Female police officers during the shooting show of the special forces.

KUWAIT: Graduate Lt Ibrahim Al-Abduljaleel graduated in eighth place among the batch of 36 new police officers. — KUNA photos

Court overrules minister on ‘forcible retirement’ KUWAIT: The High Court has overruled Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad Al-Afasi’s decision to force the Director General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Dr. Fouad Al-Falah to accept compulsory retirement, meaning that he will remain in the post.

“I never lost faith in the Kuwaiti judicial system overruling injustice and returning rights back to citizens,” said AlFalah following the court’s ruling. He added that he would be

meeting shortly with his lawyers to decide on his next steps.

The cabinet is expected to appeal against the court’s ruling, which puts the government in a critical situation, reported Al-Watan.

Meanwhile, the Court of Cassation found the chairman of Fahaheel Sports Club Walid Al-Fulaij and his deputy Khalid Al-Saree’a not guilty on charges of forging the records of managerial board statements.

local spotlight

Discrimination-free ad B y M u n a A l - Fu z a i

D

o you think TV advertisements reflect societal trends and values? I think so. I have seen many advertisements on TV that have made me feel sick. They do not reflect people’s basic needs in anyway. They promote the use of creams, shampoos without a cause. In fact, sometimes because of the large number of advertisements that rule the airspace on television, all the products showcased look similar.

However, last week, one advertisement was aired on local TV and it really caught my attention because of its rarity. It was also not discriminatory in nature. It did not ridicule other nationalities like Indians, Egyptians and exaggerate their ignorance and lack of awareness about this cream or that soup. Surprisingly, it did not portray us Kuwaitis as the best in the universe!

We Kuwaitis are not any less human than the others. That is why when an advertisement that has a far reaching effect not only on locals but on residents regardless of their nationalities, age or gender. I would call this the advertisement of the year.

A recent TV adver tisement was aired on Mother’s Day. In it, many children and young people, men and women, were seen making gestures and words to express love to mothers.

Each of them said the word, ‘love you mama’ in their respective native languages.

There were no forced attempts to convey the message in Kuwaiti accents.

The whole idea was to spread the word to mothers on Mother’s Day. That is all. In the end, one man was shown sending a flying kiss to his mother. It was sweet, simple and classy. I believe that the advertisement was simple, creative, and genuine. It was free of any discriminatory connotation which I think is really something rare in the media.

I believe that the advertisements have the power to deliver the right message about society and its values.

The love and respect shown to mothers including the family is commendable even if undertaken by a telecommunication company, to encourage its users to place a call to their mothers on Mother’s Day. I really wish more companies who do the same and try to be more creative about the causes they want to address.

At least that would justify the tariff rates they charge. Well done, VIVA. m u n a @ ku w a i t t i m e s . n e t

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Labor Law Chapter Five Collective Work Relation Section One Workers, Employers, Organizations and Syndicate Right Article (98) The right to establish unions for employers and the right to syndicate organization for workers is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of this Law. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to workers in the private sector. They shall also apply to the workers in the public and oil sectors to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of other laws regulating their affairs.

Article (99) Kuwaiti workers shall have the right to form syndicates to protect their interests, improve their financial and social conditions, and represent them in all affairs related to them. Employers shall also have the right to form unions for the same purposes.

Article (100) The procedures that shall be implemented for the establishment of the organization are as follows: 1- The employees who wish to establish a syndicate or employers who wish to establish a union shall meet in their capacity as constituent general assembly pursuant to a notice that shall be published in at least two daily newspapers at least two weeks before the date of the general assembly meeting. The announcement shall state the location, time and objectives of the meeting.

2- The general assembly shall approve of the organization’s articles of association and may, in doing so be guided by the model by-law issued by a resolution of the Minister.

3- The constituent assembly shall elect the board of directors in accordance with the provisions of its articles of association.

Article (101) The articles of association of the organization shall specify the objectives and goals for which it has been established, the conditions of membership, rights and duties of members, subscriptions to be collected from members, and the responsibilities and powers of the ordinary and extraordinary general assembly. The articles of association shall also specify the number of the board of directors members, conditions and duration of membership, the board’s responsibilities and powers, regulations relevant to the budget, procedures for amending the articles of association, procedure for liquidation, records and books that shall be kept by the organization and bases of self-auditing.

Article (102) The elected board of directors shall submit to the Ministry all papers relevant to the establishment of the organization within fifteen days after election thereof.

The body corporate shall be deemed to exist from the date of issue of a resolution of the Minister approving the establishment of the organization following the submittal of the required papers or documents to the Minister.

The Ministry shall have the right to guide and instruct the organization with regard to the correction of the procedures of establishment and completion of the necessary papers before its announcement. In the event where the Ministry fails to respond within 15 days after the submittal of the papers, the body corporate of the organization shall be

Reception marks Pakistan’s National Day KUWAIT: The Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kuwait, Sajjad Ahmad Sahar hosted a reception at the Hilton Hotel Kuwait on Tuesday evening to celebrate Pakistan’s National Day. The ambassadors of Nepal, Korea, Sudan, Bosnia, Canada, Japan, Burma and diplomats from many other countries attended in the reception, at which the Chargé d’Affaires, along with other Pakistani embassy officials, received the honorable guests.

Prominent members of Kuwait’s expatriate Pakistani community, including Hafiz Mohammad Shabir, Mohammad Arif Butt, Atiq Adnan, Mian Mohammad Arshad, Jahan Zaib Khan, Liaquit Ali Shahid, Ihtasham Allah Dit and many others attended the event.

deemed to exist by the force of law.

Article (103) Workers, employers and organizations shall, upon acquiring all rights stated in the Chapter, abide by all applicable laws like all other organizations. They shall also carry on their activities within the limits of their objectives stated in the articles of association.

Article (104) The Ministry shall guide the syndicates and employers unions in implementing the law, keeping records and financial books relevant to each, and remedying any shortage in data or records.

The syndicates shall not: 1- Engage in political, religious and sectarian matters.

2- Invest money in financial, real-estate speculations, or other forms of speculations.

3- Accept gifts and donations without the approval of the Ministry.

Article (105) The syndicates may open restaurants and cafeterias for the workers at the establishment after obtaining the approval of employers and concerned authorities.

Article (106) Syndicates registered in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall have the right to form unions to protect their common interests. Unions registered in accordance with the provisions of this Law shall have the right to form one general union provided that there shall not be more than one general union for each of the workers and the employers. The establishment of unions and the general union shall be subject to the same regulations governing the establishment of syndicates.

Article (107) Unions, general unions and syndicates shall have the right to join Arab and international unions of similar interests. The Ministry shall be notified of the date of joining, and in all cases this shall not be considered a violation of the general order or the public interest of the State.

Article (108) Workers and employers organizations may be voluntarily dissolved by a resolution of the general assembly in accordance with the organization’s articles of association. The fate of the association financial assets shall be determined after its liquidation in accordance with the resolution issued by the general assembly in case of the voluntary dissolution.

The organization’s board of directors may be dismissed by the lodging of a case by the Ministry before the Court of First Instance that rules for the dismissal of the board in the event where it engages in an activity that violates the provisions of this Law or the laws relevant to the preservation of public order and morals. The verdict of the court may be appealed against before the Court of Appeal within 30 days after the rendering thereof.

Article (109) Employers shall submit to workers all resolutions and by-laws related to their rights and duties.

Article (110) The employer may delegate one or several members of the syndicate or union board of the directors to follow-up the affairs of the syndicate with the employer or the competent government authorities.

NATIONAL

3 A violation of rights?

Expat workers not allowed to form labor unions

By Ben Garcia

ers. By definition, a syndicate organization is an association of people or firms authorized to undertake a duty or transaction on a specific business. Experts believe that a syndicate organization’s rights are far different from the ones exercised by labor unions. A short definition of the term ‘labor union’ by an English dictionary states that it is an organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve working conditions.

KUWAIT: Citizens and expatriates are not yet allowed to form their own workers’ organizations or labor unions in Kuwait. However, according to the new labor law, employers have been granted the right to organize. Kuwaiti workers are only allowed to form a syndicate organization, which is not applicable to expatriate workIftikar, a worker from association that can help them read the provisions stipulated in Pakistan, said that the new law’s express their own rights not only the Chapter Five, Section One of stance is clearly pro-employers as workers but also as human the labor law. “We badly need and pro-Kuwaitis, especially in beings. Chapter Five, Section unions in Kuwait to protect us. terms of forming organizations One, Article 99 states: “Kuwaiti The problem here is that nobody or unions. “This is of course a workers shall have the right to listens to one or two complaints clear violation of our rights as form syndicates to protect their only. They would be alarmed if expatriates. As if we are not a interests, improve their financial the union pushes for workers’ part and will not be affected by and social conditions, and repre- rights. If you are alone or maybe whatever decisions are made in sent them in all affairs related to comprise a group of five people, I don’t think, the company will the company. The law is very them.”

The abovementioned para- bother to listen to your demands. selective; the law pertaining to labor unions discriminates expa- graph, according to some law They can easily replace you with triates against local workers,” he experts, appears to have been the caliber of worker anyway. So made deliberately, with foreign why bother to listen to your comsaid.

Iftikar explained that expat workers’ rights overlooked with plaints? I believe the new law is workers are often victims of the aim of catering to Kuwaiti- biased towards the employer and is not very beneficial to the forinjustice or unfair treatment at only rights.

Hamoud, a bedoon worker, eign workers,” he said. many workplaces in Kuwait.

The procedures that should be They are barred from forming an said that he was disappointed to

observed to establish the organization are as follows: 1) The employees who wish to establish a syndicate or employers who wish to establish a union shall meet in their capacity as constituent general assembly pursuant to a notice that shall be published in at least two daily newspapers at least two weeks before the date of the general assembly meeting.

The announcement shall state the location, time and objectives of the meeting.

2) The general assembly shall approve of the organization’s articles of association and may, in doing so be guided by the model by-law issued by a resolu-

tion of the Minister.

3) The constituent assembly shall elect the board of directors in accordance with the provisions of its articles of association. Furthermore, Article 101 demands specific objectives and goals for the organization they want to form. The organizations that will be formed as well are not allowed to engage in political, religious and sectarian matters. They are also prevented from investing money in financial, real-estate speculations, or other forms of money matter talk. They should not accept gifts and donations without the approval of the Ministry as well.

Trade watchdog warns Kuwait on toxic ships KUWAIT: The Basel Action Network (BAN), a toxic trade watchdog and member organization of the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, warned the Government of Kuwait recently that three Kuwaiti flagged ships called the Al-Awdah, Al-Tahreer and Al-Shuhadaa would soon be exported from Kuwait destined for the shipbreaking beaches of South Asia in contravention of the United Nations Basel Convention.

Industry insiders now report these ships have been sold for scrap to known cash buyers for a total $35 million. The Government of Kuwait has taken no apparent action to block this sale and the impending illegal export of these vessels; in doing so, they neglect to uphold their commitment to the Basel Convention. The government’s inaction may be attributed to a conflict of interest, as the Government of Kuwait is the beneficiary of this sale. These vessels were owned and sold by Kuwait Oil Tanker Co SAK, a subsidiary of the government owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.

These ships are suspected of containing high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos and other hazardous wastes within their construction.

Exporting these vessels for scrapping in South Asia would be a violation of the Basel Convention, which controls the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, such as PCBs and asbestos and their disposal.

KUWAIT: Expatriate laborers waiting to be medically examined before going further with their residency visa procedures this week. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

NATIONAL

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Arrest near Failaka Island

Iranian duo in police net with 35 kilos of drugs

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two Iranians were arrested near Failaka Island. The duo were

nabbed while trying to smuggle the contraband into the country in a boat. 35 kilograms of drugs were found concealed in the vessel, and were recovered

by Coast Guard officers. The suspects were referred to concerned authorities.

Burning cable wires

KUWAIT: Rashid Al-Tabtabae trying one of the oriental incenses.

Taking follow up measures on the recent Amghra scrap yard blaze incident, investigators learnt that the fire was caused by burning cable wires.

Some suspects were arrested based on preliminary investigations that were conducted. The suspects, reportedly, brought stolen electric cable wires with them, and burned them to strip the outer insulation covering.

The suspects are being interrogated by concerned authorities.

Two drunks arrested A 32-year-old Kuwaiti man was arrested on suspicion of drunkenness in Ferdous, while a 25-year-old compatriot was arrested on the same charge near the Wafra Bridge.

Illegal foundries

KUWAIT: Al-Tabtabae on a tour at the exhibition. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Perfume exhibition opens

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Kuwait International Fair Company (KIFCO) yesterday launched the first of this year’s International Perfumes and Cosmetics Exhibitions in Halls 5, 6 and 7 of the International Fairground.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry Undersecretary Rashid Al-Tabtabae inaugurated the event, which will last until April 4.

KIFCO has been hosting the

International Perfumes and Cosmetics Exhibition for over 25 years now, said Al-Tabtabae in his inaugural speech, adding, “The exhibition’s long history signifies the importance and success of the event, which is always visited by thousands of people. Since last year we’ve started to hold it in three halls instead of two due to the great demand at this exhibition.”

A total of 121 specialist perfume and cosmetic firms are participating in the prestigious event this year, including local

and international companies.

“The huge number of companies participating reflects the exhibition’s success,” said AlTabtabae. “There are also participants from outside Kuwait taking part, including firms from Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and others. The fact that the exhibition is held twice a year demonstrates that it’s one of the most successful exhibitions held here.” The exhibition will be open daily to the public from 9:30 am - 1:00pm, and from 4:30 pm — 9:30 pm.

The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Electricity and Water started a campaign in the Amghara scrap yard. The campaign began after authorities discovered a number of garages in the area specializing in melting copper, reported Al-Anba. Almost 80 tons of copper were found and a number of expats working in those garages were arrested. Authorities discovered that the illegal activity was not limited to the garages only. After interrogations, some of the laborers led police to underground storage facilities where the melted copper was being stored. The owners of the garages confessed that they intended to sell the copper abroad.

Missing girl A

44-year-old

citizen

KUWAIT: The place where the drugs were hidden. —Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun informed police in Abu Hlaifa that his daughter ran away from home three days ago, reported Al-Jarida. He added that his European wife was responsible for the incident. He had a dispute with his daughter and her mother convinced her to leave the home to avoid a beating, he explained. He decided to contact authorities when she failed to return home.

Road accidents A 25-year-old Kuwaiti man was taken to Mubarak Hospital after suffering a broken left ankle in a motorcycle accident in Massila.

In a similar incident, a 27year-old Egyptian man sustained a broken right arm in a motorbike crash in Shuwaikh.

He was taken to Sabah Hospital.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Bedoon (stateless) man was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after sustaining multiple fractures in a car crash at the junction between Ferdous and Sabah Al-Nasser.

In a separate incident, two Bangladeshi men, along with a Kuwaiti, an Egyptian, an Asian and a Bedoon, were injured in a collision at the junction

between Ishbeilya and Rehab.

Elsewhere, a 63-year-old Syrian man was taken to Sabah Hospital after suffering head and hand injuries when he was hit by a car in Shuwaikh.

In another incident, a 28year-old Pakistani man suffered extensive bruising in a car accident in the Jaber Al-Ahmed area. He was taken to Jahra Hospital.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

NATIONAL

5

Borissov holds talks with Amir

Kuwait, Bulgaria agree on direct airline service KUWAIT: A direct airline route should shortly connect Kuwait and Bulgaria, with reports indicating that a direct airline service agreement was set to be signed late yesterday evening. Speaking to reporters yesterday during his one-day official visit to Kuwait, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said that the Bulgarian side expected to sign the Borissov said that the Kuwaiti government has expressed its eagerness to work with Bulgaria’s government, adding that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah had personally voiced his support for developing the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Earlier yesterday, HH the Amir received HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah and Borissov. The reception was attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem AlKhorafi, and Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also met yesterday with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, with the two senior officials discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations, as well as talking about the latest developments in regional issues.

Borissov also met with the National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi at a meeting attended by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah and Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bulgaria Faisal Mutlaq Al-Adwani, along with the deputy head of the Foreign Minister’s office Saleh Salem Al-Loughani. (Material from KUNA was used in this report)

in the news KJA amendments KUWAIT: The board of Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) will be convened to hold a general assembly meeting shortly. The aim behind organizing the meeting is to enforce substantial amendments to the KJA’s regulations. The announcement was made by the KJA’s Secretary, Faisal Al-Qanaei. He said that the financial and administrative reports of the General Assembly were adopted. As per the new amendments, new conditions for candidacy will be applied, including raising the minimum age of candidacy to the KJA board to 30 years. This is in addition to having held membership with the association for at least five years before they are nominated for board membership, reported AlQabas. The amendments also contain provisions to increase the number of board members from seven to nine. A new clause was included to accept the membership of television reporters into the organization.

Taxation plan

KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti astronomer, scientist and historian, Adel Al-Saadoun, has photographed more than 200 species of wild plants in the national desert. He said that he has been photographing, cataloging and classifying the plant species since 35 years ago, as a hobby. He added that he started the hobby in 1975, when he joined Ahmadi Society for Land Plants. The desert land in Kuwait blooms in spring time with a variety of plants, flowers and shrubs. —Photos by KUNA

Money laundering suspect’s brother ‘a military officer’ KUWAIT: There have been new revelations in the Bahraini money laundering case, which have seen a Kuwaiti woman accused of involvement in the controversial operation which apparently laundered money on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Bahraini minister Mansour bin Rajab has already been forced to resign over his involvement in the case, with suspicion now falling on the accused Kuwaiti woman’s brother, a military officer with the Ministry of Interior (MoI), as well as a bedoon (stateless) employee in his private firm.

Bahraini investigators have also accused several prominent GCC and Iraqi nationals linked to the case of involvement in a number of illicit activities alongside their commercial enterprises, including oil and weapons smuggling.

Meanwhile, the accused

woman, who works as a teacher at a Kuwaiti school, has reportedly continued to protest her innocence of money laundering and denied having any connection with the IRG. She has apparently told detectives questioning her that she travelled to Bahrain on business, meeting with the disgraced former minister twice, once to offer condolences on the death of his son and on the other occasion in connection with a business project to open a billiards hall there. She claimed that she had given the former minister KD 60,000 for the license for the venue, adding that he had requested an additional KD 300,000 for carrying out other official transactions necessary to launch the business.

Investigations have also revealed that the woman and a Bahraini male associate had cashed cheques for other individuals.

KUWAIT: The Cabinet plans to follow three main methods in a bid to increase revenue from non-oil sources to touch KD 4.2 billion.

This may account for at least 30 percent of the revenue generated.

It plans to introduce taxation, and amendments to the law that governs fees collected from public facilities and services, and ban double taxation. This plan, charted out by the Finance Minister, Mustafa Al-Shamali, was approved by the Cabinet, that further asserted placing a more comprehensive monitoring system to protect public funds, reported Al-Watan.

This is in addition to unifying the legislative aspects of governmental expenditure.

agreement for a direct airline service later in the day. “Tonight we will sign the agreement for direct flights between the two countries,” said the Bulgarian premier, explaining that the Kuwaiti side had expressed interest in Bulgaria’s tourism and farming sectors, as well as in investment in the Cherno More motorway.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receiving the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov yesterday. —KUNA

Co-ops plan to form NA liaison panel KUWAIT: The Kuwait Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies (KUCCS) is to form a committee which will liaise regularly with the parliamentary health committee to discuss issues of common interest.

The KUCCS members voted in favor of establishing the new committee at a recent

meeting of Co-op heads at the union’s headquarters.

During the meeting, the members put the final touches to the proposed amendments to the laws governing the Coops management and regulation, with 27 of the chairmen approving them to date.

Mohammed Al-Jabri, the

chairman of the Khaitan Coop, revealed after the meeting that the members had decided to form the new committee in order to achieve better coordination between the KUCCS and the parliament following some KUCCS members’ rejection of several clauses in the new bill, princi-

pally those proposing limiting the number of board members on Co-op management boards. The Co-op heads have agreed to other clauses in the bill, however, such as the one concerning increasing the minimum age for Coop management board membership to 30.

6

NATIONAL

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Sponsor follows gang

Kidnappers abandon two maids in Salwa KUWAIT: Four kidnappers abducted two maids in Maseelah and released them in a location in Salwa after being pursued by the maids’ sponsor and police. The sponsor followed the kidnapper after witnessing the incident and called authorities, reported Al-Rai. The kidnappers noticed that they were being followed and abandoned the maids in an attempt to evade arrest. The maids then called their sponsor from a nearby store and gave him the license plate number of the kidnapper’s vehicle so that it could be provided to police. Police are still searching for the kidnappers.

Hoax Call A prank caller informed police that a bomb was placed in a girls school in Sulaibiyah, reported Al-Watan. Police, bomb squads, firefighters and rescue teams responded to the emergency and evacuated the premises. No explosives were found in the facility and a case was opened. The caller has not yet been identified and a number of suspected students are being questioned by authorities.

AUK undergrads to travel to Milan KUWAIT: Thirty undergraduate students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) are travelling to Milan, April 7-16 to ESCP Europe Campus Torino, a ‘Top 10 Business School’ in Europe.

Prof Jeremy Cripps, one of the leaders of the program at AUK, said yesterday that this educational visit would “furnish students with practical experi-

ence of working at several multi-national enterprises.”

The professor of accounting and management at the AUK’s Business and Economics Division added that the students’ practical understanding of human capital management would be enhanced with a visit to the International Labor Organization (ILO) training center.

Marketing and public relations in Italy will be seen at Radio 105, a national radio station, he added.

Prof Cripps noted that during the visit, the students would also have time to enhance “critical thinking skills” with cultural visits to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle, a major Italia fashion house, Teatro alla Scala, and the Duomo cathedral. Tickets

have also been obtained for the students to see the famous “Last Supper.”

“The study abroad offers students the opportunity to consider how the implementation of business theories studied in Kuwait are put into practice in Italy,” he concluded.

The study abroad is led by Dr Athmar Al-Salem and Prof Cripps. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Gulf Bank soccer team, a participant in the Kuwait Banks Club (KBC) Football League, will hold a training camp at the Radisson SAS Hotel between March 25 and 27. This is in preparation for the final match. The Gulf Bank CEO, Ali Al-Badr, praised the team for the display of high level of cooperation during their participation, and the achievements that they have garnered. Fawzi AlThunaiyan, Head of the CEO Affairs at the bank, acknowledged the role played by the bank in holding competitions for staff members of the banking sector.

Kuwait pioneer in serving disabled KUWAIT: Kuwait is a pioneer in serving people with disabilities and helping them mingle with society members, Higher Council for the Disabled said yesterday.

Endorsing the law associated with preserving disabled rights to health care, education and career is a historic accomplishment of Kuwait, council’s official Issam Haidar said on the sidelines of hold-

ing the fifth Gulf Week for the Disabled in Kuwait.

It alleviated the suffering of disabled nationals and expatriates through granting them and their families privileges and services that attain to their needs such as social insurance and providing them with rehabilitation, health care and educational centers, he said.

As for the number of those with disabilities, Haidar said that it was 30,000, adding that the council established in 1996 and of which grouped the Ministry of Social Affairs, public and private affiliated bodies provided care for all age groups.

The council provides those disabled and their families with financial and social support needed.— KUNA

205 houses in new city project distributed KUWAIT: Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) distributed here yesterday around 205 government housing units located at the Sabah Al-Ahmad City project.

The distribution was based on 600 square-meters for every housing units, said PAHW. Sabah Al-Ahmad City is located in Al-Ahmadi governorate 50 Kilometers south of Kuwait City. The area is approximately 35,000,000 square meters. The city is expected to inhibit no less than 9,000 housing units to the Kuwaitis who are entitled for the housing welfare in addition to the required daily living activities.

The city will include activities for investors such as apartments, commercial, health, sports, tourism, educational, stores, handicraftsman, and technology village in addition to the commercial malls and hotels. The city will be surrounded by a ring-road that will add an advantage of ease of transportation and will connect the city with out-side roads of Kuwait. — KUNA

Overdose A 28-year-old Saudi was hospitalized after overdosing on drugs and losing consciousness, reported Al-Watan. A passerby found the man passed out in his car in Omariya, and called for help. Paramedics responded to the emergency and brought him to a nearby hospital when they discovered that he was still breathing. Further reports indicated that his medical condition stabilized and a case was opened against him.

Drunks arrested Police arrested four Asian men for harassing pedestrians in Jeleeb Al-

in the news New workshop KUWAIT: A recent workshop conducted on the country’s middle class focused on implementing the suggestions made during the event. It was organized by the Kuwait Society for Engineers as per an initiative undertaken by the Nuria Al-Sadani Group for the Middle Class. During the workshop, Abdullah Al-Otaibi spoke about the recommendations made by professionals that focused on enacting the program that markets local projects and popularizes them. This is in addition to fully utilizing national manpower capabilities, as well as workers in the private sector by increasing their levels of professionalism, while placing regulations that help maintain job security. The recommendations also included proposals to establish national shareholding companies that run medical-related work, in addition to providing training courses to improve the performance of the country’s health care professional, reported Al-Qabas.

Furthermore, the workshop demonstrated the necessity of establishing a Supreme Council of Education, comprising highly qualified members. This is in addition to enforcing laws that protect teachers and classify the profession under the ‘difficult job’ category.

Shuyoukh while under the influence of alcohol. They were taken to the proper authorities. Similarly, seven intoxicated citizens were arrested at the Al-Ahmadi market where they were harassing shoppers, reported Al-Watan.

Drug smuggling A citizen was arrested while returning home from an Arab country in the Kuwait International Airport for being in possession of an amount of hashish. Customs officials decided to personally search the man after he raised suspicions. They located three bars of hashish hidden in secret places amongst his luggage. He confessed of bringing the drugs for personal use and was taken to the proper authorities.

Falling incident A 24-year-old Syrian suffered spinal fractures and a broken right ankle after falling from the first floor of a building in Salmiya.

Paramedics brought the injured man to Mubarak Hospital, reported Al-Watan.

Inmate dies An inmate being held for deportation

died as a result of a circulatory failure while inside his cell, reported Al-Rai. The Arab man was imprisoned for 20 days for attempted theft and was expected to be deported.

Thief nabbed Hawally police arrested a thief responsible for 20 thefts around South Surra, reported Al-Rai. After receiving several reports of theft in the area, investigations were launched in pursuit of the thief. The thief was eventually caught trying to break into a car and was placed under arrest. When questioned, he admitted to being responsible for the previous offenses.

Fatal accident A 26-year-old citizen was killed in an accident on Gulf Road, reported AlJareedah. The man was killed after a speeding car struck his motorcycle from behind.

The car driver placed an emergency call and paramedics responded to the incident. After pronouncing the motorcyclist dead, police arrested the driver and held him at the Rumaithiya police station for further investigation.

Kuwait calls for concerted efforts to eliminate racism GENEVA: Kuwait assured yesterday the need for concerted international efforts to eliminate racism and racial discrimination according to the Islamic tenets and the relevant international covenants.

Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, third secretary of the Permanent Mission of Kuwait to the United Nations in Geneva said in his speech to the Human Rights Council session that his country “engaged the world community at effecting the rejection of any abuse of religions and their symbols,” referring to the Kuwaiti efforts, assistance and programs at the international level “to achieve the concepts and principles of moderation, tolerance, rejecting extremism and discrimination.”

In this regard, the Kuwaiti diplomat stressed

during the discussion on the ninth of the Council’s agenda on racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, “the need to commit to promote and fund programs that supports the culture of tolerance and understanding through dialogue as a framework for international relations.

These could be realized through public opinion makers, conferences, seminars and the development of cultural programs, educational and public information.”

Kuwait indicated that “If the States bear the greatest responsibility to develop policies against racial discrimination in all its forms, these efforts cannot achieve tangible results without the contribution of the clergy, intellectuals and civil society organizations in the dissemination of the ideology of the anti-racist.” — KUNA

Incompetent staff KUWAIT: Communications minister Mohammad Al-Busairi has stated that any Ministry of Communications (MoC) officials who fail to perform their duties in carrying out the development projects will be held responsible for obstructing the development process and dismissed from their posts. Al-Busairi is scheduled to meet with senior ministry officials next week to discuss the development plan and outline each of the department’s duties in implementing it. The department heads are expected to present details of the projects which their respective departments will be working on, along with plans for their implementation. AlBusairi has made it clear that he is keen to see the ministry get to work on practically implementing its development plans, reported Al-Watan. He also announced that the MoC is working on establishing a strategy to facilitate communication between ministry officials and the media, to ensure the highest levels of transparency regarding the ministry’s work.

Jahra pollution KUWAIT: A former member of the parliament urged the head of the Supreme Council of Environment, first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, to encourage Environmental Public Authority officials to conduct field tours around the Jahra Governorate to view the environmental problems there. In his press release, Mohammad AlKhalifa explained that serious levels of pollution have spread to several areas of the governorate, reported Al-Qabas. He specifically mentioned the Ali Sabah AlSalem and the Saad Al-Abdullah areas because of their closeness to factories and the Amghara scrap yard.

Al-Tijari sponsors appreciation night for corporate customers KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (AlTijari) sponsored the yearly event held at Arraya Ballroom organized by the Marriott Kuwait Hotel for their corporate customers in appreciation for their business through 2009. Various executive managers from top Kuwaiti companies attended the event giving the opportunity for the many of the guests to socialize.

While Al-Tijari was a main sponsor of the event many guests were given the opportunity to socialize with the staff enquiring about various products and promotions held by Al-Tijari, including the discount program and new salary package that proved very intriguing to many.

As the ceremony continued, awards were given to the top corporate customers at the

Marriott Courtyard and the JW Marriott, and the Commercial Bank of Kuwait was also awarded with an appreciation shield for their sponsorship of the event. The Commercial Bank of Kuwait was represented by Yaser Behbehani, Shatha Mansour and Ramzi Sabboury along with other staff members from the Retail Banking Division of the Bank.

Al-Tijari continues to support customers, both individuals and corporate through sponsoring similar events that included various cultures of executive managers from various companies. It is also an opportunity to build relationships with current and potential customers and increase awareness.

It was also added that CBK has a profound partnership with Marriott, and one of CBK’s aims is to be supportive of their partner’s activities.

INTERNATIONAL

Thursday, March 25, 2010

7

Saudi: Israel’s arrogance challenges the world RIYADH: Saudi Arabia yesterday condemned Israel’s “arrogant” policies of building settlements in east Jerusalem, saying they violated the rights of Arabs and Muslims and cast doubt on its seriousness in peace negotiations. In a strongly worded statement carried by the official news agency, a government official asked the Quartet sponsoring peace talks, consisting the US , EU, Russia and the UN, to take Israel to task for its recent

announcements to expand Jewish housing in east Jerusalem. “Saudi Arabia is looking for explanations from the international Quartet for these arrogant Israeli policies and the insistence on challenging the international community,” the official said.

“These comments cast doubt on the peace process and the seriousness of the international efforts to re-launch negotiations.” Palestinians want east Jerusalem,

annexed by Israel in 1967, as their future capital and see new settlement construction as land grabs. Israel insists the city cannot be divided and says it has the right to build anywhere.

The statement criticized Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for saying during his trip to Washington that settlement construction in Jerusalem would not be halted. He said Israel does not consider Jewish neighborhoods in east

Jerusalem to be settlements. About 180,000 Israelis live there.

“The kingdom strongly condemns the statements by the prime minister of the Israeli occupation in which he denied the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims in holy Jerusalem, without the slightest consideration for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, especially in occupied holy Jerusalem, or for the international efforts to relaunch peace process,” the

statement said. Netanyahu’s comments came during a spat between the US and Israel over its settlement construction as Washington is pressing to restart peace talks.

Israeli officials announced the construction of 1,600 new apartments in east Jerusalem during the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden to Israel. The Saudi statement said the timing was “surprising and astonishing.” Yesterday, Israel’s

Jerusalem municipality approved 20 new apartments for Jews on land bought by an American Jewish millionaire in an Arab neighborhood of east Jerusalem while Netanyahu is in Washington on a fencemending visit.

Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, had initially backed efforts to start indirect US -mediated talks, but there has been widespread outrage over the announcements of new construction.—AP

Six soldiers among 10 killed in Iraq attacks 17 suspects detained BAGHDAD: A series of attacks across Iraq killed at least 10 people yesterday, including six soldiers and one policeman, security officials said. In the deadliest attack, insurgents killed five Iraqi soldiers at a military checkpoint

RAMALLAH: In this photo taken March 11, 2010, Palestinians hold posters with a picture of Palestinian militant Dalal Mughrabi during a protest in the West Bank city of Ramallah. —AP

Dead Palestinian militant clouds peace efforts RAMALLAH: A Palestinian plan to rename a major square after a female militant who killed dozens of civilians in a notorious 1978 bus hijacking in Israel has turned into a new stumbling block for relaunching Mideast peace talks. Israeli officials, under fire from the US for hindering the negotiations with their Jerusalem settlement plans, are denouncing the move as pure incitement. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has also said the idea could sour the atmosphere.

For Palestinians, Dalal Mughrabi is a national hero in the long struggle to form their own state, and buildings and streets in the West Bank already bear her name. The uproar, however, could deny them the moral high ground at a time Israel is coming under increasing pressure over Jewish settlements.

Three decades after her death, Mughrabi continues to cast a long shadow over the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. On March 11, 1978, she led a squad of militants who sailed from Lebanon in rubber boats, landed on an Israeli beach and killed an American photographer. They proceeded to seize two buses, going on a rampage that killed 37 Israelis, including 13 children, according to Israeli figures. Mughrabi, who was 19, was killed. It remains the deadliest militant attack in Israeli history. Earlier this month, officials in the Ramallah suburb of el-Bireh were set to dedicate a square after Mughrabi, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the attack. The ceremony, set to take place during a visit to the region by Vice President Joe Biden, was canceled at the last minute under Israeli and American pressure, according to Palestinian officials.

But a group of activists from President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement held an unofficial dedication, and Palestinian officials are pledging to move forward with a formal ceremony in the future.

While there are no signs or pictures of Mughrabi, the square already has been restored with fresh flowers and grass, and planners say they plan to hoist a large photo of Mughrabi at the site.

“We are determined to name the square after Dalal,” said Adnan Damiri, the senior Palestinian security official from Fatah who has spearheaded the effort. The square is next to a security headquarters. “I can’t understand the Israeli fuss,” he added, noting that Israel has named numerous streets and buildings after military heroes who killed Palestinians in battle. Mughrabi is among the greatest heroes in Palestinian society. Schools

have been named after her, and Ramallah, the Palestinian administrative center, recently dedicated a street to her memory. “She is a Palestinian martyr and deserves to be honored,” said Ramallah’s mayor, Janet Mikhail.

Officials in Abbas’ government have tried to distance themselves from the latest controversy, calling it a local issue. But no one has spoken out against the plan. The controversy has come at a sensitive time in peace efforts. The US has been working for more than a year to get the two sides to resume peace negotiations. Just as those talks were about to start, Israel announced plans during the Biden visit to build 1,600 new homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem. The announcement threw the peace talks into doubt and has drawn heavy criticism from the US and the Palestinians.

Responding to the crisis, Israel has pointed to the Mughrabi case as evidence that the Palestinians are not serious about peace.

In a high profile speech this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Palestinian government of fomenting incitement.

“They named a public square after this murderer and the Palestinian Authority did nothing,” he told the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington.

Addressing the same conference, Clinton chided the Palestinians for moving forward with the plan, though she appeared to place the blame more on Hamas than the Fatah officials leading the effort.

“When a Hamas-controlled municipality glorifies violence and renames a square after a terrorist who murdered innocent Israelis, it insults the families on both sides who have lost loves ones over the years in this conflict,” she said. “These provocations are wrong and must be condemned for needlessly inflaming tensions and imperiling prospects for a comprehensive peace.” The mayor of el-Bireh, a member of the militant Islamic Hamas, declined comment and apparently was not involved. For now, Palestinians appear set to leave the issue on hold, wary of further antagonizing the Americans. But they believe Israel is using the dispute to deflect attention from its settlement policies in east Jerusalem and the West Bank _ areas claimed by the Palestinians for a future state. “This is an Israeli campaign, and unfortunately the American officials have fallen into the trap,” said Nimr Hammad, an adviser to Abbas. “Every side honors its victims. The Israelis are using this issue as a pretext to take us away from the most important thing, the settlements.”— AP

“The security forces closed off the area and detained 17 suspects,” it added. Two policemen were shot dead in an attack on a watchtower in the same neighborhood on Monday. In the western Iraqi town of Heet, meanwhile, the local anti-terror chief’s house was bombed for the second time this year, though he once again was unharmed.

The bomb killed two house builders and a policeman who were inside Lieutenant Colonel Walid Sulaiman Al-Heeti’s home when it exploded. Two civilians were also wounded in the attack, said local police Captain Walid AlHeeti. Heeti had been rebuilding the house after it was targeted in coordinated bombings in the town, 60 kilometres (35 miles) from Anbar province’s capital of Ramadi, on January 7 that killed seven people.

He is a leader of a campaign against Al-Qaeda in the mostly Sunni province that helped dramatically reduce the terror network’s presence in Anbar, Iraq’s biggest province in area. Several cities in Anbar were used as insurgent bases in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of 2003.

But since 2006, local Sunni tribes have sided with the US military and Iraqi authorities. Daily violence has dropped dramatically as Al-Qaeda fighters have been ejected from the region.

In the restive northern city of Mosul yesterday, one person was killed and two others were wounded, including a policeman, in a grenade attack on a police patrol, a police officer said, on condition of anonymity.

And in Al-Muqdadiyah, 90 kilometres (55 miles) northeast of Baghdad, an Iraqi army first lieutenant was killed while trying to defuse a roadside bomb, according to a police officer who did not want to give his name.

Violence has dropped dramatically across Iraq since its peak between 2005 and 2007, but attacks remain common in Baghdad and Mosul.—AFP

in the confession ally-mixed south Baghdad district of Radhwaniyah. “Five soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack on a checkpoint in the Radhwaniyah neighbourhood,” said Baghdad Operations Command, without elaborating.

Iraq provincial chiefs back Maliki recount call BASRA: Ten powerful local politicians, all backers of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, demanded a manual recount yesterday from Iraq’s March 7 election as hundreds of supporters took to the streets. The country’s election commission has already rebuffed a recount demand from the incumbent premier himself over the weekend, when he said it was needed to maintain stability and ward off violence.

“If the commission does not respond to the demand of the provincial councils ... the 10 provinces will begin a major escalation of measures,” the 10 local government heads said in a statement after talks in the southern city of Basra.

Without spelling out the measures, they urged the election commission to authorize a manual recount of votes due to what they said was possible fraud and “manipulation” of the general election results.

The provincial council chiefs were from nine mostly Shiite provinces in southern Iraq and from Baghdad, all of them members of the prime minister’s State of Law Alliance. Yesterday’s meeting followed a similar gathering on Sunday between the governors of the same 10 provinces held in the Shiite shrine city of Najaf, when they too backed Maliki’s stand. On Sunday, the election commission said it had not seen any widespread fraud in the election, making any recount unnecessary.

It said political parties and groups would have to submit evi-

BASRA: Supporters of Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki chant antiBaathist slogans at a protest in Basra, Iraq yesterday. —AP dence of wrongdoing to substantiate any complaints before the full results are announced on Friday, nearly three weeks after the election.

According to results released by the commission based on 95 percent of votes cast, Maliki’s State of Law Alliance is running neck-and-neck with the secular Iraqiya list of ex-premier Iyad Allawi, a fellow Shiite.

The latter is seen by his opponents in southern Iraq as a symbol of the return of executed dic-

tator Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party. Allawi was a member of the ruling party until the mid1970s but left it and became the target of intimidation tactics by Saddam’s regime while living in exile in London. In the mostly Shiite cities of Basra, Nasiriyah, Najaf, and Hilla yesterday, hundreds of people took to the streets to demonstrate support for Maliki’s call for a recount.

In the port city of Basra, 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of the capital, protesters gathered

outside the provincial government’s offices with placards that read: “We demand a recount.”

“No, no to fraud. Yes, yes to Maliki. Yes, yes to Iraq,” they shouted in unison outside the building where the influential local politicians were meeting.

No single bloc which contested the poll is expected to win the 163 seats required to form a majority in Iraq’s 325-member parliament on their own, and protracted coalition building is expected.— AFP

INTERNATIONAL

8

Thursday, March 25, 2010

UK doctors demand smoking ban in private cars LONDON: Smokers should be banned from lighting up in all private cars as part of stricter laws to protect children from passive smoking, a doctors’ group said in a report yesterday.

The Royal College of Physicians, a professional body with 20,000 members, said the 2007 ban on smoking in enclosed public places in England must be extended to

cars and other areas, like the entrances to buildings. Smoking in cars carrying children is already against the law in some parts of the United States, Canada and Australia. Other countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, are considering similar bans.

Any extension to the UK ban would attract criticism from pro-smoking groups,

who saw the original restrictions as an attack on personal freedom. “Protecting children is a health priority. Adult smoking behaviour must radically change to achieve that,” Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said in a foreword to the report by the college’s tobacco advisory group.

The ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces should be widened to include all pri-

vate cars, whether or not children are travelling as passengers, the report said.

It could also include parks, beaches, hotels, prisons, hostels and open sports arenas or concert venues.

“Smoke-free legislation has been successful but should be extended much more widely, to include public places frequented by children and young people,” the report

said. Passive smoking costs the National Health Service more than 23 million pounds a year and leads to 300,000 extra visits to doctors for illnesses like chest infections and asthma, the report said.

Pro-smoking group Forest has questioned the evidence on the dangers of passive smoking and thinks it is being used to “demonise smokers” and justify a blanket

ban. “The anti-smoking lobby propagate a falsehood hoping that a lie told often enough becomes the truth,” it said on its website.

A Department of Health spokesman said the government was looking at ways to give children greater protection from passive smoking, which kills around 600 people a year in Britain. — Reuters

Sarkozy woos farmers after mauling in regional elections Frecnh leader vows to fight unwinding of EU farm policy PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was ready to provoke a crisis in the European Union to prevent a dismantling of farm policy, as he sought to reassure disgruntled farmers in the EU’s top agricultural producer.

France is the biggest beneficiary of subsidies under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), taking about 20 percent of the bloc’s 40 billion euro farm budget in 2009.

Talks between the 27 EU countries are starting this year on renewing the CAP for the period after 2013, and will pitch supporters of strong regulation like France against traditional adversaries like Britain that advocate a market-oriented policy. “I say clearly, I would be ready to have a crisis in Europe before I accept the dismantling of the common agricultural policy,” he said after a regular cabinet meeting yesterday. “I will not let our agricultural sector die.”

The French President said unwinding the EU’s farm policy would let “speculation” determine agricultural prices and prevent farmers from living “decently” from their activity. Speaking to farming representatives at the Paris farm show earlier this month, Sarkozy had already called on Europe to defend its production standards against imports, which he said would be a prerequisite for France accepting any cuts in the EU’s farm budget.

FARM UNION REASPARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivers a speech after the weekly cabinet meeting at the SURED Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday. —AP Sarkozy’s tough tone on EU farm discussions comes as he seeks to reassure rural voters, a key constituency for his conservative government, after a resounding defeat in regional elections this month.

France’s largest farm union welcomed the President’s words. “Our reaction is that at last the President has heard us and is talking about agriculture,” Dominique Barrau, general secretary of the FNSEA, told Reuters by telephone.

Jubril Martins Kuye, junior finance minister ABUJA: Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck “When the President says under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Jonathan has picked a raft of new faces includhe is ready to have a Jonathan took over as acting head of state ing a Goldman Sachs banker for his new cabiin early February, ending months of nearnet, a shake-up his backers hope will herald a European crisis, it is no paralysis in government due to the absence of more muscular period of government. longer a case of being firm, we President Yar’Adua, who was receiving treatJonathan sacked the cabinet a week ago in a bid really have an awareness of ment for a heart ailment in a Saudi clinic. to assert his authority a month after assuming the fundamental role of agriYar’Adua has since returned but remains too executive powers, and the fast appointment of culture.” The French presisick to govern. The reappointment of at least a new team could ease political uncertainty in dent already met with farm nine ministers in sectors including oil, the Africa’s most populous nation. groups last week before Niger Delta and justice suggests Nigeria’s Senate President David Mark yestrday Sunday’s second round of broad policy direction is unlikely to change. read out 33 nominees sent by Jonathan for France’s regional elections With his own cabinet, Jonathan could accelerapproval, a list which included just nine memand promised fresh measures ate priorities including electoral reform, revivbers of the outgoing cabinet. Former Minister to be announced next month, ing an amnesty in the oil-producing Niger of State for Petroleum Odein Ajumogobia, according to farmer represenDelta and providing more reliable power suptipped as a possible oil minister, and Olusegun tatives. ply in the 14 months left of this presidential Aganga, a London-based executive at Goldman The FNSEA said it was term. But a radical shake-up also has risks.

Sachs seen as a contender for a finance minnow looking for France to “Too much change at key ministries could istry post, were among the nominees. the same determination Portfolios will be assigned once the upper ABUJA: Nigeria’s Acting slow things down considerably, as new minis- show in meetings with other EU ters will still need some time to get to grips house has approved the list, expected before President Goodluck Jonathan with things,” Khan said. The presence of countries, calling for market the Easter recess starts next Thursday. The pictured during a joint press Aganga-who heads up Goldman Sachs’ hedge regulation and a harmonisaSenate will hold a special session on Monday tion of rules within Europe as conference in Abuja.—AFP fund consulting services in London-would to consider the list, deputy Senate spokesman the basis of future EU policy.

Anthony Manzo said. in the OPEC member nation of 140 million come as sub-Saharan Africa’s second-biggest Agriculture Minister Bruno “All of this will be very closely watched by people, were not among the names read out on economy forges ahead with bank reforms and Le Maire gathered 22 countries to attract foreign investors to deepen its investors,” said Razia Khan, head of Africa Wednesday. tries at the end of last year in capital markets, notably with a planned $500 research at Standard Chartered.

Nominees from the outgoing cabinet “Appointments will be key to determining include former Information Minister Dora million debut global bond. It would also follow a call for a strong CAP, but whether the aim is to kickstart reforms ... or Akunyili, former Justice Minister Adetokunbo the appointment over the past year of key France is likely to face stiff whether this is just politics returning to centre Kayode, former National Planning Minister reformers, including Central Bank Governor opposition from the remainstage,” she said. There are more than 40 min- Shamsuddeen Usman and former junior Niger Lamido Sanusi- who led a $4 billion bank ing EU members like Britain isters in the cabinet and a second list will fol- Delta minister Godsday Orubebe. Among the bailout weeks after taking office- and new and the Netherlands, as well low to complete Jonathan’s team. But outgoing new nominees are Murtala Yar’Adua, ailing Securities and Exchange Commission head as the EU executive that is oil and finance ministers Rilwanu Lukman and President Umaru Yar’Adua’s nephew whose Arunma Oteh, who has vowed a tough line on keen to reduce farm spendMansur Muhtar, who held two of the top posts business interests span banking and oil, and transparency. “— Reuters ing. — Reuters

Nigerian leader unveils new cabinet nominees New faces include Goldman Sachs banker, Yar’Adua relative

Hard times hit US blacks, Latinos harder than whites WASHINGTON: In Barack Obama’s first year as president, AfricanAmericans have struggled to bridge a wide equality gap with whites, in particular in the area of jobs, a report said yesterday. In the annual “State of Black America” report, the National Urban League (NUL) said black unemployment numbers were nearly double those of whites as “the ravages of the recession” hit minorities much harder than whites.

“These are tough times in America and they require a powerful and immediate response,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the 100-year-old civil rights group.

The “already struggling” AfricanAmerican community risks falling “deeper into poverty and despair” if nothing is done to help them bridge inequality gaps in everything from health care to jobs to education, said the report. Blacks were more than

twice as likely to be out of a job than whites from 1972 to 2009, and the rate has fallen only slightly since Obama took office with blacks now 1.8 times more likely to be unemployed, the report said.

For the first time this year, Hispanics got their own Equality Index using the social standing of whites as a baseline. It showed that while they still lag behind, with an overall Equality Index of 75.5 percent against whites, they are faring better than blacks, whose overall Equality Index was 71.8 percent. But in some areas, such as health care, Hispanics are far behind blacks, who themselves trail whites. Nearly one in three Hispanics are without health care coverage, compared to one in five blacks - 19.1 percent-and around 11 percent of whites, the report said.

Whites are more than one and a half times as likely as blacks and more than

twice as likely as Hispanics to have a university degree, it said. “Education matters more than ever-those with a bachelor’s degree fared much better than high school dropouts in the recession,” the report said.

“Education is the true path out of poverty-education is the civil rights issue of our time. The average black child is two or three grade levels behind the average white child, about half of black students fail to graduate on time and only one in five blacks has a bachelor’s degree,” it said.

In terms of home ownership, less than half of black and Hispanic families owned their own home, compared to three-quarters of white families who are homeowners. And blacks and Hispanics were both three times more likely than whites to live below the poverty line. Another glaring inequity was the huge differences between the incarceration rates of blacks,

Hispanics and whites. Blacks are six times more likely and Hispanics are three times more likely than whites to be incarcerated, the report said.

The only area in which African Americans made strides was in the area of civic engagement, and that was largely due to the huge turnout of black voters in the 2008 presidential elections that put the first African American president in the White House.

The report proposes a 168 billion dollar investment to create jobs, train the chronically unemployed, increase access to credit for small businesses, and counsel those caught up in the property foreclosure crisis, which hit minorities especially hard.

“The government has bailed out Wall Street. It’s time to act swiftly and do something for Main Street, which includes a strong, focused jobs plan,” said Morial. — AFP

ANKARA: Members of anti-terrorism squad patrol outside a hotel where Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting in Ankara yesterday. Turkey stepped up security around Erdogan in the past few days. —AP

Turkey rebuffs US call to join Iran sanctions Washington warns of consequences ANKARA: NATO-member Turkey yesterday rebuffed calls from ally the United States to support more sanctions against Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, saying diplomacy should be given more chance. Turkey, a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has been leery of a US-led push to back new sanctions on fellow Muslim nation Iran, which the West suspects is trying to develop atomic bombs.

“There is still an opportunity ahead of us and we believe that this opportunity should be used effectively. Not less, but more diplomacy (is needed),” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin told a news conference. Last week, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon, the US State Department’s top diplomat for Europe, urged Turkey to support more sanctions against Iran, saying Ankara could face consequences if it moves out of step with the international community.

Turkey, which has applied to join the European Union, is not the only country that insists on more diplomacy with Iran, which says its nuclear pro-

gramme is for peaceful purposes. China, a permanent, veto-wielding member of the Security Council, along with non-permanent member Brazil, have urged more time for diplomacy with Iran. Turkey has boosted ties with Iran and other Muslim neighbours since the Islamist-leaning AK Party first took office in 2002, and some commentators have expressed concern Ankara might be tilting away from its long-time Western allies.

Turkey has offered to use its access to the Iranian leadership to solve the nuclear dispute but frequent trips by Turkish officials to Tehran have failed to produce a breakthrough.

“We think that Iran has good intentions on this issue and wants a solution. Otherwise, we would not be making such efforts. We inform our Western friends regularly about the impressions we get (from talks with Iran),” Ozugergin said. He reiterated Ankara’s opposition to any Middle Eastern country acquiring nuclear weapons and said Iran had the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes like all other countries. —Reuters

Ties between Al-Qaeda, organised crime limited Money trail remains central to counter-terrorism efforts BRUSSELS: There are links between Al-Qaeda and organised crime in parts of the world, but the relationship is not as deep or involved as sometimes made out, a leading expert on terrorism financing said. Al-Qaeda’s operation in the Sahara region has raised its profile in recent months with high-value hostage-takings and cocaine smuggling that UN terrorism monitors estimate could have raised more than $10 million for the group. But the relationship is generally opportunistic and there is little hard evidence Islamist militant movements like Al-Qaeda are building intricate ties to major crime networks.

“There is a Venn diagram that you could draw with overlap between Al-Qaeda and organised crime,” said Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and a former deputy assistant secretary for intelligence at the US Treasury. “But in the real world, as opposed to the Jack Bauer world, you don’t have the Sicilian mafia and Osama bin Laden’s guys meeting at the hip,” he told Reuters in an interview, referring to the fictional counter-terrorism agent in the TV series 24.

Levitt, a former terrorism analyst with the FBI and a senior adviser to the US government on terrorism financing, said both Al-Qaeda and crime groups were likely to share methods and techniques, but it didn’t constitute tight collaboration. “You have people using the same facilitation, logistical, humansmuggling and cash-courier networks to do things,” he said on Tuesday. “But by and large, they also tend to use their own networks. There is overlap but it’s a lot less than people make it out to be on the organised-crime level.”

‘FOLLOW THE MONEY’ A prominent US scholar, Ibrahim Warde, argued in a pair of magazine articles this month that tackling terrorism financing was a fallacy and that chasing the

money trail was far from the best way to shut down militant groups such as Al-Qaeda. “A lot of what has happened is overreach by the so-called financial warriors,” Warde, a professor of international business at Tufts University, told Forbes magazine.

Another magazine, Tufts Journal, pointed out that the US government had seized only $32 million over the past decade by freezing assets and prosecuting financiers-suggesting the figure was a poor return on the effort and time invested. But Levitt disputes the suggestion that chasing the money is misguided, saying combating terrorism financing is central to the battle against spreading militancy, if not a silver bullet.

“This is an incredibly, incredibly powerful and effective tool,” he said, emphasising that the amount of funds frozen was not the key-that it is more important to look at where the money trail leads and sometimes to leave it open, not freeze it. “People tend to measure (success) by how many entities have you designated and how much money have you seized,” he said.

“But that is limiting your analysis to a very tiny subset. There are lots of tools beyond that, including finint- following the money as opposed to freezing the money.”

Militant groups will always find a way to get hold of money, whether illicitly or legally, Levitt believes.

But that doesn’t mean international authorities should ignore what they are doing or not attempt to follow what they are up to and shut it down. “The three big opportunities we have (to track terrorism operations) are travel, communication and finance,” he said. “We need those information streams.

Financial intelligence is, on the one hand, just more information that needs to be vetted. But it is inherently vettable and critical to what we do.”—Reuters

Thursday, March 25, 2010

US-Russian nuke deal to be signed in Prague PRAGUE: Prague has agreed to host the signing of a new US-Russian treaty to reduce long-range nuclear weapons, the Czech Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The announcement is the clearest sign yet that Washington and Moscow are close to completing the deal on an accord to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, which expired in December.

Ministry spokesman Filip Kanda said that Prague agreed to host the signing of the accord by US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when the negotiators reach a deal. He said negotiations have not been completed yet.

“As an ally, we have consulted with the US side on an option for us to complete the signing when a deal is done,” Kanda said.

“We’ve agreed,” he said.

It was not clear if the plan for the signing ceremony had also been discussed with the Russian government. Kanda declined to comment on that. In Washington, a senior Obama administration official said the White House has talked to both the Czech and Russian governments about a signing in Prague. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss still-ongoing and sensitive negotiations, said a deal is still being finalized.

For Obama, signing the treaty in Prague would be a symbolic return to the city where he outlined his nuclear agenda in April and declared his commitment to “a world without nuclear weapons” in a sweeping speech before a crowd of many thou-

sands.

“Prague is where the President delivered a speech outlining his arms control and nonproliferation vision last spring and where we always wanted to do a signing,” the official said.

The negotiations are still under way in Geneva. The treaty is likely to limit the number of deployed strategic warheads by the United States and Russia.

Any agreement would need to be ratified by the legislatures of both countries and would still leave each with a large number of nuclear weapons, both deployed and stockpiled.

Both US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following talks in Moscow last week that a deal was near but not done.

The expired START treaty, signed by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and President George HW Bush, required each country to cut its nuclear warheads by at least one-fourth, to about 6,000, and to implement procedures for verifying that each side was sticking to the agreement.

The two sides pledged to continue to respect the expired treaty’s limits on nuclear arms and allow inspectors to continue verifying that both sides were living up to the deal. Obama and Medvedev agreed at a Moscow summit in July to cut the number of nuclear warheads each possesses to between 1,500 and 1,675 within seven years as part of a broad new treaty. — AP

Amid budget crisis, California makes parole easier LOS ANGELES: California’s budget crisis and overcrowded prisons have led to a new reality for thousands of convicted felons: Parole is getting a lot easier - no more random drug tests, travel rules or requirements to check in with an officer. Restrictions have been relaxed for nonviolent criminals like burglars, drug offenders and swindlers under a new law that aims to shrink the prison population by reducing the number of minor parole violations that send ex-cons back to prison.

About 24,000 nonviolent ex-cons are expected to qualify for less supervision. The number includes many people already on parole and those expected to be paroled over the next year. Nonviolent offenders leaving prison will still be required to register their addresses with the prisons agency, but a state parole officer won’t check up on them.

Unannounced home visits and searches will be left to local law enforcement, if anyone at all.

Local law enforcement agencies and community groups are worried. They claim less supervision will lead to a spike in crime, compounding the exact problem state officials are trying to remedy.

“It’s a pretty significant concern from the public safety standpoint,” said Cmdr. Todd Rogers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“There’s a really good chance these guys are going to go out and caper again.” The rules, which took effect Jan. 25, come as the state desperately tries to close a $20 billion budget gap. Nearly 11 percent of the state budget goes to prisons. Officials estimate the measures will save the state about $500 million its first full year.

The state hopes dropping the restrictions, coupled with an early release program that will free 3,000 current inmates under new rules that allow them to shave time for completing rehabilitation and vocational programs, will cut California’s 167,000-inmate prison population by 6,500.

The changes will also free up state parole officers to focus on ex-prison gang members, sex offenders and violent criminals, whose 70 percent recidivism rate is more than double that of the nonviolent ex-cons. “Our supervi-

sion will be higher on those more likely to reoffend,” said California Corrections spokesman Gordon Hinkle.

With about a third of new admissions to prisons caused by parole violations, often for seemingly minor mistakes like missing meetings with parole officers, states have long grappled with how much supervision is appropriate for parolees. Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, for instance, have cut supervision time for certain offenders.

California has the nation’s highest rate of sending parolees back to prison, with a little more than two-thirds of all inmates having been sent to prison for violating their parole terms, said prisons expert Alison Lawrence of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“When you see a number that high, there is a sign that something should change,” Lawrence said. Local agencies being asked to pick up the monitoring of nonviolent offenders are skeptical. Several of them, themselves struggling with budget cuts, decried the extra workload.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is in the state’s most populous county, has about 7,700 felons who will qualify for the easier restrictions. Rogers said the department will start doing what the state’s parole officers used to do.

“We still want them to know that they need to behave themselves,” Rogers said of the ex-cons. “Some would argue it’s an unfunded mandate transferring responsibility to cities and counties.”

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said he was expecting 1,000 parolees to qualify for lighter restrictions in his largely rural area that has an unemployment rate of 17 percent.

“People are frustrated,” Youngblood said.

“When you mix that frustration with alcohol and nothing to do because they are unemployed, nothing good can come from that mixture when it comes to public safety.”

Youngblood laid off 40 deputies last year because of budget cuts. He’s going to bring in deputies on long-term sick leave to handle office duties, freeing other officers to check up on parolees. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

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Obama-Netanyahu talks leave settlement dispute simmering Peace efforts held up by ‘unreasonable’ demands: Netanyahu WASHINGTON: Talks between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to produce signs they had ended a dispute which Netanyahu said could block the Middle East peace process for a year. Sticking to a hardline position before the White House talks late Tuesday, Netanyahu said peace efforts would be held up by The White House stayed silent on the meetings. The US president initially hosted Netanyahu at the White House for 90 minutes. Netanyahu then huddled privately with his staff for more than an hour, after which he met a second time with the president in the Oval Office for a further 35 minutes, officials said.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that advisors to both men were holding follow-up discussions that would continued yesterday. But it gave no details, and White House officials refused to describe the tone or the substance of the talks-or to to say if any agreements had been proposed or reached. Earlier, Netanyahu maintained a firm line on US demands for a freeze in settlement construction, warning that a halt to new settlements in east Jerusalem could wind up putting Israel-Palestinian talks on ice.

“If the Americans support the unreasonable demands made by the Palestinians regarding a freeze on settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, the peace process risks being blocked for a year,” Netanyahu said. “Relations between Israel and the United States should not be hostage to differences between the two countries over the peace process with the Palestinians,” he was quoted as saying by Israeli media.

what he called “unreasonable” demands for a freeze on new settlers homes in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. While Netanyahu’s office said the two rounds of talks between the key allies had unfolded in a “good atmosphere”, the leaders did not make the customary appearance before the cameras.

WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs a guest book after arriving on Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday. From left are, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Netanyahu, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C. and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. —AP Netanyahu was in Washington as the United States is seeking more UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, with Israel concerned that efforts to that end are moving too slowly. His trip also coincided with Britain ordering the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat over the “intolerable” use of fake British pass-

ports in the killing of a Hamas operative in Dubai two months ago. In his speech to the powerful US-Israel lobby AIPAC in Washington, Netanyahu stressed that “Jerusalem is not a settlement”-spelling out an apparent message of no compromise towards Obama.

The United States has warned more Jewish settler

homes in east Jerusalem would directly undermine both US credibility as a mediator and efforts to get “proximity” talks started between Israel and the Palestinians.

Washington reacted angrily when-during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe BidenNetanyahu’s government announced the construction of

1,600 settler homes in the eastern part of the city.

Despite Netanyahu’s apology over the timing of the announcement, the dispute has rumbled on for two weeks. Even as Tuesday’s talks went ahead, it emerged that local officials had given final approval for the building of 20 apartments for Jewish settlers at the site of a former Palestinian hotel in east Jerusalem. Netanyahu says he is simply following the policies of all Israeli governments since the 1967 war, when Israel seized and later annexed east Jerusalem.

Israel claims all Jerusalem as its eternal capital, while the Palestinians want to make the predominantly Arab eastern sector the capital of their independent state.

The Israeli position was met with anger from Saudi Arabia, where an official criticized its “policy of arrogance and stubbornness in defying the will of the international community.”

Deepening the sense of crisis, the Palestinians on Tuesday warned that Netanyahu’s position threatens to destroy hopes for serious peace talks. “What Netanyahu said does not help American efforts and will not serve the efforts of the American administration to return the two sides to indirect negotiations,” Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said.—AFP

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INTERNATIONAL

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Arroyo to start campaign for house seat MANILA: The Philippine election shifts gear tomorrow as campaigning for Congressional seats starts, with interest centered on the president’s move to run for the lower house and the risks from a new automated voting system. Local campaigning could change the presidential race if Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, the administration candidate running a distant fourth in opinion polls, can tap the national reach of his party organization to boost support.

Investors are worried about uncertainty if the vote does not produce timely and credible results, but not overly concerned about the anticipated cycle of political killings, fraud and chaos, all regular features of Philippine elections.

“We’ve priced in the expected violence at the local level as well as potential errors in the electoral process,” an economist at a local bank said. The sovereign 5-year credit default swap spread for the Philippines is around 160 basis points, down from more than 200 in February and level with Indonesia.

The stock market has risen 2.2 percent so far this week, accounting for most of its year-to-date rise of 3.7 percent, and the peso hit 1-1/2year highs

against the dollar this month, although it has lagged the 2010 gains of most regional peers. More than 50 million Filipinos across 7,100 islands will vote on May 10 for a president, vice president, about 300 seats in the two-chamber Congress and more than 17,600 local positions. Among the candidates running for Congress are President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Imelda Marcos, the wife of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and Manny Pacquiao, a seventimes world boxing champion and national hero.

Arroyo, in office since 2001 and not eligible to stand again, will be the first president to seek a seat in the 287-member lower house. She is seen having a strong chance of becoming house speaker, the country’s fourth most senior political role. “The president is just buying a personal insurance plan,” said Benito Lim, political science professor at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, referring to opponents’ pledges to investigate accusations of electoral fraud and corruption.

“She knows she could no longer hold on to power but she believes she could get some form of protection if she

becomes speaker of the House of Representatives.” Arroyo has appointed a new head of the military and the Supreme Court has ruled she can appoint a new chief justice. Her opponents say she is looking to extend her term in the event of a disputed vote or failed election. “...it is now clear that Arroyo is absolutely intent on consolidating and perpetuating her power by shifting it from the executive to legislative branch,” Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a political risk consultancy, said in a report.

An economist at a foreign bank in Manila said markets would not worry too much if a temporary leader was installed due to election failure, as long as the process was constitutional. “We don’t see any massive financial shock in the near-term, you can even have the Pope there as long as it’s temporary,” said the economist. However, prolonged uncertainty could hurt markets, pushing up interest rates and hitting investor confidence. Automated voting will be used for the first time. There has been no largescale test of the system, nor an outline of a clear back-up plan in the event of technical or logistical problems. “We believe

there is a 60 percent chance that some reversion to manual ballot-counting will materialize, resulting in delays,” Barclays Capital analysts said in report, adding a close result after a disputed process could lengthen the time taken to form a new government.

“We believe current bond prices are not giving sufficient weight to this prospect,” the analysts said, putting the chance of a completely successful election at 30 percent and failure at 10 percent. The start of local campaigning could test the leads of Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino, the son of democracy icon Corazon Aquino, and billionaire senator Manuel “Manny” Villar in opinion polls of the nine presidential candidates.

At the moment they have a handy lead over Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the former president who was forced out of office in 2001, while Teodoro is still polling in single figures.

“For politicians seeking national seats, the start of local campaigning will test the strength of their political machinery,” Lim said, adding the political fortunes of Teodoro would depend on the unity and cohesion of the ruling coalition party.— Reuters

Red Shirts keep up protests

Thai opposition boycotts parliamentary session BANGKOK: Thailand’s political battleground shifted to Parliament yesterday, as opposition lawmakers boycotted legislative proceedings in what they said was a protest against tight security imposed by the military. Street protest-

ers from the so-called Red Shirt movement, seeking to have the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down, kept their distance from the heavily guarded area.

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reacts during a meeting at Thai parliament in Bangkok yesterday. Phuea Thai Party members boycotted yesterday’s session of parliament.— AP

End ‘charade of justice’ in Malaysia’s Anwar trial: HRW KUALA LUMPUR: Human Rights Watch yesterday urged Malaysia to drop sodomy charges against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, condemning the case as a “charade of justice”.

Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier and convicted on similar charges a decade ago, faces 20 years in prison if convicted of illicit sexual relations with a young man who worked in his office.

“Every step of the way, the court has blocked Anwar’s lawyers from preparing a thorough defense,” said Phil Robertson, the Asia deputy director of the US-based rights group. “The government should end this charade of justice and drop the charges against Anwar,” he said in a statement. The trial has been delayed for months as Anwar’s lawyers unsuccessfully mounted a series of legal manoeuvres, including bids to strike out the case and to obtain access to prosecution evidence including medical reports.

Anwar has also tried to disqualify the judge hearing the case, accusing him of bias for failing to rein in controversial coverage of the trial in mainstream media controlled by parties in the ruling coalition. “The publication of unreleased trial evidence in what is effectively a government newspaper is an appalling attempt by the government to interfere in the Anwar case,” Robertson said.

“This is just the latest instance of the ruling coalition trying to call the shots in this trial of a major opposition leader.” The Human Rights Watch statement came ahead of a court hearing today which is expected to set a date for the sodomy trial to resume. Anwar was sacked in 1998 and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges but was released in 2004 after the sexual misconduct count was overturned, allowing

Migrant workers ‘raped, abused, unpaid’ in Malaysia: Amnesty KUALA LUMPUR: Amnesty International yesterday urged Malaysia to end appalling treatment of migrant workers, saying many were raped, abused and unpaid and endured conditions “close to bonded labor”. In a damning report, the human rights group accused the Malaysian government of “facilitating” human trafficking after it found cases of immigration officials delivering Myanmar detainees to gangs on the Thai border. Malaysia is one of Asia’s largest importers of labor, with a workforce of 2.2 million, but Amnesty said they were too often “lured” to Malaysia and “used in forced labor or exploited in other ways”.

“Migrants, many from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal, are forced to work in hazardous situations, often against their will, and toil for 12 hours a day or more,” the group said in a statement.

“Many are subject to verbal, physical and sexual abuse,” it added. Amnesty said most workers borrowed substantial sums to pay recruitment agents to secure a job-only to discover too late that they had been given empty promises and could not afford to return home. “Some are in situations close to bonded labor,” it said, adding that laws allowing employers to hold workers’ passports prevented them from leaving abusive workplaces for fear of arrest.

“Coercive practices such as these are indicators of forced labor,” it said. Amnesty said its findings were based on interviews with more than 200 migrant workers, many of whom told horrifying stories of being abused, beaten, threatened with death, or at the least unpaid for long stretches. A 26year-old domestic helper from Indonesia said she was raped twice and attacked with a hot iron by her employer after being accused of not picking up the phone quickly enough.

“I didn’t know why he told me to turn on the iron. He shouted, ‘Is that iron hot?’ And then tried to iron me. Push the iron toward my body,” the unidentified worker was quoted as saying. Another worker, Mawar, who was only 15 when she came to Malaysia, said her recruitment agent burned her nipple with a cigarette, and forced her to clean the floor with her tongue “just like a dog”. “Another time the agent forced me to eat five cockroaches while they were still alive. She also forced me to drink urine from other workers,” said Mawar, whose nationality was not given.

Amnesty also documented over a dozen cases in which Malaysian immigration officials allegedly handed over Myanmar detainees to traffickers operating on Malaysia’s northern border with Thailand between 2006 and 2009. “The Malaysian government has the responsibility to prevent such abuses, but instead facilitates trafficking through its loose regulation of recruitment agents and through laws and policies that fail to protect workers,” it said.

An official from the home ministry, which oversees the immigration department, said it would not respond to the allegations until it had an opportunity to study the report. Amnesty said that workers often face indiscriminate raids from authorities and demands for bribes from police, and that those who cannot pay end up in detention centres in deplorable conditions.

The government said last year it was mulling new laws to enshrine conditions for foreign workers, after persistent complaints that they lack protection. “Until Malaysia’s labour laws offer effective protection and are effectively enforced, exploitation will continue,” said Michael Bochenek, Amnesty’s policy director who authored the report.— AFP

The Red Shirts have been demonstrating for more than a week in the Thai capital, drawing as many as 100,000 people to their protests. They want Abhisit to dissolve Parliament and call new elections. The Red Shirts, formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, consist of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover. The opposition Puea Thai Party also consists of Thaksin supporters.

Puea Thai lawmakers made a halfhearted effort to block government lawmakers from entering the parliamentary session, leading to some scuffles.

The opposition lawmakers said they took offense at being barred from driving their cars into the parliamentary compound. The area was blocked off by hundreds of soldiers and barbed wire and other barriers because the government feared the Red Shirts would try to mount a blockade of their own.

The legislative session proceeded after a quorum was reached, and three bills were passed. The Red Shirts’ political rivals, the Yellow Shirts , also known as the People’s Alliance for Democracy , tried to block a pro-Thaksin government from convening a session of Parliament in 2008, setting off a bloody melee with police that left two protesters dead and hundreds wounded. Puea Thai lawmaker Witaya Buranasiri, the chief opposition whip, accused the government of being undemocratic and said the overwhelming security presence yesterday amounted to a silent coup by the military.

“Preventing other MPs from getting into the Parliament and doing their job is undemocratic,” Prime Minister Abhisit said in reply. Thailand has been in constant political turmoil since early 2006, when demonstrations accusing Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power began. In 2008, when Thaksin’s political allies came back to power for a year, his Yellow Shirt opponents occupied the prime minister’s office compound for three months and seized Bangkok’s two airports for a week.

The Red Shirts believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class and that only new elections can restore integrity to Thai democracy. Thaksin’s allies took power in a December 2007 election but were forced out by court rulings.

Abhisit’s Democrat Party then rallied the support of enough lawmakers to form a coalition government in December 2008.— AP

MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo addresses army troopers during a ceremony to celebrate the 113th anniversary of the founding of the Philippine Army at suburban Taguig city south of Manila, Philippines Monday. — AP

Indonesian police ban regional gay conference JAKARTA: Indonesian police ordered the cancellation yesterday of a conference of gay activists from across Asia scheduled for this weekend, saying it posed a threat to public order.

National police spokesman Brig Gen Sulistyo Ishak said the conference, organized by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, or ILGA, could prompt violent protests by conservative Muslim groups.

The ban was issued by police in Surabaya, East Java’s capital, where the three-day conference was to be held, he said. The decision was made after considering public objections by Muslim groups and the Indonesian Ulema Council, an influential board of Muslim clerics, he said. “There are indications that the event could trigger a social crisis and cause public unrest,” Ishak said. “This ban was issued for the sake of public order.” Poedjiati Tan, head of the organizing committee, said more than 150 activists representing 100 organizations in 16 Asian countries planned to attend the conference. Tan said the committee is trying to appeal the decision with police and religious leaders, arguing that the conference was meant to raise

awareness of social issues faced by gays.

“We want to convince Indonesian authorities and religious leaders that we only want to talk about social problems related to this minority group,” she said. “We are seeking direction and a way out of our problems in health, education and issues of discrimination.” However, Abdussomad Bukhori, a prominent member of the cleric council, said the board would oppose any kind of gay event.

“The event will hurt Indonesian Muslims because lesbians and gays are contrary to Islamic teaching,” he said. “We will continue to reject any kind of homosexual event.” Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but remains a sensitive issue in the socially conservative, Muslimmajority nation. At the same time, most of its society, which follows a moderate form of Islam, is tolerant, with gay and transsexual entertainers often appearing on television shows.

The ILGA is a worldwide federation of more than 560 local, national and international organizations. Regional ILGA conferences have been held in India, the Philippines and Thailand in the past.— AP

US man held in North Korea rallied against Pyongyang SEOUL: A Boston man detained in North Korea is a quiet, devout Christian so concerned about an American missionary held in Pyongyang that he was moved to tears at rallies protesting the communist regime, fellow activists said yesterday. North Korea announced Monday that Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, would stand trial after entering the country illegally. The trial date was not mentioned in a brief report in state media.

It was not immediately clear why Gomes, who taught English in South Korea, went to the communist country. However, activists in Seoul said he was an acquaintance of Robert Park, a fellow Christian from Arizona who crossed into North Korea on Christmas in a bold bid to draw attention to the country’s human rights situation. In the days after Park’s arrest, Gomes attended at least two rallies in Seoul calling for Park’s release, a Seoul-based activist said.

“I saw him weeping,” Jo Sung-rae of Pax Koreana said. Park, 26, of Tucson, was released last month after more than 40 days in North Korean custody, with the North’s state media saying he offered an apology for his transgressions. Jo said Gomes, who contacted him in November about working with his rights group, met Park in Seoul last summer. “I felt he may have gone to North Korea after being inspired by Robert Park,” Jo said.

Thaleia Schlesinger, a spokeswoman for Gomes’ family in Boston, said she had no comment on any connection between Gomes and Park. “I have no information on that,” she said Wednesday. “Anything on that would come from the State Department. The family is praying for him and for his speedy return home.” In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday the United States had not been formally notified about charges against Gomes. Crowley said Swedish diplomats have had four meetings with Gomes recently. Sweden represents the US in consular issues since Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations.

Gomes is the fourth American detained in North Korea, one of the world’s most closed countries, in the past year. In addition to Park, American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested a year ago near the Chinese bor-

der and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for illegal entry and engaging in “hostile acts.” They were freed in August after former President Bill Clinton made a high-profile humanitarian visit to Pyongyang to negotiate their release. Gomes, a Boston native who graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, had been in South Korea for several years teaching English, Schlesinger said. He was dedicated to his students and a devout Christian who attended church every Sunday, a friend said. “Aijalon is not a terrorist,” said Marshalette Wise, an Alabama native who met Gomes in 2008 while both were teaching English in South Korea. “He is very professional.”

PAJU: In this photo taken on Jan 12, 2010, American Aijalon Mahli Gomes, whose identification was made by Seoul-based activist Jo Sung-rae, participates in a rally organized by Jo denouncing North Korean’s human rights conditions at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

Thursday, March 25, 2010

11

Two NATO soldiers, five Afghans killed in unrest KABUL: Two NATO soldiers and two Afghan mine clearers have been killed in bombings in southern Afghanistan, while three policemen died in a clash with Taleban fighters, officials and NATO said yesterday.

The two NATO casualties, from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), bring to 133 the number of foreign soldiers killed in the country this year,

according to an AFP tally based on the independent icasualties website.

“Two ISAF service members were killed in an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today,” the alliance said in a statement. The force did not disclose the dead soldiers’ nationality. The homemade bombs, known as IEDs, are the weapon of choice for Taleban militants and

are the main cause of casualties to foreign and local troops.

Two Afghan mine clearers were killed and two others injured Tuesday when their vehicle struck a roadside IED in southern Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province as they travelled to work, a local police chief said.

“Two mine clearers were killed and two were wounded in the roadside bomb,”

Mohammad Gula, deputy provincial police chief, told AFP yesterday. The men were employees of the Mine Detection Center, a non-governmental organization established in 1989 to sweep landmines planted mostly during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

A Taleban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the blast and said they were targeting a military vehi-

cle. Taleban insurgents also attacked a police post in the southern province of Ghazni late Tuesday, sparking a firefight that left three policemen and two militants dead, said provincial police chief Khial Baz Shirzai. Then yesterday, a civilian helicopter contracted by the US military was forced to land after coming under fire in northern Kunduz province.

District chief Shaikh Saadi blamed technical problems, but an ISAF statement later said it was a “precautionary landing” and there were no casualties. There are currently about 120,000 troops under NATO and US command in Afghanistan battling a worsening Taleban -led insurgency now in its ninth year, with troop numbers expected to swell to 150,000 within months.—AFP

US, Pakistan pledge to improve relations Pakistan in front line struggle against violent extremism : Clinton WASHINGTON: The United States declared yesterday that strengthening Pakistan’s security is important to South Asia and the world and said helping to do that is a priority for US policy. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Pakistan “stands at the front line of a struggle against violent

CALCUTTA: People wait to receive bodies of relatives killed in a fire, outside a morgue in Calcutta, India yesterday. —AP

Exits were blocked at India building hit by fire CALCUTTA: Some exits were blocked at a seven-story building in Calcutta ravaged by a fire that killed at least 24 people, including two victims who jumped to their deaths as onlookers crowded the area, police said yesterday. Police have arrested the caretaker of the building and his assistant for poor maintenance and neglecting fire safety measures, police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty told The Associated Press.

The blocked entry and exit points made it difficult for people to evacuate, he said. The fire tore through the building in the eastern Indian city on Tuesday. The death toll was initially six, but firefighters later discovered 18 more bodies inside.

Chakraborty said rescuers were still looking for 10 people reported missing by their relatives.

About 20 other people were injured, five critically, in the blaze at the nearly 100-year-old building. It lies on Calcutta’s busy Park Street, which is lined with offices, apartments and restaurants.

The fire was believed to have started in an elevator, but police are still investigating the cause, officer Javed Shamim said.

Thousands gathered to watch firefighters use ladders to rescue dozens of people trapped inside the office-and-apartment building, as dense smoke and fire billowed from the fourth floor upward.

Nearly 100 firefighters spent several hours bringing the fire under control. Two people jumped to their deaths and four succumbed to burn injuries in a hospital, State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said.—AP

Disputed isle in Bay of Bengal disappears into sea NEW DELHI: For nearly 30 years, India and Bangladesh have argued over control of a tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal. Now rising sea levels have resolved the dispute for them: the island’s gone. New Moore Island in the Sunderbans has been completely submerged, said oceanographer Sugata Hazra, a professor at Jadavpur University in Calcutta. Its disappearance has been confirmed by satellite imagery and sea patrols, he said.

“What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking, has been resolved by global warming,” said Hazra. Scientists at the School of Oceanographic Studies at the university have noted an alarming increase in the rate at which sea levels have risen over the past decade in the Bay of Bengal.

Until 2000, the sea levels rose about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) a year, but over the last decade they have been rising about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) annually, he said. Another nearby island, Lohachara, was submerged in 1996, forcing its inhabitants to move to the mainland, while almost half the land of Ghoramara island was underwater, he said. At least 10 other islands in the area were at risk as well, Hazra said. “We will have ever

larger numbers of people displaced from the Sunderbans as more island areas come under water,” he said.

Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation of 150 million people, is one of the countries worst-affected by global warming. Officials estimate 18 percent of Bangladesh’s coastal area will be underwater and 20 million people will be displaced if sea levels rise 1 meter (3.3 feet) by 2050 as projected by some climate models. India and Bangladesh both claimed the empty New Moore Island, which is about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) long and 3 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide. Bangladesh referred to the island as South Talpatti.

There were no permanent structures on New Moore, but India sent some paramilitary soldiers to its rocky shores in 1981 to hoist its national flag. The demarcation of the maritime boundary , and who controls the remaining islands , remains an open issue between the two South Asian neighbors, despite the disappearance of New Moore, said an official in India’s foreign ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on international disputes.

Bangladesh officials were not available for comment yesterday.—AP

Judge in Pakistan delays ruling on nuclear scientist LAHORE: A judge yesterday delayed a ruling on a government petition aimed at questioning Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan over recent media reports that Islamabad arranged the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, a lawyer said. Naveed Inayat Malik, the deputy attorney general, said the Lahore High Court had also asked the attorney general to appear on March 29 to explain the allegations that Khan was the source of the information for the reports in The Washington Post.

Khan is regarded as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program. He was detained in December 2003, and in early 2004 he admitted on television that he operated a network that spread nuclear weapons technology to North Korea, Libya and Iran.

Despite international alarm over evidence of proliferation by Khan’s network, he was pardoned by

then-President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and placed under de facto house arrest. The scientist began protesting over restrictions on him after Musharraf resigned in 2008. Last year, the government eased restrictions on Khan’s movement under a deal that he would not interact with the media.

But government agents still guard his house and trail him when he moves around. The Lahore High Court is considering a separate petition by Khan asking that all security surrounding him be removed.

The latest government move came after The Washington Post published stories in March based on an account allegedly written by Khan that said Iran had tried to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan in the late 1980s. The stories say Pakistan instead gave Iran bomb-related drawings and other nuclear technology.—AP

“You are fighting a war whose outcome is critical first and foremost, of course, for the people of Pakistan,” she said. “But it will also have regional and global repercussions, and so strengthening and advancing your security remains a key priority of our relationship.”

Clinton spoke as she and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi began a twoday, high-level strategic dialogue at which they vowed to improve ties by expanding the existing security focus of their cooperation to include energy, development, education and agriculture.

All must be dealt with to combat extremists, they said. A healthy US -Pakistan relationship is considered essential to winning fight against extremists. The relationship has been punctuated by ups and downs for decades, but it frayed noticeably after the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks as Pakistan saw America bullying it on security matters and Washington began to question Islamabad’s commitment to beating Al-Qaeda.

Clinton acknowledged that “misperceptions and mistrust” had grown between the two countries, and despite efforts to ease tensions “some skepticism” remained on both sides. She said overcoming this will require intense and sustained work on a wide range of issues by top officials, something that had not happened before. “This is a new day,” she said.

Qureshi also allowed that relations were strained but said Pakistan remained committed to fighting extremism as “a strategic and moral imperative.” He noted that thousands of Pakistani civilians and soldiers had been killed battling extremists, and Pakistan’s concerns must be respected.

“Now is a time to look forward,” he said. “Our renewed, upgraded dialogue represents great hope.” At the same time, Clinton stressed that cooperation must be more than military assistance and must include methods to improve the lives of the Pakistani people so they will not be attracted to extremist ideologies. Among those are projects to ease Pakistan’s crippling energy shortages, shore up its battered economy and improve development aid. Clinton and Qureshi are heading their respective delegations, which also include top military, finance, agriculture and development officials. As they opened the discussions, neither Clinton nor Qureshi outlined specific programs. Pakistan has put energy, including civilian nuclear power, at the top of its list of priorities.

Despite their pledges to help, US officials have been noncommittal about how they will respond to Pakistan’s desire to be recognized as a nuclear weapons power and forge an atomic energy deal.

US officials have misgivings about Pakistan’s record of transferring nuclear technology to states such as Libya and North Korea, and neither Clinton nor special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke would offer any promises ahead of the talks.

Pakistan would like to have a civil nuclear cooperation pact with the United States similar to the one its nuclear rival India has.

Such a deal probably would require at least tacit acknowledgment that Pakistan, which detonated its first nuclear bomb in 1998, is a legitimate nuclear armed power. The United States has refused to do that. It also would require approval from Congress, which only reluctantly agreed to the civil nuclear deal with India despite far fewer proliferation problems there. That has not dampened Pakistan’s eagerness for an agreement, which it believes is critical to dealing with its energy shortages.—- AP

extremism.” She praised its recent military offensives against Taliban and other insurgents who she said are following a “perverse strategy to destabilize Pakistan and allow extremist groups the freedom to consolidate power and plot further violence in Pakistan and beyond.”

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, take their seats during Opening Session of the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue yesterday State Department in Washington. —AP

OPINION

12

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issues

Eurozone: Same bed, but different dreams

By Paul Taylor

L

ike a ghastly family row in which relatives dredge up long-buried grievances, Greece’s debt crisis is driving Europeans to exhume old fears and resentments in a bitter debate about the future of their common currency. Behind the dispute about whether and how to help Greece, the most egregious violator of the European Union’s fiscal rules, lies an unresolved difference between founders Germany and France about the nature and purpose of the euro. With governments in Berlin, Paris and Athens under strong and contradictory pressures from anxious voters, recrimination is starting to get out of hand.

“All the old debates that preceded and accompanied the launch of the euro are coming to life again after a decade of relative stability that had made them appear largely academic and historical,” says Thomas Klau, co-author of a book on the birth of the single European currency. Germans accepted monetary union in the 1990s on condition the euro would be as strong as the deutschemark, with low inflation, strict budget discipline and no bailout for the weak.

The Germans insisted on a European Central Bank independent of political influence with a mandate to ensure price stability. They wanted a small starting group of likeminded north European economies, excluding southern rim states dubbed the “Club Med”. The once-mighty German central bank, the Bundesbank, warned at the time that monetary union without strong political and economic integration was potentially fragile, but was overruled.

France saw the euro from the outset primarily as a political project to anchor a united Germany into Europe and build the EU’s international power. The French wanted a softer currency with an exchange rate managed by finance ministers to keep French planes and grain competitive on world markets.

Paris sought a “European economic government” to act as a counterweight to the ECB and promote EU industrial champions.

And it wanted a broad founding group including the “Club Med” countries to shield its own factories and farms from competitive devaluations by Spain and Italy. In the grand bargain, the Germans got their hard euro, independent ECB and what seemed then like tough budget deficit rules leading to possible sanctions against repeat offenders. The French got the Club Med and a treaty clause giving the council of EU finance ministers responsibility for exchange rate policy, which has never been applied.

For 10 years, the euro has been a striking success, bringing unprecedented currency stability, price moderation and low interest rates to the region. But now that Greece’s giant debt and deficit have

highlighted the shortcomings of the fiscal rules, the Germans and French have reverted to type in the solutions they advocate. German media, egged on by politicians who should know better, are depicting the crisis as “lazy Greeks endangering hardworking Germans’ money”, said Ulrike Guerot of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Berlin is hardening its stance against any European rescue and pointing Greece towards the International Monetary Fund if it needs standby loans.

France sees calling in the Washington-based lender as a political humiliation for the euro zone.

The Germans want new EU instruments of torture to enforce budget discipline more tightly on sinners.

Suggestions range from making states with excessive deficits and debt pay insurance contributions to a European fund, to the possible loss of fiscal sovereignty, EU voting rights and ultimately expulsion from the euro zone for repeat offenders.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s call for a treaty change to allow the expulsion of errant euro members caused shock and dismay in Spain, Greece and Belgium, where former Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt accused her of no longer wanting European solutions.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble wants a European Monetary Fund, not so much to nurse sick countries back to fiscal health as to punish them for misbehaving and provide an orderly insolvency process to avoid contagion in the euro area. In France, itself no model of fiscal discipline, the first instinct is for European “solidarity” with Greece (i.e. mostly Germany signing a cheque).

The French see the crisis as demonstrating the need for a European economic government that would coordinate industrial and budget policies better, and help rebalance Germany’s export-oriented economy towards greater domestic consumption.

President Nicolas Sarkozy is open to an EMF but would want it to raise money cheaply on capital markets and lend it to needy euro zone countries before they face possible default. Last week’s suggestion by French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde that selfish German economic behaviour might be part of the euro zone’s problem stirred outrage in Berlin. Schaeuble said her comment that Germany could ease up on aggressive export promotion and consume a little more was like urging a football team to play badly to give rivals a chance.

“Christine, I’m a Bayern Munich fan. When Bayern were outplayed twice by Olympique Lyon in the Champions League, I thought to myself, if Lyon had only played a bit worse, Bayern would have had it easier. But we can’t build a competitive economy on this basis,” he retorted. — Reuters

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Iran ignores Obama message, dialogue still far off

By Andrew Hammond

I

ran has shrugged off a second New Year message from US President Barack Obama to Iranians, underlining how far the countries are from starting any meaningful dialogue. At his inauguration last year, Obama offered an outstretched hand if Iran would “unclench its fist”. Two months later at Nowruz, the Persian new year, he offered a “new beginning”. Obama tried the tactic again at Nowruz last week, saying he still wanted to talk. But he tied it to US efforts to hold Iran “accountable” - a reference to potential new UN sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program - and attacked Iran’s handling of opposition protests.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made no reference to the appeal in two Nowruz speeches this weekend, but suggested Washington had proved that its talk of normalising relations was hollow since US policies towards Iran had not changed. He focused heavily on the protests, which often turned violent: “Eight months after the elections they took the worst possible stance. The president called those rioters and saboteurs ‘civil rights activists’,” Khamenei said.

Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, a politics professor in the United Arab Emirates, said the contrast to last year’s response was stark. “If you compare this year’s Obama message to last year’s and compare the reactions, we are definitely in for a setback,” he said. “The dialogue has not moved one step forward.”

Obama’s overture last year was welcomed by some senior officials in Tehran, who praised the desire to resolve differences that stretch back to the 1979 Islamic revolution, though Khamenei dismissed it as a slogan that needed to be backed up with new policies. But this year’s address was roundly ignored by Iran’s state-dominated media, though many were able to access it through some Farsi- and English-language radio and websites.

A Western diplomat in the Gulf said Khamenei, the final arbiter in major policies of state, was sticking to his

position of the past year that Iran could not change its approach based on a “change of tone” in an American presidential address. Khamenei’s speech made clear his view that Washington’s sympathy for the protest movement over the past year - sparked by anger at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection in June - showed the new rhetoric was only tactical, the diplomat said.

Iran has accused Western powers of fomenting the unrest. Shafiq Ghabra, a professor at Kuwait University, also said Khamenei and his allies in the ruling establishment did not see a clear enough direction from Washington to open up dialogue. “Iran is not sure what to believe and not to believe in what is coming out of the United States. Who is calling the shots in Washington?

Obama, Congress, the pro-Israel lobby?” he said. “There is no clarity that the US administration will be able to deliver, not least after their failure on Israeli settlements.”

Washington’s credibility in the region has suffered over its failure to persuade Israel’s right-wing government to halt all settlement activity in the occupied territories, which the Palestinians have made a condition for restarting peace talks. The US administration is trying to win key Chinese support for a new round of UN sanctions on Iran for failing to reach an agreement with major powers on enriching uranium for its nuclear energy programme abroad.

Washington fears the program is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons.

Analysts say Israel, which is widely believed to have nuclear weapons but sees a nuclear Iran as a threat, could launch a strike against Iranian facilities with US support. Hawkish pro-Israeli members of Congress could favour a direct US strike and Obama’s administration has said it will do whatever it takes to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons.

Saudi Arabia and smaller Gulf Arab countries that host US forces or provide facilities share US concerns about a nuclear-armed Iran and its ambitions

for regional dominance. A Western diplomat in Riyadh said Saudi Arabia, which might feel obliged to develop an arsenal to match a nuclear Iran, hoped to use its status as China’s top oil supplier to persuade the Security Council veto-holder to get tougher with Iran.

“They are concerned about Iranian influence and ability to have a bomb and are trying to get the Americans to apply

more pressure. They always thought sanctions wouldn’t work,” he said.

Many Iranians who support the reform movement are disappointed that Obama has not taken a tougher line with the authorities, as his administration reads the runes to see if a moderate voice emerges in Tehran.

Diplomats and analysts say the ruling establishment remains split over dia-

logue with Washington, which Ahmadinejad might have favoured in recent months, before he was drowned out. “At this stage it is the Iranians who are being difficult, who are not taking advantage,” said Emirati politics professor Abdullah. “I think there are more problems in Tehran at this moment than there are in Washington.” — Reuters

‘Containing’ Iran debated W

By Mark Heinrich

ith big powers unable to agree tough new sanctions against Iran and military action rife with risks to the West, Cold War-style containment may prove the only realistic way to check Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, experts say. Other factors supporting this argument include an Islamic ruling elite in Iran whose antiWestern ethos precludes negotiated rapprochement and a UN inspection regime too weak to catch any covert attempt to develop atomic bombs in a timely fashion.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s airing last year of how Washington might handle a nuclear-capable Iran, by arming Gulf allies and creating a regional defence shield, stunned and angered Israel, which considers Tehran an existential menace. Obama administration officials hastened to stress then and continue to say now that the world cannot allow a nuclear Iran and harsher sanctions will help forestall any such scenario.

But even Israel’s defence minister has suggested an Iran with nuclear “breakout” ability would not doom the world, and policymakers should have a strong fallback plan - even if they don’t say it publicly - if sanctions fail to restrain Iran.

“I don’t think the Iranians, even if they got the bomb, are going to drop it immediately on some neighbour. They fully understand what might follow. They are radicals, but not total ‘meshugenah’,” Ehud Barak said in a speech last month. He was using the Yiddish word for “nut cases”, and alluding to the certain threat to Iran of annihilation by foes with massively greater nuclear firepower - Israel and the United States - if it started a nuclear conflict. “We should ... think thoroughly and in a consequential manner about what should happen if, against our hopes, wishes and dreams, it (sanctions or talks) won’t work,” he told a Feb 26 meeting of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

As doubts about the feasibility of effective sanctions or pre-emptive war have grown, debate has arisen about whether a nuclear-ready Iran could be “contained”, somewhat as the United States did the Soviet Union and China

during the Cold War era. Containment could make sense, Foreign Policy magazine said in an essay entitled, “After Iran Gets the Bomb”, because the Islamic Republic’s overriding priority was regime protection.

Iran recognized its limitations, operating “among wary neighbours” whom it did not seek to invade. Rather, the point of the nuclear program was to establish Iran as the “dominant power in the region while preserving political control at home,” wrote James Lindsay and Ray Takeyh, strategic analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

A containment, or deterrence, strategy, they said, could spell out to Iran that it could not start a conventional war, use or transfer atomic know-how, materials or weapons to others, or boost support for militant attacks abroad without triggering US retaliation by any means, including nuclear weapons. Containment advocates cite Iran’s history of strategic caution, even under Islamic revolutionary rule since 1979. Iran has avoided direct military conflict with rival states, instead backing proxy militants that have bloodied US and Israeli predominance in the Middle East but not jeopardized it.

Dennis Blair, head of the US intelligence apparatus, has estimated that Iran will be unable to derive a nuclear warhead from highly enriched uranium before 2013 because of technical bottlenecks it has yet to overcome. But last month, the UN nuclear watchdog said it suspected Iran was secretly working to design a nuclear-tipped missile.

Iran meanwhile has conducted highly public ballistic missile tests it says will deter “aggression” by US and Israeli foes. Tehran has also snubbed President Barack Obama’s entreaties to negotiate deals he says would guarantee Tehran’s right to purely peaceful nuclear energy under effective International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections. Given Iran’s recalcitrance, the United States has been building up early-warning systems and ballistic missile defences in the Gulf - prompting some US legislators and analysts to suggest a nascent containment strategy is already in place. — Reuters

Israel weathers round with White House

By Matti Friedman

I

n the war of wills between the Obama administration and Israel over settlement construction, Israel has weathered - if not won another round.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s awkwardly timed visit to Washington this week closed with a meeting with President Barack Obama that seemed intended to pull the curtain on the dispute without resolving it. Netanyahu never had to apologize, nor publicly roll back a Jewish housing plan for east Jerusalem that embarrassed and infuriated his US backers.

Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on Tuesday evening went on for hours longer than planned, a possible sign of a thaw. But in a break with custom and an apparent sign of the prickly relations between the two governments, reporters were not invited to see the two shake hands and begin their discussions. Paying a visit to Washington that had been planned before the housing crisis flared, Netanyahu met top Obama administration officials while at the same time publicly and firmly rebuffing the administration’s criticism of Israel’s longstanding policy of building homes for Jews in east Jerusalem.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (center), flanked

by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, addresses members of the media on Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday. — AP The visit could have been a celebration of the inauguration of peace talks recently engineered by a US envoy after months of trying. New talks were a campaign pledge for Obama, whose willingness to criticize Israel unnerved both the close ally and its staunch supporters in Washington. Those new talks are still promised but delayed indefinitely by the latest crisis, and Netanyahu’s two days in Washington served to showcase differences with Washington. Netanyahu was greeted

upon landing Monday by critical remarks from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Speaking to members of a pro-Israel lobby, she stated bluntly that Israel’s construction in east Jerusalem jeopardized peace talks and undermined the U.S. role as a mediator.

Hours later, Netanyahu told the same forum, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, that Israel would continue building homes in the city at the center of the Jewish faith.

“Jerusalem is our capital. It’s not a set-

tlement,” the Israeli leader said, to a prolonged standing ovation.

On Tuesday, he reiterated that idea in stronger terms in meetings on Capitol Hill, where he was received warmly, and made sure to pass those comments on to reporters afterward.

The Palestinian demand for a halt to construction in Jerusalem as a precondition for talks, he said, was “unreasonable and illogical”. Netanyahu’s comment was directed at the Palestinians, but the US administration has been making a nearly identical request.

While rhetorical sparring continued, statements from the US and Israel indicated that both want to move on. They want to see Israeli-Palestinian peace talks launched soon and not delayed indefinitely by the fight.

A similar spat last year ended in a similar fashion: The Obama administration pressured Israel to halt all settlement construction in the West Bank to get peace talks started, but Netanyahu agreed to a limited slowdown, not to a full freeze. Faced with Israel’s refusal, the administration gave way.

Something similar may be afoot now - a half-measure offered by Israel that Washington accepts because it fears the consequences of a full confrontation with Israel and its powerful supporters in the United States.

Netanyahu’s effusive reception on Capitol Hill was evidence of the power of Israel’s arguments about the choices it makes for self-defense and the sway of its politically active supporters in the United States. The threat that Iran might soon possess a nuclear weapon has made Israel’s case stronger and limited the pressure tactics available to a peace-minded American president.

The recent fight was triggered by Israel’s announcement two weeks ago that it will build 1,600 new apartments in east Jerusalem, the largely Arab city section it captured from Jordan in 1967.

Israel annexed the area in a move the international community has never recognized. Israel has been making similar housing announcements for decades, but this one came against the backdrop of the earlier friction over settlements and in the middle of a visit

by Vice President Joe Biden.

Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state and are now holding up the new US-sponsored talks over what they claim is a land grab intended to spoil both the talks and the promise of a viable Palestinian state.

US envoy George Mitchell spent the past several days in Israel and the Palestinian territories in an attempt to rescue the talks, but came home without any obvious progress. — AP

ANALYSIS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

13

Inside a global cybercrime ring ‘Scareware’ ranks among fastest growing Internet frauds

By Jim Finkle

H

undreds of computer geeks, most of them students putting themselves through college, crammed into three floors of an office building in an industrial section of Ukraine’s capital Kiev, churning out code at a frenzied pace. They were creating some of the world’s most pernicious, and profitable, computer viruses. According to court documents, former employees and investigators, a receptionist greeted visitors at the door of the company, known as Innovative Marketing Ukraine.

Communications cables lay jumbled on the floor and a small coffee maker sat on the desk of one worker. As business boomed, the firm added a human resources department, hired an internal IT staff and built a call center to dissuade its victims from seeking credit card refunds. Employees were treated to catered holiday parties and picnics with paintball competitions.

Top performers got bonuses as young workers turned a blind eye to the harm the software was doing. “When you are just 20, you don’t think a lot about ethics,” said Maxim, a former Innovative Marketing programmer who now works for a Kiev bank and asked that only his first name be used for this story. “I had a good salary and I know that most employees also had pretty good salaries.”

In a rare victory in the battle against cybercrime, the company closed down last year after the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit seeking its disbandment in US federal court. An examination of the FTC’s complaint and documents from a legal dispute among Innovative executives offer a rare glimpse into a dark, expanding and highly profitable -corner of the Internet.

Innovative Marketing Ukraine, or IMU, was at the center of a complex underground corporate empire with operations stretching from Eastern Europe to Bahrain; from India and Singapore to the United States. A researcher with anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc who spent months studying the company’s operations estimates that the business generated revenue of about $180 million in 2008, selling programs in at least two dozen countries. “They turned compromised machines into cash,” said the researcher, Dirk Kollberg.

The company built its wealth pioneering scareware - programs that pretend to scan a computer for viruses, and then tell the user that their machine is infected. The goal is to persuade the victim to voluntarily hand over their credit card information, paying $50 to $80 to “clean” their PC. Scareware, also known as rogueware or fake antivirus software, has become one of the fastest-growing, and most prevalent, types of Internet fraud. Software maker Panda Security estimates that each month some 35 million PCs worldwide, or 3.5 percent of all computers, are infected with these malicious programs, putting more than $400 million a year in the hands of cybercriminals. “When you include cost incurred by consumers replacing computers or repairing, the total damages figure is much, much larger than the out of pocket figure,” said Ethan Arenson, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission who helps direct the agency’s efforts to fight cybercrime.

Groups like Innovative

Marketing build the viruses and collect the money but leave the work of distributing their merchandise to outside hackers. Once infected, the machines become virtually impossible to operate. The scareware also removes legitimate anti-virus software from vendors including Symantec Corp, McAfee and Trend Micro Inc, leaving PCs vulnerable to other attacks. When victims pay the fee, the virus appears to vanish, but in some cases the machine is then infiltrated by other malicious programs.

Hackers often sell the victim’s credit card credentials to the highest bidder.

Removing scareware is a top revenue generator for Geek Choice, a PC repair company with about two dozen outlets in the United States. The outfit charges $100 to $150 to clean infected machines, a service that accounts for about 30 percent of all calls.

Geek Choice CEO Lucas Brunelle said that scareware attacks have picked up over the past few months as the software has become increasingly sophisticated.

“There are more advanced strains that are resistant to a lot of antivirus software,” Brunelle said.

Anti-virus software makers have also gotten into the lucrative business of cleaning PCs, charging for those services even when their products fall down on the job.

Charlotte Vlastelica, a homemaker in State College, Pennsylvania, was running a version of Symantec’s Norton anti-virus software when her PC was attacked by Antispyware 2010. “These popups were constant,” she said.

“They were layered one on top of the other. You couldn’t do anything.” So she called Norton for help and was referred to the company’s technical support division.

The fee for removing Antispyware 2010 was $100. A frustrated Vlastelica vented: “You totally missed the virus and now you’re going to charge us $100 to fix it?”

An industry pioneer “It’s sort of a plague,” said Kent

Woerner, a network administrator for a public school district in Beloit, Kansas, some 8,850 km away from Innovative Marketing’s offices in Kiev. He ran into one of its products, Advanced Cleaner, when a teacher called to report that pornographic photos were popping up on a student’s screen. A message falsely claimed the images were stored on the school’s computer.

“When I have a sixth-grader seeing that kind of garbage, that’s offensive,” said Woerner. He fixed the machine by deleting all data from the hard drive and installing a fresh copy of Windows. All stored data was lost.

Stephen Layton, who knows his way around technology, ended up junking his PC, losing a week’s worth of data that he had yet to back up from his hard drive, after an attack from an Innovative Marketing program dubbed Windows XP Antivirus. The president of a home-based software company in Stevensville, Maryland, Layton says he is unsure how he contracted the malware. But he was certain of its deleterious effect. “I work eightto-12 hours a day,” he said. “You lose a week of that and you’re ready to jump off the roof.”

Layton and Woerner are among more than 1,000 people who complained to the US Federal Trade Commission about Innovative Marketing’s software, prompting an investigation that lasted more than a year and the federal lawsuit that sought to shut them down. To date the government has only succeeded in retrieving $117,000 by settling its charges against one of the defendants in the suit, James Reno, of Amelia, Ohio, who ran a customer support center in Cincinnati. He could not be reached for comment. “These guys were the innovators and the biggest players (in scareware) for a long time,” said Arenson, who headed up the FTC’s investigation of Innovative Marketing.

Innovative’s roots date back to 2002, according to an account by

one of its top executives, Marc D’Souza, a Canadian, who described the company’s operations in-depth in a 2008 legal dispute in Toronto with its founders over claims that he embezzled millions of dollars from the firm. The other key executives were a British man and a naturalized US citizen of Indian origin. According to D’Souza’s account, Innovative Marketing was set up as an Internet company whose early products included pirated music and pornography downloads and illicit sales of the impotence drug Viagra. It also sold gray market versions of anti-virus software from Symantec and McAfee, but got out of the business in 2003 under pressure from those companies.

It tried building its own antivirus software, dubbed Computershield, but the product didn’t work. That didn’t dissuade the firm from peddling the software amid the hysteria over MyDoom, a parasitic “worm” that attacked millions of PCs in what was then the biggest email virus attack to date.

Innovative Marketing aggressively promoted the product over the internet, bringing in monthly profits of more than $1 million, according to D’Souza.

The company next started developing a type of malicious software known as adware that hackers install on PCs, where they served up pop-up ads for travel services, pornography, discounted drugs and other products, including its flawed antivirus software.

They spread that adware by recruiting hackers whom they called “affiliates” to install it on PCs. “Most affiliates installed the adware product on end-users’ computers illegally through the use of browser hijacking and other nefarious methods,” according to D’Souza. He said that Innovative Marketing paid its affiliates 10 cents per hijacked PC, but generated average returns of $2 to $5 for

each of those machines through the sale of software and products promoted through the adware.

Any means but spam The affiliate system has since blossomed. Hackers looking for a piece of the action can link up with scareware companies through anonymous internet chat rooms.

They are paid through electronic wire services such as Western Union, Pay Pal and Webmoney which can protect the identity of both the sender and the recipient.

To get started, a hacker needs to register as an affiliate on an underground website and download a virus file that is coded with his or her affiliate ID. Then it’s off to races. “You can install it by any means, except spam,” says one affiliate recruiting site, earning4u.com, which pays $6 to $180 for every 1,000 PCs infected with its software. PCs in the United States earn a higher rate than ones in Asia. Affiliates load the software onto the machines by a variety of methods, including hijacking legitimate websites, setting up corrupt sites for the purposes of spreading viruses and attacks over social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. “Anybody can get infected by going to a legitimate website,” said Uri Rivner, an executive with RSA, one of the world’s top computer security companies.

A scareware vendor distributed its goods one September weekend via The New York Times’ website by inserting a single rogue advertisement. The hacker paid NYTimes.com to run the ad, which was disguised as one for the Internet phone company Vonage.

It contaminated PCs of an unknown number of readers, according to an account of the incident published in The New York Times.

Patrik Runald, a senior researcher at Internet security firm Websense Inc, expects rogueware vendors to get more aggressive with marketing. “We’re going to see them invest more money in that - buying legitimate ad space,” he said. To draw victims to infected websites, hackers will also manipulate Google’s search engine to get their sites to come up on the top of anyone’s search in a particular subject. For instance, they might capitalize on news events of wide interest - from the winners of the Oscars to the Tiger Woods scandal - quickly setting up sites to attract relevant search times.

Anti-virus maker Panda Security last year observed one scareware peddler set up some 1 million web pages that infected people searching for Ford auto parts with a program dubbed MSAntispyware2009. They also snare victims by sending their links through Facebook and Twitter.

Some rogue vendors manage their partnerships with hackers through software that tracks who installed the virus that generated a sale. Hackers are paid well for their efforts, garnering commissions ranging from 50 to 90 percent, according to Panda Security.

SecureWorks, another security firm, estimates that a hacker who gets 1 to 2 percent of users of infected machines to purchase the software can pull in over $5 million a year in commissions. Hackers in some Eastern European countries barely attempt to conceal their activities. Panda Security found photos of a party in March 2008 that it said affiliate ring KlikVIP held in Montenegro to reward

scareware installers. One showed a briefcase full of euros that would go to the top performer. “They weren’t afraid of the legal implications, “ said Panda Security researcher Sean-Paul Correll.

“They were fearless.”

Banking One of Innovative Marketing’s biggest problems was the high proportion of victims who complained to their credit card companies and obtained refunds on their purchases. That hurt the relationships with its merchant banks that processed those transactions, forcing it to switch from banks in Canada to Bahrain. It created subsidiaries designed to hide its identity. In 2005, Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait severed its ties with an Innovative Marketing subsidiary that had the highest volume of credit card processing of any entity in Bahrain because of its high chargeback rates, according to D’Souza.

Innovative Marketing then went five months without a credit card processor before finding a bank in Singapore - DBS Bank willing to handle its account. The Singapore bank processed tens of millions of dollars in backlogged credit card payments for the company, D’Souza said. To keep the chargeback rate from climbing even higher, Innovative Marketing invested heavily in call centers. It opened facilities in Ukraine, India and the United States. The rogueware was designed to tell the users that their PCs were working properly once the victim had paid for the software, so when people called up to complain it wasn’t working, agents would walk them through whatever steps it took to make those messages come up.

Often that required disabling legitimate anti-virus software programs, according to McAfee researcher Dirk Kollberg, who spent hours listening to digitized audio recordings of customer service calls that Innovative Marketing kept on its servers at its Ukraine offices. He gathered the data by tapping into a computer server at its branch in Kiev that he said was inadvertently hooked up to Innovative’s website. “At the end of the call,” he said, “most customers were happy”.

Police have had limited success in cracking down on the scareware industry.

Like Innovative Marketing, most rogue Internet companies tend to be based in countries where laws permit such activities or officials look the other way.

Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and Singapore are the most aggressive in prosecuting internet crimes and helping officials in other countries pursue such cases, said Mark Rasch, former head of the computer crimes unit at the US Department of Justice. “In the rest of the world, it’s hit or miss,” he said. “The cooperation is getting better, but the level of crime continues to increase and continues to outpace the level of cooperation.” The FTC succeeded in persuading a US federal judge to order Innovative Marketing and two individuals associated with it to pay $163 million it had scammed from Americans. Neither individual has surfaced since the government filed its original suit more than a year ago. But Ethan Arenson, the FTC attorney who handled the case, warned: “Collection efforts are just getting underway.” — Reuters

‘Red Shirts’ make headlines but little progress

By Sarah Stewart

T

hailand’s “Red Shirts” have propelled their theatrical protest movement into a second week, but observers give them little chance of achieving their ambitions of forcing snap elections.

Despite headlines generated by stunts including splashing their own blood on the prime minister’s home and offices, they have gained little traction against the government they say is the tool of Thailand’s elites.

But even when the supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra pack up their protest camp in Bangkok and head back to their homes, mostly in the rural north, the phenomenon they have unleashed will continue to rage.

There are predictions of years more turmoil as Thailand’s political system struggles to incorporate the aspirations of the rural poor that were awakened when Thaksin came to power a decade ago on a populist platform.

“My expectation is that the protests will fizzle out,” said Michael Montesano from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “I don’t

think that they have really tested the government in any fundamental way,” he said, adding that conduct on both sides had exceeded expectations. The rolling demonstration began on March 14, after a court seized $1.4 billion of Thaksin’s fortune.

The tycoon was toppled in a 2006 coup and lives in exile to avoid a two-year jail sentence for graft imposed in absentia.

The Reds’ campaign, including a carnival-like parade through Bangkok last Saturday, is aimed at building support among the capital’s influential middle class, and in the ranks of the army, which backs the current administration.

But Thailand remains deeply mired in its colour-coded conflict which pits the red-clad Thaksin fans against rival “Yellow Shirts” who are backed by the Bangkok-based elites of the palace, military and bureaucracy. “This is going to take years to resolve because Thaksin was the first populist who figured out how to appeal to the majority of the people,” said Bob Broadfoot from the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy.

“Even if you get rid of him, the majority still exist, and they may be uneducated but they’re not stupid and they’re not going

Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra show stickers that read “Dissolution of Parliament” in Thai in Bangkok on Tuesday. – AP to be discriminated against in the system.”

The Red Shirts have won respect for carrying off the current rallies virtually without incident - after riots a year ago that left two people dead - but analysts say they must now move beyond street demonstrations. “At the moment they lack an ideology. They have a lot of

nice bumper sticker phrases... but they need to start defining exactly what they mean by those slogans,” said James Klein from the Asia Foundation.

There are fears that radical elements could resort to violence to revive the movement when it eventually ebbs, and the government has stepped up security measures including issuing

weapons to senior military at key sites.

The Reds are now focusing on mounting a new rally Saturday which they say will “shut down” Bangkok with crowds bigger than last weekend’s parade that drew 65,000.

“We will stay and protest no matter how long it takes, until we get what we want,” said

Reds leader Jatuporn Prompan.

At the protest camp, where numbers have waxed and waned between 5,000 and 100,000 since the campaign began, Thaksin’s supporters are unbowed despite the steamy weather and basic conditions. “I came here by train and arrived at the start,” said Banjongsak Tangsangauntham, a 70-yearold from the former premier’s stronghold of Chiang Mai in Thailand’s north. “I am tired because of the heat but I have no plan to return home. I will stay here until there is a dissolution of the house,” he said as he sat in a folding chair set up next to an electric fan.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to power in December 2008 in a parliamentary vote after a court decision removed Thaksin’s allies from government, must hold elections by the end of 2011.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said in Hong Kong this week that the troubles had not yet caused major damage but admitted that Thailand’s turbulent history had been an impediment to investment in the past. “We have politics that is impossible, frankly, to understand”, he told an investment conference. — AFP

focus

China, US not ready to spar over Google

By Marianne Barriaux

C

hina and the United States are not ready to spar over Google’s decision to effectively shut down its Chinese search engine, opting to focus on more serious issues that have strained ties, analysts say. A long-standing dispute over the value of the yuan, US arms sales to Taiwan and a recent visit to the White House by the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, outweighed censorship on the list of priorities, they say. “Google is small potatoes compared to these other issues... that China regards as being part of its core interest,” said Barry Sautman, a professor of social science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “It has some symbolic value in terms of the ideological contest between the United States and China, but it doesn’t go much beyond that.”

Google’s move to redirect mainland web search queries to an uncensored site in Hong Kong on Monday drew an initial angry response from China, but Beijing later took pains to say there would be no broader fallout in Sino-US ties. Washington cautioned China to consider the “implications” of the US Internet titan’s announcement, but emphasised it was “not party” to Google’s decision after calls from Beijing not to politicise the issue. “They’re trying to give a measured response - it really isn’t a political issue that should involve the two governments,” said Bob Broadfoot, head of the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy. “I don’t think the Google issue is being viewed on the level of Taiwan, the Dalai Lama, China’s exchange rate policy... These are issues that the two governments are focusing on.”

Google’s threat in January to leave China altogether over cyberattacks and Beijing’s tough censorship rules sparked SinoUS tensions. A speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Internet freedom added fuel to the fire. Since

then, China’s anger over Washington’s 6.4-billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, and US President Barack Obama’s talks with the Dalai Lama last month have eclipsed the Google issue.

The US also has increased pressure on Beijing over the yuan, which critics say is kept artificially low to boost Chinese exports. US lawmakers are clamouring for China to be labelled a currency manipulator by the US Treasury. But censorship, which Google has cited as the reason for its decision, is not a major issue in bilateral relations, Sautman said. “People realise that censorship is going to be in place for some time to come, at least with regard to the most sensitive issues,” he said.

Russell Leigh Moses, a Beijing-based political analyst, said the two governments’ muted response over Google was also due to uncertainty on both sides as to how they should proceed. “I don’t think a hard and fast decision has been made on the side of either government about how this is going to impact their relationship at large - what we’ve got is a pause rather than an outright policy,” he said. Just ahead of the Google announcement, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday at a meeting in Beijing with top-level global business leaders that he was confident China and the United States could work through their disputes. “Although there are conflicts and problems in bilateral economic and trade ties, I’m sure as long as we adhere to a spirit of mutual benefit and mutual accommodation on an equal footing, we can always find solutions,” Wen said.

A day later, as the Google announcement was making global headlines, China said the next round of high-level strategic and economic talks with the United States would be held in Beijing in late May. “What we’re seeing is the robustness of the relationship - that these ties are in fact tough enough to stand up to crises like these,” Moses said. — AFP

Defiance could hurt Google in long run

By Chris Lefkow

G

oogle’s defiance of China over Internet censorship will not have a short-term financial impact on the company but could prove significant in the long run, analysts said. At the same time, Google’s decision to no longer censor Web search results in China does allow the Internet giant to realign itself with the principles of its founders and the company motto of “Don’t be evil,” they said. While China is yet to make its intentions fully known, Beijing reacted angrily to Google’s announcement on Monday and the California company risks seeing itself shut out of the world’s largest online market.

In strict financial terms, a closure of Google’s operations in China would not have a significant impact on the company’s bottom line, analysts said. Youssef Squalie of investment bank Jefferies said China is “not material to Google’s revenue” of some 24 billion dollars a year, the vast majority of which is drawn from advertising placed alongside search results. “We estimate that China accounts for 250 million dollars to 350 million dollars, or one to two percent of Google’s net revenue,” Squalie said. “Right now, it’s not a lot,” agreed technology analyst Rob Enderle of Silicon Valley’s Enderle Group. “But it would be like a major company exiting the United States because they feel that they can’t compete and doing it in such a way that they may not be allowed back in,” Enderle said.

“That makes a statement about the company and the company’s future and that statement clearly is not positive,” he said. “Google has kind of slapped China in the face and China is likely to stew on this a bit and then slap Google back,” Enderle said.

Unveiling the plan to shift traffic to its China search engine, Google.cn, to an uncensored site in Hong Kong, Google chief legal officer David Drummond acknowledged the company was at the mercy of the Chinese government. “We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services,” he

said.

Drummond made clear that Google would like to continue to have a presence in China, which has an Internet population of nearly 400 million and where Google has embarked on a number of ventures besides search. “In terms of Google’s wider business operations, we intend to continue R&D work in China and also to maintain a sales presence there,” Drummond said.

Besides blocking Google’s Web services, China could retaliate against Google on other fronts, Enderle said. “They can block things like the Android platform which is increasingly and broadly used by handset manufacturers, a number of whom manufacture in China,” he said. “They’d already delayed the release of Android handsets in China because of concerns that China would block them.”

Michael Gartenberg, a partner in Altimeter Group, a Californiabased technology research and advisory firm, said “what’s at stake is the whole Chinese market for Google. “At the end of the day they weren’t getting very far relative to the local competition,” Gartenberg said in a reference to Chinese search engine Baidu’s 60 percent market share in China to Google’s 30 percent. “But I don’t think in the long term anyone can ignore China both because of the scope and the number of Internet users there,” Gartenberg said.

“Search is their core business so if they’re blocked in search that’s a huge problem.” Gartenberg cautioned, however, that “we’re in the early stages, the very opening moves of what’s going to be a very long chess match between Google and China.”

Justin Post, an analyst at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, said Google apparently balanced the financial losses against benefits on other fronts. “Google management likely considered the need to operate within the company’s guiding principles, the political capital gained elsewhere, and the potential of never getting longterm traction in China as part of its decision,” Post said. “On a positive note, Google should get some political goodwill from this move,” Post said. — AFP

NEWS

14

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Undeterred Israel okays more Jerusalem building JERUSALEM: Undeterred by turbulence in its ties with the United States and Britain, Israel yesterday confirmed plans to expand the Jewish presence in occupied East Jerusalem, with more building freshly approved. In a move sure to anger Palestinians and frustrate Western proponents of a freeze on settlement construction, a city official said approval was given to develop a flashpoint neighborhood from which Palestinians were evicted last year.

Word of the move came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completed an unusually low-profile meeting in Washington with US President Barack Obama for fence-mending talks, after their open spat over East Jerusalem earlier this month. Netanyahu says he regretted the bad timing of an announcement of East Jerusalem building plans during the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden two weeks ago, which Washington called “insulting.”

But on Monday he insisted before an audience of influential American Jews that “Jerusalem is our capital” and building will continue there as Israel sees fit. His defiant assertion coincided with a public slap to Israel from Britain, which announced it was expelling an Israeli diplomat over the forgery of British passports used by the suspected killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai. Israel said it regretted Britain’s decision but commentators yesterday predicted no meaningful damage to bilateral ties.

Irish, French, German and Australian passports were also forged by the assassi-

nation squad, and their authorities were expected to examine Britain’s evidence implicating Israel. In a comparatively rare public complaint, Saudi Arabia yesterday asked major powers involved in Middle East peacemaking for “clarifications about Israel’s arrogant policy and its insistence on defying international will.”

Israeli media said Netanyahu was surprised by news of the latest plans to build apartments in the Sheikh Jarrah district, which has become a focal point for antisettler demonstrations since Palestinian residents were evicted. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it was “part of Israel’s attempt to forcibly end any Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem, and to foreclose any hope of reaching agreement on the core issue of Jerusalem in line with international law”. “There is growing international frustration with Israel over the actions and decisions it is taking,” he said. “Israel is digging itself into a hole that it will have to climb out of if it is serious about peace.”

Speaking on Army Radio, Jerusalem councillor Elisha Peleg said the plan had been advancing for months. The latest move was just “a technical step” on the way to approving 100 homes. “We will continue to build all over Jerusalem, in Sheikh Jarrah and Ras Al-Amud as well,” he said, naming another Palestinian neighbourhood in the Jerusalem area. Erekat said President Mahmoud Abbas would insist that Israel revoke the Sheikh Jarrah project, as well as plans published during the Biden visit to build 1,600 houses at

another site.

At the United Nations, SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon called the announcement on the Sheikh Jarrah project unacceptable. He had previously condemned the earlier announcement on the 1,600-house plan. In a briefing to the UN Security Council on his trip to the Middle East last weekend, Ban also said he would set off today for an Arab summit in Sirte, Libya, to seek Arab backing for proposed indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem as part of its capital after capturing it in the 1967 war. Its claim is not recognized internationally. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as capital of a future state they are seeking in the occupied West Bank. In Washington, the Obama-Netanyahu talks yielded no sign of a breakthrough in the stalled peace process, which has been suspended for 15 months since Israel launched its offensive on the Islamist Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

In a sign of lingering tensions, the Obama administration withheld from Netanyahu some of the usual trappings of a White House visit. Press coverage of the Oval Office talks was barred, and the leaders made no public statements afterward. “President Obama and the prime minister met privately for an hour and a half, the atmosphere was good,” Netanyahu spokesman Nir Chefetz said in a statement several hours after. He said advisers “continued discussions on the ideas raised at the meeting” and would hold further talks. — Reuters

Dung beetle is strongest insect

LONDON: Two male dung beetles (Onthphagus taurus) lock horns in this handout photo. — AFP

LONDON: The world’s strongest insect is a type of male dung beetle which needs its power to be able to mate with females in animal faeces, British and Australian scientists said yesterday. Onthophagus taurus can pull 1,141 times its own body weight - the equivalent of a 70-kg person being able to lift 80 tonnes, the weight of six doubledecker buses. The extraordinary strength of many of the beetles is due to their unusual mating arrangements.

Even weaker members of the species have a compensating trait in evolutionary terms - huge testicles which increase their chances of fertilising a female. “Insects are well known for being able to perform amazing feats of strength and it’s all on account of their curious sex lives,” said Dr Rob Knell of Queen Mary, University of London, one of the researchers. “Female beetles of this species dig tunnels under a dung pat, where males mate with them. If a male enters a tunnel that is already occupied by a rival, they fight by locking horns and try to push each other out.”

Knell added that some male dung beetles are smaller and weaker, but do not have to fight for female attention due to their “substantially bigger testicles”. “This suggests they sneak behind the back of the other male, waiting until he’s looking the other way for a chance to mate with the female,” he said. “Instead of growing super strength to fight for a female, they grow lots more sperm to increase their chances of fertilising her eggs and fathering the next generation.” Onthophagus taurus’s amazing feats of strength are chronicled

by Knell and Professor Leigh Simmons of the University of Western Australia in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. — AFP

New Egypt fiction bypassing politics Continued from Page 1 one of the most prominent new authors, Hamdi Abu Golayyel.

“We are closer to everyday issues,” said Abu Golayyel, 42. “Our works have dropped dealing with the big issues and shaken off the burden of attempting to write prose for posterity.” While many in the new wave of literature are not overtly political, their focus on personal alienation brings a more subtle call for change in a country that has been ruled by authoritarian governments for decades and where nearly half of the population of 80 million live in poverty or close to it.

It’s a contrast to earlier generations of Arab writers. The literary titan Mahfouz was best known for his sweeping depictions of Egyptian society and mores.

Novelists from the 1970s-1990s often tackled issues of life under dictatorship and the direction of the Arab world after military defeats at the hands of Israel.

Abu Golayyel’s latest, “A Dog With No Tail”, is considered one of the most representative of the new wave. It tells the semi-autobiographical story of a poor bedouin villager who lives as a migrant construction worker in Cairo. Told with humor, it follows the protagonist through some of the darkest sides of living in the big city - prostitution, drug abuse and a harsh class system.

“My friends and I were almost completely shut out, walking the streets of Cairo like we were citizens of another, faraway country we yearn to go back to,” he writes of the peripheral life of the city’s underclass. A darker example is the 2010 novel “Farewell to Heaven” by Hamed Abdel-Samad, the tale of a child-

hood defined by the narrator’s repeated rape by older boys and the later discovery that the father he revered as a wise religious leader was no different than any other man in his village. He settles in liberal and more forgiving Europe, but it does little to ease his scars, and he eventually enters a psychiatric institution in Germany.

The new generation’s style is perhaps best typified in the 2003 “Being Abbas el Abd”, told in a fragmented form intertwined with pop culture references, often in a sort of “emoticon” Arabic used in writing mobile phone text messages.

Written by Ahmed Al-Aidy, it tells the story of a video store clerk whose job brings him into daily contact with Western culture. Much of his daily life revolves around his mobile phone and the SMS messages he sends. Poor and socially immobile, the narrator cries “glory be to my favorite bar of soap” - a reference to his habit of masturbating to deal with unfulfilled sexual desires.

“James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ is considered among the best books of the last century.

But reading it is more of a challenge than a pleasure,” said Al-Aidy, 35, whose novel has been translated into English, Italian, Dutch and Turkish. “In today’s world, books compete with a cinema ticket or a pack of cigarettes for entertainment. If you don’t capture the reader from the first page, he is gone forever,” he said.

More recently, Mazen Al-Aqaad’s 2009 novel “Lost Anger” dives into the world of the Internet, an increasingly important social gathering point for young Egyptians. The young narrator administers a chat room for men and women who share his desire for suicide because of

On Tuesday, Bharti shares closed 3 percent down in a slightly positive Mumbai market. Zain stock rose 1.4 percent yesterday to a new 23 week high. Bharti is desperate to expand in new markets as cut-rate competition in its home market the world’s fastest growing - squeezes margins and clouds its growth outlook.

Zain’s African businesses was considered a natural target for Bharti, which has thrived in an Indian market with low incomes and tariffs and a heavily rural population - characteristics shared by African

nations. Zain was keen to lock in what many regard as a high price offered by Bharti and will concentrate after the sale on the Gulf and Middle East, Chief Executive Nabil bin Salama said last month. The Kuwaiti group pulled back from an expansion spree last year and rejected an offer from France’s Vivendi for its African assets.

“I think Zain could still be quite an attractive company focused on a tighter geographic area,” Martin Mabbutt, a Nomura telecom analyst, told Reuters.

Daiwa’s Kovacocy said Bharti had paid a premium, but said it could be argued that

Bahrain minister charged MANAMA: A Bahraini minister is under investigation after being charged with laundering money from criminal enterprises, judicial officials said yesterday. The former minister has been released on bail while investigations are underway, officials said, but prosecutors have imposed a travel ban on him and frozen his assets. On Tuesday, Bahrain’s prosecutor general charged Mansour bin Rajab, a former minister of state without portfolio, for laundering money from “criminal activities.” A day earlier, the island kingdom’s ruler fired him, one of the first times a minister has ever been fired for corruption in a Gulf country.

Prosecutor Ali bin Fadhel AlBoeinyan said the charges include receiving kickbacks from trafficking in weapons and narcotics, adding that the money laundering network involved a Kuwaiti woman and several unidentified Arabs. Bin Rajab, who had previously worked as a minister of agriculture and local municipalities, is reported to have received more than $30 million through his various deals. Newspapers in the Gulf have suggested that the money laundering network is connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which is widely accused of running a huge weapons smuggling business in the Gulf.

MANAMA: Bahraini Minister of State Mansour bin Rajab leaves the public prosecution office late Tuesday where he was formally accused of money laundering. — AP Bin Rajab described the accusations as “unfounded.” He is a prominent member of Bahrain’s majority Shiite community and the charge has raised fears of a sectarian backlash over accusations of bias against the Sunni ruling elite. The pro-US island kingdom, which hosts the US Fif th Fleet, is

majority Shiite and there have been frequent demonstrations by disaffected members of the community. The investigations come in the course of a parliamentary inquiry into allegations that government officials embezzled billions of dollars from sales of state-owned land. — AP

Kuwait economy to rebound their traumatic lives. The participants eventually organize a party to celebrate a young couple who decide to kill themselves. The couple changes their mind in the last-minute and the disappointed revelers become angry and beat them to death.

Egypt’s fiction boom has rendered obsolete a common saying that in the Arab world, books are written in Cairo, published in Beirut and read in Baghdad.

Today, all three stages are done in one place - Egypt. The number of copies sold remain modest, however. As few as 10,000 earn a book a bestseller tag. The biggest seller has been the 2002 novel seen as kicking off the new wave - Alaa Al-Aswany’s “Yacoubian Building”. It depicts an Egypt where the dreams of the poor are constantly shattered, while corruption, social injustices and religious extremism flourish.

Its success opened the floodgates for fiction, said Hind Wassef, a co-founder of Diwan, a chain of American-style bookshops complete with coffee, loyalty cards and special offers. “It is a fiction market,” she said, “And we go out of our way to stock an excellent collection of fiction. It is what sells.” Many of those involved in the new wave hope that it will have a social impact. “While not political, the intellectual stimulation created by all this fiction will one day bring about reform and help contain the dangers of religious extremism and sectarianism,” said Mohammed Hashem, founder of Dar Merit, publisher of “Being Abbas el-Abd” and many of the more experimental new works. “If I live another 10 years, I may finally see everything I have tried to do bear fruit,” said Hashem. — AP

Zain approves African asset sale to Bharti Continued from Page 1

RIYADH: King Abdullah (left) of Saudi Arabia and his half brother Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (right) hold their swords as they take part in the traditional Arda or War dance during the Janadriyah Festival of Heritage and Culture on the outskirts of Riyadh late Tuesday. — AP

the company could extract much more value from the African business than Zain.

Bharti, 32-percent owned by Singapore Telecommunications, would pay a total of $9 billion in cash to Zain, including $700 million to be paid one year after the deal closes. The Indian firm will also assume $1.7 billion debt on the target firm’s books. Bharti said on Sunday it had secured $8.3 billion in loans from a clutch of lenders, led by Standard Chartered, Barclays and State Bank of India. Standard Chartered and Barclays were advising Bharti on the deal, while Zain was being advised by UBS. — Reuters

Continued from Page 1 The meeting, attended by central bank governors of the six-nation GCC, will discuss a host of issues, mainly coordination to confront the effects of the global downturn on the Gulf financial system.

Discussion will also focus on the GCC monetary union, which was officially launched at the GCC summit in Kuwait last December, with the participation of only four out the six member states. The summit approved a mone-

tary union pact that called for establishing the Gulf monetary council, planned to become the unified GCC central bank that would issue a single currency. GCC assistant secretary general for economic affairs Mohammad AlMazroui told the governors that a key meeting will take place in Riyadh next week. “We are looking forward for the first meeting of the board of directors of the Monetary Council next week, which will signal the launch of its work,” Mazroui said.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

have ratified the pact while the other two members - Oman and the United Arab Emirates have opted out of the union. The UAE, the Gulf’s second largest economy, withdrew from the union over objections to selecting the Saudi capital Riyadh as the base for the future Gulf central bank. Oman said it could not meet the union’s prerequisites. “I still hope that the UAE and Oman would give the issue a second chance,” Sheikh Salem said. Kuwait has made bringing the UAE and Oman back into the union a priority of its GCC presidency. — Agencies

Info minister set to survive Continued from Page 1 yesterday the government is confident the minister will defeat the motion, insisting the government will attend today’s special session. The fact that the government is attending the session is proof that it has the numbers to defeat the motion. No minister has ever been voted out of office in Kuwait’s 48 years of parliamentary democracy.

Opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak almost conceded defeat by charging that the government was pressurizing some MPs to support the minister. However Barrak stressed that the number of MPs who will vote against the minister will be large enough to trigger alarm

for the government. Before the vote, at least two MPs will speak against the minister and two others against him alternately. The number of speakers can be three each.

The minister is getting a solid support from liberal MPs, Salafists and Shiites. Six out of eight liberal MPs and seven out of nine Shiite lawmakers will either abstain or vote for the minister while the two Salafist MPs are expected to support the minister. In addition, about a dozen tribal MPs are also expected to back the minister. In March 2007, the Cabinet resigned one day before Sheikh Ahmad was due to face a similar no-confidence vote because it could not garner sufficient support for him. He was then the health

minister. When the new Cabinet was formed, Sheikh Ahmad was dropped. But he was included in the Cabinet as oil minister about a year ago.

MP Ali Al-Deqbasi who grilled the minister said the aim of the grilling was not to oust the minister but to safeguard national interests. It was the sixth grilling in the new Assembly which was elected last May, four of which led to a no-confidence motion. The previous three failed. In another development, the financial and economic affairs committee has filed a request to convene a special Assembly session on April 15 to debate the privatization draft law which was approved by the committee last week.

Saudis bust Qaeda cells Continued from Pag 1 Authorities seized weapons, ammunition and explosive belts, and said the militants were linked to a “deviant group that has chosen Yemen as a base for the launch of its criminal operations,” employing terms used to typically refer to Al-Qaeda. “The deviant group is using elements inside the kingdom who came (to Saudi Arabia) under the cover of work or pilgrimage or entered illegally,” the ministry said in a statement.

Sanaa, struggling to stabilise a fractious country, has come under international pressure to end a northern war and focus on fighting Al-Qaeda, whose Yemen-based arm claimed responsibility for the attempted December plane bombing. US allied-Saudi Arabia and Western countries fear Al-Qaeda is exploiting instability in impoverished Yemen to launch attacks in the region and beyond. Militant attacks in Saudi Arabia have included suicide bombs at housing compounds in 2003 and at the interior ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh in 2004, plus an attempt to storm the world’s biggest oil processing plant at Abqaiq in 2006.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest petroleum exporter, was forced to confront its own

role in rising militancy at home and abroad when its nationals turned out to be behind the Sept 11 attacks on the United States.

The mastermind of those attacks, Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was born in Saudi Arabia. In 2004 he urged followers to attack Iraqi and Gulf oil facilities, saying it was the most powerful weapon against America.

Authorities said the two suicide bombing cells were comprised of 11 Saudis and a Yemeni who security officials described as the brother of a prominent member of AlQaeda. It said they were in early stages of preparing suicide attacks. Some 101 militants were detained in the southern province of Jazan, near the border with Yemen. In addition to Yemeni and Saudi militants, those arrested also included militants from Bangladesh, Eritrea and Somalia. The dates of these arrests were not disclosed.

“The network ... which included suicide bombers was set up to lead attacks within the kingdom and target installations, and monitor security members as potential targets in concurrence with the recent events at the kingdom’s southern borders,” the interior ministry said.

Henry Wilkinson, a counter-terrorism expert at Janusian security consultants in

London, said the arrests showed the Saudi oil sector remained a priority target for AlQaeda. Saudi security was making it difficult for militants to operate in the kingdom but counter-terrorist activity was having little impact on Al-Qaeda’s regional arm, AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in Yemen, he said. AQAP “represents a consistent, if not growing threat to the oil sector and Western interests in the region”, he said.

Riyadh, which was drawn into a Yemeni war with separate Shiite insurgents in November, fears Yemen’s fight with AlQaeda could also spill over to its territory.

Saudi concerns about Yemen were amplified after the kingdom’s top anti-terrorism official Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was slightly hurt in a suicide attack in his house in September by a Saudi bomber posing as a repentant militant returning from Yemen. Islamist militants launched a violent campaign to topple the US-allied monarchy in 2003, killing nearly 200 people, including foreign residents. But a Saudi security crackdown coupled with tighter controls on financing and the spread of militant ideas helped curb violence inside the kingdom after 2006. — Reuters

SPORTS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

15

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Tuesday.

Florida 4, Toronto 1; New Jersey 6, Columbus 3; Boston 4, Atlanta 0; Ottawax2, Philadelphia 0; Tampa Bay 3, Carolina 2 (OT); Dallas 3, Nashville 1; San Jose 4, Minnesota 1; Chicago 2, Phoenix 0; Calgary 3, Anaheim 1; Edmonton 3, Vancouver 2.

(OT denotes overtime win)

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF New Jersey 43 25 4 195 Pittsburgh 42 25 6 225 Philadelphia 37 31 5 212 NY Rangers 31 32 9 186 NY Islanders 29 33 10 189

GA PTS 172 90 208 90 201 79 197 71 222 68

Buffalo Ottawa Montreal Boston Toronto

Northeast 39 22 39 30 36 30 33 27 26 35

Division 10 200 5 198 7 196 12 180 12 193

180 212 200 181 242

Washington Atlanta Florida Tampa Bay Carolina

Southeast 48 14 32 30 30 31 29 32 30 34

Division 10 283 11 218 11 190 12 191 9 203

203 106 234 75 210 71 227 70 229 69

88 83 79 78 64

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 46 19 7 236 179 Nashville 42 27 5 207 206 Detroit 36 23 13 196 193 St Louis 34 29 9 196 199 Columbus 29 32 12 190 235

Vancouver Colorado Calgary Minnesota Edmonton

Northwest 44 25 40 25 37 27 35 32 24 42

Division 4 238 7 216 9 187 6 199 7 187

99 89 85 77 70

190 194 182 215 250

92 87 83 76 55

Pacific Division San Jose 44 19 10 236 193 98 Phoenix 46 23 5 201 181 97 Los Angeles 42 24 5 211 188 89 Dallas 32 27 14 211 231 78 Anaheim 34 30 8 204 220 76 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

NEWARK: Ilya Kovalchuk No.17 of the New Jersey Devils clears the puck from Kristian Huselius No.20 at the Prudential Center. The Devils defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3.—AFP

Blackhawks ends Coyotes’ winning streak CHICAGO: Antti Niemi made 28 saves for his sixth shutout as the Chicago Blackhawks took over the points lead in the Western Conference by ending the Phoenix Coyotes’ nine-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory Tuesday night.

Chicago moved closer to clinching its second straight playoff berth and now has 99 points, two more than the Coyotes and one more than San Jose, which regained the Pacific Division lead over Phoenix.

Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa scored second-period goals for Chicago, which beat the Coyotes for the first time in four meetings this season. Phoenix’ nine-game winning streak had equaled a club record.

Bruins 4, Thrashers 0 At Atlanta, David Krejci scored a goal and assisted on another, Tuukka Rask blanked Atlanta for the second time this season, and the Bruins kept up their dominance over the Thrashers to extend their lead for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins moved three points ahead of

the Thrashers in the playoff race, snapping Atlanta’s four-game winning streak. Rask stopped a penalty shot and made 28 saves in all to beat Atlanta for the third time this season, including a pair of 4-0 victories.

Devils 6, Blue Jackets 3 At Newark, Travis Zajac and Zach Parise each scored twice and Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and three assists to lead New Jersey over Columbus. Paul Martin also scored for the Devils, and Martin Brodeur made 19 saves to reach the 40-win mark for the eighth time.

No other NHL goalie has had more than three 40-win seasons. The Devils jumped over the Penguins and into first place in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey and Pittsburgh both have 90 points, but the Devils have one more win than the Penguins and have played one fewer game. Antoine Vermette, Jakub Voracek and Kristian Huselius scored for Columbus.

Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 1 At Toronto, David Booth had the first twogoal game of an injury-marred season. Scott

Clemmensen came within three minutes of registering his first shutout of the season. He settled for a 42-save effort in a victory.

Michael Frolik and Jason Garrison also scored for Florida, which became the first visiting team to leave Toronto with a victory since March 2. Fredrik Sjostrom scored for the Maple Leafs, who received 25 saves from JS Giguere. Booth is starting to find his stride after missing 45 games because of a concussion. He seems to be regaining the form that produced 31 goals last season. Booth has four goals in four games. Toronto entered with wins in six of seven.

Senators 2, Flyers 0 At Ottawa, Brian Elliott earned his second shutout in two days and Chris Kelly and Daniel Alfredsson scored to lead Ottawa over Philadelphia. Elliott stopped 26 shots - including a spectacular glove save on James van Riemsdyk with 3:55 remaining — for his fifth shutout of the season. Kelly scored midway through the first.

Alfredsson put the Senators up by two with

his 18th goal 18 seconds into the third. The Senators strengthened their hold on fifth place overall in the Eastern Conference with 83 points, four ahead of Philadelphia and Montreal.

Flyers left winger Simon Gagne got 19 minutes in penalties in the wake of Alfredsson’s goal when he jumped Anton Volchenkov after the Ottawa defenseman checked him into the boards from behind earlier in the play.

Lightning 3, Hurricanes 2 At Tampa, Florida, Martin St Louis scored his second goal of the game 29 seconds into overtime as Tampa Bay stopped a five-game losing streak with a win over Carolina. Steve Downie also scored for the Lightning, who won for just the third time in 15 games.

Sharks 4, Wild 1 At St Paul, Evgeni Nabokov stopped 18 shots and four San Jose players scored to help the Sharks snap a six-game losing streak. Joe Pavelski, Dany Heatley, Torrey Mitchell and Joe Thornton all had goals for the Sharks.

last season, though with added revenue from the new Target Field stadium, the team’s projected payroll for 2010 is about $97 million. “We’ve been extraordinarily busy and our ticket sales have been exceedingly strong,” Klinger said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve seen a bounce (from the Mauer signing).” “We’re closing in on about 23,000 season tickets and we’ve sold for the season about 2.4 million tickets so far,” Klinger said. “Last year we had a record year for season ticket sales of 11,000, and drew about 2.4 million.”

Mauer was emotional after signing the extension with the same pen he had used to sign his original contract with Minnesota, who play only a few miles from where he grew up in St. Paul as a three-sport star in high school. “I love putting on the Minnesota Twins uniform, and I’m thrilled to be able to do this for the rest of my career,” Mauer told a news conference on Monday at the team’s spring training camp in Florida. “I’m going to give you everything I got. My goal is to win a World Series, and I look forward to doing that.”

Mauer has already won three American League batting titles, the most ever by a catcher, and is coming off his best season, batting .365 with 28 home runs and 96 runs batted in.

Klinger said he could understand why baseball officials around the country applauded the Mauer deal.

“It’s a good story because Joe was so identified with the Minnesota Twins and he was just one of those players you believed should remain with his club for the rest of his career, like Kirby Puckett of the Twins and Cal Ripken in Baltimore and (Derek) Jeter probably in New York,” he said.

“There are only a handful of players like that in baseball and Joe is one of them.” — Reuters

Stars 3, Predators 1 At Nashville, Loui Eriksson and Matt Niskanen scored goals 30 seconds apart early in the third period to give Dallas a victory that snapped the home team’s six-game winning streak. Trevor Daley also scored for Dallas, which won for the second time in three games despite being outshot 35-14. Shea Weber had the goal for Nashville.

Flames 3, Ducks 1 At Calgary, Rene Bourque scored the win-

ning goal on a breakaway late in the second period to lead the home team over Anaheim.

The Flames pulled within two points of the eighth-place Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference playoff race.

Nigel Dawes and Niklas Hagman also scored for the Flames, and captain Jarome Iginla and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester each had a pair of assists. Scott Niedermayer scored the lone goal of the game for the Ducks, who are nine points out of a playoff spot with just 10 games remaining. Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 22 of 23 shots to record his 32nd win of the season. Jonas Hiller made 25 saves for Anaheim.

Oilers 3, Canucks 2 At Edmonton, Tom Gilbert had a goal and an assist as the Oilers earned their third con-

secutive victory with a win over Vancouver.

Robert Nilsson and Andrew Cogliano also scored for the last-place Oilers, who were coming off consecutive wins over Detroit and San Jose and have won seven of nine at home. — AP

Bastareaud inks first contract with Stade

Twins target ticket bounce after mammoth Mauer deal NEW YORK: Minnesota Twins fans will sleep easier after Joe Mauer penned a new eight-year deal, but club officials may have a few restless nights hoping ticket sales go some way to recouping his mammoth $184million contract. Considered the best catcher in baseball, the 26-year-old inked the fourth biggest contract the MLB has ever seen that will earn him $23 million a year at a club whose payroll amounted to $65m last season. With the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox primed to court Mauer when he became a free agent at the end of the season, relief swept through the city when news of Mauer’s contract broke.

“I think Mauer gave the Twins a big hometown discount, and I’m so glad they got it done,” one elated supporter told the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper. With Mauer’s services secured through to 2018, now starts the work of generating revenues and ticket sales to complement such a big signing. “Until we were able to get Joe under contract there was some angst in the market about his future here,” Twins vice president of marketing Patrick Klinger told Reuters.

“But that was relieved yesterday and probably a lot of Twins fans slept a lot better last night.” The Twins, who operate in the 14th biggest US television market in a state with a population of just over four million, gave American League Most Valuable Player Mauer, the fourth richest contract ever in Major League Baseball.

Only the last two contracts signed by Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and the deal for Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter were for bigger money, according to a report on Major League Baseball’s website. (http://mlb.com/) Starting next season, Mauer will earn $23 million a year. The Twins’ Opening Day payroll was $65 million

San Jose won for the first time since beating Nashville on March 11 and snapped its longest skid since Nov. 5-30, 2005. It was also the Sharks’ first road win since beating Detroit on Feb. 11.

The Sharks were in first place in the West when they embarked on their six-game road trip back on March 14.

Their recent struggles dropped them behind Phoenix in the Pacific Division race, but they jumped back ahead of the Coyotes with this win.

Joe Mauer in action in this file photo.

PARIS: France international centre Mathieu Bastareaud signed his first professional contract on Tuesday with Top 14 side Stade Francais, the club’s owner Max Guazzini said. The 21-year-old - who starred for France as they claimed their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004 last Saturday - has been at Stade since 2007 when he signed from Third Division side Massy. His contract sealed on Tuesday will see Bastereaud stay at Stade for another three seasons.

It caps a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of Bastareaud capped eight times - since his career almost came to a premature halt when it was revealed he had lied about how he had suffered facial scars on last year’s Tour of New Zealand. He claimed to have been beaten up outside the French team hotel, when in fact he had fallen over a table in his hotel room in a drunken state.

This revelation led to an abject apology from the French Government to their Kiwi counterparts and Bastareaud being ordered to perform community service by the French Rugby Federation (FFR). However, France coach Marc Lievremont took a gamble on public opinion when he recalled him for the Six Nations opener against Scotland but Bastareaud repaid him with several stirring displays.

Meanwhile, the Waikato Chiefs have named Sione Lauaki at number eight to play the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Friday, a day after the former All Black pleaded guilty to an assault charge at a Hamilton court.

The 28-year-old, who played 17 tests for New Zealand from 2005-

2008, replaces Colin Bourke at the back of the pack as the Chiefs seek to move into playoff contention.

Lauaki’s guilty plea related to an incident at a bar in Hamilton, local media reported. He will return to court in May. The Chiefs, who have won three out of their five games and are sixth in the standings, could leap-frog the Brumbies and the New South Wales Waratahs into the top four with a win in Canberra.

“We are aware the Brumbies have been playing well and they enjoyed a good start to their season,” Chiefs coach Ian Foster told the team’s website (www.chiefs.co.nz) yesterday.

“They also have a good record at Canberra Stadium. However, that makes this game that much more exciting and challenging for us.”

The Chiefs have also brought in Ben Afeaki to start at tighthead prop at the expense of Nathan White, and lock Culum Retallick returns to the second row.

The Brumbies, who lie fifth with four wins from six matches, have switched Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau to inside centre in a backline reshuffle after their costly 39-34 loss to the Blues in Auckland.

Eighteen-year-old debutant Michael Hooper comes in for flanker George Smith, who sustained a shoulder injury against the Blues, while Matt Toomua has been promoted to flyhalf in the absence of injured Christian Lealiifano.

The Brumbies also welcome back Stirling Mortlock to outside centre after a one-week layoff with injury. -—Agencies

SPORTS

16

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Asian event throws focus on blind golfers (ISPS), the event’s title sponsor.

The International Blind Golf Association is one of ISPS’s main charitable recipients. The event winner will receive a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour.

Meanwhile, Arnold Palmer’s grandson Sam Saunders will redefine the phrase ‘home advantage’ when he tees off at the Bay Hill course in Florida for his fifth PGA tour event of the season today.

Saunders, 22, is competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational with the tournament’s host, who notched 62 PGA Tour wins and seven major championships dur-

SINGAPORE: The Asian Tour’s newest golf tournament will aim to throw the focus on blind and partially sighted golfers, its sponsor said yesterday.

The tour unveiled its newest event, September’s $400,000 Handa Singapore Classic, which will make its debut at the city-state’s Orchid Country Club this year. “(The event) will help show that those who have a partial or complete visual impairment are also able to enjoy the game,” said Dr Haruhisa Handa, Japanese philanthropist and chairman of International Sport Promotion Society

ing his playing career, as his coach on a course he says he knows “like the back of my hand.”

On top of that his parents, Amy and Roy, run the Bay Hill Club and Lodge; he lives just two miles down the road from the course; practices on site throughout the year and will enjoy the backing of many locals. “It’s exciting. I like having a big crowd out there; whether or not I have one, we’ll see. If I play well, that will be the case,” Saunders told reporters on Tuesday. Saunders, who does not have a card for the PGA Tour or the lowerranked Nationwide Tour, is playing on a

sponsors exemption for the fifth-time this season.

After failing to make the cut twice and managing 70th place at Pebble Beach, Saunders broke through with a tie for 17th at the Honda Classic earlier this month at Palm Beach Gardens. It was a step up that should help the young prospect cope with the extra pressure and attention he will face this week.

“Any time you can play well out here and gain that experience, regardless of what the next event is, is extremely helpful,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better every week I’ve played out here and I

think I’ve learned something different from each event.”

He has been helped by an evolution in his relationship with the 80-year-old Palmer. “I went to him and I said, ‘I really want your help. I want you to actually come out and work with me hard, don’t just tell me to slow down. Get a little more in-depth with me,’ and he did. We went out there and really worked hard on what I was doing and tried to come up with my own style of play.

“He put a lot of it on me. It’s not like he can tell me exactly how to play the game. He said, ‘You need to figure out

your own style and develop it and stick to it and don’t listen to anybody else-but me.’” Saunders believes he has some elements of his game in common with his illustrious grandfather, particularly in swing and more broadly in their approach to the game. “I’m beginning to see that we have a lot of similarities, and I like the way he played the game,” said Saunders.

“Everybody thinks he just played with no thought process at all, and I have to tell you, it’s not true at all. You don’t win as many tournaments as he did just hitting it hard and going and finding it.” — Agencies

dents, the tournament has witnessed a true spirit of friendship between the foreign and local teams which will always hold fond memories. The Kuwaiti Committee for golf began to organize the Friendship Cup Tournament 8 years ago.

The Ryder Cup, held every two years between Team America and Team Europe, one of sports events that promote the concept and objectives of the Sports Commissioner such as peace, friendship and

sports high spirit and fair competition, respect, appreciation and love For the first time this year, the Kuwaiti Golf Committee in collaboration with TouchÈ Sports Development Management has governed the tournament for a second year in a row by adding a step forward of the tournament champion at the invitation of the foreign team with participation of foreign and hero of the Gulf with the participation of the Kuwaiti team.

Winners pose with guests and organisers

Eighth Kuwait Golf Friendship Tournament KUWAIT: The 8th Friendship Championship organized by the Kuwait Golf Committee was a two day long event held at the Sahara Country Club, Kuwait. There were 34 players representing the State of Kuwait and the Foreign team and the Championship concluded on 20th March 2010, with the Kuwaiti team retaining the

Ahmad Al-Sara’awi after scoring a four in one.

Friendship cup title for the fifth time.

The Kuwaiti team was able to control the course of action from the first day and were able to win two rounds recording a total of 9 points. During the first round the foreign team was able to gain 3 points. And competes with both teams on 16 points for the bay for the championship title On the second day, the foreign team competed strongly and secured 9 points out of 16, but the Kuwaiti team retained the standing through the points accumulated from the first day and added it to the additional 5 points obtained on the second day to win the title of the Friendship Cup for the fifth time. At the end of the championship, the Kuwaiti Team completed victoriously with 16 points whereas the foreign team were able to complete with 12 points.

Abbas Ansari, the Chairman of the Kuwaiti Golf Committee said: “We are happy and proud to organise and serve the 8th Golf Friendship Championship which has selected the State of Kuwait for honouring this competition for the last years and see a wonderful evolution of the team’s performance annually.

Ansari went on to say that the Kuwaiti team won the championship title this year due to several reasons that has contributed greatly to the success of the team. The Kuwaiti team started their training and preparations late February 2010 and continued to the pre-tournament.

All the players are working Kuwaitis, they concentrate and stay calm, although they are very enthusiastic and have a good

sporting spirit all these characteristics have led them to the championship level.

Furthermore, this year’s competition saw the participation of aspiring young heroes of the junior golf team. The under 18-year-old hero was Bahman Yusuf Talal Qatami. The Kuwaiti team has had clear objectives during the course of the tournament using their expertise as well as developing sports talent and abilities.

In addition, the performance of the Kuwaiti team has contributed to the overall achievement of points to ensure a clear victory for the Kuwaiti team.

In conclusion, Golf is witnessing a significant development in the State of Kuwait, and the experience acquired in administering Golf events over the years has contributed significantly and effectively to create a mathematical model of a successful Kuwait Gold Team. Golf is currently being developed in the State of Kuwait to compete in world class events.

Sincere thanks were expressed to Touche sports development management for their support as well as to Zain and Athlete’s Foot for their contribution and support to the 8th Golf Friendship Cup. Gulf’s star golfer and Bahrain’s veteran champion, Nasser Al-Yacoub expressed tremendous pleasure in participating in the Friendship Championship.

Nasser’s participation in the Friendship Championship was at the invitation of the Kuwaiti Golf Committee will have a lasting memory. Mr. Nasser went on to thank the Kuwaiti Committee for honouring him and

inviting him to participate in the 8th Golf Friendship cup. Sheikh Ahmad Saraawi victoriously raised the Kuwait team obtaining a strike in one of the rarest strikes in golf!

Captain Damon Ferreira, a foreign professional golfer stated that he has witnessed a great Golf event through the participation of the foreign team which helped to boost the value of the tournament and looks forward to future Golf Sports developments.

With the cooperation of Kuwaiti resi-

Balsam and Lulu Al-Ayoob at the award ceremony.

Red Bull top guns face new challenges in Abu Dhabi bu Dhabi is getting ready to host the opening round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship held on March 26 and 27. The Emirati capital has so far hosted the event five times; however, the race over the corniche of Abu Dhabi is in constant evolution and innovation year after year.

The race track in Abu Dhabi is one of the most challenging in the world - for reasons that range from the shifting winds, high-G turns, a changing landscape, an ever-expanding skyline as well as the general pressure of being the season opener.

Around ten thousand spectators and fans will gather at the corniche and will be in the pilots’ field of vision, right behind the air gates. The scene will change as the planes rise up in the air to head back down towards the Big Blue.

Pilots will then refer to their unique skills facing gravity and will lead their aircrafts towards the horizon after reaching the required height. Added to that is the mental stress of the season opener where every pilot seeks some moral support materialized by championship points, awaiting the remaining 7 races.

Abu Dhabi is anything but a routine track for the pilots even though the race

A

box has remained in a similar location. A new beach on the corniche side of the 5-6 km track will give spectators an excellent

vantage point to see the action.

The chicane has been moved right in front of the new beach in tribute to the

landmark. The popular turning maneuver has also been positioned this year so that the high-G force pull-up is facing the new hotel buildings next to the iconic Emirates Palace. The Abu Dhabi Race Box has always been tight and this year, it is even tighter due to the expanded beach area.

Another new aspect to the 2010 race in Abu Dhabi is a new location for the Race Airport at the Municipality Harbour where a customized runway and the Race Team aircraft hangars are set up on what is normally a shipping pier.

Abu Dhabi is a location that can challenge even the most experienced pilots.

The prevailing winds are typically moderate from one direction in the morning and then switch to strong winds from the exact opposite direction in the afternoon.

That makes it difficult for the pilots to use the same race line as the influence of the wind on the planes has the opposite effect in each run. Pilots often say that means there are in essence two different tracks in Abu Dhabi, depending on the wind. Once the competition heats up, it often results in numerous pylon hits as even the slightest misjudgment can result in planes carving through the Air Gates rather than between them.

Super Series hosts named, Australia and US lose out COPENHAGEN: Denmark has been chosen as one of the nations to host the next phase of badminton’s Super Series from 20112013, the Danish Badminton Federation said in a media release yesterday.

Others include China, England, France, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. Bids are still being assessed from Hong Kong, India and Switzerland along with a second bid from China to host another tournament.

Three would be selected from those four, the federation said, making 12 in all but there is no place at the top table for Australia, the United States, Vietnam or Macau. The bids were put before the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) executive board meeting in Birmingham at the All England championships earlier this month.

The BWF is revamping host-

ing conditions for all the Super Series, which came into being in 2007. The Danish federation said all potential hosts had been required to meet “significantly increased commercial demands stipulated by BWF”.

Danish federation president Peter Jensen said: “Denmark has a long-standing tradition for a Super Series tournament-the Denmark Open-and belongs to one of the great nations in the world in terms of badminton.”

Although Australia and the US might be disappointed at their exclusion, neither was a great power in terms of top players and live television coverage might be harder to secure, one well-placed badminton source told Reuters.

The BWF will now pick out three or four of the tournaments at its annual meeting in May and designate them as a “Premium Super Series,” a sort of grand slam of badminton. — Reuters

Thursday, March 25, 2010

SPORTS

17

England whitewash Bangladesh series 2-0

MELBOURNE: Models wear the Kit Willow designed outfits to be worn by the grid girls at the Australian F1 Grand Prix, in Melbourne. —AFP

Melbourne under pressure to inject life into Formula 1 MELBOURNE: Formula One officials will hope this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix can inject life into a championship which stalled on the starting grid at the highly anticipated seasonopener in Bahrain a fortnight ago.

Despite the arrival of three new teams and the return of Michael Schumacher among four world champions at Sakhir, the refuelling ban, intended to discourage drivers from playing safe, instead resulted in a procession decided at qualifying.

The underwhelming spectacle, in which most drivers made just one pitstop to change tyres and were largely unable to overtake, prompted F1 bosses to demand quick rule changes to avoid further snooze-fests from tarnishing the championship race.

Unsurprisingly, Ferrari, whose Spanish driver Fernando Alonso led a victorious one-two finish with Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa at Sakhir, have supported the governing body FIA’s cautious response to the complaints.

“We have to wait and see different races and check the situation, without being emotional,” double world champion Alonso told local media.

“Something that confuses the fans is changing the rules all the time.” The threat of a boring Australian Grand Prix is somewhat diminished by the bumpy street circuit’s record of spills and upsets but the qualifying positions remain the most likely pointer to the podium places.

In this respect, Australia’s long wait for a local winner at their home race could be ended by Mark Webber in his Red Bull, whose cars have been described as “ridiculously faster” than the rest by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull arrive in Melbourne chasing their fourth win in five races and could have been chasing a fifth but for an engine failure that saw German driver Sebastian Vettel finish fourth after leading for more than two thirds of the race at Sakhir.

Webber, whose image is front and centre on promotional billboards around Melbourne despite fifth being

his highest finish, enjoyed his best season last year with two wins but disappointed at Bahrain where he finished a lowly eighth. “Both Seb (Vettel) and I are certainly in a position to challenge for a good result,” the 33-year-old told local reporters this week.

“Being a street circuit, this track evolves a lot over the course of the weekend... It’s a very green circuit, with low grip initially and then as the weekend goes on the teams have to adjust to the track, whereas Bahrain is grippy right through.”

McLaren drivers Hamilton and world champion team mate Jenson Button, have both forecast a better spectacle but arrive with vastly different memories of their last appearance at Albert Park. For Button, victory in last year’s season-opener in Melbourne with Brawn GP, now Mercedes, was the springboard to six wins in his first seven races that ultimately led to the title.

For 2008 world champion Hamilton, it was the catalyst for a period of ignominy after he was disqualified for misleading stewards at a hearing that promoted him to third place. The Briton arrives in Melbourne pleased with his podium finish at Bahrain in contrast to his new team mate Button, who managed only seventh after qualifying eighth.

“Bahrain was not a fantastic weekend for me, but I was happy with the progress we made through the weekend,” Button said. “I think coming here we know maybe the direction we took was slightly wrong, and we know exactly how to verify that here.”

Albert Park has proved an uncannily reliable form guide for the world title in recent years, with nine of the last 12 champions saluting at Melbourne-a statistic Germany’s Schumacher might well be aware of.

The German, now driving for Mercedes, used his record four wins in Australia as a springboard to four of his seven world titles, and the 41-yearold’s ability to improve upon his sixth placing in Bahrain will be of major interest at Albert Park. —Reuters

F1 statistics Some Formula One statistics for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix: WINS Fernando Alonso’s victory in the Bahrain season-opener for Ferrari ended a run of three wins by Red Bull. It was also the Spaniard’s first win since Japan in October 2008. Ferrari have now won 211 times from 794 grands prix. McLaren are the second most successful team with 164 while Williams have 113. Double world champion Alonso has 22 wins from 141 starts and now ranks alongside Britain’s Damon Hill in the all-time standings. Only nine drivers have won more races than Alonso. Michael Schumacher, now at Mercedes, holds the record of 91.

FERRARI Alonso was the fifth Ferrari driver to win on his debut with the team. The others were Argentina’s Juan Manuel Fangio (1956), Italian Giancarlo Baghetti (1961), Britain’s Nigel Mansell (1989) and Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen (2007). The one-two finish was Ferrari’s first since the French Grand Prix of June 2008.

POLE POSITION Despite their victory, Ferrari have still not been on pole since the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2008. Last season was their first without a pole since 1993, which is also the last year that Formula One had no refuelling during races. The last time a season-opener was not won by the driver on pole position was in 2006, also in Bahrain and also with Alonso ending up the winner.

AUSTRALIA Ferrari have won more frequently in Melbourne than any other team, with six wins to McLaren’s four. No Australian has won his home race to date but Red Bull’s Mark Webber, winner of two grands prix last year, has his best chance yet. The winner in Australia has gone on to be champion in nine of the last 12 years and the last four seasons in a row.

MILESTONE Toro Rosso’s Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, the youngest driver on the starting grid, turned 20 on March 23.—Reuters

DHAKA: Alastair Cook cracked an unbeaten century to lead England to a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second Test yesterday as the tourists wrapped up a 2-0 series win.

Set a target of 209 in little less than two sessions, skipper Cook scored 109 as England cruised to victory with more than 30 minutes of play remaining on the fifth and final day.

Cook, who faced 155 balls and blasted 11 fours in recording his 12th test century, put on 167 runs with Kevin Pietersen (74 not out) for the second wicket after fellow opener Jonathan Trott (19) was controversially given run out by the third umpire.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of credit to Bangladesh to the way they’ve made us work, especially (the) last 10 days, but it’s a very satisfying feeling,” Cook told reporters. “I think we could have got up to 250 in 50 on that wicket. We didn’t mind them playing a few shots, we were happy to sacrifice a few runs for wickets, instead of having to prise them out. Once we got a good start, and kept wickets in hand, towards the end we could chase anything down,” he said.

Off-spinner James Tredwell claimed three of Bangladesh’s last four wickets to help England bowl out the hosts for 285 runs in their second innings in the first over of the afternoon session. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan was the last man out, falling four runs short of his century when he charged down the pitch to a Tredwell delivery but failed to make contact and was stumped by Matt Prior.

Shakib, who made 49 and 96 runs in two innings and also claimed 4-124 with the ball, could take comfort from being named man of the match.

“Maybe tiredness got the better of us because we played five hard days of cricket in Chittagong in hot weather and we fielded almost 10 hours in this test match. After that it has been difficult for us,” said Shakib.

“But still we showed we can bat a bit longer. I think 285 in the third innings is not a bad score. But we should have scored 50 more runs, it would have been great,” he said.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann took man of the series honours for his 16 wickets that included a maiden 10-wicket haul in the opening Test in Chittagong last week which England won by 181 runs.

Bangladesh began the fifth day on 172-6 and appeared to be heading towards safety with nightwatchman Shafiul Islam assisting Shakib nicely until Tredwell broke their stubborn 63-run seventh-wicket partnership.

Trott took a simple catch at deep midwicket off Tredwell in the second over after the new ball was taken to dismiss Shafiul for 28. Bangladesh then suffered a body blow when their last recognised batsman Naeem Islam gifted Tredwell his second wicket of the morning, sweeping needlessly to be caught by Pietersen at mid on for three. Debutant paceman Steven Finn took the final wicket of the session when he trapped Abdur Razzak lbw for eight in the final scheduled over of the morning. —Reuters

KUWAIT: Marine committee at the Marine Sports Club celebrated the honoring of the international champion Yousuf Al Rbaiaan for formula racing, in a special ceremony held at the presence of the club chairman Lt General Fahad Ahmad Al Fahad and the secretary general Khalid Al Faudery and the marine committee chairman Abdul Qader Al Najjar and public relations director Mahmoud Abu Al Qasem and a number of club members.

DHAKA: Members of the England cricket team pose with their trophy after their win over Bangladesh in the two Test match series. —AP

Scoreboard Scoreboard after the second and final test between England and Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. England beat Bangladesh by nine wickets to win the series 2-0.

285 Bangladesh first innings 419 all out (T. Iqbal 85, Total (all out; 102 overs) Fall of wicket: 1-23 2-86 3-110 4-130 5-156 6-169 7Mahmudullah 59, N. Islam 59 not out, S. Islam 53) England first innings 496 all out (I. Bell 138, T. 232, 8-258 9-275 10-285 Bowling: Broad 16-2-72-2, Bresnan 13-2-34-1 (w-1), Bresnan 91, J. Trott 64, M. Prior 62) Tredwell 34-8-82-4, Finn 9-3-21-1, Swann 30-7-73-2.

Bangladesh second innings (overnight 172-6) England second innings T. Iqbal c Finn b Swann 52 A. Cook not out 109 I. Kayes b Broad 4 J. Trott run out 19 Z. Siddique c and b Tredwell 34 K. Pietersen not out 74 J. Islam b Swann 43 Extras (b-2 lb-4 nb-1) 7 Mahmudullah c Prior b Bresnan 6 Total (one wicket; 44 overs) 209 S. Hasan st Prior b Tredwell 96 Fall of wicket: 1-42 M. Rahim b Broad 3 Did not bat: P. Collingwood, I Bell, M. Prior, T. S. Islam c Trott b Tredwell 28 Bresnan, S. Broad, G. Swann, J Tredwell, J Finn.

N. Islam c Pietersen b Tredwell 3 Bowling: Shafiul 6-0-22-0, Razzak 15-0-67-0, Shakib A. Razzak lbw b Finn 8 8-0-31-0, Mahmudullah 7-1-38-0, Rubel 4-0-26-0 R. Hossain not out 0 (1nb), Islam 4-0-19-0.

Extras (lb-3 w-5) 8

Twenty20 could kill off Test cricket LONDON: Marylebone Cricket Club chief executive Keith Bradshaw fears the proliferation of Twenty20 will virtually kill off Test cricket.

Fewer players will be capable of playing the fiveday format because most will be “schooled purely” in the 20-over game, Bradshaw warns in the April edition of The Wisden Cricketer publication.

“I consider myself optimistic, but it isn’t difficult to look ahead and see the pessimists’ apocalyptic version of the future of the game - where tests are virtually redundant, Twenty20 saturates and players are globe-trotting mercenaries,” Bradshaw said. “We know several players have already forgone playing tests to prolong more lucrative Twenty20 careers.”

An example of this is Andrew Flintoff, the England allrounder who quit test cricket last year

due to persistent injury problems so he could continue in the 50-and 20-over international formats.

While Bradshaw believes tests could become the “preserve of four or five countries,” he also recognizes that T20 can help to expand the game, predicting there will be 20 international sides playing the shortest form in five years’ time.

“Twenty20 could sound the death knell for test cricket but it could also prove to be the perfect vehicle for the expansion of the game into other countries,” Bradshaw said. “The shorter the game, the greater the leveler and Twenty20 is an excellent pathway into the elite fold. Just think of the fairytale qualification of Afghanistan for this year’s World Twenty20. “I firmly believe the next big step will be the growth of cricket in the United States.” —AP

London 2012 equestrian venue gets green light LONDON: Plans to use Greenwich Park as an equestrian venue for the London 2012 Olympics were approved by local councillors at a planning meeting on Tuesday. The London Organising Committee (LOCOG) had met stiff opposition from local residents, pressure groups and wildlife organisations worried about the impact the plans would have on the park, which is a World Heritage Site. However, at a packed planning meeting of Greenwich Council that stretched towards midnight, LOCOG was given the goahead to continue with its preferred choice for the equestrian site close to the main Olympic Park.

“We are delighted with the outcome of this democratic process and thank the Greenwich planning committee and all the people who came out to speak for and against this application,” LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe said in a statement. “The message from tonight is loud and clear. This great park is on loan to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the people of the world. “We must return it to the residents of Greenwich, to

Londoners and visitors from the UK and around the world in the same condition, or better, than it was loaned to us.”

“We take this responsibility seriously and will continue to work with the park authorities, resident and park user groups and the people of Greenwich as we develop and implement our plans to stage an extraordinary event in 2012.”

Pressures groups argued that the park would be damaged by work needed to install a temporary showjumping arena, crosscountry course and spectator stands for the Games and that local residents would be deprived of access to the panoramic green space in south London before and during the Olympics.

One of the groups, ‘No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE)’ said it would take legal advice before deciding whether to launch an appeal.

The park will also be used as a venue for the modern pentathlon. “The work we have done over the last three or four years is to understand those concerns around Greenwich Park,” James Bulley, LOCOG’s director of

venues and infrastructure, told Reuters.

“We have tried to understand the nature of the park, the ecology, the sensitivity of the trees, any archeology, so we can plan it so that we minimise any effects.”

Greenwich, which will need an estimated 42 million pounds ($63.1 million) to transform it into a temporary equestrian centre, has been one of the most controversial of the London 2012 venues. It was chosen for its visual appeal and its proximity to the main hub of venues just across the River Thames.

Other iconic venues for the Games include the All England Tennis Club, Lord’s cricket ground, which will stage archery, and the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich for shooting. The International Equestrian Federation has backed LOCOG’s plans, especially after the decision to host its events at the Beijing Olympics hundreds of miles away in Hong Kong.

Greenwich Council’s support will be a huge relief for LOCOG, which is still waiting for its decision to move badminton to Wembley Arena to be rubberstamped. —Reuters

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Official says football is Title IX’s biggest problem

NASHVILLE: A wrestling coach sees Title IX being used to discriminate against men.

The man who wrote the original equal opportunity legislation thinks it’s working well with the numbers of both men and women playing college sports up greatly over the past four decades.

The head of an athletic department in the U.S. college Southeastern Conference says the biggest problem with meeting gender equity is what he calls the elephant in the room: College football.

“We have 330 varsity athletes, 110 are on the football team,” Vanderbilt vice chancellor David Williams said Tuesday. “So if you want me to get to 50-50, that means I have slots for 55 men other than football.”

Williams spoke during a panel discussion of whether the law requiring gender equity in college sports needs to be

reformed or is simply being misinterpreted. Former US Sen. Birch Bayh defended the law he helped pass in 1972 and agreed with Williams about football the most powerful of all college sports.

Middle Tennessee State wrestling coach Bryan Knepper argued against what he called unintended consequences of men losing teams at schools trying to meet Title IX. He cited men forced to play club level sports because of cuts in wrestling, track and field, swimming and other sports. He noted Division I has only 17 men’s gymnastics programs left, and he gave examples of programs like a wrestling program at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee that recently lost its team despite a $1 million endowment offer.

“Now a law intended to be one to not

discriminate based on sex is actually allowing it. You can cut men’s programs and basically discriminate against them in order to make it equal. That’s not true equality,” Knepper said.

Bayh denied that, noting how three times as many wrestling programs were cut between 1984 and 1988 when Title IX was not being enforced by the Reagan administration. “There are more men participating now today than there were at the beginning of Title IX,” said Bayh, who represented Indiana in the Senate between 1963-81.

“I don’t know how you can say it’s discrimination.” Williams was the only panelist able to discuss Title IX from the position of having made decisions based on trying to meet the federal law.

He worked at Ohio State and saw how

that Big Ten school met gender equality by starting a women’s crew program. To meet one requirement of Title IX, he had to cut men’s soccer a few years ago and added women’s swimming and bowling.

That women’s bowling team in 2007 won Vanderbilt the only national championship in school history. “We had to add women’s sports. Then you have to deal with the budgetary situation. The university says, ‘We’re not going to give it anymore money,”‘ Williams said in defending the move.

Williams also noted that his daughter swims for Brown, a university that has 36 sports offering no scholarships compared to the 16 varsity sports Vanderbilt has with scholarships.

Money is out there. Williams was part of the SEC’s negotiating committee that

worked out a 15-year deal with ESPN reportedly worth more than $2 billion to televise the league’s sports in 2008.

Vanderbilt will be receiving $18 million to $20 million a year under that package.

“One needs to understand that college athletics in Division I in this country is big business, and we sit in a conference that signed the biggest TV (deal). And they didn’t give us that money for anything but two sports: Football and men’s basketball,” Williams said. One woman in the audience asked how to control football to offer more opportunities to the other students. She said she has a 19-year-old son who couldn’t attend the college he preferred because the school doesn’t have men’s soccer and a 15year-old daughter who also plays soccer and runs track.

She suggested a cut to 50 scholarships for football. Williams noted the college sports governing body NCAA sets the standards Division I schools must meet to field a football team ranging from the size of the stadium, average attendance and the current limit of 85 scholarships per team.

“You’re going up against the tide,” Williams said. “You’re going to get pushed back in that way. People have tried it and haven’t been successful.” Bayh said help could come from the NCAA if another president comes through like the late Myles Brand, who defended Title IX when the Bush administration tried to water down provisions to meet the law around 2005. He also remembered hearing from the athletic directors at Alabama and Notre Dame when he started pushing Title IX. “It’s just a whole numbers game,” Bayh said. —AP

Bobcats set win record WASHINGTON: Gerald Wallace had 17 points, 19 rebounds and got two opponents to foul out in overtime to help the Charlotte Bobcats set a club record for victories Tuesday night with a 95-86 win over the Washington Wizards.

The win was No. 36 of the season for Charlotte, one more than the previous high set last season, and moved the team a step closer to the first playoff berth in its history. The loss moved the Wizards closer to a dubious bit of history.

Washington has dropped 12 straight and will equal a club mark if it loses at Indiana on Wednesday. The Wizards haven’t won since defeating lowly New Jersey 89-85 on Feb. 28.

Pacers 98, Pistons 83

DALLAS: Mavericks guard Jason Kidd (center) attempts to get by Los Angeles Clippers guards Eric Gordon (left) and Steve Blake ( right) as center DeAndre Jordan (rear) looks on in the second half of an NBA basketball game.—AP

NBA results/standings

At Auburn Hills, Danny Granger scored 32 points as the Indiana Pacers ended a ninegame road losing streak.

Detroit was officially eliminated from the playoff race with the loss, ending an eight-year streak of postseason appearances.

Brandon Rush scored 20 points for Indiana, while Troy Murphy added 10 points and 12 rebounds. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 14. The Pistons lost starting point guard Will Bynum in the first half with a back bruise, then coach John Kuester was ejected for arguing a call in the third quarter.

Knicks 109, Nuggets 104 NBA results and standings on Tuesday.

Charlotte 95, Washington 86 (OT); Indiana 98, Detroit 83; NY Knicks 109, Denver 104; Dallas 106, LA Clippers 96. (OT denotes overtime win) Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT 45 25 .643 35 34 .507 26 45 .366 24 47 .338 7 63 .100

Western Conference Northwest Division 47 24 .662 46 25 .648 42 27 .609 42 29 .592 14 57 .197

1 4 5 33

GB 9.5 19.5 21.5 38

Denver Utah Oklahoma City Portland Minnesota

Cleveland Milwaukee Chicago Indiana Detroit

Central Division 56 15 .789 39 30 .565 33 37 .471 25 46 .352 23 48 .324

16 22.5 31 33

LA Lakers Phoenix LA Clippers Sacramento Golden State

Pacific Division 52 18 .743 45 26 .634 26 45 .366 24 47 .338 19 51 .271

7.5 26.5 28.5 33

Orlando Atlanta Miami Charlotte Washington

Southeast Division 50 21 .704 45 25 .643 37 34 .521 36 34 .514 21 48 .304

4.5 13 13.5 28

Dallas San Antonio Memphis Houston New Orleans

Southwest Division 47 24 .662 42 27 .609 38 33 .535 36 33 .522 34 38 .472

4 9 10 13.5

Boston Toronto NY Knicks Philadelphia New Jersey

Dubai racing purse huge but field short on glamour DUBAI: The world’s richest horse race is now even more gilded. Saturday’s eight-race Dubai World Cup has swelled to $26.25 million in prize money, including $10 million for the showcase event.

And the venue is a new $2 billion facility that holds 60,000 spectators and is planned to anchor a mini-city with canals and marina miles into the desert. But the field for the premier World Cup race is having trouble keeping pace with the high-rolling glamour.

Several top thoroughbreds expected in Dubai have dropped out, including Japan’s twotime Horse of the Year, Vodka, and American trainer John Shirreffs’ once-star mare, Life is Sweet, which was retired after suffering muscle cramps.

Meanwhile, the two entries from the Godolphin Racing stables of Dubai’s big-spending ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, are considered long shots. That leaves most attention drifting to Gio Ponti, a two-time 2009 Eclipse Award winner from Castleton Lyons Farm in Kentucky.

The question is how the 5-year-old turf specialist will fare on the synthetic Tapeta surface at the new Meydan Racecourse. His back-

ers take some hope in the second-place finish in November in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride surface, which is similar to the Meydan track.

Some of Europe’s top 10-furlong horses are in the field, including British-trained Gitano Hernando, the Goodwood Stakes winner at Santa Anita in October. The lone Japanese entry, 4-year-old filly Red Desire, looked strong earlier this month in winning the Maktoum Challenge over the same Meydan course.

The two Godolphin horses, Allybar and Mastery, are not considered top contenders.

But the big stage of the World Cup is known for its surprises. Last year, the mid-ranked Well Armed blew away the field with a 14length victory - that was so comfortable that jockey Aaron Gryder patted the 6-year-old American gelding’s neck 10 strides before the finish.

The pre-race favorites - American-trained Albertus Maximus and Asiatic Boy, the 2008 runner-up - never seriously challenged.

“There are no gimmes at Meydan,” said Godolphin’s racing manager, Simon Crisford.

In the $5 million, 11/2-mile Dubai Sheema

Classic, the horse of the moment is Presious Passion, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall and winner of the Mac Diarmada at Gulfstream on Feb 28.

“All the races are very competitive, and with so many countries represented we know that we are in for a battle,” said Crisford. Since the 1980s, Sheik Mohmammad has turned Godolphin into a major force in racing with purchases of top bloodstock around the world and establishing American operations in Kentucky and South Carolina. But there is one coveted trophy that has eluded him: the Kentucky Derby.

One of Godolphin’s Churchill Downs hopefuls, Vale of York, was scratched from one of the World Cup races, the UAE Derby, after finishing a disappointing fifth in the colt’s first start of the year at Meydan earlier this month.

Godolphin said the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner was pulled because of a bout with colic.

The $2 million, 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby is seen as a key prep race for the Kentucky Derby on May 1. For Godolphin, the World Cup will also serve as a debut for its No 2 trainer, Mahmood al-Zarooni, who was an assistant to chief trainer Saeed bin Suroor. — AP

At New York, Danilo Gallinari scored 17 of his 28 points during a spirited duel with Carmelo Anthony in the third quarter and Al Harrington added 23 points for the Knicks.

New York climbed out of an early 12-point deficit and took control late in the third period.

David Lee finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Anthony scored 36 points and Chauncey Billups had 25 for the Nuggets, who lost their second straight as they try to hold onto the No 2 spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Their magic number for clinching a postseason spot remained at three.

The Nuggets had won the last four meetings - Anthony scored a career-high 50 in the last matchup - their longest winning streak ever against the Knicks. They seemed on their way to easily extending that run before the game changed after halftime. Denver played its eighth game under Adrian Dantley since coach George Karl was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Mavericks 106, Clippers 96 At Dallas, Jason Kidd celebrated his 37th birthday by scoring a season-high 26 points, much of it coming during a game-breaking spurt at the start of the fourth quarter. The Mavericks came in having lost three of four since winning 13 in a row.

They looked good in the first half, scoring 62 points, and were in complete control until Dirk Nowitzki was ejected with 9:16 left in the third quarter for complaining about a foul call.

Dallas ended up scoring just 14 points in the third quarter, and was down by one going into the fourth.

Then Kidd took over. He had 13 points, three assists and a steal during a 22-3 run that put the Mavericks ahead for good, on their way to equaling Denver for the second-best record in the Western Conference. —AP

The CRC team

CRC to challenge hosts for title KUWAIT: The XVI edition of the prestigious Goa Rolling Trophy (GRT) completed the semi final matches on 19 March 2010 at the MOH Grounds. The tournament is organized under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF), officiated by KIFF Referees and sponsored by Bassem Intl. Trading Co. In the first semifinal match, CRC Chinchinim once again emerged victorious over Rising Stars thanks to the tie-breaker. Both teams were looking for their maiden appearance in the GOA finals and started very cautiously.

CRC’s Diego broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a neat flick off Sony’s cross.

Minutes later, Sony himself should have

GOA Maroons against Kuwait Goan Association. This match started at a faster pace with KGA forcing GOA’s Ian and James to make goal line saves on separate occasions in the opening minutes. Six minutes into the match, Terence missed a scoring opportunity, shooting over from close range.

KGA were quick on the counter attacks, using Advin, Jimmy and Zelito to try and penetrate GOA’s defenses. Ten minutes before the break, KGA’s keeper, Ananth, had to dive full length to keep Kennedy’s drive out.

Maroons came back with renewed vigor after the break, Coach Julio having had a few words with his team. Kennedy played in Elvis with a

XVIth GOA Rolling Trophy increased the lead but his attempt was saved by the feet of Jaison, manning the Stars goal. On the half hour mark, Dominic brought Rising Stars back on level terms with a header off a free kick.

CRC has a great opportunity to increase the lead five minutes before the break, but found no one to finish Diago’s cross. The stalemate continued after the break, with Rising Stars pushing forward and CRC defending staunchly. Stars could have won the match in extra time, had Rafil not missed a sitter of Juzer’s cross.

In the tie-breaker, CRC converted all four off their kicks through Antonio, Sony, Seby & Francis. Rising Stars converted only two kicks, those off Forbes and Biju. Dominic shot his spot kick out and Abdul Lateef had his kick saved.

The second match pitted hosts and holders,

long ball, but the latter shot over from a tight angle. It was then Gaby’s turn put his effort just wide. KGA’s defense was happy to soak up the pressure and deny Maroons. In a rare defensive lapse, Maroons Steven played a back pass straight into the path of Andrew, who tried to lob the keeper Anthony. The effort went over, much to the relief of Maroons and their supporters.

At the start of extra time, Steven took the ball down the right flank and crossed it to Elvis, who chested it down to Cookie in the 6 yard box.

Reliable Cookie, known not to miss such opportunities, slotted home with Ananth rooted to his spot. The goal seemed to deflate KGA, who resigned themselves to try and win the coveted trophy next year. The Finals will be played on Friday (26 March 2010) at 08:00 hrs.

The GOA Maroons team

All eyes on Bobridge, Brits sight track gold COPENHAGEN: Breaking 14-year-old world records might not yet be on Jack Bobridge’s radar, but all eyes should be riveted on the Australian today in the men’s pursuit at the world track championships.

Bobridge, 20, was hailed the world’s fastest man over 4km under current rules last month when he posted a blistering time of 4min 14.427sec at his national championships. It was well short of Chris Boardman’s 1996 world mark of 4:11.114 however the Briton’s feat was set using an aerodynamic stretched position that has since been banned by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Putting Bobridge’s achievement in perspective is not too difficult. It was faster than the Olympic record set by Britain’s reigning Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins in Beijing-and the Adelaider is still only 20 years old.

Beaten to the gold medal at last year’s world championships by American sensation Taylor Phinney, their expected match-up on could provide some early drama in the five-day competition.

Bobridge’s teammate Rohan Dennis also clocked an Australian record in Adelaide last month only to have Bobridge better it minutes later.

Both will contest the individual pursuit today, and coach Ian McKenzie hinted that the fast track conditions in Copenhagen will, like Adelaide, be conducive to some strong performances. “It’s a bit of a tough one as to whether they’ll go as fast but it would be really nice if they do,” said McKenzie.

“The conditions were pretty much perfect in Adelaide so that contributed to the world class times but having said that the track and conditions here seem pretty quick and I think they’ll both be very competitive.” Four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy will saddle up for the keirin hoping to regain his crown having missed the championships last year due to injuries sustained in a keirin crash. If he hasn’t already won gold in the men’s team sprint yesterday Hoy, who recently went under 10sec for the flying 200 metres in Manchester, will be hoping the superb form he has helps him to a British record 10th world title. — AFP

19

SPORTS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Euro 2012 delays continue to haunt UEFA TEL AVIV: The nightmare scenario that Euro 2012 stadiums will not be ready in time continues to haunt UEFA on the eve of its annual congress, politicians and officials involved in the project have said.

UEFA’s executive committee heard a report from Martin Kallen, the project director of the 16-team tournament being staged in Poland and Ukraine in just over two years’ time, in which he outlined problems at the stadiums in Kiev and Lviv in Ukraine.

Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s general secretary told Reuters afterwards: “We are con-

cerned, yes, the problems are serious.

However we have every faith that they will be sorted out. It is time now for Ukraine to get into a higher gear. “We are sure everything will be ready in time but are closely watching the situation.”

Earlier, UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner told a news briefing: “There had been some concerns, particularly in Ukraine, about possible delays leading to questions (over) whether two of the host cities were behind schedule.

“Kiev in particular was one of the cities

that was under discussion. The technicalities involve the roof and some other building technicalities but we don’t have any concerns that they won’t be ready in time.”

Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Borys Kolesnikov said on Tuesday that the Kiev stadium, where the final is due to be staged, was “most at risk”, and there were concerns about the stadium in Lviv, which had also fallen behind schedule.

Kolesnikov said he wanted work to be stepped up so that by the beginning of September the present five-month delay in

the building timetable would have been eliminated. “The right decision would have been to take down the stadium in Kiev and build another. But now that is not possible,” Kolesnikov said. Kallen said in an interview on Polish television that UEFA would consider staging matches in six venues if necessary.

UEFA president Michel Platini has steadfastly backed the decision to host Euro 2012 in eastern Europe and will not allow further delays to detract him from announcing that he will seek another term

as UEFA president at today’s congress.

With no opposition to a renewed mandate, Platini looks set to get backing from all 53 member associations ahead of the elections in a year’s time. He has had a modernising impact on European soccer’s governing body and one of his reforms, the introduction of new financial rules ensuring clubs break even and are not in debt to each other, is set to be ratified by Congress. As well as signalling his intention to stand for re-election, Platini, a vice-president of FIFA, will use the opportunity to stress the need for the 2018 World

Cup finals to be staged in Europe.

This year’s finals are in South Africa with 2014 being held in Brazil. Platini is expected to say that one of the four European contenders-England, Russia and joint bids from Spain/Portugal or Netherlands/Belgiumshould hold the finals in eight years’ time.

UEFA will also consider which of three bidders will stage the expanded 24-team Euro 2016 tournament with France, Italy and Turkey all hoping to be successful when the decision is announced in Geneva on May 28. — Reuters

Barca back on top after Osasuna win

FRANCE: Auxerre’s Romanian forward Daniel Niculae (center) vies with Paris Saint-Germain French forward Ludovic Giuly (right) during the French Cup football match. — AFP

PSG knock Auxerre out of French Cup PARIS: Paris St Germain knocked out Auxerre on penalties in the French Cup quarter-finals in a game played behind closed doors and under tight scrutiny on Tuesday. Amateurs Quevilly had earlier continued their stunning run by knocking out Ligue 1 strugglers Boulogne 3-1 to reach the semi-finals. The decision to have the Auxerre-PSG played in front of no spectators was taken following the death last week of a supporter injured in a clash between rival groups of PSG fans in Paris

last month.

Security was tight with heavy police presence outside the stadium amid fears PSG fans might travel to Auxerre, but no incidents were reported. PSG created the best chances in a relatively dull game that remained goalless after extra time. A shootout was needed that the visitors won 6-5 with captain Claude Makelele converting the decisive penalty.

Goals from Florian Coquio and Anthony Laup gave Normandy team Quevilly, final-

ists in 1927 and semi-finalists in 1968, a 2-0 lead over Boulogne after 30 minutes.

Boulogne, threatened by relegation from Ligue 1, reduced the arrears through Damien Marcq just before halftime but Quevilly, playing at nearby Rouen because their own stadium was too small, kept pushing forward and Abdel Majide Ouahbi sealed their win on 67 minutes. Quevilly, who play in the equivalent of the fourth division, knocked out top-flight side Stade Rennes in the previous round. — Reuters

Ronaldinho would be asset for Brazil: Pele SAO PAULO: Ronaldinho’s experience could have a calming effect on Brazil’s youthful World Cup side if coach Dunga recalled the 30-year-old to the squad, Pele told Reuters on Tuesday.

Three-times World Cup winner Pele said in an interview that he would pick Ronaldinho, who turned 30 on Sunday and has played at two finals, helping Brazil win their fifth title in 2002.

The 69-year-old also said Lionel Messi needed a wellorganised Argentina side in which to exhibit his brilliant Barcelona form, while England and Spain would be dangerous opponents at the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa. Pele praised Dunga’s record but was concerned about a possible lack of World Cup experience among the players expected to be picked for the squad.

“I think Brazil are on the right track but we have to be careful because the majority of the players have never played at a World Cup before, so there will be a lot of pressure and we must see how those players handle it,” Pele said. “If Ronaldinho keeps playing as he is now ... I believe he would be a good component because he could help when the younger players feel the pressure.” Ronaldinho, who last played for Brazil last April, has been in good form for AC Milan this year but despite speculation about a return to the national team he appears out of Dunga’s plans.

Brazil and fellow favourites

Spain could expect tough opposition from the likes of Argentina, despite their poor qualifying campaign. “Even (top) teams that are not in form like Argentina, who practically qualified in last place, we’ve got to respect them because they’re a country accustomed to playing the World Cup,” he said. “Another country that had not been doing well but who in this World Cup will be a difficult country to beat is England, who can take a very strong team (to South Africa). “They can reach the last four.”

Pele identified Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Robinho of Brazil as players with the potential to light up the World Cup. Messi, however, might be unable to reproduce the fantastic form he is showing at Spanish club Barcelona. “He’s a great player, he’s playing marvellously at Barcelona but when he goes to the national team he doesn’t play as well,” said Pele.

“That is possibly because the national team doesn’t have the same group as Barcelona. “Then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who’s also a marvelous player, and Robinho, who has already improved quite a bit,” he added.

Robinho, who has returned to Santos on loan from Manchester City, had a crowd-pleasing style while Brazil would also need Kaka to be in top form. “For the public, Robinho has a happier style that appeals to the fans,” he said. “Now, for the national team, it’s very important that Kaka is in good shape.” — Reuters

ABU DHABI: Emirati Al-Wahda player Ismail Matar (right) competes with Saud Kharir of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad club during their AFC Champions League Group B football match. AlIttihad won 2-0. — AFP

Kuwait hosts Egypt friendly CAIRO: An international friendly between the Kuwait and Egypt national football teams is set to be held in Kuwait on May 22, an interim Kuwait football committee official said here Tuesday.

Head of the interim Kuwaiti football committee Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousif Al-Sabah said that the Egyptians have already

agreed to the match, held in celebration of the accomplishments of Egypt, especially after its third consecutive win of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

“If for any apparent reason, (Kuwait is barred from international participation) FIFA disagrees with the date, the match will be postponed to November,” Al-Yousif added. — KUNA

Portsmouth given permission to sell players LONDON: Debt-ridden Portsmouth have been given special permission to sell players outside the transfer window, the Premier League said yesterday.

Portsmouth, who had nine points deducted last week after going into administration, are almost certain to be relegated but the relaxation of the League’s transfer rules means the club can raise revenue by selling players this season.

The League said any players Portsmouth sell will not be allowed to play for their new clubs this season. “The

Premier League Board meeting that convened last week to consider the administration of Portsmouth FC dealt with a number of matters beyond just the application of the sporting sanction (deduction of nine points),” a statement said. “In accordance with Premier League rules, postponement of the suspension of Portsmouth FC as a member club was conditional on a number of undertakings being given by the administrators.

“These have now been received to the satisfaction of the Board and there-

fore it has been decided to allow Portsmouth FC to make player sales under the following circumstances,” added the statement which said players sold to the Football League or to a foreign club will need FIFA approval.

Portsmouth, who are marooned at the bottom of the table but have reached the FA Cup semi-finals, became the first Premier League club to enter administration after their debts soared to about 78 million pounds ($117 million). — Reuters

MADRID: Record signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 14th league goal of the season as champions Barcelona went back to the top of the Spanish league with a hard-fought 2-0 home victory over Osasuna at Camp Nou yesterday.

Swede Ibrahimovic struck on 72 minutes to break Osasuna’s resilience and substitute Bojan Krkic netted a second two minutes from time as Barca moved three points ahead of Real Madrid, in action at Getafe today, at the summit.

The win maintained Barca’s momentum for ‘El Clasico’ at Real Madrid on the weekend of April 10/11 and now the pressure is on Real to respond against Getafe.

Osasuna were the last team to beat Barcelona at Camp Nou in the league on the penultimate day of last season, although Barca had already been crowned champions, and coach Pep Guardiola resisted the temptation to rest top-scorer Lionel Messi, scorer of successive league hat-tricks, with the Argentine joining Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry up front.

With two minutes gone a slick passing move gave Ibrahimvoic a sight of goal and the Swede drilled in a low shot but Ricardo Lopez palmed the effort to safety.

It was a frantic opening and Osasuna should have scored in the fourth minute when a neat move released Krisztian Valdocz but the Hungarian midfielder watched in agony as Victor Valdes turned away his fierce shot.

A Thierry Henry lob and a blocked Ibrahimovic shot was all Barca could muster in a disappointing scoreless first half against Osasuna who drew 1-1 with the champions in Pamplona earlier in the campaign.

Guardiola hauled off the disappointing Henry at half-time with Pedro Rodriguez, the latest youth team product, coming on in the Frenchman’s place.

Pedro almost had an immediate impact producing a vintage pass in the 53rd minute but the onrushing Messi, who had scored in his last five games, couldn’t arrive in time.

Osasuna were being pushed back and Yaya Toure combined with Ibrahimovic five minutes later but Toure delayed his run into the box and it proved vital as the ball was just in front of him.

Substitute Seydou Keita went close with a header before Barca finally made the breakthrough on 72 minutes with Andres Iniesta releasing Maxwell to fizz a low cross in to give the alert Ibrahimovic an easy tap-in.

The Swede was substituted almost immediately afterwards and his replacement Bojan got the second two minutes from time in a carbon copy of the first goal only this time Iniesta provided the cross.

Real Madrid make the short trip to neighbours Getafe seeking a tenth successive league win against a side that beat them 3-1 in the corresponding fixture last season.

Elsewhere Villarreal missed the chance to close in on the top six with a 22 draw at struggling Tenerife and are five points off the top six.

It was also a disappointing night for fourth-placed Real Mallorca who drew 00 at Racing Santander and trail thirdplaced Valencia by three points.

With Sevilla and Mallorca both dropping points, Valencia have a chance to pull clear of their rivals when they host Malaga later yesterday.

On Tuesday Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez became the first high-profile casualty of the season when he was dismissed following a 1-1 draw at Xerez.

Jimenez had guided Sevilla, two points behind Mallorca in fifth, to the Kings Cup final but a Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow combined with poor league form ended his two-and-a-half year tenure at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. — AFP

Matches on TV (local timings) Italian League Napoli v Juventus ............ 22:45 Al Jazeera Sport +1 Spanish League Getate v Real Madrid ...... 22:00 Al Jazeera Sport +2

SPAIN: FC Barcelona’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Sweden (second from left) reacts with his teammates after scoring against Osasuna during their Spanish League soccer match. — AP

Sevilla sack Jimenez after draw with Xerez MADRID: Sevilla have sacked coach Manolo Jimenez after the struggling La Liga club were held to a 1-1 draw at home by basement side Xerez on Tuesday.

King’s Cup finalists Sevilla suffered a surprise Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow last week and Tuesday’s draw with promoted Xerez meant they had failed to win in seven matches in all competitions.

“The board of Sevilla FC dismissed Manolo Jimenez on Tuesday night,” the club said on their website (www.sevillafc.es).

Yesterday’s training session was to be overseen by fitness coaches Ramon Orellana and Ignacio Oria while the board decided on a successor, they added.

The Andalusians are fifth in the standings on 45 points, one behind Real Mallorca, who occupy Spain’s fourth Champions League qualification spot and was to play at Racing Santander later yesterday.

Sevilla’s squad boasts one of the strongest attacking line-ups in Spain, including Brazilian Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute of Mali.

They had hoped to be challenging for the La Liga title and make at least the last eight of the Champions League this season.

Meanwhile, Luis Aragones has agreed to talk to Sevilla about returning to the La Liga club to take over as coach from the sacked Manolo Jimenez, the former Spain coach was quoted as saying yesterday.

The 71-year-old Aragones, who led Spain to victory at Euro 2008 and had a previous spell as Sevilla coach in the mid-1990s, told As sports daily he had agreed to meet club president Jose Maria del Nido in Cordoba to discuss terms.

“Del Nido called me this morning and I am going to eat with him,” the paper quoted Aragones, whom they interviewed at Cordoba train station, as saying on their website (www.as.com).

“I am excited about the idea of coaching and now I’ll go and listen to what Sevilla offer me,” he added. Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez said earlier yesterday that the club expected to name a new coach in a matter of hours and As said Aragones would agree a contract through to the end of next season.

The club could not immediately be reached for comment. Aragones, out of work after leaving Turkish club Fenerbahce at the end of last season, has coached Atletico

SPAIN: Xerez’s Argentinian defender Leandro Gioda (down) celebrates after scoring against Sevilla. —AFP Madrid, Barcelona, Espanyol, Real Betis, Valencia, Real Oviedo and Real Mallorca.

He also played for Atletico, whom Sevilla will play in May’s King’s Cup final. Sevilla sacked Jimenez after his side were held to a 1-1 draw at home by basement side Xerez on Tuesday.

The Andalusians suffered a surprise Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow last week and Tuesday’s draw with Xerez meant they had failed to win in seven matches in all competitions.

The club are fifth in La Liga on 45 points, one behind Real Mallorca, who occupy Spain’s fourth Champions League qualification spot. — Reuters

www.kuwaittimes.net

Chelsea push for title Portsmouth 0

Chelsea 5

PORTSMOUTH: France midfielder Florent Malouda escaped what seemed a certain red card to score twice as Chelsea got their Premier League title bid back on track with a resounding 5-0 win at bottom club Portsmouth here yesterday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side were leading through the first of Didier Drogba’s two goals at Fratton Park when Malouda was let off with a caution after elbowing Portsmouth defender

Ricardo Rocha, leaving the Portuguese international with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Malouda took full advantage of his reprieve by netting two goals in the space of ten second half minutes as Chelsea reduced Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table to a single point.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had demanded a response from his team after last week’s Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan and subsequent 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

Despite making a lethargic start Chelsea, boosted by goalkeeper Peter Cech’s return, never looked in any danger of succumbing to a side 11 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Frank Lampard thought he had opened the scoring as early as the tenth minute only to be denied by a superb flying save from England

team-mate David James.

The goalkeeper needed all of his 6ft 6in frame to fling himself to his right to turn Lampard’s fiercely struck 25-yard shot behind for a corner. But veteran James was not so impressive as he gifted Chelsea just after the half-hour mark.

There seemed little danger when James came out to meet Deco’s flick on but the ball bobbled under his foot as he attempted to clear, allowing Drogba to race through and tap the ball into an unguarded net for the easiest of his 24 Premier League goals this season.

Chelsea, who lost defender Ricardo Carvalho to an ankle injury shortly after Drogba’s opener, were fortunate to avoid being reduced to ten men in the 40th minute.

Referee Lee Mason’s decision to let off Malouda with only a yellow card as Rocha was leaving the field on a stretcher was met with fury by the home fans and Pompey manager Avram Grant.

The Israeli’s rage intensified five minutes into the

Hayden Mullins before planting an unstoppable shot across James and into the top left corner from an acute angle.

Six of Chelsea’s starting line-up were in the Chelsea side Grant led to the brink of lifting the European Cup in 2008 but the Londoners were in no mood to go easy on their old boss as they looked to claw back United’s superior goal difference.

James produced another brilliant save to deny substitute Joe Cole only his second Premier League goal of the season.

Cole looked certain to score when he found himself one-on-one with James on the edge of the six-yard box but the 39year-old made himself big to palm his right-foot pile-driver wide of the left hand post. James though was powerless to prevent Malouda extending Chelsea’s lead on the hour mark.

Lampard’s ferocious long range shot was beaten away by James only for Malouda to slam the rebound into the roof of his net.

Drogba claimed his 30th goal in all competitions this season in the 77th minute, latching onto John Obi Mikel’s pass before outpacing Steve Finnan and drilling past James at his near post. The Ivory Coast striker then

LONDON: Everton’s Scottish manager David Moyes (second right) and Manchester City’s Italian manager Roberto Mancini (second left) are sent off by referee Peter Walton (third left) during the English Premier League football match. — AFP

Everton sink City Man City 0

Everton 2 LONDON: Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (right) vies with Portsmouth’s Irish defender Marc Wilson.

—AFP

second half when Malouda doubled Chelsea’s lead to all but secure victory.

Malouda raced beyond Portsmouth’s makeshift right back

turned provider as Lampard tapped in Chelsea’s fifth in stoppage time after Drogba had flicked on Cole’s cross. — AFP

Dunn’s double see off Birmingham Blackburn 2

Birmingham 1

BLACKBURN: Blackburn midfielder David Dunn scored twice against Birmingham as Rovers virtually ended their relegation fears with a 2-1 win yesterday.

Sam Allardyce’s team are 14 points clear of the relegation zone with seven games to play thanks to Dunn’s heroics against his former club at Ewood Park.

Four days after putting a dent in

Chelsea’s challenge to win the Premier L eague title with a 1-1 draw, Blackburn all but achieved their own aim of staying in the top-flight.

Dunn’s early goal was cancelled out

by James McFadden but the midfielder struck again midway through the second half to seal the points.

Dunn, who spent three-and-a-half years with Birmingham before rejoining Rovers in 2007, was fit to start after limping off with a calf problem during Sunday’s clash.

And it took Dunn just five minutes to show Birmingham what they have been missing as he opened the scoring with a superb strike.

A long punt into the Birmingham penalty area caused Roger Johnson to head weakly towards Dunn and he seized possession with a neat piece of control before smashing his shot past

City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

McFadden almost pulled Birmingham level with a fierce strike from outside the area, but Rovers goalkeeper Jason Brown pushed the deflected effort away for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell went close with a header that cleared the crossbar.

Birmingham threatened again when Lee Bowyer chipped a pass to Craig Gardner, but the former Aston Villa midfielder lashed his shot high and wide.

Dunn thought he had scored again before half-time when he took Michel Salgado’s pass and drove his shot past Hart. However, the strike was ruled out for a foul by former Real Madrid defender Salgado in the build-up.

Birmingham drew level 10 minutes

into the second half when referee Mark Clattenburg awarded Birmingham a free-kick just outside the box for a push on Johnson by Morten Gamst Pedersen.

McFadden is something of a deadball expert and he stepped up to curl his free-kick around the Blackburn wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

But Rovers regained their lead in thr 67th minute as Dunn showed tremendous desire to get to El-Hadji Diouf’s corner ahead of Stephen Carr and head home from close range.

Dunn was so overjoyed at sinking his old club that he earned a booking for an over-exuberant celebration with the Blackburn fans.

Birmingham pushed forward for another equaliser but McFadden’s effort was cleared, while Johnson had a shot easily saved by Brown. — AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and Everton boss David Moyes were sent off after a touchline row as the visitors secured a 2-0 victory at Eastlands yesterday which seriously dents City’s hopes of a top four finish.

Goals from Australia midfielder Tim Cahill and Spain’s Mikel Arteta ensured Moyes’ men became the first team to leave City with three points since Fulham in April 2009, but the main talking point was the bizarre late incident which led to both bosses being dismissed.

The clash started after the ball flew out of play and was caught by Moyes, standing in the manager’s technical area.

As the Scotsman appeared to be looking to throw the ball to a City player, Mancini stormed into the Everton touchline area and wrestled the ball from his grasp violently and engaged in a war of words.

The incident continued and left referee Peter Walton with no choice but to send the pair down the tunnel although it was the City manager, whose position will come under increasing scrutiny after this

setback, who appeared largely to blame.

The defeat left City in fifth place, two points behind Tottenham in the race for the last Champions League place.

City had dominated the first half and had seen Micah Richards’ goalbound header tipped onto the bar by Tim Howard in the 17th minute.

The industrious Carlos Tevez also looked in the mood to continue his current rich vein of form and Howard had to save at his feet as the Argentina international forward chased Stephen Ireland’s tidy 23rd minute through ball.

Howard then punched the ball off Tevez’s head as he looked poised to meet Adam Johnson’s inswinging cross and Johnson and Ireland linked up to present Craig Bellamy with a shooting opportunity from the edge of the Everton area, which US international Howard smothered at the second attempt.

But Cahill stunned City with a classic counter-attack goal, just after the half hour, having won a contentious freekick following a tussle with Gareth Barry which referee Walton gave in Everton’s favor.

Down on the by-line, Arteta took a clever short dead ball to Leighton Baines, on the edge of the City area, and the England left-back drove in a venomous crossshot which was met by Cahill who guided a perfect header past Shay Given from just outside the six-yard line.

EPL results/standings

Spurs in FA Cup semis LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp will take on his old club Portsmouth at Wembley after a second-half comeback earned his team a 3-1 win against Fulham in yesterday’s FA Cup quarter-final replay.

The visitors to White Hart Lane led at halftime thanks to a Bobby Zamora strike but goals from David Bentley, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Eidur Gudjohnsen ensured Spurs’ passage to the semi-final.

The much-travelled manager won the Cup with Pompey in 2008 but will be desperate to get one over his former employers, who now find themselves in dire financial straits, when they meet on April 11.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will not be too despondent as his team are already in the Europa League quarter-finals following an amazing comeback against Italian giants Juventus last Thursday.

Former Inter Milan manager Hodgson named five ex-Spurs players, full-backs Stephen Kelly and Paul Konchesky, midfielders Simon Davies and Danny Murphy and striker Zamora in his starting side after a goalless draw in the original tie.

Tottenham’s Roman Pavlyuchenko

The Cottagers, buoyed by last week’s famous win, were extremely assured from the off and reaped the reward in the 18th minute.

Midfielder Damien Duff surged unchallenged down the centre of the pitch before slipping a perfectly weighted pass inside full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto for Zamora who stroked the ball calmly past Mark Schwarzer into the goal.

Tottenham had a strong claim for a penalty turned down 10 minutes later when Kelly handled as Crouch attempted to control a throw in but referee Martin Atkinson dismissed the appeals.

Even then the danger wasn’t over as Gudjohnsen improvised a smart backheel in the resultant scramble which Schwarzer got down sharply to smother. Despite the hosts’ pressure it was Fulham who twice came closest to grabbing the next goal.

Giant defender Breder Hangeland powered a header over the bar from Duff’s corner before a cross from midfielder Zoltan Gera found Zamora in space at the far post but the England hopeful couldn’t direct his header on goal.

A clearly unimpressed Redknapp made two changes at the break, taking off Assou-Ekotto and midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who were replaced

by Tom Huddlestone and Bentley.

Redknapp couldn’t have wished for a better result as Bentley equalised with his first contribution, scoring directly from a free-kick after Duff brought down Modric on the left wing.

The former Blackburn man sent in a vicious inswinging cross which flew past Australia international Scwharzer, who was rooted to the spot in anticipation of a goalward deflection.

The former Arsenal man now had the wind in his sails and it came as no surprise when he created Spurs’s second goal for fellow substitute Pavlyuchenko shortly before the hour mark.

The midfielder teased Konchesky on the right wing before delivering a deep ball to the far post where Pavlyuchenko anticipated superbly to guide a controlled volley past Schwarzer.—AFP

The situation might have worsened for them before the interval after a clumsy slip by Kolo Toure let in Louis Saha with Vincent Kompany eventually bringing down Cahill 20 yards from goal and free-kick specialist Arteta drove his shot into the City wall.

City’s frustration was showing, however, and before the interval Given was booked for sprinting all the way into the Everton half to remonstrate with referee Walton, claiming he should have booked Arteta for a foul.

The home side opened the second half looking for a much-needed equaliser but it was Everton who almost claimed the crucial second goal when a dreadful Kompany clearance flew straight to Leon Osman and his 20-yard shot deflected off the defender and passed inches beyond Given’s left-hand post.

The City crowd was growing impatient and their mood was not helped when Tevez wasted a rare chance, curling a free-kick straight at Howard, and Shaun Wright-Phillips half-volley flew wildly off the mark.

City enjoyed an embarrassment of possession without seriously testing Howard and Everton’s deciding goal, five minutes from time, was a superb effort started when Osman played substitute Jack Rodwell into the area where he twice beat Kompany and produced a cross which Cahill dummied and Arteta stroked in from a dozen yards. — AFP

Aston Villa 1 (Carew 30) Sunderland 1 (Campbell 22); Blackburn 2 (Dunn 5, 67) Birmingham 1 (McFadden 55); Manchester City 0 Everton 2 (Cahill 33, Arteta 85); Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 5 (Drogba 32, 77, Malouda 50, 60, Lampard 90).

Played Tuesday West Ham 1 (Franco 90) Wolves 3 (Doyle 28, Zubar 58, Jarvis 61) English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

LONDON: Aston Villa’s Norwegian footballer John Carew (third right) competes for the ball with Sunderland’s English defender Michael Turner (second right) and Scottish defender Alan Hutton (left) during the English Premier League football match. — AP

Villa in drab Sunderland draw Aston Villa 1

Sunderland 1

BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa’s hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League suffered a major setback after they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw

by Sunderland here yesterday.

Needing a win to move to within two points of fourth-placed Tottenham, Villa fell behind against the run of play when Fraizer Campbell fired the visitors into a 22nd minute lead.

And although long-serving Norway striker John Carew levelled eight minutes later with his 14th of the season, and his third in two games, Villa were unable to find a winner to the frustration of their fans.

Their seventh draw in 10 games left them four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with eight games to play.

The discontent that swirled around Sunderland during the winter has been

expelled in the direction of Villa, whose supporters are impatient to see Martin O’Neill’s men rediscover the spring in their step.

O’Neill was understandably indignant at the boos which echoed around Villa Park during and after last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with struggling Wolves. O’Neill pointed out afterwards that Villa were unbeaten in the league in 2010, with their only defeat coming in the League Cup final. Nonetheless, Villa have drawn six of their nine league games this year and are currently fourth favourites out of four for a Champions League place. —AFP

Man Utd Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham Man City Liverpool Aston Villa Everton Birmingham Fulham Blackburn Stoke Sunderland Bolton W’hampton Wigan West Ham Burnley Hull Portsmouth

31 31 31 30 30 31 30 31 31 30 31 30 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 31

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Note: Portsmouth deducted 9 points for entering administration

Google to phase out China search partnerships

23

Merkel faces criticism amid Greek woes

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Daimler charged with violating bribery laws

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

UK hits rich in voter-friendly pre-poll budget LONDON: Britain’s Labour government set the stage for the coming election with a budget that promised a 2.5 billion pounds ($3.75 billion) package to boost growth, higher taxes for the well-off and lower borrowing than predicted only three months ago. Given a record deficit has spooked markets and threatened the country’s debt rating, there were never going to be any big giveaways but finance minister Alistair Darling still found some concessions like cutting house purchase duty for first-time buyers at little overall cost to the exchequer.

“The recovery has begun, unemployment is falling and borrowing is better than expected.

The choice before the country now is whether to support those whose policies will suffocate our recovery,” Darling told parliament. The opposition Conservative Party remain ahead in opinion polls but their lead has shrunk markedly in recent weeks. Most polls now point to a hung parliament where no party has a majority-a nightmare scenario for markets who fear it could leave a government without the clout to make the unpopular spending cuts needed to bring down record public debt.

Labour has said it would halve the deficit in four years but fiscal tightening would only start next year as the recovery remains too fragile.

The Conservatives said that is too late and they would act this year. “They are just going to carry on spending, carry on borrowing and carry on failing. The biggest risk to our recovery is five more years of this prime minister,” opposition leader David Cameron responded, jabbing his finger at Gordon Brown.

Green Bank Britain will create a ‘green’ bank with the help of the private sector to invest in environmentally-friendly transport and energy projects, Darling said yesterday. The bank will control 2.0 billion pounds (2.23 billion euros, 2.98 billion dollars) of equity, half of which will come from the sale of government assets and the rest from private investment, Darling said. The announcement was made during his budget statement to parliament, which comes ahead of a British general election due on May 6. Chancellor of the Exchequer Darling said Britain needed to “renew and modernise” its energy supplies. “Our competitors are not standing still. China is building a new power station every week, to meet its growing energy needs. We need to take long-term decisions to secure our supplies, while moving to a low-carbon economy.

TARGETING THE RICH As well as moving to lower borrowing, Darling also found some measures to target the better off, likely to play well with Labour’s core vote in the run-up to an expected May 6 election.

He said he would scrap duty on house purchase on homes worth less than 250,000 pounds for first-time buyers but pay for that with a one percentage point rise in duty to 5 percent for houses worth more than 1 million pounds. “Those who have benefited the most from the strong growth in incomes in past years should now pay their fair share of tax,” Darling said. That prompted cheers from his centre-left Labour party colleagues and comes on the heels of a new 50 percent tax rate for high earners and a one-off tax on bankers’ bonuses that Darling said would raise 2 billion pounds, nearly four times expectations.

He also froze inheritance tax thresholds for four years and promised to push the idea of a global levy on banks at international meetings in Washington next month. Partially state-owned RBS and Lloyds would provide 94 billion pounds of new loans to businesses, he said. The Conservatives say they would introduce a unilateral tax on banks similar to that planned by US President Barack Obama if they win the election, likely to be held in early May, but will levy it at a lower level if they cannot do it as part of an international initiative. “Going it alone would costs thousands of jobs, not just in London, but across the country,” Darling said.

LOWER DEBT Britain’s record budget deficit remains front and centre for investors after some ratings agencies have suggested the UK’s top-notch credit rating could be under threat without a clear plan to cut debt. Darling said he was able to revise down his forecasts for the budget deficit in the current and next fiscal year. Public sector net borrowing in 2009/10, Darling said, would come in at 166.5 billion pounds, or 11.8 percent of GDP, compared with a December pre-budget report forecast of 177.6 billion pounds.

In 2010/11, borrowing is expected to come in at 163 billion pounds versus 176 billion previously forecast. Future years have also been revised down. Downward revisions had been widely expected by analysts. Not only has unemployment in Britain risen less steeply expected, equity and oil prices have rebounded faster, meaning government spending has been slightly lower and revenues higher than previously feared.

On the basis of the new forecasts, Britain will sell 187.3 billion pounds of government bonds in the 2010/11 fiscal year, the Debt Management Office said, in line with forecasts, and well below the 225 billion shifted this year. A Reuters poll on bond strategists predicted yesterday that yields on British government bonds will rise sharply this year but there is only a slight chance the country will lose its top credit rating. Darling stuck to his December forecasts of economic growth of 1 to 1.5 percent for this year. In 2010, he predicted the economy to grow by by a very robust 3.25 to 3.5 percent-much more optimistic than most analysts. — Agencies

Britain plans ‘green’ investment bank

LONDON: Protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday, on the day that the 2010 State Budget is delivered to the nation. —AFP

Fitch downgrades Portugal Europe shares hit by Portugal downgrade LONDON: European shares fell yesterday and the euro sank to a 10month low against the dollar after ratings agency Fitch downgraded Portugal, fuelling more concerns about the euro zone’s stability. Euro zone government bond futures recovered early losses after Fitch cut its sovereign credit rating on Portugal by one notch to AA-, citing budgetary underperformance in 2009.

Ongoing speculation that Greece may have a difficult time securing debt aid at an upcoming European Union summit also highlighted problems facing the euro system, and helped to push the single currency to a lifetime low against the Swiss franc.

By 1116 GMT, European shares were down 0.3 at 1,069.08, pulling back from 1,077.61 hit in early trade, its strongest since October 2008.

“The (stock) market was increasingly overbought so Portugal is a perfect excuse to book some profits,” said Kenneth Broux, market economist at Lloyds TSB in London. The euro fell more than 1 percent on the day to $1.3345 according to Reuters data, hitting its weakest since May 2009 after the Fitch announcement.

Analysts said the euro’s weakness

despite a stronger-than-expected reading of the Ifo Institute’s survey of German business sentiment suggested strong downward momentum in the common European currency.

The euro traded at 1.4280 Swiss francs, after sinking as low as 1.4232 on electronic trading platform EBS, its weakest since the single currency was launched in 1999. The dollar index hit a 10-month high of 81.632 as the downgrade and jitters ahead of the EU summit prompted traders to sell currencies perceived to be higher risk for the safe-haven dollar, which also pushed it to a one-month high versus the yen. Diminishing risk appetite sent the MSCI world equity index down 0.5 percent to 305.32, while U.S. crude oil prices fell 1.6 percent.

EU SUMMIT IN FOCUS Market participants awaited the two-day EU summit beginning today to see what sort of assistance European nations offer to Athens, which is struggling to service its ballooning debts. Some analysts say the euro may be vulnerable to more losses even if the two-day summit results in an assistance package for Greece, as the prospect of any IMF role in

such aid may be seen as acknowledgement of weakness in the euro system. “The uncertainty over an aid package for Greece is clouding judgement towards the euro. Even if the IMF comes in, it shows the EU is not able to help itself,” said Antje Praefcke, currency strategist at Commerzbank.

EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn yesterday said the union must decide on a way to help debt-laden Greece this week, or run the risk of causing a “serious disruption” for the euro. His comments came after Germany on Tuesday signalled for the first time that it may accept European financial aid for Greece as a last resort, but only if the IMF is involved and euro zone partners accept tougher budget discipline rules. London’s FTSE index slipped 0.3 percent while sterling fell against the dollar ahead of the final UK budget before a national election expected in May. Markets will watch the budget more for its effect on opinion polls than its economic measures, but there is still plenty of scope for stocks and government bonds to move on the detail of what is announced. — Reuters

ATHENS: A homeless man sleeps outside a closed bank in central Athens. — AFP

Lee returns as Samsung chief Shares outperform, up 1.2% to 2-month high SEOUL: The man who transformed Samsung Group into the world’s largest electronics powerhouse returned to head its flagship unit yesterday, two years after being indicted for financial misdeeds. Lee Kun-hee, who was appointed chairman of South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, said the group founded by his father faced an uncertain future and needed new ways to grow. “Lee’s return removes what had been an uncertainty for Samsung Group,” said Park Yun-chae, research head at Kiwoom Securities.

“Under the ownership management, founding family member offers long-term visions that are critical to the group’s direction ... he is expected to help Samsung find its long-term goals and plans.”

The reappearance of Lee, the country’s richest man, has been tipped since he was granted a presidential pardon for tax evasion in December and started discussing a possible return to management at rare public events. However, some analysts said his appointment was earlier than expected and comes at a time when many see more serious moves to prepare his only son to eventually take over. While the reclusive Lee, 68, retained influence over the group as the head of its founding family, his return with an official title will give the conglomerate clearer direction and speed up big management decisions, fund managers and analysts said. “Samsung needs to figure out new bread-andbutter businesses for its future and the owner chairman can help it make decisive calls, whether it comes to M&As or investment,” said Kim Hyunsu, a fund manager at IBK Asset Management.

Lee expressed concerns over Samsung’s future to executives who requested his return, Samsung Group said in a statement. “We’re seeing a real crisis right now. Top global companies are falling under. We never know what will happen to Samsung,” Lee said. “After a decade, most of the products and businesses that represent Samsung today will be gone. There’s no time to waste. Let’s go forward, only forward.”

ENVIABLE CRISIS Samsung Electronics shares rose 1.2 percent to a two-month high in a flat Seoul market. The stock has risen more than 50-fold since Lee took over from his father in 1987 and is just 4 percent below the all-time high it reached in January. The world’s top memory chip and TV maker recovered strongly from a global economic crisis in late 2008 and is leading Japanese rivals such as Sony and Panasonic that it once emulated. Samsung, also the global No. 2 mobile phone producer, overtook HewlettPackard last year as the biggest electronics firm by sales with revenues of about $120 billion-more than the gross domestic product of Vietnam or Ukraine.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast a record 13.7 trillion won ($12.1 billion) net profit for Samsung in 2010.

But facing fierce competition in key businesses such as chips and TVs, Samsung Electronics also has to cultivate new revenue sources and is studying areas such as health, environment and renewable energy. Samsung Group, which employees 277,000 people at home and abroad, also faces other events and challenges this year. Samsung Life Insurance is set to make a $4 billion IPO in May while shipyard arm Samsung Heavy Industries is still in the midst of the shipbuilding downturn. And in a less than auspicious start to Lee’s new tenure,

SEOUL: In this file photo, former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee gets into a car to leave the Seoul Court House after his trial in Seoul. — AP the company saw disruption of some of its chip production as a brief power outage hit its plant yesterday.

SUCCESSION PLANNING Samsung Electronics said Lee’s appointment will not impact the role of its current CEO Choi Gee-sung. It could earn more time for his son Jay Y. Lee, promoted to chief operating officer at Samsung Electronics in December, to be groomed and take over the father’s leadership. Lee owns 3.38 percent of Samsung Electronics with his son and wife also holding less than 1 percent each, small but enough to give the family, through a complex web of cross-shareholding, control over Samsung companies. But Lee’s return also raised concerns over transparency. “This sort of decision shows that Samsung is very closed off to outside opinion on how the company should be run...its decisions are being made by a very small group of people encased in its thick walls,” said Kim Sang-jo, Associate Professor of Economics at Hansung University. Kim is also an executive at Solidarity for Economic Reform which is a frequent critic of the country’s family-owned conglomerates. Lee stepped down from as group chairman in April 2008 after being embroiled in a scandal in which group executives were indicted on suspicion of brokering a deal that would give Lee’s children a greater stake in the ownership of Samsung Group. He was cleared of the charge but handed a suspended three-year jail term for tax evasion.

South Korea pardoned him late in December so he could be reinstated as an International Olympic Committee member to help the country’s bid for the 2018 Winter Games. In February, Lee told reporters at a group ceremony he was “thinking about” returning to management and would do so if Samsung weakened and needed help. At the event, Lee’s latest public appearance in South Korea, he walked with assistance and spoke in a barely audible voice as he praised management philosophy of his late father. — Reuters

BUSINESS

22

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai named the ‘Agency of the Year’ Network sweeps 26 awards, including two Grand Prix

Gulf Bank inaugurates its branch in Al-Qaser KUWAIT: Gulf Bank inaugurated its branch in Al-Qaser, as part of its continued focus on client service. This branch extends the Gulf Bank offer and premium financial services to a new part of the city and will offer Al-Qaser residents the chance to experience the Gulf Bank difference for themselves. The branch opening was attended by the Governor of Al-Qaser, Khalid Al-

Hajjaj, as well as Gulf Bank’s management team including, General Manager of Board Affairs, Fawzy Al-Thunayan, Deputy GM of Facilities, Mohammed El-Mubasher as well as the Executive Manager Basel Al-Assad and the Branch Manager of Al-Qaser Mubarak Al-Ghareeb.

This latest branch celebration is further evidence of the success of Gulf Bank’s

strategic approach to offering the best possible customer experience to customers throughout Kuwait, and marks a further strengthening of the Gulf Bank offer. For further information about any Gulf Bank’s products and services and its regular promotions and offers, visit one of Gulf Bank’s 50 conveniently located branches or call the Telebanking service on 1805805.

‘Major economies are based on small projects’ KFH supports small project to add value to society KUWAIT: The Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Fahad Al-Mukhaizeem stressed that KFH prioritizes small Kuwaiti projects managed by youths, since it believes that major economies are based on small projects, in addition to the fact that it offers jobs, boosts production, and increases the skills of the youths in various fields, which is the essence of working in the private sector.

He added in his speech during the opening of the training program that KFH organizes for a group of youths who own small projects that supporting them is one of the main objectives of KFH’s social role, which leads to a bouquet of services and commercial, investment, and financial products that assist the small and medium project owners. Such a bouquet that was specifically designed for youths allows them to receive the best professional services from KFH employees based on the latest Islamic banking applications and international standards.

He went on to say that the workshop that included owners of projects in several fields, such as food, advertising, media, technology, and craftsmanship, is the beginning for a series of events that KFH is planning on organizing

during the coming period. He revealed that KFH had participated in the past few months in many exhibitions and forums for small projects, and that those events witnessed great success, which shows that the Kuwaiti youths can develop their skills, in addition to the fact that those events allowed KFH to meet the owners of those projects, which allowed it to select the best projects to adopt them.

During the workshop, some applications and theories in the field of graphics were demonstrated by KFH’s Graphic Designing

Supervisor Ahmed Al-Rashed, while Brand Manager Zeyad Salama made a similar demonstration in his field. They stressed the importance of creative thinking that meets the demands of companies and remain up to date with the market’s developments. They also explained that the project owner must have a creative website that introduces him and his project to the people, where people can contact him for more information. They added that the project owner must also expand carefully to reinforce his experience and abilities.

DUBAI: Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai has been named “Agency of the Year” at the 2010 Dubai Lynx Awards, recognized as the leading advertising festival in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The awards, now in their fourth year, were announced at a glittering ceremony at The Palladium in Dubai on March 17th.

Memac Ogilvy offices in Dubai and Tunis combined also won twenty six awards including two Grand Prix.

The awards are split into eleven Gold, three Silver and ten Bronze.

The agency was also short listed for another sixteen awards. In addition to winning the coveted “Agency of the Year” Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai won the Direct Grand Prix for its “Dustvertising” campaign for BP Visco Engine Oil - as well as ten golds, three silver and seven bronzes.

Memac Ogilvy Label Tunisia received the Interactive Grand Prix for its “Boga Cidre” ad as well as Gold for beverage company SFTP” and three Bronze awards for other clients.

Edmond Moutran, Chairman and CEO of Memac Ogilvy & Mather Holding, Inc was deeply proud of the results.

“This is an outstanding achievement by anybody’s standard. When I started the agency 25 years ago my dream was to build the best agency in the Middle East and North Africa. When you win the “Agency of the Year” title, you are the best agency by recognition of the industry.”

Ronald Howes, Regional Managing Director of Memac Ogilvy in the GCC said: “Only six months after our huge success at the GEMAS Effies, where ACDelco’s ‘YES campaign’ picked up Grand Prix Award and a Gold in the ‘Automotive’ category while Pond’s Middle East picked up two Golds for both ‘Non-Food FMCG’ and ‘Best New Product Launch’ categories with its GCC launch campaign, our agency has now reached the ‘twin peaks’ of effectiveness and creativity.

We are now duly recognised as the number one creative agency in the region, with a strong track record of ‘work that works’.”

Memac Ogilvy also was a close runner up for the title of “Network of the Year”.

VIVA recognises staff with special awards KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait had a special recognition awards event for employees from its Sales department and Call Centre at VIVA’s head office in Salmiya. Najeeb Al-Awadhi VIVA’s CEO had the honour to award VIVA’s employees. The majority of whom are Kuwaiti, with certificates of appreciation for their hard work and dedication, in the presence of Sultan Shahrani VIVA’s acting Chief Human Resources Officer.

Najeeb Al-Awadhi VIVA’s CEO said “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all the enthusiasm VIVA’s staff are giving to our

daily operation in fulfilling our customers’ expectations in a transparent and energetic manner. Their efforts have contributed to us achieving core goals we set since our official launch” “They are VIVA’s main assets. Their actions will hopefully inspire others to work even harder to meet our shared objective -making things possible for the benefit of our customers.” Al-Awadhi added. As an employer of choice, VIVA Kuwait is committed to empowering and rewarding their employees through comprehensive training and development programmes.

Markaz organizes M&A seminar KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz”, one of the Middle East’s leading investment banking and asset management companies, announced that it held a legal training seminar in collaboration with leading US based law firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. The training was attended by select VIP clients and Markaz employees, and held at the Holiday Inn - Downtown.

Rasha Al-Hamad - Senior Vice President of Human

Resources and Administration said “Given the rapid economic developments, Markaz staff need to be updated on pressing legal matters on an ongoing basis. Markaz is always striving to develop its staff and to provide them with a learning environment and we can’t think of a better way of achieving this other than organizing such seminars by first-rate speakers. The training covered M&A’s for the MENA Region, a very pertinent topic in today’s environment.”

The speakers were Jeffrey Trinklein, Paul Harter and Nick Tomlinson, Partners at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (“GDC”).

The firm is global with more than 1,000 lawyers in 16 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

GDC has been acting as legal and tax advisor to Markaz for the past 2 decades on various matters including US Real Estate projects, private equity funds investments and others.

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

.2840000 .2940000 .4290000 .4380000 .385000 .3920000 .2690000 .2770000 .2810000 .2890000 .2620000 .2680000 .0045000 .0075000 .0020000 .0035000 .0780860 .0788700 .7607660 .7684120 .4020000 .4180000 .0750000 .0790000 .7457990 .7532940 .0045000 .0072000 .0500000 .0580000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2879500 .2900500 .4315580 .4346050 .3872330 .3899680 .2717100 .2736340 .2831600 .2851660 .0520400 .0524090 .0398950 .0401780 .2641630 .2660290 .0370940 .0373570 .2053470 .2068010 .0031800 .0032020 .0063630 .0064080 .0025310 .0025490 .0034380 .0034620 .0042190 .0042480 .0784360 .0789360 .7641760 .7690480 .4072380 .4101220 .0768250 .0773150 .7482930 .7530640 .0063630 .0064080 TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2900500 .4346050 .2736340 .0773150

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

3.214 6.367

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.434 2.529 3.983 206.610 37.280 4.174 6.347 8.949 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 77.174 Qatari Riyal 79.510 Omani Riyal 751.800 Bahraini Dinar 768.600 UAE Dirham 78.820 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 55.850 Egyptian Pound 52.653 Yemen Riyal 1.319 Tunisian Dinar 209.100 Jordanian Dinar 408.640 Lebanese Lira 194.130 Syrian Lier 6.354 Morocco Dirham 35.274 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 289.250 Euro 390.500 Sterling Pound 434.500 Canadian dollar 285.700 Turkish lire 188.000 Swiss Franc 273.910 Australian dollar 265.100 US Dollar Buying 287.000 GOLD 20 Gram 216.000 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 268.800 768.050 4.400 287.600 567.900 15.800 53.500 167.800 56.600

SELL DRAFT 267.300 769.050 4.175 286.100

208.400 52.669

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

393.500 37.960 6.620 0.035 0.297 0.261 3.290 410.510 0.195 89.210 47.800 4.260 207.300 2.183 50.100 751.210 3.510 6.550 79.980 77.210 208.420 41.930 2.778 438.000 41.700 276.600 6.400 9.290 217.900 78.910 289.600 1.380

392.000 37.810 6.345

408.770 0.195 89.210 3.900 205.800 751.030 3.440 6.350 79.550 77.210 208.420 41.830 2.530 436.000 275.100 9.130 78.910 289.200

GOLD 1,199.420 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 436.000 289.200

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

288.800 287.900 440.640 396.645 272.235 707.865 764.420 78.610 79.305 76.980 407.535 52.629 6.356 3.428

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

2.525 4.180 6.344 3.195 8.917 6.301 3.969

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 289.250 Pak Rupees 3.440 Indian Rupees 6.350 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.540 Bangladesh Taka 4.185 Philippines Peso 6.380 UAE Dirhams 78.795 Saudi Riyals 77.295 Bahraini Dinars 768.500 Egyptian Pounds 52.645 Pound Sterling 438.800 Indonesian Rupiah 0.00003195 Nepali rupee 3.980 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Jordanian Dinars 410.600 Syrian Pounds 5.750 Euro 393.500 Candaian Dollars 291.000

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 289.000 Euro 391.900 Pound Sterling 435.900 Canadian Dollar 286.000 Japanese Yen 3.214 Indian Rupee 6.340 Egyptian Pound 52.650 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.531 Bangladesh Taka 4.175 Philippines Peso 6.343 Pakistan Rupee 3.445 Bahraini Dinar 769.000 UAE Dirham 78.675 Saudi Riyal 77.050 *Rates are subject to change

BUSINESS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

23

Google to phase out China search partnerships HONG KONG: Two days after shutting its Chinese portal over censorship, Google Inc said it plans to phase out deals to provide filtered search services to other online or mobile firms in China. It has already been shunned by at least one of those partner firms and was attacked by a state newspaper after pulling the plug on its mainland Chinese language portal Google.cn. It now reroutes searches to an unfiltered Hong Kong site.

The Google dispute, which involves cyber attacks as well as Internet censorship, is one of many thorny trade, financial, political and security issues that are roiling US-China ties this year. Yesterday, Google’s search services remained erratic across Beijing, frustrating users unsure about the future of its other servicesfrom maps to music-over two

months after its bombshell announcement it may quit China. While Google is the world’s top search engine, it held only an estimated 30 percent share of China’s search market in 2009, compared with home-grown rival Baidu Inc’s 60 percent. Activists who gathered at Google’s Beijing headquarters to show support appeared to be Google’s only vocal allies in China.

Google said it is not providing direct access to censored searches, but will fulfill existing contracts with other firms. “We have over a dozen syndication deals with partners in China.

We obviously have contractual obligations to them, which we want to honour,” a Singaporebased Google spokeswoman said.

“Over time, we will not be syndicating censored search to partners in China. But we will

of course fulfil our existing contractual obligations,” she added.

What business risks do Maoist rebels pose?

NEW DELHI: Maoist rebels have stepped up attacks in parts of India this week in response to a planned government offensive, a conflict that could hurt investment plans, particularly in the country’s mineral belt. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the insurgency as the biggest internal security challenge. Here are some questions and answers on the insurgency and possible risks to industry and investment.

WHO ARE THE MAOISTS? The rebel movement started as a peasant revolt in Naxalbari village in West Bengal in 1967. It was initially crushed by the government, but the rebels regrouped in the 1980s.

They say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and the disenfranchised. They now number an estimated 22,000 combatants in more than 180 of the country’s 630 districts. They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the Nepal border to West Bengal and through central India into the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The rebels are armed with automatic rifles, shoulder-fired rockets, explosives and mines. Indian officials say the movement is now spreading to cities and bigger towns where the rebels enjoy support from some educated youth and intellectuals.

HOW BIG IS THE RISK TO INVESTORS? While the economic impact may be small compared with India’s trillion dollar economy, the insurgency and the sense that it is worsen-

ing signals that India does not fully control its own territory and adds to risks for companies considering investments. The Maoists regularly attack railway lines and factories, aiming to cripple economic activity. With the rebels controlling vast swathes of mineral-rich areas, the government has often struggled to transport coal to power and steel companies.

WHAT COMPANIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED? The effect of the Maoist insurgency has already taken its toll on business. Work on a $7billion steel plant by India’s third largest steel producer, JSW Steel Ltd, has been delayed.

Frequent rebel strikes have hit production and shipment at firms such as India’s largest miner of iron ore, NMDC Ltd’s and state-run National Aluminium Co Ltd. Rebels sided with farmers during violent protests against government moves to acquire farmland for industry, forcing the scrapping of a Tata Motors’ Nano car plant and a $3 billion chemicals hub complex in eastern India. Protests by farmers have also delayed work on two separate plants by the world’s leading steelmakers Arcelor Mittal and POSCO in eastern India.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GOVT’S RESPONSE? The government has deployed hundreds of state and federal police in the country’s east to halt the Maoists’ advance, but so far has refused to send in the army. The government says it could take up to five years to defeat the Maoists. — Reuters

Chinese demand sparks new interest in magnetite iron ore MARDIE STATION: On a sprawling west Australian cattle station, the world’s largest trucks and excavators are working overtime to dig what will become one of the biggest holes on Earth. Sino Iron, a joint venture between Hong Kong-based Citic Pacific and China’s state-owned Metallurgical Group Corporation, will be Australia’s largest magnetite iron ore mine, and its first major foray into processing the oxide.

China has been mining magnetite domestically for close to 100 years but Australia, blessed with other high-quality forms of ore deposits, saw little commercial benefit.

However, a five-fold increase over 10 years in iron ore’s spot price, driven by voracious Asian demand for the basic ingredient of steel, meant magnetite was now not only viable, but vital. “This is basically China’s biggest single investment in a resources project in Australia,” said Sino Iron mine manager Tim Ryan. “This will be the first large-scale magnetite operation in the world.”

The renewed interest will translate into an open-cast pit 5.5 kilometres long, three kilometres wide and hundreds of metres deep-providing a glut of high-grade steel for China’s increasingly affluent consumers.

Despite being a lower-grade mineral when it comes out of the ground, and more costly to produce, magnetite is more stable and of higher purity than hematite-the main form of ore used in iron production-once crushed and processed, Ryan said. “We like to say you build your Porsches out of magnetite and your Toyota out of hematite,” Ryan joked. “Magnetite’s a better grade.”

The top-end product, commonly used to build aircraft bodies and medical equipment, will find an enthusiastic market in the diversifying Chinese economy and its burgeoning middle class. Mining giant BHP Billiton first explored the Sino Iron tenement in the early 1960s but wasn’t interested in magnetite, which is only 25 percent pure when it comes out of the ground, said Ryan. “It just wasn’t commercially viable to mine and process magnetite, which costs about 40 percent more than hematite to produce,” Ryan said. “It was a question of economies of scale.”

So BHP and Rio Tinto staked their fortunes on the hematite-rich ranges of the Pilbara, where deposits such as Mount Tom Price and Mount Whaleback offered up ore of unrivalled purity. “There was 65 (percent pure) hematite literally cropping on the surface,” one Rio worker said.

“It was like God’s gift to a prospector.” But most high-grade deposits in the Pilbara have been discovered and claimed, while China’s offthe-charts growth has left it struggling to find alternative sources of ore, said Ryan.

“We believe that this is really the start of a magnetite industry in Australia,” said Barry Fitzgerald, the project’s CEO. “It demonstrates the capacity of Chinese industry, and I’m sure they see this as a major coup.”

Australia currently has just two small scale magnetite operations-neither in mineral-rich Western Australia, and neither of which could rival Sino Iron, which Ryan claims will be one of the “biggest holes in the world.”

Chinese equipment and expertise was central to the project, which will include a mine pit, processor, desalination facility and power plant.

Ryan said some “raised their eyebrows” at the 100 percent Chinese ownership, but most in the industry saw growing investment from Beijing as inevitable. “It’s always been accepted that those guys buy the iron ore in the first place,” he said.

A growing magnetite industry might also find support from environmentalists because it requires less energy to process that hematite.

“That means that the carbon emissions from when you mine it (to when you) produce a tonne of steel is lower, the carbon footprint is reduced in a global context,” said Fitzgerald.

“From that point of view the development of a magnetite industry is significant.” Citic Pacific has acquired a 25-year lease to mine Mardie Station from owner Clive Palmer.

At 632,000 hectares, it is one of Western Australia’s largest cattle farms. Self-made billionaire Palmer, one of Australia’s richest men, last month signed what he described as the country’s biggest-ever export contract-a 60 billion US dollar deal to export coal to China.

Palmer’s private company, Mineralogy, owns an estimated 160 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves in the Pilbara, and he stands to reap royalties from the Sino Iron project.

Management hopes for first production from the plant by the end of this year, with output of 28 million tonnes per annum once it reaches full capacity.

It’s not much compared to the 217 million tonnes of ore shipped last year by Rio Tinto, but Ryan says the mining industry is following Sino Iron with a great deal of interest. “There’s vast reserves of magnetite in the ground,” he said.

“Everyone’s watching this project very closely.” —AFP

Google has already been taken off the popular tom.com portal, owned by Li Ka-shing, a

Hong Kong billionaire who is one of the richest men in the world and has good ties to

Beijing, according to Bloomberg. Many of Google’s often well-educated, professional fan-base in China, who use the company’s software for both work and play, said they were already suffering some fallout yesterday with erratic service.

Several of Google’s international search sites were failing to open, and when they could be accessed some users found that all searches, including for non-sensitive terms like “hello”, were returning blank pages or error messages.

Businesses, university students and people in private homes reported intermittent problems on the main Google.com site, the Google.co.uk site and Google.ca.

“Google.com.hk is not currently being blocked, although it seems that some sensitive

terms are. However, if you search for a sensitive term and trigger a government blockage, that may affect subsequent searches ... for a short period,” Google said.

ACTIVISTS SUPPORT Around 100 people, including human rights lawyers and other activists, gathered at Google’s Beijing base late on Tuesday- the day when news of the pullout reached China-to pay tribute. After arguments with police, they approached the company’s door to leave messages including “Google forever” and “Long live freedom!” at the company’s door, said Teng Biao, a prominent activist who visited the building after a rights’ meeting.

“It will bring some inconvenience, but we really support this move by Google. They put freedom of expression ahead of

business, and we hope that it will encourage more people to pay attention to human rights situation in China,” Teng told Reuters by phone.

But Google’s move has angered the government, and yesterday an official Communist Party newspaper accused it of colluding with US spies, in China’s latest blast at the company.

“Google is not a virgin when it comes to values. Its cooperation and collusion with the US intelligence and security agencies is well-known,” a front page commentary in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily said. “All this makes one wonder.

Thinking about the United States’ big efforts in recent years to engage in Internet war, perhaps this could be an exploratory pre-dawn battle,” the paper said. —Reuters

Nikkei hits 2-month peak Nintendo surges amid plans to launch new DS model TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei average finished 0.4 percent higher yesterday after hitting a two-month peak, but gains were limited by the yen’s rise on the euro and investor reluctance to trade on concerns over Greece’s fiscal woes.

Tech shares such as Canon Inc rose after signs of improved demand in the semiconductor industry lifted their US peers. Market players said investors were reluctant to buy ahead of a euro-zone summit later this week amid doubts that policy-makers will come up with a quick rescue package for debt-laden Greece. “While the yen is weaker against the dollar there are concerns about the yen’s strength against the euro, and this is weighing on the overall market, especially exporters,” said Hiroaki Kuramochi, head of the equity division at Tokai Tokyo Securities.

The benchmark Nikkei rose 40.88 points to 10,815.03 after earlier rising 1 percent to 10,880.62, its highest since Jan 21. The broader Topix gained 0.5 percent to 951.97.

In orders placed before the open, foreign investors have been net buyers for more than two weeks, and Kuramochi said some foreigners still appeared to be buying. Other market players said that hedge funds and domestic investors were apparently selling.

The euro fell 0.4 percent against the yen to 121.59 yen.

It also dropped to an all-time low against the Swiss franc and slid to a 10-month low against the greenback as well.

“There are concerns about Greece, and while it isn’t an outright selling factor, the fact that the Nikkei rose only narrowly in early trade shows that investors are reluctant to trade actively ahead of the summit,” said Takashi Ushio, head of the investment strategy division at Marusan Securities.

BANKS DIP Major banks slipped after the government said it plans to scale back privatisation of Japan Post and roughly double the limit on Japan Post’s deposits and insurance, raising concerns about outflows from private banks. Mizuho Financial Group, Japan’s no. 2 bank, lost 1 percent to 191 yen and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, shed 0.7 percent to 2,944 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan’s top lender, lost 0.4 percent to 471 yen. But market players noted that the move was not a surprise and was unlikely to be a major selling factor, though it could inhibit longerterm buying by foreign investors put off by the retreat from structural reforms.

Teijin Ltd rose 1.7 percent to 298 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the synthetic textile maker it is likely to post an annual operating profit of around 18 billion yen ($200 million), beating an earlier prediction of 13 billion yen. Nintendo Co Ltd jumped 8.7 percent to 30,400 yen and Canon gained 1.7 percent to 4,160 yen. Some 1.9 billion shares changed hands on the Tokyo exchange’s first section. Advancing shares outnumbered declining shares by more than 2 to 1. — Reuters

Nintendo Co Ltd soared nearly 9 percent after the video game maker said it plans to launch a new model of its DS handheld game gear that allows users to play 3D games without requiring the use of special glasses.

Easa Husain Al-Yousifi and Sons launches latest air conditioners KUWAIT: Easa Husain Al-Yousifi and Sons Company, the exclusive agent for Panasonic in Kuwait, has launched the latest series of its high-tech air conditioners.

Panasonic’s new range of air conditioners for the Middle East market comes with an in-built air purifying system and eco patrol sensors, which utilizes e-ions to effectively cool and clean the air, reducing viruses by 99.5% and allergens by 99%, while saving 20% on energy consumption.

The new product line-up includes a range of standard and deluxe models, as well as large room air conditioners, with dust and eco patrol sensors. As soon as the sensors detect unhealthy levels of dust in the air, e-ions are released trapping dust, bacteria, and viruses and effectively cleaning the air. Positively-charged e-ions also help reduce common house hold odors, such as cigarettes smoke and cooking.

Manager of Sales Department at AlYousifi Co, Wael Deeb, said that the new range of air conditioners provide excellent cooling, even when outside temperatures are above 55 degrees Celsius, courtesy of new super tropical compressors.

Panasonic air conditioners’ cooling capacity is enhanced by Blue Fin Condensers, which last three times longer.

“Panasonic’s air conditioners are designed to cool and clean the air at the

same time, which makes perfect sense in the region’s hot and dusty conditions. The air conditioners are also very eco-friendly, and the eco patrol ‘SENSOR’ prevents wasteful operations when no one is in a room, cutting energy consumptions by 20 percent,” said Wael. “Another issue across the region is air-borne allergies.

Panasonic air conditioners with their inbuilt air purification system are ideal for protecting children and the elderly,” he said.

The units also come with a larger cross flow fan, which dramatically increases air flow. The powerful breeze rapidly cools the room to a comfortable temperature while it cleans the air. As the breeze reaches a wider area, the temperature inside the room is evenly distributed. The air conditioners all come with a wireless remote. An LCD display on the remote allows for easy use. For the region, an Arabic sticker is also included, for easy operations.

Malaysia raises growth forecast, eyes rate hikes KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s central bank yesterday raised its economic growth forecast for 2010 and indicated more interest rate hikes are in the pipeline. Bank Negara Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said growth picked up in the fourth quarter and the increased momentum would help the economy expand between 4.5 and 5.5 percent this year, underpinned by strengthening domestic demand and the global economic recovery.

The government earlier forecast 2010 economic growth at 2-3 percent. The central bank this month raised its key interest rate for the first time in nearly four years, reflecting a strengthening economic recovery. Gross domestic product rebounded to grow a stronger-than-expected 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, helping to bolster the economy which shrank 1.7 percent for the full year.

Higher capital spending and accelerated implementation of remaining projects under stimulus measures totaling 67 billion ringgit ($20 billion) unveiled last year will further reinforce growth this year, the bank said. It projected domestic demand to rebound to

grow 3.2 percent this year, after shrinking 0.4 percent in 2009.

Exports are expected to expand 7.7 percent, after a 10 percent contraction last year.

Zeti indicated further interest rate hikes “if the environment allows us to do so,” pointing to risks from an uneven global economic recovery.

However, any rate hikes will be “gradual and measured” she said. “Interest rates that are too low will cause other imbalances that could undermine the overall economic recovery.

To mitigate that, we would work toward normalizing interest rates,” she told reporters. Bank Negara on March 4 raised its overnight policy rate - used by commercial banks to set lending rates - by a quarter percentage point to 2.25 percent. But it still remains low compared to 2008 when it was 3.50 percent.

“Over the medium term, the more competitive global environment creates urgency for Malaysia to transition to a high valueadded, high-income economy,” Zeti said in Bank Negara’s annual report.

“Three areas of priority are to have a

high quality work force, to develop competition-driven markets and to strengthen further our existing institution and physical infrastructure,” she said. Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to outline new policies next week to reinvigorate the trade-driven economy and boost investment.

The plan, known as the “new economic model”, will make a decades-old affirmative action program for majority ethnic Malays more market-friendly, Najib said in Hong Kong earlier this week.

Critics have said the program, which gives preference to Malays in government contracts, business, jobs, education and housing, is discriminatory, benefits only the elite few who are close to the ruling party and inhibits businesses.

“It’s a competitive world and it will be helpful to remove barriers to enterprises,” said David Cohen, an analyst with consultancy Action Economics in Singapore.

Cohen said the central bank’s new growth projection was still conservative and projected a 6 percent expansion. Bank Negara is also likely to raise interest rates in the second half this year, he said.—AP

24

BUSINESS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

KSE marks sixth consecutive session of gains Wataniya first to introduce Global Daily Market Report

‘Corporate Diggly Tone’

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) and major indicators closed yesterday on a positive note, marking the sixth consecutive session of gains for the Global General Index (GGI).

Central Bank Governor, Sheikh Salem Abdul-Aziz Al-Sabah, said inflationary pressures in GCC have dropped substantially but not disappeared completely and policymakers need to focus on financial stability. GGI added 1.64 points (+0.78 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 212.37 points, the highest level since the beginning of the year.

In addition, the KSE Price Index increased by 13.60 points (+0.18 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,464.50 points.

Market capitalization was up KD287.54mn yesterday to reach KD34.84bn.

KUWAIT: Following previous successful launchings of its Corporate products, Wataniya Telecom introduces yet another creative and appealing product which will benefit and promote all its corporate customers businesses.

Companies will now have an option to use their own branded tone for the Diggly Tone service. The company tone will be available on all the subscribed employees’ Wataniya lines. The corporate clients calling the employees will hear the Corporate Diggly Tone instead of the standard ringing tone. Moreover, and as one of Corporate Diggly Tone features, the company tone could be set as a default tone for all the company’s employees or on just limited lines or departments.

Companies who wish to subscribe to this service will

Market Breadth During yesterday’s session, 153 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards gainers as 69 equities advanced versus 49 that advanced. A total of 92 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 32.47 percent to reach 452.99mn shares. In addition, value of shares traded gained by 73.46 percent to stand at KD109.49mn. The Investment Sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 33.61 percent of total traded volume.

The Services Sector was the value leader, with 49.83 percent of total traded value. Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport saw 26.09mn shares changing hands, making it the volume leader.

Zain was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD22.94mn.

Abdolaziz Al Balool, PR Manager of Wataniya Telecom also be given the choice to select specific timings of the day in which the Corporate Diggly Tone will be heard by the caller. “Wataniya’s initiative in introducing the Corporate Diggly Tone comes from our drive to constantly

support our corporate customers and provide them with diverse means in promoting their business and raising the corporate image of their company.”

Abdol Aziz Al Balool, Wataniya PR Manager stated.

Companies’ employees with post paid and prepaid account will be eligible to subscribe to the service (set by the Company Administrator), and the account will not be charged upon subscription instead the Corporate Wataniya Account will be billed on behalf of the employees. The Corporate Diggly Tone can only be assigned to Wataniya lines of the company. If you are interested in the Corporate Diggly Tone service and your company is already an existing client of Wataniya you may call your account managers to get more information.

Dealmakers meet to sort $26bn Dubai World debt Top Gainers and Biggest Decliners In terms of top gainers, Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting was the top gainer for the day, adding 8.33 percent and closed at KD0.325. On the other hand, National Cleaning Company shed 6.90 percent to close at KD0.270 making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors Wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they ended the day on

a positive note except for Global Insurance Index which was unchanged and Global Non-Kuwaiti Index which was the only decliner in the market. The index ended the day down 0.76 percent backed by United Gulf Bank and Umm AlQaiuain Cement Industries Company, the top decliners in the sector, ending the day down 4.84 percent and 3.13 percent, respectively. Global Industrial Index was the top gainer yesterday, up 1.85 percent during yesterday’s ses-

sion. The index was aided by the positive performance of National Industries Group (Holding), which ended the day with a gain of 2.53 percent to close at KD0.405. Moreover, Kuwait Cement Company also contributed to the sector’s gain by posting a 7.04 percent gain yesterday and closed at KD0.760. Global Banking Index ended the day with a gain of 1.04 percent, making it the second biggest gainer in t he market.

Heavyweights National Bank of Kuwait and

Kuwait Finance House were the cause of the index’s gain by ending the day up 1.69 and 1.72 percent, respectively.

Regarding Global’s special indices, Global High Yield Index was the only decliner yesterday. The index ended the day down 0.04 percent backed by Bank of Kuwait & the Middle East posting a 1.85 percent drop. Global Large Cap Index ended the day with a gain of 1.21 percent backed by gains witnessed the heavyweight banks.

DUBAI: Bankers gathered in Dubai yesterday to hammer out a $26 billion debt plan with state-owned Dubai World as a repayment deadline loomed, adding to pressure on the glitzy emirate to settle the conglomerate’s debt. Core creditors representing 97 banks met to finalise months of talks on how Dubai World can restructure the debt, about a quarter of Dubai’s estimated total debt of $101 billion.

Markets anticipated a deal favourable to lenders, with the cost of insuring Dubai sovereign debt falling and bond prices rising for Dubai World unit Nakheel, the property firm that built a giant island replica of the Earth. Dubai is expected to lean heavily on its oilexporting neighbour Abu Dhabi, the leading member of the seven-member United Arab Emirates federation, which has stumped up $10 billion in bailouts and is expected to write another cheque. “It looks very much like the main scenario of an Abu Dhabi bailout is taking shape,” said David Butter, director for Middle East and North Africa at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“I doubt that we will ever be able to get an authoritative figure on it, but the bottom line is that Abu

Dhabi seems to have decided that it has to pay whatever is necessary to avoid serious reputational damage for the UAE as a whole.”

Dubai’s shock request for payment delays in November shook global markets and raised wider concerns among international investors about transparency and disclosure standards in the region.

Dubai World’s debt troubles have also weighed on the local banking sector, which is heavily exposed to Dubai World. Moody’s estimated total UAE banks’ exposure to be around $15 billion.

Dubai spent wildly during the boom years on infrastructure and development, erecting tens of thousands of luxury homes in the space of six years, only to see construction sites go silent and rent go unpaid as the financial crisis swept the Gulf.

Speculation during the months-long debt talks has centred on the amount of new aid from Abu Dhabi and on the size of the “haircut”, or cut in principal, that lenders will swallow. Another of Dubai World’s construction units, Limitless, has a $1.2 billion Islamic loan due on March 31 and could be the next tripwire in the conglomerate’s path. — Reuters

BUSINESS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

25

Merkel faces criticism for aggravating Greek woes Remarks seen undermining Greek bond recovery BERLIN: Angela Merkel’s vocal stand against aid for Greece has won her points at home in Germany, but is also exposing her to charges of deepening Greece’s debt woes and raising the chance it will ultimately need a bailout.

European officials and economists who agree with the German chancellor’s fundamental position-that Greece must clean up its finances alone and be

Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd marks start of expansion in Middle East SINGAPORE: Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd (Fraser) yesterday marked the beginning of a major presence in the Middle East with the grand opening of Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain, the first of five properties to come on line throughout this region over the next two years.

The 19-storey Kingdom of Bahrain property sets new standards for luxury accommodation in the city, with 91 one or two bedroom suites and three stunning penthouses.

Each floor accommodates just eight suites for greater privacy and security, and the elegant interior design is complemented by the highest quality fixtures and fittings - including Herman Miller furniture, BOSE sound system and an iPod docking station in every apartment. It is the only international-class accommodation with direct access to the city’s exclusive Seef Mall, Bahrain’s premier shopping and entertainment destination.

Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain’s grand opening was held under the patronage of Her Excellency, Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture and Information.

The guest-of-honour was His Excellency Wong Kwok Pun, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain was developed by Seef Properties, one of Bahrain’s largest real estate companies, which owns and manages various commercial properties including Seef Mall, the largest shopping and entertainment centre in the Kingdom.

The opening of Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain will be followed in quick succession with the launch of two more properties, Fraser Suites

Dubai and Fraser Suites Doha. Another two properties already on the drawing board-in Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-are scheduled to open within the next two years.

“The Middle East remains a most exciting growth area for business and tourism and, strategically for Frasers Hospitality, an important pillar in our global network”, said Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Hospitality, Choe Peng Sum. “The Kingdom of Bahrain’s growth is predicated on a rapidly diversifying economy with impressive expansion into new areas such as tourism, manufacturing, trade and commerce.”

“The city’s forecast of an estimated 6.7 percent growth in international arrivals this year, together with a sharp demand-supply imbalance in the hospitality sector, set the scene for a successful start to our expansion through the region.” he added. Frasers Hospitality currently manages 31 properties - a total of 4,800 individual residences-in 19 cities worldwide.

This year, the company will open a total of 16 new properties, 12 under the Fraser brand and 4 under the new Modena brand and will make its debut in 12 major cities-Budapest (Hungary), Bangalore (India), Doha (Qatar), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), New Delhi (India), Osaka (Japan), Bahrain (Middle East), Chengdu (China), Guangzhou (China), Suzhou (China) and Tianjin (China). With another 6,000 residences being developed, the company is on course to manage more than 10,600 individual residences in 34 cities by the end of 2012.

Zapatero vows to enforce Spain austerity measures MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero vowed yesterday to enforce “maximum austerity” amid market scepticism that Madrid can cut its budget deficit down to eurozone limits by 2013. “The government is firmly committed to reducing the public deficit and following maximum austerity during this stage,” Zapatero told parliament during a question-andanswer session.

He said the Socialist government will announce in the first two weeks of April a belttightening programme for state-owned companies. Zapatero was responding to criticism from the leader of the conservative Popular Party, Mariano Rajoy, who has questioned the credibility of the government’s plan to reduce the deficit.

The government announced in January a plan to save 50 billion euros over three years to slash its massive public deficit from an estimated 11.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2009 to within the eurozone’s 3.0-percent limit by 2013.

Zapatero said the government’s targets were “credible” despite doubts expressed by analysts who say they are based on an overly optimistic economic growth forecast. Investors worry that Spain could follow in the shaky footsteps of Greece, whose debt crisis has shaken the euro and put a spotlight on the public finances of other so-called periphery members of the eurozone.

Greece will dominate a European Union summit that will be held today and tomorrow amid divisions over a possible bailout for the troubled country. The Spanish economy has been mired in recession since the global financial crisis hastened the collapse of its once-buoyant property sector at the end of 2008. The recession sent the unemployment rate soaring to nearly 19 percent in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Spanish Industry Ministry said yesterday that the country’s trade deficit stabilised in January at 4.5 billion euros (six billion dollars), a 0.3 percent increase from the same month last year. — AFP

Two customers grab 100,000 Qatari riyals Opportunities to obtain ‘Doha Millionaire’ title DOHA: With the commencement of the significant campaign that was launched in 2010 exclusively for Kuwait Customers, “Doha Bank,’ one of the leading banks in Qatar, for offering exquisite services in Kuwait, announces the winners of the 100,000 Qatari Riyals and the 10,000 Qatari Riyals in the monthly draw taking place on 14th March.

The bank announced the winners at a large Gala event that was attended by prominent bank officials and an extensive number of bank customers, as well as representatives from the department of consumer protection. The winners of the 1st draw of the 100,000 Qatari Riyals cash prize are Murtadah Mohammad Hussein and Ruman Othman.

The nine other customers won cash prizes worth 10,000 Qatari Riyals were, Jameela Malek Akram, Himshandrad, Hassan Hamad Khalifa, Mohammad Jawad Ali, Shehab Al-Deen Morkin, Mohammad Al-Sharfi, Anaba Ridi Fiyajya, Sheikha Ahmed Abd-Al-Hay and Brakash Jejanasan. All “Doha Bank” customers in Kuwait are included in the

draw, with cash prizes ranging from 10,000 Qatari Riyals to 1 million Qatari Riyals, in which customers holding bank accounts above 100 Kuwaiti Dinars will be part of the monthly draw.

Additionally, and as further benefits from “Doha Bank”, the bank has decided to grant all it’s outstanding customers a doubled chance of winning, by including customers holding accounts worth of 500 Kuwaiti Dinars for a period of six months, twice for each 100 Kuwaiti Dinars deposited in their accounts, and three chances for winning for customers holding an account worth of 500 Kuwaiti Dinars for a time period of 12 months consecutively.

On a further note regarding the launch of the new Doha Bank Campaign for 2010 / 2011, the Chief Counter Manager of the Kuwait Branch, Ahmed Al Mehza stated that the bank pays great attention to customer services for both individual customers and corporate customers, through offering excellent services, as well as giving outstanding customers the oppor-

tunity to win cash prizes starting from 100,000 Qatari Riyals and reaching an amount of 1 million Riyals.

“This year’s campaign has been launched exclusively for Kuwait branch customers, and that is to enhance the chances for it’s customers to win cash prized throughout the year.

Concluding that there is yet the opportunity to win the 1 million Qatari Riyal prize, in the upcoming “Doha Millionaire” draw next month,” said Ahmed AlMehza, Chief Country Manager of the Kuwait Branch.

Moreover, Al- Mehza concluded,”The bank is always eager to enhance its position within Kuwait, as well as continuously offering excellent and up to date financial services to its customers, through presenting various different methods and choices of accounts and services, including one’s such as the current deposit account, the fixed deposit account, the savings account and the account upon demand which suits different daily needs and demands”.

These steps had pushed the spread between Greek bond yields and German benchmark issues well below 300 basis points and boosted hopes that Greece could weather a difficult period in April and May when it must tap the capital markets again. Now spreads have crept up to around 320 points, increasing anxiety about Greece’s ability to pull off another debt issue without some form of support, and putting pressure on EU leaders who will gather in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

“On substance I agree with Merkel’s tough stance on providing aid to Greece, but the timing of some of these statements has been unfortunate,” said Klaus Wiener, head of research at Generali Investments in Cologne.

“Greece is making huge efforts with its austerity plan and it pulled off the bond sale early this month. It’s a shame some of the rhetoric has prevented it from fully reaping the fruits of these successes.”

REASONS TO RESIST Merkel has many reasons for resisting a quick decision on aid.

Her advisers believe financial support for Greece from euro zone partners, regardless of how it is packaged, would violate the bloc’s no-bailout clause and face challenges in Germany’s highest court, which has shown a eurosceptic streak in the past.

Berlin fears moving too rapidly on aid could also discourage other euro members from getting their finances in order, haunting the bloc with moral hazard issues for years to come.

It is hoping a hard line will help it wring concessions from partners on a strengthening of the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact, including tighter surveillance of euro member economies and onerous new penalties for violators of bloc budget rules. But officials from Germany’s euro zone partners say some of Merkel’s public pronouncements reflect a tone-deafness towards the markets that was also evident during the outbreak of the global financial crisis in late 2008.

In times of crisis, investor confidence is inevitably delicate.

Merkel has sometimes appeared oblivious to this, and keener to ram home her uncompromising message than tone it down to avoid stoking uncertainty over Greece’s fate. The latest example was a radio interview over the weekend in which Merkel rejected suggestions that EU leaders discuss a standby aid package for Greece at the Thursday summit, and warned against destabilising markets with “false expectations”. Greek yield spreads widened sharply in reaction.

DOMESTIC POLITICAL FACTORS Criticism of her handling of the crisis has been loudest from officials in euro zone governments who see political calculation behind her tough rhetoric.

One EU government source said he believed Merkel’s stance was being shaped primarily by the looming state election in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s most populous state and a bellwether for national politics.

If Merkel’s ally loses control of the state in the May 9 vote, her majority in the upper house of parliament will be lost, hampering her ability to push through legislation. Agreeing a bailout for Greece before the poll might hurt her chances because the German public is deeply opposed to aid.

Marco Annunziata, an economist at Unicredit, said Merkel’s call for new rules to expel euro members was a “politically expedient” but reckless move driven in part by the NRW vote. “Once investors start fearing that a country might be expelled, they will sell the country’s bonds,” he said in a research note. “You can then call this ‘speculation’, you can call it ‘a conspiracy’, or you can call it ‘reducing risk exposure’, but the end result will be tremendous market pressure that will push the country in question even closer to the brink.” Merkel has a history of putting domestic political considerations before interna-

tional obligations. In the run-up to last year’s federal election she resisted US pressure to boost Afghan troop numbers and take inmates from Guantanamo Bay.—Reuters

given aid only as a last resort-say Merkel has crossed a line with some recent public statements. Her call last week for a change in EU rules to allow the expulsion of euro members appears to have undermined a nascent rebound in investor confidence built on Greece’s new austerity package and its successful 10-year bond sale in early March.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a a meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Berlin. — AFP

German business morale up as eurozone factories hum Business climate reading surpasses all forecasts BERLIN: German business sentiment surged in March to its highest level since June 2008, and activity in the broader euro zone’s manufacturing and services sectors accelerated sharply.

The Munich-based Ifo think tank said yesterday its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, rose to 98.1 from 95.2 in February. The rise beat the consensus forecast for 95.8, surpassing all forecasts and prodding the euro briefly higher.

A separate survey of euro zone purchasing managers showed euro zone manufacturing activity grew in March at its fastest rate since the end of 2006 while the dominant service sector expanded at its quickest pace in over two years. Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMI) for the 16-nation bloc showed a bumper month as manufacturing activity in Germany, its biggest economy, expanded at its fastest rate in 10 years and at the quickest rate in over three years in France.

“It looks like a strong second quarter will follow a weak half year over winter,” said

DekaBank economist Andreas Scheuerle.

Markit’s Eurozone Flash Manufacturing index jumped to 56.3 in March from 54.2 last month, beating forecasts for 54.0, while the output index climbed from 57.0 in February to 59.7 this month, a level it has only beaten once since July 2000.

The services PMI, made up of surveys of around 2,000 businesses ranging from banks to hotels, bounced to 53.7 in March from 51.8 in February, not seen since November 2007. Euro zone government bond futures turned negative after both sets of data were stronger-than-expected.

POST-WAR LOW The euro zone economy escaped from its worst post-war recession in the third quarter of 2009 and Markit said the PMI figures were consistent with growth in the current quarter of 0.5 percent. According to a Reuters poll it will grow 0.4 percent per quarter well into 2011. Ifo economist Klaus Abberger said Germany’s economic recovery is firming on a broad basis and the construction and retail sectors are experiencing a spring pickup.

The German economy emerged from its deepest post-war recession in the second quarter of last year before stalling in the final three months of 2009. Other recent economic data have suggested the German economy struggled to grow at the start of this year, with business confidence falling for the first time in almost a year in February.

German exports also posted their biggest drop in a year in January, throwing the economy’s main growth engine into reverse at the start of 2010, but a surge in orders suggests the decline will be temporary.

Ifo said a brightening of the business climate was evident across all surveyed sectors of the Germany economy. An Ifo index on current conditions rose to 94.4 from 89.8.

An expectations index rose to 101.9 from 100.9. “The relative weakness of the euro is a boost,” said SEB bank analyst Klaus Schruefer. “I would still not talk about a self-sustaining recovery ... From firms’ point of view, it’s still too early to be making noteworthy investments.”— Reuters

Daimler charged with violating bribery laws Daimler to pay $185 million to settle charges WASHINGTON: German car and truck maker Daimler AG has been charged with violating US bribery laws by showering foreign officials with millions of dollars and gifts of luxury cars to win business deals. Daimler plans to pay $185 million to settle charges by the US Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission while its German and Russian units plan to plead guilty to the criminal charges, a source familiar with the case said.

US prosecutors accused the maker of Mercedes cars of engaging “in a long-standing practice of paying bribes” to secure deals in Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq and at least 16 other countries between 1998 and early 2008, according to a criminal information filed in US court. Examples in court documents included an armored car given to an official in Turkmenistan and another to a Liberian official.

The US Justice Department charged Daimler with conspiracy and falsifying books and records under the Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it illegal to pay bribes to obtain or keep business overseas.

Criminal informations are typically used in plea agreements with the US government. Daimler owned US automaker Chrysler from until 1998 to 2007.

The SEC probe began in 2004 when an auditor complained he was fired for protesting secret bank accounts used to pay foreign officials. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the court papers. A Daimler spokeswoman also declined to comment until a scheduled April 1 hearing.

If the settlement proceeds, it would mark the latest in a string of recent agreements between the United States and major companies to settle foreign bribery allegations.

Siemens agreed in December to pay $1.3 billion to end corruption probes in the United States and Germany. Daimler has previously acknowledged payments that raised concerns about legal violations and has said the company was cooperating with investigations by the Justice Department and the SEC. “Daimler has taken various actions designed to address and resolve the issues identified in the course of its investigation and to safeguard against the recurrence of improper conduct,” the company said in its 2009 annual report. As part of the settlement, Daimler AG will not plead guilty or admit any wrongdoing in the Justice Department and

DETROIT: Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche speaks during the first press preview day at the 2010 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit. Daimler will pay some 180 million dollars in fines to settle US allegations that the German automaker habitually bribed foreign officials. — AFP SEC cases, said the source familiar with the case. The company will pay $93.6 million to resolve the Justice Department probe and $91.4 million for the SEC case, the source said.

Daimler and its China unit will enter a twoyear deferred prosecution agreements, the source said.

DEALS SPANNING A DECADE The charges filed Tuesday detailed transactions spanning from 1998 to early 2008 that involved hundreds of payments worth tens of millions of dollars to foreign officials in return for contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Transactions with connections to the United States resulted in more than $50 million in pretax profits for Daimler, according to the court filing. “In some cases, Daimler wired these improper payments to US bank accounts or to the foreign bank accounts of US shell companies in order to transmit the bribe,” the court papers said.

The alleged bribes were frequently made by over-invoicing customers and paying the excess back to top government officials or

their proxies, according to the charges against Daimler. Many of the payments were made through more than 200 internal “third-party accounts,” US prosecutors charged. In one case, Daimler and its distributor gave an unnamed Turkmenistan government official an armored Mercedes passenger car that was valued at more than 300,000 euros for his birthday in February 2000.

At the time the automaker was negotiating to sell dozens of vehicles to the Turkmenistan government.

In another instance, an unnamed official in Liberia in 1999 was given an armored car worth about 267,000 euros as part of a deal to sell trucks for a logging operation there, the documents said. Prosecutors also alleged that Daimler paid 10 percent kickbacks to Iraqi government officials to secure deals to sell vehicles, violating the United Nations’ Oil for Food Program.

The SEC opened its probe after David Bazzetta, an auditor at DaimlerChrysler Corp, filed a whistleblower complaint.—Reuters

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BUSINESS

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Photo shows some of the Bajaj Electronics officials.

Bajaj appliances enter Kuwait market

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Bajaj International, an electrical appliance company, launched its line of small home appliances during a press conference on Tuesday. The event was held at Sheraton Kuwait Hotel and Towers

under the sponsorship of Reda AlGhadanfari.

The launch was attended by the company’s Senior General Manager, K V Prasad, and Assistant General Manager, K.S Murali. Also in attendance were representatives from major electronics suppliers in

Kuwait.

Al-Ghadanfari opened the event by welcoming Bajaj to the Kuwaiti market. “Bajaj products are reliable and trustworthy in both India and Kuwait. I wish them success in our market here,” he noted.

K V Prasad addressed the atten-

dees and briefed them on the company’s profile and its products. Prasad said that they would like to be the top brand in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) region in the next five years.

Roshan Lorena, Sales and Marketing Manager for Shawn

General and Trading Company and sole distributor for Bajaj Home Appliances in Kuwait, assured warranty services for the whole Bajaj range of products in Kuwait. “The two year guarantee for the products is valid in India as well. When you buy Bajaj products from Kuwait and

take it to India the guarantee remains valid,” he added.

Bajaj is a famous brand and has been on the Indian Market for the last 100 years. It is the fifth largest business group in India with 27 companies and a turnover of $9 billion with a market cap of over $10 billion. The

company’s latest innovation includes; rotating grill coolers, plastic body water heaters, and insta lift irons.

Bajaj International hopes to be a leading multinational player in home appliances, focused on delighting customers while enhancing stakeholder value.

Japan scales back Post privatisation Yield curve flattens after news TOKYO: Japan scaled back plans to privatise the world’s biggest financial conglomerate yesterday to keep control of the state-owned group, opening the way for it to buy more government bonds. Japan Post, which provides postal, bank-

ing and insurance services, holds about a third of the 700 trillion-yen government bond market and dealers bet that a doubling of deposits under the privatisation plan would translate into more bond buying.

X-Cite marks Pakistan National Day in style KUWAIT: In honor of a multinational customer base, XCite by Alghanim Electronics has celebrated Pakistan’s National Day with a multitude of festivities in a blowout event held at the Al-Rai showroom. As a market leader in the electronics industry, X-Cite by Alghanim Electronics takes pride in catering to its diverse customer base.

Attending X-Cite’s Pakistan National Day celebration at Al-Rai was Mr.

Sajjad Ahmed Seehar, Pakistani Counselor & Deputy Head of Mission, as well as key Pakistani dignitaries in Kuwait. Mr. Seehar commented on the occasion, stating, “X-Cite by Alghanim Electronics has shown great commitment and innovation with respect to honoring the needs of their customers. We as a population are honored by the effort and commitment that has been displayed by XCite today.”

The event enjoyed stag-

gering success as displayed by the ongoing positive feedback received from attendees.

As the day’s celebrations came to a close, Mr. Seehar and his key staff presided over the cake cutting, featuring a cake designed as the Pakistani flag.

X-Cite Electronics has enjoyed the positive aftermath of this event as customers continue to exhibit their gratitude for the Company’s diligent efforts to support their needs and wants.

Fannie, Freddie overhaul must wait, Geithner says WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has swatted aside pressure for a swift reform of troubled government-backed mortgage giants, as data pointed to a still struggling US real estate market. Geithner told Congress any restructuring of the mega-lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that found themselves at the epicenter of the global financial meltdown, “must be done as part of a reform of the wider housing finance system.” The state-backed firms received more than 100-billiondollars in government bailouts at the height of the housing crisis, after the market value of their holdings slumped amid the sub-prime.

Facing pressure from Republicans for a quick unwinding of government’s stake in the companies, Geithner argued reforms would “take several months” to develop and should only be “enacted and executed at a time of greater market stability.”

“Private capital has not yet returned to provide the amount of funding that would be needed to allow families to get a mortgage to buy a new home or to sensibly refinance the house they already live in,” he said.

Without Fannie and Freddie’s continued activi-

ty, “mortgage rates would be higher and homeowners would have a significantly harder time obtaining credit,” he warned. That view appeared to be supported by figures published Tuesday, showing the massive US real estate market was still struggling to recover from the effects of crisis.

The National Association of Realtors said existinghome sales slipped 0.6 percent nationally in February, the third straight monthly drop. But the association offered a glimmer of hope, saying widespread winter storms in the second month of the year might mask underlying demand.

“Some closings were simply postponed by winter storms, but buyers couldn’t get out to look at homes in some areas and that should negatively impact near-term contract activity,” said Lawrence Yun, the association’s chief economist. Republicans lambasted Geithner for failing to reform the two lenders 18 months after the government was forced to prevent their collapse. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from West Virginia, argued normal market activity was improving but would not fully resume until the so-called government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are reformed. —AFP

That could provide a crutch for a government that issued a record amount of new bonds in the financial year to the end of March and which faces a public debt burden running close to 200 percent of GDP, the highest in the developed world. Banking Minister Shizuka Kamei said the plan was not intended to create a megabank to regularly buy Japanese government bonds, but that view met with scepticism in some quarters.

“This is essentially a move to put money back to the public sector from the private sector. Japan Post money will be used to support public finance,” said Kazuo Ishikawa, senior research fellow at Tokyo Foundation. The JGB yield curve flattened on the prospects that Japan Post could become a bigger buyer of JGBs. The fiveyear to 20-year spread tightened 1.5 basis points to 163 basis points, shrinking from a decade high above 167 basis points earlier this month.

Japan Post is the world’s biggest financial institution, based on the assets declared in earnings reports. It has financial assets of about 300 trillion yen ($3.3 trillion) - more than the GDP of France.

The proposal of the six-month old Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama overturns a plan that the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi had begun rolling out when he led a Liberal Democratic Party government.

The previous plan envisioned spinning off the two financial subsidiaries, Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance, and selling two-thirds of the holding company by 2017. Hatoyama froze that plan on the grounds it ignored the needs of consumers, saying it focused too much on profits and had already led to the closures of local post offices. Under the new plan, the government will retain more than one-third of the shares of Japan Post’s parent company, enough to allow the government to veto any major changes at the firm.

“Essentially, Japan Post will be a government-run company,” research fellow Ishikawa said.

FUND SHIFT? The plan allows Japan Post to roughly double the limit on the size of the company’s deposits and insurance underwriting by June, although it may review that around April 2012 depending on the impact the changes have on the banking sector. The plan has to be sealed by the cabinet and then parliament, but National Strategy Minister Yoshito Sengoku called for a rethink on doubling the deposit limits.

Bond dealers said the measures could draw funds from other banks into Japan Post accounts, especially as it is perceived as having an implicit government guarantee as a state controlled firm.

Assuming Japan Post maintains a practice of investing roughly three-quarters of its financial assets in JGBs, the news is bullish for bonds, they said. —Reuters

CAREY ISLAND: A Sime Darby employee fills up a car with palm biodiesel during its launch at Sime Darby Plantation in Carey Island, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. Palm biodiesel is an alternative fuel derived from palm oil and can be used in diesel engines without any modifications. —AP

Oil falls under $81 as US stocks build US crude inventories jump 7.5 million barrels LONDON: Oil fell by more than $1 per barrel to under $81 yesterday on concerns over a build-up in US crude stocks, the chance gasoline demand would not stretch supplies and underlying lack of confidence in global recovery. US crude oil futures for May touched a low of $80.35 a barrel and by 1011 GMT were trading down $1.42 at $80.49. It has traded between $69 and $84 so far this year.

London ICE Brent for May was down $1.37 at $79.33 after earlier dipping to a low of $79.30. US crude stockpiles jumped 7.5 million barrels the week ended March 19, five times as much as forecast in a Reuters poll, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said on Tuesday. Supplies of distillates including heating oil and diesel fell 2.5 million barrels while gasoline stocks were little changed.

“If you just add up 7.5 minus 2.5 you have a net increase of 5 million, and that is pretty big,” said Tony Nunan, a risk manager with Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Corp.

“Refiners are trying to maintain their margins by cutting crude runs to keep product inventories down,” Nunan said, adding that US stockpiles are still “much higher” than their five-year average. The gasoline crack-

the theoretical premium refiners get for making gasoline from crude-touched a high for 2010 around $14.60 earlier this week and is now just under $13. Demand often rises going into the US summer as drivers take off on holiday.

“With plenty of stocks and relative values that are favouring (making gasoline), the US consumer will have to drive a long way before putting the supply capacity at risk,” said Petromatrix in a report. Oil inventories could have less influence on prices, however, than equities, according to Breaking Views columnist John Kemp. Data in the euro zone painted a mixed picture on the economy, with manufacturing activity growing in March at its highest level since the end of 2006 but industrial orders in January falling, underscoring the fragility of the economic recovery.

DOLLAR GYRATIONS Petromatrix added that “predicting the dollar gyration in front of the European meeting on Greece is a difficult task” this week, adding the gasoline crack would be their focus. The dollar strengthened further against a basket of currencies ahead of today’s meeting of European Union leaders to discuss how to help Greece deal with its

debt crisis and prevent problems spreading to other economies.

“When people are concerned about Greece, they are also concerned about the economic health of Europe and consequently oil demand,” Nunan said, adding he thought the inverse relationship between the dollar and oil was starting to break. Oil market investors and traders will be seeking confirmation of the API figures from weekly US government statistics that will be published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) yesterday at 1430 GMT. Crude prices have traded in a much narrower range this year than the $50 or so in 2009 and continue to lack fundamental momentum to break out either up or down.

Ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said they expect oil prices to stay around current levels for the rest of the year. The group agreed to leave production targets unchanged last week citing accelerating demand growth in the second half and continued economic uncertainty. “It’s a push and pull between short-term oversupply versus expectations of medium-term tightness,” Nunan said. —Reuters

Japanese exports log fastest rise in 30 years TOKYO: Japan’s exports soared at the fastest pace in about three decades last month, helping the world’s number two economy to extend a recovery from the worst recession in decades, data showed yesterday. Worldwide demand for Japanese cars, electronics and other goods is rebounding after collapsing during the global economic crisis which erupted in 2008. Exports in February leapt 45.3 percent to 5.13 trillion yen ($56 billion), the fastest year-on-year growth since April 1980, according to the finance ministry.

While exports are still about one quarter lower than their level two years ago, the picture has brightened significantly compared with February 2009, when shipments roughly halved from a

year earlier. “Exports, the driving force of a recovery in Japanese corporate earnings, have maintained their steam,” said Naoki Murakami, chief economist at Monex Securities. “The momentum in the global economic recovery is becoming stronger thanks to a US rebound since late 2009,” which followed upturns in the Chinese and other Asian economies, Murakami wrote in a note. Last month Japan’s trade surplus surged more than ninefold to 651.0 billion yen ($7.2 billion) from 70.8 billion a year earlier, topping market expectations.

Shipments of automobiles more than doubled despite the safety woes of Toyota Motor, which has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide. Auto part exports rose 121.7 percent while

electronics components were up 69.1 percent.

Imports increased 29.5 percent to 4.48 trillion yen owing to higher prices of oil and nonferrous metals.

Credit Suisse economists said the latest data “confirm that both exports and imports have continued to recover.” “While we had been concerned about the negative impact of automobile recall issues, auto exports to the US increased 129.9 percent year-onyear in February,” they noted.

Japan’s surplus with the United States surged 173.0 percent to 395.9 billion yen and with the European Union it rose 69.9 percent to 165.9 billion yen. With China, Japan’s biggest trading partner, the trade balance slipped into a deficit of 24.6 billion yen

from a year-earlier surplus of 10.6 billion yen.

Japan’s exports to China grew 47.7 percent on robust shipments of cars and parts but imports rose by a brisker 54.3 percent due to increased purchases of clothing, audio and video devices, computers and other electronic equipment. The Japanese economy is still relatively weak but domestic demand has been somewhat resilient helped by a recent slight upturn in wages, said Takeshi Minami, economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

“As long as China’s economy grows healthily, Japan will keep benefiting,” Minami said. “On the other hand, China’s credittightening policy, if excessive, could pose risks to Japanese exports.” —AFP

TECHNOLOGY

Thursday, March 25, 2010

27

SHANGHAI: The latest GM concept car, the EN-V or “Electric Networked-Vehicle,” is shown at a launch ceremony at the Pudong Expo yesterday. — AP

GM’s EN-V concept car all for green future SHANGHAI: It’s not quite as foldable as the space vehicle that cartoon figure George Jetson pops into his briefcase as he bops into the office. But the EN-V concept car, GM’s “automobile solution” for the future, just might fit into an apartment foyer. General Motors and its Chinese partner SAIC will showcase the “Electric Networked-Vehicle” launched yesterday in their joint pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, which opens May 1 and runs for six months.

The EN-V, pronounced “envy,” is GM’s latest effort to burnish its credentials as a future-focused, environmentally friendly company and shed its image as the bastion of the gas guzzling Hummer. The automaker is in the process of winding down Hummer after a deal collapsed to sell it to a Chinese heavy equipment maker.

GM is not alone in viewing China as the ultimate landscape for tiny urban vehicles. Daimler introduced its Smart ultracompact here in 2008, though few of them can be seen yet on Shanghai streets.

The two-wheel, two-seater EN-V, which looks something like an oversized vacuum cleaner, is not just about making vehicles small, lightweight and emission-

Two-wheel, two-seater EN-V looks like an oversized vacuum cleaner free, the company says. “What we’re talking about here is completely redoing the automobile,” says Michael Albano, director of product and technology communications at General Motors International Operations - its global headquarters for international business in Shanghai.

With the trunk-less EN-V, GM has jettisoned the traditional “three box” system and gasoline-fueled engine in place of a pure-electric minivehicle meant strictly for city driving. Five fit in the parking space needed for one conventional vehicle, says Kevin Wale, president and managing director for GM China Group.

“GM’s vision with SAIC is petroleum-free, emissionfree, accident-free and congestion-free,” said Wale. “We think we can do that by combining the benefits of electricity and connectivity.” What better a place to suggest such a solution than in smoggy, accident-plagued, traffic congested China, home to 1.3 billion people?

By 2040, GM says, there will be 1.2 billion cars on Earth, and 60 percent of humanity will be living in cities.

For megacity countries like China, the explosion in use of conventional automobiles has already turned into a nightmare of smog, jammed roadways, and nonexistent parking.

The 1.5 meter by 1.5 meter (about 5 foot by 5 foot) EN-V appears to build on GM’s earlier work with Segway Inc. in developing the PUMA, or Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, vehicle. It will use the same types of battery cells as the Segway and the same battery supplier, Valence Technology Inc., said Christopher Borroni-Bird, GM’s director of advanced technology vehicle concepts. With the EN-V, GM proposes to reconstruct the automobile’s “DNA.” The ENV’s maximum speed of only 40 kilometers per hour (24 mph) - even now city roads average only 20 kilometers per hour (12 mph) and often less - and other high-tech

features reduce the need for heavy, high-stress steel, bumpers, air bags and crumple zones, says Albano.

Apart from its diminutive size and light weight - 400 kilograms (880 pounds) including the passengers - the vehicle would offer drivers the option of “autonomous driving:” letting the car drive itself via an elaborate system of GPS systems, digital maps, roadway and vehicle sensors, cameras and other devices.

“None of this is beyond the technology that exists today,” Wale says.

The idea of allowing the car to take over may sound alarming to some, especially given the recalls due to unintended acceleration and other problems with some Toyota vehicles. But GM’s experts say there would be fail-safe backups for any electronics and that, properly equipped and in the right setting, vehicles can do a better job than humans at averting accidents.

In theory, EN-Vs could be hitched together to allow

European privacy battle on for Facebook, Google

BEIJING: A group of Chinese college students holds a candlelight vigil outside the Google head office yesterday. — AFP

Google still censors for some China customers BEIJING: Google Inc is still censoring search content for some of its customers in China, a company spokeswoman said yesterday, in a decision that underscores the Internet giant’s delicate effort to hold onto its mainland businesses days after moving its search engine offshore.

The decision to provide censored searches was made to honor contracts with current business partners, and Google will continue to meet those commitments, said Jessica Powell, the company’s Tokyo-based spokeswoman. She said that all censoring done by Google in China would be phased out over a time period she would not specify.

“If there are cases where we were providing a censored search and were contractually required to provide censored search, then we will honor those requirements,” Powell said. She added separately in an e-mail that over time Google would “not be offering syndicated censored search to any partners in China.” Powell declined to name the customers, but Li Zhi, an analyst for Analysys International, a Beijing research firm, said Google was likely referring to search services on sites such as Sina, China’s most popular portal, and Tianya.com, a popular

forum site.

More than two months after saying that cyber-attacks, hacking and censorship were causing it to consider leaving China, Google earlier this week began redirecting queries made to its China search address, google.cn, to an uncensored site in Hong Kong. Though part of China, Hong Kong has a semiautonomous status due to its past history as a British colony, and Google is not legally required to censor results there.

Google’s deliberations set off a nasty, public dispute with Beijing’s Communist government, which disliked having its policy of censoring the Internet questioned. Google’s partial pullout has caused consternation among its China-based partners and raised the possibility that they would come under government pressure to stop doing business with the US company.

Mainland users who are redirected to the Hong Kong site are not allowed unfettered access to everything on the Internet. Chinese government Web filters - collectively known as the Great Firewall - still automatically weed out anything considered pornographic or politically sensitive before it can reach computers in China. — AP

GENEVA: You have been tagged in 12 photos.

Even if you’re not signed up to the Web site.

European regulators are investigating whether the practice of posting photos, videos and other information about people on sites such as Facebook without their consent is a breach of privacy laws. The Swiss and German probes go to the heart of a debate that has gained momentum in Europe amid high-profile privacy cases: To what extent are social networking platforms responsible for the content their members upload? The actions set the stage for a fresh battle between American Web giants and European authorities a month after an Italian court held three Google executives criminally responsible for a user-posted video.

Any changes resulting from the investigation could drastically alter the way Facebook, Google’s YouTube and others operate, shifting the responsibility for ensuring personal privacy from users to the company. Swiss and German data protection commissioners are demanding that Facebook explain its practice of allowing users to upload e-mail addresses, photographs and other personal details about people who haven’t signed up to the site.

“The way it’s organized at the moment, they simply allow anyone who wants to use this service to say they have the consent of their friends or acquaintances,” Swiss commissioner Hanspeter Thuer told The Associated Press. To conform with Switzerland’s strict privacy law, Facebook could be required to contact people whose information has been posted online and ask them whether they agree to its being stored there, he said.

Thilo Weichert, data protection commissioner in the northern German state of Schleswig Holstein, said in a telephone interview that Facebook’s assertion that it gets necessary consent for the posting of personal information is “total nonsense.” “We’ve written to Facebook and told them they’re not abiding by the law in Europe,” he said. The probes by the German and Swiss privacy watchdogs are still preliminary and would not have immediate consequences elsewhere. However, Weichert said the issue is being discussed with other data protection officials in the 27-nation European Union, which in 2000 declared privacy a fundamental right that companies and governments must respect.

The European stance differs strongly from the self-regulatory, free market approach favored in the United States, where Web companies have flourished by offering users free services if they provide personal information to help advertising target them better, according to Columbia University law professor Eben Moglen. “If the European regulators get serious, it will create a significant conflict,” said Moglen, who has been examining online privacy issues since the early days of the Web. Richard Allan, director of policy for Facebook Europe, said some of the functions being scrutinized - such as those allowing users to upload their friends’ e-mail addresses to find them online - were common across the industry.

The company has recently added a tool for

nonusers to have their data removed, he said.

“As a global company what we’re trying to do is to make sure that our systems meet the requirements of all the jurisdictions in which we operate,” Allan said. According to Joe McNamee of the Brussels-based advocacy group European Digital Rights, one of the most common complaints about Facebook is its habit of getting users to ‘invite’ their e-mail contacts to become members too. “The receiver didn’t want the messages, and the sender didn’t realize they were going out,” said McNamee. “You would have to search long and hard for someone who would see consent in there.” European Union privacy watchdogs showed their appetite for going after Google last month, when the 27-nation bloc told the search giant to warn people before it sends cameras into cities to take pictures for its Street View maps.

Google’s data privacy chief Peter Fleischer said he is also “still reeling” from the Italian court decision that sentenced him and two other senior officials to six-month suspended sentences for violating an autistic teenager’s right to privacy by allowing a video of him being bullied to be posted on the Net. Vetting all user-generated content would be costly because of the vast amount of data involved, said Fleischer. It could also come close to censorship, because companies would be forced to draw the line between legitimate free speech and invasion of privacy, he said. Blogger, YouTube and other Google products have long been used by activists from Iceland to Iran to document government and corporate abuses.

But Fleischer acknowledged that users themselves should be more thoughtful about what they post, especially if it involves private material about others. “Both as a matter of common sense and as a matter of common courtesy, users should not upload photos or videos of other people unless those other people consented,” he said. Privacy concerns prompted the Mountain View, California-based company last year to hold off including face recognition when it launched Google Goggles, a tool to identify and provide information about objects inside pictures.

Another company, Face.com, has gone ahead with its own face-recognition tool, though CEO Gil Hirsch says there are built-in restrictions to ensure privacy. While Facebook and Google say they are committed to working with European regulators, privacy campaigners say the companies move only as fast as absolutely necessary.

Earlier this year Facebook agreed to raise the minimum age for users in Spain from 13 to 14, to conform with the country’s privacy laws.

It has no such age requirement for information users posts about others. Moglen, of Columbia University, said even if European regulators rallied together they would find it difficult to force their rules upon US companies, given the close relationship between Silicon Valley and the administration of President Barack Obama. “If the Europeans want that fight, then surely the American government wants the other side.” — AP

drivers to commute to work while finishing up shaving, phone calls or whatever else without endangering fellow road warriors. But such functions would have to be optional, Wale says. “We don’t want to take the excitement out of driving,” he said. The Shanghai Expo, with its theme of “Better City, Better Life,” offers an apt occasion for GM to introduce its vision for a solution to the urban ills growing worse day-by-day thanks to China’s craze for cars. Whether China and its drivers who seem inordinately fond of big, heavy cars and nearly acrobatic feats of lane switching - would go for this concept remains to be seen.

But GM does have a track record - at least in its distant past - of foreseeing at least some future trends. The GM “Futurama” vision of a superhighway system, introduced at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, is said to have inspired the US Interstate Highway System. “We’re looking at solutions for 2030,” said Wale. “We’re looking at ways we can recreate the business we’re in a way that takes into account the changes in the world since the products we’re using today were invented under a different set of circumstances.” — AP

Books go 3-D in S Korea SEOUL: Pop-up is so passe: South Korean scientists have developed 3-D technology for books that makes characters literally leap off the page. The popularity of 3-D entertainment has been given a boost by a slew of recent films, including sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar” and Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”.

Several companies are also offering 3-D televisions and a 3D video game console will launched soon. At South Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, researchers used 3-D technology to animate two children’s books of Korean folk tales, complete with writhing dragons and heroes bounding over mountains.

Pictures in the books have cues that trigger the 3-D anima-

tion for readers wearing computer-screen goggles. As the reader turns and tilts the book, the 3-D animation moves accordingly. “It took us about three years to develop the software for this,” said Kim Sangcheol, the team leader of the project. Kim said the technology could be used for any type of book and sees it eventually being used for images displayed over smart phones or at museums to enhance exhibits.

But those waiting for 3-D books may have to wait long.

“It will take a while to market this technology to the general public,” Kim said. He was not sure of the eventual price but thinks it will be affordable enough to be mass marketed. — Reuters

LAS VEGAS: Kyocera’s new Zio M6000 smartphone is displayed at the International CTIA Wireless 2010 convention at the Las Vegas Convention Center yesterday. CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry. The Zio, which will be available in the summer of 2010, is the company’s first handset with the Google Android operating system. — AFP

HEALTH & SCIENCE

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Cosmos has billions more stars than thought earlier PARIS: Astronomers may have underestimated the tally of galaxies in some parts of the Universe by as much as 90 percent, according to a study reported yesterday in Nature, the weekly British science journal.

Surveys of the cosmos are based on a signature of ultraviolet light that turns out to be a poor indicator of what’s out there, its authors say. In the case of very distant, old galaxies, the telltale light may not reach Earth

as it is blocked by interstellar clouds of dust and gas-and, as a result, these galaxies are missed by the map-makers.

“Astronomers always knew they were missing some fraction of the galaxies... but for the first time we now have a measurement. The number of missed galaxies is substantial,” said Matthew Hayes of the University of Geneva’s observatory, who led the investigation. Hayes’

team used the world’s most advanced optical instrumentEurope’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, which has four 8.2metre (26.65-feet) behemoths-to carry out the experiment.

They turned two of the giants towards a well-studied area of deep space called the GOODS-South field.

The astronomers carried out two sets of observations in the same region, hunting for light emitted by

galaxies born 10 billion years ago.

The first looked for so-called Lyman-alpha light, the classic telltale used to compile cosmic maps, named after its US discoverer, Theodore Lyman. Lyman-alpha is energy released by excited hydrogen atoms.

The second observation used a special camera called HAWK-1 to look for a signature emitted at a different wavelength, also by glowing hydrogen, which is known as the hydro-

gen-alpha (or H-alpha) line. The second sweep yielded a whole bagful of light sources that had not been spotted using the Lyman-alpha technique.

They include some of the faintest galaxies ever found, forged at a time when the Universe was just a child.

The astronomers conclude that Lyman-alpha surveys may only spot just a tiny number of the total light emitted from far galaxies.

Astonishingly, as many as 90 percent of such distant galaxies may go unseen in these exercises. “If there are 10 galaxies seen, there could be a hundred there,” said Hayes.

The discovery could add powerfully to knowledge about the timeline by which stars and then galaxies formed. “Now that we know how much light we’ve been missing, we can start to create far more accurate representations of the cosmos,

understanding better how quickly stars have formed at different times in the life of the Universe,” coauthor Miguel Mas-Hesse said in a press release issued by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Only a small part of the light spectrum is visible to the human eye, which is why astronomers use ultraviolet, gamma and other radiation sources as additional sources for observation. —AFP

Breast cancer screening won’t save lives: Study Research will feed into fierce global debate over mammograms LONDON: Nordic scientists said yesterday they had found no evidence that screening women for breast cancer has any effect on death rates, adding to an already fierce international debate about routine testing. In a study published

in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Denmark and Norway said reductions in breast cancer death rates in regions with screening were the same or actually smaller than in areas where no women were screened.

“Our results are similar to what has been observed in other countries with nationally organized programs,” said Karsten Jorgensen of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen, who led the research. “It is time to question whether screening has delivered the promised effect on breast cancer mortality.”

A row blew up in the United States in last November after public health officials on the US Preventive Services Task Force questioned the value of screening mammograms for women under 40 and suggested raising the annual screening age to 50. Cancer doctors and advocacy groups denounced the move, saying the changes would mean more women would die from breast cancer.

Some lawmakers said they may be used to ration healthcare.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, accounting for around 16 percent of all female cancers. It kills around 519,000 people globally each LORD HOWE ISLAND: This undated Southern Cross University handout photo received yesterday shows year. Jorgensen said that although breast cancer severe bleaching to coral in the lagoon. —AFP screening programs vary by country, Denmark was a good benchmark and his team’s findings should inform the debate. In Denmark, women SYDNEY: The world’s southernmost coral the moment this whole system is on a ing seas,” Harrison said. “This is a warning are screened every two years reef is on a “knife-edge” after warmer seas knife-edge and we don’t know what’s going of likely future increases of stress on this from age 50, while in the blamed on climate change bleached large to happen,” Harrison told AFP. Harrison, world’s southernmost reef.” Harrison said United States mammograms parts of it for the first time, an Australian whose Southern Cross University team the reef will survive if the seas return to are now recommended every scientist warned yesterday. Peter surveyed the reef about 600 kilometers their normal temperatures quickly enough, one to two years for women Harrison, who has been monitoring the (370 miles) east of Sydney this month, said but could take decades to recover from a aged 50 plus, and in Britain world heritage-listed Lord Howe Island the unusually warm water had travelled severe bleaching. He added that the damthe policy is for women over since 1993, said a two degrees Celsius down from tropical seas around Australia’s age was also affecting other marine life, 50 to be screened about every including a type of anemone which pro(four Fahrenheit) rise in sea temperatures Great Barrier Reef.

3 years.

He blamed the warmer seas on climate vides a home for a rare type of fish. had drained much of the reef of its distincCritics of widespread change and said the reef could face “an Bleaching occurs when overheated corals tive colors. screening programs say they “We’re hoping the vast majority of even more severe event” in the future. expel crucial algae that give them their can be more harmful than these corals will be able to recover, but at “It’s exactly what you predict from warm- color. —AFP helpful if the extra hospital time and costs they require, coupled with the stress and worry of false alarms, are not outweighed by the benefit of preventing more deaths. In PHNOM PENH: A new species of Britain, for example, experts gecko has been discovered in the say around 7,000 women get foothills of the Cardamom an unnecessary breast cancer Mountains in Cambodia’s southdiagnosis when screening west, scientists announced yesterday. The new gecko, named picks up tumors that would Cnemaspis neangthyi, is olive colnever have caused them any ored with light blotches containing problems. Jorgensen said his a central black dot, conservationist study showed this risk-benefit group Fauna and Flora balance was not being hit in International (FFI) said in a stateDenmark, and he speculated ment. Geckoes are a type of lizard the situation would be the found in warm regions, and are same in other developed counknown for their distinctive chirping tries. noises.

Evidence now suggests FFI said the Cardamom that for every 2,000 women Mountains, where the forests are who are screened over 10 well preserved and largely unexyears, only one stands to have plored, are home to many endanher life saved by the mammogered species found nowhere else gram program, he said, wherein the world. “There are likely as the risk of getting an many more species to be discovered in the Cardamom Mountains,” unnecessary breast cancer said FFI researcher Neang Thy, diagnosis is 10 times that. after whom the gecko has been “We need to make women named. The greater Cardamoms aware that the chance they cover over two million hectares of will benefit from the program forest and shelter at least 62 threatis very small,” he said an a ened animal species, many of telephone interview. which are found only in Cambodia, Jorgensen and his team the group said. It warned that the annual changes in Cardamom forests, a key area for CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS: This picture released by the conservationist group compared breast cancer deaths in two biodiversity conservation in Asia, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) Cambodia Program yesterday shows a new Danish regions with screening are increasingly under pressure species of gecko named ‘Cnemaspis neangthyi’. —AFP programs against nonfrom development. —AFP screened regions across the rest of Denmark. In women likely to benefit from screening (those aged 55 to 74 years) breast cancer mortality fell by 1 percent a year in screened MANILA: Bird flu outbreaks that have Sakai, the WHO’s regional adviser for as well as in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, killed seven people in several countries communicable diseases. “The influenza Israel and Nepal, it said. Last week, a areas and by 2 percent a year so far this year show the virus remains a virus is unpredictable,” Sakai said. three-year-old Vietnamese girl stricken in non-screened areas, the threat to humans, the World Health “There is a constant risk that the H5N1 with the virus died of severe lung infecresearchers found. In women Organization (WHO) said yesterday. “The virus will combine with another strain of tion, authorities there said. Human too young to benefit from newly confirmed human and poultry cases influenza.” So far this year, authorities cases of bird flu peaked in 2006 at 115, screening (aged 35 to 54 of avian influenza this year are a reminder monitored 21 human cases of bird flu from with 79 deaths. The number has since years), breast cancer mortalithat the virus poses a real and continuous Egypt, Vietnam and Indonesia, including declined, with 73 human cases and 32 ty declined by 5 percent a year deaths in 2009, the WHO said. However, threat to human health,” the WHO said in seven deaths, the organization said. in screened areas and by 6 There have also been reports of out- the fatality rate for humans infected with a statement. percent a year in nonOne danger is that bird flu, also known breaks of the virus in poultry and wild bird flu remains high at 59 percent, it screened areas during the as H5N1, may mutate, warned Takeshia flocks in other parts of Southeast Asia, added. —AFP same period. —Reuters

Climate change puts reef on ‘knife edge’

New gecko species found in Cambodia

Bird flu remains a threat: WHO

KAMPALA: A female mountain gorilla sits in a tree in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in this file photo. —AFP

Africa’s gorillas face bleak future DOHA: Illegal logging, mining and poaching for bushmeat are pushing gorillas and other great apes in Africa’s Congo basin ever closer to extinction, according to a report released yesterday.

Earlier estimates that the natural habitat of gorillas could shrink by 90 percent within two decades now seem overly optimistic, said the report, compiled jointly by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and international police organization Interpol.

“With the current accelerated rate of poaching for bushmeat and habitat loss, the gorilla of the Greater Congo Basin may now disappear from most of their present range within 10 to 15 years,” said UNEP’s Christian Nellemann. Outbreaks of Ebola fever have dimmed survival prospects even further, said the report, launched at a meeting of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the Qatari capital Doha.

The virus has killed thousands of great apes, including gorillas, with about 90 percent of infected animals doomed to die. The report, entitled The Last Stand of the Gorilla - Environmental Crime and Conflict in the Congo Basin, points an accusing finger at rebel militias ensconced in the remote reaches of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Much of the environmental damage and hunting is linked to trade worth hundreds of millions of dollars-in illegally extracted gold, diamonds and precious woods carried out by the militias to fund their conflict, it found. Insecurity caused by the

fighting, meanwhile, has driven hundreds of thousands of people into refugee camps, creating a demand for ape meat as food.

Logging and mining camps with likely links to militia hire poachers to supply refugees and local markets in towns across the region with so-called bushmeat. “This is a tragedy for the great ape and one also for countless other species being impacted by this intensifying and all too often illegal trade,” said Achim Steiner, UNEP’s executive director.

“It is environmental crime and theft by the few and powerful at the expense of the poor and the vulnerable,” he said in a statement. Stronger international support for Interpol’s Environmental Crime Program is needed to help overwhelmed local rangers protect the critically endangered gorillas. More than 190 rangers have been killed in recent years in the Virunga National Park, most likely by militia members seeking unfettered access to the resources they exploit for revenue.

Mountain gorillas are found only on the slopes of the Virungas on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and fewer than 700 individuals remain in the wild, according to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Gorillas have also been vulnerable to traps set for other animals, and females have been killed so that their babies could be sold as pets. Both Rwanda and Uganda have turned gorilla tracking into a major eco-tourism industry and a big foreign-currency earner. War has stalled similar development in eastern DR Congo. —AFP

New hominid find triggers rethink of human odyssey PARIS: A hominid that lived in southern Siberia some 40,000 years ago could be a new branch on the human family tree, a finding that would rewrite Homo’s exodus from Africa and his conquest of the Earth. In a technical feat reported yesterday, scientists sequenced DNA from the bone fragment of a pinkie finger, possibly from a small child, found in a cave in the Alta Mountains. The bone found in Denisova Cave was extricated in 2008 from a soil layer carbondated to between 30,000 to 48,000 years ago.

Teased from a cellular component called mitochondria, the genome was compared to the code of our extinct cousins the Neanderthals, of Homo sapiens, the bonobo and chimpanzee.

The Siberian hominid, the investigation found, had some 400 genetic differences, which makes it a candidate for being a distinct species of Homo, as the genus for humans and closely related primates is known. It, us and the Neanderthals all shared

a common ancestor who lived around a million years ago, say the investigators.

“It’s absolutely amazing...

It’s some new creature that’s not been on our radar screen so far,” co-researcher Svante Paabo told reporters. The study, published in the weekly journal Nature, is led by Johannes Krause of Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Members of the team previously sequenced most of the genome of the Neanderthal. If their findings are confirmed, much of the early tale of human settlement will have to be revamped.

A common narrative is this: Homo arose in east Africa. The first hominid to venture beyond this cradle was Homo erectus, around 1.9 million years ago.

That exodus was followed much later by two other known waves.

The first involved either Homo heidelbergensis or Homo rhodesiensis hominids, between 300,000 and 500,000 years ago,

who were the forerunners of the Neanderthals, our cousins.

The second were Homo sapiens, as anatomically modern man is known, who left Africa perhaps 50,000 years ago. If a “molecular clock” calculation of DNA change is right, the Denisova hominid lineage came from Africa, says the study. Yet its ancestor was not H erectus, nor a descendent of the H erectus populations that moved to Europe-but a member of a previously unknown out-of-Africa movement.

Until just recently, it was also thought the only human species inhabiting the planet around 40,000 years ago were us and the Neanderthals, who had only a little more time to run before they mysteriously disappeared. The two-species picture dramatically changed in 2003, when “hobbit hominids”meter-high (3.25-feet) humans with brains the size of a grapefruit-showed up in fossilized form on the Indonesian island of Flores. —AFP

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Thursda

Al-Manshar Rotana unveils tasty treats l-Manshar Rotana’s renowned Failaka restaurant is pleased and proud to announce the return of some old favourites, and the introduction of a new flavoured friend. Failaka restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy delicious freshly-prepared food. The restaurant’s relaxing and elegant ambiance, chameleon-like ability to adapt to the cuisine of the day, and discreet yet attentive staff make it the ideal choice for foodies, whatever the occasion.

Sundays are definitely ‘dominicas’ at Failaka restaurant. Al-Manshar says ‘benvenuti’ to the discerning diners of Kuwait, and invites guests to give boring food the boot and stop off for the colourful delights of La Bella Italia.

Fragrant basil, velvety sugo and creamy mozzarella are just a few of the fresh and traditional ingredients that can be sampled as the bountiful buffet is explored. On Tuesday nights, the talented brigade of chefs cook up a storm.

Guests can join the magical, mythical mermaids and delight in the delicacies of the sea. The tantalizing array of fish and seafood will showcase the talents of head chef and his team, and diners will surely be reeled in to sample more. On Thursday nights, guests can slip on a sombrero and let the chillis do the talking. Guests can discover new taste sen-

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KES tops World Math Day competition T he students of the primary department at Kuwait English School showed off their numeracy skills by finishing as top school in Kuwait in the recent World Math Day competition. World Math Day is a truly global event with 1,133,246 students and 56,082 schools from 235 countries taking part.

Incredibly, KES students correctly answered over 3.3 million questions during practice and the competition itself leading to some fantastic results: During the practice competition

at one point KES was first and second in the world with many individual students on the world leader board. In the actual competition itself, Tor Lambert (3H) finished 66th overall in the individual 5-8 age group. Year 4 and Year 5 finished 37th and 40th respectively in the class 9-13 age group. Primary Headteacher, Anne Gurnett summed up the performance and said, “This is one of the best events of the year and provides so much motivation for the students competing against other children in the world.”

sations as they salsa around the Mexican buffet. After tucking into tacos and nibbling on nachos we are sure that

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

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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 committee 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

Arabic Course

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hasma” opens the registration of participants for the Carnatic music (Vocal) competition in connection with the 2010 Dr KTB Menon memorial Indian cultural Festival scheduled for May 14, 2010. Interested children, up to 18 years of age, may register their names for competition either by contacting the telephone numbers given below or by sending email to bhasmakuwait@yahoo.co.uk., menon_krishnadas@hotmail.com or Vijay_mini@hotmail.com.

The registration will close on

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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).

St Peters Church celebrates 40th anniversary

Aware center announces he AWARE Center is glad to announce that the Summer 1 Arabic course will begin on May 2 until June 16, 2010 (introductory Arabic begins on May 2 till June 3, 2010). The AWARE Center offers Arabic classes on a regular basis from Introductory Arabic to level 4. AWARE Arabic classes are designed with the expat in mind. Our Arabic language courses offer a relaxed approach to communicating in basic Arabic for those who wish to learn Arabic for travel, for better understanding the culture of the Arabs, for conducting business or for simply feeling more involved while residing in Kuwait.

Whether you are a teacher, a traveler, or work in the private business sector, AWARE Arabic courses introduce Arabic language basics that will offer you a start into the skills that will better prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic.

AWARE Arabic courses combine language learning with cultural insights. All courses are taught in group settings which provide additional opportunities to interact with other Western expatriates studying the language. For more information, call 25335260/80 ext 105 or 104 or e-mail: Htaware.hassan@gmail.com.

guests will be true amigos of Mexican cuisine. It won’t be goodbye, it is sure to be ‘hasta la vista’.

he Kuwait St Peters CSI Church is celebrating its 40th anniversary today, at the national evangelical Church, Kuwait. The public meeting will start with a welcome speech by the Parish Priest, Rev Jacob T Abraham, briefing of the history of the church by Secretary, Suresh Thomas, followed by presidential address by CSI Church Bishop, Rt Rev Michael John, inauguration speech by the Indian Ambassador, Ajai Malhotra, felicitations by Rev Ammanuel Ghareeb, Pastor, Arab language Congregation and the President of Council of Churches in Kuwait K P Koshy.

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KALA conducts lecture erala Art Lovers Association (Kala - Kuwait) will conduct the commemoration meeting of EMS, AKG and Bishop Palouse Mar Palouse tomorrow 5 pm at Abbassiya Central School Auditorium. Dr K N Harilal, the Kerala State Planning Board member will be the chief guest and speak on the ‘Central and Kerala budget and its implications.’ The community leaders representing various associations will participate in the ensuing discussion on the subject. All are requested to attend the meeting.

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Interactive workshop r Jeffrey DuCann Grenfell-Hill studied at the Bristol Old Vic and worked for many years in professional theatre. He was awarded a doctorate for his studies and has published books inclusive of plays, poetry and material for teachers. All LAMDA Acting Examination candidates will remember his published monologues, especially the popular I’m Cheesed Off. Lecturing world-wide, Jeffrey captivates his audiences of all ages in use of the Word and Historical

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Movement. An expert historian who focuses on the years 1500-1900, Jeffrey delivers his interactive workshops with gusto and humour. A senior examiner for LAMDA and an adjudicator of international festivals Jeffery’s workshops in London are booked up well in advance and it is a privilege to welcome Dr Jeffrey DuCann Grenfell-Hill to Kuwait. Full details of the visit are available from admin@britvoc.com or call 25756110 or 25756140.

Adopt a pet

April 1, 2010. Children will be grouped age-wise and the winner from each group will get a cash award. The preliminary selection will be during the first week of April and the successful children from the preliminary round will participate in the finals of the competition, which will he held on May 14, 2009. The judges for the finals will be prominent artistes from India. interested children are requested to register their names on or before April 1, 2010.

Contact numbers: 97204538.

you are interested in adopting from Animal Friends, please call or visit our website at www.animalfriendskuwait.org If6700-1622

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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illy is a 1 year-old female terrier mix. Lilly is a gorgeous dog that is just as happy as can be. She has a slight deformity to her front right leg that she was born with but she has no idea. She has a wonderful spirit and will do best in a home with children over 8 and gets along well with other dogs.

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llie is a male persian mix. He is sweet, psychic, and knows when you need a cat in your lap. He is friendly with other cats and is about two years old.

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Abdul Aziz Al-Muzaini, Mahmood Al-Karim and Nadine Al-Ag Blooded Murderers’ project.

BBS 11th and 12th graders with Aseel Al-Turkait and Seema Faruqi.

ExxonMobil sponsors Bayan Bilingual School’s scien xxonMobil Exploration and Production Kuwait Limited announced its sponsorship of the Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) ‘High School Science Fair’ held on Monday March 22 at the School’s premises.

The sponsorship comes as part of ExxonMobil’s continued commitment to support and initiate interactive educational programs that generate student interest and excitement in math and science, and analytical thinking to inspire the scientists and innovators of tomorrow.

Over 150 BBS students from grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 showcased their science projects contending to the top three winners in each grade. The Bayan Bilingual School ‘High School Science Fair’ is held yearly to encourage its students into the application of sciences through research and experimental projects.

ExxonMobil Kuwait has rewarded the first place winners of each grade (grades 11 and 12 considered as one level for this competition) with KD75 in cash, the second place winners with KD50 in cash and third place winners with KD25 in cash.

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of Sound on Rabbit Behavior’ Grade 9 winners First place: Jaffer Jaffer and Jasim Al-Bahar - ‘Living Color’ Second place: Abdul Aziz Al-Hassawi and Abdul Mohsen Al-Shamali - ‘Decay of Meat’ Third place: Farah Al-Saied and Timi Cissna - ‘Name It’ ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Kuwait Public Affairs & Government Relations Manager, Aseel Al-Turkait said “We are glad to partner with

Bayan Bilingual School for the second time this year on science educational programs. At ExxonMobil, we believe we not only have a global commitment to support education and young scientists but also a local role to attract students and help educational institutions inspire tomorrow’s leading scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Hopefully with the experience from this school’s science fair, BBS students will be even more encouraged to join our third annual Kuwait Science Fair in October 2010.”

This is the second collaboration between ExxonMobil Kuwait and Bayan Bilingual School. In January 2010, ExxonMobil launched the “ExxonMobil BBS Science Trip Essay Competition” to excite learning and discovery out-

side the confines of the classroom. Participants were required to write about what they deem as the most significant scientific achievement that has taken place in the last decade, and defending its significance by arguing its impact on society and its effect on people’s daily lives.

Finalists were rewarded a five-day trip to London in April 2010, to visit Imperial College, one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, in addition to ExxonMobil’s UK refinery. Bayan Bilingual School Head of Science and Activities Coordinator, Seema Faruqi said “We are so happy that so many students are taking part in the annual Science Fair because it is a great way for students to learn more from their successful or unsuccessful experiments.

We thank ExxonMobil for encouraging our students

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En tio stu cal tiv de wo al lar 20 de hav Ex

Grades 11-12 winners First place: Bader Al-Ayoub - ‘Main Oxygen Supplier gets little Credit’ Second place: Bader Fawaz and Yacoub Boodai - ‘The future of Dams’ Third place: Two groups had a tie for third place, Abdul Aziz Al-Muzaini, Mahmood Al-Karim and Nadine AlAghbar - ‘Cigarettes - Cold Blooded Murderers’ and the second group: Yousef Al-Humaidhi and Mohammed Tumaiheer - ‘Shocking’ Grade 10 winners First place: Dawood Al-Mattar - ‘Effect of Magnetism on Ants’ Second place: Latifa Al-Shaya and Aisha Al-Yaseen ‘Absorption of Light in Different Housepaints’

Bader Fawaz explains ‘The future of Dams’ mechanics.

Third place: Jamal Jamal and Hamad Mallalah - ‘Effect

Birthday greetings

ICSK’s Drama Fest 2010 a big success he Indian Community School Kuwait (ICSK) Amman branch conducted a two-day Drama Fest in February 2010. The evenings of February 22 and 23 will go down in the history of the ICSK Amman as red letter days because for the first time Class VIII students of the branch went on to the stage displaying their skills in histrionics with not just a single play but a compendium of four plays with as many varied themes. The audience on both the evenings were thrilled and entertained to the fullest when the students hit the stage declaring ‘Drama is Life’ as their recurrent theme running through the four plays.

The auditorium resounded with the laughter and applause provoked by the humor of ‘The Open Window’ and ‘Watch Your Step’. ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ on the other hand triggered a serious introspection regarding questions of temptation, sin, guilt and salvation. ‘High Treason’ was an exceptional depiction of loyalty and patriotism as

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irthday greetings to little Miss World, with lots of love and prayers to guide and protect you with the best of health, happiness and wisdom. And all you dreams come true.

Good wishes from grandma, nana, dada, mama and all your uncle, aunties and cousins: Alisha, Alista, Lorry, Lorica, Mackenzie, Monica, Mifa, Mandy, Glen, Dolcy, Flavia, Flavina, Monoshka, Melisa and Vernon and all your dear and near ones from Goa, Mumbai, Sharjah and Kuwait.

found in the times of the Mauryas.

On February 22, the chief guest, Fr Lionel, Principal of Indian English Academy School was extremely impressed by the exhibition of dramatic skills of the students and went on to congratulate them on an evening of an artistic entertainment. On February 23, the Chief Guest was Bhaskar Bhat, Second Secretary, Commercial Affairs, Embassy of India. The dignitaries who graced the show including Ashok Kalra, Hon Chairman, Archibald Menezes, HonVice-Chairman, Francis Machado, Hon Jt Secretary, John George, Member, Board of Trustees., Branch Principals, Parent Advisory Council Members, other guests and the audience were treated to scintillating performances, graphic backdrops, colorful props and enthralling music.

As on the first day, people were moved to both laughter and sobriety - depending upon the play that was being performed on stage. The evening was not just an exhibition of play acting but also a competi-

tion and the plays were graded by a panel of judges. The Open Window’ was declared the best play and was awarded the Chairman’s Rolling Trophy, by ICSK Chairman Ashok Kalra who in the concluding remarks praised the young performers and congratulated them on their impressive show.

The best performers in various other departments such as acting, music, props and backdrops, special effects, direction etc were awarded with individual trophies. ICSK Amman Drama Fest came to a close with the assurance that the school will continue to organize such events with the aim of encouraging the children in exhibiting and honing their skills of drama.

Haiti Charity Concert aiti Charity Concert to be held at GUST University in Mishref this Sunday, March 28 at 7 pm. The concert has been organized with the hope of purchasing wheelchairs for Haitian amputees. Support this worthy cause and enjoy listening to the famous Kuwait English

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School Band presenting a diverse variety of musical items.

The program includes Arabic songs. Entrance is by prebought tickets only, priced at KD1 for students and KD2 for adults. To purchase your tickets contact keschool@kes.edu.kw

Friends of third Gol

riends of Kannur expatria association (FOKE) anno its third Golden Foke Aw famous theater artist Ibrahim Vengara. Jury comprising of personalities PP Shasheendr Marar, K K R Vengara selec awardees every year. This y committee selected drama a ater area for the award, the o ers said during a press confe held at Abbasiya.

Golden Foke award has b given to famous personalitie excel in various socio cultura from Kannur district. Award memento designed by artist Vengara and a cash award of 15,000. Award will be presen Sri Ibrahim Vengara during F 5th anniversary celebration o 16 at Daiya Auditorium.

Ibrahim Vengara born in in 1941 entered the field of t

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Fankaar Arts Silver Jubilee preparations Indian Central School annual day celebrations postponed

Sangamam Dance Troupe’s entertainment program stage program today will be conducted at 5:30 pm in American International School (AIS) Auditorium which will contain a variety of dance entertainment and musical evening by Sangamam dance groups in Kuwait. Sangamam Dance Troupe formed in the year 2000 will be completing 10 years of non-stop performance with more than 100 stage shows all over Kuwait, KTV seasonal programs and other TV channels. For details, contact: Ayisha on 66521922, 55232470; Sethu on 97801299; or Nelavan on 66415609.

Bader Al-Ayoub explains his ‘Main Oxyge

ue to sad demise of our two beloved students in an accident, Ayaz Nadeem Ahmed of Class IX - C and Ahnaf Bin Ali Mitul of Class IX D, the Annual Day Celebrations proposed to be held today has been postponed. New date will be intimated later.

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ankaar Arts held a meeting on Saturday, March 13 to gear up for their upcoming Silver Jubilee celebration show in May. Director Arif Kazi who established the group in 1985, discussed the plans for this event with all members. The highlight of this show will be a Hindi stage play. Following the

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meeting, a musical evening was arranged where singers Bombay Aziz set the mood for the evening by singing melodious songs from the yesteryears.

Sujata Krishnan and Caroline Johnson also joined in rendering a few old gems. The event was held at the residence of Shahjahan Jaffery.

TV PROGRAMS

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Thursday, March 25, 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

00:50 01:45 02:40 03:35 04:30 05:25 06:20 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:45 10:40 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 Baker 19:15 19:40 20:10

00:35 01:30 02:25 03:25 03:55 04:25 05:15 06:05 06:35 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 11:25 12:15 13:15 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:45 16:15 16:45 17:15 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:45 22:15

14:20 NEXT X U.S SHORTS 14:30 Jimmy Two-Shoes 15:00 Phineas & Ferb 15:30 Yin Yang Yo 16:00 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 16:30 Kid vs Kat 17:00 Power Rangers Jungle Fury 17:30 Phineas & Ferb 18:00 Suite Life On Deck 18:30 Suite Life On Deck 19:00 Iron Man: Armoured Adventures 19:25 Kid vs Kat 20:00 Zeke & Luther 20:30 Phil Of The Future 21:00 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 21:30 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 22:00 Phineas & Ferb

ER In Plain Sight Life Murdoch Mysteries In Plain Sight Burn Notice Demons ER Lie to Me Law & Order Life Murdoch Mysteries Demons Burn Notice Life In Plain Sight Lie to Me Law & Order Starter Wife Demons Without a Trace Ghost Whisperer Sons of Anarchy The Tudors

Tigers Attack Animal Cops Phoenix Untamed And Uncut Journey Of Life Animal Cops Phoenix Miami Animal Police Going Ape Shamwari: A Wild Life Vet On The Loose Aussie Animal Rescue Wildlife SOS Pet Rescue Tigers Attack The Jeff Corwin Experience Beverly Hills Groomer The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Going Ape Shamwari: A Wild Life Miami Animal Police E-Vets: The Interns Pet Rescue Animal Cops Phoenix Wildlife SOS Aussie Animal Rescue Tigers Attack The Planet’s Funniest Animals The Planet’s Funniest Animals Beverly Hills Groomer Deep Into The Wild With Nick Living With The Wolfman Living With The Wolfman Jessica The Hippo

Casualty Egypt Child Of Our Time 2006 Love Soup Love Soup Casualty Casualty Cash In The Attic Bargain Hunt 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 Child Of Our Time 2006 The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Red Dwarf Red Dwarf The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Casualty The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders

00:05 Ching’s Kitchen 00:30 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 01:20 Cash In The Attic Usa 01:45 Hidden Potential 02:15 Antiques Roadshow 03:00 Antiques Roadshow 03:45 The Clothes Show 04:45 Cash In The Attic Usa 05:15 Cash In The Attic Usa 05:45 Hidden Potential 06:15 Living In The Sun 07:00 10 Years Younger 07:30 10 Years Younger 08:10 Antiques Roadshow 09:00 Cash In The Attic Usa 09:25 Hidden Potential 09:45 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 10:30 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 11:30 Living In The Sun 12:15 Antiques Roadshow 13:10 The Clothes Show

I Am Legend on Show Movies 14:00 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 14:50 Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 15:40 Daily Cooks Challenge 16:05 Daily Cooks Challenge 16:30 Cash In The Attic Usa 16:50 Hidden Potential 17:10 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 18:00 Antiques Roadshow 18:50 Antiques Roadshow 19:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 20:15 Daily Cooks Challenge 20:40 Masterchef Goes Large 21:10 Come Dine With Me

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:15 09:00 12:00 14:30 16:30 18:30 21:00 23:00

Return To Paradise-PG15 Heart Of The Beholder-PG15 Almost Famous-PG15 L’age Des Tenebres-PG15 West Side Story-PG15 Nicholas Nickleby-PG15 Max-PG15 Stolen Summer-PG As Good As It Gets-PG15 Unfaithful-18 Trainspotting-R

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

Untamed & Uncut Miami Ink Street Customs American Chopper Massive Speed Massive Speed Mythbusters How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs China’s Man Made Marvels Massive Speed Massive Speed Street Customs How Do They Do It? Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Swamp Loggers How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made American Chopper Miami Ink Mythbusters Dirty Jobs Swamp Loggers Street Customs Destroyed In Seconds How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made Destroyed In Seconds Destroyed In Seconds My Shocking Story

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

Building The Biggest Engineered Space Pioneer What’s That About?

Beyond Tomorrow Sci-Fi Saved My Life Cool Stuff And How It Works Mean Green Machines One Step Beyond Engineered Junkyard Wars Nasa’s Greatest Missions What’s That About?

Cool Stuff And How It Works Stunt Junkies Engineered Mean Green Machines One Step Beyond Nasa’s Greatest Missions What’s That About?

Primal Connections Cool Stuff And How It Works Junkyard Wars Brainiac Building The Biggest The Future Of...

20:30 21:20 21:45 22:10 23:00 23:50

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

Brainiac How It’s Made How It’s Made Mythbusters The Future Of...

Brainiac

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 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 Aaron Stone 09:05 Phineas & Ferb 09:30 Kid vs Kat 10:00 Pokemon DP: Battle Dimension 10:30 Suite Life On Deck 11:00 American Dragon 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

00:15 Streets Of Hollywood 00:40 E!es 01:30 25 Most Stylish 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 40 Smokin’ On Set Hookups 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 Ths 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Leave It To Lamas 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 Ths 11:05 E!es 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Kendra 13:15 Kendra 13:40 E!es 15:25 Behind The Scenes 15:50 Behind The Scenes 16:15 E!es 16:40 E!es 17:10 Bank Of Hollywood 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Streets Of Hollywood 19:15 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 19:40 Ths 20:30 Ths 21:20 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210

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

Dr G: Medical Examiner Fbi Files A Haunting Murder Shift Serial Killers Forensic Detectives Crime Scene Psychics Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters Ghosthunters Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Royal Inquest Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files The Prosecutors Guilty Or Innocent?

Csu Forensic Detectives Fbi Files Royal Inquest Diagnosis: Unknown Forensic Detectives Fbi Files The Prosecutors Guilty Or Innocent?

Csu On The Case Crimes That Shook The World

01:55 03:20 05:00 06:55 08:55 10:20 11:55 13:40 15:10 16:45 18:35 20:25 22:00 23:40

The King And Four Queens Last Rites Jason’s Lyric Cuba Miracle Beach The Man Inside Nobody’s Fool The Escape Joey Alice’s Restaurant Marie: A True Story The Burning Bed Speechless Legend of the Lost

00:00 Community 00:30 10 Things I Hate About You 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Reno 911 03:30 Weeds 04:00 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 05:00 Community 05:30 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 07:00 The Nannyt 07:30 Malcolm in the Middle 08:00 Yes dear 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 Just Shoot me 11:30 Eight Simple Rules

12:00 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 13:00 10 Things I Hate About You 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 The Nanny 14:30 Malcolm in the Middle 15:00 Yes dear 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 Modern Family 19:30 New adventures of old Christine 20:00 Best of Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 Entourage 23:00 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 Leno 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 Leno 23:00

The Martha Stewart Show 10 Years younger S3 Look A Like S3 The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Monique Show Never Trust A Skinny Cook Fresh GMA (repeat) GMA Health What’s the Buzz The Martha Stewart Show Never Trust A Skinny Cook Fresh Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The View The Ellen DeGeneres Show What’s Good For You GMA Live GMA Health What’s the Buzz The Tonight Show with Jay Look A Like S3 10 Years younger S3 The View The Ellen DeGeneres Show Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The Tonight Show with Jay The Monique Show

00:00 Adulthood-18 02:00 Danielle Steel’s Safe Harbour 04:00 Call Of The North-PG 06:00 Red Riding 1983-PG15 08:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 10:00 Mostly Ghostly-PG 12:00 Confessions Of A Shopaholic 14:00 Honeydripper-PG15 16:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 18:00 Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist-PG15 20:00 I Am Legend-PG15 22:00 Taken-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 06:45 09:00 11:15 13:00 14:45 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Fight Night-PG15 Shifty-PG15 Stargate: The Ark Of Truth-PG Spy Game-PG15 Battle Of Wits-PG15 H.I.T.-PG15 Missionary Man-PG15 Battle Of Wits-PG15 Redline-PG15 Traitor-PG15 Prophecy 5-18 Dark Reprieve-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 Milagro Beanfield War Kettle Of Fish-18 The Coneheads-PG15 King’s Ransom-PG15 Ping Pong Playa-PG15 Going Berserk-PG15 Black Knight-PG15 Slap Shots 3-PG15 The Milagro Beanfield War In Memory Of My Father Hot Fuzz-18 Election-18

00:00 Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs Wakko’s Wish-PG 02:00 Free Willy 3: The Rescue 04:00 War Of The Buttons-PG 06:00 Tony Hawk: Boom Boom Sabotage-FAM 08:00 Tracy Beaker - The Movie Of Me-FAM 10:00 War Of The Buttons-PG 12:00 Papelucho And The Martian 14:00 Free Willy 3: The Rescue 16:00 Cinderella-FAM 18:00 The Jungle Book IV : Hate And Love-FAM 20:00 Superman : Brainiac Attacks 22:00 Papelucho And The Martian

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

Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice Sex and the City Sex and the City Smallville

04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 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

Criminal Minds Frasier Coach Emmerdale Coronation Street “24” Frasier Coach Smallville (TBA) Criminal Minds Emmerdale Coronation Street Frasier Coach Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice “24” Beauty and the Geek Emmerdale Huey’s Cooking Adventure Bones Dollhouse Cold Case Life on Mars

00:45 Scottish Premier League 02:45 Scottish Premier League 04:45 Barclays Premier League Review Show 06:00 Portugol 06:30 Fut Brasil 07:00 Scottish Premier League 09:00 Scottish Premier League 11:00 Premier League Classics 11:30 Premier League Classics 12:00 Premier League 14:00 Scottish Premier League 16:00 Scottish Premier League 18:00 Barclays Premier League Review Show 19:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 20:00 Scottish Premier League 22:00 Scottish Premier League

01:00 Premier League World 01:30 Goals On Monday 03:00 Premier League Darts 07:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 08:00 Mobil 1 08:30 NRL Premiership 10:30 Futbol Mundial 11:00 Weber Cup Bowling 12:00 Premier League World 12:30 Goals Goals Goals 13:00 Premier League Classics 13:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 14:30 ICC Cricket World 15:00 World Hocky 15:30 Futbol Mundial 16:00 Anglo-Welsh Cup 18:00 Mobil 1 18:30 Goals Goals Goals 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:30 Premier League Classics 20:00 World Sport 20:30 Premier League World 21:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 22:00 Live Premier League Darts

01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 NRL Premiership 03:30 European Tour Weekly 04:00 Weber Cup Bowling 05:00 Premier League World 05:30 Goals Goals Goals 06:00 Mobil 1 06:30 ICC Cricket World 07:00 Super 14 09:00 Goals Goals Goals 09:30 European Tour Weekly 10:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 11:00 Super League 13:00 Futbol Mundial 13:30 Mobil 1 14:00 NRL Premiership 16:00 Fut Brasil 16:30 ICC Cricket World 17:00 European Tour Weekly 17:30 Live PGA European Tour 20:30 ICC Cricket World 21:00 Mobil 1 21:30 World Sport 22:00 PGA European Tour

00:00 02:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00

Finish-PG15 11:00 Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!-FAM 13:00 Kung Fu Panda-PG 15:00 10,000 B.C.-PG 17:00 Bring It On 5: Fight To The Finish-PG15 19:00 Taking Chance-PG15 21:00 Race To Witch Mountain-PG15 23:00 The Eye-R

01:00 The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight 02:35 The Dirty Dozen 05:00 Kelly’s Heroes 07:30 The Screening Room 08:00 Beau Brummell 09:50 The Comedians 12:20 The Unsinkable Molly Brown 14:35 The Sunshine Boys 16:25 Anchors Aweigh 18:40 Kelly’s Heroes 21:00 Lust For Life 23:00 Rhapsody

00:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 01:30 Lost Worlds 02:20 Dead Men’s Secrets 03:10 Conspiracy?

04:00 Nostradamus Effect 04:55 Nostradamus: 2012 06:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 07:30 Lost Worlds 08:20 Dead Men’s Secrets 09:10 Conspiracy?

10:00 Nostradamus Effect 10:55 Nostradamus: 2012 12:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 13:30 Lost Worlds 14:20 Dead Men’s Secrets 15:10 Conspiracy?

16:00 Nostradamus Effect 16:55 Nostradamus: 2012 18:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 19:30 Lost Worlds 20:20 Dead Men’s Secrets 21:10 Conspiracy?

22:00 Life After People

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00

Clean House Peter Perfect Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Dallas Divas And Daughters How Do I Look?

Split Ends Dr 90210 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Area How Do I Look?

Style Star Style Her Famous My Celebrity Home Style Star Dress My Nest Peter Perfect Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Ruby Giuliana And Bill Clean House Clean House Comes Clean Dress My Nest What I Hate About Me Split Ends Dallas Divas And Daughters The Dish Running In Heels Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Split Ends Clean House

01:04 01:45 02:00 02:45 05:04 06:00 08:04 08:45 13:04 13:50 14:00 15:00 16:04 16:45 18:00 18:45 20:04 20:45 21:00 21:15

Latina Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Legend Playlist Latina Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Trace Video Mix Playlist RNB Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Sound System Playlist Guest Star Playlist

00:00 Globe Trekker 01:00 Angry Planet 01:30 The Thirsty Traveler 02:00 Inside Luxury Travel-varun Sharma 03:00 Planet Food 04:00 Intrepid Journeys 05:00 Globe Trekker 06:00 Swiss Railway Journeys 07:00 The Thirsty Traveler 07:30 Angry Planet 08:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Travel Today 09:30 Dream Destinations 10:00 Distant Shores 10:30 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 Inside Luxury Travel-varun Sharma 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 Essential 21:30 Essential

00:30 01:30 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:30 07:30 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00

Jailed Abroad Jailed Abroad Bondi Rescue - Bali Destination Extreme Surfer’s Journal Treks In A Wild World Madventures Chasing Time Departures Jailed Abroad Jailed Abroad Bondi Rescue - Bali Destination Extreme Surfer’s Journal Treks In A Wild World Madventures Chasing Time Which Way To...

Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Surfer’s Journal Surfer’s Journal Bondi Rescue - Bali Destination Extreme Surfer’s Journal Treks In A Wild World Madventures Chasing Time

NCAA Basketball NCAA Basketball UFC - The Ultimate Fighter UFC - The Ultimate Fighter UFC - The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown WWE Vintage Collection FIM World Cup Brain Cell Bushido WWE SmackDown LG Action Sport Drambuie Pursuit NCAA Basketball UFC 111 Countdown WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT

01:00 Hunger-18 03:00 Asterix Aux Jeux Olympiques 05:00 Lost Holiday: The Jim And Suzanne Shemwell Story-PG 07:00 The Longshots-PG15 09:00 Bring It On 5: Fight To The

The Eye on Super Movies

Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:45 Dim Sum Funeral 22:20 A Simple Twist Of Fate 00:05 What’s The Worst That Could Happen?

01:45 Dick Tracy 03:30 VIP Access 04:00 Dim Sum Funeral 05:35 A Simple Twist Of Fate 07:20 What’s The Worst That Could Happen?

09:00 Dick Tracy 10:45 VIP Access 11:15 Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead 12:45 Bubble Boy 14:10 Driving Lessons 15:50 Stanley & Iris 17:30 Waitress 19:20 What Happens In Vegas STAR World 20:00 American Idol 21:00 East West 21:50 Different Strokes 22:00 The Unit 22:50 Married With Children 23:00 American Idol 00:00 East West 00:50 Different Strokes 01:00 The Unit

01:50 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:50 11:00 12:00 12:50 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:50 15:00 15:50 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30

Married With Children Grey’s Anatomy [V] Tunes [V] Tunes [V] Tunes 7th Heaven Scrubs The King Of Queens Boston Legal American Idol Grey’s Anatomy Different Strokes American Idol East West Married With Children The King Of Queens The Bold And The Beautiful 7th Heaven Different Strokes Grey’s Anatomy Married With Children [V] Tunes American Idol Scrubs The King Of Queens

Granada TV 21:00 ...And Proud

22:00 Emmerdale 22:30 Coronation Street 23:00 ...And Proud 00:00 The Springer Show 01:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) 02:00 Action Thursday: Instinct 03:30 Dirtbusters 04:00 The Inside Guide To (Series 3) 05:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Coronation Street 06:00 The Springer Show 07:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 1) 08:00 Action Thursday: Instinct 09:30 Dirtbusters 10:00 The Inside Guide To (Series 3) 11:00 Emmerdale 11:30 Coronation Street 12:00 The Springer Show 13:00 Ballroom Bootcamp 14:00 Action Thursday: Gunrush 15:30 Dirtbusters 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 The Springer Show 18:00 Ballroom Bootcamp 19:00 Action Thursday: Gunrush

Channel [V] 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 Parental Control Double Bill 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 Videoscope 15:00 [V] Tunes 16:00 Backtracks 17:00 [V] Tunes 18:00 [V] Plug 18:30 The Playlist 19:00 Parental Control Double Bill

20:00 Videoscope 21:00 [V] Tunes Fox News 20:00 Happening Now 22:00 The Live Desk 00:00 Studio B with Shepard Smith Live 01:00 Your World with Neil Cavuto 02:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 03:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 04:00 The FOX Report with Shepard Smith 05:00 The O’Reilly Factor 06:00 Hannity 07:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 08:00 The O’Reilly Factor 09:00 Hannity 10:00 On the Record with Greta Van Susteren 11:00 Glenn Beck with Glenn Beck 12:00 Fox Report 13:00 Special Report with Bret Baier 14:00 The O’Reilly Factor 15:00 FOX & Friends First Live 16:00 FOX & Friends Live 18:00 America’s Newsroom 19:00 America’s Newsroom

National Geographic Channel 20:00 Everyday Things -Shaving 21:00 Wild Wednesday -Monster Fish Of The Congo 22:00 Wild Wednesday -Monster Fish : Giant Stingray 23:00 Theme Week -Naked Science : Apocalypse Earth 00:00 Seconds From Disaster -Motorway Plane Crash S2-3 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -Rivers And Life : Yangtze 02:00 Interpol Investigates -Body Double 03:00 Monster Fish -Mongolian Terror Trout 04:00 Hunter Hunted -Black Death 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -Rivers And Life : Yangtze 06:00 Perilous Journeys -Cracking The Ice Road 2 07:00 The Living Edens -Borneo: Island In The Clouds 08:00 Interpol Investigates -Body Double 09:00 Monkey Thieves -Monsoon Showdown 6 09:30 Hayden Turner’s Wildlife Chall -Lesser Flamingos 3 10:00 Theme Week -Secret Bible : Apocalypse 3

Thursday, March 25, 2010

33

ACCOMMODATION In Abu Halifa sector 1 police station road sharing accommodation available for a decent Muslim person in a central A/C 2 BR flat with kitchen and tel facilities. Contact: 97910678.

(C 20494) Sharing accommodation available for single working ladies, couple or executive bachelor in a 2 bedroom, 2 toilet CAC apartment new building in Farwaniya behind Metro cinema, only for Indian from Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa. Contact: 66625901, 24716975. (C 20497)

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 accommodation available in Abbassiya only for Keralite couples or ladies semi-furnished, centralized A/C flat. Contact: 97134824. (C 2052) 25-3-2010

Sharing furnished accommodation available for decent executive with a couple in CAC flat at Farwaniya airport road. Call: 99678391. (C 20482) 21-3-2010

Sharing accommodation available for one bachelor at Abbassiya near Unique store No. 2 from 1st April with kitchen facilities. Contact: 66110593 or 24313908. (C 20495)

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 from 1st April with Keralite family near Neethi store building in Abbassiya share with couples or bachelors (only for Keralite peoples), furnished double bedroom flat with mini split A/C. Contact: 66944127.

(C 20496) 24-3-2010 Sharing accommodation available for Indian working ladies or couples in a 2 bedroom flat with all facilities near Khaitan police station round about. Contact: 99480468. (C 20488) Looking for room furnished/unfurnished with attached bath required for an executive couple preferably with balcony in Salmiya around garden area or in Mangaf, Block #4. Contact between 5 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm # 66844722/65533571.

(C 20490)

23-3-2010

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)

TRANSPORT Transportation available from Salmiya to Carmel School, Khaitan; from Salmiya to British School, Salwa and Salmiya to Kuwait City 8 am & Kuwait City to Salmiya 5:30 pm.

Experienced drivers & new cars. Contact: 55497212, 99286433. (C 20492) 24-3-2010

FOR SALE Toyota Corolla 1.6 model 2009, white color, good look and excellent condition, one hand use car. Price KD 3650. Only serious persons call 66050484. (C 20487) 23-3-2010

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)

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited from parents of educated good looking girls (below 32 years), for handsome Hindu engi-

neer (Bombay) employed in oil company Kuwait. No dowry. Contact email: kumar117630yahoo.com (C 2051) 25-3-2010 Keralite Orthodox boy, 28/172, B.Com, working as accountant in a reputed firm in Kuwait invites proposals from the parents of girls working in Kuwait. Contact email: abrahamgees@yahoo.com (C 20491) 24-3-2010

SITUATION WANTED A Srilankan lady who has been working as maid for families for the last 10 years in Kuwait is seeking a live-in maid job in household. English and Arabic speaking and has good experience in taking care of kids & pets.

For further details please call: 97448826. (C 20498) 25-3-2010 A decent housemaid for a family in Hawally. Call 66729068, 67784195.

24-3-2010 Hardworking experienced honest Pakistani young man available to work for high profile people as personal secretary or mandoob or personal driver. Mob: 67730592. (C 20489) 23-3-2010 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) 21-3-2010

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Thursday 25/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut Gulf Air 211 Bahrain DHL 370 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Kuwait 802 Cairo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 0503 Luxor Cargolux 792 Luxembourg Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Jazeera 0529 Assiut British 0157 London Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Kuwait 352 Cochin Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 603 Shiraz Falcon 203 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Iran Aseman 6791 Mashad Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Bahrain Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Saudi Arabian A/L 9301 Jeddah Middle East 404 Beirut Airquarius 061 Baghdad/Basrah Egypt Air 610 Cairo Saudi Arabian A/L 9307 Jeddah Kuwait 672 Dubai Saudi Arabian A/L 508 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0171 Dubai Egypt Air 621 Assiut Nas Air 745 Jeddah Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Nas Air 703 Riyadh Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 562 Amman Kuwait 552 Damascus Jazeera 0457 Damascus

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

Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Jazeera Almasria Universal Global Emirates Gulf Air United A/L Saudi Arabian A/L Etihad Jazeera Jazeeera Arabia Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Srilankan Jazeera Wataniya Airways DHL Wataniya Airways Yemenia Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Indian Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Oman Air Jazeera Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Middle East Qatari Emirates Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Global Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Shaheen Air India Express Lufthansa Bangladesh Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Pakistan

0134 544 546 800 0173 109 061 857 215 982 510 0303 0493 0239 0125 0367 2101 0497 227 0427 2003 473 1025 824 502 542 674 618 166 0177 786 614 575 774 102 572 0647 0459 2103 217 402 0136 859 1129 0449 0429 081 0117 0433 0185 0695 548 441 393 636 045 2201 1029 215

Doha Cairo Alexandria Amman Dubai Alexandria/Assiut Baghdad Dubai Bahrain Washington Dc Dulles Riyadh Abu Dhabi Jeddah Amman Sharjah Deirezzor Beirut Riyadh Colombo/Dubai Bahrain Cairo Baghdad Dubai Sanaa/Doha Beirut Cairo Dubai Doha Paris/Rome Dubai Jeddah Bahrain Chennai/Goa Riyadh New York/London Mumbai Muscat Damascus Beirut Bahrain Beirut Doha Dubai Bahrain Doha Bahrain Baghdad Abu Dhabi Mashad Dubai Shiraz Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor Lahore Kozhikode/Cochin Frankfurt Dhaka/Doha Amman Dubai Karachi

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

Departure Flights on Thursday 25/03/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode Indian 994 Mumbai/Chennai Pakistan 206 Lahore Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt DHL 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0139 Doha Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Jazeera 0164 Dubai Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut Cargolux 792 Hong Kong Kuwait 543 Cairo British 0156 London Kuwait 671 Dubai Kuwait 551 Damascus Kuwait 561 Amman Jazeera 0456 Damascus Jazeera 0170 Dubai Arabia 0122 Sharjah Emirates 856 Dubai Kuwait 117 New York Qatari 0133 Doha Etihad 0302 Abu Dhabi Kuwait 173 Frankfurt/Geneva Iran Air 602 Shiraz Wataniya Airways 2002 Cairo Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Falcon 204 Baghdad Iran Aseman 6792 Mashad Global 062 Najaf/Baghdad Jazeera 0172 Dubai Kuwait 541 Cairo Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0492 Jeddah Jazeera 0366 Deirezzor Jazeera 0238 Amman Kuwait 103 London Middle East 405 Beirut Elite 569 Beirut Kuwait 501 Beirut Saudi Arabian A/L 2601 Jeddah Airquarius 060 Basrah/Baghdad Kuwait 785 Jeddah Egypt Air 611 Cairo

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

Time 00:05 00:30 00:50 01:10 01:20 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 07:55 08:10 08:30 08:35 08:45 08:50 08:55 09:00 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:20 10:20 10:40 11:30 11:40 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:00 13:05 13:30 13:40 13:55

Wataniya Airways Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Egypt Air Nas Air Jazeera Nas Air Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Jazeera Almasria Universal Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Global Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways Yemenia Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Oman Air Gulf Air DHL Kuwait Kuwait Middle East Kuwait Falcon Jazeera Qatari Kuwait Emirates Jazeera Jazeera United A/L Kuwait Jazeera

1024 673 2206 0496 509 622 746 0176 704 2102 0426 0458 617 547 501 773 613 801 0135 0432 110 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 0184 0116 2200 082 0448 0428 1128 228 1028 824 0694 283 343 331 571 0648 218 171 801 675 403 203 102 0188 0137 301 860 0636 0526 981 415 0502

Dubai Dubai Jeddah Riyadh Medinah Assiut Jeddah Dubai Medinah Beirut Bahrain Damascus Doha Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor Jeddah Riyadh Bahrain Amman Doha Mashad Alexandria Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Dubai Abu Dhabi Amman Baghdad Doha Bahrain Bahrain Dubai/Colombo Dubai Sanaa Shiraz Dhaka Chennai Trivandrum Mumbai Muscat Bahrain Bahrain Cairo Dubai Beirut Lahore Bahrain Dubai Doha Mumbai Dubai Aleppo Alexandria Washington Dc Dulles Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta Luxor

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

SPECTRUM

34 CROSSWORD 938

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) You may find it difficult

to get things off to a good start this morning.

Careful, harsh criticism to yourself or others may not be warranted or appropriate. This can be a stressful day if you allow yourself to break concentration. You may find yourself working on the next money making venture this afternoon. You put in a great deal of effort to secure finances. There is an open door of motivation present now that will help you in any endeavor you discover. The good life and all that is fine and luxurious, may be what you value just now. You could enjoy making your own way. Someone from your past comes back into your life.

Make plans to visit later in the week if today is not convenient. Grab the chance to enjoy a walk down memory lane.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Work will progress steadily

today. You are highly productive and may find that you need very little sleep. Think about this again— after a few years you may wish that given time to recoup and taking time with loved ones or friends make a beneficial balance in life. Take care, now—to keep a good healthy balance of activities in your day. Money comes suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of some speculation or creative project. With a good day for money, you will find yourself most persuasive with others and eloquent in your communications. A co-worker or friend comes to you with a lucrative proposition. You could come up with new solutions. Put your money in the bank . . . it may be a while before the next windfall. Your current relationship is progressing.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages.

4. Greenish-yellow pear.

8. The compass point that is one point south of due east.

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

12. Plant with an elongated head of broad stalked leaves resembling celery.

13. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

14. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

15. A large round wicker basket (used on farms).

16. A master's degree in business.

17. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

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

21. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

24. A light touch or stroke.

26. A cylindrical drawstring bag used by sailors to hold their clothing and other gear.

28. A Hindu prince or king in India.

31. Obvious and dull.

33. Affected manners intended to impress others.

34. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

36. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

37. A public promotion of some product or service.

38. A defensive missile designed to shoot down incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles.

41. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

45. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

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

50. An associate degree in applied science.

51. An accountant certified by the state.

52. A person who has lied or who lies repeatedly.

53. Government agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plants.

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

55. An informal term for a father.

56. A doctor's degree in preventive medicine.

DOWN 1. A card game in which players bet against the dealer on the cards he will draw from a dealing box.

2. A collection of objects laid on top of each other.

3. The highest level or degree attainable.

4. A bachelor's degree in naval science.

5. Consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree.

6. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

7. A tight-fitting headdress.

8. Any of various trees of the genus Ulmus.

9. A small cake leavened with yeast.

10. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

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

19. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

22. A local computer network for communication between computers.

23. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

25. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

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

29. A son who has the same first name as his father.

30. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

32. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

35. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man.

39. With no effort to conceal.

40. Type genus of the Majidae.

42. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on land.

43. The lean flesh of a fish that is often farmed.

44. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (18801957).

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

48. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

49. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) A need to be respected is an emotionally charged issue in your life. You develop a knack for organizing things and people—a sense of ambition and practicality takes hold. Work, achievement and ambition mean a lot to you. This respect and recognition you need so badly will begin to surface on its’ own; patience.

This last part of March is the perfect time for a vacation or just taking some time off work. The energies are just perfect to set sail for the destination of your desire. Perhaps you have never been to an area that is cold, or perhaps; tropical. Of course, a country retreat would be fun too. Also, if you need a loan for that trip, today and tomorrow are great times to obtain a loan. You may appear very at ease and relaxed today.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Somehow, fun seems more important than work today and if possible, you should not schedule too many tasks. The feeling that you have done this before when it concerns your work may occur again and again. You are busy and that is good but there is a need for communications between friends or like-minded people later today. You simply have a real need for people. You feel genuine warmth and affection for all of your loved ones, especially the kids. If you cannot find a party, you might set one up for this evening—perhaps a jam session, so-to-speak. Young friends from the neighborhood may be the ones to make you laugh. This is a good time to think about beautifying your surroundings. This may mean a new coat of paint or a new sofa.

Leo (July 23-August 22) There may be a great deal of panic with reference to your financial affairs now. An elevator going up and down may be easier to gauge than your financial affairs. Look at this situation as an opportunity to show your resourceful, creative, problemsolving abilities. Perhaps you could even pretend it is someone else that has the financial problems and you will be helping them come up with solutions.

Sage advice is available from others, if needed—listen. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. Communicating feelings becomes most important. You could become involved in helping some friends out this afternoon. A sense of harmony makes this a successful and rewarding day.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You may feel left out or passed over just now. Your own requirements may appear to limit and separate you from where the rest of the gang is headed. This could mean you are new on the job or project—it would be normal to feel these feelings. It is not a reality to think you are limited. Stop and give your project more thought before you dive in blindly. You will be amazed at either some short cut or some creative vent you will be able to offer.

This afternoon you are in a good position to communicate concerning groups—perhaps educational or community affairs. Having and appreciating things of beauty and value plays a bigger role in your life now. This can also be a financially favorable period—provided you do not spend it all on fancy things.

Libra (September 23-October 22) A challenging day is ahead so keep your cool and practice going with the flow. Times of irritability will pass relatively quickly. Obtaining and exchanging information takes on more emotional significance for you now. Let intuition guide you while dealing with a strong-minded individual today.

Time in contemplation or reflection is important—each day, through the end of this month. Being more involved with neighbors or siblings satisfies a deep emotional need this afternoon—it is great to be included! Your attention may be forced to become more organized and more conservative with all this activity today. You strive to have a better focus and may decide to make a list that will help guide and remind you of your goals.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) It is important to

develop a team attitude so as not to alienate your coworkers today. Many will find you witty and eccentric and that will help you to move into discussions that others would fear. Co-workers value you for your independence and unique qualities. Communicating what you really mean is at a high and your timing should be perfect.

People around you should find you most spontaneous and alive. A strong need for nurturing this evening is a bigger than usual element in your life. The need to care for others is expressed as you wait on your customers in the work place today. You have needs and you sense the needs of others: fitting the two together makes life a little easier. This evening is a good time for a movie.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others just now and are in a good position to communicate in groups while working together. You may find that customers will be discussing all sorts of things besides business today—you may even have to work to keep them focused. Be wise and ignore the green monster of jealousy. If you have to busy your mind elsewhere, do so.

This will pass and is fully unnecessary. A little shopping trip may be in order this afternoon. You will be prepared to adjust your wardrobe to a few simple pieces that can be turned into something quite classy for after-work dates or social affairs. You may be inclined to jump from work to a group social gathering several times this week.

Yesterday’s Solution

Capricorn

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

(December

22-January

19)

Sometimes your emotions rule your actions and you may find yourself excitable if anything negative violates your space or your creative expression. While this is understandable, your reactions may not be suitable. Find ways to relieve your frustration until you have had time to get a handle on how you want to proceed. Start making plans for the beginning of your next project and you will soon gain a positive focus on just what is needed to accomplish the best results. Your psychic senses are in focus today.

Your creative side is active and you could come up with some wonderful ideas that will bring monetary rewards. Family members may want to help and if you take notes, the path will be clear and no misunderstandings will occur.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) If you are looking for a job, this is the perfect day to shake hands with your new boss! There are positive changes in the air! Just now when you make a statement or suggestion, people turn their heads. Do not forget to be kind to your body with the appropriate vitamins, water, nutritious meals, exercise and plenty of rest. Temporary work is also available and may be the answer to needed extra income whether you are working steadily or not. Of course, this means you will have to modify your other activities. Be careful that you do not overspend or indulge too much for now. This evening you may discover that you have a massive yen for good feelings from others, preferably from your “significant other. However, hugs are good in groups.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You may be interested in making money more through rational, intellectual processes than with brute, physical action. In other words the panic is not so great to pull in money now and you probably will not join in on the undercover bets.

Your next best day for money is in about three days—until then, careful!

Shift your attention to the home now. It is time to relax the on-going pressures of the business world. Let’s face it—job responsibilities have demanded much of your time. There is mammoth pleasure in group activities that involve your friends and family this afternoon. You will find a stabilizing factor to your relationships this evening. There is plenty of time tonight to concentrate on affairs of the heart.

INFORMATION

Thhursday, March 25, 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

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SPECTRUM

Dennis Hopper is too sick for divorce battle

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he 73-year-old actor - who was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in October 2009 - is currently divorcing his fifth wife Victoria Duffy, and court papers filed by his lawyer Joe Mannis from his doctor claim he is unlikely to make a recovery. He stated: “It is doubtful that Mr. Hopper will ever recover sufficiently to be subjected to a deposition.” The star is also believed to weigh just over 100 pounds as a result of his ongoing treatment.

Hopper has offered his

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estranged wife - who he married in 1996 - $5,000-a-month in spousal support and claims it is all he can afford as he has been unable to work and his liquid assets only total $300,280.

However, Victoria insists the ‘Easy Rider’ star has much more in his bank account thanks to artwork he has made and sold.

Defending the case, Hopper claims in legal documents he has sold $1,895,000 worth of art in the last nine years, but spent $1,850,000 on creating and storing it, leaving him with a minor profit of $45,000. Victoria recently accused the actor of trying to engineer their separation so she would not receive anything from his will. Court documents filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month said: “I believe in contemplation of death that Dennis Hopper may be intending to remove me as a beneficiary of any kind.”

im Kardashian split from Reggie Bush because he didn’t want to get married. The 29year-old socialite has reportedly been pressurizing the American football player - who she has been dating on and off for three years - to tie the knot and start a family ever since her younger sister Khloe Kardashian wed basketball star Lamar Odom last September. However, the sportsman is convinced Kim isn’t “the right kind of girl” to spend his life with. A source told E!: “Kim has been pushing for marriage, especially since Khloe got hitched, the pressure’s been on.

She feels it’s the next step for her and Reggie.

But Reggie knows deep down in his heart that he doesn’t want to marry Kim. He basically put it on the line for her - he wants a wife that is a support system to him and would be a stay at home mom to his children. “Reggie loves Kim but he knows that’s just not her. He loves her drive and ambition, and he thinks she’s amazing, he truly loves her, but he knows she’s just not the right kind of girl for him to marry.”

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Kardashian splits with Bush

Kim is said to be devastated about the split, because she was hoping to follow in the footsteps of her other sister Kourtney Kardashian - who recently gave birth to son Mason - and get pregnant soon. The source said: “Kim is devastated, she loves Reggie with all her heart and truly believed that he would be her husband and the father of her children. She’s so maternal and is really in the place for kids right now - that’s just been amplified by the birth of Mason, her nephew.” While Reggie loves Kim’s “ambition”, he apparently dumped her because he doesn’t believe the brunette beauty “fits” into his sportsman lifestyle.

The source added to RadarOnline.com: “Kim is so caught up in the whole Hollywood thing, and that’s totally not Reggie’s scene. He’s a ball player, that’s his career and his life, and he just feels that Kim doesn’t fit 100 per cent into that.” News of their separation comes less than a month after the couple reportedly bought a $4.8 million love nest together in Beverley Hills.

Courteney Cox-Arquette refuses diet pressure

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some flesh. I think it’s great that the show portrays the reality of what it’s like to be in your 40s.

It’s a great time of life.” While she refuses to diet, the 45-yearold star - who has a five-year-old daughter Coco with husband David Arquette - ensures she exercises regularly as she no longer finds it easy to stay slim since quitting smoking. She added to Look magazine: “Well, first of all, I never exercised during ‘Friends’ - I just smoked loads of cigarettes. Now I eat and exercise, and you know, do everything I can... I just try a lot harder than I used to.”

Downey Jand Perry to present prizes obert Downey J and Katy Perry are set to present prizes at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday. The famous pair are among a host of stars, including Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Chris Rock, Jackie Chan, Jonah Hill, Queen Latifah, David Spade and Dev Patel, who will give out prizes at this weekend’s ceremony in Los Angeles. The event - which is being hosted by ‘Mall Cop’ actor Kevin James - will also feature performances from ‘Rudeboy’ singer Rihanna and teen sensation Justin Bieber, while eight-time Olympic speed skating medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will attempt to set a new world record for being catapulted into the show’s green slime via the Kids’ Choice Awards Slime Slingshot. Voting in 19 categories for the 23rd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards - which take place at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion - is still open. ‘Hannah Montana’ star Miley Cyrus has the most nominations after receiving nods for Favorite Singer, Favorite TV Actress and Favorite Movie Actress, as well as Favorite Song for her track ‘Party in the USA’. In both music categories she faces competition from Lady Gaga whose single ‘Paparazzi’ made the Favorite Song list - and Taylor Swift, whose track ‘You Belong with Me’ is competing for the Favorite Song title. Black Eyed Peas are also up for two awards, Favorite Single for ‘I Gotta Feeling’ and Favorite Group.

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Brad Pitt has been studying Scottish castles he ‘Inglourious Basterds’ star spent time in Scotland last year, scouting locations in the Highlands for an upcoming film project with ‘Kick-Ass’ director Matthew Vaughn. He said: “Last year Matthew and I were looking at doing some filming up there. We had a look at some castles. We’ll definitely be back.”

Brad - who raises six children with partner Angelina Jolie - has been a fan of Scotland for some time, but had to cut his last trip to the country short after he began feeling threatened by the former

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lover of his then-girlfriend. He told The Sun newspaper: “I went to Scotland and travelled around years ago. I went everywhere, saw it all. Edinburgh and Glasgow were special - the architecture is something there. “When I was in Glasgow I got involved with this girl. She happened to be the ex-girlfriend of a bit of a bad guy. I ended up having to get out of town because I was getting ‘that’ look from a guy behind a bar.” Brad also confessed a love for British rapper Dizzee Rascal and admits he exercises to his songs.

Catherine Zeta-Jones washes her hair with beer he Oscar-winning beauty says she works hard on maintaining her stunning looks and uses a concoction of products to keep her luscious locks and illuminating skin. She said: “I’m a slave to my looks! I keep my skin clear by applying a mixture of honey and salt all over my body to moisturize and exfoliate. I also condition my hair with honey and beer. I smell like the bottom of a beer barrel for days afterwards! And I don’t mind admitting I never leave home without my make-up bag - I think I came out of the womb loving make-up.” Although she is con-

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scious of her looks, Catherine who has two children, Dylan, nine, and six-year-old Carys, with husband Michael Douglas - refuses to conform to the super-skinny look which is rife in Hollywood at the moment. She told Britain’s OK! magazine: “I find this wave of super-skinny women scary. I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve got drag myself down to the gym like everybody else. But I look at the red carpet sometimes and it’s like a pageant. I’m quite a broad girl, not at all delicate. I watch what I eat to stay in shape, but I’m against diets. I eat when I’m hungry, three meals a day.”

Lavigneand Jennerget cozy

ourteney Cox-Arquette refused to diet before stripping off on TV. The actress - who plays man-eater Jules Cobb in US drama ‘Cougar Town’ - didn’t mind shooting semi-nude scenes for the show but admits she doesn’t have the “discipline” to lose weight. When asked if she embarked on a dieting regime before filming, she said: “I avoided salt the night before but no, I’m not that disciplined. I can’t be - I’m too hungry all the time. I just had to suck it in a little tighter!

I was OK flashing

vril Lavigne and Brody Jenner were seen “cozying up” at a party on Monday.

The ‘Girlfriend’ singer - who filed for divorce from rocker husband Deryck Whibley last October, a month after they separated - and the hunky reality TV star were at new Los Angeles nightspot Industry and onlookers say the pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other. One fellow reveler said: “Avril and Brody were cozying up

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was married to for three years Avril, 25, has been romantically linked with actor Wilmer Valderrama and oil heir Brandon Davis, but pals insisted she was just friends with both men. Brody was most recently dating Playboy playmate Jayde Nicole, but they split in December. After revealing she and Deryck were divorcing, Avril was adamant the pair would remain friends. She said: “Deryck and I have been together for six-and-a-

in a banquette. The two were dancing, singing, drinking and having a blast. “They definitely looked extremely friendly.” Avril and Brody were first linked together last month and friends say they have been enjoying “low-key” dates. One said: “They’re hooking up but they’re keeping it low-key.

“You can tell they’re into each other and both like to have a good time. They’re cute together.” Since splitting from Deryck - who she

half years. We have been friends since I was 17, started dating when I was 19, and married when I was 21. I am grateful for our time together, and I am grateful and blessed for our remaining friendship. “I admire Deryck and have a great amount of respect for him. He is the most amazing person I know, and I love him with all my heart.

Deryck and I are separating and moving forward on a positive note.”—Bang Showbiz

SPECTRUM

Thursday, March 25, 2010

37

Lifestyle

R&B star Akon falls foul of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka

Winfrey settles defamation suit with headmistress V host Oprah Winfrey agreed Tuesday to settle a lawsuit in which she had been accused of defamation by the former headmistress of her South African school for girls. A statement issued by lawyers for the two women said they had resolved the dispute “peacefully to their mutual satisfaction.” Lerato Nomvuyo Mzamane claimed in a 2008 suit that Winfrey had damaged her personal and professional reputation in two 2007 statements in which she suggested Mzamane had failed to deal adequately with allegations at the school that students were being abused by a member of her staff.

The popular talk show host opened The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in a town south of Johannesburg in January 2007.

A trial over the case was

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(From left to right): Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and rapper Akon pose for a photo. —AFP singer Akon will not be granted a visa to visit Sri Lanka for a sellout concert after Buddhist monks and almost 12,000 people on social media site Facebook took offence at one of his videos. A group of monks lobbied the government to stop the star’s planned visit because of a music video which featured women in bikinis dancing around a pool in front of a Buddha statue.

The offending video was for the R&B star’s “Sexy Bitch” hit, set on the Spanish party island of Ibiza. Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said there was no application for a visa by Akon or his entourage, but the government had taken a decision not to allow him into the country to perform at the concert scheduled for April 24. “He has not applied for a visa yet, but we will refuse him if he does ask for one,” a spokesman for the ministry said.

Director General of Information Anusha Pelpita said Colombo took Buddhist sensitivities and other protests into account.

The show was reported to have sold out with tickets

US

priced at 25,000 rupees (217 dollars). Thousands of Sri Lankans had also banded together to form a “We Hate AKON” group on Facebook, the social networking site, which counted 11,700 fans on Wednesday.

“We hate Akon. Please stop insulting a religion.

Save Buddhism,” said one posting. Majority-Buddhist Sri Lanka projects itself as a secular country, but it is highly sensitive to the use of religious images for commercial purposes. Six years ago, Sri Lanka’s police and customs were ordered to seize albums from plush lounge bar and restaurant chain Buddha Bar which depicted the Buddha, as well as bikinis with Buddha motifs.

Authorities have already banned candles in the shape of the Buddha.

Akon, a Grammy Awardnominated star, recently announced a foray into Bollywood in India with a contribution to the soundtrack of “RA. One,” a sci-fi action film cur rently in production starring heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan.

India, the home of the Buddha, is his “next focus area,” he said. —AFP

scheduled to begin on March 29 in federal court in Philadelphia. After court documents containing hundreds of pages of claims and counterclaims were filed by both sides, Tuesday’s seven-line statement said both women withdrew their allegations.

“Ms. Winfrey testified in her deposition that she did not intend the implications placed on her words by the plaintiff,” the statement said. “Ms Mzamane testified in her deposition that she has no evidence that Ms. Winfrey knowingly made a false statement about her or entertained serious doubt about what she said.”

Mzamane, who worked at a suburban Philadelphia school at the time of Winfrey’s statements, accused the top-rated American talk-show host of defaming her at a meeting with parents of the school in

In this Jan 2, 2007 file photo, US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, second left, and students are seen during the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-onKlip, South Africa. —AP

Actress America Ferrera poses with a group of Vikings to reveal Walmart’s 40foot Viking ship modeled after the ships that appear in the new Dreamworks 3D animated feature film ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ in Times Square on March 23, 2010 in New York City.

Ferrera provides the voice of Astrid, a young Viking in the film. —AFP

Michael Jackson’s doctor Elton John, Lady Gaga faces license suspension join rainforest fundraiser S C

alifornia’s attorney general asked a court Tuesday to bar Michael Jackson’s former doctor, Conrad Murray, from practicing medicine while he faces charges in connection with the pop star’s death.

Jerry Brown filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the California Medical Board asking that a judge restrict the medical license of Murray, who faces involuntary manslaughter charges, as a condition of his bail.

Murray was attending to Jackson, 50, before his sudden death June 25, and police say he has admitted to investigators that he gave the singer the drug propofol to help him sleep.

The powerful anesthetic is typically used on patients undergoing surgery. “(The) Defendant is alleged to have administered a lethal dose of propofol and other powerful drugs to patient MJ, which resulted in the patient’s death,” Brown said in the 12-page court filing.

“The exercise of such poor professional judgment and placing the life of a patient in jeopardy requires that the

Rats! Fans say they are the perfect companion pet istory and Hollywood cast them as vermin responsible for plagues, famine and famous movie lines like “You dirty rat!” But to a small group of fans, the rat is a charming pocket companion as loyal as a dog and cleaner than a cat. Nearly 60 percent of American households have pets, according to an Associated PressPetside.com poll. About 74 percent of pet owners polled in October said they had dogs, 47 percent said they had cats and 3 percent said they had a gerbil, hamster, mouse or rat.

“To own a rat is to know that forever your heart will walk outside your body on four little feet,” said Dale Burkhart, 66, of Claremont. She is the vice president for the Riverside-based American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association. Burkhart’s nickname is Hattie McRattie and she runs the House Mouse Cafe at club events. Because of her arthritis, she no longer keeps rats but remains devoted, recalling how her fiance used to come over to visit her and her rats.

“They would groom his hair, groom his eyebrows and eyelashes. They are always grooming each other. That’s how they show respect and affection,” Burkhart said. “We become the alpha rat and they groom us.” The average life span of a rat is two to three years, said Debbie Ducommun.

She is an author and international rat expert known as “The Rat Lady” and was a consultant for makers of the movie “Ratatouille.” Short lives is the “down side of dear little ratties,” said Cathleen Schneider-Russell, a member of the association. “You have to enjoy every precious moment.”

Most fans will keep a small colony of rats, said Stephen Zawistowski, executive vice president and science adviser for ASPCA national programs based in New York. That does not mean one rat cannot be very special, said Jenna R Lillibridge, director of Any Rat Rescue in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her rat Aries is blind and the most affectionate rat she has ever had. “She loves people. She sleeps with me, sleeps on me. She will drape herself over my ankle or side or snuggle up to my neck,” said Lillibridge, whose organization was founded in 2004 and has placed 700 rats since.

Karen Robbins of Winnetka, near Los Angeles, is the rat

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October 2007 after the abuse allegations surfaced.

That was followed in November 2007 by a media conference that attracted widespread international coverage in which Winfrey said Mzamane had been fired, that she had ignored students’ complaints of verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and that she had required students to be “fearful and silent.”

“Simply put, the only reasonable inference to be drawn from the press conference was that Ms. Mzamane was let go because, at best, she disregarded claims of sexual abuse,” the suit said. Winfrey spent $40 million on the academically selective school, which opened in 2007 and was designed to provide high-quality education to top-performing students from poor families. —Reuters

In this Monday, Feb 8, 2010 file photo, Michael Jackson’s physician, Conrad Murray, arrives for his arraignment at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles. —AP (California Medical) Board take measures to protect the public from future harm.” Murray, a cardiologist who was

hired last May to care for Jackson as the entertainer prepared for a series of comeback concerts, has pleaded not guilty. He is free on $75,000 bail and faces four years in prison if convicted.

Murray has been the focus of a police probe since the Los Angeles coroner’s office ruled Jackson’s death was a homicide caused by propofol and the sedative lorazepam.

Toxicology tests following an autopsy also found painkillers, sedatives and a stimulant in Jackson’s body. Murray and his legal defense team have insisted he did nothing wrong, and Murray told police he was not the first doctor to give Jackson propofol to help him sleep.

Last month, a judge rejected a request by Los Angeles prosecutors to suspend Murray’s license but ordered him not to use anesthesia on his patients. Brown, a former California governor who announced on March 2 that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the governorship, has waged a campaign against doctors who overprescribe drugs. —Reuters

ting, Elton John, Lady Gaga and Dame Shirley Bassey will perform together at Carnegie Hall, as part of the semi-annual Rainforest Fund benefit concert on May 13. The event will mark the 21st birthday of the charitable organization founded by Sting and Trudie Styler to help protect and preserve the world’s threatened rainforest areas. The performers, plus additional surprise guests, will attend a live auction and gala dinner after the concert.

Styler, who is also the event’s producer, helped convince Gaga to take a break from her European arena tour to be a part of the unique performance.

“She’s such a great young woman,” Styler told Billboard in a phone interview. “It’s a winning combinationwe’re going to have a riotous time up there. Sting, Elton and Gaga will play together, and the boys will be performing with Dame Shirley, doing a great rendition of ‘Hey Big Spender.”“ Elton John and Lady Gaga first performed together on the Grammy Awards telecast earlier this year.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale in early April at the Carnegie Hall box

office, while information about the gala and a ticket order form can be downloaded at www.rainforestfoundationfund.org.

Over the past 21 years, the Rainforest Fund has raised more than $30 million for its efforts, which have expanded from the Amazonian rainforest in Brazil to include projects in 23 countries. The last Rainforest Fund concert, in 2008, featured Billy Joel, James Taylor, Sting, Brian Wilson, Chris Botti, Feist and Roberto Alagna.

The concerts, which have been held at Carnegie Hall for the past 15 years, have attracted such artists as Patti L aBelle, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, Lyle Lovett, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Stringsteen, Paul Simon, Whitney Houston, Lenny Kravitz and Luciano Pavarotti. “One of the things about this night,” Styler said, is that “the audience comes expecting to see unusual combinations of singers.

Because I’ve never recorded it, everyone lets their hair down. We raise a good amount of money for what I consider to be an incredibly important cause, but they have one heck of a night.”—Reuters

Goldberg star guest at AIDS charity Life Ball ollywood actress Whoopi Goldberg will be the guest of honor at Vienna’s glitzy AIDS charity Life Ball on July 17, organizer Gery Keszler announced yesterday.

The fashion-show-cum-party-event celebrates this year it’s 18th anniversary and has the honor of opening the World AIDS conference which will be held in the Austrian capital from July 18-23.

“I’ve admired (Goldberg) for years for her openness, her coolness and her humor,” Keszler told journalists Wednesday.

The US comedian follows a glamorous list of stars who have graced the red-ribbon catwalk at Vienna’s gothic city hall in recent years, from actresses

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Whoopi Goldberg

Sharon Stone and Eva Longoria-Parker to model Linda Evangelista and singers Elton John and Anastacia. Former US president Bill Clinton, whose foundation promotes AIDS work, will also take part in the charity event, Keszler said.

Last year, the Life Ball raised close to 1.5 million euros (two million dollars), which are each year distributed to various projects to combat the disease and help its victims. The 18th World AIDS conference in Vienna will bring together some 25,000 experts, health professionals and policy makers to discuss progress in fighting AIDS and look at ways to provide further prevention and treatment against the HIV virus which causes it. —AFP

Lady Gaga and Elton John

SPECTRUM

38

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Fashion

enim never goes out of style, but there are seasons when old, reliable five-pocket jeans simply are not enough. This is one of those seasons.

The jeans legging, aka jegging, still is going strong, and denim designers also are talking up the chambray shirt, asymmetrical motocross jackets, cutoff shorts and, still, the boyfriend pant. There are trouser styles and waistcoats for work, and, “rip-and-repair” jeans are a must for weekends.

Ralph Lauren had overalls on the runway and showed jeans under an evening gown. Even babies are getting premium denim. A denim-on-denim outfit, sometimes considered a fashion faux-pas in the past, is a bona fide trend. “The American denim look is everywhere-it’s in the air, it’s all over the world,” says Patrick Robinson, creative director at Gap. “The workwear feel is hot, especially for guys, and there’s a sexy look for women. ... It’s about cool Americans, and how they live, and we’re trying to export that around the world.” Denim is proving a strong springtime seller in stores, says Stephanie Solomon, vice president of fashion direction at Bloomingdale’s department store. She is fond particularly of the shorts and leggings paired with striped T-shirts.

“It probably has never had a larger impact on what we wear every day,” agrees Durand Guion, men’s fashion director for Macy’s department store. “We had gotten just about as casual as we can get without getting in our pajamas, so we’re looking to incorporate denim into our lives at least five days a week, but not just Saturdays.

We’re looking to step it up. You can wear a button-down denim shirt with a tie.” Helmut Lang co-creative director Nicole Colovos thinks people like that they can put their own spin on denim. And no pair of jeans looks the same on two different people. “It’s so individual, from how you wear it in, how you style it. The fit is molded to your shape,” Colovos says. “You don’t want someone else wearing your jeans.”

Finding the best fit is trial and error, she adds, but once consumers find a denim label they like, they tend to be loyal.

Denim leggings are not saggy and baggy, and that flattering, lasting shape is part of their appeal, says You Nguyen, Levi’s senior vice president of women’s merchandising and design. He says he cannot overemphasize the importance of the legging right now. It further evolves the skinny jean, which has moved from trendy to staple status, and it complements the tunic top and the slouchy blazer that are being promoted for spring.

“Our leggings business is on fire, at all price points and at all retailers,” Nguyen says. On the flip side, the boyfriend skinny jean-with a looser waist and hip but a narrower leg-remains popular. “I don’t believe that denim has ever really left the fashion ‘trend,’ but what we’re seeing now is that for a few seasons, denim was influencing sportswear, making sportswear more casual. Now sportswear is influencing denim,” Nguyen says. Look for lighter shades of denim as the weather warms, and a lot of distressed finishes, too, sometimes with purposeful patches. GStar collection stylist Remco De Nijs’ favorite denim fabric right now is the traditional Japanese selvage out of the brand’s new Raw Essentials collection. He says the fabric has a very authentic denim hand, which juxtaposes nicely with modern silhouettes,

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In this photo released by Macy’s is a DKNY shirt and denim design.

— AP photos

such as the company’s signature Arc Pant, which has a low-slung top and exaggerated tapered leg.

(Selvage denim, De Nijs explains, stands for the tape on the edges of the denim looms. Traditionally every brand had its own edge. That is how the manufacturer recognized the brand.) G-Star also has broadened its denim color palette from a dark raw denim to even some fabrics that forgo any indigo coloring at all.

Helmut Lang offers some denim items that have had the color stripped away and then added back for an irregular, imperfect look. “Three seasons ago, we were in the cycle of very dark denim,” observes Nguyen. “Now we’re going back to true nature of denim, which is denim aging down. You love a pair of jeans so much that you refuse to let it be worn out.”

Going forward into fall, though, trend analyst Tom Julian expects to see colored denim as well as patchwork. There also will be more players in denim next season: Proenza Schouler is collaborating with J Brand. One style will be made of Japanese stretch denim hand-painted all over to create texture and dimension.

“For fall 2010 we are exploring ideas closer to home,” say Proenza designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough in a statement.

“Urban elements are important as is the idea of uniforms. Denim fits the bill as the most ubiquitous item in most people’s wardrobe.” People who go for the allover denim look will need to wear a variety of weights and This photo washreleased by es, and Stetson, shows a try a shirt from their polished denim collecbottom tion. with a relaxed top or vice versa, advises Gap’s Robinson. It could be different shades of blue, blue with black or white.

For those reluctant to go head-to-toe, accents on bags, hats and sneakers allows for a more subtle secondary denim piece. Personally, Robinson says, he is really into the look of a chambray Western shirt with slim-leg jeans. “The attitude is happy and cool. I also love this time of year when you wear the denim jacket.” And it is about “the” denim jacket, not one of many. Denim, by its very nature as a rugged cotton twill, is strong, building for many years as it becomes weathered, sometimes even a little tattered, but very rarely truly worn out. “Denim tells a story,” says Colovos. “You know where you got that rip or grass stain. Denim lasts for a long time and sometimes it’s better with age.”

— AP

This photo released by babyGap shows a design from their babyGap denim collection.

This photo released by babyGap shows a denim jacket from their babyGap denim collection.

In this photo released by Macy’s is a Celebrity Pink Jeans Romper design.

The spring 2010 collection of Ralph Lauren is presented during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, in New York.

In this photo released by Macy’s is a Rampage denim pants design.

This photo released by Helmut Lang shows a design from their women’s denim collection.

In this photo released by Macy’s is a INC men’s knit shirt and denim design.

This photo released by Gap shows a patched jeans from their women’s denim collection.

39

SPECTRUM

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Fashion Photos released by Lilly Pulitzer, scarves design by Lilly Pulitzer are shown.

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Tracy Reese Peonies are also a favorite for Reese. She says she likes that they evolve from such a compact ball into lovely layers as they blossom. They’re also a welcome sign of sunny days ahead after a long winter, Reese adds. In her work, though, Reese does not restrict herself to springtime blooms. Many of her fall collections, including the one just previewed at New York Fashion Week, will incorporate florals. “It’s hard to point to a season where we haven’t used flowers for something-either shape, color, print,” she says. Florals are a staple of her own wardrobe, and she likes to mix them with other prints. “I’ll wear florals and plaid, a striped sweater and a floral-print skirt, but sometimes there’s nothing more beautiful than a spring garden dress.”

Shoshanna Lonstein Lonstein recently tossed the holiday narcissuses and moved on to cut gardenias and honeysuckle in the

Models display creations from the Yuma Koshino 2010/2011 Autumn and Winter collection, designed

by Yuma Koshino in Tokyo yesterday.—AFP

spirit of spring. Later in the season, the hydrangeas she planted will blossom; she loves having their cut flowers in the house. She also grows tomatoes, but is a killer of orchids. “I need to stick to the sturdier bushes,” she says. You will not find watercolor florals in her designs, either, but every collection has florals, including one Lily of the Valley print that was fashioned after her wedding bouquet. She says florals look chic and sophisticated when they are anchored with black or on tailored pieces. “You don’t want too much fabric,” she

color.” He turned to a brushstroke floral print for Talbots’ spring line, though, because he thought that approach was very optimistic, which the fashion world needs right now. But whatever the climate is for style trends, flowers always fit in, Smaldone says. “You can do everything with them. They can fit into any trend: ethnic, watercolor, Impressionistic, pop art-you name it.”

LeAnn Nealz, chief design officer of American Eagle Nealz says she loves white magnolias for their “intoxicating scent,” but ranunculus are her favorites because

done a lilac print for Lilly Pulitzer, but a shade of lavender was just added to the label’s palette so it probably will not be long before she tries one. “Every spring is a floral bonanza for us,” Schoenborn says. “We don’t always do an exact replica of a flower. Right now we have an abstract orchid. There’s a Queen Anne’s lace that we hadn’t done but will have for summer. ... We don’t discriminate against any flowers, but we like ‘pretty’ so no cactuses, but we’ll even do lemon and lime blossoms.”

File photo shows model wears fashion from the Tracy Reese spring 2010 collection.

Photos released by Carmen Marc Valvo show a Spring/ Summer 2004 flower-themed design by Carmen Marc Valvo during Fashion Week in New York, September 2003. — AP advises. “Try sleeveless or the top part of dress that’s floral with a black skirt or vice versa. If you pull one color out of the print and stick with it for the rest of the outfit, you’ll have a nice balance.”

Michael Smaldone, creative director at Talbots “I’m a pink guy, but my favorite flower is an orange poppy,” says Smaldone. “I love how they’re both wild, with ugly leaves and hairy stems, and have a beautiful delicate flower.” His thumb is pretty green, he says. “I like to get as tropical as I can in a nontropical location. My garden is very green, organic and has things with big leaves.

There are poppies all over the place to give a burst of

they are so cheerful. “They look like they’re made of hundreds of layers of brightly colored paper,” Neelz said.

Nealz interpreted sweet, small florals for spring onto a flirty daytime skirt as well as a day-to-night minidress. She used a more tropical flower for menswear on board shorts. Janie Schoenborn, Lilly Pulitzer design director Coming from a long line of gardeners-her father has a degree in landscape design, mom has a traditional English garden and Aunt Molly’s specialty is tropicals Schoenborn is trying to keep up the tradition with lilacs and syringas. So far, she has not

Motonari Ono

long with crocuses and daffodils comes another surefire sign of spring: florals in fashion. The garden-party look is a seasonal classic, but there has been some updating this season. Look for artistic, almost abstract, brushstroke technique, or realistic, photo-style prints. Other twists include tulip-style hemlines and fabric petals adorning fashion from tank tops to ball gowns.

Flowers, say designers, are an endless source of inspiration because of their delicacy, femininity and beauty. It turns out that many fashion insiders are gardeners (or aspiring gardeners), too. The AP asked designers who are offering florals in their spring collections about their favorite flowers: Carmen Marc Valvo Flowers creep into his clothes all the time, but there have been two specific flower-themed runway shows. One came after his treatment for cancer six years ago. He saw the rebirth of his peony trees as a hopeful sign, so he used pinks, chiffon petals and “dewdrops” of crystals. A few years later he blew up Georgia O’Keefe-style flowers as prints. “I was fixated by the way petals moved and I started playing with organza like an origami rose,” Valvo says. The highlights of Valvo’s actual garden include the Carmen rose and his peonies. Those peonies have taken him on a roller coaster of growing, thriving, shriveling up and once again blossoming. His orchids are also finicky, but Valvo now has a greenhouse for them. “When they come back, it’s very satisfying.”

Peter Som Som is yet another peony fan, and he also has a thing for green roses. There are some orchids in his house right now that he is trying to revive, but it’s not going all that well. “I wish I had a green thumb.” His spring collection had an underlying vibe of Japanese woodcuts, and he found that all sorts of floral prints worked with it.

The range included big-scale flowers to 1940sinspired painterly blooms. “A flower is eternally beautiful,” Som says, “and it really screams spring.”—AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

How to navigate the wide world of meatballs hey have been around for ages and can be found across numerous cultures, but they have earned their English name only in recent times and in the United States. As food historians can tell, the term “meatball” is fairly new, most likely created in melting pot America to refer to the classic Italian-American version so often tucked into gooey submarine sandwiches, slathered in red sauce and spooned over noodles, or bobbing in soup.

“I can tell you that the idea is a lot older than the word,” said food historian Anne Mendelson. “Before about the early 1920s, you would have had a hard time finding ‘meatballs’ in an American cookbook, and the first entries were ‘Swedish meatballs.’

It took another 20-some years for ‘spaghetti and meatballs’ to start showing up regularly in cookbooks.”

Balls of meat are at least as old as written recipes, however, with references to the idea dating back to Apicius, a collection of Roman recipes regarded as the first cookbook, said Ken Albala, a food historian at the University of the Pacific in California. “The real obsession comes in the Middle Ages,” he said. “They have an obsession with pounding meat,” which he says was a way to make tough and less desirable cuts of meat more palatable.

The world of meatballs is broad and illdefined. “The only thing that makes this a category of analysis is that [the meat] sticks together,” Albala said. “It would defy logic, but I guess it has to have meat. You wouldn’t call a falafel a meatball, or a doughnut a meatball.” Ready to brush up on the meatball basics? Here is a primer to 10 from around the globe:

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• Polpette: Roughly translated from Italian into something pounded, this meatball is native to southern Italy and typically made with a mix of ground meat, spices, lemon zest and bread crumbs, Albala said. It is the ancestor to the American meatball, minus the sauce and spaghetti.

• Kibbeh: Native to the Middle East, the mix of this fried or baked torpedo-shaped meatball varies by country, but typically consists of a bulgur and meat shell with a stuffing of ground lamb, beef or chicken.

• Albondigas: Spanish for meatball, these bite-sized balls are native to Spain, but show up in Latin cultures around the world where spices, sauces and meats differ from its cousin the polpette.

• Kotbulle: A 1960s party classic, the Swedish meatball is made with beef, cream and soaked white bread, Albala said. It is smaller and denser than other varieties and typically is roasted or fried, then served as an appetizer or over noodles.

• Klopse: Named for the former German city of Konigsberg (now Russian Kaliningrad), this German meatball has a base of ground beef, veal, onions, bread crumbs and eggs, and is poached, then served with a white cream sauce.

• Frikadeller: Similar to the Swedish version, this Danish meatball starts round but is flattened a bit when pan-fried.

• Kofta: The generic name used for meatballs from India to the Middle East and North Africa. Kofta typically are spicy and often contain eggs, nuts and cheese, and can come in seafood or vegetarian versions.

• Keftedes: Greek meatballs that usually contain lamb, parsley, thyme and mustard seeds.

While the name meatball may not have appeared in American cookbooks until about a century ago, the popular food goes back at least to Apicius, a collection Roman recipes that is regarded as the first cookbook. —AP

Hundreds of Hindu girls aged below 12 years are being worshipped as Kumari, or virgin goddess, in front of an idol of goddess Basanti during celebrations of Ram Navami in Calcutta, India, yesterday. —AP

Swiss collector’s anti-bling crusade for endangered peoples fter decades spent amassing the world’s top private collection of tribal arts, Swiss collector Jean-Paul Barbier-Mueller is switching his sights-crusading to save the heritage of little-known peoples across the globe. “I’m shedding my identity as a collector of beautiful objects to become a gourmet of beautiful legends and beautiful souls,” said the dapper Dior-clad 80-year-old in his morethan-swish Paris apartment with view over the Trocadero gardens and Eiffel tower.

Very wealthy Barbier-Mueller, who eats and sleeps amid Picassos and Cezannes as well as priceless African and Oceanic pieces, and has two museums in his name in Barcelona and Geneva, this week launches an ethnographic foundation that will chart for posterity the ways of life of endangered peoples worldwide. “This is an anti bling-bling foundation, it’s not Indiana Jones,” he told AFP. “We’re not out to seek emerald statuettes

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hidden in caves in the Andes.

“We’re going to collect the memory, the myths, the ancestral stories of very tiny groups of 10, 12 villages who are being absorbed by bigger more brilliant ethnic groups, the groups who produce the masks and statues I collected for 33 years.”

Born into a middle-of-thespoon Swiss family, BarbierMueller was an early collector, gathering fossils as a child and later amassing old books, in particular 16th-century French and Italian poets. Then at 22 when still simply named Barbier, he met and wooed Monique Mueller, daughter of renowned collector Josef Mueller, who along with early 19th-century Picassos, Legers and Braques also picked up antique African pieces.

“Their house was unbelievable, covered in oils from leading artists, but what really caught my eye were the African objects,” said Mueller, who after successful careers in finance and real estate built up the 2,000-piece collection

This photo taken on May 8, 2008 shows Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller of Switzerland posing with some of his collection in Geneva. —AFP inherited from his father-in-law to a 7,000-piece treasure-trove encompassing Oceanic art as well as other “primitive” schools.

‘We focused too much on objects’ “I call it traditional art,” he said, referring to discord over the

Matisse’s ‘aha’ moment subject of US museum show is artistic career spanned six decades, but curators of the museum show “Henri Matisse: Radical Invention” have focused on the years from 1913 to 1917 when he created what he termed his “most important pictures.” “It’s an amazing moment when Matisse, the master of color, tones down the color and pays attention to form,” said Stephanie D’Alessandro, curator at the Art Institute of Chicago. “Radical Invention” will make only two stops: Now through June 20 at the Art Institute of Chicago, and July 18 to October 11 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

The pared-down exhibition is smaller than blockbusters of the recent past. But its 117 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures plucked from museums and private collections across the globe exhilarated early crowds in Chicago. The exhibition’s centerpiece is the Art Institute’s own monumental “Bathers by a River” that Matisse once said was his most important painting and one that he revised repeatedly.

Over the last four years, curators have used X-rays and other techniques to examine the work’s under-painting, seeing how it evolved from a naturalistic scene to a Cubist work more reminiscent of Picasso’s seminal “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” of 1907, with less influence from Matisse’s beloved Cezanne. “He was a controversial, fully established, artist” in 1913 when he began “Bathers,” MoMA curator John Elderfield said.

Matisse had been recognized for the explosive colors he employed as a Fauve

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artist, which preceded his epiphanies with Cubist abstraction.

“The acclaim the Cubists were getting annoyed him, made him jealous. He was able to set this aside ... he recognized that it was something he had to deal with,” Elderfield said. By no means did Matisse scrap everything in his bow to Cubism. Bright blues and reds burst forth in “Flowers and Ceramic Plate” from 1913, in which the plate floats hauntingly like a blue-green moon above flowers spilling out of a pot.

He employed the back of his brush to incise his canvasses, scraping white, blade-like arcs into “Portrait of Yvonne Landsberg” that gives her a vaguely threatening aspect. The subject of some canvasses are unrecognizable, if not for titles such as “Shaft of Sunlight, the Woods of Trivaux.” His paintings seemed to expand even as the subject matter narrowed, D’Alessandro said. “We see Matisse in a period of unbridled experimentation,” she said. “It shows Matisse hungrily tasting an avant-garde style.”

Like Picasso, Matisse could define beauty with a single drawn line, seen in numerous drawings and prints in the show. At the same time, he was also reworking paintings like “Portrait of Olga Merson” over and over, adding layer upon layer of paint to create perspective.

Matisse moved back and forth between painting and sculpture finding it refreshing-and his layering of paint mirrored how he added chunks of clay to life-sized casts for bronze bas-relief sculptures of anonymous figures’ backs, which also appear in the exhibition. —Reuters

use of terms such as “primitive” or “tribal” to refer to such works.

An extremely chatty charmer whose Andy Warhol portraits of him hang in the meticulously tidy flat-his wife has her own because she is “too bohemian”-BarbierMueller said of his collection of

museum pieces: “We focused too much on objects.”

“Because of my aesthetic sense I only looked at beautiful girls”, he added laughingly, referring to works from well-known ancient civilizations, many of which he has donated or sold to leading museums such as Paris’ Louvre and Quai Branly. “But there are others that may be less beautiful but much more intelligent, or who are in the shadows and who must be sought out so we know what they have to tell us before they die.”

According to the polyglot who speaks four languages and reads another four, including Latin and ancient Greek, there are at least 14 endangered peoples in Africa, four in India, three or four in Russia, two or three in Asia, and others in China, Central America and the Amazon. Backed by the head of Swiss watch firm Vacheron Constantin, Juan-Carlos Torres, his new ethnology project will fund two ethnological studies a year on such communities in

peril, with the studies followed up by books and conferences on each.

A first such work will look at the little-known Gan people of Burkina Faso and their funeral rites, the second to the animist Wan people of Cote d’Ivoire. The third study will touch on the Shamanic nomads of Siberia, the Nenets.

The scientific committee of the Fondation Culturelle Musee Barbier-Mueller includes Harvard’s Suzanne Preston Blier, the British Museum’s Jonathan King and Steven Hooper of East Anglia University, Robyn Maxwell of Australia’s National Gallery and Anne-Marie Bouttiaux of Belgium’s specialist African museum. “We aim to cover the entire globe,” Mueller said. “Who knows, we might discover a myth about the origin of the world as beautiful as the Iliad.” “I even hope to research a Swiss valley where they dance in masks at the New Year to chase away the devil,” he added. —AFP

Thai villagers hang their birds up as they gather for a bird-singing contest in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat yesterday. Thousands of bird owners from Thailand and neighboring Malaysia took part in the oneday bird-singing contest. —AFP

Belgian author wins Astrid Lindgren p elgian illustrator and author Kitty Crowther has won the 2010 Astrid Lindgren Memorial award, named after the Swedish creator of Pippi Longstocking, the fund that awards the prize said yesterday. The jury described the children’s author as “the master of the line but also of the atmosphere,” praising the sympathy and intense empathy she shows her fictional characters. “She’s a traditional

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This undated handout photo montage provided yesterday shows Belgian illustrator and author Kitty Crowther in an undisclosed location. — AFP storyteller,” Larry Lempert, who heads the jury, told AFP,

adding “it’s her way of telling that takes people between imagination and reality.”

Lempert described Crowther as first and foremost an illustrator and then an author, praising her use of simple materials and tools to illustrate books.

“In Kitty Crowther we found an artist and storyteller strong in her humanity and sympathy... she follows the weak, she shows ways of life,” he said. —AFP