17 Feb

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Israel claims Iran warships to transit Suez for Syria

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Hezb warns Israel it will avenge slain commander

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RABI ALAWAL 14, 1432 AH

Rapper Tinie Tempah is big winner at Brit Awards

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Arsenal stage late fightback to stun Barca 2-1

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Maliki seeks to boost relations with Kuwait Iraqi premier vows to tackle all outstanding issues

By Nisreen Zahreddine and Agencies

from the editor’s desk

KUWAIT: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki arrived in Kuwait yesterday for a one-day official visit to focus on boosting economic and political ties between the two Arab neighbours. Maliki also met HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and held official talks with his counterpart HH Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah. Ahead of the visit Kuwait’s State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan said talks will discuss ways of boosting “economic and trade ties and other issues of concern between the two countries”.

The visit is Maliki’s first to Kuwait after his re-election to the post and after a Kuwaiti premier ground-breaking trip to Baghdad in January, the first by a Kuwaiti premier since the Iraqi troops invaded the state in 1990.

The two Arab nations still have a number of outstanding issues related to the Iraqi occupation to resolve including multi-billion-dollar war reparations, debt and demarcation of land and maritime borders. Iraq still owes Kuwait more than $20 billion in compensation for Saddam Hussein’s invasion of the emirate and Baghdad has repeatedly called for a solution to this issue. Kuwait has also demanded the return of its stolen property and remains of hundreds of citizens who went missing during the Iraqi occupation.

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Let’s open a new page

By Abd Al-Rahman Alyan

opinion@kuwaittimes.net

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he Iraqi Embassy held a reception in honor of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki who arrived on a one-day visit to Kuwait yesterday. It was pleasing to see how friendly the atmosphere was among Kuwaitis and Iraqis which brought back memories of the brotherly relationship the two countries had prior to Saddam’s atrocities against Kuwait.

Of course there are still many issues that remain unsolved between Kuwait and Iraq, which can prove to be tricky if there is any ambiguity between the two states. However, the speech that Al-Maliki gave at the Sheraton Hotel yesterday demonstrated his government’s determination to erase any feeling of ambiguity between the two nations. The subjects he touched on were pleasing to any Kuwaiti as he shared the sorrow of Kuwaiti families who lost many loved ones during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. “What can you expect from a dictator who betrayed his family? What can you expect from a dictator who betrayed his own nation?” asked Al-Maliki, describing Saddam’s atrocities.

The words of the Iraqi prime minister were warmly applauded by both Kuwaitis and Iraqis who attended the reception. A brotherly relationship between the two neighboring nations is vital and mutually beneficial for both Kuwaitis and Iraqis. To regain the strength that relationship enjoyed, it is important for Iraqis to show the determination that Al-Maliki showed yesterday and for us Kuwaitis to keep in mind that Saddam’s regime had victimized the Iraqi people too and in one way or another, they share with us the same sorrow.

The two countries have taken great steps towards better relationships on both diplomatic and social levels and the efforts of the Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Ulum are duly noted in Kuwait.

MPs call for 100% hike in salaries Make Iraq pay: MP

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (right) is seen with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri AlMaliki (left) and other guests at a lunch banquet hosted by Kuwait City Governor Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at the Azayiz farm in Abdali yesterday. — KUNA (See Pages 4 & 14)

Unrest spreads to Libya cities CAIRO: Egypt-inspired unrest spread against Libya’s longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi yesterday, with riot police clashing with protesters in the second-largest city of Benghazi and marchers setting fire to security headquarters and a police station in the city of Zentan, witnesses said. Gaddafi’s government sought to allay further unrest by proposing the doubling of government employees’ salaries and releasing 110 suspected Islamist militants who oppose him - tactics similar to those used by other Arab regimes in the recent wave of protests.

Activists using Facebook and Twitter have called for nationwide demonstrations today to demand the ouster of Gaddafi, establishment of a constitution and comprehensive political and economic reforms. Gaddafi came to power in 1969 through a military coup and has ruled the country without an elected parliament or constitution. The Benghazi protest began Tuesday and lasted until around 4 am yesterday. It was triggered by the arrest of an activist but quickly took on an anti-government tone, according to witnesses and other activists.

The protest was relatively small, but it signaled that anti-government activists have been emboldened by uprisings elsewhere.

It started at the local security headquarters after troops raided the home of rights advocate Fathi Tarbel and took him away, according to Switzerland-based activist Fathi Al-Warfali. Tarbel was released after meeting with security official Abdullah Al-Sanousi, but the protesters proceeded to march through the coastal city to the main downtown plaza, he said. Families of other prisoners marched to security headquarters to protest the detention of Tarbel and another activist, writer Idris Continued on Page 14

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MANAMA: Hundreds of Bahraini protesters shout slogans yesterday as they attend the funeral of a Shiite protester who was shot dead in front of a hospital a day earlier. — AFP

Protesters’ deaths fuel Bahrain anger MANAMA: Protesters in Bahrain, emboldened by revolts that have toppled Arab rulers in Tunisia and Egypt, poured into the centre of the capital yesterday to mourn a demonstrator killed in clashes with security forces. A crowd estimated at more than 1,000 people joined a winding Shiite funeral procession for the man, shot dead on Tuesday when fighting broke out at the burial of another protester. Around 2,000 others were camped out at a junction in the centre of the Gulf island king-

dom’s capital, hoping to emulate the rallies on Cairo’s Tahrir Square. They demanded a change of government in Bahrain, where a Sunni family rules over a Shiite majority.

The protests, in their third day, are some of the most serious since widespread Shiite unrest in the 1990s, and appear to be driven by familiar complaints of economic hardship, lack of political freedom and sectarian discrimination.

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KUWAIT: MP Khaled Al-Adwah yesterday called on the government to increase the basic pay of government employees by 100 percent to be able to meet an increase in the cost of living and a rise in the price of food products. MP Saleh Ashour also said in another proposal that it was high time to increase the salaries of the country’s civil servants to help them cope with increases in prices. The new calls came as the supreme defense council late Tuesday night approved raising the basic salaries of servicemen in the army, the police force, national guards and the fire department by between 70 percent and 115 percent depending on the current pay. The Cabinet is expected to approve the defense council’s decision next week.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

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Strong US-Kuwait relations allow serious talks on development plan Ambassador holds press roundtable KUWAIT: The relationship between Kuwait and the US is unique in terms of its strategic importance in addition to other aspects which allow Washington to promote and support Kuwait's KD 37 billion five-year plan for development, said US Ambassador to Kuwait Deborah K. Jones here yesterday. During a press roundtable at the US Embassy here on the occasion of Kuwait's 50th Anniversary of Independence, 20th Liberation Day, and Fifth year of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's rule, Ambassador Jones said that the US Embassy would like to share Kuwait's joy of its national celebrations, holding events to showcase the strong bilateral relations.

In response to a question on how the US could contribute to the development plan, the US diplomat indicated that a partnership

could be found between Kuwait's plan and President Barack Obama's export initiative launched earlier in 2011, adding that she had gone back to the US in October 2010 to encourage companies and institutions to work with the Kuwaiti government and private sector on that matter.

Ambassador Jones noted that "we've been working very hard as a mission to try to encourage and publicize the plan and the opportunities that it has particularly in the infrastructure areas with Boubyan and others in the healthcare fields ... in the environmental areas and trying to encourage American companies to take a good look at coming and playing a role," adding that US also discussed with the Kuwaiti government means to "facilitate" procedures to allow such companies to be involved. Ambassador Jones called on the

Kuwaitis to also work on "one-stop-shop" steps via the internet and other outlets to allow other nations to know about the ambitious plan, saying that such subject was discussed during her meetings with Kuwaiti officials. On the subject of releasing the Kuwaiti Guantanamo Bay detainees, Fayez AlKhanderi and Fawzi Al-Oudah, Ambassador Jones said that "It's a very delicate subject. It's of great concern to both our countries. It's obviously one where there has been an ongoing conversation and dialogue about how we can establish the conditions that would make that possible," adding that the Kuwaitis were continuing to put the subject on the table of discussions. In regards to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's visit to Kuwait, Ambassador Jones indicated that it was a great thing that an Iraqi official was coming to

Op-Ed

Freedom to connect ust over a year ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a global commitment to Internet Freedom. Based on the universal human rights framework, Internet Freedom - or as Secretary Clinton deemed the freedom to connect - applies the freedoms of assembly, expression and association to cyberspace. Today, as we look around at world events, this commitment is more important than ever. By preserving these rights in the digital era, we preserve the promise and the possibility of the Internet as a platform for ideas, innovation, connection, and economic growth.

Against the backdrop of Egypt and the largest internet shutdown of our time, we have heard numerous calls to honor the freedom to connect, in particular to seek and share information over the internet, from President Obama and Secretary Clinton and leaders around the world.

The Internet has become the public sphere of the 21st century-it is the global town square, the virtual diwaniya.

The kind of peaceful civic activism we have seen in Tahrir Square or in Tunis over the course of the past weeks occurs increasingly on the Internet in parallel and in coordination with rallies in the streets. People around the world come together every day on the Internet to

By Deborah K Jones connect to one another, samUS Ambassador to Kuwait ple a universe of news and information, or make their voices heard.

And through this discourse, be it online or in person, new dimensions of debates that we have been having for centuries re-emerge: how best to govern, administer justice, pursue prosperity, and create the conditions for long-term progress, both within and across borders. The connectivity that the digital age fosters has only added new urgency to how we reconcile these age-old issues. The choices governments make today will determine the face of the Internet in the future and they will not be easily made. The choices we face are familiar, but the space in which we confront them is not. How do we protect: liberty and security? Transparency and confidentiality?

Freedom of expression while fostering tolerance and harmony?

First, too often liberty and security are seen as mutually exclusive, but we must have both to have either, both online and offline. We are reminded daily of both the promise and the peril of the information age. We must have enough security to enable our freedoms, but not so much as to endanger them. In the balance between liberty and security, the fulcrum is the rule of law. Our allegiance to it does not vanish in cyberspace. Neither does our commitment to civil liberties. The United States is equally determined to track and stop terrorists and criminal activity online and offline. In both spheres, we pursue this goal in accordance with our values. It is no secret that "security" is often invoked as a justification for harsh crackdowns on Internet freedom. Governments that arrest

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bloggers, pry into the peaceful activities of their citizens, and limit or close off access to information under the guise of maintaining security are fooling no one. Silencing ideas does not make them go away.

Second, we must protect both transparency and confidentiality. Transparency is critical. We can and should give citizens information about their governments and open the doors to commerce historically closed off to most people. But confidentiality is also paramount. It protects the ability of organizations and governments to carry out their missions and best serve the public interest.

Governments do have a higher standard to meet when invoking confidentiality, because they serve the public. But all governments require some degree of confidentiality when dealing with matters such as public safety and national security. For example, it would not be sensible to publish on the Internet details of sensitive negotiations between countries on how to locate and dispose of nuclear materials or how to combat the violence of drug cartels.

Third, we must seek to protect free expression while at the same time fostering tolerance. Just like a town square, the internet is home to every kind of speech: false, offensive, constructive and innovative.

With an online population of more than 2 billion people that is rapidly growing, the varied nature of speech online will only proliferate. There is no question, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all people have the right to freedom of expression. The challenge is to fulfill a commitment to freedom of expression online while emphasizing the importance of harnessing the capacity of the Internet to advance tolerance and peace. We believe the best way to do this is to promote more speech not to limit it. Exposing and challenging offensive speech, rather than suppressing it, allows for public scrutiny and response. In the marketplace of ideas, those ideas with merit will become stronger and those without merit will in time fade away.

Through Internet freedom, we have the rare opportunity to tie together a human rights issue with our aspirations for mutual economic prosperity. The principles of Internet freedom are rooted in the openness of the platform so that the Internet can remain an engine of ideas, innovation, and economic growth.

Open markets for new products and services catalyze entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. We have seen investment and innovation in the global Internet marketplace flow to those nations that seek to make openness the hallmark of their Internet policy. In Kuwait, the vibrancy of the internet and new media represent an electronic extension of the country's long standing and distinguished tradition of people from all walks of life coming together in diwaniyas to discuss political, economic and social issues in an informal setting, resulting in one of the most active and open civil societies and media environments in the region. As we move forward and the universal town square of the Internet continues to flourish, we are confident that we can protect and advance the principles of liberty and security; transparency and confidentiality; and free speech and tolerance. Together they comprise the foundation of a free and open internet.

Visit visas ban KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Immigration has issued verbal instructions to all immigration offices banning the issuance of visit visas to nationals from Egypt, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Jordan and Lebanon.

Officials ,however, have stated that the General Director of Immigration Lt General Kamel AlAwadhi has not issued a written instruction on this matter, reported AlAnba.

Meanwhile, General Ghazi Al-Omar Undersecretary Ministry of Interior has cut his leave short and returned to work immediately. This move was adopted in the run up to national day celebrations.

Kuwait on a "bilateral status" and especially during Kuwait's celebrations, affirming that such visit said a lot about how both governments were willing to handle subjects that caused friction in the past.

She said that it was time for both Kuwait and Iraq to benefit each other on all possible domains. Kuwaiti-US relations date back to the early 1900s with the mission of the American Hospital providing medical care for people living in Kuwait. According to the US Embassy, the volume of trade between the two countries had recovered since the global economic crisis in 2008, pointing out that the US exports to Kuwait were almost at $2.6 billion, an increase of 50 percent since 2009.

Kuwait's exports to the US had also recovered, reaching $5 billion, 60 percent higher than numbers in 2009. — KUNA

Dusty weather to continue KUWAIT: It is expected that temperature in Kuwait would rise today, a public holiday marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), as well as on Friday, while wind is expected to be south-easterly then turn north-westerly and cause fine dust. Meteorologist Adel Al-Marzouq said the first of March is to witness a Sun/Venus conjunction, and the phenomenon is going to be easy to observe.

MPs call for ban on magic shows KUWAIT: A number of MPs have asked the government to stop a planned magic show that will be held at a local facility as part of the ongoing Hala February festival. They believe that such shows promote sorcery and witchcraft "that violates Islamic Sharia and the traditional beliefs of Kuwaiti society. " The Touristic Enterprises Company's ( TEC) Ice Skating Rink announced that a magic show will be held on Feb 22, as part of the programs organized for the facility during the annual February festival. It also includes musical concerts. On that regard, at least two lawmakers urged the government to take action against the company which sponsors the show. "[Magic shows] contain things that clearly violate the Sharia teachings which forbid sorcery and witchcraft," said MP Khalid Al-Sultan, who insisted that this practice is 'unusual' in Kuwaiti society, and that the government "must stop the organizing company before they go ahead with their plan." He also asked the event's promoters to be held accountable, reported Al-Qabas. In the meantime, fellow Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef issued a warning to the government should they fail to stop a planned magic show for the 22nd, mentioning its 'serious impact' on Kuwaiti society. He then called the Interior Minister "who is known for his strict stance against sorcery" to stop "those dangerous acts," and urged the Information Minister to hold accountable those who licensed the show. Also, MP Adel Al-Saraawi questioned "why can't national events be celebrated without violating the law and the Sharia teachings?," while MP Dr Daifallah Buramia criticized organizing shows "that violate the Islamic teachings and public morals" as well as "allowing magicians to enter the country under the pretext of entertaining citizens." Likewise, MP Ali Al-Omair urged the media "not to promote such shows that violate the Islamic Sharia."

KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Gen Sulaiman Al-Fahad along with Assistant Undersecretary for Operations Affairs Lt General Dr Mustafa Al-Zaabi and a number of security leaders watched the practice session of a military parade that was held yesterday at Saad Al-Abdullah Academy Square, in a run up to the National and Liberation Day anniversaries.

Kuwaiti security personnel for schools KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education will hire Kuwaiti security personnel to safeguard public schools starting 2011/2012 academic year, announced the managing director of the ministry's Public Services Department.

In a statement made recently to the press, Waleed Al-Ghaith said that a coordination is being achieved with the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program to hire 780 male and female Kuwaiti security personnel. They will be appointed to public schools at Jahra, Farwaniya, Hawally and the Capital educational zones with a basic salary of KD 250, added that social and national manpower support bonuses that range between KD 250 and KD 350 will also be paid.

Applicants should provide clear medical

and criminal records, and a high school degree as the minimum academic standard. Applicants must also be between 25 and 40 years of age, Al-Ghaith explained, reported Al-Qabas.

The security personnel's duties will include ensuring that no student or staff member exits the school during class hours without seeking permission, likewise, people will be banned from sitting at campuses without a real purpose.

Furthermore, officers have been instructed to close the school's main gate at the start of the day, in addition to preventing roaming vendors from working outside schools. The officers have also been instructed to respond to traffic accidents which take place near schools by coordinating with the school's manage-

Workers’ protests to cause severe losses KUWAIT: A local labor union has announced that the protests staged by national workers will have a negative impact on ministries' work flow, and subsequently, the quality of services rendered by citizens will suffer. However, they believe that workers have no other choice but protest since the Civil Service Commission consistently ignores their demands.

A press release issued by Kuwait's Trade Union Federation claims that the CSC does not heed calls to hold joint meetings so that public sector employees' demands that pertain with financial allowances can

be discussed, reported Al-Qabas.

"Labor unions have been working for a long time to collect demands that are considered necessary by staff members. This is so as to cope with job requirements to maintain best quality service," Fayez AlMutairi, Chairman of KTUF was quoted as saying. Furthermore, Al-Mutairi added that the CSC's regulations should be amended in order to make it more compatible with global economic changes, "and should not be taken as a reason to ignore demands of public sector employees which have been thoroughly studied."

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Arab Student Aid International celebrates 35th anniversary, thousands graduate ‘Seek education from the moment you are born’

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The Arab Student Aid International (ASAI), a non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization, is currently celebrating its 35 year anniversary. ASAI was originally founded in Kuwait, but is now headquartered in the United States. ASAI’s mission is to effectively contribute to the enhancement of university graduates at the doctorate and masters level, especially in the fields that foster socio-economic, cultural unity of the Arab countries in which they live. Speaking with the Kuwait Times, Professor Dr Ishaq Al-Qutub, current ASAI President, said that the educational foundation believes that it is are part of the process of building human resources and the development of highly specialized and qualified scholars with the objective of enhancing social, economic and peace progress, “Seek education from the moment you are born till your last breath,—a famous proverb from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that we have tried to apply from day one. Generations to come will benefit from it,” Al-Qutub said. He also shared the organizations’ mission, objectives and achievements.

“The idea of creating a fund for Arab students was actually put forward in 1976. There are many unprivileged students, especially from Arab expatriate communities here . During those years, they were unable to enroll into university because of a lack of financial funding. Besides, there were restrictions, a limited number of students are allowed to enter university. They are left without higher education, even though they are quite brilliant young Arab people. So to address this issue, some businessmen and academicians subsequently organized a meeting on how they can change the trend, and therefore, help brilliant students enroll into universities,” he narrated. The first meeting, according to Dr Al-Qutub was successfully held in Kuwait. “We were able to raise a US $60,000 fund. At that time, 1976, it was a huge amount, were able to start our plan for the possible creation of education foundation/institution which will assist unprivileged but brilliant Arab students. Businessmen during those years were very education-oriented people, they are ready to spend money so as to help or benefit from students when they graduated,” he continued. The board of trustees were created from the businessmen and academicians who attended the first meeting, Al-Qutub said. “They are very supportive with the organizations’ plan and objectives and they act as the conscience of the group’s success,” he noted.

The first mission of ASAI is primarily related to human resource development. Being an educational foundation dedicated to helping Arab students, they had implemented a very high criteria for selecting recipients, “We want to sponsor students who are bright and really academically outstanding; at least with a B+ average. We only accept students who are at an economically disadvantage in the sense they are financially low and could not provide for university studies. If they passed the criteria, we, as an educational aid founda-

Prof Dr Ishaq Al-Qutub

tion, shall finance studies whether at home country or abroad,” he said. ASAI only assists and focuses their education aid to deserving students, “We provide interestfree loans to Arab students in order to allow them to continue their dream of pursuing university education.”

They can use ASAI money, free of interest to finance their studies until their program is completed. We will give them five years to pay educational loans after they graduate,” he added. According to Al-Qutub, ASAI can sponsor and finance education for socially and economically needed professions at their home country of origin regardless of whether the fields are applied, medical sciences, various disciplines of engineering and applied technology.

ASAI also selects the countries and colleges/universities that their students could fit-in. “It is included in the criteria; we don’t just let them select colleges and universities of their own, we want them to study in the most suitable universities in the world. It must be a high-standard college/university. It must be accredited and have good facilities to delivering academic studies,” he reiterated. ASAI, a non-political and an independent organization, does not want to be influenced by any Arab country. It is run by several competent board of trustees, assisted by a number of executive committees, the ASAI president and staff members. “Why are we successful? Because we do not allow anybody to be influenced by any Arab governments/agencies/units. There are people whose support and love for education are genuine and they trust us greatly. Like for example in 1982, HH Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, became the chairman of the board of trustees. Him, and the other member of trustees, believe in our mission. He has contributed a lot too , especially believing in long-term and short term objectives of ASAI,” he said.

As years progressed, according to Al-Qutub, they have already established board of trustees in Palestine and Jordan. They are also planning to create same [board of trustees] in Lebanon and Egypt to gather solid support from individual and academic institutions in each and every Arab state, “The Board of Trustees are people that help us deliver our mission and ASAI expansion programs. The Board of Trustees also help us strengthen our relations with educational institutions in Arab countries. They provide us with advisory and even financial support to help invest in human resource development under ASAI concept. The idea of supporting students to study overseas is, to transfer the technology and knowledge. We know that the transfer of technology requires brilliant students. We also want them to return to their own country after they complete their education,” he added.

Before gaining admission, Arab students have signed three documents that will allow them to start the program. “They have to sign one - document that promises to perform well at the university and maintain a B+ average, second - return to their home country after graduation, third - a document promising to repay interest free loans five years after graduation. The student must agree to repay the loan within five years after graduation. This is in order to enable new students to benefit from it. In short, we will reroute the fund. When students complete studies, they should repay,” he explained.

In order to guarantee repayment, the ASAI requires students to provide at least two guarantors that will shoulder expenses the moment students do not fulfill or abide by the agreement. The ASAI Qutub said, spent more than 31 million US dollars since inception and have graduated more than 7,500 students. A majority of them enrolled into universities in the US, Europe and Far Eastern countries. Most ASAI students were refugees from Gaza and West Bank. There are significant numbers of students from Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Sudan, “We want them to realize that repayment is such an important duty for one scholar to continue our work. Without ASAI support, probably they cannot pursue their studies, so it is a must to help other students, once they graduate. We want to develop a kind of relationship with ASAI students. We treat them as associates. We are very proud that our graduates now occupy the highest positions in private and government offices.

Besides scholarship loans, ASAI has also developed programs [parallel to education) to train instructors in order to build human capacity and empower decision and policy makers of NGO’s in various fields and places/areas, “We were able to provide training courses to NGO’s in Jordan, West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria. Each training course cost $2,500, covering total expenses,” Al-Qutub mentioned. With this program, ASAI was able to distribute certificates to over 17,000 people.

Kuwait Digest

People are the heroes

By Dr Mubark Al-Therwa

eroism is something created through the efforts of an entire nation, not just a single individual, regardless of that individual’s role in inspiring a public outburst. When the efforts of the public against injustice are ignored for the sake of attributing victory to one individual then the public’s rights are not saved from the same oppression they’ve been suffering from for years under a tyrant regime.

National slogans in strong countries usually hail the nation and the constitution while those in weak countries hail the leader and the ruling system. In all nations, the national hero must be recognized as the people themselves and the country’s laws.

Heroism must be recognized by the level of freedoms being fulfilled and the strength of the law that protects the people. Realizing the importance to change for the better is the true inspiration that leads a nation to victory.

History books contain several stories about revolutions made against oppression, human rights violations and occupation. In Russia there was the revolution against the Czar during the beginning of the past century. In China there was a revolution that eventually led to the birth of the People’s Republic.

In India, Gandhi inspired a peaceful revolution for his country that led the nation against oppression. There was also the French Revolution, the Urabi Revolt, the July Revolution in Egypt against monarch rule in the past century and, most recently, the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.

However, it’s not right to attribute victory in those revolutions to the sole effort of the people that inspired them. While their role was very important in the inspiration process it would be a mistake to ignore all the blood that was spilt and the hard work from the people in order for them to earn their right place in history.

A nation led by individuals can never be a productive nation. Even if they can win a few battles to maintain their place they will eventually lose the war towards development. Heroic actions of inspiring leaders can be misused, unlike those of an entire nation. A true nation is one that is run by the wisdom and good spirit of its people, in which the leader is a part of the nation and not a single person seizing possession of a moment for their own benefit. —Al-Rai

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Amir attends luncheon banquet hosted by Kuwait City Governor

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki cutting the cake at Azayiz Farm.

KUWAIT: In honor of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah and other dignitaries, Kuwait City Governor Sheikh Ali Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held a luncheon banquet yesterday at Azayiz Farm in the region of Abdali, north of Kuwait City.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Chief of the National Guards Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah, visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and an accompanying delegation, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Ahmad AlSabah, Deputy Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and other senKUWAIT: (From left) Nouri Al-Maliki, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser and Sheikh ior officials attended the lunch- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and Capital Governor Sheikh eon. —KUNA

Ali Jaber Al-Sabah.

Ali Jaber Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: HH the PM Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad with Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad and Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki.

KUWAIT: Deputy National Guards Chief Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad (left) and First Deputy PM and Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: Capital Governor Sheikh Ali Jaber AlSabah with the Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki.

KUWAIT: Hoshyar Zebari, Iraqi Foreign Minister (left) with a number of sheikhs at Azayiz Farm yesterday.

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Four Asian workers die in Subbiya road bus accident

kuwait Digest

Thank you, Popular Action Bloc

At least eight injured KUWAIT: A bus carrying Asian workers from their workplace to their homes overturned on Subbiya Road and resulted in the death of four people and injury of at least eight, reported Al-Rai. A police helicopter and 10 ambulances responded to the incident and brought the injured to Jahra Hospital.

Rapists escape An investigation was launched in pursuit of three rapists that kidnapped and assaulted a woman, reported Al-Watan.

Authorities responded to a scene in the scrap yard near the Abdullah Port Area and found the victim lying unconscious on the ground. When she recovered, the 26-year-old Indonesian woman was referred to a police station where she reported that she was kidnapped by three men and raped. An investigation was launched in pursuit of the criminals. Meanwhile, three people escaped after beating up a man they kidnapped with the intention of sexual assault, reported Al-Rai. The victim, a non-Kuwaiti man, informed police that he was kidnapped after he received a phone call from an unidentified person that urged him to meet him in the parking lot of the Ardiya co-op society to discuss an important matter. Upon reporting to the location, the man found himself surrounded by three men that forced him into their car and attempted to rape him after driving him to a remote location. The man added that the three men left him at the location after they failed to sexually assault him. The victim reported the incident to the police and an investigation was launched by police in search of the suspects.

Couple held An expatriate couple was arrested for killing their unborn child following an illegal relationship that had been going on for five years, reported Al-Anba. Jahra police launched an investigation after being informed that a Syrian man and his Sri Lankan girlfriend buried a dead baby in an unknown location. Authorities located the suspects’ residence and found the suspects with two children in their home. When questioned, the couple admitted that the chil-

dren, aged two and three, were the result of their five-year illegal relationship. The woman admitted that when she was pregnant with their third child she took abortion pills.

They added that they buried the dead fetus near the coast in Sulaibikhat. The couple has been officially charged with murder, abortion and adultery. The couple’s two sons were taken to a foster home where their fate is still being determined.

Hit-and-run A 12-year-old child was hospitalized with several injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver, reported Al-Watan.

The incident occurred when the child was crossing the street in Abdulla Al-Mubarak and was struck by the speeding driver.

The incident was reported by a passerby but the driver fled before the police could respond to the scene. An investigation was launched in pursuit of the unknown driver.

Pair arrested Authorities from Mubarak Al-Kabeer arrested two citizens, one for being under the influence of drugs and the other for being wanted by authorities for a previous offense, reported Al-Watan. The arrests were made after police pulled over their car for driving suspiciously. They were referred to the proper authorities.

Inmate trouble Firefighters extinguished a fire at a local police station that was started by an inmate, reported Al-Qabas. It was reported that a citizen arrested for a case of theft and held at the Abdullah Port police station pending further investigation set fire to his cell’s furniture. The suspect was charged with damaging public property in addition to assaulting officers on duty while he was being arrested.

Scam artist A man reported losing one year’s worth of savings after he was fooled by a scam artist into sending him a large amount of money so that he could receive a financial prize, reported Al-Qabas. The Bangladeshi victim said he received a

Arab World Institute chief praises Kuwaiti cultural contributions PARIS: The State of Kuwait assumes an admirable role in the promotion of cultural awareness and interaction in its immediate region and beyond, said Director of the Arab World Institute Mukhtar bin Dhiab yesterday.

The official was speaking on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Independence, the 20th Anniversary of the Liberation, and the 5th Anniversary of His Highness the Amir's Assumption of Power.

"All institute staff, much like management, sense the great care and effort Kuwait puts into supporting the institute's mission." He specifically recalled the grant by His Highness the Amir for the renovation of the institute museum, a sum of euro 1 million, and a second grant of euro 3 million, spent on museum renovation as well as repair works at the library and con-

version of it into a media-tech venue.

"Kuwait was constantly keen on supporting all institute activities," the figure said, also recalling the unique Om Kulthoum Exhibition and several Kuwaiti cultural exhibits. He added that preparation is ongoing to hold several events and activities to shed more light on Kuwaiti history and culture and events in Kuwait to introduce the public to the institute, its role, and its activities.

Dhiab said the institute is very active on the French culture scene and its activities include language courses, seminars, film screenings, round-table conferences, and educational events and activities for youth and children. The annual average number of visitors by now stands at 1 million people.

"The diligent effort of our staff and

the great care invested in its functions is already yielding fruit, although people did not expect much result shortrun." He noted Kuwaiti-French relations gained extra momentum after the striking of an overall strategic partnership in February 2009.

Exchange of visits between officials in the countries attests to the priority the two leaderships attach to developing bonds, exchange, and interaction.

Kuwait and France signed many cooperation agreements, the last of which initialed early last year for development of peaceful applications of nuclear technology.

The two states also signed a defense agreement, an extension of their 1992 agreement, which proves the strong relations between the two nations. — KUNA

phone call from a local number informing him that he won a KD 300,000 grand prize and that he needed to send KD 300 worth of credit to the same number that was calling him to receive the prize. The victim did that but soon discovered he was scammed when he realized the number he called was turned off. The man filed a case with authorities in Kaifan.

Fugitives held A Kuwaiti couple was arrested outside of their home in Ashbiliya after being charged of 12 financial cases, reported Al-Rai. Authorities issued a warrant for the man and his wife after an investigation revealed that the couple failed to pay a KD 124,000 debt. When questioned, the wife said that her husband forced her to sign checks for more money than she had. They were referred to the proper authorities.

Passport forgery An Asian man was arrested at the Kuwait International Airport for trying to use a forged passport to enter the country, reported Al-Rai. When questioned, the suspect confessed to changing the expiration date on the passport because he couldnít afford renewal fees.

Porsche stolen A KD 35,000 Porsche was stolen when its driver left it running for a minute outside of his shop in Salmiya, reported AlAnba. The car’s owner, a Kuwaiti man, informed authorities as soon as he realized his car was missing. An investigation was launched by authorities.

Illegal trade Police arrested five Bangladeshi men for being in possession of and selling bulletproof vests, reported Al-Anba. When questioned by authorities, the men confessed to buying the vests from a US Army soldier that sold them as used goods.

Authorities reported to an animal farm based on the information they received from the man and confiscated an additional 300 vests but were unable to locate any weapons. The suspects admitted to selling 40 bulletproof vests at KD 50 each in the past few weeks.

By Abdullatif Al-Duaj inally, our political activists and parliament members are aware of the real importance of freedoms of opinion and expression. Perhaps the awakening was motivated by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt but the people of Kuwait expressed their opinions on the restriction on freedom for months. Finally, MPs have acted and the Popular Action Bloc put the words made by MP Musallam Al-Barrak months ago when he vowed to protect freedom of expression into action. It's important here to note that the freedom of expression must be protected for all; for Mohammad Al-Juwaihel and for Mohammad Al-Jassem, for the good and for the corrupt.

Simply put, no one can, or even has the right to, differentiate between which people get to express themselves.

This is the basis of democratic work; where everyone has equal rights to express their point of view and ideas only survive if they are fit.

Some opinions, while they may seem different, unusual or even silly at first, can later prove their worth and eventually become - either directly or after they undergo improvement - an important part of public behavior.

I thank MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun for his concern and follow up on the issues of violations made against state security services against public freedoms. It is an important stance and even if it is several decades late - during which time Al-Saadoun and his Popular Action Bloc mainly focused on public funds cases - as the saying goes; better late than never.

In the meantime, I can't express similar gratitude to the editors-in-chief of local newspapers for their appeal to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah because they only asked the Cabinet to retract amendments proposed on the press and audiovisual laws. Instead, they should have addressed the adverse laws that favor the Ministry of Information against the media in general. —Al-Qabas

F

Municipality to take part in GCC conference KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr Fadhel Safar Ali Safar and Director General of Kuwait Municipality Ahmad Al-Subaih received yesterday invitations to attend the sixth GCC Municipal work

conference, due in Riyadh on March 12-15.

A visiting delegation from Saudi municipality, led by Mohammad AlAmro Mansour, handed the invitations to Dr Safar and Al-Subaih during a meeting here where the two sides

discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the municipal domain. The minister welcomed the invitations and praised the special ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in all fields deeming them an example for other Arab countries. —KUNA

6

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

local

VIVA hosts seminar on human resources and leadership

By Nisreen Zahreddine KUWAIT: VIVA hosted the first day of a twoday seminar on developing human resources yesterday in with the participation of foreign research companies. The conference focused on the importance of accurate human resource practices as well as the importance of the decision making process. Salman Al-Badran, CEO of VIVA Telecommunications Kuwait, delivered an opening speech welcoming presenters from foreign companies. The presenters spoke on the responsibilities of human resources and how best they can perform their role by interacting with all of a company's departments and staff properly.

The first presentation, led by Herman Riedi from Boston Consulting Group, focused on how companies can adapt their human rights practices for unstable times.

The second presentation was delivered by Naji Sourati from Bain and Company

regarding the five-step process for improving a company's decision effectiveness.

Booz & Company, represented by Philip Minasian, gave a presentation on initiating change and making it last. This presenta-

tion was followed by another one by the Entrepreneurial Work Environments in the Middle East, presented by Franscesco Fazio from Monitor.

Oliver Triebal and Moncef Maghr from

KUWAIT: Salman Al-Badran, CEO of VIVA Telecommunications Kuwait is talking at the seminar yesterday.

KUWAIT: Herman Riedi from Boston Consulting Group is seen addressing the audience.

—Photos by Joseph Shagra

Mckinsey and Company discussed leadership, talent management and how to address people. The next topic was on developing talent intelligence by Nick Shaw from SHL. The last two sessions were on what differentiates the best leaders in the Middle East from others by Mina Morris from Hay and the principles that support empowered leadership by Ian Johnson from the Senn Delaney company.

VIVA"S goal was to emphasize the importance of human resource management in companies and its role in encouraging a company's development.

The seminar will have its second day today at Salwa Sabah Hall in Salmiya and will feature four sessions focusing on analyzing leadership in large and professional organization. The presenters will discuss new methodologies and perceptions in the world of business on the human factor and how to drive an organization forward.

Green Line condemns exportation of foam spray

KUWAIT: The audience at the show. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

X-cite, Safat Home celebrate Hala Feb KUWAIT: Starting Feb 13, X-cite by Alghanim Electronics and Safat Home are holding their exciting Hala February celebrations in Safat Alghanim's outdoor area, keeping with their tradition of bringing the best festivities and events to Kuwait. The daily celebrations will last until Feb 24 on the occasion of Kuwait's 50 years of independence, 20 years of liberation and five years of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah's ascension to power.

For the past two years, Alghanim has established a reputation for entertaining Kuwait with some of the country's most exciting shows, including last year's globally renowned Cirque du Soleil performance and music concert by the famous Nancy Ajram and Fadel Shaker.

Because Kuwait's special anniversaries are dear to thousands of people, X-cite and Safat Home are committed to doubling the fun and thrill of their celebratory event. They will open the event's doors to the general public, who have the opportunity to win valuable prizes, enjoy entertaining shows and have a fun experience.

The first few days of the event featured a remarkable audience turnout who commended the event's activities: raffle drawings of a Chevrolet Cruze, thrilling shows by local and international performers, exhilarating acrobatic and magic shows, interactive workshops for children, live mimes, stilt walkers, cartoon characters and daily prizes won by attendees and contestants. A participant commenting on the event said, "My fam-

KUWAIT: The host of the show presenting one of the characters on stage. ily and I really enjoyed our time here. I was amazed at the size of the event and my children were so thrilled about the live shows and workshops that they made me promise to take them to the event every day until February 24."

The massive entertainment marathon will conclude February 24 with a thrilling display of fireworks and a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate Kuwait's 50th Independence Day and 20th Liberation Day. With this megaevent lineup, X-cite and Safat Home hope to share their passion and jubila-

KUWAIT: A local environmental organization urged the Kuwaiti government to retract a decision by which local producers of spray foam cans were allowed to export their goods outside of the country after a decision was made to bad the product in Kuwait, reported Al-Rai. "Allowing the exportation of products containing hazardous chemical substances that pose serious health risks violates the rights of humans and children that are protected by international regulations recognized by Kuwait," the Green Line organization said in a statement to the press. They went so far as to say the decision "could result in the government being found guilty

of committing crimes against humanity and the global environment." They added that the government could also face escalations from international environmental organizations. "The Environmental Public Authority never acted to stop the [foam's] export despite having prior knowledge of its serious effect on children," the organization's statement reads. The statement also urges the parliament's environmental committee to investigate the matter. "Instead of compensating the manufacturers financially, the government allowed them to export the harmful products in total disregard of international health and environmental regulations," the Green Line said.

‘Some housemaids are severely oppressed’ KUWAIT: Some housemaids in Kuwait are severely oppressed, the most serious of which is the stifling of lack of freedom of expression.

Priyanka Motaparthy, a Human Rights Watch representative said here during a discussion held by the women's committee of Kuwait Lawyers Society (KLS).

The HRW representative of the Middle East and North Africa division said that after paying two separate visits to Kuwait where she had worked in November 2009 to prepare a report on the situation of domestic workers in Gulf states, Motaparthy learnt that there are 650,000 maids employed in Kuwait, a high percentage, when compared to the country's citizens ' population that is estimated at a million and a half. She added that her organization is not concerned with the domestic workers' numbers, as long as their rights are not violated.

Motaparthy also spoke about the abuse

that some maids suffer, including physical assault and pay cuts. Moreover, she highlighted the housemaids' inability to seek employment with a different employer owing to the restrictions present. Furthermore, the representative also noted a serious problem that maids here are subjected to, which is that they do not sign work contracts. Contracts are signed between the employer and recruitment agencies, and the maids are not allowed to see what the contract contains, reports AlQabas.

The HRW is an independent organization that monitors human rights situation in 95 countries worldwide. It also ensures that children and women are safe from human rights violations. Motaparthy further insisted that their investigation in Kuwait is merely associated with these facts. She also mentioned that a planned domestic laborers' law in Kuwait 'would be a good thing' if it is enforced.

National exhibition kicks off in Mishref KUWAIT: Kuwait News Agency is taking part, as partner, in an exhibition kicking off today at Mishref Fairgrounds marking the 50th Anniversary of the Independence, the 20th Anniversary of the Liberation, and the 5th Anniversary of His Highness the Amir's Assumption of Power.

Head of the team preparing for the event at KUNA Suaad Al-Marzouq pointed out the agency started preparation for the exhibition since late 2010, and the team is very keen on shedding light

on the state's accomplishments and contributions in all fields over the past 50 years. The information and research team prepared a book on this occasion, with 500 pages documenting progress and giving more focus on main events and turning points. There is to be a contest on the sidelines of the exhibition for the visitors of the KUNA pavilion, and there would also be a photo exhibition and distribution of photos, brochures, audio and visual products, as well as other media in tokens. —KUNA

kuwait Digest

New Nobel nominees!

By Fuad Al-Hashim honestly thought it to be a cruel joke when I received a message from the Al-Watan News service a couple of days ago implying that some blocs and a group of political activists including the former information minister Dr Saad Bin Taflah have unanimously nominated Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi for the Nobel Peace Prize. Failing to control my apprehension, I called my dear friend, Dr Saad who affirmed the news, informing me that it was indeed credible.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not against the notion of any one of our compatriots being awarded that evasive, yet glorious honor. In fact, it would be a real honor for us indeed.

However, the question that I'd like to pose is: Would that particular gentleman or any other gentleman under the circumstances, be really worth that honor? Why would I, or any other respectable Kuwaiti citizen, choose to nominate a distinguished Kuwait professor who disregarded the law, prompting a police officer to literally drag him all the way to a police station?

If they think that the sole prerequisite to be nominated for the peace prize lies in staging demonstrations, then we'll have millions of their ilk taking to the streets -- protesting against causes that are downright obscure if not grossly silly.

Wouldn't that lead to the abject bankruptcy of the Norwegian treasury? Wouldn't it incense the European founders and citizens alike to empty the treasury of its contents? Who knows, some of them might even resort to exhuming the tomb of Alfred Nobel himself in an attempt to crush his bones out of sheer frustration and infuriation?

And in the event that our country is indeed given the honor of nominating a respected personality, why don't we nominate Dr Ghanim Al-Najjar instead.

The gentleman is an academic extraordinaire who boasts a long and commendable history of undertaking humanitarian work since the liberation of Kuwait.

Dr Al-Najjar has worked tirelessly in securing the release of Kuwaiti prisoners in Iraq and his achievements, which have been applauded by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations are commendable indeed.

In the event that it is absolutely essential that a nominee be roughed up by police officers in front of Al-Harbash's diwaniya or any other then I think it would only be fair to strike a deal with a police officer to attack Dr Al-Najjar and drag him through the streets too. I think this will set a glorious precedent for genuine Kuwaiti activists to either apply or be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

And if removing Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi from a diwaniya is reason enough to nominate him for the peace prize, then political activist Mohammed AlJuwaihel also deserves to be nominated for that prize because he was roughed up and pounded more severely than most of the Shiites that were detained in Iraqi prisons by Saddam Hussein or even those unfortunate Sunnis that are still languishing in Iranian prisons. Better yet, why don't we nominate Bu Duaij for the prize? Maybe he is not qualified simply because he wasn't thrashed outside Al-Harbash's diwaniya! This will surely make one wonder if the main door of Al-Harbash's diwaniya overlooks Sulaibikhat while the door of his backyard points towards the Norwegian capital? —Al-Watan

I

Amnesty lists ready KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior has finalized the list of inmates that meet conditions entitling them to be included in Amiri amnesty, reported Al-Rai. The comment was made by an official source who added that a decision regarding the annual pardon has yet to be made.

The source further indicated that the files of 5,051 inmates of all nationalities were reviewed this past Tuesday. While reviewing the files, discussions were held with representatives from other ministry and state departments including: the General Department of Drug Control, State Security Services, the General Investigations Department, the Criminal Investigations General Department, the Traffic Department as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the Ministry of Justice.

Male inmates covered by the amnesty are entitled to have their jail time cut in half while female inmates prison sentences may be cut by a quarter and juveniles one eighth. Murder convicts are not subject to amnesty unless family members of the victim provide a concession. Meanwhile, state security convicts and drug dealers cannot be included in the amnesty.

KD 3 million KFAED loan for Cameroon KUWAIT: Mohammad Al-Marzouq, Ahmed Al-Anezi and others at the royal cars exhibition held at the 360 Mall.

KUWAIT: One of the vintage royal cars participating in the event.

—Photos by Joseph Shagra

360 mall holds special events to mark Kuwait’s national celebrations KUWAIT: 360 mall, has announced a range of activities to celebrate Kuwait's three major anniversaries this year - 50th anniversary since independence, 20th year since liberation, and the fifth year of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's ascendance to Kuwait's leadership.

A tour was led by Mohemmed Jassim AlMarzouk, Chairman of Tamdeen Real Estate Company Group and attended by Abdul Aziz Isaac, Amiri Diwan Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs and Member of the Board of Trustees of Kuwait's Historical Vintage and Classic Cars Museum and Ahmed S Alenizi, Member of Kuwait's

Historical Vintage and Classic Cars Museum.

The celebrations at 360 mall include high profile Royal Cars Exhibition, held in collaboration with the Historical Vintage and Classic Cars Museum in Kuwait. The exhibition, which runs from Feb 15 to March 5, displays a range of cars that belonged to Amirs, kings and presidents from around the region, including Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah 1965 Rolls Royce, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah 1960 Rolls Phantom and King Farouk 1939 Rolls Royce to name a few. Kuwait National Cinema Company(KNCC) is also hosting a distinctive exhibition at the 360 mall as part of the National Day Celebrations titled 'The 7th Art,

History and Achievements' from Feb 15 to March 5. This exhibition showcases the cinema industry's evolution in Kuwait that include displays such as projectors, historical documents, customer seating and images from the past. The exhibition will be open to public on a second Level at the 360 mall Cinescape.

In addition to the exhibitions, the US Embassy in Kuwait will present the Chris Byars/Ari Roland Jazz Septet at the Main Atrium on Feb 25 at 7pm. The band's music is inspired by the great masters of jazz and the Golden Age of Jazz (1930's - 1950's). Its original compositions have been celebrated by jazz critics from around the world.

360 mall has been specially decorated for the month of February in national colors with larger than life images of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have been applied to the IMAX Tower that faces the Sixth Ring road.

Claudia Lopusinska, 360 mall's Marketing Manager said, "Being one of Kuwait's landmarks, we are very excited to be taking part in the National Celebrations. Our aim is to create a memorable experience for our visitors and to invoke a feeling of national pride when they visit our mall.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed yesterday an agreement with Cameroon under which the fund will offer a loan amounting in value to KD3 million. The deal was signed

by KFAED's Deputy Director General Hamad Suleiman Al-Omar and visiting Cameroonian Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development Louis Paul Motaze.

The loan will be channeled to the socio-economic development program and the poverty alleviation program in the southern and southeastern parts of the West African country, according to a statement issued by the fund here.

It will also help finalize the rehabilitation program of the road network linking the capital city of Yaounde to Douala harbor, southwest Cameroon, it added. KFAED, the first institution in the Middle East that took an active role in the international development efforts, extends Loan on concessionary term to finance development projects in the developing countries.

The Fund also provides technical assistance to finance the costs of the of the feasibility studies of projects, as well as the training of nationals of the borrowing countries. In addition, the Fund subscribes in the capital of international and regional development institutions. —KUNA

International THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Protests spread across Yemen Unemployed, workers, journalists take to the streets

As Arabs demand democracy, Iraqis want electricity Page 8

SANAA: Supporters of Yemen’s government climb a tree holding posters showing Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during clashes with anti-government protestors yesterday. — AP

SANAA: Protests against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh spread across Yemen yesterday with hundreds of people tak ing to the streets of Sanaa, Aden and Taiz. In the capital Sanaa, at least 800 protesters marched through the streets near Sanaa University despite police efforts to break up the demonstration. “ We’re no weaker than Tunisians and Egyptians, and our situation is worse than theirs,” said Rafea Abdullah, a Sanaa University student, referring to the “people power” revolts that ousted the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia over the last month.

Saleh, a US ally against AlQaeda, has ruled the poor and fractious Arabian Peninsula State for more than 30 years. The threat of turmoil in Yemen, struggling to quash a resurgent wing of Al-

Qaeda and keep rebellions at bay in its nor th and south, pushed Saleh to say he would step down in 2013 and call for a national dialogue, that the opposition accepted. But anti-government protests have continued for the past six days, despite often violent clashes with government loyalists.

Police in Sanaa had earlier yesterday been unable to block hundreds of government loyalists wielding batons and daggers from beating and chasing off protesters and journalists at the university, which has become a launchpad for protests. A Reuters journalist saw four people wounded in the melee.

After locking student protesters inside the campus, police fired shots in the air to break up the loyalist groups, who were picked up by luxury cars which sped away, a Reuters reporter said. Students lat-

Kids assaulted in UK mosque LONDON: The government said it was very concerned by documentary evidence apparently showing children as young as six being physically assaulted in a mosque while studying the Quran, and would investigate further. Police have arrested a man in connection with alleged beatings that took place at the mosque in Keighley, West Yorkshire after secret footage shot for a Channel 4 “Dispatches” program was posted on the internet. The program, “Lessons in Hate and Violence”, which took two years to research and produce, was aired on national television on Monday night.

It also showed footage of xenophobic comments directed towards Hindus, Jews and Christians allegedly made by teachers at Darul Uloom Islamic High School in Birmingham. Moderate Muslims came under attack there too. “The person who’s got less than a fistful of beard, then you should stay away from him the same way you should stay away from a serpent or a snake,” a man described by the program makers as a preacher is seen telling children.

The school is regularly inspected by the government and is required to teach tolerance and respect for other faiths.

At the Keighley mosque, the Markazi Jamia Mosque, pupils as young as six and seven are seen on camera being kicked and beaten by teachers and teenage custodians during class. In one scene, a man with a long white beard raises his hand and slaps a young boy hard on the head.

Moments later he strikes another before kicking a third child. In just two days of filming last December, the camera recorded the teacher hitting children at least 10 times in fewer than three hours of lessons.

The program alleges the beatings were common and that the two schools featured, out of more than 2,000 Islamic faith schools across the country, “taught intolerant and highly anti-social versions of Islam.” West Yorkshire Police said they were investigating and receiving co-operation from the Keighley Muslim Association. In a statement, the Birmingham school said it had been unfairly targeted by the “surreptitious” recording and that the film had been selective in the material it had broadcast. It said students and teachers who were found to have contravened its high standards had already been expelled. — Reuters

er left the campus to join hundreds of anti-government protesters in the streets.

At least 500 people rallied in the agro-industrial city Taiz, south of Sanaa, and 500 or more protesters had gathered in the southern port town of Aden.

“No more marginalization of the people of Aden! No more corruption and oppression,” chanted protesters there. Most demonstrators were from among the unemployed youth in Yemen, where the jobless rate is at least 35 percent. Of the 23 million people in Yemen, which is teetering on the brink of collapse into a failed state, 40 percent live on less than $2 a day and a third suffer chronic hunger. Jobs are scarce, corruption is rife, and the population is expanding rapidly as oil and water resources are drying up.

Protests over the past week have been smaller than in preceding weeks, when tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, but demonstrators have become more strident in calling for Saleh’s resignation. Analysts say protests could reach a tipping point because they are more spontaneous and youth-led, instead of run by the opposition, which works within the existing political framework and has called for reform, not for Saleh’s resignation. Yemen’s opposition has agreed to negotiate with Saleh, but many young student protesters are becoming frustrated.

“We’ll keep protesting until the regime leaves,” said Murad Mohammed. “We have no future under current conditions.” Analysts say any uprising in Yemen-which neighbors Saudi Arabia, the world’s

top oil exporter-could unfold more slowly than in Egypt and Tunisia and with more bloodshed in a country where one in two people own guns. “It’s an escalation, but this country is armed to the teeth.

When people get fed up enough that they escalate it to sticks, the next step is probably Molotov cocktails, then weapons,” said Theodore Karasik, a security analyst at the Dubai-based INEGMA group.

“We’re getting close to a tipping point.”

Elsewhere in Sanaa, dozens of journalists rallied outside the journalist union, protesting against what they said were targeted attacks against them for covering the demonstrations. In southern Aden, thousands of workers at different companies protested against what they said were poor working conditions and low pay. Scattered

protests led by the unemployed were also breaking out in Aden, a Reuters correspondent said.

“Protest, protest until the regime falls!” they shouted. Saleh on Sunday cancelled a trip to Washington planned for later this month, which the state news agency said was due to regional conditions.

On Tuesday, Saba news reported Saleh would open his office to Yemenis who wanted to air their grievances. But in another sign dissent may grow, the leader of a northern Shiite rebel group Abdel Malek Al-Houthi issued a statement encouraging protesters. “Yemenis should take advantage of this opportunity and create serious mobilization ... which will be responsible for changing the reality and removing this criminal government.” — Reuters

A

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Years

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Tunisia struggles to tame revolutionary spirit TUNIS: Tunisians found the experience of forc-

ing out their president so exhilarating that it is proving difficult for them to stop. A month after a tide of popular protests pushed authoritarian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali from office, many people are taking the principle of people power and applying it to every corner of their life.

Hotel workers have refused to clean guests’ rooms until they get more pay, telecoms workers threatened to strike over a plan to privatize their company, and disgruntled airport workers have halted international flights.

School pupils protested against their teachers, and then the teachers rallied outside the education ministry to complain that the pupils were being allowed to run wild. “People seem to have misunderstood what liberty is really about,” said Nejmeddine, a businessman in the Tunisian capital. “They just seem to want to do whatever they please and if you try to say anything to them they just say: ‘I’ll set myself on fire’,” he said, a reference to the self-immolation by jobless man Mohamed Bouazizi which started the revolution.

Some people in Tunisia say the discovery of personal freedom should be celebrated after two decades spent living in a repressive police state. But others worry about the impact on the spluttering economy. Trade ministr y data showed that the value of exports in January fell by 1.5 percent compared to the same period last year. “If a few weeks of reduced activity are manageable, a longer period will be dramatic,”

the ministry said. Just as Tunisia’s revolution provided the template for Egypt’s uprising, Egypt could experience the same problems in the aftermath. Already, some Egyptians emboldened by protests there are demanding better pay.

HOTEL STRIKE Tunisian Tourism Minister Mehdi Houass has every reason to lament the strikes and protests in his country: they are spreading to his sector at a time when he is trying to persuade the tourists who provide 11 percent of his country’s hard currency earnings to come back. Even in the Sheraton Tunis hotel, where he was meeting a delegation of French tour operators, staff said they had staged a brief strike over pay. The restaurant was shut for one evening and one morning chamber maids did not make up the rooms. But the minister said this kind of thing was a positive sign. “Tunisia has changed. We have become a democracy and that means that people can express themselves,” he said in a conference room at the Sheraton. “There is a lot of injustice and we need to correct that. ... This will cause problems for some sectors of the economy, that is true, but we cannot continue to work as we did before. We cannot hide our heads in the sand.”

At times though, it seems Tunisia risks becoming engulfed in protests and strikes. On one morning last week, a young man was wheeling canisters of fuel through a street near the capital’s Pasteur Square on a shopping cart.

He was stocking up because the truck drivers who distribute petrol were preparing to strike.

Nearby, a group of students mustered at a roundabout at the start of a protest march. And down the street, about 15 staff from Tunisia’s state-controlled Internet agency were on strike in the street outside their office to demand a pay rise. “These are work-related demands that go back five years,” said Atef, one of the strikers.

“We wanted to do this because we do not want to be forgotten.”

APPEAL FOR PATIENCE The wave of strikes was alarming enough for Tunisian caretaker president Fouad Mebazza, in a rare public appearance, to go on state television to urge people demanding wage rises and better living conditions to be patient. Most strikers are likely to be disappointed. Ben Ali’s economic stewardship was praised by the International Monetary Fund. It is unlikely that with him gone there will be a dramatic surge in jobs and growth. “Tunisia has never in its history known such an outpouring of protest movements. Everyone wants everything, and right away,” La Press de Tunisie, a newspaper, said in an editorial. “The cascade of demands ... risks extinguishing the revolution.”

On Facebook-the social networking site which was used to organize the uprising against Ben Ali-thousands of young people are now forming groups to persuade their countrymen to stop their strikes and go back to work.

Bab B’net Boulevard in Tunis is the heart of the

country’s new people power scene. It is home to the ministries of education, social affairs, justice and religion-each guarded by soldiers standing behind razor wire barricades that were erected in response to the violence in the days after Ben Ali’s overthrow.

The cobbled, tree-lined street is occupied every day by a shifting cast of protesters, strikers and petitioners. “There are protests every morning, every day, everywhere. When will it stop?” asked a taxi driver as he dropped off a fare at the boulevard. Mohieddine Frikha, a 43year-old man from Tunis, was one of a group of about 30 men standing at the steps to the education ministry. They were all unemployed and they came to demand the government give them jobs. Some were from provincial cities, including Gassrine and Tozeur, and had been sleeping rough in the capital for days.

Dressed in a denim jacket and smoking a cigarette, Frikha was angry about his standard of living, and adamant that after Ben Ali was swept aside, life for him and his fellow protesters must get better. “This revolution should solve our problems,” he said. “I have been 18 years without a job and I have two children.”

But more than the anger, he seemed to relish the fact that after years living in fear of informers and secret police, he was able to stand in the street and say what was on his mind.

“Before we could not even talk,” he said. “This is the first time that I have been able to speak freely.” — Reuters

Ailing Mubarak holed up in Sharm el-Sheikh Labor unrest as Egypt moves towards democracy

RAGUSA: Migrants arrive at the harbor in Ragusa after a boat was intercepted by the Italian coast guard off the city of Ragusa, Italy. Overnight, Italian authorities intercepted a boat of 32 people believed to be from Egypt off the coast of Ragusa on Sicily, indicating that the exodus was not confined to Tunisia alone. — AP

Poverty haunts Egypt in Cairo’s City of the Dead CAIRO: In a sprawling cemetery on the

edge of Cairo, where thousands of Egyptians inhabit the tombs of bygone nobles in a City of the Dead, the promise of a revolution is haunted by the specter of poverty. The centuries-old maze of mausoleums is a long way from Tahrir Square and the Internet activists whose revolt chased Hosni Mubarak from power and united the country behind a vision of a resurrected Egypt, proud and free. “I didn’t go to Tahrir,” said Nasser al-Said, 27, who makes a couple of dollars a day by selling tea from a rickety wooden table by the roadside. “I have to support my mother, my wife and my daughter. How are they supposed to eat if I go off and demonstrate?”

They squat in a tomb in the City of the Dead, a necropolis dating back to the seventh-century Islamic conquest, where the intricately patterned domes of mediaeval mosques rise above meandering dir t lanes lined with mausoleums. Some have lived here for generations-preferring to be close to deceased ancestors honored with monuments in a custom dating back to the

time of the Pyramids-but most are here because they cannot afford to live anywhere else.

Forty percent of Egyptians live on two dollars (1.50 euros) a day or less, according to the World Bank, and unemployment is rife among the young, forcing many to put off marriage and children until well into their 30s. Tariq Salah, 33, makes around $125 a month digging graves and guarding a 200-year-old mausoleum where he sleeps alone each night among the graves of Ottoman-era nobles. “If you want to get married you have to have an apartment, you have to have everything. I can’t save money because I only make enough to eat,” he said. The youth-led protests that brought down Mubarak and are now reverberating across the region were largely driven by such concerns, with chants of “The people want the fall of the regime!” punctuated by “I want to get married!”

Egyptians hope for a new, more democratic government that can help them prosper by rooting out corruption, with many citing reports-unconfirmed and very probably exaggerated-that Mubarak made off with $70 billion. —AFP

Where are the Egypt women? Activists ask CAIRO: The lack of women on a committee charged with amending Egypt’s constitution for elections post-Mubarak casts doubt over whether the country can develop into a true democracy, a group of activists said yesterday. The group of over 60 non-governmental organization and activists said the committee, which is presided over by a respected retired judge known for his independence, had begun work yesterday by “marginalizing female legal experts”.

“This sheds doubt over the future of democratic transition in Egypt and raises questions about the future of participation, and whether this revolution sought to liberate all of society or just some of its sectors,” a statement said. Mass demonstrations that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from his 30-year rule were led by both men and women. “We affirm that Egyptian woman participated in the revolution, and proof of such is that many remain missing or arrested. They have every right to participate in building the Egyptian nation,” the group said in a statement sent by Nahed Shehata of the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights. Protesters have demanded

several changes, including making presidential races fair and putting limits on a president’s term in office.

Mubarak served almost five six-year terms and had been expected to seek a sixth. The committee is due to propose its changes within 10 days as a prelude to parliamentary and presidential elections due to take place in six months.

The committee includes one senior Muslim Brotherhood legal expert in an unprecedented move to include the Islamist opposition group, but the panel did not give details on how it selected its members.

“Signatures to this statement have received with great concern the list of committee members as there is no participation from female experts, which is unacceptable marginalization of half of society,” the statement said. “We also question the standards used to select the members of the committee,” the group said, although adding they supported the military’s efforts in moving to a democracy.

The role of women in Egyptian politics has been limited, with few occupying ministerial and parliamentary seats. —Reuters

CAIRO: Some workers ignored a call by military rulers to return to work yesterday, and a committee hammered out changes in Egypt’s constitution to pave the way for a democracy to replace 30 years of Hosni Mubarak’s iron rule. The Higher Military Council had urged Egyptians to put aside the revolutionary ardour, that has found expression in protests and strikes about poor pay and working conditions, in the interests of national unity and restarting the damaged economy.

Banks were closed across Egypt because of labor rows that were having a spillover effect across many sectors, while 12,000 workers went on strike at a textile plant in the city of Mahalla el-Kubra and Cairo’s airport was also hit by industrial action. “ The ripple effect of the Egyptian revolution is shaking Middle Eastern dictators to their foundation,” said Fawaz Gerges, a London School of Economics Middle East expert. There was a frenzy of rumor about the health of Mubarak, 82, who is holed up at his residence in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after flying from his Cairo palace. In one of his final addresses, Mubarak said he wanted to die in Egypt.

One Saudi official in Riyadh said: “He is not dead but is not doing well at all and refuses to leave. Basically, he has given up and wants to die in Sharm.” The official added that Saudi Arabia had offered to be his host. Life was far from normal five days after Mubarak was forced from power by a whirlwind 18-day uprising, with troops and tanks on the streets of Cairo, schools and banks closed and Egyptians still finding their new found freedom hard to believe.

YOUTH MOVEMENT CRUCIAL Youth activists behind protests which toppled Mubarak asked for a meeting with the Higher Military Council, which has promised a swift handover to democracy and civilian rule, but had yet to receive a reply, a leading activist said. With no clear leadership, the youth movement that was pivotal to the revolution because of its use of social networking sites to organize protests, is seeking to overcome divisions and unite to form political parties. Opposition leaders are calling for the immediate release of political prisoners and the lifting of emergency laws.

A committee, set up to amend the constitution within 10 days as a prelude to parliamen-

CAIRO: An Egyptian man delivering bread from a bakery as he cycles past closed shops in the normally bustling but now empty tourist area of Khan El-Khalili in Cairo yesterday. —AP tary and presidential elections in six months, also met as the military dismantles the mechanisms used to maintain Mubarak’s rule. The Higher Military Council has already dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution.

Egyptian pro-democracy leaders plan a big “Victory March” on Friday to celebrate the revolution-and perhaps remind the military of the power of the street.

The military had hoped tens of thousands of Egyptians would heed its appeal to get back to work yesterday and abandon the strikes and protests that flared after the downfall of Mubarak. But anecdotal evidence suggested unions, emboldened by the people’s overthrow of Mubarak, are still pressing their demands.

Facing a rash of pent-up labor demands from groups ranging from bank staff and tour guides to policemen and steelworkers, the military has urged people not to disrupt further an economy already damaged by the revolution. Workers cite a series of grievances. What unites them is a new sense of being able to speak out in the postMubarak era.

Tuesday was a national holiday to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad so for many

sectors yesterday was the first work day since the military’s appeal.

The foreign minister had spoken with his counterparts about international aid for Egypt and Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign affairs chief, will become the most senior diplomat to visit since Mubarak stepped down when she visits Cairo next Tuesday. Emboldened by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, hundreds of people, angry at the arrest of a rights campaigner, clashed with police and government supporters n the Libyan city of Benghazi. There have also been clashes in Iran, Bahrain and Yemen.

FALL OF WALL, BARRIER OF FEAR “The departure of Mubarak marks the beginning of the fall of the authoritarian wall in the Arab world. Mubarak was the public face of political authoritarianism in the region,” Gerges said. “It removes the barrier of fear in the region.”

The careful wording of the army ’s plea on Monday marked a change of tone from the more autocratic style of the past, provoking concern among some industry executives. In a new postMubarak era the army is keen not to appear heavy-handed. —Reuters

Iraqis want electricity as Arabs demand democracy BAGHDAD: As other Arab nations call for democracy in the wake of uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, Iraqis are waging their own power campaign, demanding more electricity. While pro-democracy protests have spread to other Arab countries to oust autocratic rulers, in Iraq where Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship was overthrown by the 2003 US-led invasion, protesters have different ambitions. Peaceful protests decrying a lack of basic services such as electricity and water have grown across Iraq over the past two weeks, with demonstrators venting anger at Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s government.

Borrowing from the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia where the Internet charged uprisings that toppled unpopular in both countries, some of the protests across Iraq also have been mobilized by Facebook. Groups called “No Silence,” “Baghdad Is Not Kandahar” and “Blue Revolution” organized a Valentine’s Day protest in Baghdad on Monday to denounce corruption and “greed” among Iraqi officials, calling on them to provide jobs and improve electricity, water and sewage facilities.

Now, Facebook groups are abuzz with calls for a February 25

protest in Baghdad that is being billed as a “Revolution of Iraqi Anger,” urging citizens to converge in large numbers to protest against a number of woes, with electricity at the top of the list. “Our goal is not to change the government. We only want reforms,” said Karnas Ali, one of the organiser ’s of the Valentine’s Day protest. Inam Wahid, one of hundreds of protesters at another Baghdad rally, said his home had been without electricity for five days, while a banner at a protest on Tuesday in the western city of Fallujah read, “There is no life without electricity.”

Angry Iraqis staged violent demonstrations last summer in several southern cities over power rationing as temperatures reached 54 degrees Celsius and air conditioners sat idle. A nationwide survey released this month by Washington’s International Republican Institute showed Iraqis polled last summer believed that basic services like electricity were the country’s biggest single problem, even ahead of the persistent and deadly insecurity.

In August 2003 Paul Bremer, the top American official in Iraq who led the post-invasion Coalition Provisional Authority, promised that, “About one year from now, for

the first time in history, every Iraqi in every city, town and village will have as much electricity as he or she can use and will have it 24 hours a day, every single day.” He soon learned there was no quick fix: Nearly eight years later, Iraqis get no more than eight hours of electricity per day. Iraq’s entire electricity network-from generation plants to hub stations and transmission lines-took a beating under the 1980-88 war with Iraq, the 1991

Gulf War, more than a decade of UN sanctions that followed, and finally by the US invasion in 2003.

According to a master plan produced by US firm Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Iraqi electricity ministry and unveiled last month, a whopping $80 billion dollars of investment is needed over the next 20 years to meet Iraq’s power needs, about the same amount as the country’s entire 2011 national budget. — AFP

KUT: Some demonstrators gather outside the Wasit Provincial Council building in the southern city of Kut, capital of Wasit province, calling for the provincial governor to resign over poor basic services yesterday. — AFP

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Putin palace? Mystery surrounds seaside complex MOSCOW: A mysterious palatial complex that has appeared on Russia's southern Black Sea has sparked controversy after several documents linked it with a government body that had previously denied any involvement. The complex of several buildings is dominated by a large Italianate style palace on an extensive seaside plot near the small village of Praskoveyevka in the Krasnodar region which also includes 2014 Winter Olympics host Sochi. In December whistle-blower businessman Sergei Kolesnikov described the palace and its buildings in a public letter to President Dmitry Medvedev.

He alleged that it was being built "for private use" by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The Office of Presidential Affairs, which manages government property used by senior officials, including existing residences used by the president and prime minister in Moscow region and Sochi, denied any involvement. The head of the Office of Presidential Affairs Vladimir Kozhin categorically told Interfax earlier this month that his office "did not, does not, and is not planning to oversee any construction there."

But a decree by the Ministry of Economic Development sanctioned a transfer of a 10-percent stake in the project to a state enterprise called Tuapse Resort, which belongs to the Office of Presidential Affairs.The 2008 decree, available through a public database of official documents, lists various properties in the project. These include a section of a publicly built road, a helicopter pad, a "service building" for 56 people and a "main building" with an area of 14,598 square meters.

The opposition Novaya Gazeta newspaper on Monday made public another document which showed the Office of Presidential Affairs was behind the original investment agreement to build the massive

the land. The state resort's director Bolat Zakaryanov is currently director of an obscure firm called Indokopas, which Sergey Kolesnikov said owns the entire complex. Indokopas, according to the pub-

via Skype, said he is hoping that more government documents will be unearthed to prove his claims.

"Unlike a sale of shares, building a palace is a process involving hundreds of

PRASKOVEYEVKA: A handout photo show a mysterious palatial complex on Russia's southern Black Sea. — AFP residence. The 2005 agreement, now posted on the Internet, stated that the Office of Presidential affairs was to have a 30-percent stake in the project and that the Tuapse State Resort had the rights to use

lic register, is controlled by Nikolay Shamalov, a friend of Vladimir Putin, who Kolesnikov said invited him to join the original project. Kolesnikov, who left Russia last September and communicated with AFP

people," he said. "You can be a tsar, but even a Tsarist decree for such a project has to be substantiated by documents from local officials."

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier

told journalists that Putin "did not and does not have anything to do with this building".

But a regional environmental group that made a daring visit to the property last week said the project appears to involve very high officials, which have sway over such secretive security structures as the federal protection service. A car with activists from the Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (EWNC) managed to drive right up to the palace, which Kolesnikov has confirmed was the one described in his public letter.

Having passed two checkpoints, where the security bar was up, activists took pictures and videos on the property before they were held up by federal protection service employees, the group said.

A 13-minute video recorded and posted

by EWNC Tuesday showed the palace and the group's interaction with security guards, police, and the federal officers.

"The presence of federal protection service officers on property belonging to private individual Nikolay Shamalov only serves as additional proof that Vladimir Putin is planning to use it," said EWNC activist Suren Gazaryan. Gazaryan spent six hours near the residence after federal officers blocked his car and demanded that the group hands over all video and photo material. "Officers told us that we're trespassing private property, and that they were told to be there by their authorities," he said.

Meanwhile security guards employed by a private firm told the activists that the residence was a secret government object.

"But that would make the presence of many foreign nationals quite strange," Gazaryan said.—AFP

South accuses Sudan’s govt of arming rebels S Sudan rules out oil share, mulls grant to North JUBA: Leveling serious accusations for the second day in a row, the leader of Southern Sudan's ruling party condemned the Khartoum government yesterday for allegedly arming southern rebels and attempting to destabilize the oil-rich region before it secedes in July. Pagan Amum accused Khartoum of supplying a southern warlord with arms on the last day of the south's Jan. 915 independence referendum, a vote that passed overwhelmingly and set Southern Sudan on course to split from the north in July. Warlord Gabriel Tanginye was in Khartoum Jan 15 and returned to the south with guns, including trucks mounted with machine guns, Amum said. Tanginye was backed by Khartoum during the 1983-2005 north-south civil war, rejoined the southern army late last year and has now realigned with the north, Amum said. "Can you imagine these cars and these forces armed with uniforms, moved from Khartoum crossing the country on the official roads? This tells you what is happening," Amum said.

On Tuesday Amum blamed Khartoum's ruling National Congress Party for backing a "massacre" of more than 200 people by rebels under George Athor last week in Fangak County, a remote area of volatile Jonglei state. Athor's rebellion began after his unsuccessful bid for the governorship of Jonglei in last April's national elections. "It is common knowledge that all the militia groups are receiving armaments and financing and support from circles within northern Sudan," said Amum. "This is a strategy to destabilize Southern Sudan.

South oil revenues South Sudan will not share oil revenues with the north after its independence but would pay pipeline fees and could offer grants to help Khartoum make up for lost earnings, a southern official said. He was setting out the region's stance in negotiations over how south and north will divide debts and assets and other burning issues like the position of their shared border after the split, due to become official in July. It was not immediately possible on Tuesday, a public holiday in the north, to contact northern government officials to see whether the arrangement

would be acceptable in Khartoum.

South Sudan is due to secede in July after its voters overwhelmingly chose to separate from the north in a referendum last month-a vote promised under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the north. Under the 2005 accord, Khartoum received half of the revenues from oil found in the south, once pipeline fees and other costs had been deducted.

The south is the source of around 75 percent of the 500,000 barrels per day output of oil in Africa's largest country. Oil has been the lifeblood of both northern and southern economies.

The only way for the south to get its oil to market currently lies through the north's pipelines and Red Sea port.

NO MORE 50-50 SHAREOUT Pagan Amum, secretary general of the south's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), told journalists in the southern capital Juba that the half-share arrangement would not continue after independence. He said the south might be able to offer the north grants to help it cope with the sudden loss in revenues after the south's departure. "The notion of sharing wealth will not be there. There is no continuation, whether 50 percent or anything. "There's going to be an agreement on the south continuing exporting its oil through the pipeline in northern Sudan and to Port Sudan, and the south will be paying pipeline fees for transportation," said Amum.

"We may be paying a transit fee because now northern Sudan is going to be a different independent state from the south," he added, without mentioning figures. Analysts say alternative plans for a pipeline from South Sudan to Kenya could take years to build and be very expensive. Amum said the north would need time to diversify its economy to cover the disappearance of revenues originating in the south. "It is suspected that they will come and ask southern Sudan to grant them some money to be able to meet their needs before they do that (adjust their economy). We are ready to discuss that because we are interested in their stability," he said.— Agencies

Horrific details emerge in German incest case Father raped daughter on her 12th birthday KOBLENZ: The father first raped his daughter on her 12th birthday, after the other children had left her party, prosecutors said as a stomach-turning incest case opened in western Germany. The 48-year-old German, identified only as Detlef S in line with privacy rules, sat stone-faced Tuesday at the state court in Koblenz as Judge Winfried Hedge read aloud a letter written by his daughter, now 18. "You made my life a living hell," she wrote. Detlef S. is charged with 350 counts of sexual abuse - tormenting his daughter, stepdaughter and stepson for over 20 years.

He also faces 35 other sexual counts for forcing the two girls to have sex with other men for money. He faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. No plea

was entered as the trial opened, which is normal for German proceedings, but defense attorney Thomas Dueber read a statement in which the defendant admitted to fathering his stepdaughter's seven children. Prosecutors said before the trial that DNA samples confirmed that. An eighth child died before DNA tests could be done.

Detlef S first began molesting his daughter when she was nine, and after the 12th birthday party he regularly sexually assaulted her, prosecutors told the court, the DAPD news agency reported.

He had already been abusing his twin stepchildren, who are now 28, starting in 1987 when they were only four years old, until 2010, according to the indictment. Attorney Katharina Hellwig, who

KOBLENZ AM RHEIN: Defendant Detlef S (left) speaks to his lawyer Thomas Dueber in the regional court in Koblenz, western Germany. — AFP

represents the stepdaughter, said she had been hoping the father would confess so that her client would not have to take the stand and relate her story.

Instead, judges cleared the courtroom of spectators and heard the stepdaughter's testimony behind closed doors.

After that testimony, the judge said prosecutors are also investigating whether the suspect assaulted a daughter he had with his stepdaughter in 2004. Bjoern B, the stepson, left the trial after about an hour, appearing shaken.

He told reporters he had heard "terrible stuff" in the courtroom but felt it was necessary to be there. "I wanted to give my sister strength to go on with this," he said. "We are in this together, and together we are trying to have the strength to live through this. It would make no sense to do this alone." Detlef S, a truck driver who lived in the small town of Fluterschen, near Bonn, did not address the court himself. He has been in custody since August after his daughter came forward to authorities. Outside the court, Dueber said his client was not admitting the charges against him. "He acknowledged paternity ... but paternity is not part of the indictment," Dueber said. "He's innocent until proven guilty."

The trial resumed yesterday, and a verdict could come as early as the end of this month. Two of the men who paid to have sex with his daughters also face charges and will be tried separately.

Germany's Bild newspaper has called the suspect the "German Fritzl" - a reference to Europe's most infamous case of incest. Austrian Josef Fritzl was found guilty in 2009 of locking his daughter in a dungeon for 24 years and fathering seven children with her. He is serving a life sentence.— AP

ROME: Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi (right) meets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in Rome yesterday. — AP

Berlusconi’s woes likely to lead to early elections PM clings on despite outrage over sex charges ROME: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is likely to dig in his heels after being ordered to stand trial but ultimately he will not be able to stem the tide heading toward early elections, commentators said yesterday. "Objectively speaking, Berlusconi is worn down and gasping for breath," wrote Massimo Franco, a leading political commentator for the Corriere della Sera newspaper. In perhaps the hardest blow in a string of judicial problems, a judge ordered Berlusconi to stand trial in April on charges of paying an underage girl for sex and abuse of office for intervening with police to get her freed from custody. He has so far not commented on the indictment but his lieutenants have blasted the trial order as what they call another calculated move by leftist magistrates to destroy his political career.

But the momentum against him seems to be building. The trial date was set two days after hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated throughout the country demanding his immediate resignation. "Berlusconi is now in a defensive position and (the court order) breathes electoral hope into an opposition that smells a precious opportunity to beat him," Franco said. Another influential commentator, Stefano Folli of the economic daily Il Sole 24 Ore, said: "It's obvious that the legislature is over and parliament is heading towards a paraly-

sis." The timing of elections before the next scheduled national vote in 2013 depends how long Berlusconi's increasingly fragile coalition can stick together, commentators said.

The sex scandal has riveted Italy and, commentators say, caused untold damage to the country's image abroad.

Much will depend on the position of the Northern League and its mercurial leader Umberto Bossi. Bossi, speaking after centre-right leaders held crisis talks with Berlusconi on Tuesday night, was quoted as telling the prime minister that "the moment is difficult but I am standing by you". Commentators say Bossi is biding his time until federalists reforms are in place to placate his northern constituents and then will pull the plug on the coalition, as he did in 1994 when he provoked the collapse of Berlusconi's first government.

EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF "Let's get federalism passed and then it's every man for himself," the La Repubblica newspaper quoted Bossi as telling his lieutenants before Tuesday night's meeting. Berlusconi's legal problems have added a complicating factor to a political situation already tangled by a split in the People of Freedom coalition last year, which left Berlusconi barely clinging to power.

The government survived a no-confi-

dence motion in parliament in December by a small margin. Since then, Berlusconi has gradually built up support by winning over deputies from smaller centrist parties and splinter formations. Italian media have been dominated for weeks by the alleged prostitution affair, which turns on the case of a teenaged Moroccan nightclub dancer named Karima el Mahroug, whose stage name Ruby has become a household term in Italy. Prosecutors say they have ample evidence that Berlusconi paid el Mahroug for sex when she was under 18 - an offence in Italy-and also telephoned a police station to pressure officers to release her after she was held on theft allegations.

She denies having sex with Berlusconi but admits receiving at least 7,000 euros ($9,500) after attending a party at the premier's luxurious private residence at Arcore near Milan.

Berlusconi has denied doing anything illegal in the case and says he has been targeted by politically motivated judges backed by the left who are determined to bring him down. He says he has never paid for sex and says that when he telephoned the Milan police station it was because he believed El Mahroug to be the granddaughter of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and he wanted to avoid a diplomatic incident. — Reuters

Defector fabricated ‘WMD intel’ LONDON: An Iraqi defector made up claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction to help topple his government, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported yesterday. The defector, Rafid Ahmed Alwan Al-Janabi, said in an interview with the Guardian that he had fabricated claims of mobile biological weapons and clandestine factories made to German intelligence officials throughout 2000. Former US President George W Bush and other high US officials cited the threat posed by Iraqi biological weapons as justification for the US-led invasion in 2003. No such weapons were found and years of political and sectarian bloodshed followed In Iraq, resulting in more than 100,000 mostly civilian deaths. "Maybe I was right, maybe I was not right," Janabi, codenamed "Curveball" by US and German intelligence officials, told

the newspaper. "I had a problem with the Saddam regime," he said. "I wanted to get rid of him and now I had this chance."

The information from Janabi formed the basis of a 2003 speech by former US Secretary of State Colin Powell before the United Nations Security Council. The Guardian said Janabi had told a German official about mobile bioweapons trucks during 2000. The German secret service, the BND, which had identified Janabi as a Baghdadbased chemical engineer, approached him in March of that year and again in 2002 looking for inside information about Iraq. "They gave me this chance. I had the chance to fabricate something to topple the regime," Janabi said.

"Believe me, there was no other way to bring about freedom to Iraq. There were no other possibilities."— Reuters

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Qaeda militant-turned-witness released NEW YORK: A US man who aided Al-Qaeda and helped train the lead London suicide bomber whose attacks killed 52 people has been free for two years, released in virtual secret after cooperating with US prosecutors, court documents show.

A naturalized US citizen from Pakistan, Mohammed Junaid Babar, 35, once faced charges that could have led to a 70-year prison sentence, had he been convicted at trial. But he walked free after less than five years in prison upon pleading guilty and becoming a star witness for British and American prosecutors.

Babar’s release was kept quiet by the US government and came as a surprise to many security experts. His release was reported in Britain’s Guardian newspaper over the weekend, citing US court documents. The documents, made public in January, show Babar was sentenced in

December to time served by US District Court Judge Victor Marrero and that he had already been released under unspecified conditions two years earlier.

At the hearing, Babar’s defense attorney, Daniel Ollen, said Babar had been released more than two years earlier pending his sentencing.

Babar became a star witness when he helped investigators lock up militant plotters, including five men arrested in 2004 in Britain with explosive material. He also testified in another trial in Canada, and shared valuable intelligence with authorities.

While the US justice system often gives criminals lighter sentences in exchange for testifying against former cohorts, the practice is rare with suspects accused of serious terrorism offenses.

“Babar is unique because we don’t have many cooperators,” said Karen Greenberg, executive

director of New York University School of Law’s Center on Law and Security. “We don’t really have another one in his category that we know of.”

Babar was arrested in New York City in April 2004 and pleaded guilty to serious terrorism charges a few months later, when he struck a deal with US prosecutors in Manhattan-he would testify against other militants and they would recommend a lower sentence.

He admitted to setting up an Al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan and helping some British militants he met there obtain materials that they planned to use in a bomb in Britain. It was later discovered that Mohammed Sidique Khan, the leader of the July 7, 2005, suicide bomb attacks that killed 52 commuters on London’s transport system, attended Babar’s camp in Pakistan.

“Over the last six and a half years the level of

assistance provided by Babar to both the United States government and foreign governments has been more than substantial. It has been extraordinary,” Ollen quoted a government letter as saying, according to a court transcript.

Babar testified at a trial in London against men accused in March 2004 of plotting a bomb attack.

The men had trained at Babar’s camp, where he had taught them bomb-making skills. They were arrested in the so-called Operation Crevice. In April, suspected militant Syed Hashmi pleaded guilty to terrorism charges after discovering Babar would have testified against him. Hashmi was later sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Manhattan federal court judge.

Babar must cooperate with investigators in future cases in exchange for remaining free but he has not been placed in a witness protection program, Ollen said. — Reuters

Cuba fights latest US invasion-on the net Government declares digital war on ‘cyberdissidents’

DULUTH: Shelton Haynes (right) kisses son Jamir, while visiting the home of Haynes’ parents in Duluth, Ga. The nation’s blacks are leaving big cities in the Northeast and Midwest at the highest levels in decades. — AP

In a reversal, more blacks moving back to US South WASHINGTON: The Great Migration, the

60-year escape from segregation and racism that brought American blacks to the North, has reversed course. Better jobs and quality of life in the South are beckoning, as is the lure of something more intangible - a sense of home. “It’s no coincidence that the shift is happening as we encounter economic turmoil that is being felt disproportionately among blacks, such as mortgage foreclosures, loss of jobs and economic devastation in major Northern hubs,” said Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau.

“With major changes and less racial devastation in the South, people are finding their way back.” The nation’s black population grew by roughly 1.7 million over the last decade. About 75 percent of that growth occurred in the South - primarily metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Charlotte, North Carolina. That’s up from 65 percent in the 1990s, according to the latest census estimates. The gains came primarily at the expense of Northern metro areas such as New York and Chicago, which posted their first declines in black population since at least 1980.

Illinois had its first decline in the black population in the state’s history, with the number of African-Americans decreasing by 1.3 percent since 2000, according to official 2010 census figures released Tuesday. In all, about 57 percent of US blacks now live in the South, a jump from the 53 percent share in the 1970s, according to an analysis of census data

by William H Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution. It was the surest sign yet of a sustained reverse migration to the South following the exodus of millions of blacks to the Midwest, Northeast and West in the Great Migration from

1910 to 1970. “The Great Migration of millions of disenfranchised blacks from the South to Northern cities has now completely turned around,” Frey said.

“Blacks now look to states like Georgia, Texas and North Carolina as the places with the most promise in the 21st century - a prospect that would have been unimaginable a generation ago.”

The converts include Shelton Haynes, 33, a housing manager in Atlanta. He grew up in New York City and lived in Harlem for many years with his wife and two children before growing weary of the cost of living and hectic pace.

After considering other places in the South such as Charlotte, the two settled on Atlanta, where Haynes’ brother, sisterin-law and parents now also live. “We have a great support network of family and friends here, and there is good community involvement, with our kids involved in swimming, tennis and basketball,” Haynes said. “In Atlanta, I also see a lot of African-Americans do very well in a variety of professions, so it was good to see things changing.”

The findings, based on 2009 data, are expected to be highlighted in official 2010 results that show changes in nonHispanic black populations in states such as Texas, New York, Georgia and Florida.

Illinois’ official 2010 data was released Tuesday. The recent census figures for blacks refer to non-Hispanic blacks, which the Census Bureau began calculating separately in 1980.

Historically, the South was home to roughly 90 percent of the nation’s blacks from 1790 until 1910, when AfricanAmericans began to migrate northward to escape racism and seek jobs in industrial centers such as Detroit, New York and Chicago during World War I. — AP

US ‘voluntary’ immigration program not so voluntary WASHINGTON: A voluntary program to run all criminal suspects’ fingerprints through an immigration database was only voluntary until cities refused to participate, thousands of recently released documents show. The Obama administration then tightened the rules so that US cities had no choice but to have the fingerprints checked. The documents made public by the Homeland Security Department provide a behind-thescenes glimpse of how the administration scrambled to quiet the criticisms and negative publicity surrounding the immigration enforcement program known as Secure Communities.

The administration rewrote the program’s participation rules, the documents show, considered withholding federal funding and FBI information from resisters and eventually dug up case law to justify requiring cooperation.

Throughout the turmoil, according to the documents, top officials knew they would get local resistance and were advised in late 2009 that the fingerprints could be checked against the immigration database without local buy-in. “The SC (Secure Communities) initiative will remain voluntary at the state and local

level. Until such time as localities begin to push back on participation, we will continue with this current line of thinking,” according to an email written by Randi Greenberg, the communications and outreach chief of the program and sent to several people whose names DHS blacked out before releasing the documents. The pushback came.

Washington, DC; Cook County, Illinois; Santa Clara, California; Arlington, Virginia; San Francisco; Philadelphia; and the states of Oregon, Washington, Minnesota and Colorado either raised questions or tried to avoid participating, according to the documents. The communities are only a small percentage of more than 1,000 that willingly became part of the program or didn’t oppose the state signing them up with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

By fall of last year, ICE decided local officials could not stop immigration officials from culling the fingerprints. The locals could only refuse to receive the information from the federal government on the immigration status of people they were holding in their jails. Local officials, however, still had to hold noncitizens for ICE if asked. — AP

HAVANA : It is 50 years since the last USbacked invasion of Cuba but the island’s communist leaders believe another one has begun-not on the shores of the Bay of Pigs as in 1961, but in the virtual world of the Internet. Cuba fears “cyberdissidents” could use Twitter, Facebook and other online social networks to undermine the government. Its concern has taken on added significance since the same communication tools were used by protesters in Egypt to help topple long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak last week.

A leaked video recently posted on the web (http://vimeo.com/19402730) shows a Cuban intelligence Internet expert telling interior ministry officials that the new cyber opposition is a more serious threat than the island’s traditional dissidents. The authorities are worried about people like Claudia Cadelo, a fraillooking 27-year teacher of French who created Octavo Cerco (www.octavocerco.blogspot.com), one of about 30 blogs critical of the government written inside Cuba. “Social networks have become a new weapon for civil society,” she told Reuters in an interview. “They don’t want the social networks to spread because they are aware of the danger that poses to a totalitarian government which hides the truth from its people.”

Given Cuba’s low rate of Internet connectivity, the tweets Cadelo types into her mobile phone don’t reach many Cubans. But that could change as Cuba gains access to broadband Internet and mulls the pros and cons of granting wider access.

After initially blocking public access to some critical websites, the Cuban government has switched strategy and unleashed an anti-dissident counter-attack by a legion of some 1,000 pro-government “revolutionary” bloggers. From his office in the headquarters of Cuba’s state telephone company ETECSA, journalist and blogger Manuel Henriquez is on the front lines of that official offensive. “There is evidently an intention to attack Cuba through the Internet. And of course Cuba has the right to defend itself,” said the 47-year-old author of the blog Cambios en Cuba (http://cambiosencuba.blogspot.com).

“It is an old war and this is its latest expression. What these (opposition) bloggers are looking for is to demonize the country, create an image of a repression that doesn’t exist and later on allows justifying laws and block-

ades.” Bloggers like Henriquez take aim at Cuba’s cyberdissidents, led by prominent critic Yoani Sanchez and her Generacion Y blog.

They accuse the critics of being financed by the US government, Cuba’s ideological foe,

HAVANA: In this picture released by Cuban official website www.cubadebate.cu, the former President Fidel Castro attend a meeting with writers in Havana. — AFP

and often post damaging rumors about their personal lives. Experts say the Internet is offering Cuban dissidents unprecedented room for political debate, but that the transforming potential of Twitter and other social networks depends heavily on connectivity levels. In Tunisia, the cradle of recent protests that have rocked the Arab world, 19 percent of the population was on Facebook, but Internet access in Cuba is restricted by the government. “It’s worth asking what percent of Cubans have regular Internet access.

Access to mobile phones. If those numbers are low, it’s unlikely these are the most effective organizing channels,” said Ethan Zuckerman, senior researcher at Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

Wilfredo Cancio, a Cuban exile journalist who publishes a Cuban affairs web site Cafe Fuerte (http://cafefuerte.com/) in Miami sees a “Cold War” mentality in the Cuban government’s declared digital offensive against cyber opponents. “I think the government is betting on winning this battle, above all from the control perspective,” he said. Cuba, the

Caribbean’s biggest island, has a population of 11 million, and last reported 1.6 million people online, but they mostly only have access to a government-sanctioned intranet that does not permit links to Twitter or Facebook.

Mobile telephony has grown dramatically since it was legalized three years ago, but costs are high for ordinary Cubans. Cadelo says she pays the equivalent of $1 every time she tweets by sending a text message to a number in Britain. A fiber-optic submarine cable hook ing Cuba to its socialist ally Venezuela could soon increase the island’s data transfer speed by 3,000 times. Cuba’s government says the long-standing US embargo has been the main obstacle to Internet penetration and that there are no “political obstacles” to opening up the Internet to the broader public. But they say for the time being they cannot afford to install the needed wider infrastructure.

Ted Henken, a Cuba analyst at City University of New York, thinks Cuban authorities may try to emulate the Chinese model of opening up the Internet while controlling information flow. “Using these technologies to spark anti-government protests is impossible now given the low penetration, access and use ... But this is likely to change in the future as the government tries to benefit economically from broadband,” he said. On the leaked government video, the Cuban Internet expert said the United States was smuggling satellite phones into Cuba to provide dissidents with unrestricted access to the web. Alan Gross, a US government subcontractor held in Havana and accused of introducing such devices into Cuba, is awaiting trial and faces up to 20 years in jail on charges of “crimes against the security of the state.”

In the video, the Cuban official called Gross a “mercenary”, comparing him to the CIA-backed Cuban exiles who invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1961. Henriquez, the pro -government blogger, says the United States is trying to export a cyber rebellion model promoted in places like Iran.

“But it isn’t going to work whether there is Internet or not. A Twitter message isn’t itself a reason to mobilize,” he said. Cadelo, however, says it is just a matter of time. “ The Internet is going to get to the people. They can’t avoid that. A war against the Internet is a lost war,” she said. — Reuters

Mexico gunmen kill US customs agent MEXICO CITY: Gunmen shot dead a US customs and immigration agent and wounded another on Tuesday in Mexico, where violence between powerful drug cartels and security forces has surged. The two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were driving north on Mexico’s main highway on official business when they were attacked in broad daylight. It was not immediately clear why they were targeted.

The US government condemned the attack, which came just over two weeks after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned Mexico’s drug cartels not to take their violent tactics across the border. “Any act of violence against our ICE personnel ... is an attack against all those who serve our nation and put their lives at risk for our safety,” Napolitano said in a statement after the agents were shot.

They were shot in the mid-afternoon south of the city of San Luis Potosi, which is roughly half way between Mexico City and Monterrey, the country’s business capital where drug-related violence has soared over the past year.

The two agents may have been ambushed after stopping at what appeared to be a military checkpoint, said a Mexican official who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Mexican drug cartels have been known to set up official-look-

ing checkpoints, and the official said security forces had no checkpoints in the area. Television footage showed a blue sports utility vehicle with several large bullet holes lying in the median of the highway, which was guarded by heavily armed Mexican federal police.

The US agents were rushed to a hospital where one died of his injuries. The second agent, who was shot in the arm and the leg, remains hospitalized, ICE said.

More than 15,000 people were killed in drug violence in Mexico last year but, despite growing domestic criticism of President Felipe Calderon’s army-led strategy, the government has vowed to press on with its campaign to crush the cartels. T he violence has alarmed Washington, which worries that the fighting could spill over the border.

It has also prompted some companies to reconsider plans to invest in Mexico. The United States has provided funds and training to help Mexico in its fight against the cartels and intelligence from US law enforcement sources is credited with helping Mexico kill and capture several cartel leaders in recent years.

Attacks on Mexican police by drug gangs are common but US government employees are rarely targeted despite Washington’s strong support of Calderon. San Luis Potosi is home to a federal

police academy and has not experienced many drug war killings, but gangs have been moving in to use it as a base for trafficking operations to the north. Monterrey, Guadalajara and other Mexican cities once far from the front lines of the drug war have seen a recent spike in killings. ICE said the two men were the first of its agents shot in the line of duty in Mexico.

If there is any evidence that drug gangs targeted the two agents, it would mark an escalation in the conflict. “What we would hope is that there would be an incredibly strong response from the US government ... Otherwise we

could have a situation where it’s open season on US federal agents at the border,” said Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington.

Enrique Camarena, an undercover US Drug Enforcement Administration agent, was kidnapped, tortured and murdered while on assignment in Mexico in 1985. More recently, two US citizens and a Mexican linked to staff at the US consulate in Ciudad Juarez were killed in March last year, prompting the State Department to tighten security at its diplomatic missions in northern Mexico. — Reuters

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Silent anger over killing of sisters in Kashmir SOPORE: Inside her dingy one-room home in this apple-rich town in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, a middle aged mother writhed in grief at the killing of her two teenage daughters, allegedly by rebels fighting Indian rule.

Outside, in the rest of disputed Kashmir, the killings drew only silent anger and quiet condemnation. While a similar killing blamed on government forces two years ago triggered massive unrest and demands for freedom that enveloped Kashmir, this latest violence has brought a far more muted reaction.

The rebels inspire a mixture of hero worship and fear among many in the predominantly Muslim Kashmir, where militants have fought Hindu majority India since 1989 to gain independence or a merger with neighboring Pakistan.

At least 68,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in the uprising and subsequent Indian crackdown. “They are freedom fighters who sacrifice their lives for our collective honor and dignity. We don’t support killings but we support the cause they are fighting for,” said Shabir, a Sopore shopkeeper who gave only one name for fear of reprisals.

The two-decade-long armed rebellion has waned but anger against Indian rule still runs deep. Over the past three summers, Kashmir has erupted in huge street protests, leading to the deaths of nearly 180 people,

mostly in firing by police and paramilitary soldiers. Despite the government crackdown, residents have little fear of protesting against government forces.

The 2009 death of two sisters-in-law in the town of Shopian sparked months of street demonstrations. Residents accused troops of rape and murder and government agencies of a coverup.

A federal investigation, widely disbelieved here, claimed the women’s drowning in the shallow stream a kilometer apart was an accident. The rebels rarely target women. However, on a cold night in Sopore on Jan. 31, attackers carrying automatic rifles whisked Arifa, 17, and Akhtara, 19, away from their home. Police say the men were rebels, though their mother, Fracha Begum, has said only that they were gunmen. “I pleaded at their feet to forgive my daughters if they had committed any mistake,” she said. Less than an hour later, police recovered their bodies riddled with bullets about a mile away. Violence is familiar to the family.

One cousin was shot and killed by Indian forces while hoisting a Pakistani flag on that country’s independence day, and another was among at least 50 killed during a siege of the town by the government forces in 1993. Five women, relatives and neighbors, who could hardly fit in the crammed room

that serves as the family’s kitchen, dining room and bedroom tried consoling the grieving mother, as she lamented why the gunmen refused to spare even one of the daughters.

Indian-controlled Kashmir’s top elected official, took to Twitter to condemn the killings. “They were at least four militants and we have identified three.

We’re trying to establish the motive

SOPORE: Fracha Begum (right) cries while narrating killing of her two daughters by suspected rebels as her son Ghulam Jeelani sobs at their home in Sopore. — AP Her painful shrieks triggered silent tears from her lone surviving child, 16year-old Ghulam Jeelani. “They (his sisters) did not even attend school. What could they have done to warrant this?” he sobbed. Police were quick to blame the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group for the killings. Before the family even got their bodies home, Omar Abdullah,

behind the killings,” said Altaf Ahmad Khan, Sopore’s police chief. Lashkar denied involvement and separatist political groups in Kashmir condemned the killings.

Yet residents seem convinced the rebels killed the sisters for their alleged association with government forces deployed in the town, and militants

had warned them at least twice before.

Militants have also warned other women against working with the intelligence agencies through handwritten bills with the names of the accused spies pasted throughout town.

“Women are being used to spy on militants. In the last one month alone they (militants) questioned six girls in the area and warned them to stop such activities,” said a local resident who has been arrested twice as an alleged militant sympathizer and spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for his safety.

The killings of the sisters is the first such incident in a town known as a bastion of separatist politics and militants. While people are angry about the killings, very few attended the sisters’ funeral out of support for the militants and fear of being branded themselves as government supporters.

“When separatist leaders condemned the killings, only then did we visit the family for condolence,” said a retired teacher who wished not to be named for fear of reprisal.

Yet five days later, when army soldiers killed a man in the adjacent town of Handwara, thousands took to the streets in protests against Indian rule that subsided only when police registered a murder case against an army unit and Abdullah visited the family to apologize. — AP

India PM fights ‘lame duck’ tag Cornered PM vows to press on despite scandals

LAHORE: Supporters of Pakistani religious party Jamat-e-Islami attend a rally against Raymond Allen Davis, a US consulate employee suspected in a shooting in Lahore. — AP

Taleban warns Islamabad against releasing American Kerry tries to soothe US-Pakistan dispute ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Al-Qaedalinked Taleban warned the government it would punish any move to release a US consulate employee accused of murdering two Pakistanis in a case that has further strained ties with Washington. US Senator John Kerry was due in Pakistan as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to resolve the crisis. Raymond Davis, the US consular employee jailed in the Pakistani city of Lahore for shooting two Pakistanis last month, says he acted in self-defense during an armed robbery.

Washington says Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released but the Pakistani government, fearful of a backlash from Pakistanis already wary of the United States and enraged by the shooting, says the matter should be decided in court. “If (Pakistani) rulers hand him over to America then we will target these rulers. If Pakistani courts cannot punish Davis then they should hand him over to us,” said Pakistani Taleban spokesman Azam Tariq.

“We will give exemplary punishment to the killer Davis.” Today, the United States is expected to present a petition to a Lahore court to certify that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released. The warning from the Taleban, which has kept up suicide bombings to destabilize the government despite

ISLAMABAD: US Senator John Kerry (left) meets Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad yesterday. — AP army offensives, underscores the charged atmosphere surrounding the case.

Pakistan, one of the largest nonNATO recipients of American military aid, is loathe to risk losing US support by keeping Davis in jail but also fears antagonizing Islamist groups who see the government as a US puppet.

The issue has become a lightning rod for anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, which the United States

counts as an important, if unreliable, ally in its war against militancy.

Davis’ fate is certain to come up when Kerry, the influential chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and member of President Barack Obama’s Democratic party, meets Pakistani officials.

A police report obtained by Reuters said that Davis’ assertions that he acted in self-defence were “apparently not correct”. — Reuters

India probes death of underworld don MUMBAI: Indian police yesterday said they were investigating the death in Thailand of a senior gangland figure wanted over the murder of a lawyer who represented a Mumbai attacks suspect. Bharat Nepali was suspected of masterminding the murder of Shahid Azmi, who was acting for one of three men accused of involvement in the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Azmi was shot dead in February last year by armed men who burst into his office in a city suburb. Police said at the time that the killing was not connected to the trial.

“We have got some information that he (Nepali) has been killed,” a senior city police official told AFP on condition of anonymity, after the Times of India daily said the 44-year-old Mumbai underworld don was shot dead in Bangkok. The officer confirmed that he was killed in November last year but did not com-

ment on the newspaper’s claim that the delay in identifying Nepali was because he had been living in the Thai capital under his real name. The Times of India said rumors of Kathmandu-born Nepali’s death had been circulating for the last two months but police had only just received confirmation from their Thai counterparts.

The daily said he had been living under his real name Bhagwant Bharat Singh in Thailand and was shot dead at a Bangkok market by two gunmen as he visited an associate’s electrical shop. It suggested the killing may have been carried out by the Chhota Rajan gang, one of several underworld outfits that had a grip on India’s financial and entertainment capital in the 1980s and 1990s until a police crackdown.

Nepali was a former member but left to set up his own gang. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said yesterday he was “dead serious” about fighting high-level corruption as he staged a televised fightback after a run of debilitating scandals. The 78-year-old took to the airwaves to face a live grilling from Indian news editors in a risky move designed to combat months of bad publicity that have undermined his “Mr Clean” reputation. Singh, the pioneer of India’s dramatic economic reforms in the 1990s, accepted corruption had damaged his government and acknowledged that some people were now calling him a “lame duck”.

“I regret that these irregularities have happened, they should not have happened,” he said during the 75minute inquisition, most of which he spent on the backfoot in the face of some unusually aggressive questioning. Singh’s centre-left coalition government, led by his Congress party, has been lambasted over corruption in the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October and the allegedly fraudulent sale of mobile phone licenses. “I wish to assure you and the country as a whole that our government is dead serious about bringing to book all the wrongdoers regardless of the position they might occupy,” Singh said.

He said he had never considered quitting and would “stay the course”, urging critics to consider India’s impressive economic performance-growth will be 8.5 percent in the year to March, he said-and growing diplomatic clout. “We should not create a situation where the country loses its sense of self-confidence,” he said in one of several pleas to the media not to exaggerate the problems faced by the government.

Analysts were split over his performance, with some saying it might help to clear the air while others said it smacked of desperation and would be unlikely to convince voters. “The PM could have used this platform to deliver a strong statement to garner public support and silence the opposition but he failed to do so,” said Ajay Sindu, an independent political analyst based in New Delhi. Singh only once referred to the government’s forward agenda, insisting that “we have not lost the will to take difficult reformist decisions... the agenda is there.”

RK Dhawan, a political science professor at Delhi University, said Singh was “frank and candid” during questions from the mostly young and often outspoken anchors from India’s raucous cable news channels. The premier was repeatedly asked about inflation amid growing evidence that the rising cost of living is adding to the damage to him and his government just 18 months after their resounding re-election. “It is certainly true that in recent months inflation and food inflation in particular have been a problem. We want to deal with it in a manner that the growth rhythm is not disturbed,” he said. By March, inflation should be down to 7.0 percent from 8.23 percent in January, he said, with a string of interest rate hikes by the central bank expected to cool the economy.

A weekend poll of 2,500 people in eight cities, pub-

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lished in the Times of India newspaper, showed rising frustration over corruption and inflation-bad news for Singh’s Congress party ahead of five state elections this year. An overwhelming 83 percent of respondents said corruption was at an all-time high, and six out of seven respondents blamed the Congress-led national government or state administrations-or both-for inflation costs.

Singh’s most uncomfortable moment came when he was asked why he had reappointed former telecom minister A. Raja to his cabinet despite complaints about the the fraud-tainted mobile phone license sales in 2008.

Raja was arrested earlier this month and remains in police custody as investigators probe what could be India’s biggest-ever corruption scandal. The sale of licenses at a fraction of their value could have cost the treasury up to $40 billion, according to the national auditor, though Singh questioned this figure. Raja, he pointed out, was from a regional party included in his coalition government and was that party’s preferred candidate for the cabinet berth.

“I had no reason to feel anything seriously wrong had been done,” he said. Singh was the surprise choice as prime minister when Congress returned to power in 2004, going on to win a second term in 2009 with a convincing election victory. — AFP

China growing military worries India NEW DELHI: India’s defense minister yesterday expressed “serious concern” over China’s growing military might and vowed that the government in New Delhi would further bolster its own forces. China and India have long-standing border disputes in the Himalayas, but have publicly vowed to tackle their differences through peaceful negotiations rather than conflict. “The modernization of armed forces in China and its ever-increasing military spending is a matter of serious concern,” AK Antony told reporters at a security conference in New Delhi.

“But we are not unduly worried because we also will have to modernize and strengthen our armed forces.”

India has beefed up its military presence along the China border

with thousands of extra combat troops, armor and expanded airbases. India says China is illegally occupying 38,000 square kilometers of its northwestern territory, while Beijing claims a 90,000-square-kilometre chunk of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. India and China have held several rounds of inconclusive talks to resolve the dispute, which led them to a brief but bitter war in 1962.

Controversial British aid In another development, India is happy to accept British development aid, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said yesterday amid a row over whether the booming Asian giant needs help from its former colonial master. Andrew Mitchell, Britain’s international development secretary, triggered a

domestic furor this week when he said he intended to maintain 280 million pounds ($449 million, 332 million euros) of aid for India every year until 2015. Indian politicians have said the country’s nearly nine percent growth rate means it can cope without the British money, while critics in London say budgetslashing Britain should not be helping a country that has a space program. “It is certainly true if aid is not forthcoming we will not collapse,” Singh told reporters in New Delhi.

But “India is still a poor country,” Singh said, adding that the nation has “the capacity to make good use of development assistance”. If India is being offered “concessional developmental support, I don’t see any reason why we should not... take it,” he said. —Agencies

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Malaysia bars Iranian singer for insulting Islam KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim-majority Malaysia has barred an Iranian singer from performing a concert later this week because his work has insulted Islam, authorities said yesterday. Mohsen Namjoo was scheduled to sing tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur, but a government panel that monitors shows by foreign artists rejected the plan because an

Iranian court had convicted the 34-yearold Namjoo in 2009 of "disrespecting religious sanctities" in a song that used verses from the Quran.

"It is not appropriate in terms of religion, culture and the country's cosmopolitan nature," Information Minister Rais Yatim said in a statement. An official from the government agency that over-

sees foreign acts said Namjoo's record "clearly shows he insulted the image of Islam." "If we approve it, it will cause dissatisfaction among the Muslim community in Malaysia," the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.

An Iranian court in 2009 sentenced Namjoo in absentia to five years in

prison over a song leaked online that was accused of ridiculing the Quran.

Namjoo, who was then based in Austria, has reportedly denied intending any disrespect, insisting the song was never meant for public release. Namjoo, who plays the sitar and guitar, is known for folk songs that sometimes blend classical poetry with satirical lyrics. He has

performed various shows in the United States in recent years. Advertisements for Namjoo's planned Malaysian concert at a major auditorium were placed on his website last year, but it was not clear how many tickets were sold. A representative for the concert organizers in Kuala Lumpur declined to immediately comment.—AP

North Korea marks Kim’s birthday amid hardship SEOUL: North Korea urged its citizens yesterday to rally around Kim Jong Il on his 69th birthday, but the authoritarian leader apparently struggled to provide his people with promised gifts. In the past, Kim has marked his birthday by handing out luxury items and other goods meant to cement loyalty. This year, however, there were signs the country was skimping on the usual largesse and saving up for next year's 100th anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung's birth.

The North is eager to make good on its promise to build a "powerful, prosperous" nation by 2012. The North's authorities had promised to

dole out a day's worth of food to its 24 million people in the days leading up to Kim's 69th birthday, but a South Korean activist said yesterday that the country failed to do so. Ha Tae-keung, chief of Open Radio for North Korea, based his claim on a recorded phone conversation with a North Korean woman living near the border with China. The woman, who spoke in a thick North Korean accent, said her family had not received any Kim birthday gifts. Ha's organization declined to identify the woman, citing worries about her safety.

North Korean diplomats have been asking for food aid when meeting offi-

PYONGYANG: Synchronized swimmers perform to a song praising Kim Jong Un, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the celebration marking the birthday of leader Kim. — AP

cials in foreign countries, a South Korean intelligence official said. North Korea's food shortage is grave, and the North is likely looking to stockpile food to distribute to citizens next year, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters. Still, the North's propaganda machine was busy yesterday, calling for loyalty to Kim. The head of parliament told a national meeting on the eve of Kim's birthday that all North Korean soldiers, officials and people "should remain loyal to the monolithic leadership of Kim Jong Il" and build a "great, prosperous and powerful nation," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Kim's birthday is one of the most important holidays in North Korea, along with the birthday of his father, the country's founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Il took over after his father died of heart failure in 1994.

Kim suffered a reported stroke in 2008 and is apparently moving to hand over power to his third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un. The son believed to be in his late 20s - made his international debut late last year by taking up a slew of political jobs. It's not immediately known what specific role the son has taken in preparation for his father's birthday. In the capital Pyongyang, streams of uniformed soldiers, citizens and children offered bouquets of flowers and bowed before a giant statue of Kim Il Sung, according to footage from AP Television News service.

"We are greeting the 16th of February, an important holiday in our country, completely sure that the day of becoming a powerful and prosperous country ... will definitely come, under the leadership of our respected General Kim Jong Il," Yun Kum Sun, a Pyongyang citizen, said at Mansu Hill, which overlooks the city. A giant portrait of Kim and replicas of automatic rifles and rockets with the North's national flag were set up near the flowers with a sign reading "Let's fight desperately to safeguard (Kim)." — AP

Aging Japan urged to ease immigration rules TOKYO: Japan must completely revise its immigration rules to deal with a shortage of labor in an ageing society or risk losing workers to China, whose population is also greying, Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said yesterday. Maehara said China, with its one-child policy, would become a "super-greying society" in the long term and could possibly look beyond its borders to secure labor, especially in nursing care, posing competition to Japan.

"If China cannot find enough workers in its own country, then they will look for workers from other Asian countries," Maehara said in a speech to a trade group. "When that sort of competition occurs, we have to wonder if people will come to Japan."

The Japanese government has long kept immigration to a minimum, partly from fears of a possible rise in crime. But the dearth of young people has forced Tokyo to rethink its attitude to foreign workers, especially for nursing care as it faces a growing need for care givers for

the elderly. Since 2008, hundreds of Indonesian and Filipino nurses and care workers have entered Japan under Economic Partnership Agreements. But Maehara said very few of them have passed exams that would enable them to stay. Such workers must qualify for a nurse's license in Japanese within three years or leave the country.

The current system basically rejects foreign workers except for the status of trainee or student, Maehara said.

Language has been a big barrier for those taking the nursing exam, but Japanese people should also do their part to be more accepting of foreign workers, he said.

"Not only do those coming to Japan need to learn Japanese, but also elderly Japanese may need to learn English in order to receive care from them." Japan is the most rapidly ageing society in the world, with nearly one in four Japanese now aged 65 or over and the figure expected to reach 40 percent by 2050.— Reuters

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers her speech on 'Internet Rights And Wrongs: Choices & Challenges In A Networked World' at George Washington University. —AP

China faces Internet ‘dictator’s dilemma’ Clinton: Authoritarian Internet controls doomed WASHINGTON: China, Syria and others face a "dictator's dilemma" over Internet control and risk being left behind as the rest of the world embraces new technologies, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. Clinton, making her second major speech on Internet policy, said the recent Internet-fueled toppling of rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and protests in Iran, showed governments could not long pick and choose which freedoms to grant their citizens.

"We believe that governments who have erected barriers to Internet freedom-whether they're technical filters or censorship regimes or attacks on those who exercise their rights to expression and assembly online-will eventually find themselves boxed in," Clinton said in a speech at a Washington, DC university.

"They will face a dictator's dilemma, and will have to choose between letting the walls fall or paying the price to keep them standing," she said, saying these would include both further oppression and the opportunity cost of missing out on new economic and political ideas.

Clinton said the United States would push projects to help people evade government Internet limits, adding $25 million this year to $20 million already devoted to technologies, tools and training that can help break down barriers imposed by repressive governments.

Under Clinton, the US State Department has promoted Internet freedom as a basic human right, although it has also struggled with the consequences as it

seeks to control the damage wrought by the WikiLeaks release of thousands of classified US diplomatic cables.

Clinton acknowledged tensions over how the Internet is used, saying it threw up new questions over how to balance such competing priorities as transparency, confidentiality, free speech and security. But she stressed that while it was right to seek a code of conduct for Internet activity, this is no way should compromise commitment to free and open exchange over technology platforms such as Twitter and Facebook that are essentially neutral. "Iran isn't awful because the authorities used Facebook to shadow and capture members of the opposition; it is awful because it is a government that routinely violates the rights of its people," she said.

Clinton's forceful US stance on the Internet has led to friction with China and other countries including Syria, Burma and Cuba which the United States accuses of censoring online information and interfering with "the right to connect."

That clash was thrown into stark relief last year when search giant Google Inc threatened to quit China's market amid charges of hacking and censorship, though it later devised a work-around that it said both complied with Chinese law and its own commitment to users.

Clinton said China may now succeed in marrying Internet controls with high economic growth, but that its censor-

Japan whalers suspend hunt, cite harassment TOKYO: Japanese whalers have suspended their Antarctic hunt, citing harassment by environmentalists, and are considering ending their annual mission early, a fisheries agency official said yesterday. Activists from the US-based militant environmental group the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have pursued the Japanese fleet for months to stop its harpoon ships from killing the giant sea mammals. Japanese Fisheries Agency official Tatsuya Nakaoku said the factory ship "the Nisshin Maru, which has been chased by Sea Shepherd, has suspended operations since February 10 so as to ensure the safety" of the crew. "We are now studying the situation, including the possibility of cutting the mission early," he said, confirming media reports, but stressed that "nothing has been decided at this point". Prime Minister Naoto Kan's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, confirmed the temporary suspension and said the "Sea Shepherd's repeated sabotage is extremely deplorable", Kyodo News reported. The Jiji Press news agency said, without naming sources, that the government was considering calling the fleet home earlier than the usual

end of the annual expeditions, which would be in mid-March.

Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Television also said "the government is judging the situation so dangerous that it may cause casualties, and preparing to call back the fleet and ending the research whaling earlier than usual". A TBS newscaster added: "If the government does call back the fleet it would mean giving in to antiwhaling activists, which would affect other research whaling missions. The government will have to make a difficult decision."

Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson, speaking to AFP by satellite phone, gave a cautious welcome to the reports and confirmed that the Nisshin Maru was now sailing in waters far from the hunting area. "If that's true then it demonstrates that our tactics, our strategies have been successful," Watson said from his ship, the Steve Irwin. "I don't think they've gotten more than 30 whales... certainly they haven't got many whales at all."

Sea Shepherd activists have harassed whalers in recent years, moving their ships and inflatable and speed boats between the harpoon vessels and the sea mammals, and throwing stink and

ship policies still "threaten one day to become a noose that limits growth and development." "Governments that arrest bloggers, pry into the peaceful activities of their citizens, and limit their access to the Internet may claim to be seeking security. They may even mean it. But they are taking the wrong path," Clinton said.

"Those who clamp down on Internet freedom may be able to hold back the full expression of their people's yearnings for a while, but not forever." Despite Clinton's championing of the Internet, the State Department has nevertheless been criticized for not moving quickly enough to back up its rhetoric with action. Senator Richard Lugar, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday released a report saying that despite its rhetoric, the State Department has not moved quickly enough to fund censorship-busting applications.

"Recent delays in allocating preexisting funding, and the inept handling of an untested technology, have strengthened the hands of those governments, including China," the report said. Dan Baer, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labor, said there was no delay and that new monies were being carefully allocated as the United States pushes forward with its Internet agenda. "From our standpoint, things are on schedule," he said in an interview.— Reuters

Cyclone Carlos rocks Australia

AT SEA: The Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No 3 approaches the Sea Shepherd's high-speed trimaran Gojira during their in Southern Ocean, Antarctica. Fisheries agency official Tatsuya Nakaoku says Japan has halted the hunt after persistent disruptions by the anti-whaling protesters "to ensure safety." — AP paint bombs at the whaling ships. Watson was reluctant to claim victory but said that "every whale saved is a victory to us, so we've gotten a lot of victories down here this year". Another anti-whaling group, the US-based International Fund for Animal Welfare, said it welcomed the reports, in emailed comments from Patrick Ramage, director of IFAW's Global Whale Program. "We hope this is a first sign of Japanese government decision-makers recognizing there is no future for whaling in the 21st

century and that responsible whale watching, the only genuinely sustainable use of whales, is now the best way forward for a great nation like Japan," he said. Japan kills hundreds of whales a year under a loophole in a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling that allows "lethal research". The government has long defended the practice as part of the island-nation's culture and makes no secret of the fact that the meat ends up in restaurants.—AFP

DARWIN: A cyclone struck a glancing blow on Australia's main northern city yesterday, two weeks after a much stronger storm devastated another part of the weather-weary country. Cyclone Carlos knocked down trees and power lines and caused limited flooding as it passed by the city of Darwin with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 80 mph.

Schools, the airport and government buildings were closed, but officials said evacuations were not needed. Emergency services rescued several people from cars that stalled in floodwaters. One man was hospitalized after being injured by a falling tree, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

The storm passed as close as 2 miles to the city but stayed offshore. The Bureau of Meteorology warned it could circle back toward the city today but that the cyclone's path was proving erratic. Residents were warned to stay off the streets because of the blustery winds.

Police went door-to-door in several low-lying coastal suburbs telling people their properties could be

inundated by extra-high tides.

People stocked up on bottled water and food and queued at filling stations for fuel.

Police Commissioner John McRoberts said people should prepare for rough weather but that there was no need for people to evacuate. "I certainly recommend preparedness, but not panic and there is a very significant difference," he told reporters. Darwin is the unofficial capital of Australia's tropical "Top End," a vast, sparselypopulated zone that stretches for thousands of miles and that experiences some half-dozen cyclones a year. Cyclone Tracy destroyed the city and killed 71 people at Christmas in 1974, in one of the country's worst natural disasters. A much sturdier city was rebuilt under a stricter building code.

Cyclone Yasi, a category 5 storm that officials said was Australia's largest in a century, crashed ashore in northeastern Queensland state on Feb. 3, smashing scores of houses in coastal communities but causing no deaths. —AP

13

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US envoy wades into AfPak tangle

By Missy Ryan he Obama administration’s new Afghanistan and Pakistan envoy will face a daunting task as he seeks to advance US policy in a region where the United States is battling a bloody insurgency in one country and struggling to hold together a battered alliance in another. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to announce later this week her choice of retired diplomat Marc Grossman as replacement for Richard Holbrooke, the larger-than-life envoy who died after an aorta tear last year.

Grossman, who was US ambassador to Turkey in the 1990s and worked at the US embassy in Pakistan in the 1970s, becomes President Barack Obama’s special representative to the region as Washington looks to curtail its military role in Afghanistan despite violence that is at its highest level since 2001. In July, President Barack Obama will begin withdrawing some of the US force of nearly 100,000 from Afghanistan, a first step towards ending a decade of expensive war that has little support remaining in the West.

Grossman will also seek to repair ties with Pakistan, now strained almost to a breaking point over a US consulate worker locked in a Lahore jail for killing two Pakistanis, and to coax a fragile coalition government in Islamabad to stamp out militants hiding out along its border with Afghanistan. Both are tall orders that defied even Holbrooke, one of the most heavyweight US diplomats of his generation. Michael O’Hanlon, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said Grossman, who became a consultant after retiring from a senior State Department job in 2005, was “the right kind of person for the job -experienced, reasonably well known, very competent”. A former senior US diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Grossman was unlikely to stray from the official line, but said he was very bright and a “safe pair of hands”.

Grossman walks into a crowded, uneasy diplomatic field in Kabul, where US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and General David Petraeus, the politically minded commander of NATO forces, vie for influence and where American officials are increasingly estranged from President Hamid Karzai. “Afghanistan is keen to work closely with the new Afghanistan-Pakistan envoy in better coordination and understanding,” said Siamak Herawi, a spokesman for Karzai, whose relationship with Holbrooke was famously cool. “Afghanistan expects the new envoy to heed our people’s views and opinion,” Herawi said.

Karzai has drifted farther from the United States as he faces mounting criticism over rampant corruption and he becomes increasingly vocal about the West’s missteps in Afghanistan. Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghan Analysts Network, said Grossman may be in a position to relaunch the Karzai relationship without the baggage of the past. “But it is not only about this relationship. It is also about the US strategy for Afghanistan and the balance of influence ... the US military on one side and US diplomacy on the other side,” he said. “This needs to be re-balanced.”

Grossman’s appointment comes as Washington and Islamabad struggle through their worst diplomatic spat in recent history. US officials are demanding Pakistan release Raymond Davis, jailed last month for shooting two Pakistanis, on grounds the US consular employee is shielded by diplomatic immunity. But the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, already deeply unpopular and fearful of a backlash from Pakistanis enraged by the shooting, has so far deflected American pressure to intervene and said the matter must be decided in local courts.

Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general and columnist, said high-level diplomacy might help ease tension over Davis’ fate. “The situation has become too aggressive on both sides,” he said. The Obama administration dispatched influential Senator John Kerry to Pakistan on Tuesday, reflecting US fears about any precedent for trial of American officials in foreign courts. “I think it will be very difficult to pull together the cracks this has exposed in the US-Pakistan alliance (and for) the Americans to ask for anything else while the case is being resolved,” said Ahmed Rashid, an author and political analyst.

Even if the Davis crisis can be put to rest, Grossman will face major challenges in a nation rife with antiAmericanism, where years of US pressure, including from Holbrooke, for more action against Taliban and other militants launching attacks against US troops in Afghanistan have yielded few results. —Reuters

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Bahrain unrest may impact region

By Reed Stevenson ahrain may be tiny, and fairly insignificant as an oil producer, but nearly $10 billion parked in mutual funds in the kingdom mean plenty is at stake if protests inspired by Egypt and Tunisia spiral out of control. It is the Gulf Arab state seen as most vulnerable to unrest because of deep-rooted discontent among its majority Shiite population against the ruling Sunni dynasty, the AlKhalifas. The populace complains of economic hardships, lack of political freedoms and discrimination in jobs in favour of Sunnis.

This has always sat awkwardly with its status as a regional banking, trading and Islamic finance hub, but its advantages, as a diversified economy and relatively liberal society, have outweighed the risks - thus far. “If you’re trying to set yourself as a financial hub you need to provide security and stability above all else,” said Sven Richter, managing director and head of frontier markets at Renaissance Asset Management. So far there is no sign of money leaving. The stock market is flat this week and funds say they are still waiting to see how protests, in which two people have died this week, play out.

Speaking yesterday, Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Baker, chief of financial institutions supervision at Bahrain’s central bank, said protests would not impact the economy or financial sector. “It’s a democratic way of doing things. It has nothing to do with the financial sector,” he said. “Investors are not worried.” Markets are open and banks are functioning as usual on the island, home to 1.3 million people, half of whom are foreigners. Yet the cost of insuring Bahrain’s debt climbed to its highest level since Aug 2009 with 5-year credit default swaps rising 13 percent in two days to 275 basis points.

Investors are watching the situation closely.

In Saudi Arabia, connected to Bahrain via a causeway, the main share index fell 1.2 percent yesterday. Aqber Naqvi, a fund manager with Al Masah Capital in Dubai, said he could consider changing his exposure to Bahrain if the unrest grew: “If there is traction to these protests, we might take a call,” he said. “But as of now it’s too early to say.” The financial industry accounts for 25 percent of Bahrain’s GDP and is an important provider of jobs.

Assets of Bahraini banks more than tripled between 2002 and 2008 to $252 billion, but have since fallen to $217 billion as of Oct 2010.

The key will be the degree of outflows, if any. With a currency pegged to the dollar, Bahrain’s $3.77 billion in foreign exchange and gold reserves could be quickly depleted.

Bahrain’s stability is important for neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a key supporter of Bahrain’s royal family and where key oilfields are home to an oppressed and occasionally restive Shiite minority. Bahrain also hosts a major US naval base.

The Shiites have long complained of government neglect and discrimination, well before uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt emboldened activists across the region.

Discontent has been expressed in on-and-off unrest since the mid-1990s. With little oil of its own, Bahrain has little spare cash to throw at social problems. But it said last week it would spend an extra $417 million on social items, including food subsidies.

Protesters want the removal of the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, who has governed since British rule ended in 1971. For now, they have not sought change at the very top - his nephew King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has ultimate control over the kingdom. King Hamad announced last week he would

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give 1,000 dinars ($2,650) to each local family, and the government has indicated that it may free minors arrested under a security crackdown last year ahead of parliamentary elections. “That hasn’t seemed to really calm the situation,” said Richter at

have risen again in recent years as Shiites have been disappointed with the assembly’s limited clout. Shiites want their rulers to stop granting Sunnis from outside Bahrain citizenship and jobs in the armed forces and security services. They see that as a tactic to

Bahrain’s mainly Shiite protesters gather at Manama’s Pearl Square yesterday during a demonstration by Shiite opposition calling for regime change. – AFP Renaissance.

The introduction of a new constitution and parliamentary elections a decade ago helped quell Shiite unrest then. But tensions

change the demographic balance of the nation. The government had been planning to cut subsidies to improve its finances, after posting a 10 percent budget deficit in 2009,

and one factor making spending possible is oil’s climb well above Bahrain’s budget break-even price of about $80 per barrel.

There is great income disparity in Bahrain, but not to the degree seen in Egypt. Per capita gross domestic product in Bahrain is over $40,000, ranked 20th in the world. But while no Bahraini lives on less than $1 a day, an internationally used guide to extreme poverty, many live on just a few dollars. As unrest spread from Tunisia to Egypt, Gulf states were in the spotlight but mostly seen immune to similar unrest, thanks to an unwritten pact under which their rulers have traded a share of their oil wealth for their subjects’ loyalty. “Bahrain is on the end of that scale,” said Lars Christensen, emerging markets senior analyst at Danske Bank, referring to Bahrain’s lower level of social stability compared with its Gulf neighbours. “I can’t really see this in Qatar or Kuwait. That’s hard for me to imagine.”

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Bahrain’s biggest trading partner, is already watching events closely. Both countries are also close US allies - Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which Washington depends on to curtail the regional influence of Shiite Iran.

Saudi Arabia will likely step in to provide aid if Bahrain becomes unstable. Bahrain is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a loose economic and political bloc that also includes, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Christian Shomber, Chief Investment Officer at asset management firm KMEFIC in Kuwait, said: “I am confident the GCC has an interest in getting this resolved quickly.” — Reuters

Iran opposition alive, changing

By Paul Taylor nti-government protests by thousands of Iranians inspired by the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia show Iran’s “Green” prodemocracy movement is still alive despite a fierce crackdown by the authorities. But the chances of demonstrations snowballing into the kind of uprising that swept veteran Egyptian and Tunisian rulers from power seem remote in the near term, since Iran’s security forces are united in defending the 32-year-old Islamic Republic.

Monday’s rallies in Tehran and other cities, in which two people died and dozens were wounded and arrested, were the first big show of opposition on the streets since authorities crushed protests against a disputed 2009 presidential election.

“After 20 months of oppression and more than a year without a significant public rally, despite the house arrests of its key figures, and in the face of intimidation and beatings, the Green Wave proved that it could still surge,” analyst Scott Lucas of Birmingham University wrote on the EA Worldview website. The scale of the protests seemed to take the authorities by surprise and contrasted starkly with government assertions that the Green movement is a spent force, and that support for the Islamic system is overwhelming.

“The regime for two years claimed that it had finished what it called the biggest conspiracy, or as we call it the Green movement.

They arrested, they executed, they killed, they tortured, raped ... to prevent any more demonstrations,” said Alireza Nourizadeh, director at the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies in London. “Yesterday it showed that they are wrong and the people still have hope,” he said.

State television branded the protesters “hypocrites, monarchists, thugs and seditionists”, and Parliament President Ali Larijani accused the United States of supporting them to distract attention from its own setbacks in the Middle East. Hardline Iranian lawmakers urged the judiciary to hand down death penalties to reformist opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mirhossein Mousavi, the two defeated presidential candidates, for fomenting the unrest, state media reported. Denied a permit for a rally in solidarity with the Egyptian and Tunisian movements, the two are under house arrest.

Security forces prevented them attending the march, arrested at least 20 pro-reform activists before the rally and took their websites offline, opposition activists reported. But witnesses said the mostly middle-class protesters who defied the ban and converged on Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square barely mentioned the names of Mousavi and Karroubi. Their slogans were aimed directly against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, branded a “tyrant”, rather

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than at hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadijenad, the witnesses said.

That suggests support for reformists trying to improve the Islamic system from within may have been overtaken by a more radical opposition to the entire system. “Because the regime expends all its efforts on saying that everything’s normal and everyone loves us, even small signs of dissent are significant in puncturing this fiction,” said Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian studies at St. Andrews University.

“This will give people in Iran hope.”

While the authorities’ verbal tirades against the protesters have been fierce, the demonstrators were treated less violently than those who took to the streets in 2009 to denounce alleged vote-rigging in favour of Ahmadinejad. The elite Revolutionary Guards and the Basij militia were mostly kept off the streets and out of sight on Monday.

Instead, uniformed police and plainclothes agents were deployed to control the crowds and they used mostly non-lethal teargas rather than live ammunition, to avoid causing casualties.

Nevertheless, one person was shot dead and another killed in unexplained circumstances. A conservative lawmaker, Kazem Jalali, described them as “martyrs”, implying they had been killed by “terrorists” rather than security agents. Police prevented protesters from staying on overnight in the square, a rallying point for the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the Shah, in an attempt to turn it into a permanent focal point as Egyptian activists did in central Cairo.

“This is not Tunisia. This is not Egypt. This is Iran, where Azadi Square did not become the new Tahrir Square yesterday,” Lucas said.

While the political support base for the Iranian system has narrowed in recent years due to the exclusion of reformists and dissident clerics, and to endemic factional feuds, the security forces show every outward sign of remaining loyal to the regime. Unlike in Tunisia and Egypt, where the army command’s refusal to open fire on the people led to the fall of entrenched dictators, Iran’s security and intelligence forces showed in 2009 they were willing to use lethal force repeatedly. Revolutionary Guard veterans hold key government positions from Ahmadinejad on down, and control major business interests. The Basij militia is under strong ideological control. The regular army is weak and kept well away from internal security. “There is still a hardcore that is convinced of the Islamic revolution’s legacy and also there very large vested interests ... and those are now intertwined with the security establishment,” said Professor Anoush Ehteshami, an Iran expert at Durham Univerity. “They are not likely to let their privileges to go lightly because unlike in Tunisia and Egypt, if this elite goes, this elite will suffer bloodshed at the hands of the people.”— Reuters

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KUWAIT: (Left) Editors-in-Chief of local dailies watch Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as he speaks at an event at the Sheraton hotel yesterday. (Center) Mohammad Jassem Al-Saqr, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Jarida daily (left) is seen with a guest at the event. (Right) Maliki and Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Ulum (right) meet the attendees. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Maliki seeks to boost relations with Kuwait MPs call for 100% hike in salaries Continued from Page 1 Speaking with editors-in-chief of Kuwaiti newspapers and Kuwaiti businessmen, Maliki hoped to turn a new page of warm ties between both countries. He promised to tackle all unresolved matters including the debt issue and urged mutual will from both sides to solve these issues.

“We are facing a new transparent and brotherly relationship,” he said. Maliki described what happened in the past during Saddam Hussein’s regime as “shameful”. “When a dictator rules, he attacks his own people, so it is natural of him to attack others.” He added that “the tragedy had ended and now

both countries are before a new partnership and it should be on all levels as the path is now paved for such ties”. Maliki sympathized with the Kuwaitis who lost their lives during the invasion, adding that scores of Iraqis were also killed during Saddam’s regime. “It was a hard time but it gave us immunity to face future challenges,” he said.

Maliki invited Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to invest in Iraq as the country is witnessing a rise in construction, real estate, and investments. He wished the best for Kuwait and its people on the occasion of the national holidays, especially on the 20th anniversary of liberation from

the Iraqi regime. He had another meeting with the members of the Iraqi community in Kuwait and promised to listen to their problems, especially over passports and services.

Maliki called upon Iraqis living in Kuwait to show respect to the host country and promised to work with the Kuwaiti government to solve the problems they are facing. He stated that Iraq stood the and faced the black era and all the challenges to rebuilt the country as the current government is working on rebuilding the state in terms of services, government institutions and infrastructure.

Unrest spreads to Libya cities Continued from Page 1 Al-Mesmari, who remained in jail, Al-Warfali reported, citing witnesses.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said a total of nine activists have been arrested in Tripoli and Benghazi in an effort to prevent people from joining today’s rallies.

Those protests were called to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the killing of nine people demonstrating in front of the Italian Consulate against a cartoon depicting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “ This is a pre -emptive attempt to prevent peaceful protests on Feb 17,” the group’s Heba Morayef said.

Independent confirmation was not possible because the government tightly controls the media, but video clips posted on the Internet showed protesters carrying signs and chanting: “No God but Allah.

Muammar is the enemy of Allah”, and “Down, down to corruption and to the corrupt”. Police and armed government backers quickly clamped down, firing rubber bullets and dousing protesters with water cannons. Another video with the same date showed people running away from gunfire while shots are heard. A young man in a white,

bloodstained robe was then seen being carried by protesters.

A Libyan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, said 14 people, including 10 policemen, were injured. He said protesters were armed with knives and stones.

Witnesses said the protests were peaceful but came under attack from pro-Gaddafi men. In the southern city of Zentan, 120 km south of Tripoli, hundreds of people marched through the streets and set fire to security headquarters and a police station, then set up tents in the heart of the town while chanting, “The people want the ouster of the regime,” witnesses told AlWarfali.

Resentment against Gaddafi runs high in Zentan because many of the detained army officers who took part in a failed coup in 1993 are from the city of 100,000 people. In Beyida, to the east of Benghazi, security forces rounded up a number of activists while searching for Sheikh Ahmed Al-Dayekh, an outspoken cleric who criticized Gaddafi and corruption in Libya during a Friday sermon. The outbreak of protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Iran has roiled the Middle East and brought unprece-

dented pressure on leaders like Gaddafi who have held virtually unchecked power for decades.

Libya’s official news agency did not carry any reports of the antigovernment protests. It reported only that supporters of Gaddafi demonstrated yesterday in the capital, Tripoli, as well as Benghazi and other cities. Libyan T V showed video of 12 state-orchestrated rallies of government employees, and students. The biggest was in Tripoli, where about 3,000 rallied in the streets, chanting: “Muammar is our leader. We don’t want anyone but him.” JANA, the official news agency, quoted a statement from the proGaddafi demonstrators as pledging to “defend the leader and the revolution.” The statement described the anti-government protesters as “cowards and traitors.”

Meanwhile, the government freed 110 Islamist militants who were members of a group plotting to overthrow Gaddafi, leaving only 30 members of the group in prison.

Seif Al-Islam Gaddafi, the leader’s son, has orchestrated the release of members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, which is suspected of having links to Al-Qaeda, in the past as part of a reconciliation plan.

The government also proposed increasing the salaries of state work-

Israel says Iran warships to transit Suez for Syria JERUSALEM: Two Iranian warships planned to sail through the Suez canal en route to Syria yesterday, Israel said, calling it a “provocation” by the Islamic Republic. The Iranian naval contingent described by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman would pose no significant military threat to Israel but could spell the closest-ever encounter by the forces of the two old foes, who are geographically distant. Oil prices surged on the news. Brent crude rose to 29-month highs, helped by Middle East jitters over clashes in Iran, Yemen and Bahrain that raised concern about disruption to oil flows.

Syria is one of Israel’s neighbouring enemies. It has an alliance with Iran which has deepened along with Tehran’s isolation from the West over its disputed nuclear ambitions. “Tonight, two Iranian warships are meant to pass through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea and reach Syria, something that has not happened in many years,” Lieberman said in a closed-door speech to Jewish leaders. “To my regret, the international community is not showing readiness to deal with the recurring Iranian provocations. The international community must understand that Israel cannot forever ignore these provocations.”

Lieberman, a far-right partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative coalition, called for world powers “to act soon and ... put the Iranians in their place”. Signalling reluctance to deal with the Iranian warships alone, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel had alerted “friendly nations in the region” over its concerns. The Obama administration, trying to ride a wave of political upheaval in the Middle East, said it was aware of the Iranian warships but made no further comment.

The Suez Canal Authority said it had not yet been informed of an Iranian request to send its ships through the canal, but that it should not be a problem if they do.

“The Suez Canal authority allows all ships of any nationality to cross as long as the country is not in a state of war with Egypt,” the Authority said in a statement, noting “it would be the first time Iranian warships have used the Suez Canal since 1979”. “The Suez Canal does not accept the Iranian currency, but that does not mean

that Iranian ships cannot use the canal.”

The Suez Canal is a vital commercial and strategic waterway between Europe and the Middle East and Asia. “The Suez Canal does not (stop) any commercial ships from passing as long as we are not in a state of war,” said Ahmed El Manakhly, a member of the Suez Canal board. He said warships of any country need approval to pass from Egypt’s defence and foreign ministries. Neither ministry had sent word as yet of an Iranian request.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Jan 26 that Iranian navy cadets were going on a yearlong training mission into the Red Sea and through Suez to the Mediterranean. They were training to defend “the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers” against the threat of Somali pirates, it said. Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper described the Iranian ships as a MK-5 frigate and a supply vessel. It said no Iranian naval vessels had passed through Suez since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979, poisoning Tehran-Cairo relations.

The ships “dock at a Syrian port for a year”, a senior official told the daily, adding that there was no justification for Iran to deploy warships in the Mediterranean. A Syrian berth would put them near Lebanon, whose Hezbollah movement, an Iran ally, fought a war with Israel in 2006. “As long as they (Iranians) are not conducting some sort of belligerent operation I think they would have a right to go through the canal like any other country,” said James Kraska, professor of international law at the US Naval War College.

Middle East analyst Neil Partrick said he presumed Iran planned the mission before Egypt’s popular uprising overthrew President Hosni Mubarak last week, but “the decision not to cancel the journey, once the turmoil in the region had begun, could be a sign that Iran is prepared to risk tensions”. “This might be a provocative move at a time when Egypt is moving into a period of uncertainty,” he said. Christian Le Miere of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said Iranian commercial ships regularly used Suez but he was not aware of the Iranian navy ever doing so. “That said, it’s hard to see this as a credible threat to anyone. Two warships don’t make a flotilla,” Le Miere said. — Agencies

Continued from Page 1 Adwah said in his proposal that after approving the pay increase of servicemen and the intention to raise the salaries of workers in the oil sectors, it was necessary now to increase the salaries of civil servants. The lawmaker said that civil servants are the largest section in the country and they deserved the increase the most because their salary has not been raised for several years. Adwah did not clarify in his proposal if the call should cover expatriate civil servants or be only restricted to Kuwaitis.

A 100 percent increase in basic pay for civil servants should be worth more than KD 1 billion a year. The increase to servicemen is estimated to cost more than KD 200 million a year. Similar calls have been made in the past week to coincide with Kuwait’s celebration of the golden jubilee of independence, the 20th anniversary of liberation from Iraqi occupation and five years of the Amir’s ascendance to power. Deputy premier for economic affairs Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah said on Tuesday that the Cabinet will study proposals calling to write off electricity, water and telephones bills for Kuwaiti citizens.

In another development, opposition Islamist MP Faisal Al-Mislem yesterday called on visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to set a timetable for repayment of Kuwaiti debt. Mislem said in a statement that Maliki should announce the repayment mechanism and the starting date of repayment before leaving Kuwait, and called on Prime Minister HH Sheikh Nasser

Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to press in this direction because he is constitutionally responsible for public funds. Iraq owes Kuwait about $21 billion in war reparations and around $16 billion as debts taken by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the IraqIran war in the 1980s. Kuwait however has promised to “substantially” reduce the debt but with the prior approval of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, MP Ali Al-Rashed called in a proposal yesterday on the government to provide Egypt with an urgent grant to help rebuild impoverished suburbs in Cairo and other Egyptian cities inhabited by the poorest in the Arab country. Rashed also proposed that the government takes the suggestion to the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to take similar measures.

In a related issue, veteran MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun yesterday regretted that part of the mountain of corruption in Egypt was “exported from Kuwait”. Saadoun was commenting on a statement by the Egyptian military council which pointed to the involvement of former ministers, officials and businessmen in corruption.

Saadoun however did not name any Kuwaiti businessman. The lawmaker also warned that the government is under pressure to accept offers made to Zain telecom to sell its stake in Zain Saudi Arabia to facilitate the sale of 46 percent of Zain to UAE Etisalat telecom. Saadoun warned that the proposed sale must be in line with Kuwaiti laws and vowed to take action. Government institutions own around 28 percent of Zain telecom shares.

Protesters’ deaths fuel Bahrain anger Continued from Page 1 “The people demand the fall of the regime!” protesters chanted as men pounded their chests in rhythm, a mourning gesture which is distinctive to the Shiite branch of Islam.

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has expressed condolences to relatives of the two dead men, and said a committee would investigate. The Interior Ministry has promised legal action if it finds police used unjustified force. The Foreign Ministry said those suspected of blame for the deaths of the two protesters had been arrested, “steps which make clear that the Kingdom of Bahrain does not condone the use of excessive force at any time”. Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa “noted that the protests could happen in any free, democratic country”, his ministry said in a statement.

In the Sunni town of Riffa, home to many members of the ruling family, at least 1,000 pro-government demonstrators waved flags and held pictures of King Hamad in a show of support.

Though itself only a minor oil exporter, Bahrain’s stability is important for neighbouring Saudi Arabia, where oilfields are located in an area populated by an oppressed Shiite minority. Bahrain is also a hub for banking and financial services in the Gulf and home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

Protesters, their tone hardened by the deaths of the two Shiite men within 24 hours, want the removal of the prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa, who has governed since British rule ended in 1971. For now, they have not sought change at the very top - his nephew King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has ultimate control over the 1.3 million people in Bahrain, half of them foreigners. “We are requesting our rights in a peaceful way,” said Bakr Akil, a 20 year-old student. He wore a sheet stained with red ink he said showed his willingness to sacrifice for freedom. Women dressed in black abaya cloaks followed the procession with their own chants calling for peace and Bahraini unity.

Mourners tossed stems of sweetsmelling basil onto the car ferrying the cotton-wrapped body, draped in a green Islamic banner, through winding alleyways toward a small cemetery for burial.

Black flags of mourning flew. Bahrain’s Shiites, whose branch of Islam is found mostly across Gulf waters in Iran and among Arabs in Iraq and Lebanon, complain they are shut out of public housing, healthcare and government jobs and also that their rulers have tried to shift the demographic balance by making Sunni immigrants citizens.

A Bahraini central bank official said the protests would not affect the country’s economy or financial sector. But in a measure of investors’ concerns, the cost of insuring Bahraini debt against the government defaulting rose to its highest level since Aug 2009, with 5-year credit default swaps up 13 percent in the past two days. Bahrain’s main stock index was flat, while in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which is connected to Bahrain via a causeway, the main share index fell 1.8 percent to a two-week low.

The main Shiite opposition group Wefaq, which boycotted parliament in protest at the clampdown by the security forces, told a news conference it was demanding a new constitution. “The government should be elected by the people who would have the right to hold it accountable,” said Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of Wefaq. Salman said the INAA and other groups were calling for a demonstration on Saturday in support of the protesters camped out in Pearl Square.

Bahrain’s Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa told a news conference his government was prepared to discuss it but only if Wefaq would take it up in parliament. Wefaq also wants direct election of the prime minister, said Ibrahim Mattar, a Wefaq parliamentarian at the funeral procession. “We support the people here. We are not the decision makers.

The people are the decision makers,” he said.

Near the protest site at Manama’s Pearl Roundabout, police kept their distance, massing on a nearby dirt lot in

dozens of cars. The Interior Ministry said roads were all open on the island, which at 750 sq km is about the size of Singapore. As night fell yesterday, the mood suggested protesters were settling in for the long haul. People sipped tea, ate donated food and smoked apple- and grape-flavored tobacco from water pipes. The men and women mainly sat separately - the women a sea of black in their traditional dress. The leadership of the protesters is still unclear and disorganized. A few scuffles have broken out between some of the people in the main area near the speakers’ platform. Among the most commonly stated demands were the creation of a constitutional monarchy, fair elections, release of political prisoners, and the resignation of the prime minister and the entire parliament.

“I am not a political man. I am a musician, but I know I want a chance to pick my own prime minister,” said Jassem Jawad, 23. “How is it fair for a prime minister to hold power for 39 years? It’s ridiculous. We want a real democratic system.” Bahrain’s state TV gave limited reports on the protests. The pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, founded by the emir in nearby Qatar, also gave sporadic coverage. That compares with nearly round-the-clock attention to Egypt’s turmoil, suggesting worry by Qatar’s Sunni rulers about the unrest coming to their doorstep.

Prayers in the square were held in the Shiite manner and an imam gave a sermon about the strength of the Bahraini youth. “This square is a trust in your hands, and so will you whittle away this trust or keep fast?” the imam said. “So be careful and be concerned for your country, and remember that the regime will try to rip this country from your hand. But if we must leave it in coffins, then so be it!” The main protest was held in the square under a nearly 90-m monument cradling a giant white pearl-shaped ball that symbolizes Bahrain’s heritage as a pearl diving center. Organizers have set up a medical tent as well as one to help journalists. — Agencies

Hezb warns Israel it will avenge slain commander BEIRUT: The head of Hezbollah urged his fighters yesterday to stand ready to take Galilee in any future Lebanon-Israel war and threatened Israeli leaders “anytime, anywhere” to avenge a top operative’s killing. “I say to the fighters of the Islamic Resistance: Be ready. If a new war is imposed on Lebanon we may ask you to take Galilee, to free Galilee,” Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech to mark his Shiite party’s martyrs’ day. “I hope the people of Israel have good bomb shelters,” he added.

Nasrallah vowed that the assassination of Imad Mughnieh, killed in a February 2008 car bombing in Damascus that Iranian-backed Hezbollah has blamed on Israel, would not be forgotten or go unpunished. “I do not want to go into details.

Suffice to say that our decision remains the same and will be executed, God willing, at the right time,” he said to thunderous applause from hundreds of supporters gathered in a stadium. “To the Zionist generals, I say: Anywhere you go in the world, at any time, watch out, for the blood of Imad Mughnieh will not go to waste.”

Later yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah against any attack. “Nasrallah declared today that he will conquer the Galilee,” said Netanyahu. “I have news for him. He won’t.” “There is no doubt Israel has the ability to defend itself,” Netanyahu told delegates at a conference of American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. “We have a strong

army and a determined people. We seek peace but the army is ready to defend Israel against its enemies.”

A month-long war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 destroyed much of Lebanon’s infrastructure and killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mainly soldiers. Nasrallah’s comments came a day after Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned that his army may have to re-enter Lebanon to ensure Hezbollah “remembers” the 2006 war. “Even though it’s quiet and deterrence exists Hezbollah remembers the heavy beating they suffered from us in 2006 - but it is not forever, and you may be called to enter again,” said Barak during a tour of the border region.

Waving Iranian, Egyptian and yellow Hezbollah flags, hundreds of supporters cheered as the reclusive Nasrallah gave a fiery speech, transmitted on a giant screen in a stadium laced with pictures of assassinated Hezbollah leaders along with Mughnieh. Mohammed Yusuf Mansour, alias Sami Shehab, also made an appearance at the rally, taking a seat in the front row as a presenter lauded him as a “freed prisoner” and a “brother in our struggle”. Mansour is the head of a 22-member Hezbollah cell who escaped from an Egyptian prison during the Cairo uprising last month. Hezbollah, which has had strained ties with Egypt for decades, has praised Egyptians on their “historic victory” after president Hosni Mubarak’s ouster. — Agencies

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

sp orts Ban on US star lifted

Gangjee eyes Avantha glory

ANKARA: Turkey’s basketball federation lifted American star Diana Taurasi’s provisional doping suspension yesterday after a lab retracted its finding that she tested positive.

The Turkish Basketball Federation said the lab retracted its report after it “evaluated” Taurasi’s statements in her defense. The federation did not say outright if the lab had made a mistake. The federation said Taurasi was free to continue playing in the Turkish basketball league, a decision which is also likely to revive her chances of playing for the United States at the 2012 London Olympics. “The federation has decided to lift the precautionary ban imposed on player Diana Lorena Taurasi to prevent the club and the player from being aggrieved further,” the Turkish body said in a statement. Taurasi, who has insisted that she ever used performance-enhancing drugs, had her contract terminated by Turkish club Fenerbahce last month after the lab said she tested positive for modafinil in December. It was not clear if Taurasi would return to Turkey. Taurasi said in an interview with The Associated Press last month that “there’s no way I’ve ever taken anything. ... Only thing that I’m guilty of is taking too many jump shots.” Taurasi intends to return to the WNBA when the season begins in June. The Phoenix guard has led the US league in scoring the last four seasons and signed a multiyear extension last August.—AP

NEW DELHI: India’s Rahil Gangjee says he is determined to get his 2011 Asian Tour campaign off to a good start at the Avantha Masters, which tees off today.

The 32-year-old is keen to make up for the heartbreak of last year’s inaugural Avantha Masters, when a catastrophic collapse on the closing holes put paid to his chances of victory.

Gangjee was favorite to win the event last year and looked set to end his six-year title drought before three bogeys on the last three holes ended his hopes of a win.

“It was bittersweet memories, to be honest. I’ll always remember how passionate the home crowd

was in supporting me on the final day but I just let them down in those closing three holes,” he said.

A year on, Gangjee believes that he has become a better player and is eager for another shot at glory at this year’s 1.8 million euro ($2.4 million) showpiece at the DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi.

“I think I’ve become a better player as compared to last year. I’m also able to control the ball better as I’ve got lots of things sorted out with my equipment,” Gangjee said.

“I’ve also played two domestic events in Calcutta and finished third and fourth which is always good for the confidence coming into this week.”—AFP

Pacquiao’s knockout visit WASHINGTON: Manny Pacquiao stopped traffic outside the White House on Tuesday, during a whirlwind tour of the nation’s capital that included meetings with President Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid, the senior member of the US Senate. The Filipino boxing sensation was crossing the street near the White House when several drivers, trying to snap photos of Pacquiao with cell phones, caused a multicar pileup, Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg told The Associated Press. Nobody was hurt in the accident.

Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, spent time talking boxing and basketball with the president, along with a bit of business. Pacquiao was elected representative in the Philippine Congress from the Sarangani province nine months ago in national elections and has taken the new job as seriously as he does boxing. He already has explored building the area’s first provincial hospital. “This is an unforgettable moment in my life,” Pacquiao said earlier in the day. The eight-division world champion posed with Obama for several photos, including a boxing pose, in the Oval Office, Sternburg said. The president gave him three grocery bags full of light blue M&M’s with the presidential seal, along with a watch adorned with the seal, and said he hopes to someday visit the Philippines. —AP

Flyers stop Lightning in shootout

Red Bull laugh off Vettel’s Ferrari love

TAMPA: Kimmo Timonen scored in the seventh round of a shootout as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Tuesday in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia, which won the shootout 2-1, got goals in regulation from James Van Riemsdyk, Scott Hartnell and Darroll Powe — on a short-handed penalty shot. The conference-leading Flyers are 18-6-3 on the road. Dominic Moore, Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell scored for the Lightning, who took three of four in the season series with Philadelphia. Tampa Bay, which trails the Flyers by five points, is 5-3 during a 12-game homestand.

Canucks 4, Wild 1 At St. Paul, Minnesota, Manny Malhotra had a goal and an assist, and Cory Schneider stopped 27 shots as Vancouver defeated Minnesota. Jannik Hansen, Mikael Samuelsson and Ryan Kessler also scored to help the banged-up Canucks win in Minnesota for the first time in their last five tries despite registering just one shot on goal in the third period. Cal Clutterbuck scored for Minnesota, his fourth goal in three games.

Sharks 2, Predators 1 At Nashville, Tennessee, Patrick Marleau beat goalie Pekka Rinne on a breakaway 3:53 into overtime to give San Jose a victory over Nashville. Cody Franson scored on a first-period power play for the Predators and Devin Setoguchi tied it midway through the second. The Predators took seven shots in the third period and the Sharks had 17, but neither team could score.

Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 3 At Boston, Mikhail Grabovski scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:01 remaining as Toronto rallied for a win over Boston.

Grabovski and former Bruin Phil Kessel both finished with two goals for the Maple Leafs, who fell behind 3-2 on Patrice Bergeron’s 20th goal of the season with 10:52 to play.

Kessel’s second goal of the game tied it with 6:33 left.

Grabovski’s game-winner extended Boston’s losing streak to three straight. Joffrey Lupol had two assists, his first points with Toronto, and James Reimer finished with 32 saves. Tim Thomas stopped 24 shots for the Bruins.

Sabres 3, Canadiens 2 At Montreal, Jochen Hecht scored on Buffalo’s 10th shootout attempt to give the Sabres a win over Montreal.

Rookie goalie Jhonas Enroth stopped seven of Montreal’s final eight shooters in the tiebreaker. He made 32 saves during the game, his first with the Sabres since Nov. 24, when he had 28 saves in a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh. Jason Pominville leveled it at 2 for Buffalo with his 13th goal 6:08 into the third.

The Sabres won the shootout 4-3. Drew Stafford got his ninth goal in five games late in the second to bring the Sabres within 2-1. His power-play effort snapped Carey Price’s shutout streak at 102 minutes, 54 seconds. Max Pacioretty and Benoit Pouliot scored for Montreal.

Islanders 4, Senators 3 At Ottawa, Frans Nielsen scored in a shootout and Nathan Lawson earned his first NHL win to lift New York over Ottawa.

Michael Grabner scored a short-handed goal for the Islanders and set up Josh Bailey’s third-period score. Robbie Schremp had the other New York goal in the shootout, while Lawson, who made 28 saves, stopped Jason Spezza and Bobby Butler after Alex Kovalev scored. Blake Comeau had the other goal in regulation for the Islanders, who have won four straight and five of their last six. Butler and Ryan Shannon scored on the power play and Erik Karlsson had the other regulation goal for the Senators, who have won once in 13 games and twice in their past 20.

OTTAWA: In his final game as an Ottawa Senators player Chris Kelly No. 22 controls the puck behind the net of the New York Islanders. Chris Kelly was just traded to the Boston Bruins. — AFP

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Tuesday: Toronto 4, Boston 3; Buffalo 3, Montreal 2 (SO); NY Islanders 4, Ottawa 3 (SO); Philadelphia 4, Tampa Bay 3 (SO); San Jose 2, Nashville 1 (OT); Vancouver 4, Minnesota 1; Edmonton 4, Dallas 1. (OT Denotes Overtime, SO Shootout)

Philadelphia Pittsburgh NY Rangers NY Islanders New Jersey Boston Montreal Buffalo Toronto Ottawa Tampa Bay Washington Carolina Atlanta Florida

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF 37 14 5 186 35 19 4 173 30 24 4 162 21 29 7 155 22 30 4 120 Northeast Division 31 19 7 175 31 20 7 153 27 22 6 164 24 27 6 148 18 30 9 129 Southeast Division 34 17 6 175 29 18 10 153 27 22 8 168 25 23 10 167 24 24 7 146

GA PTS 142 79 141 74 144 64 189 49 158 48 139 146 164 177 190

69 69 60 54 45

176 143 175 188 148

74 68 62 60 55

Detroit Nashville Chicago Columbus St. Louis Vancouver Calgary Minnesota Colorado Edmonton Phoenix Anaheim Dallas San Jose Los Angeles

Western Conference Central Division 34 16 6 187 30 19 8 151 28 22 6 177 28 23 5 152 25 21 9 148 Northwest Division 37 12 9 196 29 22 8 177 30 21 5 147 25 26 6 171 17 32 8 141 Pacific Division 30 19 9 165 32 21 4 159 31 20 6 160 31 21 6 160 31 22 3 156

163 135 158 168 164

74 68 62 61 59

137 173 149 195 194

83 66 65 56 42

162 157 162 152 132

69 68 68 68 65

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Oilers 4, Stars 1 At Edmonton, Alberta, Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff had a goal and two assists as Edmonton beat Dallas. Jordan Eberle, Taylor Chorney and Ales Hemsky also scored for the last-place

Oilers, who won for the first time in their last eight home games and for just the second time in their last nine overall.

Edmonton goalie Nikolai Khabibulin made 24 saves and snapped a 14-game losing streak. Loui Eriksson scored for the Stars, who have only two wins in their last seven games. — AP

Sheikh Fahad shooting tourney on target

By Abdellatif Sharaa

Late Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: Official activities of the late Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah Shotgun Grand Prix Tournament start today, as teams will carry out their official practice during which the rules of International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) are followed and shooters from all teams take regular rounds in the presence of judges and the jury but the results will not be considered.

Actual competition will begin tomorrow at 9:00 am at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting ranges in the skeet, trap and double trap events.

Tournament Director Obeid Munahi Al-Osaimi said all preparations and tournament requirements are done as all participating delegations have arrived. Al-Osaimi thanked the tournament sponsor Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad for her keen interest to have this tournament come out in a manner that fits the State of Kuwait especially that it is celebrating the National and Liberation days as well as the 5th anniversary of HH the Amir’s assumption of power.

Al-Osaimi invited the public to come and enjoy the activities of this noble sport at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Complex Friday and Saturday, and the closing ceremony Saturday evening at 6:00 pm.

Meanwhile head of the Bahraini delegation Ibrahim Abdallah bin Ali said Bahrain is always keen to participate in any tournament that takes place in Kuwait especially that Kuwait supported the sport of shooting in Bahrain since its beginning when the Bahraini Federation was established.

He said that the Bahraini shotgun team was formed one and a half year ago and now “we want to see where it stands and how ready it is for competitions and this would not be possible without participating in official and international tournament especially that we know that our shooters are dedicated and train hard to get the best results possible.

He said our plans call for participating in several championships including those on the ISSF agenda with plans to work for getting a quota for par-

Bahrain’s Ibrahim bin Ali

Duaij Al-Otaibi with Fawzi Nahas

ticipating in the London 2012 Olympics.

Bin Ali thanked all those involved in this Grand Prix tournament and all the assistance they offered to participating teams to guarantee its success.

Arab Shooting Federation member from Lebanon Fouzi Nahas said there will be several issues to be discussed during the ASF meeting in Kuwait to be held on Friday, Feb 18th. He said we feel we have improved and are planning to guarantee continuity of this improvement to make sure that the interaction between Arab federations remains fruitful adding that “we hope to work as one to promote the sport of shooting in Arab countries”.

He said that there will be at least one annual tournament at the Arab level if not two, and it so happens that there will be three tournaments this year and we hope this unprecedented activity continue. He said “we should not forget that the international agenda is crowded with championships all over the globe”. He added that the Arab Federation supports newly formed associations that need development and will always do whatever it takes to serve the shooting sport in this part of the world.

LONDON: Red Bull have given their blessing to world champion Sebastian Vettel joining Ferraribut only when he’s a lot more grown up and nearing the end of his Formula One career.

Vettel, the youngest ever champion at 23 years old, told Italian reporters on Tuesday that he dreamed of racing for Ferrari one day.

“I think any driver at some stage in his career would like to drive for the red team and we don’t hold that against him,” responded team boss Christian Horner in an interview with Reuters at a Motor Sport magazine Hall of Fame event.

“But...for the foreseeable future we see him as a part of Red Bull, he’s grown up within the Red Bull family and hopefully for many years to come. Just before he retires he can go to Ferrari,” he smiled.

“If he wants to go to Ferrari just before he retires, then that could be another 10 years away.

Or in Michael (Schumacher)’s case 20 years away.”

Vettel’s fellow-German Schumacher, a seven times world champion and former Ferrari favourite, made his comeback last year and is gearing up for another season with Mercedes at the age of 42.

The younger champion had told the Gazzetta dello Sport that he hoped one day to stand on the podium at Monza as a Ferrari driver but Horner, whose team won both titles last year, laughed off the comments.

“The Italians get very excited when world champions talk about Ferrari, so maybe he’s been dreaming about Ferrari but I think that’s about all,” he said.

“One of the things that we encourage is a freedom of expression and so on. Sebastian is his own person and he’s got his own opinions,” said Horner.

Vettel has won 10 races in cars designed by Red Bull’s Adrian Newey-one for Toro Rosso and the other nine for Red Bull racing.

He and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, a double world champion, both won five races last season but the Italian team were well beaten into third place overall in the constructors’ standings.

The young German has repeatedly acknowledged his debt to Austrian-owned Red Bull, who have groomed him for greatness from an early age, and Horner expected the partnership to last.

“For the foreseeable future, and most importantly for the immediate future, he is very much committed to Red Bull and likewise Red Bull committed to him,” he emphasised.

“It’s down to us to ensure that we are giving him a quick car and it’s down to him to ensure that he’s performing, and what driver in the pitlane wouldn’t want to drive a Red Bull at the moment?,” said Horner.

“He’s an important part of what we do and an important part of how the team moves forward but that is more than a piece of paper or a contract.

“That comes down to relationships, down to trust, down to feeling comfortable in an environment. He’s grown up within the Red Bull family and all the success he has achieved within his motorsport career has come within that environment.”

Horner also said Australian Mark Webber, whose contract with the team expires at the end of the season, could stay on after 2011 if he was as quick as last year. “If he’s delivering at the same level as he did in 2010 then why not?,” he said.

Vettel lapped quickest on the first day of testing in Spain this year but other teams-Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Williams-have seized the limelight since that day. Horner said the times meant nothing, however.

“I think it’s dangerous to follow the (television) monitor too much,” he said. “In fact sometimes I’d prefer it if the engineers would turn the timing screen off because the times are irrelevant. We are there to learn and go about our preparation and who knows.

“We’ll focus on ourselves, which is the approach we have applied for the last two years, and then within a month we’ll know where we’re at.”

Red Bull won nine races last year, with 15 pole positions and four one-two finishes. The season is due to start in Bahrain on March 13.

“RB7 (the new car) has a lot to live up to but all the initial signs are encouraging,” said Horner. “The drivers like the feel of the car but it’s impossible to say until we get to Bahrain.

“And even Bahrain probably won’t paint the full picture. Form will ebb and flow over the course of the season and its going to be down to who does the most consistent job.” — Reuters

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16

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Years

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

sp orts

Heat scorch Pacers INDIANAPOLIS: Dwyane Wade equaled a club record for most points in a first half with 31, and finished with 41 overall to help the Miami Heat defeat the Indiana Pacers 110-103 on Tuesday night.

Wade also finished with 12 rebounds for the Heat, who bounced back from a loss to Boston on Sunday. LeBron James scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Chris Bosh added 22 points and eight rebounds for Miami, which has won eight of nine.

Roy Hibbert scored 18 points and Tyler Hansbrough added 16 for the Pacers. Indiana has won seven of nine under interim coach Frank Vogel, with both losses coming against the Heat.

Miami led by 24 points in the first half, then lost the lead before regaining it for good in the fourth quarter.

DUBAI: Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark returns the ball to Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze during the third day of Dubai WTA Tennis Championships. —AP

Schiavone, Kuznetsova set up rematch in Dubai DUBAI: Grand Slam winners Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova won in the Dubai Championships second round yesterday to set up their first clash since their nearly five-hour-long epic at the Australian Open.

Schiavone accounted for Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-1 while Kuznetsova, a two-time runner-up in Dubai, took the long road to beat Tsevetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 for a third straight time. The wins put them on course to meet today, more than three weeks since their fourth-round encounter in Melbourne went for 4 hours, 44 minutes in the longest women’s Grand Slam singles in the Open era. Schiavone won. Looking forward to the match, Schiavone smiled and said, “After two hours, I’ll take the racket and put it in the bag.

“I really want to play against her because we know each other, we play good tennis and we can enjoy it and

improve.” Kuznetsova leads their matchups 8-5 since 2003, but Schiavone has won the last two.

Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-3, 6-1. The Russian, still seeking her first title in more than a year, has exited in the Dubai quarterfinals in the last two years. “It’s never easy to play Roberta, she’s a tricky player,” Zvonareva said.

Fourth-seeded Sam Stosur drubbed Pattaya Open runner-up Sara Errani of Italy 6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes, and seventh-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus overcame seven double faults to beat Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5, 6-4.

Shahar Peer of Israel, a semifinalist last year, defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-4, 6-2, and Marion Bartoli of France outlasted Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. —AP

Acasuso upsets Dolgopolov BUENOS AIRES: Argentine former world number 20 Jose Acasuso, back from an injury plagued 2010 that led to his ranking dropping to 256, upset Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Buenos Aires Open first round on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian seventh seed had come into the tournament, third of four on the Latin American claycourt circuit, in good form having reached the Australian Open quarter-finals and the final of last week’s Brazil Open.

Acasuso, playing his first match of the year, never let the 22-year-old settle, breaking serve early in both sets to open leads he never relinquished to win 6-2 6-4.

Top seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, the world number 13 fresh from beating Dolgopolov to lift his

second Brazil title on Saturday, cruised through 6-1 6-2 against Argentine qualifier Pablo Galdon.

Home favourite David Nalbandian, the third seed, beat Italian Potito Starace 6-4 6-4, but the match of the day was Stanislas Wawrinka’s three-set tussle with Carlos Berlocq.

The 28-year-old Argentine gave the third-seeded Swiss world number 15 a run for his money, making the most of his far greater familiarity with the clay sur face before Wawrinka won 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Wawrinka said he did not normally play tournaments in February but opted for Buenos Aires, and Acapulco next week, because Switzerland had no Davis Cup commitment this month.

“This was my first match on clay

since the French (Open last year),” Wawrinka told reporters, but added the surface was not his main problem against Berlocq.

“My problem was not the court.

He was playing very well, then I improved. It is good preparation for the American clay season,” he said.

He will play Indian Wells and Miami in March. The Swiss, whose game was riddled with unforced errors, battled back from 3-0 down in the first set and then faced an uphill struggle at 5-0 down in the second, saving three set points before losing it.

Regularly struggling with length but delighting the crowd with brilliant back hand shots, he was always on top in the decider but was still pushed hard by his feisty opponent. —Reuters

Derbies galore as Melbourne joins the Super fold SYDNEY: Super rugby fires back into life this weekend with a new shape and a 15th team but at the business end of the championship South Africa’s hat trick chasing Bulls are again likely to be the team to beat.

The Pretoria-based Bulls have won the southern hemisphere’s annual provincial championship for three of the last four years and the new five-team national conference format should only improve their chances of a fifth.

New Zealand’s seven-times champions Canterbury Crusaders will have something to say about that, however, even if their challenge will probably be hindered rather than helped by the increase in the number of local derbies each team has to play.

The teams will now play the other teams in their conference home and away, leaving just four of their 16 fixtures in the regular season to be played against teams from the other two countries.

The Bulls have lost to South African opposition just once since round nine of the 2008 tournament and that was when they rested players against the Stormers last year with their place in the knockout

stages already secured. For the New Zealand teams, however, more heavyweight clashes like the seasonopener between the Crusaders and three-times champion Auckland Blues on Saturday could make for a long grind of a season.

“I think what it means for the players is there is more intensity from week-to-week,” Blues skipper Keven Mealamu said.

“Because when you are playing those matches there is bragging rights riding on it and making sure you’re up for it every week (and) winning those physical battles is key to those local derbies.”

The first weekend of fixtures is all derbies, the highlight being the Melbourne Rebels first match against the New South Wales Waratahs in the Victorian capital.

The Rebels enlisted the help of Rod Macqueen to put the pieces of their squad together for the first campaign and even the coach of Australia’s 1999 World Cup winning team admitted to being apprehensive. “Everyone’s a little bit nervous,” Macqueen said on the team’s website (www.melbournerebels.com.au). —Reuters

KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait football team won the match against Commercial Bank 5-0 in the banks tournament for 2011 season, which was held at Ministry of Information ground. NBK team director Arch Yousuf said the team is working hard to stay ahead of other teams.

Thunder 126, Kings 94 At Oklahoma City, Daequan Cook scored 20 points and Russell Westbrook added 10 points and 11 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder set the team’s season high for points.

Oklahoma City scored 68 points in the first half, a season high for a half, and led by as many 25 before leading by 18 at the halftime break as the Thunder topped the Kings for the second time in four days.

Kevin Durant went 5 for 18 from the field and scored 17 points, and Nenad Krstic had 16 for Oklahoma City as seven players finished in double figures in scoring. DeMarcus Cousins returned from a one-game suspension to lead Sacramento with 21 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.

Bulls 106, Bobcats 94 At Chicago, Luol Deng scored 24 points, while Derrick Rose had 18 points and 13 assists after a slow start as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Bobcats for their ninth win in 11 games.

In a game of momentum swings, the Bulls needed a strong finish to pull this one out and put away a team that blew out the Lakers the previous night.

Chicago opened the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to take control on a night when Bobcats owner Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen sat next to each other at courtside. Deng hit 10 of 19 shots.

Rose, who outscored Deron Williams and Chris Paul by a combined 52-26 in wins at Utah and New Orleans, shot just 5 of 14 but came up big down the stretch. Gerald Henderson led Charlotte with 22 points.

Grizzlies 102, 76ers 91 At Memphis, Mike Conley scored all 22 of his points in the second half, helping the Memphis Grizzlies hold off the Philadelphia 76ers.

Zach Randolph had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, along with a season-high seven assists as Memphis won its fourth straight. Sam Young added 12 points and Rudy Gay had 11 before leaving in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He did not return.

Thaddeus Young led Philadelphia with 23 points, while Lou Williams added 18 off the bench. Elton Brand finished with 13, and Jrue Holiday had 10 points and five assists.

CHICAGO: Charlotte Bobcats guard Stephen Jackson (center) has the ball batted out of his hands by Chicago Bulls guard Keith Bogans (left) as center Kurt Thomas watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP Suns 102, Jazz 101 At Phoenix, Channing Frye scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Phoenix kept Utah winless in the post-Jerry Sloan era.

Al Jefferson scored 32 and CJ Miles 19 for the Jazz, who led by eight in the fourth quarter before an 11-0 run put the Suns ahead for good.

Steve Nash had 20 points and 14 assists for Phoenix, which has won seven of its last nine. The Suns playmaker passed Gary Payton for seventh on the NBA’s career assists list. With three 3-pointers, Nash also moved ahead of Eddie Jones into 10th on the career list.

The Jazz, with four players out with injuries, has lost 12 of 16 and fell to 0-2 since Sloan resigned and was replaced by Tyrone Corbin, both losses to the Suns.

Warriors 102, Hornets 89 At Oakland, California, Monta Ellis scored 21 points and Dorell Wright added 16 to help Golden State overcome an early 15-point deficit to beat New Orleans. David Lee also scored 16 points and Stephen Curry had 14 and eight assists for the Warriors, who have won six of eight games.

Five of those wins have come against teams with winning records as Golden State heads into its final game before the All-Star break late yesterday in Utah playing its best basketball of the season.

All-Star point guard Chris Paul was held scoreless for the final 39 minutes for the Hornets, who are limping toward the All-Star break without injured center Emeka Okafor. —AP

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Tuesday.

Miami 110, Indiana 103; Chicago 106, Charlotte 94; Oklahoma City 126, Sacramento 96; Memphis 102, Philadelphia 91; Phoenix 102, Utah 101; Golden State 102, New Orleans 89.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Boston 39 14 .736 NY Knicks 27 26 .509 Philadelphia 26 29 .473 New Jersey 17 39 .304 Toronto 15 40 .273

GB 12 14 23.5 25

Central Division Chicago 37 16 .698 Indiana 24 29 .453 Milwaukee 21 33 .389 Detroit 20 36 .357 Cleveland 9 46 .164

13 16.5 18.5 29

Southeast Division Miami 40 15 .727 Atlanta 34 20 .630 Orlando 35 21 .625 Charlotte 24 32 .429 Washington 15 38 .283

5.5 5.5 16.5 24

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 35 19 .648 31 24 .564 Portland Denver 31 25 .554 Utah 31 25 .554 Minnesota 13 42 .236

4.5 5 5 22.5

Pacific Division LA Lakers 38 18 .679 27 26 .509 Phoenix Golden State 25 29 .463 LA Clippers 20 35 .364 Sacramento 13 39 .250

9.5 12 17.5 23

Southwest Division San Antonio 46 9 .836 38 16 .704 Dallas New Orleans 33 24 .579 Memphis 31 26 .544 Houston 26 30 .464

7.5 14 16 20.5

France reap rewards of team spirit GERMANY: France earned a just reward for a great World Cup season when they won the team event at the alpine skiing world championships yesterday at the expense of over whelming favourites Austria.

Tessa Worley, Anemone Marmottan, Cyprien Richard and Thomas Fanara, helped in the previous rounds by Gauthier de Tessieres and Taina Barioz, used frustration as motivation to avenge a poor start to the fortnight.

It was also France’s first world title since the late Regine Cavagnoud won the Super-G in St Anton in 2001. The French were probably the only team to seriously prepare for an event which struggles for credbility even though the International Sk i Federation wants to make it an Olympic discipline at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The team event, previously held in 2005 and 2007, is now staged as a parallel slalom involving two men and two women from each team. In the event of a draw, the title is decided by the best overall time over the four runs. “Our individual performances did not matter. We really motivated ourselves for this a few weeks back and I was as wound up as a propeller” said Richard.

“It’s great to share victory with your team mates and I really do think that like relays in athletics, such an event has its place in alpine skiing and at the Olympics.”

The winner of his first World Cup race in a giant slalom in Adelboden last month, Richard is one of several French skiers to

GERMANY: The team of France (center) is flanked on the podium by the team of Austria (left) and the team of Sweden (right) during the flower ceremony after the Nations Team event. France won gold, Austria silver and Sweden got the bronze medal. —AP have blossomed this season.

Worley won three giant slaloms to lead the discipline’s World Cup while Fanara earned his first podium placings this winter after a long injury break.

France’s vic tor y was well deser ved even though Austria were unable to field their top team in the final. The last round took place without three times world champion Benjamin Raich, who tore his left knee ligaments in an early round against Croatia.

Raich, the 2006 double Olympic gold medallist. was taken to hospital in Innsbruck where he will receive surgery. He will take no further part in the championships.

His girlfriend Marlies Schild also missed the later stages of the competition in order to accompany

him to hospital. Sweden won the bronze medal, handing Anja Paerson her 19th medal at either the world championships or the Olympics.

“It’s an achievement and much more than I expected from skiing. I keep motivated for the rest of the championship and the rest of the season,” said the Swede, who takes part in Thursday’s giant slalom.

One medal short of the record 20 medals won by Norway’s KjetilAndre Aamodt in the men’s ranks, Paerson, 29, said she would probably not take part in another major competition.

Another leading sk ier, Swiss downhill silver medallist Didier Cuche, broke a thumb in training but he will still take part in Friday’s men’s giant slalom. —Reuters

A

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e niv rsar n

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Years

sports

FRANCE: Lille’s football team players warm up during a training session in Camphin en Pevele, northern France on the eve of their first leg of the Round 32 Europa League football match against PSV Eindhoven.—AFP

Dalglish managing Liverpool in Europe for the first time LONDON: Kenny Dalglish will manage Liverpool in Europe for the first time at Sparta Prague today in the Europa League.

The 59-year-old Scot’s first six-year reign in charge of the Reds started after the 1985 European Cup final, when a deadly riot led to them being banned from continental competitions for six years. Dalglish returned to the club a month ago and the Europa League is his team’s last realistic chance of winning of a trophy this season.

“It’s his first game in Europe as manager of Liverpool and he’s certainly had to wait a long time for it,” said Ian Rush, a former teammate of Dalglish. “As a player he achieved so much in Europe. To win the European Cup three times is a remarkable achievement and he was a key part of Liverpool’s domination.

“He was just very unlucky that when he was manager the first time around we were banned from Europe.” Dalglish will have to get used to Europe’s second-tier knockout competition, with Liverpool unlikely to return to the Champions League next season. Liverpool traveled to the Czech Republic for the last-32 first leg match without captain Steven Gerrard and defender Daniel Agger, who have groin injuries.

Midfielder Christian Poulsen will also be missing after his wife went into labor, but Joe Cole returns after overcoming a knee problem.

“There’s no point being irresponsible with any of the players at this moment,” Dalglish

said. “If it causes them a bit of a problem we are as well nursing them through.” A 1-1 draw at Wigan at the weekend halted Liverpool’s run of four straight Premier League wins, but the Reds revival under Dalglish has lifted the team to sixth in the standings away from the relegation zone.

“Kenny believes in the players, he believes we’ve got a good team and a good squad,” defender Glen Johnson said. “He just wants you to go out and express yourself within the boundaries he sets. He almost says, ‘Once you’ve crossed that white line it’s up to you.”‘ While forward Luis Suarez is ineligible after playing for Ajax in the Champions League group phase, Raheem Sterling could become Liverpool’s youngest player if the striker, who scored five on Monday in Liverpool’s 9-0 rout of Southend in the FA Youth Cup, plays at 16 years and 71 days.

Liverpool’s match in Prague is one of 15 Europa League matches on Thursday since Manchester City played on Tuesday, drawing 0-0 at Aris. Villarreal, which is fourth in the Spanish league, travels to Napoli looking for its first win in Italy. Walter Mazzarri’s side is second in Serie A, just three points behind leader AC Milan thanks largely to Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani’s 20 goals.

He has also scored five in the Europa League - a haul matched by Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi. But they were both surpassed by Radamel Falcao’s seven goals for FC Porto in the group stage. The Colombia striker has been out with a left-

knee injury since Jan. 16 but is set to return Thursday at Sevilla.

While Sevilla is eighth in La Liga, Porto is performing strongly in Portugal, enjoying an 11-point lead while still unbeaten.

Three of Porto’s rivals are also in action, with Benfica hosting German side Stuttgart, Braga at Lech Poznan in Poland and Sporting Lisbon in Glasgow at Rangers.

Ajax, which dropped out of the Champions League like Rangers, makes the short trip to Belgium to face Anderlecht, whose biggest threat comes from forward Romelu Lukaku.

“I will have to play smart not physically against him because he’s very strong,” Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld said. “We know he’s strong and quick when he plays deep so we will have to hold him up.” Lille, which tops the French standings, hosts PSV Eindhoven, while second-place Paris St. Germain goes to Belarus to face BATE Borisov. Bayer Leverkusen will leave its German title ambitions to one side _ the team is second in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dortmund - goes to Metalist Kharkiv, whose Ukrainian rival Dynamo Kiev is at Besiktas of Turkey.

Russia has four teams remaining in the competition, with two traveling to Switzerland: Spartak Moscow plays Basel and Zenit St. Petersburg, which was the only team to win all six group stage matches, faces Young Boys. CSKA Moscow is at PAOK Thessaloniki and Rubin Kazan hosts Dutch champion FC Twente.—AP

America beat Nacional 2-0 in Libertadores MEXICO: Vicente Sanchez and Matias Vuoso scored early in each half as Mexican club America had a 2-0 win against Nacional of Uruguay on Tuesday in the Copa Libertadores group stage.

Sanchez arrived at the back post to score in the fourth minute from Miguel Layun’s low cross and Vuoso hit the second from the edge of the area in the 49th to give America victory at the Azteca stadium. “It’s important at home to get all three points. I’m happy for the result and pleased for my teammates who put in a lot of effort,” Vuoso said.

In other opening group fixtures Tuesday, Paraguay’s Libertad beat Mexican club San Luis 2-1 and Velez Sarsfield of Argentina won 3-0 against Venezuela’s Caracas. Santos of Brazil was held to a scoreless draw by Deportivo Tachira in Venezuela, while Deportes Tolima of Colombia won 1-0 against Paraguayan club Guarani. The Copa Libertadores is Latin America’s top club competition. After six qualifying fixtures, the remaining 32 clubs are split into eight groups of four. The top two in each group qualify for the last 16, with the final scheduled for June. The winner of the Copa Libertadores earns a place in the Club World Cup to be held in Japan in December against the other continental champions. America’s victory over Nacional gave it an early lead in Group 3. “We had a lot of chances to score more, but the important thing is we got the

win. We are looking to win the competition and that’s what we are aiming for,” Vuoso said. Brazil’s Fluminense hosts Nacional on February 23, while America travels to Argentinos Juniors a day later in the group’s next fixtures.

Meanwhile, fellow Mexican club San Luis, which reached the last 16 stage last year, suffered a home reverse in its opening Group 1 match against Libertad. Nicolas Pavlovich opened the scoring for the Paraguayan club with a firm header in the 19th minute and Sergio Aquino scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 56th after Juan Manuel Cavallo had leveled for San Luis in the 40th.

The other two teams in the group, Once Caldas of Colombia and Peru’s Universidad San Martin, play on Wednesday. In Group 4, long-range strikes from Maxi Moralez and David Ramirez set 2004 champion Velez Sarsfield on the way to a 3-0 win over Caracas.

Luis Pena was sent off in the 12th minute for Caracas, with Moralez scoring in the 45th and Ramirez in the 61st. Juan Manuel Martinez sealed the win with a penalty in the 84th for Velez. Chilean clubs Union Espanola and Universidad Catolica open in the same group late yesterday. In Group 7, second-half substitute Danny Santoya scored the winning goal as Deportes Tolima had a 1-0 win over Guarani. —AP

MEXICO: Juan Carlos Valenzuela (left) of America vies for the ball with Robert Flores (right) of Nacional de Uruguay during their Copa Libertadores 2011 match.—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

UEFA Europa League

Liverpool’s Scottish manager Kenny Dalglish

Qatar Holding denies United talks - source DUBAI: Qatar Holding joined Manchester United in quashing rumors of a takeover yesterday with a source close to the Gulf Arab state’s sovereign wealth fund saying no talks had been held with the English soccer club.

Premier League leaders United have repeatedly said the Old Trafford club was not for sale but its high-yield bonds [MNU.UL] rose to near record highs on Tuesday on speculation of a deal. “Qatar Holding is not and has never been in discussions to buy Manchester United football club. There is no truth to the rumours,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

While United have been building a four-point lead in the table as they seek a record 19th league title, off the pitch they have been the subject of media reports saying their American owners, the Glazers, are on the verge of selling up. The owners are unpopular among many fans with some donning green and gold scarves on match days in protest at the debt the Glazers have burdened the club with. The colours are those of the Newton Heath works team, United’s predecessors, and those wearing them are disillusioned by what they see as exploitation of the club by foreign owners who have raised ticket prices and loaded United with debt.

The Glazers, who bought the club in 2005 for about 790 million pounds ($1.28 billion), surprised fans in

November when a source said they had agreed to pay off a 220 million pounds payment-in-kind (PIK) loan from funds outside the club.

A month earlier they had ensured United kept hold of England striker, Wayne Rooney, who had turned the spotlight on the Americans by saying he wanted to leave Old Trafford because the club lacked clout in the transfer market.

Rooney ended up signing a fiveyear contract after saying he had been convinced to stay because “the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history”.

Despite what could be seen as moves by the Glazers to court favour with the fans, speculation has been rife that they plan to sell and rumors have centred on Qatar Holding as the buyer.

In January, United denied they had received an approach from Qatar Holding to buy the club and last week a spokeswoman said “The club is not for sale”. Manchester already has Arab owners in town as neighbouring City are owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan who has made them the world’s richest club and spent hundreds of millions of pounds on players. The tiny Gulf Arab state of Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, in December won the right to host the 2022 World Cup finals.—Reuters

Rubin FC Twente Al Jazeera Sport +5

15:00

Metalist v Leverkusen Al Jazeera Sport +1

19:00

Contador back in the saddle

Benfica v Stuttgart Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al Jazeera Sport +4

21:00

Doping ban lifted

Anderlecht v Ajax Al Jazeera Sport +6

21:00

Lech v Braga Al Jazeera Sport +1

21:00

Napoli v Villarreal Al Jazeera Sport +2 Al Jazeera Sport +3

21:00

Besiktas v Dinamo Al Jazeera Sport +10

21:00

BATE v PSG Al Jazeera Sport +9

21:00

Sevilla v Porto Al Jazeera Sport +2

23:05

Lille v Eindhoven Al Jazeera Sport +6

23:05

Rangers v Sporting Al Jazeera Sport +5

23:05

Sparta v Liverpool Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al Jazeera Sport +4

23:05

Basel v Spartak Al Jazeera Sport +10

23:05

Young v Zenit Al Jazeera Sport +9

23:05

PAOK FC v CSKA Al Jazeera Sport +8

23:05

FARO: Three-times Tour de France champion Alberto Contador returned to competition just one day after his provisional one-year ban for doping was lifted, taking the start in the Tour of Algarve yesterday.

The 28-year-old had been suspended provisionally since August after testing positive for a small amount of the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol, but the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFCEC) on Tuesday lifted the ban.

“Above all, it is a huge satisfaction not just for me but also for the team, the sponsors, and the truth is that I am happy to be here,” Contador told reporters.

The Spaniard, who has been the outstanding cyclist of his generation, did not confirm whether we he will take part in the Tour de France in July.

“Now we have to plan the season with the (team) director in the next weeks and

we will see what the goals are,” he said.

Contador, whose battle to clear his name may not yet be over with cycling’s world governing body still to decide whether to appeal, flew to Portugal late on Tuesday to join up with his Saxo Bank team and defend the title he won last year. “I think everybody can understand that we are happy. For us it is good that he can race,” Saxo Bank team owner Bjarne Riis said. Contador has always denied deliberate wrongdoing, saying the failed test was due to contaminated meat.

Spanish media reported that the RFEC’s disciplinary committee reversed their decision because it could not prove intent or negligence on Contador’s part.

“I think this whole situation is not good at all for cycling and, in truth, it would have been good for it all not to have happened,” Contador added.—Reuters

FRANCE: In this July 23, 2010 file photo, Alberto Contador of Spain gives the thumbs up on the podium after the 18th stage of the Tour de France cycling race.—AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

S P ORT S

Pakistan’s Saqlain hid wife in cupboard KARACHI: Former Pakistan spin bowler Saqlain Mushtaq revealed yesterday he smuggled his wife into his hotel room and hid her in a cupboard the day before the 1999 World Cup final in London.

“It was a double trouble for all of us because the management had barred us from keeping our wives with us and on the other hand people accused us of going out with girls, so I breached the code by asking my wife to stay with me,” Saqlain told AFP.

“My wife Sana was with me in the room when the management decided to have a check on the players whether they were in the room or not, so I had to lock Sana in the cupboard, but I had to do that otherwise I would have been punished.”

Saqlain was one of the top off-spinners in his prime and was credited with inventing the “doosra”a delivery which spins the opposite way from normal off-spin. Pakistan lost the 1999 Wold Cup final

against Australia by eight wickets at Lord’s. Saqlain said he was forced to keep his wife with him as a lot of people accused the Pakistani players of going out with girls.

“At one point of time my wife, because she was with me in the hotel during the World Cup, saved me from a group of women who was alleging that they saw me with another girl, so keeping wife in the hotel came out to be a blessing,” he said.—AFP

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya Group B: Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands

Bangladesh are pick of the minor nations LONDON: Shakib Al Hasan, ranked as the world’s number one limited overs all-rounder in 2009, has considerable cause for optimism at the World Cup opening in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka on Feb. 19.

The only Bangladeshi to play county cricket, Shakib captains a team with the best chance of upsetting the established order and securing a quarter-final place.

Only a significant upset will prevent defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualifying from Group A, which also includes Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Group B, containing Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland and the Netherlands, is a different proposition.

Bangladesh defeated India, their opponents in the opening match, at the Caribbean World Cup four years ago while Ireland eliminated Pakistan on St Patrick’s Day. Late last year Shakib decisively outplayed his opposing captain Daniel Vettori during a battle between two fine left-handed all-rounders in a fivematch home series against five-times World Cup semi-finalists New Zealand.

His team responded to their captain’s example by trouncing the Kiwis 4-0 and followed up by beating Zimbabwe 3-1.

Bangladesh’s arguably premature admission to the ranks of the world test nations was accelerated by an extraordinary victory over 1992 champions Pakistan on the final day of the group stages at the 1999 tournament.

The game was one of several involving Pakistan to come under investigation when a match-fixing scandal erupted in the following year, resulting in a life ban for former captain Salim Malik who played in the Bangladesh match.

There were no such suspicions when man-ofthe-match Mashrafe bin Mortaza and a trio of leftarm spinners took Bangladesh to a commanding five-wicket win over India in Port of Spain in the first round of the 2007 tournament, a result which took them through to the second round at the expense of the Indians.

Mortaza, Bangladesh’s leading pace bowler, has been omitted from the 2011 squad because of a knee injury, sparking a half-day general strike in his home town of Narail by irate fans.

Ireland’s victory over Pakistan in 2007 was the 10th by an associate member over a test nation at the World Cup. The Irish went on to beat Bangladesh and only rain denied them a great opportunity of defeating eventual champions England at last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, also in the Caribbean.

Ed Joyce, who played 17 one-day internationals for England, will represent his native country in a squad containing nine members of the 2007 side.

“What is different this time, from 2007, is that 13 of the 15 earn their living from cricket,” said coach Phil Simmons, a former West Indies international all-rounder.

“That’s practically a full time squad. We were also able to spend a month in India acclimatising and that will stand us in good stead.”

Zimbabwe have not played test cricket since 2005 because of a series of internal crises created by the country’s political turmoil.

Some stability has returned to the domestic structure and last year Zimbabwe recorded oneday wins over India, Sri Lanka (albeit against young, inexperienced squads) and West Indies.

The Zimbabwe authorities were disappointed when all-rounder Sean Irvine made a late decision not to resume his international career but captain Elton Chigumbura still believes his side can qualify for the quarter-finals at the expense of New Zealand.

“We will fancy our chances against New Zealand who struggled the last time they were in the subcontinent,” said Chigumbura. “They lost all their matches against Bangladesh and they clearly struggled against spin. We have a very good spin attack, so we will capitalise on their frailties and hopefully we will get a positive result.”

Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands cannot realistically be expected to make an impact, although the Kenyans caused a sensation at the 1996 World Cup when they beat West Indies and they also advanced to the semi-finals in 2003 helped by the points they gained when New Zealand declined to play in Nairobi because of security fears. Cricket has regressed in Kenya since and the team have lost all five warmup matches in India against lowly opposition. They are, though, still able to field 41-year-old all-rounder Steve Tikilo, their captain in 2003, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup. — Reuters

World Cup finals Cricket World Cup finals since the competition began in 1975 2007 — 2003 — 1999 — 1996 — 1992 — 1987 — 1983 — 1979 — 1975 —

Australia bt Sri Lanka by 53 runs under Duckworth/Lewis method at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Australia bt India by 125 runs at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

Australia bt Pakistan by eight wickets at Lord’s, London.

Sri Lanka bt Australia by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan bt England by 22 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.

Australia bt England by seven runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.

India bt West Indies by 43 runs at Lord’s, London.

West Indies bt England by 92 runs at Lord’s, London.

West Indies bt Australia by 17 runs at Lord’s, London.

CHENNAI: Cricket supporters celebrate during an ICC Cricket World Cup match. The fourteennation event begins on Feb.19. — AP

Packer World Series created the modern one-day game LONDON: Floodlights, fireworks and a spectacular Sydney sunset heralded both a triumph for Kerry Packer and his rebel World Series Cricket (WSC) and the birth of the modern one-day game.

November 28, 1978, was the day the Australian media mogul gambled and won with his audacious ploy to stage a day-night oneday match illuminated by six freshly erected floodlight towers at the Sydney Cricket Ground and featuring a white ball and colored clothing. A boisterous crowd estimated at 50,000 packed the famous ground to witness the WSC Australia side defeat West Indies. Many more watched the game on television aided by a host of the eyecatching technical innovations already introduced by Packer’s Channel Nine.

Man-of-the-match Dennis Lillee smiled at the assembled reporters afterwards. “When Mr Packer started WSC, the Australian Cricket Board said: ‘We’ll let the people be the judges’,” Lillee said. “It looks like they have.” The great fast bowler had signed for Packer in the previous year in the justifiable belief that he and his colleagues were being paid a pittance for their efforts even though test cricket was booming in Australia. West Indies, victors over Australia in the first World Cup final in 1975, also signed en masse as did a group of leading England, Pakistan and South African players.

Their collective faith in the new venture, though, was shaken when the fans failed to turn up for the so-called five-day SuperTests in the 1977-78 season, preferring to watch the official Australia side play India in a consistently gripping series.

One-day night cricket in the second and final season transformed the fortunes and profile of World Series Cricket, although Packer remained first and foremost a money man. In 1979, the Australian Cricket Board sued for peace and gave him the television rights he had sought in the first place and the rebel circuit was dissolved. Cold commercial realities had also been behind the decision to launch the first official one-day competition in England on May 1, 1963, with a match between Lancashire and Leicestershire at Old Trafford in the new Gillette Cup. The traditionalists shuddered and the Wisden Cricketers Almanac could not bring itself to acknowledge the competition by name, calling it instead the Knockout Cup. Nobody, though, could realistically object to the injection of new money into a domestic game in crisis as attendances plummeted in the county championship.

The new format also appealed to the restless imagination of England and Sussex captain Ted Dexter. Dexter realised more quickly than most that limited-overs cricket demanded a fresh approach

and he was ruthless enough to place every fielder on the boundary in the closing stages of the first final against Worcestershire at Lord’s.

Sussex duly won by 14 runs before a packed house and the leading sportswriter of the day, Peter Wilson of the Daily Express, commented: “If there has ever been a triumphant sporting experiment, the knockout cricket cup for the Gillette Cup was that experiment.”

One-day cricket had come to stay but it was still seven years before an international limited-overs match was staged and then only because rain forced the abandonment of the third test between Australia and England scheduled to start on Dec. 31, 1970.

Australian Board of Control chairman Don Bradman announced that a one-day match of 40 eight-ball overs would be staged as well as an extra test and a crowd of 46,006 turned up to watch a home side victory. It escaped nobody’s attention that the attendance exceeded the five-day aggregate for the first test in Brisbane.

A World Cup was inevitable and it was the game’s great good fortune that the 1975 tournament featured some of the finest players ever and a final between eventual champions West Indies and Australia still regarded as the best of them all.

Only 18 one-day internationals in total had been played before the World Cup but in the following decade the one-day game exploded in popularity. The Indian board, in particular, embraced one-day cricket after their team’s unexpected victory over West Indies in the 1983 final. India and Pakistan were awarded the 1987 tournament after promising to double the prize money and within a decade India had become the richest and most politically powerful country in world cricket. Television money poured in and various one-day tournaments blossomed in the Middle East.

There was a price to pay. Test cricket became very much a poor relation in India and the proliferation of one-day cricket fuelled the illegal gambling industry on the subcontinent where punters can bet on every delivery. That in turn undoubtedly contributed to the corruption scandals which besmirched the game in 2000 and again a decade later. Packer, who died in 2005 at the age of 68, made a great deal of money out of televising cricket over a quarter of a century. His legacy, though, far exceeds his personal pecuniary ambitions. The modern one-day game, which will be on display at the 10th World Cup on the Indian subcontinent this month, is essentially the version developed in the two extraordinary years of World Series Cricket.

As Wisden’s obituary pointed out, Packer, for better or for worse, “was the media tycoon whose intervention in cricket created the finances, shape and tone of the modern game”. — Reuters

World Cup match schedule Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya Group B: Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands (Top four in each group qualify for the quarter-finals) Feb 19 Feb 20 Feb 20 Feb 21 Feb 22 Feb 23 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 26 Feb 27 Feb 28 Feb 28 Mar 1 Mar 2 Mar 3 Mar 3 Mar 4 Mar 4

India v Bangladesh New Zealand v Kenya Sri Lanka v Canada Australia v Zimbabwe England v Netherlands Pakistan v Kenya South Africa v West Indies Australia v New Zealand Bangladesh v Ireland Sri Lanka v Pakistan India v England Zimbabwe v Canada West Indies v Netherlands Sri Lanka v Kenya England v Ireland South Africa v Netherlands Pakistan v Canada Bangladesh v West Indies New Zealand v Zimbabwe

Dhaka Chennai Hambantota Ahmedabad Nagpur Hambantota New Delhi Nagpur Dhaka Colombo Banglore Nagpur New Delhi Colombo Bangalore Mohali Colombo Dhaka Ahmedabad

(0830) (0400) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0400) (0830) (0900) (0900) (0400) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0400) (0900) (0830) (0400)

Mar 5 Mar 6 Mar 6 Mar 7 Mar 8 Mar 9 Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 13 Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 18

Sri Lanka v Australia England v South Africa India v Ireland Kenya v Canada Pakistan v New Zealand India v Netherlands Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe West Indies v Ireland Bangladesh v England India v South Africa New Zealand v Canada Australia v Kenya Bangladesh v Netherlands Pakistan v Zimbabwe South Africa v Ireland Australia v Canada England v West Indies Ireland v Netherlands Sri Lanka v New Zealand

Colombo Chennai Bangalore New Delhi Pallekele New Delhi Pallekele Mohali Chittagong Nagpur Mumbai Bangalore Chittagong Pallekele Kolkata Bangalore Chennai Kolkata Mumbai

(0900) (0400) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0400) (0830) (0900) (0400) (0900) (0330) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0900) (0400) (0900)

Mar 19 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 20

Bangladesh v South Africa Australia v Pakistan Zimbabwe v Kenya India v West Indies

Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26

First quarter-final Second quarter-final Third quarter-final Fourth quarter-final

Mar 29 Mar 30 Apr 2

(0330) (0900) (0400) (0900)

Dhaka Ahmedabad Dhaka Colombo

(0830) (0900) (0830) (0900)

First semi-final Second semi-final

Colombo Mohali

(0900) (0900)

Final

Mumbai

(0900)

( All times in GMT)

A1 v B4 A2 v B3 A3 v B2 A4 v B1

Dhaka Colombo Kolkata Chennai

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

S P ORT S

Dhoni fires India to victory CHENNAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed a blazing century to set up India’s crushing 117-run victory over New Zealand in a World Cup warm-up match yesterday.

The Indian skipper cracked three sixes and 11 fours in a 64-ball 108 not out to help his team post an imposing 3605 and virtually bat New Zealand out of the day-night match in Chennai.

New Zealand were bowled out for 243 after a brisk 94-run stand for the opening wicket bet ween Brendon McCullum (58) and Martin Guptill (38) to suffer their first defeat in two practice matches.

Jesse Ryder (32), Nathan McCullum (29 not out) and Scott Styris (20) were the other main contributors. Indian spinners, who played a big role in their team’s win over defending champions Australia in a warm-up match on Sunday, again struck it rich as they shared seven wickets.

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and par t-time spinner Yuvraj Singh each took two wickets, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged one.

“It’s a difficult task for any side when they have to chase six or seven runs an over. This is the way we should play all the time,” said Harbhajan Singh, who took 2-17.

“When you set that total, teams have to chase and it gives you the chance to get wickets as their batsmen look to do something. “ We have won our two warm-up games, but we are not taking anything for granted. It’s up to us now to keep it simple and stick to the basics.”

Dhoni and Suresh Raina (50) earlier gave a superb display of power-hitting to help their side set a stiff target, plundering 124 runs for the fifth wicket off just 56 balls. Raina hit three sixes and four boundaries in a 26-ball knock.

Dhoni’s best came when he smashed paceman Jacob Oram for five succes-

sive fours, while Raina also punished the same bowler as he hit three sixes in an over. Oram conceded 70 runs in his nine overs.

Dhoni said I ndia were able to achieve “a total that was above par”.

Speaking about his own game, he said: “In the past few games I have been in a hurry, but my game is different. I take my time and then like to stay until the end for the slog overs. You have got to remind yourself of your strengths.”

New Zealand stand-in skipper Ross Taylor said Dhoni had taken the game away from his side, adding: “Spinners are going to be a big part of the World Cup, and we have got to improve against them.”

The stage for the closing- overs onslaught was set by Gautam Gambhir (89) and Virat Kohli (59), who put on 106 for the third wicket after India lost openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin

Tendulkar for 42 runs. Record-breaking batsman Tendulk ar, who recently missed the last three one-day internationals in South Africa due to a hamstring injury and was rested against Australia, contributed just 17.

His eagerly awaited return lasted 23 balls before he was deceived by a slower one from paceman Tim Southee and bowled. India suffered another blow when hard-hitting Sehwag (23) was bowled by an Oram delivery that kept low, but Gambhir and Kohli steadied the innings with their sensible knocks.

Gambhir hit 11 fours in his 85-ball stay while Kohli hit seven boundaries in a 68-ball innings. I ndia open their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Dhak a on Saturday, while New Zealand take on Kenya in their first match the following day in Chennai. —AFP

Scoreboard CHENNAI, India: Scoreboard in the India against New Zealand World Cup warm-up match yesterday: India: V. Sehwag b Oram 23 S. Tendulkar b Southee 17 G. Gambhir c How b Southee 89 V. Kohli c B. McCullum b Oram 59 MS Dhoni not out 108 S. Raina c Taylor b Mills 50 Y. Pathan not out 3 Extras (lb4, w7) 11 Total (for five wickets; 50 overs) 360 Fall of wickets: 1-35 ( Tendulkar), 2-42 (Sehwag), 3-148 (Kohli), 4-216 (Gambhir), 5340 (Raina).

Bowling: Mills 10-1-81-1 (w4), Southee 101-67-2, Oram 9-1-70-2 (w2), Franklin 2-0-17-0, N. McCullum 10-0-61-0, Woodcock 5-0-31-0 (w1), Styris 4-0-29-0.

New Zealand: M. Guptill c Dhoni b Ashwin B. McCullum run out

38 58

J. Ryder c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 32 R. Taylor c Kohli b Harbhajan 5 J. Franklin lbw b Chawla 0 S. Styris b Chawla 20 J. How c Patel b Yuvraj 15 J. Oram st Dhoni b Yuvraj 12 N. McCullum not out 29 L. Woodcock b Nehra 9 K. Mills b Nehra 2 Extras (b4, lb8, w11) 23 Total (for all out; 43.1 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-94 (Guptill), 2-118 (B. McCullum), 3-140 (Taylor), 4-141 (Franklin), 5-147 (Ryder), 6-173 (How), 7197 (Oram), 8-202 (Styris), 9-213 (Woodcock), 10-243 (Mills).

Bowling: Nehra 7.1-0-55-2, Sreesanth 5-038-0, Patel 3-0-19-0, Ashwin 7-0-30-1 (w5), Yuvraj 9-0-33-2 (w5), Harbhajan 4-0-17-2, Chawla 8-0-39-2 (w1).

Result: India win by 117 runs

CHENNAI: India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century during an ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand. —AP

Ponting’s head in a spin as Aussies hit double trouble

BANGLADESH: England’s batsman Kevin Pietersen is bowled for 24 runs as Canada’s captain Ashish Bagai (left) looks on during their World Cup warm-up cricket match. —AP

Broad rescues England DHAKA: Stuart Broad grabbed a five-wicket haul as England doused late resistance from big-hitting Rizwan Cheema to carve out a narrow 16-run victory over Canada in a World Cup warm-up game yesterday.

Rizwan threatened to take the game away with his explosive 70-ball 93 before Broad struck to remove the batsman and restrict Canada to 227 off 46.1 overs in reply to England’s 243 all out at the Fatullah stadium in Dhaka.

The paceman, making a surprise comeback after a stomach injury, finished with 5-37 to add to the efforts of Matt Prior (78) and Jonathan Trott (57) with the bat after England won the toss and elected to bat.

England’s Kevin Pietersen, a surprise promotion to the opener’s slot, insisted the side were not unduly worried after being given a scare by rank outsiders Canada. “We just need to reassess what we are going to do in the middle overs in conditions like this, where we are going to get our wickets, what fields we are going to set,” he told Sky Sports News.

“But at the end of the day one bloke from Canada played absolutely beautifully, everything hit the middle of the bat. And that can happen on any particular day.

“Hats off to him, but we still won the game.” England seamer Ajmal Shahzad (244) rocked Canada when he dismissed the dangerous John Davison for one. Davison had smashed 111 off 67 balls, then a World Cup record, in a losing effort against West Indies in 2003.

Broad, key to England’s chances at the World Cup, then sent back Nitish Kumar and captain Ashish Bagai off successive overs before ending a valiant 44-run knock

by Khurram Chohan lower down the order.

Chohan showed his prowess with the ball

as well, sharing six wickets with Harvir Baidwan to dent England’s progress.

Chohan, a Pakistani impor t in the Canadian side, removed Andrew Strauss (one) and Pietersen before accounting for Ian Bell (eight) to return figures of 3-34 off nine overs.

Pietersen, a surprise promotion to the opener’s slot, inside edged on to his legstump after making 24 off 28 balls, includ-

ing three fours and a six. Trott arrested the slide with his cautious 81-ball knock and found an able partner in Prior, who hit four fours and a six. Prior added 54 with Trott, who mistimed a sweep against offspinner Davison, and then 51 with Broad after his Sussex team-mates Mike Yardy and Luke Wright both fell cheaply to Henr y Osinde. Prior was eventually bowled by Baidwan (3-50). — AP

Scoreboard

BANGALORE: Captain Ricky Ponting will have woken yesterday under no illusions that his Australian side’s perennial problems on the sub continent have gone away with the World Cup just three days away.

Ponting’s men struggled with both bat and ball on spinning pitches in their two warm-up matches as they were comprehensively thrashed by India on Sunday and again by South Africa on Tuesday in Bangalore.

The current Australian line-up so far bears little resemblance to the all-conquering outfit that totally dominated the tournament in 1999, 2003 and 2007 with giants of the game like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath now watching from the stands.

Their build-up to the showpiece, which begins on Saturday, has been marred by unpredictable form and injuries even though they arrived in the sub-continent after walloping England 6-1 in the postAshes one-day series on home soil.

The matches against joint hosts India and South Africa, however, have dispelled any hopes they had that the sheer pace of their opening attack would simply blow away their opposition.

It is not a new experience for Australia who have traditionally grappled with sub continental conditions that generally favour slower bowlers.

In the two warm-up matches against India and South Africa- who are two of the favourites to snatch the title away from Australia-their batting collapsed to some disciplined spin bowling with the middle order folding on both occasions.

Bollywood takes breather, World Cup grabs spotlight

DHAKA: Complete scoreboard of the World Cup warm-up match between Canada and England at Fatullah stadium yesterday:

MUMBAI: India’s world famous Bollywood

England: A. Strauss c Bagai b Chohan 1 24 K. Pietersen b Chohan J. Trott c Desai b Davison 57 I. Bell c Bagai b Chohan 8 P. Collingwood st Bagai b Rao 9 M. Prior b Baidwan 78 M. Yardy c Surkari b Osinde 6 L. Wright lbw b Osinde 0 S. Broad b Baidwan 22 J. Tredwell not out 11 Ajmal Shahzad c Rizwan b Baidwan 10 Extras (b4, lb1, w12) 17 Total (all out; 49.4 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Strauss), 2-50 (Pietersen), 3-64 (Bell), 4-86 (Collingwood), 5-140 ( Trott), 6-158 (Yardy), 7-158 (Wright), 8-209 (Broad), 9-224 (Prior), 10-243 (Shahzad).

Bowling: Osinde 8-1-42-2 (w6), Chohan 9-0-34-3 (w1), Desai 4-0-25-0, Baidwan 9.4-0-50-3, R ao 10-0-38-1 (w2), Rizwan 4-0-17-0 (w1), Davison 50-32-1 (w2).

film industry is reining back its production over the next two months to avoid a clash with the Cricket World Cup being played in the country.

The World Cup is expected to prompt people to flock to the stadia or tune their television sets to sports channels, leaving general entertainment channels with fewer viewers and cinema chains with smaller audiences.

“For a multiplex, every show is a perishable item, so if they don’t use the multiplex screen for that three-hour period to the fullest, they lose ... It’s like flying an empty plane,” said a Mumbai-based analyst who did not wish to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The World Cup will be held from Feb. 19 to April 2 and is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The March quarter is a seasonally weak one for theatre chains such as Inox Leisure, PVR Ltd and Cinemax due to most school and university examinations being held during that time. This year the World Cup is likely to make the quarter even weaker as produc-

Canada: J. Davison b Shahzad 1 3 N. Kumar b Broad R. Gunasekera c Prior b Broad 7 A. Bagai c Pietersen b Broad 5 J. Hansra lbw b Shahzad 1 Z. Sarkari c Collingwood b Yardy 22 Rizwan Cheema c Bell b Broad 93 K. Chohan lbw b Broad 44 H. Patel c Strauss b Collingwood 13 H. Baidwan c Collingwood b Tredwell14 B. Rao not out 6 Extras (lb4, w12, nb2) 18 Total (all out; 46.1 overs) 227 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Davison), 2-6 (Kumar), 3-19 (Bagai), 4-20 (Hansra), 5-28 (Gunasekera), 6-96 (Surkari), 7-156 (Rizwan), 8-178 (Patel), 9-207 (Baidwan), 10-227 (Chohan).

Bowling: Shahzad 8-1-44-2 (w6), Broad 8.1-0-37-5 (w6, nb1), Wright 4-0-25-0, Yardy 10-0-40-1, Tredwell 8-036-1, Collingwood 8-2-41-1 (nb1).

Result: England won by 16 runs Complete scoreboard of the World Cup warm-up match between Canada and England at Fatullah stadium yesterday:

Their two spinners Jason Krejza and Steven Smith proved ineffective as they were smashed around the field by the South Africans, conceding 66 runs between them in 14 overs, and failed to pick up a single scalp on the spin-friendly wicket.

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke played down the seven-wicket defeat by South Africa as simply a practice match defeat but he acknowledged that spinners will be vital over the next seven weeks.

“I think spin bowling is going to play a big part in this tournament. Firstly how you bowl it and then how you face it as well,” Clarke said at a news conference after the match. “I don’t think either are worries (for the Australian team) to be honest.” So far, the facts do not back him up.

Australia have been bowled out twice for scores of 176 and 217 on the same ground-the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore — with opposing spinners picking up 13 wickets.

More telling was that on both occasions, their entire middle order folded meekly to bowlers who are little better than average. In the absence of the dependable Michael Hussey, who missed the tournament due to an injury, the middle order relies solely on Clarke, trying to shrug off a slump in form, and Ponting, who is recovering from a finger injury.

Their spin attack looks even weaker. It is led by Krejza, who has only played one one-day international, and is backed up by 21-year-old Smith and part timers David Hussey and Clarke. — Reuters

tion houses delay movie releases. This year there are 23 films lined up for the months of February and March as compared to about 30 during the same period last year, with just a handful of them featuring big stars such as Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar.

“We have consciously planned all our big film releases post April due to the World Cup,” Kamal Jain, Chief Financial Officer at Eros International Media Ltd, said. “It can affect viewership and we don’t want to take any chances.”

Sunil Punjabi, chief executive at Cinemax, said the multiplex chain expects occupancy levels to drop to about 23 percent from the usual 26-27 percent during the World Cup. The World Cup is expected to boost the available advertising revenue for print and electronic media. “However, general entertainment channels would have pressure on the ad revenues as major portion of ad spend have been diverted to sport channels, ESPN STAR and SE T MAX,” Emk ay analyst Naval Seth said in a research report. —Reuters

Contador back in the saddle

17

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Dhoni fires India to victory

19

Heat scorch Pacers in nba action Page 16

LONDON: Arsenal’s Johan Djourou (at left) with teammates Alex Song (centre) and Emmanuel Eboue (at right) challenge for the ball with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi during a Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium. —AP

Arsenal fightback stuns Barcelona LONDON: Arsenal gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals here yesterday, coming from behind to stun favorites Barcelona 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.

Two goals in the final 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and substitute Andrey Arshavin clinched a dramatic victory for the English Premier League side af ter Barcelona had taken the lead through a first-half David Villa strike.

The result means Arsenalthrashed 6-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in last year’s quarterfinals-will carry a narrow lead into Camp Nou when the two sides meet in the second leg on March 8.

The thrilling finale capped a superb encounter at the Emirates as arguably the two most stylish sides in Europea laid on a feast of attacking football.

Arsenal started brightly and tested Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes af ter only five minutes, when a jink ing run from Theo Walcott saw the ball transferred to Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the area.

The Spanish maestro flicked an exquisite pass to van Persie, whose angled half-volley from close range forced a good save from Valdes.

The threat of Lionel Messi was never far away however, and the Argentinian star drew a desperate challenge from behind from Alex Song after only seven minutes that earned the Cameroonian a booking. Arsenal were given a huge letoff on 15 minutes when Messi was sent racing clear after an immaculate pass from Villa.

Messi committed Wojciech Szczesny with a magical feint and beat the Arsenal keeper with a delicate dink but the effort rolled just wide of the post.

Arsenal continued to live dangerously, and Andres Iniesta just failed to find Villa with another penetrative pass along the deck.

After numerous ominous warning signs for Arsenal, the opening goal duly arrived on 26 minutes.

Another eye-of-the-needle pass from Messi sent Villa racing clear

and the Spanish World Cup star drilled a low shot beneath Szczesny.

Arsenal’s players appealed for offside as boos rang out around the Emirates, but Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli remained unmoved.

With Barcelona dominating possession, Arsenal’s most promising moments of the half came on the counter-attack, where Walcott’s pace regularly unnerved the visitors’ defence.

The England international was at the heart of a lightning break on 29 minutes that ended with van Persie slicing his shot wide.

Arsenal breathed another sigh of relief on 38 minutes when Messi had the ball in the net, only to be adjudged fractionally offside.

A frenetic start to the second half saw both sides struggle to create clear chances, although Arsenal were grateful when Laurent Koscielny-magnificent throughoutjust managed to k nock Pedro Rodriguez off-balance as he went clear on goal on 57 minutes.

Arsenal continued to probe for openings on the break however, and a sweeping move ended in a book ing for Gerard Pique, who tripped Samir Nasri. The booking rules the Barca centre-back out of the second leg.

Just when it seemed Arsenal’s labours were to be in vain, van Persie conjured a goal out of nothing on 78 minutes.

Gael Clichy flicked a ball over the top and van Persie went clear wide on the left. Nothing seemed on but the Dutchman spotted daylight between Valdes and the Barcelona goalkeeper’s near post and thundered home a rasping low shot.

With Barcelona suddenly rocking, Arsenal pressed home their advantage, and seven minutes from time their persistence paid off.

Another counter-attack saw Nasri burst clear down the right.

The Frenchman checked and weighed his options before picking out Arshavin, who had replaced Song, and the diminutive Russian swept in a majestic winner.—AFP

Bolton in FA Cup fifth round

Champions League

ROME: Shakhtar Donetsk’s Jadson, of Brazil, celebrates after scoring during a Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk.—AP

Shakhtar Samba stars sink Roma ROME: A trio of Brazilians gave Shakhtar Donetsk a shock 3-2 victory at Roma yesterday to put the Ukrainians in firm control of their Champions League second round clash.

Jadson, Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano all found in the net in the space of 12 first half minutes to turn the tie on its head following Simone Perrotta’s opener.

Jeremy Menez’s second half strike ensured Roma retained a slight hope of triumphing following the second leg in Donetsk in three weeks time.

There were ominous signs for Roma on 12 minutes when goalkeeper Doni made a meal of Darijo Srna’s free-kick, letting it slip through his hands before being relieved to see it drop on the roof of the net.

Roma should have gone in front on 21 minutes but Nicolas Burdisso amazingly put his header wide from five yards as he arrived at pace to meet Francesco Totti’s corner.

Mirko Vucinic then curled a speculative effort just over the bar. Roma went in front with a scrappy goal on 28 minutes as Rodrigo Taddei crossed for Perrotta to head goalwards, the ball hitting Razvan Rat in the chest and the defender failing to react as the ball then bounced over the line. Just a minute later it was all square, though, as Jadson’s shot deflected off Daniele De Rossi and wrong-footed Doni. Dmytro

Chygrynskiy then headed back across goal but Luiz Adriano couldn’t turn it home.

The turnaround was complete on 36 minutes as Douglas Costa drove at a hesitating Roma defence, cut inside onto his left foot and curled a delicious strike around Doni. Up the other end Vucinic tried to do something similar but sent his effort beyond the far post.

On 41 minutes disaster struck for Roma as John-Arne Riise lost his balance and fell over, allowing Douglas Costa to steal the ball and set up Luiz Adriano to shoot home under Doni.

Menez curled an effort wide for Roma but it could have been even worse for the hosts before the break as Douglas Costa released Luiz Adriano again and he shrugged off Philippe Mexes’s shirt pull but then did not get enough weight behind his chip over Doni and Nicolas Burdisso got back to clear.

Roma took 15 minutes of the second period to finally threaten the Shakhtar goal but Menez couldn’t keep his knee over the ball and volleyed high. But just a minute later he made ammends, curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 20 yards. Armenian Henrik Mkhitaryan then kept Doni busy with a skimming shot from distance. Doni had to charge from his area to deny Luiz Adriano on the edge of his box while Mkhitaryan squuezed a finish just past the post. —AFP

WIGAN: Ivan Klasnic fired Bolton Wanderers to a 10 win over Wigan Athletic in their FA Cup fourthround replay at the DW Stadium yesterday.

Owen Coyle’s side can look forward to a fifthround trip to Fulham this weekend thanks to Croatian striker Klasnic’s second-half winner.

While Wanderers’ Wembley bid remains alive, Wigan are left to focus on a grim fight for Premier League survival.

The FA Cup’s diminished status was once again clear to see as both managers rested their key players. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez made nine changes, while Coyle made six alterations.

With the original tie and two Premier League fixtures between the two sides this season all resulting in draws, it was hardly a surprise that this was another close-fought affair.

There was still plenty of goalmouth action to keep the sparse crowd of 7,515 entertained, however. Bolton’s Lee Chung-Yong had the first chance as the South Korean curled wide, then seconds later Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt parried a low Martin Petrov drive and Johan Elmander finished from close range, only for the Swede’s effort to be disallowed for offside.

Wanderers then had a nervy moment as Ronnie Stam’s cross bobbled off David Wheater and goalkeeper Adam Bogdan needed two attempts to keep hold of it.

Klasnic squandered the best opportunity of the first half when he surged clear on goal before hitting a tame shot straight at Pollitt.

Wigan were indebted to Pollitt again as he tipped Petrov’s fierce strike over before Elmander’s free-kick come back off the post. Wigan’s Jordi Gomez scuffed an effort wide from the edge of the area early in the second half.

Bolton suffered a setback when Sam Ricketts was carried off on a stretcher, with Marcos Alonso taking his place, after the defender stumbled over while chasing down Victor Moses. The hosts were denied when Elmander put the ball in the net, only to be ruled offside once again.

But Bolton finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute as Klasnic collected Mark Davies’ pass, swivelled in the box and smashed his shot beyond Pollitt for his first goal since November.

Wigan looked to make a swift response but Mohamed Diame’s chip over Bogdan became the third effort disallowed for offside.

The Latics kept pressing and Gomez smashed a shot against the bar before Franco Di Santo wasted their last chance when he headed wide from a good position.—AFP

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Business Years

Lipton launches ‘Inspirational Dialogues’ Page 22

Malabar Gold opens showroom in Kuwait Page 23

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Japan, India sign free trade pact

Russian firms take steps to curb corruption Page 25

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HONG KONG: A residential tower rises above a billboard in the Causeway Bay area of Hong Kong yesterday. A global survey has found that luxury residential rents in Hong Kong surpassed Tokyo with a threebedroom apartment in the Chinese city’s glitzy Peak neighborhood costing an average $16,700 a month, about 30 percent more than Tokyo. —AFP

Bahrain unrest hits Gulf markets Kuwait drops • Foreign funds exit amid growing uncertainty DUBAI: Gulf Arab markets fell yesterday as a third day of unrest in Bahrain raised political risk premiums in the world’s top oil exporting region.

“There is definitely some panic, as you can see in the markets today,” said M.R. Raghu senior vice president for research at Markaz in Kuwait. “The amount of uprising we are seeing in the Middle East is a serious concern for foreign investors. They are likely to pull more money from the markets to be on the safer side.”

Thousands of Shiite demonstrators, inspired by popular revolts that

toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt, poured into Bahrain’s capital to mourn for a second protestor killed in clashes this week, while the cost of insuring Bahrain’s debt against default rose to a new 18-month high.

Egypt has postponed the re opening of the Cairo bourse for a third time. It was slated to resume trading on Sunday, having been shut since Jan. 27 as demonstrations paralyzed the financial sector and led to the end of former president Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

The exchange will now only reopen when banks are working properly.

Saudi Arabia’s index fell 1.8 percent to a two-week low as bluechip stocks slid.

“Political risk wasn’t much of a consideration for regional investors and they now see they may have to rebuild their portfolios to take this more into account,” said Hesham Tuffaha, Bakheet Investment Group head of research. “No one has a clear vision of what will happen.”

Bahrain, which has experienced discontent for years as the government’s oil and financial reserves have dwindled, is linked to Saudi Arabia via a causeway and the island state is near much of the

kingdom’s key oil infrastructure.

Bahrain’s index, slipped 0.2 percent as only nine stocks traded, but other regional bourses made larger declines, with Qatar and Kuwait dropping 1.8 and 1.4 percent respectively, the latter to a sevenmonth low.

“In terms of its economy and market cap, Bahrain is one of the smallest markets in MENA, so it shouldn’t impact other regional economies,” said Haissam Arabi, chief executive and fund manager at Gulfmena Alternative Investments.

“Markets have been drifting side-

ways to lower because of political tensions in the region and that includes Bahrain,” Arabi said. “The political environment is overshadowing market performance and investor sentiment. We are retail-driven markets and there is a lingering concern that is being priced in, but hopefully should be short-lived.”

Dubai’s Union Properties fell 6.9 percent to a record low after its fourth-quarter loss increased fivefold due to losses on valuation of properties, the latest UAE developer to report below-forecast earnings.

Abu Dhabi’s Sorouh Real Estate fell 3.1 percent, also to an all-time

low, extending losses since it swung to a fourth-quarter loss.

“Union Properties’ performance isn’t a surprise - all UAE developers that are heavily centric to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi have posted similar, disappointing results,” added Arabi.

“This is to be expected, given there’s no recovery in real estate and I don’t foresee one anytime soon.” UAE property values face further double-digit declines and Dubai house prices are about 60 percent below a 2008 peak as oversupply and a lack of demand weigh. —Reuters

Burgan Bank posts KD 4.7M net profit for 2010

US producer prices, housing starts jump

Operating Income up 7% to KD 164.8m

Jan industrial output unexpectedly dips

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced significantly improved financial results for the year ended December 31, 2010. The bank posted KD 4.7 million net profit. The fourth quarter results amounted to KD 7.7 million, doubling third quarter results of KD 3.8 million and showing a strong trend performance. The bank, which is now back to profitability, has reported operating profit of KD 99 million for the year.

A reduction in non-performing loans as well as in credit losses reflects a decreasing trend in provisioning. The regional subsidiaries have also recorded profits and are on a growth trajectory. The Board of Directors recommended 5% free Bonus shares subject to the approval of the Annual General Assembly Commenting on the Bank’s results, Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, Burgan Bank’s Chairman, said: “Burgan Bank’s latest financial results reflect a positive turnaround in profitability. The second half of the year was a turning point in the bank’s operations, whereby our regional diversification strategy has helped to place us on very solid grounds to meet the opportunities ahead. The results, which also include the bank’s consolidated share of income from our regional banking subsidiaries, Bank of Baghdad, Gulf Bank Algeria, Jordan Kuwait Bank and Tunis International Bank, continue to record increasing growth trends.”

Eduardo Eguren, Burgan Bank’s Chief Executive Officer said: “These results reflect the continuing improving performance of the bank. Despite the fact the 2010 was a challenging year for Burgan Bank, we have been able to restructure and build a healthy balance sheet with a robust capital adequacy ratio around 21%, which ultimately helped us to

Burgan Bank Chairman Majed Essa Al-Ajeel generate increased profits across the fourth quarter of the year. Also, the bank has taken a strategic decision to invest for future growth and developments.”

WASHINGTON: US core producer prices in January rose to their highest rate in more than two years, hinting at a build-up in inflation pressures as the recovery gathers pace, a potentially troubling development for the Federal Reserve.

A separate report from the Fed showed industrial production fell unexpectedly in January, largely because of a drop in utilities output as temperatures returned to normal following an unusually cold December. The core producer price index, excluding food and energy, rose 0.5 percent, the biggest gain since October 2008, the Labor Department said yesterday.

The rise, which exceeded economists’ expectations for a 0.2 percent gain, reflected a jump in pharmaceutical preparations, which accounted for 40 percent of the increase.

“The price increase might be a little troubling because it suggests that inflation is spreading across all raw materials,” said James Meyer, chief investment officer at Tower Bridge

Advisors in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. “If you print money and have a stronger economy you’re going to have some inflationary pressures.” The rise in core PPI comes at a time when a surge in commodity prices has caused most advanced economies to raise red flags on inflation. The Federal Reserve has so far shown little concern about a pick-up in price pressures and officials have repeatedly said core consumer inflation remains too low for comfort.

Economists believe that could change. “The Fed’s contention has been that although inflation has been seen overseas, it’s not yet impacted the US. More to the point, the Fed is not going to be concerned until it spills over into the core reading,” said Michael Woolfolk, senior currency strategist at BNY Mellon in New York.

“What we see from this is that it has indeed spilled into the core and could force the Fed to rethink its outlook for the remainder of the year.”

Utility output fell by 1.6 percent in January after a 4.1 percent leap in

December, while mining output fell 0.7 percent. Manufacturing output in January grew just 0.3 percent after an upwardly revised 0.9 percent gain in December. Another report from the Commerce Department showed housing starts jumped 14.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 596,000 units, the highest since September, from 520,000 units in December. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast housing starts edging up to a 554,000-unit rate.

Compared to January last year, residential construction was down 2.6 percent. Groundbreaking last month was lifted by a 77.7 percent jump in volatile multi-family homes. Singlefamily home construction fell 1.0 percent. The housing market recovery is being hobbled by an over-supply of homes that is depressing prices. A high unemployment rate also means the sector, which was at the heart of the worst recession since the 1930s, will struggle to recover even as the broader economy gains momentum.— Reuters

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business

Abu Dhabi to take over Spanish refiner Cepsa Total sells 50% Cepsa stake for 3.7bn euros MADRID/PARIS: Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund IPIC is buying half of Cepsa from French oil major Total for 3.7 billion euros ($5 billion), giving it control of the Spanish refining and marketing-focused group.

IPIC, wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, has a mandate to invest in the oil sector outside the emi-

rate. The deal allows oil-rich Abu Dhabi to extend its refining capacity, while giving Total cash to invest in upstream developments.

Total has been present in Spain for years through Cepsa and the sale of the stake immediately raised questions about the French oil giant’s strategy there.

But it quickly dismissed speculation that it would use the money raised from the sale of its Cepsa holding to take control of Spanish rival Repsol by buying a 20 percent stake from debt-laden builder Sacyr.

“A takeover of Repsol would make no sense as this would go directly against our goal to reduce our European refinery

capacities,” a Total spokesman said.

Shares in Sacyr fell by nearly 5 percent. IPIC, which already owns nearly half of the Spanish company, earlier launched a full bid for Cepsa at 28 euros per share, a 23 percent premium to Tuesday’s close.

Cepsa shares, which were suspended ahead of the announcement, reopened up 23.6 percent at 28.19 euros.— Reuters

Lipton launches ‘Inspirational Dialogues’ Initiative for women ‘Your Success is Our Inspiration’ Topic of First Discussion KUWAIT: The “Inspirational Dialogues” initiative for women, the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It aims to lay the foundations for an interactive dynamic platform gathering multiple generations of girls and women from Saudi society which is full of creative women who had overpassed social, economic and educational challenges during the journey of esteem-achievement and their belief in issues related to personal, individual, or community development topics.

The first meetings of the inspirational dialogues under the title “ Your Success is Our Inspiration “ adopted by Binzagr Unilever “Lipton”, comes in line with the corporate social responsibility programs which the company is committed to, and it was hosted by Dr Aisha Netto ,member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chief Broadcaster in the English section at Jeddah Broadcasting Station Samar Fatani and Captain Lina Al-Maeena, founder of the first women sports team in the Kingdom, where they shared their experiences and the obstacles they faced at the beginning of their careers and life.

They also given many advices and guidelines to the audience of girls and women, and thanked Lipton for this real initiative which is the first of its kind geared specifically for girls and women in the Saudi society.

Tawfiq Al-Akhrass, Director of Food and Beverages at Unilever Saudi Arabia, said: “We at Lipton share today with Saudi women and girls from different generations the opportunity to achieve success in various aspects of life through getting knowledge on the experiences of our guests and their contributions to serve their nation and their community. Lipton will do its best to continue to provide all forms of support, and within a long-term strategy that extends to all cities in the Kingdom.” He concluded by saying that the inspirational dialogues of Lipton provides a real platform for women to achieve success after another ,

and outline our belief in Unilever Lipton that small actions can make a big difference .

While speaking, Dr. Aisha Netto gave an advice for Saudi women to arm their selves with knowledge which have been and remain the most important need of women, to support their journey and achieve success.

According to Dr. Netto, it’s important to provide further support for the Saudi women in various sectors, she justified that by saying there is no enough support for the Saudi women in the financial and business sector, stating that all we see from the experience so far is an individual effort does not receive the full support of government agencies. Dr. Aisha demonstrated that the time when the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz - may God protect him - took over the reins of power in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was a turning point in the journey of Saudi women, as they got full support and appointed in a number of positions that were not occupied by the former, Now you can see women in the position of Deputy Minister and an active member of the boards in organizations. She urged the audience to exert more efforts, wishing Saudi women to find a place for her in the Shura Council and the Council of Ministers and Municipal Councils. Dr. Netto gave six words of thanks the first of her husband Hamid Netto, thanking him for his support and patience on her practical and scientific life as she completed her studies while she was married; and the second for women and men of the Kingdom who trust us and were patient on us every day; and the third to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his support of women in my country, God bring him back to us safely and victoriously; and the fourth to my daughter, Dr. Ahlam; and fifth to my son Engineer Helmi, who works with me and share my successes and failures and be patient on the ideas of my generation and tries to explain to me the value of technology; and the

sixth, to Lipton on this women initiative .

Chief Broadcaster Samar Fatani discussed the emergence of educated women who are equipped with same levels of qualifications and skills of other women in the world, which is one of the most important challenges that faced Saudi Women, where the starting point was Saudi women to enter the international community and the recognition of their existence between Islamic countries and among the ladies of the world.

Where the participation of women in the media opened the doors for the consideration of many issues, to stand by the affected women in society, and to highlight the achievements of Saudi women. Al Fatani added that women in the media faced all the challenges in a spirit of optimism and enthusiasm which is the secret of our success as journalists, difficulties didn’t disappoint us to urge officials to the need for the political decision to remedy the situation of women and create opportunities for women in various areas or secure women’s sections in all government departments to ensure the service of women and enhancing their role in the society. My enthusiasm will continue in the face of challenges that makes on obstacle to the empowerment of Saudi women in order to have a leading role representing Muslim women in an honorable way and makes them a good example for our daughters and the Muslim world, and I think, what distinguishes the successful women in the media today is their ability to make an impact and confront the thought which hampers development and keep pace with the age.

Fatani said that there are several attempts to revive the salons of literature in the Kingdom and these attempts still limited and faces several challenges in our society, although their objectives are literary and social, not political and that the anticipated role of women literary saloons is to spread awareness and education and the development of thought and exchange of views among women for

the development of community and building a prosperous future for our sons and our daughters.

Fatani also commended the initiative of inspirational dialogues of Lipton as they established a platform for women and girls in Saudi society for dialogue and exchange of different cultural, economic and community views.

Lina Al-Maeena, founder of the first women sports team in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah United) said that those who oppose women’s sport in Saudi Arabia, base their ideas on the customs and traditions and to their misunderstanding of Islam, as our experience was the biggest example of Saudi women’s capacity and their ability to achieve excellence in many areas and overcome all the difficulties marked by the establishment of sports company to support sport in the Kingdom, and the establishment of a women sports team which started since 2003 and was faced by many criticisms of them describing it as satanic acts, and that our view established customs and traditions of Western and that we have turned away from our traditions and morals, to the extension they accused us of our religion. Maena reiterated that after perseverance and unity of effort the team now has international sponsors, and officially cooperates with sports federations around the world and I am very happy that I was able to communicate a different picture of Saudi society in numerous conferences and meetings abroad, and to highlight the positive side played by Saudi women as a producer woman who can offer everything, and that the Kingdom is steadily moving in the field of women’s sports. She expressed her thanks for the Lipton inspirational dialogues initiative of Lipton for its efforts in enhancing the role of women in Saudi society.

For those interested in the inspirational dialogues initiative and willing to communicate and express their views, please send email us on “Lipton.KSA@unilever.com”.

Personalization Keeps PC Industry Charging Forward The world of consumer electronics has kicked off at a dashing pace in 2011. While many are being wowed by the latest in mobile phones and tablet devices, there is a parallel enthusiasm coming from the PC market, particularly in notebook and netbook devices.

This time last year, computer shipments in the Gulf recorded a surge by more than 43 per cent in the first quarter, marking the highest year-on-year growth in a quarter ever recorded by research firm IDC. Shipments of netbooks are expected to grow 26.4 per cent this year, which is one of the fastest growing categories in the PC world.

According to Raj Varma, Samsung’s Business Head of Notebooks, consumers looking for a new portable PC in the Middle East are exceptional in two distinct ways. First, they want to see value for money in any purchase that they make. In addition, many consumers are ready to pay premium prices for products that are on par with the best technology offered globally, sometimes going so far as to transition products prices from the top tier into the mainstream level.

In meeting the demands of the modern consumer, technology leaders like Samsung are continuing to carve out a niche between heavy, full-sized laptops and smaller devices which can emphasize more targeted features and make up the rest in terms of convenience.

Having recently launched a new generation of notebooks and netbooks in the Middle East, Samsung has based their latest lineup around three significant features: design, mobility and performance.

“While each of these three tenants are important in creating an overall user experience, it’s important to offer products that go above and beyond in one specific area,” notes Varma.

One of the ways Samsung achieves this is by keeping its product development controlled in-house. As simple as it may sound, Samsung is proud to be the only brand that manufactures notebooks that bear the Samsung logo. In other words-unlike competitor brands-Samsung notebooks and netbooks are completely manufactured at their own factories with transparent quality standards, using as much as 75% of their own PC components.

When looking at the Middle East computer market as a whole, the notebook and netbook segment is also very price-sensitive.

Matching individual features to unique consumer groups is one of the key strategies for companies to drive sales within emerging markets. “We spend a lot of time investigating the needs of different users in the Middle East and finding the combinations that make sense to them,” says Varma. “The ‘Consumer Atlas’ as we call it, is a portfolio of many different consumer identities. In the Middle East, that portfolio is more fragmented than almost any other one of our global sectors-a result perhaps, of the region’s incredible economic, social, and technological advancements in the last few years.”

Delivering advancements in both design and performance, Samsung has crafted their latest SF and RF premium series to meet customers’ dynamic and rapidly changing lifestyles, with each product being designed to enhance previous capabilities while delivering entirely fresh and exciting user experiences.

On the top end of the notebook lineup, Samsung’s RF series are the highest performing products in the company’s portfolio with super-fast processors and dazzling graphics-ideally suited to gamers and those involved in graphic design. The complementing RV series are designed with a greater emphasis on style, safety and durabilitytypically selling at a lower market price and positioned for students and executives. Other categories like the SF series are geared around “ultra-portability” with rounded edges, an ultra-light body and scratch resistant screen-traits valued by the modern jet-setter.

In the final quarter of 2010, overall notebook shipments in the Middle East were nearly double that of desktops, signaling that these kinds of product adaptations are going to be extremely important as the PC market redefines itself and its target audience in 2011.

Furthermore, with manufactures continuing to introduce innovations to the Middle East-hopefully starting with the launch of “smartbook” technology later this year-it look as though there is certainly enough momentum to keep the PC industry charging forward.

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

.2750000 .4480000 .3750000 .2870000 .2800000 .2765000 .0045000 .0020000 .0757290 .7378040 .3900000 .0710000 .7232850 .0045000 .0460000

.2850000 .4570000 .3830000 .2960000 .2880000 .2850000 .0075000 .0035000 .0764900 .7452190 .4090000 .0785000 .7305540 .0072000 .0560000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2789500 .4504760 .3773080 .2890220 .2822950 .0506030 .0431740 .2786010 .0357970 .2179130 .0033310 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0759670 .7401170 .0000000 .0744070 .7247340 .0000000

.2810500 .4538680 .3801480 .2911980 .2844200 .0509840 .0434990 .2806990 .0360660 .2195870 .0033560 .0062110 .0025430 .0033060 .0039870 .0765390 .7456890 .3975250 .0749670 .7301900 .0064830

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.372 6.166 3.285 2.521 3.867 220.030 35.976 3.859

Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

6.426 9.129 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 74.751 77.042 728.280 744.530 76.334

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 50.500 47.613 1.313 197.800 395.960 186.000 6.079 34.517

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.280 Euro 381.880 Sterling Pound 455.030 Canadian dollar 285.420 Turkish lire 176.110 Swiss Franc 292.870 Australian dollar 280.450 US Dollar Buying 279.595 GOLD 265.000 133.000 68.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees

SELL CASH SELL DRAFT 283.700 282.200 745.180 745.180 4.230 3.865 287.100 285.600 550.300 14.100 52.000 167.800 220.200 50.810 47.661 383.000 381.500 36.660 36.510 6.400 6.165

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

0.033 0.262 0.252 3.450 397.650 0.190 94.910 46.500 4.390 216.000 1.906 49.200 727.830 3.360 6.640 77.510 74.810 220.230 40.810 2.718 458.500 44.300 293.900 6.100 9.490 198.263 76.460 280.600 1.350

10 Tola

GOLD 1,441.860

Sterling Pound US Dollar

0.032

396.040 0.189 94.910 3.870 214.500

3.297 3.867 6.418 687.080 3.454 9.207 6.209 3.944 92.119

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 727.650 3.305 6.430 77.080 74.810 220.230 40.810 2.523 454.500 292.400 6.100 9.330 76.360 280.200

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 454.500 280.200

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees

Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Selling Rate 280.100 285.505 451.100 381.160 288.645 741.355 76.238 76.914 74.663 395.675 47.652 2.519 6.170

Currency US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 280.050 3.305 6.175 2.530 3.880 6.465 76.365 74.895 744.600 47.610 458.900 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 397.900 5.750 384.600 290.200

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 279.750 Euro 381.300 Pound Sterling 454.200 Canadian Dollar 285.400 Japanese Yen 3.375 Indian Rupee 6.165 Egyptian Pound 47.610 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.520 Bangladesh Taka 3.860 Philippines Peso 6.413 Pakistan Rupee 3.290 Bahraini Dinar 745.000 UAE Dirham 76.300 Saudi Riyal 74.780 *Rates are subject to change

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BUSINESS

Malabar Gold soars to new heights ‘Perfect Jeweler’ opens its 47th jewelry outlet in Kuwait KUWAIT: Malabar Gold, the perfect jeweler is continuing its drive to expand their presence across India and the Middle East by opening their latest showroom in Al-Rai, Kuwait on February 17, at 11 am. This will be Malabar Gold’s 47th showroom worldwide, and 16th in the Middle East. By launching this new outlet, the group is offering an unparalleled shopping experience to the people of Kuwait.

Located at Lulu Hypermarket, one of the busiest shopping destinations in Al-Rai, Malabar Gold offers a significantly large collection of traditional as well as contemporary designer jewelries. The exquisite range of collections in the new outlet will hold you spell-bound with their

awe-inspiring beauty. Like all their other outlets, this outlet also exhibits a wide range of diverse and trendy designs in 22k gold, IGI certified diamonds, PGI certified platinum and precious stone jewelry from Italy, Singapore, Bahrain and India.

Malabar Gold, the fastest growing gold and jewelr y business house in India with a strong international presence, is renowned internationally as the ‘perfect jeweler’ where the perfect design, perfect service and perfect price go hand in hand. The branded jewelries of Malabar Gold, ERA- Uncut Diamond Jewelry, ETHNIX -

Handcrafted Designer Jewelry and DIVINE Heritage Jewelry Collection have been appreciated by customers from all walks of life, and have carved out a niche in the international market. “Starlet” the branded kids’ jewelry is crafted with the latest kid-friendly technology and has become very popular in the Middle East and Indian markets.

One of the most noticeable attributes of Malabar Group is their focus on satisfying the customers’ needs while maintaining their trust. The staff of Malabar Gold is attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. They always make

sure that the customers are getting the best service along with a wonderful shopping experience.

Malabar Group has established its presence in the Middle East market within a surprisingly short span of time. The group is continuing on its expansion path by adding new showrooms in Riyadh, Jeddah, Damam, Ruwi- Muscat and Doha-Qatar in the coming 3 months. Malabar Gold has always been at the forefront in gold jewelry manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing. In addition to their wholesale unit in Central Gold Market, Mubarakkiya, Malabar Gold is planning to open 3 more shops in Kuwait within the next two years time.

Real estate industry closes year 2010 on upbeat note

Abdulfatah Altwaity

Amadeus ties up with Yemenia to roll out Dynamic Availability KUWAIT: Amadeus, the leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, yesterday announced that Yemenia, the national carrier for Yemen, has become the latest airline to implement its ground-breaking Dynamic Availability functionality.

Amadeus Dynamic Availability is a revenue maximization distribution service that works in conjunction with an airline’s existing inventory and revenue management systems. It ensures that the recommendations made in a system are enacted immediately and consistently in Amadeus, via displays and fare search tools.

Dynamic Availability offers a number of advanced features aimed at improving efficiency, such as letting an airline customize offers based on booking value using origin and destination (O&D) information and target that offer based on customer and market segmentation using point-of-sale information. It also lets airlines fine tune availability to specific points-of-sale to prevent agency abuse, and ensures decisions are fully embedded within the agency channel.

Abdulfatah Altwaity, General Manager of Amadeus Yemen, said: “Yemenia implementation for Amadeus Dynamic Availability functionality will support all Amadeus users in Yemen, the region, and worldwide-in fact, wherever agents book on Yemenia. It works in conjunction with Yemenia’s own systems to reflect their recommendations through the Amadeus powered channels.”

“This allows customer service representatives to reply to availability requests by agents in real-time, customizing offers based on the value of the booking, and taking into account O&D information as well as customer and market segmentation,” he added.

Antoine Medawar Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, Amadeus, added, “This newly available functionality follows the partnership agreement we signed with the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), of which Yemenia is a part of. Amadeus entered into a 10-year exclusive distribution agreement with 13 leading airlines from the AACO that account for 68 per cent of reservations made by travel agencies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

Yemenia operates scheduled domestic services as well as international services to more than 30 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Its main base is Sana’a International Airport, with a hub at Aden International Airport.

New UAE companies law seen in 2011 DUBAI: A new UAE companies law could be intro-

duced before the end of 2011, the minister of economy said yesterday.

“It could be any time this year,” Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri told reporters at a conference in Abu Dhabi. “It could be this week or next week or next month. From the ministry level, our work is done. It’s more reviewing of anything that needs to be done.” The companies law, which tackles a host of areas, may relax foreign ownership restrictions and also allow full ownership in some sectors upon request. By UAE law, only nationals are allowed full ownership of companies operating outside of free zones. The law currently requires foreigners to have a UAE national as a partner or sponsor to conduct business.

The law will also make it mandatory for companies in the UAE to create a general corporate governance framework. The legislation is part of a move to modernise the UAE’s company, foreign investment and industrial laws to boost transparency and investor confidence. — Reuters

KUWAIT: The year 2010 ended with the performance of the real estate sector showing a marked improvement over its activity in 2009. Both the number and value of transactions increased by approximately 50% to reach 6768 and KD 2 billion, respectively.

Importantly, except for the month of September, the total number of monthly real estate transactions has been steadily increasing since June to reach 601 in December. While there has been an improvement across the board, the commercial real estate sub-sector has rebounded particularly well. 12 commercial real estate transactions took place in December totaling KD 62 million, which was the second best performance since 2007. This may portend further improvement in a sub-sector that had lagged behind the recovery seen in the residential/apartments sub-sector in early 2010.

Sales - residential The number of residential units sold in December increased by 21% over the previous month to reach 471. These transactions totaled KD 103 million - also an increase of 21% over November. 2010 ended with both the number and value of residential real estate sales increasing to a 3-yr high, which would tend to support the notion of an improvement in the fortunes of the real estate sector in 2010.

Sales - investment The number of investment units sold in December declined by 21% from the previous month to 118, though the value of sales rose from KD 53 million to 71 million. Moreover, 2010 witnessed the highest number of investment transactions executed in one year for at least 10 years, up 30% from 2009. The sector continues to attract interest from investors seeking yield and relative safety.

Sales - commercial There were twelve sales of commercial property in December. Not only was this an improvement on the four sales registered in the previous month but it was also the largest monthly number recorded since April 2010. These transactions amounted to a combined value of KD 62 million - dwarfing the KD 6 million in commercial real estate receipts the previous month. With both volumes and values of real estate sales in 2010 increasing to levels just below the highs of 2007-08, this segment of the real estate sector may be understood to have rebounded positively from the financial crisis.

Savings and Credit Bank loans Both the total number and value of SCB loans approved during December showed a slight increase over the previous month. These figures were, however, still down on the same month in 2009.

The total number of loans approved stood at 169, down 52% from Dec 2009 levels, and was the second lowest monthly figure in 10 years. An interesting trend developing over the last few years is the increasing share of loans being approved for infrastructure ‘additions and renovations’, both for private and government use, which has coincided with a noticeable drop in loans for new plot and building development.

The NBK report concluded: The value of loans approved in Dec reached KD 6.4 million, while an improvement over the previous month, was still 30% down on Dec 2009. A dearth of government land made available for distribution and continuing difficulties in securing supplementary bank financing continue to affect the rate of SCB loan approvals - a situation that may improve in 2011 with the government’s stated intention to speed up the process of plot allocations.

Egyptian bank shutdown, strikes cripple industry Flights cancelled; steel, cement and textile output cut CAIRO: Egyptian manufacturers have cut output because banks are closed while labor unions have taken the country’s revolution as a cue to stop work and demand better pay and conditions, industry managers said yesterday.

The military-backed government has slashed its forecast for economic growth and the army urged Egyptians on Monday not to strike, appealing to their sense of national duty. Military officials say stoppages would be disastrous for the economy.

But unions, emboldened by the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak last week, are still pressing their demands. More than 12,000 workers at state -owned Misr Spinning and Weaving went on strike yesterday. In the coastal city of Damietta, about 6,000 spinning and weaving workers were also striking. Eleven flights were cancelled at Cairo airport as customs officials and maintenance staff stepped up industrial action.

Airport officials said they were looking into demands for better health, transport and other benefits.

In sectors not hit by strikes, the central bank’s decision to keep banks closed was forcing many to scale back production because clients were unable to pay for the goods.

The political instability has prompted many buyers of industrial goods to close for business, said Mohamed Said Hanfy, General Manager at the Chamber of Metallurgical Industries. Hanfy said the group’s members, which include leading heavy industrial firms, were forced to operate at between 20

and 50 percent of capacity and employ extra security to protect stocks which are piling up.

“When the banks open again I think that the utilization rate will rise to 50-60 percent,” he told Reuters. “But until security is assured and the police are in control of everything, a lot of people will be afraid to work.” Some food and textile producers are suffering strikes or have sent workers home for fear that industrial action will spread.

Companies such as ceramics maker Lecico have already bowed to some union demands.

Textile manufacturer Arafa closed its garment making plants in Tenth of Ramadan City until Saturday after a quarter of the workforce went on strike.“ The demo was absolutely peaceful,” said Chief Financial Officer Ahmed Kamal Selim. “ We are reviewing the demands and some will be met but, for others, we need to run the figures.”

He said he expected some impact on the company’s results but played it down, saying five to seven days of disruption would not have a major impact for a firm operating 320 days a year. — Reuters

GULF PRODUCTS Low sulfur gasoil firms, outlook bullish DUBAI: Low sulfur gasoil premiums rose in the Gulf this week as refinery maintenance limited supplies, and traders expected levels to hold firm in the near term due to plans for further outages. 0Supply tightness had also dominated the fuel oil market, and time-spreads hit peaks in Asia before easing this week. One trader pegged premiums for low sulfur gasoil, also known as 500 ppm, at $3.50 a barrel.

Last week, they were around $3.

Eastern African countries, particularly Kenya, are expected to buy gasoil next week, and Saudi Aramco is also seeking cargoes, traders said. “I think this is not the top of the market,” one middle distillates trader said. “I’m quite bullish about the situation on the gasoil. It’s very, very tight,” he said.

Saudi Aramco, Bahrain’s Bapco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) as well as Kuwait have all planned partial or entire refinery shutdowns starting from this month.

“We’ve seen some trading compa-

nies putting vessels coming to the Gulf from Singapore,” the trader said.

“Traders have term contracts to honor, but because there’s no gasoil in the Middle East, they had to bring it from the East.” He did not name the traders but added that some 60,000 tons were likely to move from Asian markets to the Middle East. Others in the market were less bullish, but the consensus was gasoil premiums for 500 ppm would climb higher.

“I’m not sure how many deals are done out of those numbers above $3 a barrel,” another gas oil trader said.

“Things have settled down a bit; refinery outages have been priced in. But having said that, it would only take a couple of tenders to boost the prices.”

Saudi Aramco was looking to buy more spot cargoes, he added, on top of its 2011 term contracts. “They ended up getting a price they liked for the term, which covered only a certain amount of their requirement,” he said. — Reuters

NBK Economic Brief

Saudi Dec oil output rises, exports fall DUBAI/SINGAPORE: Saudi oil exports dipped slightly in December compared with the previous month, while its output reached a two-year high and its stocks rose, according to preliminary data supplied by the kingdom.

Debate over how much top exporter Saudi Arabia is exporting has intensified as oil prices have vaulted over $100 a barrel and a wave of popular unrest has swept across the Middle East, toppling presidents in Egypt and Tunisia. Reports from OPEC as well as those from the main consumer countries have indicated increased overall OPEC production, including from Saudi Arabia.

But the kingdom’s regular customers have said they have received roughly steady supplies.

Attempting to explain the rise in inventory levels, analysts said Saudi Arabia could need oil to burn in power generation and some said it was possible exports were being understated.

The December output figure of 8.365 million bpd compared with 8.259 million bpd in November and 8.586 million bpd in December 2008, just before OPEC implemented record supply curbs. 0Exports dropped in December 2010 to 6.049 million bpd from 6.342 million bpd in November and inventories in the kingdom rose to 270.365 million barrels from 266.394 million.

The figures appear as preliminary data on the Joint Data Initiative (JODI) website, which is to be officially updated on Saturday. When asked about the details of Saudi output, Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi has frequently referred reporters to JODI, set up to promote transparency in oil markets. Saudi Arabia is particularly significant in that it holds around 4 million bpd of spare capacity and has always said it is ready to supply more oil to international markets if there is a need.

Other members of OPEC have a tendency to pump as much as they can, only withholding production when the market is falling sharply.

OPEC last agreed a formal change in policy in December 2008 when prices had crashed to just above $30 a barrel from a record high of nearly $150 in July of that year.

Initially, members of the group complied closely with output curbs totally 4.2 million bpd, but their production has gradually risen as the oil price has strengthened. — Reuters

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Middle East political tension hits stocks GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait stocks closed with heavy losses yesterday as investors were shocked by political tension in several countries in the Middle East.

These worries overshadowed a solid kickoff to the earnings season. A steep sell-off in the most of GCC markets yesterday signaled a weak performance of Kuwaiti stocks.

On the economy front, the governor of Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) Sheikh Salem Abdul-Aziz Al-Sabah said yesterday that the Kuwaiti market has reached saturation point for a number of Islamic banks at this stage. The governor told Reuters that the number of local Islamic banks registered with the Central Bank of Kuwait are five banks in addition to a branch of a foreign Islamic bank against five conventional banks.

Losses were steady throughout the session. Global General Index (GGI) closed 3.05 points down (1.42 percent), at 212.02 point closed at its lowest level in almost eleven weeks.

The Market capitalization decreased reaching KD34.48bn. Kuwait Stock Exchange Price Index closed in the red zone as well, shedding 91.90 points (1.38 percent) from its value and closed at 6,559.5 point.

Market breadth During the session, 120 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 90 equities retreated versus 11 that advanced. Seven out of the eight indices lost ground during the day.

Trading activity during the session was within the monthly average.

Investors exchanged 200.09mn shares (+23.73 percent) at a total value of KD43.45mn (+15.54 percent).

The Investment Sector was the volume leader yesterday, account-

ing for 27.68 percent of total shares and the Banking Sector was the value leader, with 48.69 percent of total traded value. Company-wise, Kuwait International Bank was the most actively traded stock during the day, with 17.89mn shares exchanged at a total traded value of KD5.37mn. The scrip reported a 1.59 percent losses in its price.

It’s worth mentioning that, Kuwait International Bank said it posted a FY2010 net profit of KD16.75mn compared with net losses KD8.23mn in 2009. Total assets of the bank stood at KD1.141bn at the end of December 2010, up 0.13 percent from KD1.140bn recorded in the corresponding period in 2009.

In terms of top gainers, , Arab

Insurance Group (ARIG) was the biggest gainer for the day, adding 21.13 percent and closed at KD0.172.

On the other side, Al-Themar International Holding Co came in as the biggest decliner, dropping by 9.09 percent and closed at KD0.100.

Sector-wise During the session, seven out of the eight sectors ended the day on a negative note. Real estate sector topped the loser’s list shedding 3.26 percent, Mabanee Company down by 3.95 percent and closed at KD0.730. Six out of the sector’s components declined, such as: Kuwait Real Estate Company (-5.08 percent) and Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company (-5.00 percent).

Industrial sector followed shed-

ding 2.06 percent. Most of the sector’s components declined. Among the sector’s losers was Mena Holding Group, which plunged by 5.56 percent.

Agility drop 5.75 percent and closed at KD0.410. From technical overview, the price will remain bearish until it shows a sustainable close above the resistance level at KD0.470. The next support levels are located at KD0.400 and KD0.360.

National Cleaning Company has signed a bidding contract worth KD979,200. Under the three-year agreement, the company will manage, operate and maintain the industrial waste plant at Shuaiba Industrial Area for the interest of the Public Authority for Industry.

Brent above $102 as ME protests spread LONDON: Oil prices rose yesterday as overnight rioting in Libya added to concerns that Egyptian and Tunisian-style revolts could spread to oil-producing countries in the Middle East.

The latest outbreak of violence in the region drove oil markets higher on fears that civil unrest could eventually disrupt oil flows.

“Today the protest has spread to Libya ... All countries with demonstrations are trying to calm protests ... but it’s difficult to say if they are succeeding,” said Thorbjorn Bak Jensen, an oil market analyst at A/S Global Risk Management Ltd. Brent crude for April delivery rose by 71 cents to $102.35 a barrel at 1154 GMT, hovering $2 below a 28-month peak of $104.30 on Monday.

US crude for March delivery gained 36 cents to $84.68 a barrel. In a rare show of unrest, Libyan protesters armed with stones and petrol bombs clashed with police.. The planned release of 110 Islamist militants from Libyan jails, announced in an apparent concession to rioters, did little to quell fears the protests could gain momentum.

“The market is very jitterish, up $2, down $2, very volatile on the worry this could spread to whole region and eventually disrupt oil supplies,” Bak Jensen said.

A surprise US crude oil stockdraw of 354,000 barrels reported by the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday contributed to upward momentum on the NYMEX after analysts had forecast a rise in supplies. The EIA will issue a report at 1530 GMT, and confirmation of the reported stockdraw could add to support for US oil prices. On average, crude stockpiles were forecast up 2.2 million barrels in the week to Feb. 11, the poll of 12 analysts showed.

“Inventories are expected to rise and as such the EIA report will probably be slightly different to the one released by the API. This will add to pressure exerted by concerns about global inflation and the economic recovery,” said Michael Hewson, a market analyst at CMC Markets.

US housing and inflation data also due for release later will provide further clues as the health of the world’s top energy consumer. —Reuters

Mubadala says ATIC to be wholly-owned unit ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala said Advanced Technology Investment Co (ATIC), a technology investment firm, will become a wholly-owned unit of the state-owned fund as the emirate strives to diversify its economy away from oil.

ATIC was formed in 2008 and has a stake in chipmaker GlobalFoundries, a joint venture with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. GlobalFoundries is merging with Singapore’s Chartered Semiconductor.

“ATIC’s integration into Mubadala will further drive the creation of innovative industries for the benefit of Abu

Dhabi and the UAE,” Waleed al Muhairi, Mubadala’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.

Mubadala did not provide any financial details of the transaction. The investment fund said the deal will have no impact on the operations of ATIC or GlobalFoundries and Ibrahim Ajami will remain chief executive of ATIC. Investment plans for GlobalFoundries will also remain unchanged, the statement said. GlobalFoundries was set up in March 2009 as the world’s first full service semi-conductor foundry when AMD spun off its manufacturing arm into a new firm with ATIC. —Reuters

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Russian companies take effective steps Managing Business Corruption KUWAIT: The 2011World Economic Forum’s Global Risks report identifies corruption as one of the three major risks likely to affect societies across the world in the next 10 years.

International organizations, governments, civil society and business leaders condemn corruption, and yet it spreads. In most emerging market economies corruption is prevalent if not considered a way of life.

For many observers Russia is one of such states, where corruption penetrates all sectors of the society from private business to public education.

Some experts estimate the cost of corruption at 20 percent of the country’s GDP. Often media reports portray businesses operating in Russia, especially foreign companies, as defenseless victims of the corrupt system obliged to choose - to comply or to withdraw.

Although we agree that business corruption in Russia is a part of a much larger phenomenon, eradication of which would require some fundamental changes in governance, our recent study of Russian and international companies operating in Russia revealed a more complex and to some extent positive picture. Not only business owners and managers aspire for the system to change, they also engage in developing and implementing protective strategies for their enterprises and stakeholders. Those who do it successfully apply a bottom-up approach, look at specific informal practices and build awareness of particular threats. In turn this awareness serves as foundation for the development and implementation of effective

anti-corruption strategies at a company level. The study demonstrated that ‘slicing a snake’ rather than dealing with it as a whole is an imperative for successfully managing corruption in Russia. A similar approach can apply to other countries, especially those emerging market economies where informal practices play an important role in the functioning of economy.

The effective anti-corruption strategies of companies conducting business in Russia reflect specifics of the industries and regions they operate in, their size, age and ownership structure, but they have a number of common elements that make them successful.

First, rather than dealing with corruption at large, effective strategies target specific practices such as leasing company facilities for personal income, paying tax authorities for conducting inspections with pre-agreed outcomes, or receiving kickbacks from vendors.

Companies unambiguously define what they are going to prevent and focus their effort on those areas. For example, one oil and gas company identified two areas - eradicating kickbacks to company employees from vendors and conflict of interest of its managers - as the targets of its anticorruption strategy for the next two years and developed a comprehensive plan to address them.

Second, the most senior leaders of an organization make an anti-corruption fight their personal and business priority. Management sets very specific goals, outlines timeframe for their achievement (usually 12 to 24 months), allocates resources and assigns respon-

sibilities. In our example senior executives speak about preventing kickbacks and conflict of interest at every meeting with employees, explain specific actions that are considered corrupt, and take prompt and severe actions against corrupt managers regardless of their business results. One of the key executives from that enterprise personally chaired a day-long meeting with hundreds of vendors aimed at explaining the company’s anti-corruption strategy for the next two years and its rules of working with suppliers. Not only he answered numerous questions from vendors, but also engaged them in a discussion about ways of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of supply chain management and of eradicating kickbacks. The company has made “integrity” one of its four core values and instituted annual assessment of its managers on this basis. It illustrated its commitment further with firing one of its long-standing business unit leaders on the grounds of the conflict of interests, whereby he used his position as a company executive for benefiting vendor firms linked to him through indirect shareholding.

Thus, businesses communicate goals and rules of the game both internally - to their employees at different levels of the hierarchy - and externally to shareholders, vendors, customers, government officials. They consider continuous communication an integral element of an effective anti-corruption strategy and use various communication tools from corporate mass media to senior executives’ meetings with vendors and government officials at

different levels to get their messages across. Third, the companies we studied provide employees and external actors with tools and instruments designed to prevent specific corrupt practices. There are detailed ‘Policies and Procedures’ for managing vendors’ relationships, leaflets on defining, recognizing and managing conflict of interests, installed video cameras in the offices of its purchasing managers and telephone lines for their employees and vendors to report on corrupt acts.

Such focused targeting is known to bring tangible results. On a larger scale the company has the lowest cost of capital investment per ton of extracted oil in the Russian market, which according to its executives reflects much lower levels of vendors’ kickbacks to its managers and therefore lower prices.

Fourth, the most important feature of effective anti-corruption strategies in Russia is the use of both formal and informal instruments in dealing with corrupt practices. The study shows that foreign and Russian business firms alike implement ‘formal’ anti-corruption strategies, such as court cases, regular audits conducted by internal control departments and investigations by security departments, development of internal policies and procedures, training for employees and business counterparts. However, understanding (often intuitive) that Russia, where the governance mode is dominated by ‘patrimonial power’ and where decisions are made on the basis of people’s relationships and traditional forms of authority, is still in transition to a ‘rational-legal’ system, where institutional-

ized rules become the foundation of governance, helps to adjust balance between formal and informal instruments. ‘Informal practices’ that play an essential role in daily business operations and often function to ‘support business’ by circumventing the ‘red tape’ and abusive, if not extortionate, regulatory practices of state officials require substitutes and alternatives. In the meantime, informal strategies are in place to regulate their scale and operations.

Our study demonstrates that although corruption is omnipresent in Russia and represents one of the major challenges for businesses operating in the country regardless of their origin, some targeted anti-corruption strategies at a company level can make a difference. Where there is a will and a consistent effort to combat specific corrupt practices, the economic burden of corruption on business can be reduced at a company level. Moreover, companies can play a proactive and positive role in the regions thus contributing to the overall change of business environment. Examples of large and small Russian companies that make an anticorruption strategy one of their top priorities and execute it in difficult environments are inspirational. They illustrate corporate leadership in tackling this major risk here and now, while the governments and international organizations deal with it in due course.

—Written by Stanislav Shekshnia, Affiliate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise, INSEAD and Alena Ledeneva, Professor of Politics & Society, University College London.

Indian tycoon Ambani questioned over scam New twist to mobile licensing fraud

Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of the German Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, on a video screen and in a reflection on the ground during his speech at the annual shareholder meeting of Daimler AG in Berlin. — AP

Daimler rebounds to profit, but less than expected BERLIN: Daimler AG earned 1.05 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in the fourth quarter as revenue rose by nearly a quarter — capping a year in which a recovering global market and strong Chinese and US demand helped the German car maker rocket back into the black. The October-December earnings reported yesterday contrasted with a loss of 348 million euros a year earlier — but they also came in short of analysts’ forecasts, causing Daimler’s shares to slide 2.9 percent to 54.35 euros in Frankfurt trading.

Earnings per share, which were expected to reach 1.25 euros, came in at 0.99 euros.

The maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks saw revenues rise 24 percent to 26.4 billion euros from 21.32 billion euros, slightly above expectations.

Full-year net earnings rebounded to a 4.5 billion euros profit from a 2009 loss of 2.64 billion euros, on revenues that also rose 24 percent to 97.8 billion euros from 78.9 billion euros. Earnings before interest and taxes totaled 1.56 billion euros for the quarter — an increase of nearly

250 percent — and 7.27 billion euros for the full year, compared with a loss of 1.51 billion euros in 2009.

The company said it plans a dividend of §1.85 per share this year after foregoing a dividend payment for 2009.

“Daimler managed an excellent comeback last year,” CEO Dieter Zetsche said.

“Our goal now is to maintain the level we have reached over the long term and to further improve it wherever possible,” he added. We have the right products, technologies and strategies to do so.”

Daimler expects revenue to grow at “a more moderate rate” this year and EBIT, or pre-tax earnings, to come in “significantly in excess” of the 2010 level. The company said it expects high spending this year on new products and technologies and to penetrate new markets, as well as rising prices for oil and raw materials in the wake of the global economic upturn.

It said exchange-rate volatility likely will remain high, but the company already has largely hedged the resulting risks for this year. —AP

NEW DELHI: Indian telecom tycoon Anil Ambani met police investigators yesterday to answer questions over a suspected mobile licensing fraud that robbed the government of billions of dollars.

Ambani’s Reliance ADA group, which controls India’s secondbiggest mobile group Reliance Communications, said the visit by the billionaire to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in New Delhi was voluntary. “No summons of any kind has been issued by the CBI,” the Reliance statement said.

Ambani, India’s fourth-richest man with an estimated $13.7 billion fortune, according to Forbes, met CBI officials “to clarify ongoing issues relating to telecom matters”, the group said.

The CBI would not immediately comment on Ambani’s visit in connection with the widening police probe into the alleged fraud, one of the biggest corruption cases in Indian history that has badly damaged the Congress-led government which is also battling a slew of other scandals.

Television channels showed the 51-year-old Ambani leaving the CBI offices mobbed by T V

Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, addresses a press conference in Mumbai. — AFP

crews.

Reliance ADA Group has denied any wrongdoing over the second-generation (2G) licensing scandal in which the government sold mobile licenses at knockdown prices in 2008.

Ambani’s CBI appearance came after the group said last weekend police had questioned several of its officials over alleged irregularities in the awarding of licenses.

The industrialist’s CBI visit came after Premier Manmohan

BOE forecasts pave way to rate rise

No Vimpelcom merger if vote delayed: Orascom CAIRO: The parent company of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom (OT) will call off a $6 billion-plus deal with Vimpelcom if Vimpelcom shareholder Telenor blocks a vote on the tie-up next month, OT’s chief executive said.

Norwegian telecoms group Telenor has applied for an injunction to prevent a dilut i on of i t s st a k e i n Ru s s i a’s Vimpelcom if the deal to buy OT and an I t a l i a n te l e co m s f i r m g e t s vo te d through in a shareholder meeting on March 17.

Th e i nj unc t i on wo u l d re q u i re Vimpelcom to issue Telenor with preemptive rights to acquire more shares at the same time that Vimpelcom issues shares to OT parent Wind Telecom if that acquisition was completed. “( Wind Telecom) will not complete the merger deal ... in (the) case the res-

olution of the deal does not take place (at the) end of March as it took Wind Telecom a long time, between 10 and 11 months, to complete the deal,” Khaled Bichara, the chief executive of both OT and Wind Telecom, told newspaper Al Youm Al Sabie in a statement.

A Lo n d o n co ur t is due to hear Telenor’s injunction request on Feb 25.

Bichara told Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore this month that OT was continuing to work on the deal with Vimpelcom and said it would not lead to a merger at the operating level.

He said at the time that Orascom and Wind were not worried if Telenor convinced enough Vimpelcom shareholders to block the tie-up, and the new group could press ahead with its plans even if the deal is not completed.— Reuters

Singh earlier yesterday, in a rare media roundtable, defended himself against accusations of “inaction” in fighting corruption and vowed anyone found guilty would be punished. The national auditor said late last year irregularities in awarding the soughtafter licenses cost the public exchequer up to $40 billion in lost revenues.

The CBI is looking into companies which may have benefited from suspected rigging of license bidding rules under then telecom

minister A. Raja and whether kickbacks were paid. Raja was arrested with two former aides earlier this month in the scandal along with a senior executive of one of India’s biggest real estate firms DB Realty which has a joint telecoms venture with Abu Dhabi’s Etisalat.

The police agency has not alleged that any of the Reliance ADA Group firms profited from the scam.

It has, however, named India’s Swan Telecom-now known as Etisalat DB Telecom-and India’s second-largest listed real estate Unitech as allegedly having benefited. Unitech has joint telecom venture with Norway’s Telenor.

The government auditor accused Reliance Communications, through its Reliance Telecom unit, of violating licensing rules by holding over 10 percent of rival Swan Telecom when it applied for a license. However, Reliance said on Wednesday no Reliance group company “held even a single share in Swan Telecom Ltd at the time of granting of the 2G licence.”

All individuals and companies being probed have denied any wrongdoing. — AFP

Governor of the Bank Of England, Mervyn King speaks to attendees at the Buttonwood Gathering on Fixing Finance in New York.— AP

LONDON: British inflation is just as likely to be above or below target in two years if interest rates rise as markets expect, the Bank of England said yesterday, opening the door to tighter monetary policy. But BOE Governor Mervyn King insisted that no decision about when to raise rates had been taken.

“Some people are running ahead of themselves and saying that we are preannouncing or laying the ground for a rate rise,” King told a news conference.

“That decision has not been taken and won’t be taken until we get to the next meeting or the following meeting, or it may be many quarters.”

The Bank’s inflation report supported expectations the BoE will start hiking rates soon from a record low 0.5 percent, possibly as soon as May, given that inflation is double its 2 percent target and likely to climb further. The central bank’s February report showed consumer price inflation spiking up to between 4 and 5 percent in the middle of this year before falling back to around 1.7 percent in early 2013, a higher forecast profile than in November. Rising price pressures have already prompted investors to bet on a series of UK rate hikes this year.

But having jumped on Tuesday after data showed UK inflation rose to 4 percent in January and King wrote a letter to the government saying price pressures could fall into line if rates rise as markets predict, the pound fell back after King began speaking. “It looks as though markets may have over-interpreted King’s line on inflation in yesterday’s letter to the Chancellor,” said Philip Shaw, economist at Investec. “The picture painted by the inflation report is balanced and emphasizes the uncertainties.”

The Bank said its forecasts were based on the assumption that interest rates would rise to 1 percent by the end of this year, hitting 2.1 percent at the end of 2012. “Our judgment is that along that market path of interest rates the risks to inflation in the medium term are broadly balanced around the target,” King said.

But he stressed that the central bank was not in the business of endorsing market expectations. King admitted there were sharply differing views on the Monetary Policy Council of interest rate setters. “There remains a wider than usual range of views among Committee members over the outlook for inflation,” he said. — Reuters

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Businesses and consumers give US economy boost

Jody Dickman shops in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh. US consumers bought more from retailers for a seventh straight month in January. — AP

WASHINGTON: American businesses and consumers are giving the economy a boost by spending more, but the troubled housing market remains an obstacle, new data show. Consumers bought more from retailers for a seventh straight month in January. The gains came despite snowstorms that limited spending from workers with more money in their paychecks from a Social Security tax cut. Businesses increased their stockpiles in every month last year, a sign that companies expect sales to remain healthy. Still, the view of the housing market among homebuilders hasn’t changed in four months, suggesting weak home sales will drag on the economy throughout the year. Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said consumer spending will likely continue to increase over the next few months. But he predicts it will happen more slowly than at the end of last year, even with workers taking home more pay from the tax cut. “Winter storms, a poor housing market, rising gasoline and food prices, and lackluster employment growth ... put a damper on things,” Christopher said. Retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month to $381.6 billion, the Commerce Department said yesterday. Sales have risen more than 14 percent from the recession low in December 2008.

People spent more at department stores and on electronics while also paying higher prices for

gas. Online sales increased at a healthy pace.

Still, the harsh winter weather — which brought many cities in the Southeast to a standstill for days — slowed traffic at restaurants and building supply stores. Americans also spent less on clothing and furniture. The snow slowed what was looking to be another strong month for car sales, which ended up rising only 0.5 percent after a 1.5 percent gain in December. Part of the overall retail sales gain last month reflected higher gasoline prices. Sales at gasoline service stations climbed 1.4 percent. Excluding the rise at gas stations, retail sales would have risen 0.2 percent last month. January is a time when stores clear out winter goods at deep discounts to make room for spring merchandise. It is the least important month of the year for retailers. Still, last month showed an underlying healthy consumer demand as shoppers took advantage of clearance sales to replenish their wardrobes.

As part of the broader consumer picture, Laura Gurski, a partner at A T Kearney, says she believes the January government sales reports showed the Social Security tax cuts are helping to lift sales at grocery stores. “Consumers are spending (the extra money)on the basics,” she said. But she added they’re not buying big-ticket items.

Businesses appear to expect consumers will keep spending. Companies added to their stockpiles for a 12th consecutive month in

Merkel picks aide for Bundesbank Weidmann choice throws open ECB presidency contest BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel picked her aide Jens Weidmann as German central bank chief to succeed Axel Weber, officials said yesterday, making it less likely she will insist on a German running the European Central Bank.Weidmann, who is 42, has spent five years as Merkel’s top economic adviser, helping her lead Germany through the financial crisis, recession and euro-zone debt crisis. As Bundesbank chief he gets a seat on the ECB’s governing council. A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partners, the Free Democrats, confirmed Weidmann’s appointment and that his new vice-president would be Sabine Lautenschlaeger, from the German banking regulator Bafin.

Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble were due to give a joint statement on the Bundesbank succession at 1215 GMT. Weidmann’s nomination to succeed the effective but sometimes abrasive inflation-hawk Weber, who steps down on April 30, was expected but may throw open the contest to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet as ECB president to candidates from other countries.

Fellow-German Juergen Stark, another hawk, is already on the ECB’s executive board. “If there was a German candidate for the ECB presidency like (euro zone bailout chief Klaus) Regling, it would have implied that Stark would have to step down and go to the Bundesbank and this road is closed now,” said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

“With Stark and Weidmann, Germany will have two people in the council to inject the Bundesbank spirit.

That should be sufficient,” said Stephan Rieke, an economist at BHF Bank. Although ECB Governing Council members are in theor y equal, the Bundesbank president carries particular authority thanks to the German central bank’s inflation-fighting legacy and by virtue of Germany being the euro zone’s dominant economy.Germany has said its priority is sorting out the Bundesbank post and proposing a package of euro zone crisis measures for a series of summits in March before deciding the ECB succession.

But the finance minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, told an Italian paper a successor to Trichet had to be found quickly to avoid causing instability, presumably in financial markets.

“There is a need to decide as soon as possible.

Trichet leaves in October. A delay risks generating instability,” said Frieden. The choice of Weidmann rather than veteran central banker Stark means the

Jens Weidmann, advisor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. — AFP latter should remain on the executive board of the Frankfurt-based the ECB.“I think really means they have given up the idea of having a German candidate for the ECB presidency,” Brzeski said.

As an ECB outsider Regling’s chances are slim. He told reporters last week that he already had “a great job”. While Germany had widely been expected to take over the ECB this time, following a French and previously a Dutch presidency, Berlin has signalled since Weber’s surprise resignation that it did not rule out a non-German candidate.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said last week Berlin had “never insisted” on a German for the job. Italy is proposing its central bank chief Mario Draghi, head of the Financial Stability Board, though an earlier incarnation as a Goldman Sachs banker could be a problem for some.

Luxembourg’s Yves Mersch, on the ECB governing council, was close to ruled out as a contender by his country’s finance minister, Frieden, who said he could not see Luxembourg having that post as well as the Eurogroup chair of the Eurogroup of euro-zone finance ministers, held by Jean-Claude Juncker.

At the Bundesbank, Weidmann is expected to bring a softer profile and greater political experience gained from Berlin, in contrast to the sometimes brusque 53-year-old Weber.

But he should also mean continuity in terms of the central bank’s focus on fighting inflation.

“I wouldn’t expect major changes in the general direction of economic policy,” said Julius Baer analyst David Kohl. Rieke said Weidmann could now get the experience to be a future contender for ECB president. “He’s still very young and could be a candidate for the ECB presidenc y later on,” he said.The Bundesbank was established in 1957 and its success in controlling inflation meant its decisions had an impact across Europe and beyond. It also made the Deutschmark a respected and strong currency until it was replaced by the euro in 2002. — Reuters

Japan, India sign free trade pact TOKYO: Japan and India signed a free trade pact yesterday under which the high-tech nation and the South Asian giant pledged to scrap tariffs on 94 percent of goods within a decade.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma signed the deal in Tokyo, hoping it will boost two-way trade which totaled 900 billion yen ($10.7 billion) in 2009 — less than one percent of Japan’s total foreign trade.

“We have no doubt in our minds that this will usher in a new era of economic engagement, which will bring development, innovation and also prosperity in both societies,” said

the Indian commerce minister. The trade and investment agreement, approved in principle by both countries’ leaders last year, aims to open new markets for Japan as its population ages and shrinks, and to fuel the rapid growth of emerging power India.

It will help Japanese auto makers such as Suzuki by lifting tariffs on car parts shipped to its factories in India, and ease access for Indian generic drug makers to a lucrative market in fast-greying Japan.

India-which has already signed a free-trade deal with South Korea, Japan’s export rival in autos and electronics, but not with China-will

TOKYO: Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma (left) shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara after signing a free trade pact at the foreign ministry in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP

become Japan’s 12th free trade partner.

The agreement, for which Japan hopes to gain legislative approval in the Diet by the summer, will immediately reduce Japan’s tariffs to zero on almost all industrial products imported from India. Tokyo also plans to scrap duties on some foodstuffs-including curry ingredients, pepper and tea-within 10 years, but will maintain a high tariff wall to protect its politically sensitive rice sector.

India will cut trade barriers on auto parts gradually, as well as on Japanese steel, electronics and machinery products, eventually to zero.

But the South Asian giant, with booming auto sales to its growing middle class, will maintain tariffs on assembled vehicles. A Japanese government official said: “India obviously wants to protect its own auto industry.” India will also ease access to Japanese single-brand companies, allowing them controlling stakes of 51 percent in local entities, and giving them the right to set up franchises in India. But in other sectors, the two countries only agreed to continue talks.

Japan, which tightly controls immigration, has so far failed to meet India’s wish to send nurses and caregivers to Japan, where almost one in four people is aged over 65 and the agedcare sector is suffering labor shortages. Another key deal sought by New Delhi, on civilian nuclear cooperation, also still remains beyond reach, Japanese government officials said.

Japan and India launched negotiations in June on a pact that would allow Tokyo to export its cutting-edge nuclear technology to the energy-hungry South Asian nation, a hotly contested market for atomic plants.—AFP

December, the Commerce Department said.

That suggests further growth at US factories that could lead to more hiring in the months ahead. A separate report Tuesday pointed to fur ther strength in factor y production. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed that conditions for New York manufacturers are improving. The survey’s index of business conditions rose to an eight-month high.

Economists think inventories will keep rising as long as sales remain strong and businesses have confidence that the demand will continue.

That should boost demand at US factories, and ultimately lead to more jobs. But those jobs are unlikely to come from homebuilders, who remain pessimistic after the worst year for new-home sales in nearly a half-century.

The National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday that its index of builder sentiment remained unchanged in February for the fourth straight month at 16. Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the market. The index hasn’t been above that level since April 2006.

Retailer Home Depot Inc. expects Americans to start spending more on home and garden projects as the weather improves. The company said Tuesday that it will hire 60,000 temporary workers for the spring shopping season, its busiest time of the year. That’s similar to last year’s level of seasonal hiring, the company said. — AP

Ailing Portugal raises $1.3bn in T-bill sale LISBON: Portugal raised 1 billion euros in 12-month Treasury bills yesterday, granting the financially troubled country some respite from recent market pressure. But the news was darkened by a top official’s prediction the country was headed for a double-dip recession. Portugal is one of the 17-nation euro-zone’s frailest members and is widely tipped to need a bailout as its borrowing costs rise to unsustainable levels.

A senior Treasury official conceded for the first time Wednesday that a second recession in three years is likely in 2011, worsening the country’s financial woes.

Investors charged Portugal an interest rate of 3.987 percent in the T-bill sale. That was up from 3.7 percent two weeks ago but lower than the 4.03 percent in January. The government debt agency said there was demand for almost double the amount on offer.

Secretary state for the treasury Carlos Costa Pina described the terms of the debt sale as “favorable.”

“From the point of view of the yield and demand, the operation went well,” he told TSF radio. He said more than 60 percent of the sale went abroad.

Filipe Silva, a debt manager at Portugal’s Banco Carregosa, said he was surprised by the interest rate.

“Yesterday I was expecting a rate above 4 percent, in line with what was happening in the market, but it came in lower,” he said.

The yield on Portuguese 10-year bonds fell slightly, to 7.39 percent, but it was the ninth straight working day at more than 7 percent — a level the government has acknowledged is unsustainable.

The minority government has staked its reputation on avoiding a bailout, saying a raft of austerity measures including tax hikes and pay cuts will put Portugal back on the path to fiscal health after racking up huge debts over the past decade of anemic growth. That economic record has alarmed investors and led them to demand higher returns for lending Portugal money.

Nevertheless, Portugal’s economic difficulties are set to continue at least through the end of this year, the governor of the country’s central bank said in an interview published yesterday.

A recession in 2011 will be the price of the belttightening measures and fiscal adjustments, Carlos Costa told daily Jornal Economico — contradicting the government, which has forecast growth of 0.2 percent this year, but in line with analyst predictions. Apart from financial markets, the minority government is feeling heat from trade unions angered by the austerity policies.—AP

JD Power sees world auto market up 6% in 2011 DETROIT: Global auto sales will increase 6 percent in 2011 to a record 76.5 million new light vehicles, JD Power and Associates said on Tuesday. Auto sales in the so-called emerging economies made up more than half of global sales for the first time in 2010, said JD Power, which tracks auto sales.

In 2010, sales reached a record 72 million, beating the previous mark of 70 million set in 2007 before a global recession cut into auto sales, California-based J.D. Power said.

“Overall growth in the world economy has been supporting further recovery in auto sales,” said John Humphrey, senior vice president of automotive operations at JD Power in a statement. “We’re seeing signals of stability and increased consumer demand for new vehicles as economic optimism increases.”

J D Power director of global forecasting Jeff Schuster said the cooling of auto sales growth in the emerging markets in 2011 is the major reason global growth is only 6 percent this year, compared with forecast growth of 11 percent in 2012, when Western Europe and North America are expected to rebound.

After experiencing a drop of 2 percent in sales in 2011, Europe will recover to show strong growth in 2012, which will help boost global auto sales to 85 million, Schuster said in a telephone interview.

The world’s auto market is seen climbing to 90 million to 91 million in 2013 and surpassing 100 million new vehicle sales in 2015, said Schuster.

China, the No. 1 auto market, will sell 6 million more vehicles in 2011 than No. 2 United States, J.D. Power said.China is forecast to sell 19 million new vehicles in 2011 for a growth rate of 11 percent-down from 33 percent growth in 2009 and 48 percent in 2008. Chinese sales rose from 8.8 million in 2008 to 17.2 million in 2010, J.D. Power said.

General Motors Co Chief Executive Daniel Akerson said in Beijing on Tuesday: “China is a unique market sitting in what I think is the highest growth area in the world for the next 10, 20, 30 years.” In 2010, China was the top auto market in volume of sales followed by the United States, Japan, Brazil and Germany, said Schuster.

By 2015, India will have the third-largest market and Brazil will be fourth, he predicted.

South American economies will show a moderation of sharp increases in sales in recent years, Schuster said. South American GDP growth will be 4 percent to 5 percent in 2011.

“The major near-term risks to the region include rising inflation and continuing monetary tightening, a sudden reversal in investor confidence, and a possible credit bubble in Brazil, which is the largest auto market in the region with nearly 75 percent of sales,” said Schuster. Just four years ago, China’s auto market was 8.1 million vehicles sold, which was half the US market. By 2009, China was the top market at 13 million in sales as the US market dropped to 10.4 million vehicles, its worst showing in nearly three decades.—Reuters

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

TECHNOLOGY

Apple rolls out digital subscription service Publishers must offer same terms on website, in store

PASADENA: NASA scientists take questions on the Stardust NExT mission at a news conference at the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. —AP

NASA craft snaps pics of comet in Valentine fling PASADENA, California: Nearly six years after an 800-pound (360-kilogram) copper bullet excavated a crater on a comet, a NASA spacecraft revisiting the site has seen evidence of the destruction in images snapped during a Valentine’s Day flyby, scientists said Tuesday. Instead of a well-defined pit, the Stardust craft saw what looked like a crater rim that was filled in the middle — a sign that the plume of debris from the 2005 highspeed crash that created the crater shot up and fell back down. “The crater was more subdued than I think some of us thought,” said mission scientist Pete Schultz of Brown University. “It partially buried itself.” Stardust zoomed past Tempel 1 Monday night, passing within 110 miles (177 kilometers) of the comet’s surface. Along the way, it snapped six dozen pictures.

It was NASA’s second visit to Tempel 1, but the first time a spacecraft had imaged the manmade crater. In 2005, another NASA probe, Deep Impact, fired a projectile into Tempel 1 that carved a football field-sized hole, but so much dust spewed out that it blocked Deep Impact’s view. Astronomer Michael A’Hearn of the University of Maryland, who led Deep Impact, was pleased to come full circle. “It’s wonderful to go back and see the effects we had on the comet due to our impact,” A’Hearn said.

Revisiting with Tempel 1 also allowed scientists to examine changes on the surface since Deep Impact. Tempel 1 has since made a full loop around the sun.

Every time comets orbit the sun, they lose material from the sur face and become less bright.

Scientists found evidence of erosion in then-and-now images of the Deep Impact site, said principal investigator Joe Veverka of Cornell University.

Stardust continued beaming back images from the Valentine encounter Tuesday. Scientists planned to spend the next several weeks analyzing the data.

Stardust’s trip to Tempel 1 was a bonus mission. Launched in 1999, Stardust’s original target was comet Wild 2, where it collected dust samples that were later jettisoned to Earth. The Tempel 1 flyby

UNITED STATES: The logo for Apple at a store at Tysons Corner mall in Tysons Corner, Virginia on November 26, 2010. —AFP iPad and application environment, but also iTunes payment ecosystem,” said Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner. “Over time this risks angering content developers and application developers and pushing them a bit to find other solutions.” It was not immediately clear when all publishers must comply with Apple’s new rules. The subscription service is a major break from the previous practice of “newsstand sales” under which each issue of a magazine, for instance, would be bought separately. Apple also keeps 30 percent of the sales fee in those cases.

Publishers are betting that the simplicity of Apple’s system will help boost sales, offsetting any losses they may suffer by sharing revenue. But for months, publishers debated whether Apple’s policy would put them at

the mercy of one of the most powerful technology companies in the world-placing them in the same uncomfortable position as music companies. For example, they will be barred from putting links to their own websites within the apps.

“When Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing,” Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a prepared statement. Jobs is currently on leave. What to do with customer data has been one of the main sticking points in working out agreements for a subscription service. The current plan will allow customers to decide how much information to supply publishers when they sign up for subscriptions.

How that information is be used will then be decided by the publishers-who are particularly protective of subscriber data such as names, addresses and credit cards because it helps them court advertisers and market new products to existing readers. The decision to broadly introduce a subscription service comes just weeks after Apple teamed up with News Corp to launch The Daily, which was the first subscription product available through Apple’s iTunes store. At the launch of The Daily earlier this month, Apple hinted that the company would soon make an announcement on subscription services for other publishers. — Reuters

Chinese microblog sites a headache for censors PASADENA: Pete Schultz, professor of geological sciences and a co-investigator on the Stardust NExT mission, takes questions about the Stardust craft. —AP went off almost flawlessly. Stardust got knocked several times by dust grains, but its protective bumpers bore the brunt of the blast and it came out unharmed.

A slight problem occurred during download. Since Stardust’s antenna was pointed away from Earth during the flyby, it stored all the images and data in its memory, waiting to be played back at a later time. NASA’s plan was to downlink close-up pictures to the ground first, followed by shots farther away. For reasons that engineers are still troubleshooting, the pictures came down in the order they were taken with the most distant views popping up first.

Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But since Stardust’s camera is a spare from the Voyager program, it takes a long time for each image to be received.

The glacial download disappointed some space fans who stayed up on Valentine’s night for a glimpse of the comet nucleus.

After NASA announced that the closest approach images won’t be ready until Tuesday, scores of people on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites signed off.—AP

Androids to run in world’s first robot marathon TOKYO: A technology company is organizing the world’s first marathon for robots in Japan, a country known for its love of gizmos. So far, five robots have entered the event, expected to last four days next week. Organizer Vstone said yesterday that it will demonstrate the machines’ durability and maneuverability. The “Robo Mara Full” race kicks off Feb

NEW YORK: Apple Inc is launching a longawaited subscription service for magazines, newspapers, videos and music-a move that could dent the fortunes of successful services such as Netflix and Hulu. Apple’s service allows it to keep 30 percent of customer payments to any publisher with a presence in its App Store, including blue-chip brands such as The New York Times, Netflix Inc or Rhapsody, the popular music service.

Publishers can set the price and length of a subscription. They can also offer subscriptions through their own existing websites, but would be required to offer those same terms to anyone signing up through Apple. In other words, customers who want to sign up for a Netflix video account would have two choices: They could do so through the Netflix website, in which case Netflix would keep the full fee; or they could subscribe through the applications in their iPhone or iPad, which would cost Netflix 30 percent its fees.

In launching the service, Apple is taking yet another bold step in securing a major role for itself in the future of digital media. Until now, Apple has invited media companies such as Netflix to create applications for the iPhone and iPad without taking a financial stake. Shares of Netflix, which were downgraded on Tuesday by Morgan Stanley based on valuation, were trading down about 3 percent on Nasdaq. Apple shares were down slightly. “This is Apple flexing its muscles and trying to leverage not just the strength of the

24 and is open only to androids with two legs. The robots must complete 422 laps around a 110-yard (100-meter) indoor racetrack to cover 26 miles (42 kilometers). Survivors of the nonstop raceexcept for battery changes and repairsare expected to hit the finish line Feb. 27, when their human counterparts run in the popular Tokyo marathon. —AP

OSAKA: In this photo released by Japanese robot maker Vstone Co, robots demonstrate a race during a press conference.—AP

BEIJING: China’s Internet controls, under challenge again from Washington, may face an even tougher time from the 125 million Chinese people who have embraced online microblogs to gossip, rant and mobilize. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that China faces a “dictator’s dilemma” on Internet censorship, and risks being outrun by the spread of online opinion. The Internet-fueled toppling of rulers in Egypt and Tunisia showed governments could not pick and choose which freedoms to grant heir citizens, she said.

Last year, Beijing and Washington bickered over Internet censorship that eventually prompted Google to shift its chief Chinese-language from mainland China to Hong Kong. The latest battleground over Internet control under China’s ruling Communist Party are Twitter-like local websites where users shoot out bursts of 140 or so Chinese characters of often strongly worded opinion. Twitter itself is blocked in China, along with Facebook and other websites that are popular abroad.

Beijing’s censors are in control for now, and most Chinese people use microblogs to follow celebrities. But activist users can be wily. “Those that have potential to shape public opinion are wired and looking for leads, but they also have a keen sense of where the limit

is,” Liu Yawei, head of the Carter Center’s China program in Atlanta, said of China’s microbloggers. Microbloggers on popular Sina.com and other Chinese websites recently spread debate about Egypt, often using oblique references to get around filters attempting to block discussion of the unrest that unsettled officials.

“Initially, the government agencies maybe didn’t expect microblogs would be so powerful,” said Li Yonggang, an expert on society and the Internet at Nanjing University in eastern China.

“Because microblog entries are very brief and fast, people have become adept at expressing themselves so that people in the know understand what’s being said, but those who aren’t can miss the point,” he said in a telephone interview. Officially, Chinese microblog sites are operating on only a “trial” basis.

Regulators could withhold final approval or revoke the provisional clearance to pressure these sites into more self-censorship, said Li. For now, some Chinese officials are also figuring out ways to use microblogs to get out their message. Local police forces have recently joined in a microblog campaign to stop children being recruited into begging that has sparked widespread attention and media coverage in China. — Reuters

Smartphones new El Dorado for computer criminals BARCELONA: Smartphones are the new El Dorado for computer criminals, security experts say, with many owners unaware of the risk or what to do about it. The issue is not just one for consumers, but for businesses as well as many people use their smartphones or tablets to access corporate networks without authorization.

As smartphones and tablets have risen in popularity to outpace sales of personal computers, criminals are increasing targeting the devices, computer security companies say.

“The things that people need to be protected from on PCs they now need to be protected from when using their smartphones,” said Stephen Simpson of AVG,” a major anti-virus software provider. “The threat is not perceived,” Simpson said at the mobile phone industry’s annual get-together in Barcelona. “There is a perception that smartphones are more secure than they really are.”

A study for AVG found that six percent of US smartphone owners had had their devices infected with malware that was surreptitiously sending out their credit card details. There are already some 1,000 different pieces of malware circulating that target smartphones, according to Kaspersky Lab, a leading computer security firm. One of the most prevalent is malware which has the phone make surreptitious calls or send text messages to premium numbers, landing the criminals fat fees and phone owners with fat bills.

Smartphones are an attractive target for criminals as “there is a lot of money involved, it is an easy job, and it is low risk,” said the firm’s founder,

Eugene Kaspersky. And while the overwhelming majority of people use anti-virus software on their PCs, just a fraction have considered doing so on their smartphones and even fewer have actually done so. A study in four European countries conducted for Kaspersky Lab found that only 12 percent of smartphone owners had installed security software on their phones. This is despite about onethird of people storing such valuable data such as access codes and passwords on their phones and onethird using their phones for online banking.

Oddly that perception extends to the mobile industry, where at the trade fair this week there are seminars on mobile health initiatives but nothing about safeguarding the health of your mobile. When Kaspersky started to attended the Mobile World Congress five years ago most companies could not understand why they were there, although this has started to change, he said.

Kaspersky said people needed to be educated: “Don’t trust everyone, keep your brain on” while using smartphone applications. Smartphone owners will begin using anti-virus software as they become victims or someone they know does, he said, and “in a few years 90 percent of people will have anti-malware or mobile security software installed,” the same level as for PCs. Kaspersky Lab announced at the Mobile World Congress a new version of its smartphone software that supports BlackBerry telephones and smar tphones running on the Google-backed Android operating system. — AP

CHICAGO: This undated file photo courtesy of IBM shows Watson, powered by IBM POWER7, a workload optimized system that can answer questions posed in natural language over a nearly unlimited range of knowledge. —AFP

Computer crushes ‘Jeopardy!’ champs CHICAGO: An IBM computer crushed two human champions Tuesday in the second round of a man vs. machine showdown on the popular US television game show “Jeopardy!” Most of the banter and gentle humor that usually pepper the popular quiz show was gone as the supercomputer dominated the game by beating his human opponents to the buzzer again and again. Ken Jennings-who holds the “Jeopardy!” record of 74 straight wins- shook his buzzer in silent frustration as the computer’s artificial voice answered the first dozen challenges without pause, getting all but one right.

“Watson” - named after Thomas Watson, the founder of the US technology giant-receives the clues electronically by text message at the same time as they are revealed to the human contestants. The first player to hit the buzzer gets to answer the question. The others only get a chance if the first player gets the answer wrong. Watson, which is not connected to the Internet, plays the game by crunching through multiple algorithms at dizzying speed and attaching a percentage score to what it believes is the correct response.

It beat Jennings and Brad Rutter-who won a record $3.25 million on the show-to the buzzer on 24 of 30 questions. Five-time “Jeopardy!” champion Jeffrey Spoeri sympathized with Jennings and Rutter, and said the computer’s speed to the buzzer seemed like an unfair advantage. “I gotta root for the humans,” said Spoeri, who won 105,000 dollars on the show in November 2006. But he was deeply impressed with the computer’s skills. “The actual game play was just amazing, that it would know the answers and discern which one is the correct one,” Spoeri told AFP after viewing the first show.

Watson, which has been under development at IBM Research labs in New York since 2006, is the latest machine developed by IBM to challenge mankind. In 1997, an IBM computer named “Deep Blue” defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a six-game match. “Jeopardy!”, which first aired on US television in 1964, tests a player’s knowledge in a range of categories, from geography to politics to history to sports and entertainment. A dollar amount is attached to each question and the player with the most money at the end of the game is the winner. Players have money deducted for wrong answers.

In a twist on traditional game play, contestants are provided with clues and need to supply the questions.

Watson showed an impressive knowledge of pop culture, answering “Who is the Church Lady” to the challenge “A Dana Carvey character on ‘Saturday Night Live.’” Watson was quick to the punch on history, geography, medicine and art- jumping in with the second largest city in New Zealand, the founder of Cambridge’s Trinity College, the names of stolen artwork, and types of diseases.

Most impressive was his ability to interpret the challenges, answering“What is narcolepsy?” to the question “You just need a nap. You don’t have this sleep disorder that can make sufferers nod off while standing up.”

Jennings managed to get three correct answers in while Rutter won two.

None were able to identify a portrait of Spanish King Phillip II as that which was stolen at gunpoint from an Argentina gallery in 1987. — AP

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health & science

Food prices at dangerous levels, World Bank warns Higher food prices risks for Middle East, Central Asia WASHINGTON: World Bank chief Robert Zoellick said global food prices have reached dangerous levels that could complicate fragile political and social conditions in the Middle East, and warned that their impact also bears watching across Central Asia. World Bank data released on Tuesday showed higher food prices has pushed 44 million more people into extreme poverty since June 2010 in developing countries. Zoellick said although higher food prices were not the main reason that led to violent protests in Egypt and Tunisia, it was an aggravating factor and could become worse. He warned that a sharp rise in food prices across Central Asia could also have social and political implications for that region.

“There is no room for complacency,” Zoellick said. “Global food prices are now at dangerous levels and it is also clear that recent food price rises for food are causing pain and suffering for poor people around the globe.” The World Bank report comes days before a meeting of the Group of 20 major economies in Paris, where higher food prices - and the reason for it-will be discussed. Zoellick said he was concerned that as countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan address causes of their social upheaval, higher food prices may add to “the fragility that is always there any time you have revolutions and transitions.”

The World Bank chief said the international community needed to be aware of such risks and should not exacerbate problems by imposing policies, such as export bans, that would push global food prices even higher. Catastrophic storms and droughts have hur t the world’s leading agriculture-producing countries, including flooding and a massive cyclone in Australia, major winter storms in the United States, and fires last year in Russia. Zoellick said a World Bank team was currently in Tunisia taking a closer look at the country’s transition and assessing whether it needs World Bank financial assistance.

He suggested that Egypt may not

KARACHI: Poverty stricken Pakistani people eat free food outside a charitable organizations office in Karachi yesterday. —AFP need additional World Bank financing because its financing situation “is one that should be able to be managed.” The Washington-based poverty-fighting institution said its food price index increased by 15 percent between October 2010 and January 2011 and is

just 3 percent below its 2008 peak during the last food price crisis. But unlike during the 2007-2008 food crisis, higher prices have not yet affected all regions of the world.

Across Asia and in some par ts of Latin America, Eastern Europe and

Central Asia countries, costlier food is pushing up inflationary pressures, while good harvests in Sub-Saharan Africa have so far spared that region from rising prices. Zoellick said there was less margin for error in Africa because of the high poverty rates across the region, although he noted problems in Burundi and Cameroon where bean prices, an important food source, have risen by well over 40 percent. Surveys show that the poor spend more than 80 percent of their total disposable income on basic foods, and if prices rise poor families have no alternative but to eat less.

The Bank said rich donor countries needed to focus food aid on countries such as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, which face large food price spikes. The bank said the international community should take steps to calm jitter y commodit y markets. I t also urged poor nations to scale up social programs to ensure that the poor are p ro te c te d f ro m t h e r i s i n g p r i ce s.

Meanwhile, countries that are large net commodity impor ters with low inte rnational fore ign exchange reser ves and limited space in their budgets may need funding to help them deal with rising food prices, the World Bank said.—Reuters

China rice laced with heavy metals: Report BEIJING: Up to 10 percent of rice grown in China is contaminated with harmful heavy metals but little has been done to highlight the possible public health risks, a report said. This week’s edition of the New Century magazine cited studies showing that large amounts of Chinese rice have been tainted with heavy metals like cadmium due to years of pollution stemming from the nation’s rapid economic growth.

“During China’s fast-paced industrialization, activities such as mining have sprung up everywhere, releasing into the environment chemical elements like cadmium, arsenic, mercury and other harmful heavy metals,” the report said. “These harmful heavy metals have spread through the air and water, polluting a rather large area of China’s land... a complete chain of food contamination has existed for years.” The report cited academic studies since 2007 focusing on several rural villages in southern China near mines and industrial areas where health problems such as bone diseases have emerged, mostly among the elderly.

Pan Genxing, a scientist who carried out some of the key research cited in the report, said the percentage of tainted rice was even higher in some specific localities. “In areas with acidic soil that are known to be badly polluted, we have found that up to 60 percent of the rice samples gathered there surpass cadmium standards,” Pan, a scientist with Nanjing Agricultural University said. However he added that while cadmium levels were sometimes five times higher than government standards, the problem represented a “potential health risk” rather than dangerous “acute toxicity”.

Most at risk from high cadmium levels were subsistence farmers in polluted areas who mainly live on the rice they grow, Pan said. Of the major grains, rice has the strongest ability to absorb cadmium, which often seeps into water used for irrigation near mines, especially those that extract lead, tin and copper, the report said. The magazine report said, however, that no major investigations into the possible public health impact have been carried out. Rice, which is widely grown in south China, is the nation’s staple grain with about 200 million tons produced annually, the report said.

Food safety is a major problem in China, where scares regularly emerge including recent scandals involving contaminated red wine, bleached mushrooms, fake tofu and recycled cooking oil. In 2008, at least six children died and around 300,000 fell sick after consuming powdered milk laced with the industrial chemical melamine, which was added to make products appear higher in protein. —AFP

HAUTE-GARONNE: Picture shows Coca-Cola bottles on an assembly line at a Coca Cola bottling plant. —AFP

Coca-Cola says secret of its recipe still intact Radio show shows Coke’s secret recipe NEW YORK: Coca-Cola Co said on Tuesday that its flagship cola recipe is still secret after nearly 125 years, denying a story by a public radio show that it has uncovered the formula. “This American Life,” a weekly radio program, said it found the closely guarded formula in an article in Coke’s hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, from February 1979.

A photo that appeared with the article shows pages from a notebook with a handwritten list of ingredients such as sugar, lime juice, vanilla and caramel. It also lists oils of cinnamon, neroli, coriander, nutmeg, lemon and orange. The show, produced by WBEZ Chicago and distributed by Public Radio International, claims the notebook originally belonged to a friend of John Pemberton, the pharmacist who created Coca-Cola in 1886.

The book passed through various hands and eventually landed with Georgia pharmacist Everett Beal, who was an acquaintance of the newspaper writer, accord-

ing to Beal’s widow, who was interviewed by “This American Life” host Ira Glass. Coke, the world’s largest soft drink maker, denied that the formula is the same as the one for its cola, which is kept in an Atlanta bank vault. “Many third parties, including ‘This American Life,’ have tried to crack our secret formula. Try as they might, they’ve been unsuccessful because there is only one ‘Real Thing,’” said Coca-Cola spokeswoman Kerry Tressler.

The show said the recipe matched another one once found in a notebook owned by Pemberton, which is in Coke’s archives. Archive director Philip Mooney told the show that many similar, if not identical, recipes have surfaced in the past that claim to be the one for what has become one of the world’s best-known brands.

“Could it be a precursor? Yeah, absolutely,” Mooney told the show. “Is this the one that went to market? I don’t think so.” —Reuters

Mexico glacier melting quickly Mexico glaciers to disappear by 2015 AMECAMECA: Glaciers that crown a Mexican volcano could disappear by 2015 with scientists pointing to global warming as a chief cause of their demise. Until recently, the glacial field on Iztaccihuatl, a dormant volcano and one of two white-capped peaks that can be seen from Mexico City, was expected to be gone within a few decades. But studies show rising world temperatures are melting the glaciers faster than previously thought, said Hugo Delgado, a glaciologist at Mexico City’s UNAM university who thinks the massive blocks of ice will be gone within four years. “What we’ve seen at Iztaccihuatl is an intense period of glacial retreat in the last few years, which has changed the picture,” Delgado said.

Iztaccihuatl has one of two glacial fields left

in Mexico, which are among the world’s few tropical glaciers. Glaciers are massive, slow-moving rivers of ice, and in the tropics they can only exist on the cold peaks of tall mountains. Most tropical glaciers, like those in Mexico, are much smaller than their cousins closer to the poles.

Glacial melt in the tropics could hit farmers and cities across Latin America by reducing water availability and hydropower generation.

Scientists generally believe global warming is caused by large amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.

The number of glaciers on Iztaccihuatl has dwindled from five to three, said Agustin Tagle, an official at the national park where Iztaccihuatl is located. “The thickest was originally about 90

meters in depth,” he said. “Now it is 10 meters at most.” Heat radiating from the sprawling, concrete-covered metropolis of Mexico City nearby is also contributing to the disappearance of the glaciers, Delgado said. Iztaccihuatl, which means “white woman”, was named by the Aztecs for the feminine form the mountain etched on the skyline and the snow and ice that covered it.

But snow falls are now scarce on the 17,000 foot peak, with vegetation growing at ever higher altitudes. It was extremely cold on Iztaccihuatl this week at a camp at 13,100 feet, however, with a raw wind hurling dust and ash across the mountain. The volcano is a popular climbing destination but Roberto Flores, a local guide, said the disappearance of the glaciers has changed the experience. —Reuters

KATHMANDU: In this undated photograph, the remains of a one-horned rhinoceros killed by poachers is seen in Chitwan National Park. —AFP

Community volunteers take on Nepalese rhino poachers CHITWAN: Warden Narendra Man Pradhan has an entire battalion of soldiers helping him combat rhino poaching in Nepal’s biggest national park. But he says his most effective weapon is a network of local volunteers who campaign against the illegal killing of the endangered animals and provide valuable information about the poachers. Thousands of one-horned rhinos once roamed the plains of Nepal and northern India, but their numbers have suffered a dramatic decline in recent decades due to poaching and human encroachment of their habitat.

Rhino horn is prized for its reputed medicinal qualities in China, where a single horn can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on the international black market.

Nepal’s rhinos were almost wiped out during the country’s decade-long civil war, when poaching went unchecked as the army abandoned its posts in the national parks to battle a Maoist insurgency. Since the conflict ended in 2006 the soldiers have returned to their posts in the Chitwan national park, around 230 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu, and the rhino population has begun to recover.

But conservationists say much of the credit should go to local community groups set up to protect the wildlife, which brings much-needed tourism income to an area where most people still scratch a living as subsistence farmers. “When we launched our new wildlife trade programme in 2006 we realised that the rhinos weren’t just staying in the park, where the army patrols,” says WWF Nepal’s wildlife trade manager Diwakar Chapagain. “They were straying many kilometres beyond its boundaries, and those areas also needed to be protected.”

With a little encouragement from WWF and the park authorities, community groups were formed in Chitwan’s “buffer zone”, an area of 750 square kilometers around the park where rhinos, tigers and wild elephants often stray. The groups campaign door-to-door and in schools, and perform educational dramas and songs about the impact of poaching, which experts say is often carried out by local people hired by traders in the capital Kathmandu. Community volunteer Kul Prasad says people are gradually coming round to the idea that protecting the rhinos makes good financial sense.

“Often, people don’t understand why we need the rhinos, and there is a lot of frustration about the damage they do to crops,” says the 27-year-old, a professional nature guide. “You have to keep going back and making your point. But it is working.” Nearly 300 National Parks staff and 700 soldiers now patrol the park in Chitwan. But warden Pradhan says the difficulty of the terrain and the sheer scale of the park, which covers 932 square kilometers of jungle grassland, make it impossible to prevent poaching with patrols alone.

“After the rainy season the grass grows so high that you cannot see 50 meters in front of you,” he tells AFP in his office in the heart of the jungle. “The poachers come into the park last thing at night so that they can escape in cover of darkness. We cannot be everywhere and we simply don’t have the capacity to completely control the poaching. So we are very reliant on local people to help us.”

Porous borders, weak law enforcement and its proximity to China have made Nepal a hub for the illegal trade in animal parts, and one of the volunteers’ most valuable contributions is providing information to authorities. Last year, police raided the home of a Nepalese airline pilot following a tip-off from volunteers who heard he had been asking villagers about rhino poaching. He is now serving a prison sentence for illegal trading in wildlife. The WWF says that since the establishment of community anti-poaching groups in 2006, there has been a dramatic fall in the number of rhinos being killed in the Chitwan area.

Nepal’s last rhino count was conducted in 2008 and found 408 one-horned rhinos living in and around the Chitwan National Park, up from 372 in 2005, and the WWF believes the figure has increased further since then. For the villagers of Chitwan, that is good news.

“So many young people are now leaving Nepal because they cannot find jobs here,” says volunteer Nakul Lamichhana, 30. “If we preserve our natural treasures and encourage tourism, we will be able to make a living at home.”— AFP

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Early balding linked to risk of prostate cancer Balding at 20 suggests higher prostate cancer risk LONDON: A study showing that men who start to go bald at 20 may be more likely to develop prostate cancer in later life suggests they might benefit from early screening or preventative therapy, scientists said. French researchers compared 388 men being treated for prostate cancer with 281 healthy men and found that those with the disease were twice as likely as the healthy men to have started losing their hair when they were 20.

If the men only started going bald when they were 30 or 40, there was no difference in their risk of developing prostate cancer compared to the healthy group. “At present there is no hard evidence to show any benefit from screening the general population for prostate cancer. We need a way of identifying those men who are at high risk,”

said Philippe Giraud of Paris Descartes University, who led the study. “Balding at the age of 20 may be one of these easily identifiable risk factors and more work needs to be done now to confirm this,” he said in a statement.

Giraud, whose findings were published in the cancer journal Annals of Oncology, said men identified as at higher risk of prostate cancer could be selected for earlier screening, or for chemo-prevention therapy using socalled anti-androgenic drugs like M erck ’s Proscar, or finasteride.

Finasteride is used to treat both prostate enlargement symptoms and baldness. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to an androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which is thought to cause hair loss.

GlaxoSmithKline has a drug in the

same class called Avodar t, or dutasteride, and is currently seeking approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a licence for use in men at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. But an FDA panel advised last month that GSK’s application should be rejected. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer and kills an estimated 255,000 men each year.

Androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, affects around 50 percent of men in their lifetime.

Previous studies have established a link between baldness and androgenic hormones, and androgens also play a role in the development and growth of prostate cancer. Giraud and Michael Yassa of the University of Montreal in Canada, who also worked on the study,

asked men to fill in a questionnaire about their history of prostate cancer, if any, and to indicate any hair loss they had at ages 20, 30 and 40 using pictures graded from stage I (no hair loss), to stage IV (receding hairline and balding from the top of the head).

The men’s doc tors also provided patients’ medical histories, including any diagnosis of prostate cancer, age at diagnosis, stage of the disease and treatment. The study ran for 28 months.

“The data revealed that any balding at stages II-IV was associated with double the risk of prostate cancer later in life.

This trend was lost at ages 30 and 40,” said Yassa. “Fur ther work should be done, both at the molecular level and with larger groups of men, to find the missing link between androgens, early balding and prostate cancer.” — Reuters

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National, Liberation Day and HH the Amir’s assumption of Power Events

AUK celebrates Independence, Liberation Days

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he American University of Kuwait will be commemorating Kuwait’s 50 years of independence and 20 years of liberation, by holding a week of festivities on campus on Feb 20-23. The week-long celebrations will include several different student design exhibits, sand sculpting workshops, live music, lectures and much more.

Several student clubs and organizations participated in these festivities by working alongside the University in organizing several of their own events celebrating Kuwait’s history and culture.

The highlights of the celebrations include a remembrance of the legacy of Kuwaiti poet and singer Abdullah AlFadhalah through an exhibition and live music organized by AUK’s Arabian Heritage Project. On the last day of celebrations AUK will host famous Kuwaiti singer Faisal AlSa’ad for a live concert. The public is welcome to join the AUK community in their celebrations as all events are open to all who wish to join.

AUK Graphic Design Students, encouraged by Professor Maryam Hosseinnia, par-

ticipated in a logo design competition, “AUK Kuwait 50/20 Logo Competition” where they had to design a logo that reflects Kuwait’s 50 years of independence and 20 years of liberation to be used by AUK in all publications pertaining to the week –long events as the official logo. A panel of judges from AUK’s staff and faculty voted for the winners, AUK students Maryam Ghomsha and Farnaz Heidari. For more information on the activities and events of the week please visit the event section of the AUK website www.auk.edu.kw

Sheraton and Four Points are elegantly adorned

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he month of February holds a number of historical occasions marking Kuwait’s Golden Jubilee celebration of 50 years of Independence, 20 years of Liberation and 5 years since HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah was sworn in as the Amir of the State of Kuwait. Joining in with the national celebrations, Sheraton Kuwait and Four Points

by Sheraton Kuwait have been dressed in celebration banners complemented by festive illumination. Sheraton Kuwait and Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait are also dedicating the calendar of 2011 to the country of Kuwait as a token of appreciation to its rich heritage and culture and are joining in with the extensive celebrations.

The year 2011, marks a milestone for Sheraton Kuwait also, as it celebrates 45 years of success for being one of Kuwait’s iconic landmarks, since its inception back in 1966. It was in the year 1966 that Sheraton Kuwait was inaugurated to become the first managed Sheraton property outside North America.

Through the years, Sheraton Kuwait has proved to be a pioneer in the hospitality industry, locally as well as regionally. During this journey, Sheraton Kuwait has received tremendous admiration from global leaders and won numerous awards from prestigious organizations.

Fahed Abushaar, General Manager of

Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers added “On behalf of Sheraton Kuwait and Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait family, we extend our heartiest congratulations and warm wishes to the beloved country Kuwait on these special bun-

dle of occasions that mark His Highness The Amir of the State of Kuwait completing half a decade of his reign, 20 years of Liberation and 50 years of Independence wishing everyone good health and prosperity.

Announcements Hala February Abrar-Ul-Haq is coming to Kuwait during ‘Hala February’. For details contact 65840229.

Football match Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) and all its affiliated member clubs hereby congratulate the State of Kuwait, on their auspicious and historic 20/50 occasions (Independence and Liberation), and as part of these celebrations are pleased to announce a friendly football match to be played between KIFF XI and MOH XI on Thursday, 17th February 2011(Public Holiday) at MOH ground, Shuwaikh. The match will start at 6 pm sharp according to KIFF Sports Secretary Bernard Fernandes. Both the teams are geared up to display an exciting game of football. MOH XI is a formidable team consisting of mostly Kuwaiti players. KIFF XI is a selection from the affiliated clubs. The event will be compered

by Ex-Salgaocar and Goa National player Gasper Crasto, who is also a freelance journalist and a versatile compere in Kuwait. The match will be officiated by KIFF Referees. KIFF has invited all its affiliates, supporters and fooball lovers to come and witness this great event.

PAWS - Volunteer Induction Day PAWS Kuwait is organizing Volunteer Induction Day at the new shelter on 18th of February from 10am - 12:30 pm. Attendees will be given an introduction to PAWS and the different activities that we offer along with an overview of the volunteer role at each event.

It will also be an opportunity to meet the team and network with other volunteers. Our

volunteer coordinators will meet you at the gate and follow up with you on the following agenda: l Introduce the new volunteers to staff and existing volunteers. l Give a tour of the facility. l Introduce you to our shelter pets (dogs and cats); you will have change to feed dogs/cats, walk dogs, and play with cats. l Provide an overview of PAWS, its mission and history; give an outline of the services we provide, cover our day-to-day work and how the volunteer and their role benefit the PAWS. l Review the volunteer roles description and clarify the work you can perform. l Read and sign off on the Volunteer Agreement. l Introduce the volunteer to PAWS Volunteer Policy.

For more information visit: http://pawskuwait.org/blog/help-paws/volunteering-withpaws/

NBK Walkathon Registration started Sunday at NBK Walkathon Tent next to the Scientific Centre in Salmiya on Sunday, February 13 and continues until March 11, which is one day before the start of the walkathon. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the best bank in the Middle East, announced the launching of its 17th Annual Walkathon on the 12th of March 2011 on the occasion of Kuwait’s celebration of 50 years over its independence, 20 years over its liberation from the Iraqi invasion and 5 years since H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah assumed his post.

The Walkathon event will also feature a host

of functions, activities and competitions with rewarding prizes and rewards awaiting the participants. NBK’s Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Bank & Community Committee, Nasser Musaed Al Sayer said that it has been clear that NBK’s Walkathon is growing year on year, and we are extremely thrilled to take our involvement with this exciting event to new levels. This year, we are expecting participation to be much more than previous walkathon which witnessed more the participation of more than 12,000 contesters”.

IMA youth wing sports day IMA YOUTH WING will hold a one day Sports Event on 18th Feb. Winners will take home exciting prizes. Cricket, Volleyball & Tug of war will be part of the event. For registration kindly call the below numbers 66031736, 60634301, 97214743 or Visit www.imayouthwing.org for more information.

KEA Friendship Cup Football Tournament Keralite Engineers’ Association (KEA) proudly announces the 2nd KEA Friendship Cup Football tournament sponsored by Gulf Bank scheduled to commence from Feb 18, 2011, at the Al Sahel Sports Club, Abu Halifa.

The KEA Friendship Cup tournament is open to all the Alumni Colleges of the Kuwait Engineer’s Forum and will continue for 5 weekends starting from the 18th February, not including the weekend of the Feb 25, 2011. Website: www.keakuwait.org

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF US The US Embassy will be closed on Sunday, Feb 20, 2011, in observance of President’s Day. The Embassy will reopen for normal business on Monday, February 21, 2011. Regular working hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 pm, Sunday to Thursday. The Embassy’s telephone number is 2259-1001; fax number is 2538-0282.

Bayan Dental Centre visits Kuwait National English School

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n the Feb 3, 2011 Bayan Dental Center visited the Early Years Department at Kuwait National English School in Hawally at Al Farabi Round About. Their pediatric dentist Dr Mona Shoman presented a slideshow for students of Early Years and which was followed by a discussion about important oral health issues; such as brushing technique, healthy food for healthy teeth and how to avoid cavities. KG and Reception children enthusiastically answered Dr Mona’s questions on dental care and were eager to learn more about oral health. After the slideshow and discussion, students were presented with a Bayan Dental center ‘goody bag’ which included a new toothbrush!

So now no more excuses! Teach your child about oral hygiene.

LDP (Kuwait Chapter) holds convention 2011

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iberal Democratic Forum held ‘Convention -2011’ to appoint the new office bearers of their Kuwait Chapter at Gulshan Hotel Auditorium, Kuwait city on Feb 8, 2011. In this event a distinguished guest from Bangladesh Dr Oh Ahmed Bir Bikram, MP, Chairman Standing Committee of Ministry of Planning & Founder President of Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh was present as chief guest. HE Shahed Reza, Ambassador of Bangladesh attended as a special guest, Muhammad Akter, Secretary of International Public Relations of Central Committee in Bangladesh and President of Liberal Democratic Forum UAE also attended the convention.

Attendees included local representatives from electronic media, reporter unions, businessmen, social workers and many distinguished personalities from various sectors of Bangladeshi community. Prominent figures such as Shamsul Hoque, Jamal Uddin, Hanif Mohd Kokan, Shafiqur Rahman, Omar Faruk Nahid, Mr. Mohiudding Chy, Jahangir Alam, Abdul Salam, Obaidul Karim Nayan, Abu Taher, Wahidul Aklam Chy, Md Babul Chy, Mr. Fazal Karim, Zakaria, Alhaj Jubair and several others were also there to attend the convention.

The Program was hosted jointly by Bandan Nath Secretary Genereal of LDF (Kuwait Chapter) and Mohd Abduhlah, Organizing Secretary of LDP. The hosts welcomed the guests & the gathering started with the recitation from Holy Quran by Alhaj Lockman Ali, Joint Secretary of LDP and Ibilowed by national anthem of Bangladesh organized by Rbindra Nazrul Shilpa Gosti.

The Visiting Honorable Chief Guest, in his speech conveyed special thanks to Kuwaiti government. for the kind help to Bangladesh for many development and social projects in Bangladesh and also requested the audience to follow Kuwaiti rules and regulations as every citizen represents their country and highly appreciated ambassador Reza for his support and facilitating all the services rendered for the chief Guest and lauded him as one of best public servants, and as encouraged him to look into various issues concerning the Bangladesh community with particular stress, and suggested measures to improve the services to fellow Bangladeshis wherever necessary.

The chief Guest Introduced Alhaj Jafar

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The British Embassy will be closed today on the occasion of the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday holiday. The Embassy will reopen on Sunday Feb 20, 2011.

Visa and Consular Services The visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 09301630. Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 413, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City.

For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail: info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone: 22971170 The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk EMBESSY OF KENYA With regard to the Occasion of the Birthday of the Prophet (PBUH), the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya will be closed today 17/2/2011.

The Embassy will resume its duties on Sunday 20/2/2011.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

Ahmed as the President of Leberal Democratice Forum (LDF) in Kuwait with Bandan Nath as General Secretary of (LDF) with 11 advisors and 11 executive members, with 101 General members and gave some guidance and advised them to do everything in line with Kuwaiti law.

The ambassador was very receptive to the issues put forward and during the course of the discussions; he assured

that everything possible will be done to benefit the non-resident Bangladeshis living in Kuwait. He went on to highlight the improvements and major changes already affected in the Counselor Section at the Embassy since assuming charges and vowed to do more for the citizens of Bangladesh, who are here to work and earn their living in a different manner. He also assured that he would be pleased to work in close coordination with the vari-

ous associations involved in Community Development Programs and do whatever needs to be done to assist in carrying forward the task in hand.

In view of the keen interest evinced by the ambassador of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh community can look forward to better services ahead, which will ultimately make a big difference to our reputation and honor in this part of the world.

The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday. Embassy of India would like to

inform that application forms for passport/visa services and labor contracts that are on its website, www.indembkwt.org, have been upgraded to include the facility for online data entry. Affidavit forms on the embassy website have had this facility since May 6, 2009.

Indian artiste calls for creative contributors

Greetings

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A happy birthday to our little darling Baba Ryan Tyrone Crasto and may Our Almighty God shower his blessings upon you always. Love and wishes from Dada Thomas Crasto, Mama Rosy Crasto, Baby Raina Crasto, Grand Ma Maria Coutinho and uncle Joaquim Fernandes, uncle Domascian Crasto, uncle Frederic Duarte, Aunty Ruby Duarte and Friend Alan Duarte.

Happy 15th wedding anniversary to AC Thomas and Beena Thomas, Elanjikkal. Lots of love from Johnarts.

handramohan Kannur, a versatile artist, known for his creative endeavors as actor, writer, director, comedian and organizer is on the lookout for creative contributors for the upcoming tele event he is directing. The 10 episode TV serial, titled ‘Marmarangngal’ (Rustles), based on the life stories of Indian expats in Kuwait, will incorporate as many artists as possible from the Indian expat community in Kuwait.

Chandramohan, the director of the tele-serial invites the creative cooperation of technicians, choreographers, dubbing artists and the like as this exclusive undertaking will have maximum participation of both known and not known artists among the Indians in Kuwait.

Chandramohan, who began acting from the age of 5 in a professional drama in his native Kannur, has a long record of artistic activities as assistant cine director to Indian filmmakers Yatheendradas, CP Jomon, J Williams and as director of a short film titled Kanyadanam (The Offering of Virgins) about the practice of marrying off poor Hindu girls to the rich upper

castes. He also wrote lyrics and composed music for a Christian devotional album that had Indian semi classical touch. As a dubbing artist he gave voice to many actors and outstandingly to an elderly lady character for noted writer Kamala Das’ televised stories.

In Kuwait, he had been part of a weekly program, titled Kuwait Dreams, that aired on Jeevan TV, a popular Indian television channel.

Also, he owns and coordinates an instrumental music troupe, Melam Vadya Sangam, Kuwait that specializes in the performance of chenda, the percussion instrument with all the accompaniments to make a cultural procession rich and colorful.The shooting of the 10 episode serial will

start shortly. Those interested to work with the project may please contact 99540464. All upcoming talents are welcome!

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TV PROGRAMS 00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 D-List 05:00 06:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

The Ellen Degeneres Show Good Morning America Sons Of Anarchy Kathy Griffin: My Life On The Strong Medicine Good Morning America Happy Town Happy Town The Ellen Degeneres Show Friday Night Lights American Idol American Idol Burn Notice Live Good Morning America Law And Order The Ellen Degeneres Show Strong Medicine American Idol Supernatural Rescue Me

00:50 Untamed And Uncut 01:45 Jungle 02:40 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 03:35 World Wild Vet 04:30 Wildest Africa 05:25 In Search Of The Giant Anaconda 06:20 Untamed And Uncut 07:10 Must Love Cats 08:00 Meerkat Manor 08:25 Night 08:50 Pandamonium 09:40 Breed All About It 10:10 Animal Crackers 10:35 Animal Crackers 11:05 Jungle 12:00 Animal Precinct 12:55 Wildlife Sos 13:20 Wildlife Sos International 13:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 14:45 Rspca: On The Frontline 15:10 E-Vets: The Interns 15:40 Ocean’s Deadliest 16:30 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 17:30 Night 18:00 Breed All About It 18:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 19:20 World Wild Vet 20:15 Escape To Chimp Eden 20:40 Snake Crusader With Bruce George 21:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 22:05 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 23:00 Pit Bulls And Parolees 23:55 I Shouldn’t Be Alive

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:20 03:10 03:40 04:10 04:40 05:00 05:20 05:40 05:50 05:55 06:10 06:30 06:50 07:10 07:20 07:25 07:40 08:00 08:20 08:40 08:50 08:55 09:10 09:30 09:50 10:10 10:20 10:25 10:40 11:10

My Family Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Casualty Eastenders Doctors Last Of The Summer Wine Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Last Of The Summer Wine Last Of The Summer Wine

11:40 12:30 13:15 13:45 14:15 15:10 16:40 17:25 18:15 18:45 19:15 20:10 20:55 21:45 22:15 22:45 23:40

The Weakest Link Robin Hood Doctors Eastenders Casualty Last Of The Summer Wine Robin Hood The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Robin Hood The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Himalaya With Michael Palin

15:30 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 BBC World News 21:30 World Business Report 21:45 Sport Today 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 23:30 World Business Report 23:45 Sport Today

00:00 00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 03:10 03:55 04:40 05:25 06:15 06:40 07:30 08:15 08:40 09:10 09:30 10:20 11:10 11:55 12:40 13:30 14:15 14:40 15:00 16:55 17:40 18:25 19:10 19:55 20:45 21:35 22:25 23:10

Design Star Superhomes Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Fantasy Homes By The Sea The Home Show Cash In The Attic Design Star Superhomes Come Dine With Me Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic 10 Years Younger Daily Cooks Challenge 10 Years Younger 10 Years Younger Antiques Roadshow Fantasy Homes By The Sea 10 Years Younger Antiques Roadshow Fantasy Homes By The Sea Glamour Puds Glamour Puds Daily Cooks Challenge Fantasy Homes By The Sea The Home Show Cash In The Attic Design Star Superhomes Come Dine With Me Fantasy Homes By The Sea Bargain Hunt Sweet Baby James

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:40 04:05 04:35 05:00 05:25 05:50 06:15 06:45 07:10 Doo 07:35 08:00 08:20 08:45 09:10 09:35 10:00 10:20 10:45 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:20 Doo 12:45 13:10 13:40 14:05 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:30 17:55 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 Doo 22:50 23:15 23:40

00:00 BBC World News 00:30 Hardtalk 01:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 01:30 Asia Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Asia Today 03:00 BBC World News America 04:00 BBC World News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Asia Today 05:00 BBC World News 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Asia Today 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Asia Today 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 Hardtalk 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report 11:45 Sport Today 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 Hardtalk 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 World Business Report 14:45 Sport Today 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah

00:15 00:40 01:05 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:45 03:10 03:35 04:00 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 05:55

The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Popeye Tom And Jerry Top Cat Yogi’s Treasure Hunt Droopy: Master Detective King Arthur’s Disasters Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Hong Kong Phooey A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Looney Tunes Popeye Classics Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom And Jerry Kids Top Cat Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show The Addams Family Tom And Jerry The Garfield Show Looney Tunes The Jetsons King Arthur’s Disasters The Flintstones Scooby-Doo And ScrappyPopeye Wacky Races Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Scooby Doo Show Tom And Jerry Looney Tunes Duck Dodgers Top Cat Scooby Doo Where Are You! Dexter’s Laboratory Johnny Bravo The Scooby Doo Show Tom And Jerry Top Cat Dastardly And Muttley Wacky Races The Scooby Doo Show The Addams Family The Garfield Show Duck Dodgers Pink Panther And Pals Tom And Jerry The Jetsons Scooby-Doo And ScrappyThe Flintstones Looney Tunes Tom And Jerry Kids

Bakugan Battle Brawlers Chowder Cow And Chicken Cramp Twins George Of The Jungle Adrenalini Brothers Eliot Kid Ed, Edd N Eddy Ben 10: Alien Force The Powerpuff Girls Chowder The Secret Saturdays My Gym Partner’s A Monkey Ben 10: Alien Force Best Ed

06:20 Skunk Fu! 06:45 Cramp Twins 07:10 Eliot Kid 07:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 08:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 08:25 Cow And Chicken 08:50 Best Ed 09:15 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 09:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 10:05 The Secret Saturdays 10:30 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:55 The Powerpuff Girls 11:20 Robotboy 11:30 The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee 11:55 Ben 10 12:20 Chowder 12:45 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 13:10 Camp Lazlo 13:35 George Of The Jungle 14:00 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 14:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:50 Ben 10 15:15 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 15:40 Squirrel Boy 16:05 Eliot Kid 16:35 Casper’s Scare School 17:00 Cow And Chicken 17:25 Chop Socky Chooks 17:50 Skunk Fu! 18:15 Chowder 18:40 Best Ed 19:05 Hero 108 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 20:20 Ben 10: Alien Force 20:45 The Secret Saturdays 21:10 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 21:35 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 22:00 The Powerpuff Girls 22:25 Ed, Edd N Eddy 22:50 Robotboy 23:00 Camp Lazlo 23:25 Hero 108 23:50 Ben 10

01:00 Shining Through-PG15 03:15 The Reckoning-18 05:15 Meet Bill-PG15 07:00 Broken Lines-PG15 09:00 The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond-PG15 11:00 From Time To Time-PG15 13:00 The Secret Lives Of Second Wives-PG15 15:00 Under The Mountain-PG 16:30 Coraline-PG 18:15 The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button-PG15 21:00 Vanilla Sky-18 23:30 Welcome To Sarajevo-18

00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 World Report 04:00 World Business Today 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 Anderson Cooper 360 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Talk Asia 08:00 World Report 08:30 Backstory 09:00 World Report 11:00 World Sport 11:30 I Report For CNN 12:00 World Business Today 13:00 World One 14:00 World Sport 14:30 Mainsail 15:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 16:00 News Stream 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 The Brief 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 21:00 International Desk 21:30 Mainsail 22:00 Quest Means Business 23:00 Piers Morgan Tonight

00:40 01:35 02:30 03:00 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:10 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 21:55 22:50 23:45

Tenderness on Show Movies

Overhaulin’ Dirty Jobs Time Warp Time Warp X-Machines Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Dirty Jobs X-Machines American Chopper How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Miami Ink Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Deadliest Catch Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Deconstruction How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Destroyed In Seconds Destroyed In Seconds Kidnap And Rescue Surviving Disaster Behind Bars

00:40 Kings Of Construction 01:30 The Gadget Show 01:55 Nextworld 02:45 How Stuff Works 03:35 What’s That About?

04:25 Cool Stuff And How It Works 04:50 Thunder Races 05:45 Robocar 06:40 Patent Bending 07:10 Engineered 08:00 Scrappy Races 08:55 The World’s Strangest Ufo Stories

09:50 10:45 11:10 11:40 12:30 12:55 13:45 14:15 15:05 15:55 16:20 17:10 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 21:45 22:10 23:00 23:50

How Stuff Works Stunt Junkies The Gadget Show What’s That About?

How Stuff’s Made Catch It Keep It Patent Bending How Stuff Works Human Cloning Savage Planet Nextworld Kings Of Construction The Gadget Show Cool Stuff And How It Works Brainiac Weird Or What?

Science Of The Movies How It’s Made The Gadget Show 2012 Apocalypse Weird Or What?

Science Of The Movies

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 06:45 07:05 07:27 07:30 07:50 08:15 08:35 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:10 10:35 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:42 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:20 14:40 14:55 15:20 15:40 16:00 16:25 16:45 17:08 17:10 17:37 17:40 18:00 18:25 18:43 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:12 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:35

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Emperors New School Emperors New School Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Fairly Odd Parents Sonny With A Chance Have A Laugh Kim Possible Wizards Of Waverly Place Stitch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Imagination Movers Special Agent Oso Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse A Kind Of Magic Jonas La Fairly Odd Parents Have A Laugh Phineas And Ferb Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake And Blake Have A Laugh A Kind Of Magic Fairly Odd Parents Kim Possible Hannah Montana Forever Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Have A Laugh Jake And Blake Have A Laugh Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Have A Laugh Phineas And Ferb Jonas La Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Jake And Blake Hannah Montana Have A Laugh Phineas And Ferb Fairly Odd Parents Replacements Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas

00:00 KSA 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:00 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:30 13:00 13:25 13:30 14:00 14:25 14:30 15:00 Cody 15:25 Cody 15:50 16:15 16:40 16:45 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:10 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:25 22:50 22:55 Cody 23:20

Programmes Start At 7:00am Kid vs Kat Kick Buttowski Pokemon Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Kick Buttowski American Dragon Have A Laugh Zeke And Luther Zeke And Luther I’m In The Band The Super Hero Squad Show Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Escape From Scorpion Island Phineas And Ferb Have A Laugh Phineas And Ferb Kid vs Kat Have A Laugh Kid vs Kat The Suite Life Of Zack And The Suite Life Of Zack And Zeke And Luther Suite Life On Deck Have A Laugh Kick Buttowski I’m In The Band Suite Life On Deck Zeke And Luther Zeke And Luther Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Escape From Scorpion Island Pokemon American Dragon Aaron Stone Kid vs Kat Phineas And Ferb I’m In The Band Have A Laugh The Suite Life Of Zack And The Super Hero Squad Show

00:15 Kendra 00:40 Then And Now 01:05 Then And Now 01:30 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties

Save The Last Dance on Super Movies 05:30 Streets Of Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:45 Behind The Scenes 08:35 E! News 09:25 Fashion Police 10:15 THS 12:00 E! News 12:50 Fashion Police 13:15 Extreme Close-Up 13:40 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 14:05 Kendra 14:30 THS 15:25 THS 16:15 Behind The Scenes 17:10 Married To Rock 18:00 E! News 18:50 Extreme Close-Up 19:40 Fashion Police 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:20 Kendra 22:10 E! News 23:00 Chelsea Lately 23:25 Kendra 23:50 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami

00:00 Community 00:30 Just Shoot Me 01:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Family Guy 03:30 Hung 04:00 South Park 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Coach 06:00 Yes, Dear 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Just Shoot Me 08:30 Coach 09:00 Yes, Dear 09:30 The Drew Carey Show 10:00 According To Jim 10:30 Rita Rocks 11:00 Coach 11:30 Yes, Dear 12:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 13:00 Just Shoot Me 13:30 Coach 14:00 Yes, Dear 14:30 Community 15:00 Rita Rocks

00:00 Tenderness-18 02:00 The Shock Doctrine-PG15 04:00 Skellig-PG15 06:00 Secret Origin: The Story Of DC Comics-PG15 08:00 Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel-PG15 10:00 End Of The Spear-PG15 12:00 Amelia-PG15 14:00 It Might Get Loud-PG15 16:00 Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel-PG15 18:00 Alice In Wonderland-PG 20:00 Role Models-18 22:00 The Final Destination-18

01:00 Con Air-PG15 03:00 The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day-18 05:00 The Evil Dead-PG15 07:00 Captain Drake-PG 09:00 Along Came A Spider-PG15 11:00 Dragon: The Bruce Lee StoryPG15 13:00 Star Trek: Generations-PG 15:00 Along Came A Spider-PG15 17:00 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-PG15 19:00 The Cottage-18 21:00 The Fast And The FuriousPG15 23:00 Dog Pound-18

00:00 The Elder Son-PG15 02:00 Reality Bites-PG15 04:00 The Good Girl-PG15

06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Ed-FAM Leaving Normal-PG15 Mama’s Boy-PG15 Patch Adams-PG15 Evolution-PG15 The Elder Son-PG15 Mystic Pizza-PG15 In The Loop-18 Chasing Amy-18

00:00 Last Of The Mohicans-PG 02:00 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation-FAM 04:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 06:00 Dark Crystal-PG 08:00 Gladiators: The Conspiracy-PG 10:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 12:00 Yogi Bear And The Magical Flight Of The Spruce Goose-PG 14:00 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation-FAM 16:00 Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths-PG 18:00 Up-FAM 20:00 Robin Hood: The King’s Return-FAM 22:00 Yogi Bear And The Magical Flight Of The Spruce Goose-PG

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Justified Defying Gravity The Martha Stewart Show The Event The View Mercy Emmerdale Coronation Street The Event The Martha Stewart Show Mercy The Event The View Emmerdale Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show Justified Defying Gravity Mercy The View Emmerdale Turn Back Your Body Clock Bones In Plain Sight Big Love The View Mercy

00:00 European Tour Weekly 00:30 NRL All Star Match 02:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 03:00 Snooker The Welsh Open 06:00 Futbol Mundial 06:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 07:00 Scottish Premier League 09:00 IRB Sevens 12:00 Brazil League Highlights 12:30 Pool World Cup 13:30 ICC Cricket World 14:00 Trans World Sport 15:00 Aviva Premiership 17:00 Futbol Mundial 17:30 Total Rugby 18:00 Live Dubai Int’l Horse Racing Carnival 22:00 ICC Cricket World 22:30 PGA European Tour

01:00 IRB Sevens 04:00 Aviva Premiership 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Snooker 10:00 Futbol Mundial 10:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 11:30 European Tour Weekly 12:00 Live PGA European Tour 15:00 Trans World Sport 16:00 Live Snooker 19:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 European Tour Weekly

20:30 Trans World Sport 21:30 Total Rugby 22:00 Live Snooker

00:00 01:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:30 18:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

UFC 126 Prelims UFC 126 FIM World Cup UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line WWE SmackDown FIA GT1 World Championship FIM World Cup UAE National Race Day Series WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 126

01:00 Cat City-PG15 03:00 Enid-PG15 05:00 Mes Stars Et Moi-PG15 07:00 Au Pair 3: Adventure In Paradise-PG 09:00 Save The Last Dance-PG 11:00 Enid-PG15 13:00 When In Rome-PG15 15:00 All’s Faire In Love-PG 17:00 Save The Last Dance-PG 19:00 The Invention Of Lying-PG15 21:00 The Last Song-PG15 23:00 State Of Play-PG15

00:40 01:30 03:10 04:00 04:55 05:50 06:40 07:30 09:10 10:00 10:55 11:50 12:40 13:30 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:40 19:30 21:10 22:00 23:50

The Universe Death Masks Cutty Sark: Out Of The Ashes World War II: Lost Films Last Voices Of World War I Battle Stations The Universe Death Masks Cutty Sark: Out Of The Ashes World War II: Lost Films Last Voices Of World War I Battle Stations The Universe Death Masks Cutty Sark: Out Of The Ashes World War II: Lost Films Last Voices Of World War I Battle Stations The Universe Death Masks Cutty Sark: Out Of The Ashes The French Revolution Inside The World Of Henry Viii

00:17 01:00 01:45 02:00 02:45 03:17 05:00 06:00 07:17 08:00 08:45 09:17 13:00 13:45 14:00 15:00 15:17 16:00 16:45 17:17 18:00 18:45 20:00 20:45 21:00 21:15 22:17

Playlist Latina 10 Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Playlist Legend Playlist Playlist Latina 10 Playlist Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Trace Video Mix Playlist Playlist Rnb 10 Playlist Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Sound System 10 Playlist Guest Star Playlist Playlist

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Classifieds THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Years

Tips to help incoming freshmen successfully navigate high school

BY PATRICK S. PEMBERTON McClatchy Newspapers

ake a deep breath, freshmen. High school is here.

Now that you’ve finally made it, you have lots of fun things to look forward to. Picture yourself meeting new friends, eating lunch off campus, getting your driver’s license and hanging out at football games.

Sound cool? Well, don’t start making fun of eighth-graders just yet. High school also can be a pretty scary place.

Have you ever had a 17-year-old ogre with a full beard slam you up against a locker? What if that girl who gives you butterflies laughs in your face when you ask her to a movie? And you’d better hope you don’t get an embarrassing nickname — you could be branded a dweeb for the next four years.

Remembering high school all too well ourselves, we’re here to help you.

Figuring those “Worst Case Scenario” books pretty much sum up the experience, we asked counselors, principals and upperclassmen to help us compile steps needed to survive any likely scenario.

So take this article, cut it out and post it inside your locker for future reference. But don’t let anyone else see it.

That would be a major dweeb move.

SCENARIO NO. 1 A bully throws you up against a locker and threatens bodily injury.

1. Stand your ground. Most bullies can’t handle people who stand up for themselves and would rather pick on a weak student.

2. Assess the situation to see if anyone else might be able to help.

3. Tell the bully you don’t want to fight and walk away.

4. If the bully begins striking you, cover your head with your arms, yell “Stop it!” loud enough for teachers to hear and try to wrestle with the bully — keeping his arms from hitting you — until someone else arrives.

5. Talk to a teacher or administrator afterward and tell them what happened. Often an administrator will be able to tell the bully someone else saw the incident and reported it.

That way you won’t be labeled a snitch.

6. In the future, try to avoid the bully and hang out in crowds since bullies are less likely to strike with witnesses around.

SCENARIO NO. 2 You’ve just discovered there’s an evil rumor circulating about you.

1. Don’t talk about the rumor, but try to

squelch it as soon as possible.

2. When you hear the rumor, tell the person spreading it that it’s not true and change the conversation.

3. If you know someone is spreading the rumor, but don’t catch the person in the act, confront that person and tell them it’s not true and that you want them to stop spreading the rumor.

4. Remember that most rumors will pass.

But in some cases, one will stick, so head it off if you can.

5. Don’t spread rumors about others; it could come back to haunt you.

SCENARIO NO. 3 During a test, someone tries to cheat off your paper.

1. Move your arm or your paper so the person can’t see your answers.

2. Pretend you don’t even see the person cheating and don’t acknowledge the person during the test or afterward.

3. Don’t tell on the person or you’ll be labeled a snitch.

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y M C C L AT C H Y N E W S PA P E R S

SCENARIO NO. 4 You want to ask someone on a date, but fear the person will say no, and then everyone will find out you were rejected.

1. Get to know the person you’re interested in to get a feel for what the answer might be.

Hanging out with the person in a group of friends is the best way to do this.

2. Ask the person’s friends if the person likes you enough to go out on a date.

3. Ask the person. You’ll never get a date unless you ask.

4. If you get turned down, brush it off. At least you tried. Everyone gets rejected sometime.

SCENARIO NO. 5 You suspect your teacher doesn’t like you, and you worry this might affect your grade.

1. Most teachers are tough at the beginning of the year and mellow as the year progresses.

Wait it out until you feel strongly that the relationship is troublesome.

2. If you’ve done all the work you’re supposed to do and still feel the teacher doesn’t like you, talk to the teacher after class and state your concerns, saying you’re worried the relationship will impact your grade.

3. If this still doesn’t work, talk to a counselor. If need be, the counselor can change your schedule so you won’t have the teacher any more.

ACCOMMODATION Abraq Khaitan single room available for decent Indian bachelor beside main road in C-A/C, new building with DSL line from 15th Feb or 1st March.

Contact: 97523316 / 24745162.

(C 3039) 16-2-2011

SCENARIO NO. 6 You’re shy about your body, and you don’t want to shower in front of other people.

1. Showers are not required at all schools, so you can just use deodorant.

2. If you’re really sweaty, put a towel around yourself as you undress. Wear the towel until you reach the shower, take it off and quickly place it back on once you are done. Slip your clothes on underneath the towel.

3. Another option: Wear a swimsuit in the shower.

C-A/C finished big room available for executive bachelor with small Goan Hindu family at Amman Street, Salmiya. Please call: 99408202. (C 3119)

SCENARIO NO. 7 All your friends are going to a dance, and you don’t have a date.

1. Get a group of friends who also don’t have dates and go to the dance anyway. Many students attend dances solo.

2. While at the dance, see if there is someone you might be interested in asking to dance. Dances can be a good place to find a date.

3. Don’t dwell on finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. Just have fun, and meeting dates will occur naturally.

One room for rent for a single or two bachelors with a Goan family behind Arbid Buildings in Farwaniya.

Contact: 97245851.

(C 3120)

SCENARIO NO. 8 Someone you don’t like starts hanging around with you, but you don’t want to be mean.

1. Give the person subtle hints, but don’t outright tell them you don’t want to be friends. If you don’t invite the person to a place you’re visiting with friends, the person will probably get the hint.

2. Avoid them as much as possible, and don’t talk to them as much as you would your friends.

A spacious room with separate toilet to let from a flat in Bneid Al-Gar, ideal for a decent working couple or 2 ladies / bachelors. Call: 60914165. (C 3121)

15-2-2011

SCENARIO NO. 9 There’s only one seat left on the bus, and the other person sitting there says it’s saved.

1. Continue to stand beside the seat until the bus driver sees you.

2. Once the bus driver tells you that you have to sit down, blame the driver and tell the person you have to sit there.

Sharing accommodation is available for a decent working Indian lady in Salmiya.

Contact: 25635450 / 99838117.

(C 3113)

SCENARIO NO. 10 You don’t have a date for the prom, and you don’t want to spend money to go without one.

1. Don’t just stay home and mope — find a friend or family member who also will be home and hang out.

2. Do something fun that you wouldn’t normally do — see a concert or play, do an art project. Many students find the prom overrated anyway.

3. Remember afterward how much money you’ve saved by not going.

One C-A/C room with separate bathroom available for rent in Farwaniya for couples/visiting families or decent executive bachelor, to share with Keralite family in a two bedroom hall C-A/C flat. If

interested please contact mob: 97508939.

(C 3116) 14-2-2011 One room available for Pilipino couples only to share with Pilipino family in Hawally behind Popeyes restaurant, interested please call: 66440968 / 66266105. (C 3110) 13-2-2011 Accommodation available for decent Keralite bachelor in Abbassiya near German Medical Care. Rent KD 37.5. Call on 66941892. (C 3106)

F6264365 hereby change my name to Abdul Rahim Mohammed Bashir Shaikh.

(C 3122) 16-2-2011 I, Derick Flaman D’Souza, holder of Indian Passport No. F 9268120, hereby change my name to Derick Flaman Souza. (C 3115) I, Susan Kurian, D/O Malamon Thomas Kurian and Achamma Kurian hailing from Ranny in Pathanmthitta District, Kerala, India has embraced the religion of holy Islam and change my name to Subeena Habeeb. (C 3117) 14-2-2011

FOR SALE

MATRIMONIAL

Mitsubishi Nativa 2008, GLS white color, low mileage 63,000km, well maintained, excellent condition, ready to check, price KD 3,150. Interested person call only.

Contact: 66015265. (C 3118) 15-2-2011 Camry 2001, excellent condition, next passing January 2012. Price KD 2,000/-, genuine buyers please contact: 99827113. (C 3105) 12-2-2011

CHANGE OF NAME I, Abdul Rahim Mohammed Bashir, holder of Indian Passport No.

Matrimonial alliance are invited for our daughter working as a technician at the Ministr y of Health Kuwait, from Marthomite/CSI/Orthodox, God fearing parents. Email: bg7445@gmail.com (C 3123) 17-2-2011

Proposals invited for graduate Marthomite boy 31 years, 182cms, working in Kuwait. Looking for girls working in Kuwait. Email: kmtharakan@hotmail.com (C 3111) 13-2-2011 Seeking proposals for Pakistani Muslim family

daughter, 24 years, MSc. Chemistry, on job, tall, smart, well mannered.

Contact Email: proposal9321@gmail.com (C 3101) 12-2-2011

SITUATION WANTED An Indian MBA (Finance) having 5 years experience in Kuwait seeking suitable placement in Investment/ Auditing/ Corporate Finance. Fluent in English, Arabic & Hindi and proficient on MS-Office, Excel, Word and Power point.

Please Call: 66516791.

(C 3109) Licensed practitioner of general sawing, advance diploma in Industrial Engineering, having 20 years experiences as Industrial Engineering manager in foreign countries, seeking suitable placement in garment or related industry.

Contact: 66317879. Email: prabashpremasinghe@gmail.com (C 3112) 13-2-2011 A well qualified female (Indian) with several years of experience with multinational organizations in Kuwait, as Ex. Secretary/ Admin. Coordinator is looking for a full-time one shift job or part-time job.

Contact: 94470318 or Email: ambilivarma@rocketmail.com (C 3107) 12-2-2011

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161 In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Arrival Flights on Thursday 17/2/2011 Route

Airlines

Flt

KLM JZR JZR WAN CLX THY UAE QTR DHX GFA FDB ETD ETH JZR FCX BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR IRA ETD GFA JZR JZR MEA KNE KAC MSR JZR KAC FDB SYR JZR UAL RBG SVA KAC KNE JZR QTR

447 267 205 646 790 772 853 138 370 211 67 305 620 503 201 157 412 204 53 302 332 676 284 362 855 123 132 605 301 213 121 165 404 701 772 610 561 672 57 341 555 982 3557 500 552 745 357 134

AMSTERDAM / BAHRAIN BEIRUT DAMASCUS VIENNA / BEIRUT LUXEMBOURG ISTANBUL DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI ABU DHABI ADDIS ABABA / BAHRAIN LUXOR DOHA LONDON MANILA / BANGKOK LAHORE DUBAI MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI DHAKA COLOMBO DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA ISFAHAN ABU DHABI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT RIYADH RIYADH CAIRO SOHAG DUBAI DUBAI DAMASCUS ALEXANDRIA WASHINGTON DC DULLES ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH DAMASCUS JEDDAH MASHAD DOHA

Time 0:10 0:45 0:45 1:45 2:00 2:15 2:35 2:45 2:55 3:05 3:05 3:10 3:40 4:00 6:15 6:40 6:45 7:35 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:10 8:15 8:20 8:30 9:05 9:05 9:15 9:30 9:35 11:10 11:20 11:55 12:20 12:40 12:55 13:00 13:25 13:50 14:00 14:00 14:10 14:15 14:30 14:40 14:50 14:55 15:00

WAN KAC WAN MLR ETD UAE KAC GFA SVA RJA JZR KAC JZR ABY ALK JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC RBG KAC KAC IRA WAN SIA VOS FDB OMA JAI MSR DHX WAN GFA MEA JZR QTR KLM UAE KAC IAC JZR JZR UAL AXB DLH RJA PIA

110 546 304 403 303 857 118 215 510 800 777 562 239 127 227 177 502 542 618 786 614 674 3125 104 774 617 642 458 93 61 647 572 618 372 104 217 402 201 136 445 859 178 981 185 135 981 389 636 802 205

DUBAI ALEXANDRIA CAIRO COLOMBO / DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI NEW YORK BAHRAIN RIYADH AMMAN JEDDAH AMMAN AMMAN SHARJAH COLOMBO / DUBAI DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI SOHAG LONDON RIYADH AHWAZ VIENNA SINGAPORE / ABU DHABI KANDAHAR / DUBAI DUBAI MUSCAT MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT DAMASCUS DOHA AMSTERDAM DUBAI GENEVA / FRANKFURT CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD / HYDERABAD DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE FRANKFURT AMMAN LAHORE

15:15 15:30 16:20 16:40 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:30 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:10 18:15 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:45 19:50 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:35 21:00 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:40 21:45 22:05 22:45 22:55 23:00 23:30 23:35 23:50 23:55

Airlines AXB UAL IAC PIA KLM DLH THY CLX FDB UAE ETD ETH QTR DHX JZR JZR JZR GFA JZR FDB KAC JZR BAW KAC KAC WAN KAC UAE ABY QTR IRA ETD GFA WAN KAC KAC JZR JZR KAC MEA KAC KNE KAC JZR MSR FDB RBG

Depatrure Flights on Thursday 17/2/2011 Flt Route 394 COCHIN / KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 576 GOA / CHENNAI 216 KARACHI 447 AMSTERDAM 637 FRANKFURT 773 ISTANBUL 792 LUXEMBOURG 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 620 ADDIS ABABA 139 DOHA 371 BAHRAIN 560 SOHAG 554D ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 120 BAHRAIN 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 356 MASHAD 156 LONDON 671 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 303 CAIRO 771 RIYADH 856 DUBAI 124 SHARJAH 133 DOHA 606 MASHAD 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 109 DUBAI 1653 ROME / PARIS 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 238 AMMAN 561 AMMAN 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 704 MEDINAH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 58 DUBAI 3126 SOHAG

Time 0:40 0:45 0:50 1:10 1:25 1:30 3:15 3:30 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:25 4:55 5:45 5:55 6:30 6:55 7:15 8:20 8:25 8:50 8:50 8:55 9:00 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 11:00 11:45 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:25 12:55 13:00 13:10 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:35 14:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

SYR KAC UAL KAC KNE SVA JZR KAC KAC QTR MLR ETD VOS GFA UAE RJA JZR ABY SVA JZR ALK KAC JZR RBG KAC KAC IRA FDB KAC OMA JAI SIA MSR KAC DHX KAC GFA MEA JZR FCX QTR KLM KAC UAE KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC

342 673 982 617 746 505 200 613 773 135 404 304 82 216 858 801 184 128 511 266 228 285 134 3558 283 361 616 62 351 648 571 457 619 543 373 677 218 403 206 102 137 445 301 860 205 502 222 415 411

DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH DAMASCUS BAHRAIN RIYADH DOHA DUBAI / COLOMBO ABU DHABI BAGHDAD BAHRAIN DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI SHARJAH RIYADH BEIRUT DUBAI / COLOMBO CHITTAGONG BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DHAKA COLOMBO AHWAZ DUBAI COCHIN MUSCAT MUMBAI ABU DHABI / SINGAPORE ALEXANDRIA CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI / MUSCAT BAHRAIN BEIRUT DAMASCUS BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN / AMSTERDAM MUMBAI DUBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ALEPPO KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA BANGKOK / MANILA

15:00 15:10 15:25 15:35 15:40 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:40 17:40 18:00 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:15 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:20 20:45 20:50 20:55 21:10 21:15 21:25 21:35 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:55

34

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

s ta rs CROSSWORD 232

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You have not had a party in a very long time and may find yourself spending a great deal of time thinking about what to do for the next party and who would appreciate such a party. At work, your preoccupation may leave you out of some important conversation, so write down a few notes for later and then pay attention to the work at hand. The noon break may provide the opportunity to shop and gain some ideas about more of this party. You may decide to have a theme party—perhaps a masquerade party. If you can keep your patience intact, you will find things working out in your favor. You can be inspired to express your unique and unusual ideas—others appreciate your input. You have wonderful ideas and solutions when they are needed.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may feel more expressive with others now and your abilities to share in open discussions can be a great deal of fun.

Networking is the number one way to get your work noticed—as well as learning ways to update, improve, expand or advertise. Take advantage of the opportunities today to network on the computer or in the lunchroom. Do not try to change the workflow as you seem to be caught up in some rush of work. Your ingenuity and expertise can help to create positive results to most any project. You will handle problems in a swift and smooth manner. Your intuition and compassion will come into play this afternoon as you help a young person with some temporary problem. Careful; you can occasionally get preachy.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Strong woody fibers obtained especially from the phloem of from various plants.

5. Antibiotic-resistant mycoplasma causing a kind of pneumonia in humans.

9. Informal or slang terms for mentally irregular.

13. Tall New Zealand timber tree.

14. English essayist (1775-1834).

15. Beside one another in a row or rank.

16. Fleshy and usually brightly colored cover of some seeds that develops from the ovule stalk and partially or entirely envelopes the seed.

17. Unpleasantly cool and humid.

18. A Hindu prince or king in India.

19. Determine the essential quality of.

22. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

24. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

26. Jordan’s port.

31. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

33. A small cake leavened with yeast.

36. Valuable fiber plant of East Indies now widespread in cultivation.

39. A landlocked republic in eastern Africa.

40. A public promotion of some product or service.

41. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

46. The Mongol people living the the central and eastern parts of Outer Mongolia.

50. Lie adjacent to another.

52. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

53. A branch of the Tai languages.

54. Intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death).

56. A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold.

59. A master’s degree in business.

60. A pilgrimage to Mecca.

61. (of spatial position) In or brought into line with or into proper relative position.

63. Tag the base runner to get him out.

64. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

65. Covered with beads of liquid.

66. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. A small nail.

2. A river in northern England that flows southeast through West Yorkshire.

3. Perennial mountain rice native to Mediterranean region and introduced into North America.

4. Eurasian perennial bulbous herbs.

5. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

6. Make a plat of.

7. United States sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War in Washington (born in 1959).

8. Consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree.

9. Found along western Atlantic coast.

10. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

11. Japanese army officer who initiated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and who assumed dictatorial control of Japan during World War II. 12. A sharp blow.

20. One-thousandth of an equivalent.

21. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

23. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

25. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

27. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

28. A device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces.

29. An informal term for a father.

30. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

32. Half the width of an em.

34. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element.

35. A pale rose-colored variety of the ruby spinel.

37. An impure form of quartz consisting of banded chalcedony.

38. Duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio.

42. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.

43. A semiautomatic rifle.

44. A board with the alphabet on it.

45. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

47. A genus of Lamnidae.

48. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

49. Jordan’s port.

51. (informal) Exceptionally good.

55. Extremely pleasing.

56. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

57. A fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services.

58. A doctor’s degree in education.

62. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints).

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your competitive nature will kick in today—you will find you can really accomplish quite a lot. Perhaps you are a freelance writer and can jump from one story to another easily. You are coming into a period of greater than usual emphasis on emotional security and making your job in general count is an important matter for you now. You feel a love of order and law—an appreciation for responsibilities and duty. You value problems for the lessons they represent, not for how your solutions are perceived. Although you gain a great deal of satisfaction from your accomplishments in the work world, you tend to be puzzled over just where all the money you have earned has gone. Personal partnerships in business are beneficial and informative.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

If you are short of money just now, know that it is a temporary situation. If you have any legal matters to attend to, these should go in your favor. You may discover a new philosophy and begin to see life from a different perspective at this time. You are in a good mood and will gain quite a lot from the work you do. If you go with your intuition this afternoon, you will be pleased with the results of your choice. There are many opportunities to learn about how business works and this includes politics. With your positive attitude and your sense of humor, you are able to help a young person with some serious problems this evening. Don’t sweat the small stuff-it’s all small stuff! A card game or a trip to the library is time well spent with a loved one tonight.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Take a little time each day to find the ways in which you can improve your power and you will find some exciting experiences.

You are also thinking about future opportunities for growth and travel as well as financial gains. Take one thing at a time and create ways in which to secure or improve your job identity. Secure your mobility by taking care of your vehicle today. Do not wait to do maintenance on your vehicle until it stops. A wise choice would be to get an oil change and check the belts, breaks and tires as soon as possible. This precaution is to save time and money to head off future delays and costs. A social affair this evening gives you an opportunity to network. You instinctively know who to impress and can charm anyone.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Professionally speaking, you may want to retrain yourself today.

Others need to catch up and could use your help in understanding some new method of working or using equipment. Today seems to be all about paying attention to the trends of change around you and your expectations. Be smart with finances while shopping this afternoon. Whatever you may be wanting to purchase may have to wait a day or so. Universal conditions will change and so will your vision of what is unique or appropriate for your personal enjoyment. You might enjoy a drive in the country this evening or a good book on tape. Books on tape and music played on your preference of player are enjoyable ways to pass time while exercising or driving a car or tending to chores.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You may have to sort through several stories today to get to the truth of a matter. We all have our own way of viewing situations and co-workers have opinions that need attention. If you are management—listen. If you are a co-worker, write a synopsis on different views and possible results with which both management and employees could be comfortable. The peacemaker in you is in demand today. The law, religion or getting some work published are interests that occupy your mind off and on at this time. Perhaps it is time to assess your goals and what you would like to accomplish. Could it be that by writing a page a day you will have a book by the end of the year? You can do it! Consider updating or revising your bank accounts soon.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You have a natural sense for communicating with others, especially those younger than you. You may find yourself taking a young newcomer into the business under your guiding wing today. Clear thoughts about the past may also be flowing in as you compare the ways in which your particular work was performed in the past. You seem to enjoy the work set out in front of you now. Tending to mechanical things can fare well and you will feel better when sounds, smells or service is fine-tuned or corrected. This is a good day to get things accomplished. Marital relations, public relations and legal interests are due to improve. Keep your positive attitude active by giving a smile away from time to time. See the glass as half full, instead of half empty.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

This is one of those days that find you wishing you could just stay home. An attitude of gratitude will see you through the day with little repercussions. Everyone seems to be either in a state of change or focused on the business at hand. Make a concentrated effort to bring balance into your day.

This means work, fun, nutritious meals; you know—all the things your mother taught you. After work, you could involve yourself with a bit of exercise, perhaps with a friend.

This activity will help relieve an edgy feeling that may have presented because of stress. If you become aware of some underlying negative from a member of your family, turn your attention to this person and lend an encouraging smile. Remember, frowns and smiles don’t work at the same time.

Originality and invention imply an ability to break the barriers and you are not afraid to reach for the brass ring. There are significant opportunities to take advantage of or to become aware of today; you must be attentive. You may find the high energy from others is easily transferred to you and you enjoy the positive input you receive from all around you. Doing just about anything with friends or family this afternoon will bring you lots of joy. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. You may have insights into the inner-workings of a loved one today. Your emotional role is partnership oriented—if you work or live alone, you will not live or work alone for long!

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may be very expressive in speaking or communicating.

People will understand just what you mean. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others; the lines of communication are open.

Successful results can occur as you work with others. You may be asked to carry through on a particular job. If you are looking for support you will not have to look far—the support you need is there. You may find yourself looking for a little emotional release this afternoon and a little exercise should be considered. You can appreciate the results of good exercise and you may talk a friend into a bicycle ride later this afternoon. Tonight there is time to read a romantic book or take in a movie. Romance is promising this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You may find yourself at odds with those around you or with your life situation regarding issues of great sensitivity—very personal. Difficulties, blocks and all manner of hot spots may be discovered today. You will be able to breeze through and find a solution to these problems quickly although they may slow your progress. Your natural charm and your artistic abilities may provide you with just what you need to enjoy financial success. This is an excellent time to start new projects or work on new ideas with your co-workers. An instinctive urge to get serious about taking care of you at many levels is emphasized. Diet, exercise and work somehow mean more at this time: you want to feel good about yourself and the way you do things.

A

y

e niv rsar n

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Years

i n f o r m at i o n FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’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

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

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

24874330/9

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

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

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

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 Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

22433377 24379900 177 22924455 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 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-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120

Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist 25340300

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581 22641071/2

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Salem soso

22618787

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists

Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291 22666288

Rheumatologists:

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

Dentists

Internists, Chest & Heart

25339330

25655535

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

General Surgeons

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

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 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

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Tinie Tempah, Planrule B at Brit music awa

BRIT Awards 2011 winners: British Male Solo Arist - Plan B British Breakthough Act - Tinie Tempah International Album - Arcade Fire, ‘The Suburbs’ Critic’s Choice - Jessie J International Male Solo Artist - Cee Lo Green British Single - Tinie Tempah, ‘Pass Out’ International Group - Arcade Fire International Breakthrough Act - Justin Bieber British Female Solo Arist - Laura Marling International Female - Rihanna British Group - Take That Mastercard British Album Of The Year - Mumford And Sons, ‘Sigh No More’ —Bang Showbiz

Plan B performs on stage for the Brit Awards 2011 at The O2 Arena in London. —AP photos apper London lads Plan B and Tinie Tempah were popular local winners at the Brit music awards, while Arcade Fire followed their surprise Grammys victory with two prizes at the British ceremony. Tempah, a 22-year-old product of London’s dubstep scene who released his first album, “Disc-Overy,” last year, won trophies on Tuesday for British breakthrough act and British single, for “Pass Out.” Dressed in a snazzy white dinner jacket and black-rimmed spectacles, Tempah dedicated his best single award to “UK music, peace and love.” Plan B — a hip-hop artist who changed direction and hit the charts with the Motown-influenced concept album “The Defamation of Strickland Banks” — was named British male solo artist of the year.

Retro hipsters Mumford and Sons took the trophy for British album of the year, for their banjo and mandolin-laced debut, “Sigh No More.” Band member Marcus Mumford said the band was “very honored, very humbled” by the prize. “This is very bizarre, very strange,” he said. Although they reached the top 10 of the US album chart and performed at Sunday’s Grammy Awards alongside Bob Dylan, the Brits show was Mumford and Sons’ first prime-time TV appearance in Britain.

Grown-up boy band Take That — reunited and still huge in Britain 15 years after their original prime — took the prize for best British group, while folky singer-songwriter Laura Marlin was named best British female solo artist of the year. Montreal indie band Arcade Fire continued its recent run of awards success with prizes for international group and international album of the year, for “The Suburbs.” Singer Win Butler alluded to the cries of “Who?” from some quarters that greeted the band’s album of the year victory at the Grammys on Sunday, by advising people unfamiliar with the group to “check it out on Google.” International solo artist awards went to Cee Lo Green and Rihanna, while teen heartthrob Justin Bieber was named international breakthrough act.

Long criticized as dull and predictable, the Brits had a revamp this year, with a new Union Jack-striped award statuette designed by Vivienne Westwood and a tighter show with more live performances. Adele, Mumford and Sons, Arcade Fire, Rihanna and Green — fresh from a psychedelic Grammys appearance with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Muppets —were among the acts performing at London’s O2 Arena.

Green struck a more elegant note Tuesday, performing his hit “Forget You” dressed in a white suit with red boutonniere. It was a lively but well-behaved ceremony, although the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll lived on in attendees such as The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, who presented the best album award.

“Good to see that the British music industry still has enough money for a good booze-up,” he said. Ovation of the night went to Take That, who performed their song “Kidz” amid a phalanx of dancers dressed as riot police, in an apparent nod to Britain’s student protesters. Most of the awards are chosen by 1,000 music critics and record industry figures, with several decided by public vote. —AP

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Plan B holds his award for British Male Solo Artist.

Tinie Tempah reacts after receiving the award for British Single.

Critics’ Choice award winner Jessie J speaks on stage.

Win Butler of Arcade Fire holds the award for International Album.

That perform on stage for the Brit Awards 2011.

Rihanna performs on stage for the Brit Awards 2011.

Rihanna reacts after winning the award for International Female Solo Artist.

Justin Bieber reacts after receiving the award for International Breakthrough Act.

Cee Lo Green receives the award for International Male.

Cheryl Cole arrives for the Brit Awards 2011.

Mumford and Sons perform on stage for the Brit Awards 2011.

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Years

lifestyle Music and Movies

Clooney film looking for extras in Ann Arbor

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roducers of a George Clooney film being shot in Ohio and Michigan are looking for extras in Ann Arbor. WXYZ-TV reports “The Ides of March” will be shooting on the University of Michigan campus the week of March 14 and requires 1,000 extras.

Clooney stars in the movie as a Democratic governor running in the presidential primaries. “The Ides of March” also features Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman.—freep.com

Actor George Clooney, third from left, works on the set of “The Ides of March” during filming on location in Cincinnati Tuesday.

—AP

Bleak Hungary film is dark horse at Berlin festival

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t is the dark horse of this year’s Berlin film festival-”The Turin Horse”, Hungarian director Bela Tarr’s relentlessly bleak, black-and-white study of an old peasant and his daughter, has some critics crowing. If it is the filmmaker’s last picture, as he has declared, Tarr could hardly go out on a darker note. The Turin Horse, nearly 2-1/2 hours long, features Tarr’s trademark long takes, barely any dialogue and even less in the way of plot.

“A Torinoi Lo” seeks to reproduce the monotonous rhythms of life for two central characters who appear to the viewer to be forsaken by god and man, so lonely and joyless is their existence over the six days covered by the film. In a shadowy, bare stone farmhouse on a windswept plain far from civilization, little happens beyond the daily ritual of living-drawing water from the well, eating potatoes, sleeping, dressing, staring from the window.

When the old horse refuses to move one morning, their sole source of income has gone, further adding to the forbid-

ding sense of doom. A score of repetitive string music, alternating with the endless howl of the wind, complete the picture. Some reviews of the movie have been glowing, and an informal poll of critics published in the Screen International magazine in Berlin shows The Turin Horse a close second to Iranian drama “Nader and Simin: A Separation” in the race for best film.

The poll is an imperfect measure of which competition movie goes on to win the coveted Golden Bear at the end of the festival, and several critics were underwhelmed by Tarr’s sombre swansong, but others raved.

“It is a shame to think of this heroically uncompromising director shutting up shop, but if he does, The Turin Horse is a magnificent farewell,” wrote Jonathan Romney in Screen. The official synopsis of the plot reads: “In Turin in 1889, Nietzsche flings his arms around an exhausted carriage horse, then loses consciousness and his mind.

Somewhere in the countryside: a farmer,

‘Hannah Montana’ destroyed family, Miley’s dad says

Hungarian d irec Bela Tarr atte tor nd photo-call ab s a out the movie The Tu rin Horse at the Internationa l Fi Festival Berlin lm ale.

—AP

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his daughter, a cart and the old horse. Outside, a windstorm rises.” The German philosopher suffered a mental collapse in 1889, 11 years before his death. While the causes of the illness are not known, one story goes that he saw a man whipping a horse in Turin and ran to protect the animal before collapsing.

Tarr’s film has little to do with Nietzsche and his breakdown except to use it as a way into the lives of the horse’s owner Ohlsdorfer, a farmer, and his daughter. Production notes published to accom-

pany the film’s premiere in Berlin said it was consistent with Tarr’s “remodernist cinema that seeks to capture the rhythm of life in real time and to raise a sharp awareness of the moment.” Tarr summed up his message thus: “Their practiced movements and the changes in seasons and times of day dictate the rhythm and routine which is cruelly inflicted on them.

The film portrays mortality, with that deep pain which we, who are under sentence of death, all feel.”—Reuters

PUMA.Creative Impac t Award, Launched at Sundance Film Fes tival 2011 UM A.C rea tiv e an d Ch an

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Singer Lady Gaga celebrates after receiving the GRAMMY for “Best Pop Vocal Album” during the GRAMMY Awards Show.—AFP

Lady Gaga heading for hit, with Madonna’s blessing

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ady Gaga’s new Madonna-influenced single “Born This Way” is expected to storm the U.S. charts this week after record-setting radio play and more than 450,000 downloads, music industry sources say. And the dance single also has the blessing of Madonna, Lady Gaga said. “Born This Way”which fans and music critics have likened to the 1989 Madonna hit “Express Yourself”-had sold more than 450,000 downloads in the first three days since its release on Friday, Billboard said quoting industry sources. It also had a recordsetting 4,602 radio plays in the United States, according to Nielsen. That should see the single debut at No 1 at the Billboard Hot 100 charts that was released yesterday, Billboard said. Lady Gaga addressed Madonna’s influence in an appearance on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Monday. “There is really no one that is a more adoring and loving Madonna fan than me. I am the hugest fan personally and professionally,” the 24-year-old singer told Leno. “Well, the good news is that I got an e-mail from her people, and her sending me their love and complete support on behalf of the single, and if the queen says it shall be, then it shall be,” she said. Lady Gaga, who won three Grammys on Sunday after a headline-grabbing entrance encased in a giant egg, will make her concert debut on cable channel HBO in May. HBO said on Tuesday that it would tape the singer’s Feb 21 and 22 concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York for a May 7 broadcast. —Reuters

ne l 4 BR ITD OC encou Fo un da tio n an no un ce rages best practice in d the lau nc h of the nity, the aim of the PUMA the filmmaking commuPU MA .Crea tive Im pa ct .Creative Impact Award is Aw ard, a ma jor ne w annual award to honour to draw attention to the fin the documentary film cre est creative, social jus at- peace and environ ing the most significan mental filmmaking in the tice, t impact in the world, this sai d Jes s Se arc world” 50,000 Euro award ack no h, CE O, Ch an ne l 4 wledges the film’s maker BR ITD OC s Foundation.” and will help the contin uation of the film’s campai gn wo rk. Th e PU MA .Cr ea Recent high profile releas tiv e Im pa ct Aw ard wi ll es such The Cove, Food be Inc, Burma VJ, No Im selected by a jury which pact Man and The Age of includes Her Majesty Qu een will all be eligible Stupid Noor of Jordan; Morga to compete for the prize n Spurlock , Academy Aw money as ard well as less well-k no mi na ted Dir ec tor of nown films that have ha Su d a large Ba gw ell , Dir ec tor of the pe r Siz e Me ; Or lan do local effect. “As individ uals and as organization Fo rd Fo un da tio n So cia s, we Justice Media Initiative; l are faced with some and Emmanuel Jal, music ser ian ongoing conflict, clim ious challenges today such as and activist. ate change, loss of biodiv ersity.

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he father of teen star Miley Cyrus said the Disney TV show “Hannah Montana” that made her a worldwide star, in truth destroyed his family, and he blamed it for sending his daughter out of control. Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus said he was scared for 18 year-old Miley after a series of scandals including an infamous video last year which showed her getting high on the psychedelic herb salvia.

And he said he wished that “Hannah Montana” had never happened. “The damn show destroyed my family,” Cyrus told GQ magazine in an interview for its March edition. “I’d take it back in a second. For my family to be here and just everybody be okay, safe and sound and happy and normal would have been fantastic. Heck, yeah. I’d erase it all in a second if I could.”

Cyrus, 49, played father to his daughter on “Hannah Montana”-a wholesome Disney Channel show about a normal teenager by day but a singing star at night-that launched Miley Cyrus as a teen idol and top-selling recording artist. “Hannah Montana” launched in 2006 and ended after four seasons in January 2011. Last October, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer filed for divorce from his wife Tish after a 17-year marriage. Cyrus compared his daughter’s current situation to celebrities like Kurt Cobain, Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson, who all died in tragic circumstances.

“I’m scared for her,” Cyrus said of Miley. “She’s got a lot of people around her that’s putting her in a great deal of danger. I know she’s 18 but I still feel like, as her daddy, I’d like to try to help. Take care of her just a little bit, to at least get her out of danger.

“I want to get her sheltered from the storm. Stop the insanity for a minute. When you go through what she’s been through, it takes a beating on you,” he said. Cyrus carried out the GQ interview in December, shortly after home video of Miley Cyrus hit the Internet smoking the hallucinogenic herb salvia at a private party with friends just days after her 18th birthday.

The herb is not illegal in California, but the images of Miley Cyrus giggling about tripping capped a year in which she has thrown aside her once squeaky-clean image with raunchy pop videos and scantily-clad live performances. Miley Cyrus last week expressed regret over the salvia incident, saying she had made a mistake and had disappointed her mostly young fans. She is due to host TV sketch show “Saturday Night Live” for the first time next month.

Billy Ray Cyrus, best known for his 1990s country music albums, said he wished he had been a better parent to Miley and disciplined her more, rather than wanting to be her friend. “I should have said, ‘Enough is enough-it’s getting dangerous and somebody’s going to get hurt’. I should have but I didn’t. Honestly I didn’t know the ball was out of bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere,” he said.—Reuters

Penn presses case for helping Haiti rebuild

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scar winner Sean Penn has returned to publicly pressing the case for the world’s help in rebuilding Haiti from its devastating 2010 earthquake. In recent days, the “Fair Game” actor has buried the hatchet with the Haitian-born rap star Wyclef Jean and traveled to Vienna, where he encouraged Austrian government and business officials to continue to aid Haiti.

Penn had previously criticized Jean, the US based hip-hop artist who tried unsuccessfully to mount a campaign for president of Haiti after the earthquake. Penn said he was “suspicious” of Jean’s run, and Jean had been a “non-presence” to those like Penn who were on the ground working in Haiti. Jean reacted by accusing Penn of being on drugs. But this past weekend in New York, Penn stood between Jean and Michel Martelly, another Haitian entertainer running for president of Haiti, and the actor put aside past differences. “I am not here as a political advocate, but what I can tell you without any hesitation is that, as much as anybody, these two men beside me will lead the way if you support them,” Penn said, in remarks caught on video. The actor, who won his second Oscar in 2009 for playing the slain gay politician Harvey Milk, also said that the United States has an “opportunity” in Haiti to help people there “triumph

Sean Penn attends a news conference about the Haiti fund raising gala in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday.—AP

against poverty.”

Jean’s run for president was derailed in August 2010, when Haiti’s provisional electoral council ruled he was not eligible because he failed residency requirements. Penn’s aid group the J/P Haitian Relief Organization runs a camp for thousands of Haitians displaced by the earthquake, and also provides a medical mission and removes rubble. On Tuesday, Penn was in Vienna where he met with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and other officials, according to Austrian media reports.

He also told reporters that he had projects in Haiti he wanted to put forth, and would welcome any support Austrian officials could give those projects. —Reuters

In this April 23, 2009 file photo, singer and actress Miley Cyrus and her father musician Billy Ray Cyrus.—AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

lifestyle F a s h i o n

Layering’s not just how we dress but how we feel L

ayering is mostly just how we dress, a way to extend what’s in our closets and, bonus, stay warm and dry.

Next fall, it may be more about how we feel. Sequins on sheers have surfaced OVER wool and New York Fashion Week runways are filled with mashups of soft bulk, rich color, vibrant prints and a variety of textures done in fresh ways. Eclectic layers were on Rachel Roy’s mind, on her catwalk and off. “When it’s freezing outside, I ask, ‘What can I put on?’ ... I want the knit coats with prints on them that I can layer with cardigans, print dresses with tights, socks and bootie heels,”‘ she told The Associated Press. The goal?

“I’m trying to show a woman for fall-winter to work with different pieces that I’m suggesting or what’s already in her closet,” Roy said.

On Tuesday, the sixth day of previews, Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy sent coats down the runway with strategic cutouts that allow for more than a passing glimpse of what’s underneath. The most delicate layers were at Sophie Theallet, a thin cardigan worn over a sheer on top of a metallic corset cocktail dress. Layering is practical. It’s versatile. Building it in rather than piling it on can draw attention to every piece. Previews run through Thursday night before moving on to London, Paris and Milan, Italy.

BADGLEY MISCHKA The Badgley muse is the type who replaces her trench with an anthracite shearling coat or a cropped ebony-colored shearling and wool bomber. But against a beamed backdrop of a fog-filled cityscape at the Lincoln Center tents, models wore gowns with beaded shoulders and in crushed velvet for straight-up glam. There were gala gowns, including a magenta one-shoulder, all-over beaded one. Oscar gowns, a strapless black taffeta and tulle version with a black bow, and another in amethyst would give the flashbulbs a workout. There were gowns to command an entrance-the champagne-colored, one-shouldered chiffon with a three-tier asymmetrical hemline. Rumer Willis, the new star of Badgley’s ad campaign, and Kelly Osborne sat in the front row.

TRACY REESE Fashion insiders talk a lot about seasonless dressing. It’s how people really wear their clothes and it’s how they

shop, too. Tracy Reese decided to use her “fall” collection to address the modern lifestyle, saying she wanted “glimpses of summer to shine through fall.” She bridged the gap on the runway at New York Fashion Week on Monday with rich toffee and charcoal shades on capes and cocktail dresses, while tossing in the occasional raspberry jumbo-floral Tshirt dress. In her notes, Reese said she was looking to update romantic silhouettes “creating visions of amber sunsets and autumn botanical gardens.” Reese hit on one of the big trends to emerge from these previews: She used a mixture of tonal textures to create interest instead of relying on anything too gimmicky. Sequins and sweaters?

No problem. And a leather skirt seems to be one of the must-have items.

CHARLOTTE RONSON Ronson’s hunter joined the Army. Her show was filled with green and brown in wool and tweed, dark as a forest with some black foil print to glitter things up. Ronson’s hemlines were all or nothing: short or to the floor in wideleg pants and mini skirts, shorts and dresses. She added a red floral print for a lift, and a black pullover and doublebreasted vest in waffle knit for depth. Ronson went with layers on layers and turned the clock back with some slashed green leggings. She also brought back the ‘90s with a black corduroy blazer paired with a gold tank and black corduroy biker pants.

VERA WANG She sent out from behind an oversized wrought-iron gate the modern version of the free-spirited American heiress who enchanted the Brits back in the 1930s. She still wears a long, loose shape _ and likes her luxuries-but her wardrobe trunk would now be filled with chiffon racerback tanks, box-pleat skirts and tiered V-neck dresses. This woman doesn’t need T-shirts and jeans, she needs a closet full of proper tea attire, cocktail dresses and full-length, black-tie gowns. She covers it all with very contemporary outerwear, possibly a quilted satin coat with a fox harness and leather frame, or a leather jacket with a fox collar and mesh panel on the back. Pleating, done with precision but also a softness, was a major theme of the fall collection.

The best looks were the chemise dresses with dropped waists and accordion pleats, or the mustard-colored, high-

Models show creations by Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011

The Tracy Reese fall 2011 collection is modeled Monday.

Images from The Badgley Mischka fall 2011 collection.

Models walk in the finale of the fall 2011 collection of designer Vera Wang.

—AP photos

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

lifestyle F a s h i o n

neck cocktail number with sheer, slashed sleeves.

Wang said in her notes that she was aiming for “grace, romance and effortless style.”

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Get ready to spend autumn on safari. The Marc by Marc Jacobs collection, a more affordable line by one of fashion’s most influential designers, relied heavily on animal prints and super-shiny velvet. Jacobs set impalas against backdrops of red and gold in skirts and pants. He used a red leopard print for a sweater and brown spots on a dress. Skirt and shorts suits in blue were patterned in a design he dubbed “panthera.” A silk dress in dragon green was high at the neck with a tie and buttons down to a belted waist during the fall debut Tuesday at New York Fashion Week.

CHADO RALPH RUCCI By the time the bright red satin pagoda jacket and gown came down the runway, an explosion of color and drama to end the show, Rucci’s fans couldn’t contain themselves. They jumped up into a sustained standing ovation. All of his hallmarks were in evidence: Glamour, intricate handiwork, and a whole lotta luxury. Just the brief descriptions of Rucci’s items tell the story: A ski parka in red sable. A puffer coat with a chinchilla vest. A silver feathered fox cardigan-full-length, no less. A paisley and Mongolian lamb kimono. But it’s the small details that had fans bursting into applause: The intricate cutouts in a black jacket. The confetti effect on the otherwise sheer top of a dress. “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg sat next to Vogue’s editor-at-large, Andre Leon Talley.

PAMELLA ROLAND She cocooned her models in beaver, fox and mink on collars and cuffs of coats with draping that enveloped from behind. Roland’s inspiration was traditional East blended with the cityscapes of the West in day and evening looks created in jewel green, red and purple. She took a turn toward menswear in a black stretch wool gabardine tuxedo jacket with a satin tie lapel that was loosely tied and flowed down the front. It was paired with a satin halter jumpsuit in the same fabric.

RUFFIAN Brian Wolk and Claude Morais looked to the history of menswear to please Ruffian’s ideal woman in her search for “unkempt elegance.” The “Tuxedo Park” fall collection that included a short black patent leather skirt paired with a white silk blouse and black bow tie with tailed jacket. The designers used silk, satin, velvet and lace to showcase the special occasion wear that included blouses, skirts, vests and pants Friday at the Mercedes-Benz Lincoln Center tents. Loose-fitting Liverpool trousers were paired with a Priscilla blouse in ivory lace under a short jacket in merlot silk. — AP

Models show creations by Ruffian.

Models show creations

by Pamella Roland.

Low down on high heels for fall/winter fashion A

fter teetering on vertiginous stilettos women may get some relief as designers lowered their heights for their 2011 Fall-Winter collections.

Spiky heels and stilettos haven’t disappeared from the catwalk but designers showing their newest lines at New York Fashion Week featured plenty of lower, stacked, chunky heels, wedges, booties and colored socks. “They’re quirkier. I think they’re more wearable and cooler right now,” said Dana Schwartz, the director of communications for Jill Stuart about the shoes and the look. “It goes with the current trend of longer hemlines, blouses and more done-up, sophisticated silhouettes. The shoes counter that to bring it back.”

New York designer Stuart paired bold, abstract animal prints, strong colors in rusts, red, oranges, black and aubergine and below-the-knee skirts in a collection inspired by the forest and a dark wintery fairy tale with wedges, booties and socks crumpled around or above the ankles. The chunky shoes off set the feminine looks and gave the collection a quirky touch. “It adds playfulness to the overall look,” Schwartz added. Dark colored socks were an added touch and

accompanied nearly every outfit including tapered trousers, elongated skirts, as well as softer shifts and feminine dresses. Adam Lippes, the founder and creative director of ADAM, also featured socks in his fall collection but instead of sturdier shoes, he matched them with Manolo Blahnik high heels for a funky, yet feminine look.

White, brown and black socks worn with strappy ankle-tie stilettos added the finishing touch to a button-topped pleated skirt, silk printed dresses, a strapless black lace gown and a gold embroidered dress in the collection inspired by a visit to the National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan. “It (the sock) really draws a lot of attention to the shoes,” said Erin Conroy, a spokesperson for Italian shoemaker Via Spiga.

Wedged booties, stacked heels and combat boots also completed New Yorkbased English fashion designer Charlotte Ronson’s somber grunge, outdoorsy look that featured chunky sweaters, military jackets, wide-leg trousers and maxi and miniskirts. “Part of it is the comfort factor,” Conroy said. “For women who are

seeking comfort, the wedge is a great solution because you don’t have to give up the height to be comfortable.”

For Emmanuelle Alt, the new editor-in-chief of French Vogue whose appointment was announced last month and who will be presiding over the Paris shows, shoes are the most important element of an outfit. “You can wear just about anything as long as you have beautiful shoes, but you can’t do the opposite,” she told Elle Decoration in 1977. Fans of super-high platforms weren’t disappointed by designer Christian Siriano, of Project Runway fame. He opted for drama with shoes not for the faint hearted. His towering clunky designs included snake-skin, studs and buckles. But Siriano’s shoes were a bit too challenging for one model who tumbled on the runway during his New York show.—Reuters

Lifestyle

Tempah, Plan B rule at Brit music awards

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

36 Pit bulls: Man’s best friend or worst enemy?

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A Chinese girl poses amid lanterns being readied for the 15th day of the Lunar Festival celebrations in Beijing on February 15, 2011. Chinese all over the world observe the Lantern Festival, or ‘Yuanxiao Festival’, which takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the first night of the new year when there is a full moon. — AFP

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Scottish deerhound Hickory poses for photographers with his handler Angela Lloyd, right, and judge Paolo Dondina after Hickory won best in show during the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday.—AP

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he Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition is not just about sexiness to fashion designers lucky enough to make it in the popular men’s magazine’s pages. They look forward to a moneymaking bonanza for years to come. “Everybody opens up that issue and goes, ‘Wow, where can I get this suit?’

We have a great response when it hits the newsstands,” said Simon Southwood, a repeat who expects seven of his suits to grace the famous pages this year. Southwood, in San Diego, California, already presold to stores in anticipation of the big reveal on David Letterman’s television show Monday night, followed by newsstand sales that started Tuesday. The location of the famous shoots and who makes the cover were top secret until then.

“Consumers love to follow what’s hot, what’s glamorous, what’s beautiful,” Southwood said. “The first question that the sales rep will ask is, ‘What did you get into Sports Illustrated this year?”‘ Southwood and his Sauvage Swimwear in San Diego are known for cutout designs that average $200 each.

He has made it into the blockbuster edition for more than a

Model Brooklyn Decker attends the 2011 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue unveiling party. — AP photos

stately looking Scottish Deerhound beat the breed favored by President Barack Obama and a crowd pleasing Cocker Spaniel to snap up top dog honors at New York’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Hickory, with her breed’s characteristic lanky legs, loping trot, goatee beard and wolfish grey coat, was the surprise Best in Show winner at the end of the two-day canine beauty contest in Manhattan.

She beat six other finalists that included a Portuguese Water Dog-the breed picked by Obama as his White House pet-a fluffy Pekingese and a black Cocker Spaniel popular with the public at the Madison Square Garden arena. “It’s just the thrill of a lifetime,” handler Angela Lloyd said after her dog’s win. She said dog show aficionados “dream of this day their whole entire lives and here we are.”

A total of 2,626 four-legged beauties, representing 179 breeds, chased the elusive Best in Show title. This was the first time a Scottish Deerhound has won the annual competition, which started in 1877. A cute Fox Terrier with its long face colored black on one side and white on the other seemed to be among the finalists with a better chance of taking the crown won last year by Sadie, a long-haired black Scottish Terrier. The Westminster show has historically leant toward terriers.

Small dogs, including the Pekingese, which looked like a shaggy fur boot, are often backed by the crowd. Hickory was set to retire from shows and turn to breeding after her Manhattan triumph. But not before the traditional visits by the Best in Show winner to morning television shows and the top of the Empire State Building.

decade, but luck was responsible for his getting into the magazine first time around.

“It’s kind of a crapshoot in a way,” Southwood said. “It’s just whatever catches their eye and what looks good on that model.” Model Anne V, who has been in the past seven editions, considers herself a master of the distinct look she describes as part sexy, part smiley. “It’s very easy for us to do sexy. That’s our job; to create a character that people want. Sports Illustrated, they don’t want just sexy. They want that girl next door look,” she said.

Designer Lisa Curran in New York has been in business for 12 years and in the issue every year except one. In the beginning, it really helped her business, providing her credibility as a designer. “I think over time it translates into sales,” Curran said.

“I also think it depends on the shot.” Curran’s secret: She cuts bathing suits smaller just for Sports Illustrated. “Less is more for the issue. It doesn’t always translate into that for real life,” she said.

Her suits retail for $160 to $190. She tests them on real

Cover Model Irina Shayk.

Model Izabel Goulart

women, trying to design with fit in mind. “You will be surprised how many random people will e-mail me and say they saw your swimsuit in Sports Illustrated.” Sisters Michele Letarte Ross and Lisa Letarte Cabrinha run their bicoastal company Letarte with Michele in Fairfield, Connecticut, and Lisa in Maui, Hawaii.

In 2005, one of their suits they have named the candy red bikini was worn by Carolyn Murphy and selected for the cover.

That, the sisters said, is the Oscar of their industry.

“The cache being in Sports Illustrated is difficult to measure. It not only produces business, it elevated the brand to become a recognizable name in a very, very saturated industry,” Letarte Ross said. This will be their 11th year in the magazine. Sometimes, the editors will call and request a special suit, like the one made of beer bottle caps. For a western shoot, they made a suit out of a Pendleton blanket. “The majority of the pieces are straight out of our collection. That’s the one nice thing about the collection, we design for our consumer,” Letarte Ross said. Their suits average about $180.

“The one great thing about the issue is that it stays on newsstands for almost five months. It’s the type of magazine that no one ever throws out,” Letarte Ross said. The person who makes the ultimate decision is the magazine’s swimsuit editor, Diane Smith. She said it is amazing what designers can do with half a yard of fabric. Some of her favorite photos include Petra Nemkova in a suit made of cactus plant and Heidi Klum with a 14-foot boa constrictor wrapped around her body.

Smith said the editors start with thousands of suits stuffed on racks scattered everywhere. They will take 300 or 400 on a trip with a theme in mind. They go on four or five trips every year. About 90 photos show up in the issue. “I think a lot of the designers that are in it for so many years understand what we need. The more suits we have, the better chance you have of being in the issue,” Smith said. “A good suit and a good fit can make the picture. These girls are running around the beach.

You can’t fake it. You have to make sure the suit fits.” Tiny and sexy are key when choosing potential styles, Smith said, but that is only half the story. The magazine offers an escape. “It’s a literal escape. There’s places we went to this year that took us days to get to,” Smith said. “It’s fun for people to see places they may never get to.”—AP

it bulls are the most abused, reviled, abandoned and euthanized dogs in the United States. More than 500 cities ban the breed or require sterilization, muzzles in public or insurance. Some regulate the size of fences that keep pit bulls enclosed, or the weight of leashes that keep them restrained. Even the US Army and the Marines ban pit bulls in base housing.

In an Associated Press-Petside.com poll, 53 percent of American pet owners said they believed it was safe to have pit bulls in residential neighborhoods, but 43 percent said the dogs were too dangerous. Of 60 percent who support breed bans, most put pit bulls at the top of the list, according to the poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. Only one state, Ohio, has a statewide pit bull law, requiring owners to confine them as “vicious dogs” and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Is the breed predisposed to be dangerous, or is man to blame? The divide between advocates and detractors is wide. “Dogs are products of their environment. Dangerous dogs are not born, they are created,” said Adam Goldfarb, director of the pets at risk program for the Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C. More than 250,000 pit bulls are maimed or killed in dog fights every year, he said. Up to 75 percent of dogs in many shelters are pit bulls. “When you hear about a dog being set on fire or attacked by an ax, it usually involves a pit bull and it’s not their fault. In some communities, there is a perception that pit bulls have less worth than other dogs,” Goldfarb said. Colleen Lynn of Austin, Texas, is not convinced. She was jogging in Seattle on June 17, 2007, when she was attacked by a pit bull that knocked her to the ground and grabbed her arm. The dog was being walked on a leash and was pulled away, but not before Lynn’s arm was broken, she said. Last year, 33 people were mauled to death and two-thirds of the dogs were pit bulls, Lynn said.

California reported the most fatal maulings with seven.

Under most laws covering the dogs, pit bulls are defined as American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, or any dog displaying the physical traits of one of those three.

Lynn, through her DogsBite.org, encourages breed bans.

“A ban saves the most human lives by preventing attacks before they occur,” she said.

Jennifer Walsh of Los Angeles does not consider her 7-year-old pit bull TC a threat. “I have a dog a lot of people might be really scared of and think he might be ready to attack at any moment. But he’s like a little bundle of love. I can pick him up, I can roll him over, I can do anything I want to him, and he doesn’t care,” she said.

A pit bull traditionally loves people, play and attention, Goldfarb said. They are smart and athletic, and owners have to nurture those qualities, he said. “A misbehaving dog might be a dog whose needs are not being met.” Lynn said she believes pit bulls are born dangerous but not necessarily vicious. “They are born with a dangerous tool set. They can use it or not use it,” she said. In 2007, pit bulls and dogfighting became synonymous with Michael Vick, a National Football League star quarterback who served 18 months in prison because of a dogfighting operation based on his property in Surry County, Virginia. Fifteen of the dogs seized in Vick’s case are rehabilitating at the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, far from the basements where they were chained and forced to fight. Their recoveries have included disease, injuries and skittishness. Lynn said Vick’s dogs had not been bred for generations like those in so many illegal fighting rings. But, she said, all fighting dogs should be euthanized because they are too unstable. Despite temperament tests given by some shelters, Lynn said a dog that has been trained to fight always will be a risk to people and their pets. Goldfarb disagrees.

“If genetics were as strong a factor as they’re suggesting then every dog fighter could easily breed lots of super-aggressive dogs. Every dog in every fighter’s litter would be unmanageably aggressive, and that’s just not the case,” he said. Pit bulls bite, hold and shake, ripping skin like a shark, Lynn said. “They don’t let go. They shake back and forth,” because that’s what owners of fighting dogs want and have bred into the animals, she said. There is no science supporting a correlation between dog breed and bite style, Goldfarb said. Across the United States, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year, the American Veterinary Medical Association said. Children and older people are the most common victims.

Municipal breed bans are not allowed in 10 states, including California, but cities or counties can enact laws short of that. Few people object to spay and neuter legislation but many believe it should apply to all dogs, not just pit bulls. In New York City, where the vast majority of dogs in shelters are pit bulls, more than 260 healthy pure breed pit bulls or mixes have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped since July. That is when the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals launched Operation Pit.—AP

This file photo shows TC, a pit†bull owned

by Billy and Jennifer Walsh, at their home in Los Angeles.

— AP